Bird News Friday 31st January.

A single Snow Bunting was at Ramore Head.(John Clarke)

The male Long-tailed Duck still Back Lough,E'killen, 4th winter Glaucous Gull and juv Iceland Gull still E'killen dump.(Brad Robson)

Shillnavogey Rd had a Merlin  plus 2 Red Grouse, Oxford Island had a male Ring-necked Duck(Ed O'Hara)

The Great White Egret, Spoonbill, 26 Ruff and a ringtail Hen Harrier were at Lough Beg, Derry this morning. There was no sign of the Lesser Yellowlegs. (Neal Warnock)

Eider photo kindly sent in by Alastair McLean. The pic of the Buzzard sent in by David Clarke and bottom photo is of the Ring-necked Duck sent in by Ed O'Hara

Bird News Thursday 30th January

The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen again this morning in the south west corner of Lough Beg. The Spoonbill was also seen in flight along the west shore of Lough Beg. (Jeff Larkin).

Five Snow Buntings were in the Antrim Hills today. The three redhead Smew were still at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve.  (Brian McCloskey, Peter Philips, Ger Murray)

Thanks to Jeff for this picture of the Yellowlegs:

Bird News Wednesday 29th January

There was no sign of the Lesser Yellowlegs this afternoon at Lough Beg - however the Spoonbill was seen again with the Little Egret flock in Paddy's Dub and four Ruff were in the southwest corner (David Steele)

The hybrid/Lesser Scaup (still too distant to be certain) & 3 redhead Smew were still at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve Antrim (Brad Robson)

Bird News Tuesday 28th January

A Lesser Yellowlegs was at Lough Beg this afternoon, found at 4pm and showed well up to 5pm, with Redshanks on the western shoreline in the bay directly opposite the first clump of poplar trees at Mullagh. (David Steele).

Bird News Monday 27th January

The Golden Eagle was seen again today in the Antrim Hills (Cecil Smyth)

More photographs of local birds are at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk/

Golden Eagle, Cecil Smyth:

Bird News Sunday 26th January

The Golden Eagle was seen again this morning in the Antrim Hills. Crossbills were seen at several sights in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham)

Two Smew were at Portmore Lough (Neal Warnock).

A Spoonbill was at Lough Beg this afternoon. It is a first-winter (blackish tips to primaries) and was feeding in Paddy's Dub along with the Great White Egret and a record site flock of 50 Little Egrets. (David Steele).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Golden Eagle and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Black-tailed Godwit:

Bird News Saturday 25th January

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Kinnego Bay, Oxford Island (Ed O’Hara)

A Black-throated Diver and 3 Red-throated Divers were at Carnlough (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

3 Sandwich Terns were on the jetty at Portaferry this afternoon, along with a Carrion Crow and a Greenshank nearby. A Merlin was at Templecowey and 20 Shoveler at Ballyquentin Farm. (Chris Acheson)

The Water Pipit was still at Ballyfrench beach and at nearby Portavogie there were a Ruff, 6 Jack Snipe and a Mediterranean Gull. (Richard Weyl)

Three female Snew and a Hen Harrier were at RSPB Portmore (Brian Murphy \ Sandra McDowell)

Two Mediterranean Gulls were on Kinnegar Shore (Mike Ervine)

The male Long-tailed Duck was still at Enniskillen Back Lough; 1 4th yr Glaucous, 1 juv and 1 2nd winter Iceland Gull were at Enniskillen dump, 1 2nd winter  Iceland Gull flew past the cliffs at Bundoran Donegal and a Great Northern Diver was on Lower Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

Approx 30 Waxwings were along Coleraine bypass immediately north of Asda this afternoon. 

Earlier, 180 Barnacles and 8 Chough were north of Malin village, the drake American Wigeon still at Culdaff, a single Pinkfoot and female Scaup at Inch, and 240 Greenland Whitefronts at Big Isle. (Richard Gray)

Ring-necked Duck, Ed O'Hara:

Smew, Sandra McDowell:

Redwing, Stephen Maxwell:

Redwing, Albert Boyle:

BIrd News Friday 24th January

8 Goosander, 5 male and 3 female were at Lough Island Reavey. (Billy Miskelly)

2 Snow Buntings were in Co Fermanagh on Knockmore. 16 Crossbills and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were in Belmore Forest. (Brad Robson).

A 2nd calendar year Glaucous Gull was roosting on Rathlin this evening. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Brad for the pictures of the Snow Buntings:

Bird News Thursday 23rd January

A tristis type Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, flyover Snow Bunting and wing tagged Red Kite were near Armoy. (Clive Mellon / Dave Allen)

The Pied Wagtail roost in Belfast City Centre last night had 270 birds at Bridge Street - close to where the Cathedral Quarter proposed new development will begin. (David Clarke)

Blackcaps are widely reported in gardens at the moment.

Around Donaghadee had 1 Whimbrel,  1 Common Sandpiper, 5-8 Sandwich Terns and 1 Black-throated Diver. (Stephen Foster and Ronan Owens)

Sparrowhawk, Annette Elkin:

Bird News Wednesday 22nd January

There were at least 2 Waxwings among the Redwing flock at Stranmillis Boat Club at lunch time today. The larger Waxwing flock was still at Lower Ormeau earlier this morning, feeding in a side street close to the Recreation Centre. The flock was also seen around the corner in Cooke Place (Philip McErlean/George Gordon)

A Jack Snipe was at Lower Lough Erne RSPB Islands reserve. (Brad Robson).

Large numbers of Crossbills were seen and heard this afternoon around Springwell and Benevinagh. (John Clarke).

Thanks To Philip McErlean for the picture of the Waxwings with Redwings, to Kevin O'Grady for the picture of the single Waxwing and to John Clarke for the picture of the Crossbill:

Bird News Tuesday 21st January

The drake Ring-necked Duck was in Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island. (David Knight/Dermot Hughes).

36 Waxwings were again on a tree on the street outside Lorag Recreation Centre on the Lagan at lower Ormeau in Belfast. (Gearóid Ó Muilleoir/Philip McErlean).

A female Blackcap and a large flock of Redwing were feeding on berries in a carpark at Cockpit Brae in Ballymoney this morning. (Patrick Barton).

11 Twite were feeding along Millisle beach this afternoon. (David McCormick).

The 3 Red-head Smew were together at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve today. They were to the right when looking out of the hide although often hidden behind the reeds. (David & Philip McHaffie).

A Great Northern Diver was off Portstewart Promenade. (Sean Hickey).

The Waxwings were showing well on the A26 in Ballymena down to several feet in a garden and a Glaucous Gull was seen at Corbally reservoir in Portrush. (J Clarke/ H Dick / K Perry).

Thanks to Gearóid Ó Muilleoir  for the picture of the Waxwing and to David Knight for the picture of the Ring-necked Duck:

Bird News Monday 20th January

A flock of about 20 Waxwings were on a tree on the street outside Lorag Recreation Centre on the Lagan at lower Ormeau in Belfast at 1.30pm on Monday (Gearóid Ó Muilleoir)

9 Purple Sandpiper were at Portstewart Head (Sean Hickey)

A 2nd Winter Med Gull was at the Crescent Play Area, Portstewart this afternoon (Tom Ennis)

Thanks to Davy Adams for this picture of a leucistic Oystercatcher at Kinnegar Shore:

Black Redstart, Portstewart, Stephen Dunbar:

Bird News Sunday 19th January

A second winter Iceland Gull was on the Back Lough Enniskillen, along with a drake Long-tailed Duck (Brad Robson)

A Waxwing flock was on Carniny Road, Ballymena, garden behind No.44 (Billy Miskelly)

19 Waxwings were back on Parkmore Drive, Ballymena (Jeff Larkin)

Water Pipits were present at Ballyquintin Point and Ballyfrench just north of Portavogie. (Richard Weyl)

On Strangford Lough, there were 20 Slavonian Grebe (14 in Greyabbey Bay and 6 north of Newtownards Sailing Club). Yesterday another Slavonian Grebe and 2 Black-throated Diver were at Horse Island. (Richard Weyl)

The Ring-billed Gull was again at Carrickfergus Harbour with a drake Long-tailed Duck off Rhanbuoy Park. (Jeff Larkin).

Two Red Kites and a ringtail Hen Harrier were in the Antrim hills, good nubers of Crossbills were also seen. (Michael Latham).

Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming at Oxford Island this morning. (Ed O'Hara, Comghal McQuillan).

A Long-eared Owl was roosting on private land near Richhill this morning. (Andrew Poots).

The Black Redstart was again showing at Portstewart Bandstand (Stephen Dunbar / Ronald Surgenor)

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Waxwing and to Cecil Smyth for the pictures of the Crossbill and the Fieldfare:

Bird News Saturday 18th January

30 + Waxwings are along the A26 road out of Ballymena heading towards Coleraine (Garry Armstrong / Ed O’Hara). A flock were also seen at Agherton Park, Ballymoney (Toby Edwards)

The Black Redstart was still showing at the Bandstand at Portstewart. A first year Glaucous Gull was at Corbally Reservoir (Garry Armstrong / Ed O’Hara)

Two Black Throated Divers and eight Slavonian Grebe off Kircubbin Sailing Club (Billy Miskelly)

An adult Iceland Gull was at Corbally Reservoir this afternoon (John Clarke)

Four Goosander and 13 Whooper Swans were at Corbet Park, Co Down (Mike McLaughlin)

An adult Iceland Gull was at RSPB WoW this afternoon (Daniel Newton)

Crossbills were seen at a number of sites in the Antrim Hills (Michael Latham)

A Red Kite and 3 Brambling were seen in the Antrim Hills (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

A drake Green-winged Teal and a Ring-billed Gull were at Inch, Co Donegal (Matthew Tickner)

Correction: a drake Long-tailed Duck was on the Back Lough, Enniskillen today, seen by Peter Taylor.

Waxwing, Ed O'Hara:

Black Redstart, Ed O'Hara:

Crossbill, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 17th January

A Green-winged Teal was at Faughanvale, Lough Foyle this afternoon. (Brad Robson / Matthew Tickner)

A pair of Yellowhammers visited a garden in Newtownards today. (Ian McKee).

Bird News Thursday 16th January

The Waxwing flock were again in Parkmore Drive, Ballymena this afternoon (Jeff Larkin)

Waxwing, Michael McCrum:

Bird News Wednesday 15th January

16 Waxwings were on Parkmore Drive off the Cullybackey Road in Ballymena. (Jeff Larkin).

Whitehead seafront between 8 - 9am had 106 Red-throated Diver and 7 Great Northern Diver - all flying west into Belfast Lough (Ian Enlander).

Myroe had 24 Grey Plovers on the lawn grass fields, also c450 Whooper Swans. 3 Long-eared Owls were roosting in Coleraine. (John Clarke /Hill Dick).

The Black Redstart was still around the bandstand in Portstewart. (David Hill).

A 3rd calendar year Mediterranean Gull was on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

Thanks to Hill Dick & John Clarke for the pictures of the Long-eared Owl, Grey Plovers and the Whooper Swans, to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Buzzard to David Hill for the picture of the Black Redstart and to Ric Else for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull:

Bird News Tuesday 14th January

The Golden Eagle and a Brambling were seen in the Antrim Hills (Jeff Larkin)

Two Red Kite where also seen in the Antrim hills.(Gerald McGeehan)

Bird News Sunday 12th January

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Portmore RSPB. (Garry Armstrong). Two red head Smew were also seen (Ed O’Hara)

An un-tagged Golden Eagle was present in the Antrim Hills (Michael Latham)

The Black Redstart was still at Portstewart this morning (Daniel Newton)

The Ring-billed gull was still at Carrickfergus Marina. (Kevin Kirkham)

30+ Snow Buntings were in the Antrim Hills (Davy Hunter)

The Great White Egret was still at the south end of Lough Beg today. Also a redhead Goosander was on the River Main at Slaght bear Ballymena (David Steele)

Approximately 50 Twite were on the rocks near Ramore Head in Portrush today (John Clarke)

15 Red-throated Divers, 10 Great Northern Divers and 5 Long-tailed duck were at Newcastle (Gerard McGeehan et al)

24 Scaup, and two female/juvenile Long-tailed duck were off Giants Park Belfast Lough (Stuart McKee)

A flock of 100+ Fieldfares were in a field beside Corbet Lough today. (Mike McLaughlin)

A tagged Red Kite, tagged at a nest in RoI in 2018, was in North Antrim (Dick Glasgow)

Golden Eagle, Michael Latham:

Ring-billed Gull, Kevin Kirkham:

Red Kite, Dick Glasgow:

Bird News Saturday 11th January

A Ring-necked Duck and a redhead Smew were at Portmore. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

34 Waxwings were at Institution Place in Belfast.

The Black Redstart was again around the bandstand in Portstewart. (Michael Latham).

Yesterday a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Seaforde Estate. (Owen Beckett).

A small flock of Waxwings were on a tree in a garden on the right just on the Banbridge Road out of Scarva around 3.30. (Karen Elliott).

3 Barnacle Geese were at Kebble on Rathlin today. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The Iceland and Glaucous Gulls and the two hybrids were still at Enniskillen dump (Brad Robson)

Thanks to Michael Latham and Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Black Redstart and to Thomas Campbell for the picture of the Little Egret:

Michael Latham

Thomas Campbell

Thomas Campbell

Bird News Friday 10th January

The Black Redstart was still showing around the bandstand area of Portstewart this morning, see pictures below. (Robert Plant).

Around Strangford Lough 30+ Whooper Swans were between Newtownards and Comber,  250+ Bar- tailed Godwits were about a mile south of the Floodgates,  1 male Scaup was with Tufted Duck off Castle Island Hide, 8 Snipe were at Bishops Mill, 3 of them swimming!! 25+ Golden Plover were at Whiterock. (Derek Polley).

Thanks to Robert Plant for the pictures of the Black Redstart and to David Clarke for the picture of the Greenshank:

Robert Plant

Robert Plant

David Clarke

Bird News Thursday 9th January.

An American Herring Gull was seen off Macedon Point, Belfast Lough. (Stuart McKee)

There was a flock of 15-20 Redwings feeding on Cotonester berries at Stranmillis Boat Club car park this afternoon. (Philip McErlean)

The Water Pipit remains at Cushendun.(Dermot Hughes)

1 Jack Snipe 1 Peregrine and 3 Redhead Smew still Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve today(Brad Robson) A probable Lesser Scaup was also at Portmore Lough and a redhead Smew at Reedy Flats.(Clifford Sharp / Joe Devlin)

Belfast WoW reserve had a high count of 350+ Curlew and a high count of Knot. (Derek Polley)

Our thanks to Jonny Andrews for the Fieldfare photo and also to Philip McErlean for the Redwing flock.Also to Dermot Hughes for the pic of the Water Pipit. Bottom pic American Herring Gull sent in by Stuart McKee.

Birding By Boat

With the help of thirty of Northern Ireland's top wildlife photographers and the hard work of Horace Reid who worked through a large number of images I can now announce that the talk based on the boat trips is now available. 'Birding by Boat' (title courtesy of Ginney McKee) is a 69 slide presentation showing the wildlife of Rathlin, Islay, Jura, Rockabill and Innishtrahull. This talk is now being made available to local groups.

Jim Wells.

Bird News Wednesday 8th January

At Portstewart Town the Black Redstart was giving good views near the bandstand and on the adjacent beach. The Water Pipit was at the north end of Cushendun beach. (John Clarke/Hill Dick).

Seacliff Road in Bangor had 2 Purple Sandpiper and a Red-throated Diver offshore and 7 Redwing were in a garden in Bangor West. (Derek Polley).

Yesterday 3 redhead Smew were at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve. (Comghal McQuillan).

Sightings this morning at Newry Canal - Jerrettspass-Poyntzpass were 3 Raven,c50 Redwing c210 Fieldfare, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher and 6 Grey Wagtail. (Fulton Somerville)

Thanks to Hill Dick and John Clarke for the pictures of the Black Redstart and the Water Pipit, to Comghal McQuillan for the picture of the Smew, to Fulton Somerville for the picture of the Reed Bunting and to David Smylie for the picture of the Ring-billed Gull: