Bird News Wednesday 29th June

A Red Kite was quartering over Bryansford this afternoon, (Eric Mansell)

Thanks to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Sandwich Tern:

 

Bird News Tuesday 28th June

 A Red Kite flew from north to south over Ballynahinch this afternoon. (Ian Jackson).

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Buzzard:

Bird News Sunday 26th June

 A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been visiting a garden outside Ballygown for the last month, now accompanied by a juvenile. (Suzy Martin).

A 2nd year Little Gull and a Common Sandpiper were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (Garry Armstrong).

Two Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay this evening. (Chris Rankin).

At least two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were at Learmont Forest near Park village, Claudy. (Derek Brennan).

Thanks to Suzy for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpeckers, To Christine Cunningham for the picture of the Sedge Warbler and to Stephen Maxwell for the picture of the Arctic Tern:

Bird News Saturday 25th June

An Osprey was on Dairyland Road near Straid this morning (Neil Kilpatrick)

The female Marsh Harrier was showing well this afternoon at the east end of Reedy Flats. (Michael Latham)

Marsh Harrier, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 24th June

An Osprey was on the River Maine at Shanes Castle Demesne last observed yesterday evening. (Sam Andrews)

The unusual phylloscopus warbler singing in trees by the track on the NE side of Belfast WoW is still present. It is employing both 'song- switching' and 'mixed singing,' using elements of both willow warbler and chiffchaff songs. (Maureen Harvey-Graham / Matthew Tickner)

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper is at Lough Beg, on the mud by Church Island. (David Steele).

A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker continues to visit a garden in Ballynahinch. (Ian Jackson).

Thanks to Ian Jackson for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, to David Steele for the picture of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper and to Rebecca Tanner for her excellent painting of the recent Rathlin Rosy Starling:

Bird News Thursday 23rd June

An immature White-tailed Eagle was at Banagher Forest near Dungiven today, soaring and calling, mobbed by Buzzards. (David Steele).

The Marsh Harrier was at the east end of Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Joe Devlin)

An Arctic Tern was at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

A Cuckoo is at Ballymacornick Point, Bangor for its second day (Dot Blakely)

Marsh Harrier, Joe Devlin:

Puffins, Rathlin Island, Tom McDonnell: 

More pictures of local birds are at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Wednesday 22nd June

A single Mediterranean Gull was mixing with Black-headed Gulls on Holywood sea front at dusk last night. (Tom Trouton).

A Fieldfare was on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The three American Wigeon were still at Lough Beg today, all three birds were at the south end of the main lake. Also 60 Pochard were on the lake (a high site count for this species). (David Steele).

The White-tailed Eagle was still at Blanketnook, Co Donegal (Bob Watts)

Bird News Tuesday 21st June

An immature White-tailed Eagle, a Little Gull, Whimbrel and Greenshank are at Blanketnook, Donegal (Jamie Bliss)

The Marsh Harrier is still at the eastern end of Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (John Lambe).

The Rosy Starling was seen again on Rathlin this afternoon after a 3 day absence. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The feral Barnacle Goose was seen again at Hillsborough Lake. (Tim Jess)

The high water Moneycarragh River roost at Dundrum Inner Bay had a flock of 24 Curlew (Graham McElwaine)

Rose-coloured sarling, Ric Else \ Hazel Watson:

Bird News Monday 20th June

A trip to the Gobbins and Port Muck from Bangor (main pier, just beyond Bregenz House) is taking place at 6:30pm this Thursday (23rd). There are two seats remaining. Price £40. Tea/coffee included! Contact Ann at annlightbody510@gmail.com if interested.

Another boat trip to Tory Island is taking place on Saturday 25th June. Price £80 to include bus from Belfast, boat trip around Horn Head and Tory and 5 hours on the island. Phone Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details.

Reed Warblers continue to show well from the Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (David McCreedy)

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the pictures of the Grey Heron and the Goldfinch, to David McCreedy for the pictures of the Reed Warbler and to Tim Jess for the picture of the Yellowhammer:

Bird News Sunday 19th June

The Marsh Harrier was still at Reedy Flats (John Lambe)

Adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls continue to show well at RSPB WoW. A Knot was also present.

An Osprey was seen flying north about half way up Lough Melvin. (Fergal O'Connor).

Sand Martin, Terry Hanna:

Bird News Saturday 18th June

The Marsh Harrier was still at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Richard Hunter).

Reed Warblers continue to show around the Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara)

Reed Warbler

Reed Warbler - Ed O'Hara

Willow Warbler - Terry Hanna

Bird News Friday 17th June

The Rose-coloured Starling was seen this morning on the way to the West Light, Rathlin. Also 2 Corrncrake were heard calling. (David McCreedy)

The female Marsh Harrier remains at Reedy Flats (John Lambe)

Three American Wigeon (the pair and a single female) were still at Lough Beg today. Also the female Smew was still present and two male Garganey transitioning into eclipse plumage. An early returning Greenshank was in the southwest corner. (David Steele)

We still are not publishing pictures of birds at nest sites \ nest holes. However as young birds are now fledging, we will publish pictures of such birds. We thank our regular contributors and everyone else who always ensure the interests of our breeding birds come first.

Fledged Great Spotted Woodpecker with adult male, private garden, Ballinahinch, Ian Jackson: