Bird News Tuesday 20th August

In Belfast Lough 4 Arctic Skua were seen from a boat off Grey's Point flying into Helen's Bay (Brian Meharg).

  At Lough Beg a juvenile Wood Sandpiper was at Long Point and an adult Osprey at Church Island (David Steele).

6 Buzzards were seen in the Antrim hills. (Bill Guiller).

Yesterday evening an adult Little Gull and 6 Whimbrel were on the shore at Hazelbank (Stuart McKee).

 Also yesterday a late Swift was over Crossgar. (Spencer Marshall).

On Sunday a possible Purple Heron was seen going north, being mobbed by Arctic Skua's, during a seawatch from Clogher Head in Co. Louth. Worth bearing in mind if you are birdwatching around south Co. Down in the coming days. (Gerry O'Neill).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Noel Austin for the pictures of the Reed Warblers, to Tony Donaldson for the first Buzzard picture and the picture of the female Blackcap and to Bill Guiller for the final two Buzzard pictures. You can see more NI bird pictures at  www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk