Bird News Tuesday 1st October

The Crane was still at Myroe. The Snow Bunting was still at Ramore in Portrush and the Ring-billed Gull was still at the East Strand carpark, see pictures below. (Christine Cassidy).

9 Wheatear were at Magilligan. (Charles Stewart).

As well as the Crane Myroe had 7 Pink-footed Geese, 20 Brent Geese and 7 Whooper Swan. (Hill Dick & Peter Robinson).

A 1st year Mediterranean Gull was also present at Myroe. (Stuart McKee).

A Great Skua and a Great Northern Diver passed Ballyquintin this evening. (Keith Bennett).

A Snowy Owl was between Ardara and Clooney in Donegal today, it has been present in the area for several days. (Birdguides).

4 Woodcock were along Windmill Road at Aghnaleck near Hillsborough. They flew from a marshy area with conifers towards Legacurry (Garry Wilkinson).  

12/13 Raven were along the Ballymoney Road north of Ballymena (Warren Rainey).  

A Merlin was hunting Starling coming in to roost near the "Nomadic" in Belfast Harbour (Andy Elliott).

8 Swallow were at Greyabbey (Derek Polley).

A seawatch at St John's Point produced 1,000 Manx Shearwaters, 10,000 Razorbill, 750 Guillemots, 98 Black Guillemots, 2,500 Kittiwakes, 1,500 Gannets, 1 Great Northern Diver, 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Arctic Skuas, 4 Greatt Skuas, 16 Sandwich Terns, 1 Arctic Tern, 22 Common Scoter, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Wigeon, 1 Teal, 7 Snipe, 1 Merlin, 1 Wheatear and 8 Swallows. (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to Christine Cassidy for the first 3 pictures of the Crane, the Snow Bunting and the Ring-billed Gull, to Charles Stewart for the Wheatear picture and to Stuart McKee for the final 2 pictures of the Crane along with Pink-footed Geese and the picture of the 1st year Mediterranean Gull. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk