Thursday 12th August News

Laughing Gull - Ballycastle Co.Antrim (per Birdguides)
Red Kite - 1, Downpatrick Racecourse, Co. Down (Richard Weyl)
Little Egret - 14, Dundrum Inner Bay North, Co. Down
- including one ringed - Right: L (Yellow) Left: D (White). Any help appreciated
Greenshank - 10, Dundrum Inner Bay North, Co. Down
Common Sandpiper - 7, Dundrum Inner Bay North, Co. Down
Little Egret - 5, Dundrum Inner Bay South, Co. Down
Buzzard - 1, Murlough Heronry, Co. Down
Green Sandpiper - 1 adult Belfast Lough RSPB Reserve Co.Down
Common Sandpiper - 3, Belfast Lough RSPB Reserve Co.Down
Ruff - 2 juvenile Belfast Lough RSPB Reserve Co.Down
Swift - 100+ Belfast Lough RSPB Reserve Co.Down
Grey Heron - 16 Roosting flock Whitehouse Lagoon Co.Antrim

Thanks again to Nigel Snell for these shots of Wheatears taken on Achill Island last month

http://www.nigel-snellphotography.com/

http://www.flickr.com/nigelsnell








































Republic of Ireland
Greenshank - 30, Blanket Nook, Co. Donegal
Ruff - 3, Blanket Nook, Co. Donegal
Great Skua - 3, Fanad Head, Co. Donegal
Sooty Shearwater - 1, Fanad Head, Co. Donegal
Puffin - 1, Fanad Head, Co. Donegal

(all of the above sightings by Keith Bennett)


Here's another question to tickle the brain cells from our records master George Gordon:

What bird would have caused a massive twitch by our great grandfathers to York Street in Belfast in March 1858?


I see we're slipping back down the Fatbirder rankings - I'm going to stop mentioning this because every time I do we start to slide!


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