nibirds

Bird News Saturday 12th June

Yesterday a Rosy Starling was with a group of Starlings, in a pasture about 4 km north of Broughshane, near the junction of Knowehead Road with Tullymore Road (Julian Leslie)

A Cuckoo was in Belfast Harbour Estate (Jonny Clark)

The Lesser Scaup has been looked for but as yet, has not been seen (Bob Watts)

The Osprey was at Woodburn Reservoirs early afternoon (David Stirling). It was seen again around 4.30pm. (Guy Hamilton, Tom Ennis, Nigel Moore, Shirley Dunlop, Gerard McGeehan)

The Rosy Starling was again at Blackwood, in the fields opposite the cottages / bus stop at 2:15pm (Nigel Moore). The bird was showing again at 15:25 (Tim Davies)

A Cuckoo was in the Antrim hills and a Spotted Flycatcher was in Riverside Park in Broughshane. (Derek Polley).

Thanks to Nigel Moore and Stuart McQueen for the pictures of the Rosy Starling and to Guy Hamilton for the picture of the Osprey:

Nigel Moore

Stuart McQueen

The Rose-coloured Starling is still in the recently cut fields at Blackwood near Bangor this morning. Traffic is very busy along the road here and great care should be taken when viewing the fields. (Dave Weir). The bird was still present at 5:50pm and seen on the roof of the farm sheds. (Bob Watts).

A male Lesser Scaup was on the pool below the viewing platform at Portmore Lough RSPB this evening. (Garry Armstrong).

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Lesser Scaup, to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Sedge Warbler and to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Razorbill:

Bird News Thursday 10th June

The Rose-coloured Starling was still in the same recent cut fields near Blackwood, Bangor this morning. (James Andrew / Derek Polley) The Rosy Starling was still present this evening at the same location as last night. It roosted close by (Philip West)

A Red Kite was just north of Seaforde, County Down this afternoon. (Gilly Irwin)

The Osprey was seen at Woodburn at 2:45 (Kevin Rice \ Derek Polley)

Our thanks to Derek Polley for the photo of the Arctic Tern which have returned to the WoW RSPB reserve.

Thanks to Kevin Rice who managed to picture the Woodburn Osprey catch a fish this afternoon:

Rose-coloured Starling, Craigantlet

Below are more pictures of the Rose-coloured Starling near Craigantlet. Please note if you are going to try to see this bird it was only viewable from the side of a very busy road this evening. Take extreme care in parking or standing anywhere along this road.

Michael Latham

Tony Dodds

Bird News Wednesday 9th June

A Rose-coloured Starling has been reported in flight yesterday near the first reservoir as you head from Bangor towards Craigantlet. (BirdGuides) The bird has been refound today at https://goo.gl/maps/bY9tSGwC17njxJs2A by Billy Miskelly. The bird was on show at 8 pm at this location:

https://goo.gl/maps/KMnuLr9wpdu9XP77A

Another Rose-coloured Starling has been reported in a garden in Coleraine. (Birdguides).

The Osprey was seen again at Woodburn Reservoirs this afternoon. (Charles McGrath Hayes / Derek Polley)

An Osprey was near the Roe Estuary, Lough Foyle on Monday. (Jim Wells).

A Marsh Harrier was at Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).

An Osprey flew over Prehen Park, Derry heading towards Strabane. (Christine Cassidy)

Thanks to David Stirling for the pictures of the Rose-coloured Starling and to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Meadow Pipit:

Bird News Tuesday 8th June

The Osprey at Woodburn was showing well this afternoon up to 4:20pm (Tony Dodds)

Osprey, Tony Dodds:

Bird News Monday 7th June

The Osprey was still at Woodburn Reservoir, Carrickfergus this morning (George Stewart)

Two Whooper Swans were at Lough Beg (Gillian McKillop).

A Quail was calling in a rushy field in the hills above Armoy. (Dave Allen).

The Curlew Sandpiper was still at the Bann Estuary today. (John Clarke).

A Quail was also singing in the grasslands at Slane Road between Broughshane and Carnlough. (David Steele).

Thanks to David Steele for the pictures of the Wood Sandpiper from Lough Beg yesterday and to John Clarke for the picture of the Curlew Sandpiper:

Bird News Sunday 6th June

Two Cuckoo were in the Antrim Hils (Linda Thompson)

41 Sanderling were at Kearney (Wilton Farrelly).

A Wood Sandpiper was at Paddy's Dub, Lough Beg, this afternoon. (David Steele).

Two Whimbrel were in Killough Harbour (Chris Murphy)

An Osprey was seen at Woodburn Reservoir, Carrickfergus (George Stewart)

A male Black Redstart was seen near Lisnagleer village between Dungannon and Cookstown. A Stock Dove was also in Dungannon today (David Shilliday)

Cuckoo, Linda Thompson:

Bird News Saturday 5th June

The Curlew Sandpiper is still present at the Bann Estuary (Theo Campbell)

The Rosy Starling influx continues but still no NI sightings. Birds are on Tory and at Carrickfin, Donegal as well as a number of other locations down south. Keep an eye on our on Starling flocks and in your garden!

Curlew Sandpiper, Theo Campbell:

Red-breasted Merganser, Juliet Fleming:

Common Tern, Thomas Campbell:

Bird News Friday 4th June

Garden Warblers were calling this morning at Belle Isle and Crom, Co Fermanagh (Dermott Hughes).

The Curlew Sandpiper was at the Bann Estuary again this afternoon, a Whimbrel was also present. (John Spottiswood).

Bird News Thursday 3rd June

The Great White Egret was opposite the hide at the Bann estuary this morning. (Richard Donaghey).

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was visiting a garden feeder at Lord Wardens, Bangor (Erin Thompson).

An immature Mediterranean Gull was in the channel about 1 mile south of Newry towards Warrenpoint this morning. (Dermot Hughes).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Islandmagee causeway this afternoon. (Dakota Reid)

A Great White Egret was this evening opposite the hide at Bann Estuary for 20 minutes. Based on bill colour, it is believed to be different to the bird seen earlier today and yesterday. Also present were a Curlew Sandpiper and Whimbrel. (John Spottiswood)

Thanks to Richard Donaghey for the picture of the Great White Egret and to Dakota Reid for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull: