Bird News Saturday 24th May 2025

A drake Garganey was on Kinnegar Pool this morning. Another drake Garganey is at RSPB WoW along with two Little Gulls (Daniel Newton)

A Marsh Harrier was off the platform at Inch, Co Donegal (Brian Hegarty)

A Great White Egret is at the Quoile (David Stirling)

A Cattle Egret flew east over the River Braid at Sourhill Road, Ballymena at 12:45 (Richard Gray)

The Pacific Diver, now in full summer plumage, was still at Ballyheirnan Bay, Fanad, Co. Donegal (Wilton Farrelly)

A Red-necked Phalarope and a Pectoral Sandpiper were at Lough Beg (David Steele)

A female Red-necked Phalarope was at RSPB WoW this evening (Aaron Long / Tony Dodds)

A Western Subalpine Warbler was trapped on Copeland this morning (Steven Fyffe)

Western Subalpine Warbler, Steven Ffyfe:

Red-necked Phalarope, RSPB WoW, Aaron Long:

Bird News Friday 23rd May 2025

Possible Yellow-legged Gull or hybrid around Kings Bridge near Sunnyside Street mid afternoon. (Mel O’Hagan / Aaron Long).

Summer-plumaged Pacific Diver still at Ballyheirnan Bay, Fanad, Co Donegal (Richard Smith).

Cattle Egret and 2nd calendar year Little Gull Lough Beg (David Steele).

Yellow-legged Gull or hybrid, Mel O’Hagan & Aaron Long:

Swift Walk & Talk

 

The North Down Swift Conservation Group are holding a  Swift Walk & Talk on Friday 13 June in the Marquis Hall in Bangor.

There will be a talk about the birds along with a recap of our first year of surveying, followed by a walk in a nearby neighbourhood with a number of Swift nests.

The event page is here: http://www.facebook.com/events/1150767106801516/

Bird News Thursday 22nd May 2025

 The Garganey is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Ross McIlwraith).

A Great White Egret was off the hide at the Quoile, 2 Reed Warblers also present. (David Nixon).

A Little Stint is still at the Bann Estuary. (John Clarke).

There are now 2 male Garganey along with the 2 Little Gulls at Belfast Lough RSPB, also 2 Mediterranean Gull chicks hatched on the island in front of the observation room. (Derek Polley).

Male Garganey at Lough Beg, also seven Eurasian Wigeon (two pairs and three additional males) but no sign of American Wigeon. A male Ruff (new bird) also present. (David Steele).

Little Stint, John Clarke.

Garganey & Arctic Tern, Derek Polley.

Bird News Wednesday 21st May 2025

Drake Garganey and 2 2nd calendar year Little Gulls at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve with another 2nd calendar Little Gull at Kinnegar Shore (Daniel Newton). Garganey still present this afternoon (Jim Wells).

Escaped White Stork bearing closed metal ring 521 on left leg still at Botanic this morning (Birdguides). At 0715 it was seen at Annandale Embankment (Keith Wilson) and in the afternoon (Billy Miskelly).

A 2nd calendar year Little Gull at Lady Bay this morning (John O’Boyle).

Little Gulls, Daniel Newton:

Bird News Tuesday 20th May 2025

 The Yellow-legged Gull was still on the River Lagan in Belfast. (Stuart Cossey).

The White Stork, ringed and likely from a collection or zoo, is still in Botanic Gardens in Belfast this morning. (Alan Fitzsimmons, Kevin Kirkham).

An Osprey is at Woodburn upper south dam. (Gorge Stewart).

The 1st summer Little Gull is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Birdguides).

The Garganey was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve and 2 Little Gulls at Kinnegar shore. (Stephen Riddell).

A male Garganey, probably the bird from WoW, was on Kinnegar Lagoon this evening. (Gilly Irwin).

White Stork, Alan Fitzsimmons, Kevin Kirkham.

Arctic Tern, Karl Martin.

Little Gulls & Garganey, Stephen Riddell.

Whimbrel, Stephen Maxwell.

Bird News Monday 19th May 2025

A Reed Warbler was at the Castle Island Hide, the Quoile (Chris McNally)

The drake Garganey was still at RSPB WoW (Clive Mellon)

A Little Stint is at the Bann Estuary. (John Spottiswood, Patrick Barton).

A White Stork was at Annadale Embankment, Belfast, this evening (Jill Cummings). The same bird was in Downpatrick yesterday and today (Linda Sales). The bird has a ring on its left leg and is relatvely tame so may be from a collection. It is also possibly the same bird that was in Donegal last week.

White Stork, Belfast, Stephen Maxwell:

White Stork, Downpatrick, Linda Sales:

Reed Warbler, Chris McNally:

Bird News Sunday 18th May 2025

Pacific Diver still at east end of Ballyheirnan Bay, Fanad, Co Donegal (Robert Vaughan / Jamie Bliss / Wilton Farrelly).

Yellowhammer singing from fields behind Billy Neill CP (Bob Watts).

White-tailed Eagle again in the Antrim Hills (Leia Getty).

Red Kite over Bleary crossroads (Ryan Holgate).

Female Marsh Harrier again at Portmore Lough (Garry Armstrong).

2 Bee-eaters calling flew north over Clandeboye Road, Bangor at 1935 (Billy Miskelly).

Pacific Diver, Wilton Farrelly:

Bird News Saturday 17th May 2025

Drake Garganey still present at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Daniel Newton).

Pacific Diver again at the east end of Ballyheirnan Bay, Fanad Head, Co Donegal (Wilton Farrelly).

Red Kite over Billy Neill CP (Simon Morton).

Subadult Yellow-legged Gull on roof of buildings near Governors Bridge, River Lagan (Stuart Cossey).

White-tailed Eagle in the Antrim Hills (Aaron Long).

2 summer plumaged Great Northern Divers over Kebble, Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Little Gulls, Paul Hilton:

Spotted Flycatcher, Paul Hilton & Donna Riddell:

Bird News Friday 16th May 2025

Little Tern at Belfast Lough WoW 0720 also the drake Garganey still present near the visitor centre (Daniel Newton). 2 Little Gulls and 6 Mediterranean Gulls at 11am but no sign of the Little Tern (Ian Enlander).

White Stork of unknown origin near Glarryford yesterday evening and this morning but not since. In silage fields at crossroads of Killagan/Bellaghy Roads. Farmer said bird was unworried by his presence (Derek McClean).

Subadult Yellow-legged Gull on River Lagan near the red bridge and Allstate building probably the same bird last seen in March (Mel O’Hagan).

Ruff at Portmore Lough (Richard Caves).

Late news from yesterday of an Osprey at Clea Lough (Hugh Thurgood).

Garganey; William Smiton (1), Ian Enlander (2 & 3), Stephen Maxwell (4):

Little Tern, Daniel Newton:

White Stork, Derek McClean:

Yellow-legged Gull, Mel O’Hagan:

Ruff, Richard Caves:

Bird News Thursday 15th May 2025

Drake Garganey and Ruff remain at Belfast Lough WoW (Richard Gray). Also Little Gull and 2 Arctic Terns (Derek Polley).

Osprey over Portmuck towards the Gobbins (Adam McClure).

Cuckoo flew through Billy Neill CP; unusual here (Bob Watts).

A late Redwing on Tory (Jim Wells et al).

A new Wood Sandpiper at Lough Beg this evening, also Ruff & Reeve, 2nd calendar year Little Gull (David Steele).

Yellow Wagtail at Kinnego Marina, Oxford Island (Darren Headley).

Bird News Wednesday 14th May 2025

A drake Garganey is at RSPB WoW, Belfast (Amy Minnis). A Ruff and Arctic Tern are also present (Stuart Cossey)

The drake Garganey was still present at RSPB WoW this evening, to the west of the visitor centre (Michael Latham / Stuart McKee)

The drake American Wigeon was still at Lough Beg. Two pairs of Eurasian Wigeon were also present (David Steele)

David Steele, American Wigeon:

BTO NI's Big Nature Day

 

BTO NI's Big Nature Day

Saturday 7th June, at Oxford Island, Co. Armagh

Join us for a day of interactive workshops for people of all ages to develop their wildlife skills and learn from others. 

There'll be some bird-focussed workshops - nest finding, birdsong identification, a celebration of Garden BirdWatch in Northern Ireland, and a ringing demonstration - but also an opportunity to explore other things like plants, pollinators, and pond life. 

We at BTO NI would be really grateful if you could pass this on to any people you know or groups you’re part of that might be interested. This event is aimed at both those new to nature and those more experienced, to explore wildlife together in a sociable, friendly, and fun environment! 

Booking is essential! More info, programme, and booking: https://www.bto.org/community/events/202506-bto-nis-big-nature-day

Bird News Tuesday 13th May 2025

 2 Spotted Flycatchers were at Slievenacloy this afternoon. (Sean Gibson).

A pair of Dippers were at Billy Neill Park. (Karl Martin).

A Garden Warbler was at Ely Lodge Forest in Co. Fermanagh. (M Duffy).

An Osprey was at Portmore this evening. (Daniel Newton).

Sedge Warbler, Karl Martin.