Bird News Saturday 2nd February

A Snow Bunting was on Slieve Donard in the Mournes. (Keith Bennett)

The Cattle Egret was still at St Johnstone, Co Donegal. The bird now seems to be showing wounds on its back. (Liam McCafferty).

The ring tailed Hen Harrier was seen again at Inch Lake, perched and hunting over the reed bed. (Brian Hegarty/Inishowen Wildlife Club).

The drake Green-winged Teal was still at Dunfanaghy New Lake (W Farrelly).

Late news from yesterday 340 Lapwing, 620 Golden Plover, 35 Grey Plover, 2 Greenshank, 90 Bar-tailed Godwit, 210 Curlew and 4 Little Egret were at Myroe. Also 350 Whooper Swans and 6 Greylag Geese in a field South of Swann's Bridge. ( Peter Robinson, Hill Dick).    

The Little Gull was still at Craigavon Balancing Lakes, a second Little Gull was at Portmore, see picture below. (Ed O'Hara).

2 Raven were flying around the top of the quarry in Newtownards this afternoon, a Long-eared Owl was flying across fields between the Ballyblack Road East and the Movilla Road near Newtownards at 6.15 this evening. (David McCormick).

2 Sandwich Terns were in the outer bay at Killough. (Chris Murphy).

What was almost certainly a White-tailed Eagle was seen at the cliffs at Downhill at 1.30pm (Hazlett Harkness).    

2 Black-throated Diver were at Magilligan. A Little Auk was 20m off the car park at Ramore Head and 20 Purple Sandpiper also noted in the area. 2 Slavonian Grebe were at the Barmouth of Bann Estuary (David Clarke, John Pyper).      

In Donegal the Bittern, a male Smew, 2 Ruff, a fem/imm Hen Harrier and a Black Swan were at Inch Lake (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).

20 Fulmar and 2 Raven were at Ballintoy Harbour (Mark Smyth, Gary Brown, Alistair Prentice).    

A second-year Iceland Gull was seen flying out of Belfast Lough (Stuart McKee).    

Thanks to today's photographers, to Liam McCafferty for the pictures of the Cattle Egret, to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Little Gull, to Zach McCreery for the picture of the Stonechat, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the Kestrel, to Stephen Maxwell for the picture of the Reed Bunting and to Angus Kennedy for the picture of the Treecreeper. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk