Bird News Thursday 1st September

Yesterday off the East Light at Rathlin there was a feeding pod of 10 Porpoises briefly followed by a Great Shearwater. Manx Shearwaters were passing in small numbers, lots of Gannets including a dark juvenile and a dark Arctic Skua. (Philip Watson).

53 Brent Geese flew over Ramore Head today. (Colin Guy).

Belfast RSPB WOW reserve this morning had 2 Ruff, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Sandwich Tern and 1 Roseate Tern with a ring (from Hide 2). (Derek Polley / Janes Robson)

Whilst not a scarce bird, unusually a Kingfisher was on the Knock River in Orangefield Park, Belfast (Rhona Galway)

Lough Beg this afternoon had a juvenile Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 2 Ruff, 13 Dunlin, 2 Whoopers, 35 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Black Swan, 5 Little Egrets, 150 Linnets (Tim and Chris Murphy)

St John’s Pt from 7.30 to 8.30pm: 2 Arctic Skuas, 2,000 Manx Shearwaters, 400 Kittiwakes, 150 Razorbills, 50 Sandwich Terns, 12 Fulmars and 1 Little Egret (Chris Murphy)

Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for this pic of a Curlew Sandpiper: