Bird News Tuesday 22nd January

A Brambling was visiting a garden in Ballyclare. (Wallis Jefferson).

Thanks to Jeff Silvers for the picture of the Little Egret from Briggs Rocks, Groomsport, to David Hunter for the picture of the Jay and to Christine Cassidy for the picture of the Kestrel:

Bird News Monday 21st January.

The Lesser Whitethroat was seen this morning.(Brian McCloskey) It was also seen yesterday.(Tom Ennis/Tony Dodds)

A Great. Spotted Woodpecker was at Drumcairn forest, Stewartstown(Tony McCormick)

A male Brambling was near the shore at Lower Mullan, Lough Neagh this morning with a small flock of Chaffinches (John O Boyle)


Our thanks to Cameron Moore for this pic of a Kingfisher and also to Brian McCloskey who sent us a close-up shot of the Lesser Whitethroat. Also to Cecil Smyth for the Redwing.

Bird News Sunday 20th January

A Black Redstart was at St Johns Point towards the lighthouse end (Michael Latham)

6 Goosander (5 fem 1 male) were at Corbett Lough this morning along with 23 Whooper Swan. The female Smew and a male Hen Harrier were at Portmore Lough (Mark Stewart and Orla O’Kelly)

A Pink-footed Goose was with the Greylag flock at Reedy Flats this afternoon (James O’Neill)

The Black-throated Diver was still at Carnlough (Neal Warnock)

Black Redstart, Michael Latham:

Yellowhammer visiting a garden, Mike McLaughlin:

Bird News Saturday 19th January

The Lesser Whitethroat was still in Dromore, Co Tyrone (Brian McCloskey). For access arrangements to the Lesser Whitethroat, please refer to our posting on the 8th January.

A male Brambling was in a garden at Spa (David Nixon)

6 Goosander were at Corbet Lough (Brian McCloskey)

Thanks to John Cusack for this flight shot showing the tail of the bird:

Bird News Friday 18th January

A Glaucous Gull was at Bay Road Park Local Nature Reserve in Londonderry, a Greenshank was also present. (John Spottiswood).

A female Merlin, 2 Pink-footed Geese and 300 Greylags were at Reedy Flats (Ed O’Hara).

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Goldfinch:

Bird News Thursday 17th January

A Red Kite was beside the Newry-Armagh road about 2 miles out of Newry (John Anderson)

The Black Redstart was feeding at the Shimna Estuary, Newcastle this morning (Dougie Gamble)

A Peregrine flew through the WOW reserve, Siskins where in the trees heading towards the lane side hide.(Derek Polley)

Our thanks to John Parkinson for this flight shot of a Water Rail, also to Angus Kennedy for the the Mistle Thrush  and to Dougie Gamble for the Black Redstart.

Bird News Wednesday 16th January

The Hawfinch was typically elusive but still at Gosford along with 15 Crossbill and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (David Nixon and Clifford Sharpe)

7 Goosanders were at Corbet Lough, Co Down - a male and 6 redheads. 3 Goosanders were on Lough Island Reavy - a male and 2 redheads. (David Knight)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over Teiges Hill near Brookeborough, Co Fermanagh this afternoon (Clive Mellon)

A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Lusty, Upper Lough Erne this morning (John O Boyle)

Three Twite were at Fisherman’s Quay, Carrickfergus this afternoon. 15 were still at Whitehead. (Michael Ingleston)

Shelduck, Angus Kennedy:

Bird News Tuesday 15th January

The female Hawfinch was still present in Gosford Forest Park this am but very elusive, see pictures below.  (Clifford Sharpe)

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at the Ballymena Ecos Park (Geoff Larkin).

15 Twite were still at the boatyard at Whitehead this afternoon, see picture below.  (Philip McErlean).

A Black Redstart was at Newcastle, close to the Shimna footbridge, this afternoon. Five Purple Sandpipers were also present. (Ian Jackson).

There was no sign of the Hoopoe at Dan Winters Cottage c.1-2pm, but lots of Fieldfares and a male Kestrel were seen. A male ring-tail Hen Harrier and 500 Lapwings were at Inch Abbey Marshes, Downpatrick at 4pm (Chris Murphy, Doris Noe)

A male Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Corrals Avenue, Ballymena (William Brown)

An untagged White-tailed Eagle was seen at Lower Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh (Amy Burns)

Thanks to Clifford Sharpe for the pictures of the Hawfinch, to Philip McErlean for the picture of the Twite, to Ian Jackson for the picture of the Turnstone and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Goldcrest:

Bird News Monday 14th January

A Hoopoe was seen this afternoon at Dan Winters Ancesteral Home, Loughgall, Co Armagh (Stuart McKee)

The female Smew and a Peregrine were at Portmore Lough. 5 Stock Doves and around 65 Greylags were at the River Lagan at Flatfield.( David Nixon& Philip McHaffie)

Snipe - Mervyn Campbell.

Blue Tit - Wilfred Swain.

Bird News Sunday 13th January

The Lesser Whitethroat was again showing at Dromore, Co Tyrone (Denver Shiels). If wishing to view this bird, please follow the instructions given previously and respect the owners privacy. Many thanks to the homeowners for facilitating access and their hospitality.

The Hawfinch was again at Gosford today near to the castle in the Yew trees (Michael Latham/Gerard McGeehan/Shirley Dunlop/ Carol Gillespie/Ray Bennett)

Red Grouse and Merlin were in the Antrim Hills around Shillanavogey today (Daniel Newton)

Two Med Gulls were at East Strand car park Portrush this afternoon (John Clarke)

12 Twite were by the boatyard at Whitehead this afternoon. A flock of circa 50 Fieldfare were in Broughshane this morning (Kevin Kirkham & Meta McMeekin)

16 Ruff were with a large flock of Godwits and Lapwing at Church Bay, Lough Beg (Neal Warnock).

Two Purple Sandpipers were in Ballintoy by the harbour car park. (John Spottiswood).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Hawfinch and to Neal Warnock for the picture of the Lesser Whitethroat:

Bird News Saturday 12th January

The Hawfinch was still at Gosford Forest Park, a flock of 14 Crossbill were in a tree beside the main car-park. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

A ring-tail Hen Harrier was at Myroe Levels 11:30 am this morning. A Bonxie was off Ramore Head in Portrush with 7 Purple Sandpipers and 20 Turnstone also present. (Kevin Kirkham & Meta McMeekin).

13 Twite were at Whitehead with 1 also at Fisherman's Quay in Carrickfergus. (David Clarke)

The Lesser Whitethroat was seen again today. If  you are wanting to visit the house tomorrow, please ensure that you follow the instructions given previously and respect the owners privacy.

Two Ruff were at the high tide roost at Patton’s Marsh, Newtownards, this evening, 4.30pm (Suzanne Belshaw)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the pictures of the Brent Geese and the Curlew and to David Clarke for the picture of the Twite:

Bird News Friday 11th January

A high count of 42 Purple Sandpipers were at Ramore Head, Portrush (Gerard McGeehan).

4 Goosander are on Corbet Lough outside Banbridge. (David McCreedy).

The Hawfinch was still at Gosford Forest Park. (Brian Nelson).