Bird News Saturday 31st October

A Snow Bunting was at the entrance to Castlerock beach this morning and yesterday a Long-tailed Duck was in the channel at Myroe.  (Richard Donaghey).

The Long-tailed Duck was still in the channel at Myroe today. (Birdguides).

A Red Kite was in the Antrim hills. (Kenny Moore).

The Cattle Egret was present again at Castle Espie this morning. (Matthew, Castle Espie).

23 Sandwich Terns were at Portaferry this morning. (John Wilson Foster).

A Snow Bunting was on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A Brambling was at Kilskeery, Co. Tyrone. (Ivan Foster).

A Brambling was in a garden in north Antrim. (Dick Glasgow).

Thanks to Kevin O'Grady for the picture of the Sparrowhawk, to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Whooper Swans and the Golden Plovers, to Ric Else and Hazel Watson for the picture of the Snow Bunting and to Ivan Foster for the picture of the Brambling:

Bird News Friday 30th October.

 A male American Wigeon was seen off Castle Espie, along with 200 Wigeon.(Birdguides)

A ring tail Hen Harrier was seen near Ballycastle (Ed Simpson)

21 Sandwich Terns were on the pontoons at Portaferry,  2 late Swallow at Ballyquintin Point, and 14 Pinkfeet and a Greylag with the Whooper flock at Kearney today. (Richard Gray)

A Male Hen Harrier and a late Whinchat were in the Antrim hills (Ivan Cullen, Paddy Muckian)

A Snow Bunting was seen on Slieve Gullion, Co. Armagh.(David Knight)

2 Snow Buntings were on the bowling green at Ramore Head this afternoon (David Shilliday)

Our thanks to Mike McLaughlin for the photo off a Kestrel and also to David Knight for the Snow Bunting.

Bird News Thursday 29th October

 A Short-eared Owl and a Jack Snipe were on Rathlin today, yesterday an Iceland Gull and a Long-tailed Duck were present. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Ric and Hazel for the picture of the Long-tailed Duck and to Mervyn Campbell for the pictures of the Purple Sandpiper and the Dunlin:

Bird News Wednesday 28th October.

The Cattle Egret gave good views outside the Hide on the Bann estuary and the American Golden Plover showed well near Portstewart.( J Clarke, H Dick, J McDowell, K Perry.)

A Snow Bunting was seen on Slieve Croob.(Olcan Shaw)

16 Sandwich Tern where at Portaferry marina to-day, (17 has been the highest overwintering count)so let us see over the coming winter months if we can better 17.(John Foster)

Final Call for the BTO NI Birdwatchers' Conference! 

This November, BTO NI will be hosting a "virtual" conference on Zoom. The conference will be held over three sessions, with the first on Sat 7th Nov and costing only £5 for all three. For more information and online booking, please see the following link: https://www.bto.org/community/events/202011-bto-northern-ireland-birdwatchers-conference

Our thanks to John Clarke for the photo's off the Cattle Egret and the American Golden Plover.

Bird News Tuesday 27th October

The Cattle Egret is still at Castle Espie this morning.

The Cattle Egret seen recently at the Bann Estuary was amongst Sea Buckthorn at Castlerock Golf club.(Richard Donaghey)  

An American Golden Plover was seen between Portstewart and Portrush as you approach the stop/start for the NW200  the bird was on the rocks below(John Clarke)

Our thanks to David Steele for the photo off the Long-billed Dowitcher which was present on Lough Beg yesterday . Also to Richard Donaghey for the photo  of the Cattle Egret. Bottom photo kindly sent in by John Clarke off the American Golden Plover

Bird News Monday 26th October

The Cattle Egret was with cattle in the field at the end of Barmouth Road by parking layby at level crossing (road to NT Barmouth hide) at 07.45. (John Spottiswood)

The Great White Egret was again at Castle Espie this morning (Jonathan Clark). Another Cattle Egret was also present at Castle Espie this morning (Ross McIlrath). Both birds were still present at lunchtime, viewable from the cafe. (Ian Enlander)

The Long-billed Dowitcher was seen again at Mullagh, Lough Beg this afternoon, also a single Pink-footed Goose. (David Steele)

Up to 60 Whooper Swans have been roosting on and off at Strand Lough, Killough, for past fortnight (Chris Murphy)

A possible Arctic Redpoll has been reported from Kilkeel. (BirdGuides)

Great White Egret, Jonathan Clark:

Little Egret & Cattle Egret - Ian Enlander

Bird News Sunday 25th October

A Grey Phalarope was in Bar Hall Bay, just south west of Ballyquinton, Co Down (Wilton Farrelly). The bird had moved about 400m south of the red brick shed at 11am. (Daniel Newton). It was still at this location at 1:45 (Jeff Larkin)

A Cattle Egret is at the Barmouth (Theo Campbell). It was seen subsequently in a nearby field with cattle (Richard Donaghey / Brian Hegarty) The Cattle Egret that was at Strabane was looked for this afternoon but was not seen (Brian Hegarty)

14 Ruff and a pair of Merlin were the best at the South end of Lough Beg this morning. (Richard Hunter)

16 Pinkfeet were in the stubble field north of Kearney (Billy Miskelly)

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Ardilea. (Jeff Larkin)

A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was at the Floodgates, Newtownards (Wilton Farrelly)

3 Purple Sandpiper were at Groomsport, and a Carrion Crow at Ballyholme, Co Down (Kevin Kirkham)

A Jack Snipe was at Templecowey (Richard Weyl)

Grey Phalarope, Garry Armstrong:

Dark-bellied Brent, Wilton Farrelly:

Cattle Egret, Richard Donaghey:

Bird News Saturday 24th October

 The Little Stint was still at Myroe and at least 2 American Golden Plover were at Ballykelly, 45 Pink-feet and Greylags were with 1,400 Whoopers, a Black Swan was also present. 2 Barnacle Geese and 5 Pink-feet were along Seacoast Road. (Richard Donaghey/Wilton Farrelly).

4 Purple Sandpipers were at Newcastle harbour, several flocks of Scoter were offshore. A Carrion Crow was near Strangford. (Michael Latham).

60 Whooper Swans were in fields north east of Island Hill on Strangford Lough. (Kevin Kirkham).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Purple Sandpiper and the Carrion Crow:

Bird News Friday 23rd October

A Siberian Chiffchaff was at the visitor centre at Oxford Island (Ed O’Hara)

At Kearney were 15 Pink-footed Geese and 270 Whooper Swans. (Richard Weyl)

Ballyquinton Point had a Merlin and 12 Whooper Swan.(Garry Wilkinson/Nigel Moore)

Our thanks to Ed for the photo off the Sib.Chiffchaff . Also to Mark Magee for the Brambling photo, which was taken in Lisburn.

Bird News Thursday 22nd October

 Two Long-tailed Ducks flew east past Castlerock. (John Spottiswood).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Ballyholme Beach, Bangor (Tony Dodds).

31 White-fronted Geese flew east over Rathlin, 3+ Snow Buntings and a Crossbill were present on the island. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Myroe today had a Little Stint, the Broighter Road had approx 120 Greylag and Carrowclare Road had approx 150 Greylag with the Whooper Swans along with 1 Pinkfoot and 6 Whitefront. 6 Goosander were seen at Ballykelly. (J Clarke/K Perry/J Mcdowell).

Approx 1500 Whooper Swans in total were at 4 locations, Carrowclare Road ,Lomond Road and Myroe today. (Charles Stewart).

4 Short-eared Owls were in County Down today.

Thanks to John Clarke for the picture of the Little Stint and to Charles Stewart for the picture of the picture of the Whooper Swans:

Bird News Wednesday 21st October

A Short-eared Owl was at Ballymacormick Point this morning, a Mediterranean Gull and two Red-throated Diver were also present. (James Andrew).

A Ruff and adult Mediterranean Gull were at Dundrum (David Nixon)

A Mediterranean Gull was at East Strand car park Portrush this morning (S Riddell)

Ruff, David Nixon:

Barnacle, Pink-feet and Greylag Geese, Cameron Moore:

Bird News Tuesday 20th October

The Yellow-browed Warbler was still at Kinramer, Rathlin. Also seen past Rue Point were an adult Pomarine Skua, 1 Great Skua, 2 Scaup and 2 Great Northern Divers (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

17 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Barnacle Geese and 60+ Greylag Geese were at Old Church Bay, Islandmagee. 1 adult Mediterranean Gull was at Ballylumford. (Cameron Moore).

Up to 25 Twite were at Ramore Head in Portrush. (Mervyn Campbell).

Thanks to Mervyn Campbell for the pictures of the Twite and the Purple Sandpiper:

Bird News Monday 19th October

The Yellow-browed Warbler was still at Kinramer, Rathlin for its tenth day (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A juvenile American Golden Plover was with Golden Plover at Ballykelly,  the Cattle Egret was still outside Strabane. (Ivan Quail &Nicky Lynn)

A Merlin and a Pomarine Skua passed St John’s Pt this morning ( Chris Murphy).

This Mediterranean Gull photo taken by Cameron Moore in Whitehead.  

Bird News Sunday 18th October

A White-rumped Sandpiper, a Ruff, an adult Mediterranean Gull and 400 Whoopers were at Ballykelly. 118 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Great Northern and 20 Red-throated Divers were off Myroe, a Water Rail was in the channel and a Merlin on the turf fields.  (Garry Armstrong / Stuart McKee)

Rathlin still had one Yellow-browed Warbler at Kinramer, and also 4 Snow Buntings and 19 Crossbills. (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)

Approximately 300 Golden Plover wee on rocks at Portstewart with a Merlin also present. 5 Long-eared Owls were at a roost in Coleraine. (John Clarke)

Approximately 1000 Whooper Swans were on Lough Foyle at Greysteel (Christine Cassidy). 15 Whooper Swans were seen flying over Newtownabbey (Jim McKeown)

Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen in Co Derry (Charles Stewart) and at Drum Bridge, Lagan Towpath (Richard Caves) 

A Slavonian Grebe and a Mediterranean Gull were at Ballymacormick Point. (James Andrew)

The Great White Egret was seen again at Castle Espie this afternoon (Gerard McGeehan et al)

The hybrid Ring-billed Gull was at Millisle. At Kearney 7 Pink-footed Geese were with 80 Whooper Swans. (Richard Weyl)

A Green Sandpiper was along the River Main at Slaght near Ballymena this evening (David Steele)

A Red Grouse was seen at Cove Mountain in the Mournes (Keith Dalzell)

Two Snow Abu ting were seen off Campsie Levels (P Smith)

Snow Bunting, Ric Else \ Hazel Watson:

Twite, Portrush, Mervyn Campbell:

Great Spotted Woodpecker (juvenile), Charles Stewart:

Great White Egret, Lesley Barker:

Bird News Saturday 17th October

The Cattle Egret was still bear Strabane (Brian Hegarty)

A Great White Egret was at Castle Espie, on the saltmarsh at high tide. (Maurice Turley).

Rathlin had one Yellow-browsed Warbler at Kinramer, a Snow Bunting at the west light, Woodcock, 4 Crossbill, 100+ Fieldfare and 3 Redwing (Ric Else, Hazel Watson et al). There was no sign of the White-tailed Eagle.

A late Manx Shearwater was at Dargan Bay (Ian Enlander)

10 Swallows were seen around Whitehead Lighthouse (Paul McCullough).

2 Swallows were just south of Killyleagh this afternoon. (Derek Polley).

6 Barnacle Geese were with Greylags at Glynn in Larne Lough. A flock of Fieldfares were in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

Cattle Egret, Brian Hegarty:

   Great White Egret - Maurice Turley.

    Barnacle Geese - Michael Latham:

    Twite - Thomas Campbell:

    Grey Wagtail - Thomas Campbell:

Bird News Friday 16th October

30 Twite were still at Ramore Head play park (S Riddell)

One Yellow-browed Warbler remains to be seen on Rathlin, the first Woodcock of the autumn was also seen.(Ric Else/Hazel Watson)

Rathlin also had a White-tailed Eagle and a Sabine's Gull on the ferry back to Ballycastle.(Colin Guy)

48 Whooper Swan were at the Quoile. Please note that the hide is closed. (Margaret Adamson)

The best at Kearney this morning was ring tailed Hen Harrier, 14 Pinkfeet, 1 Barnacle and 50 Whoopers (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara).

Yesterday Runkerry Wood had a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Northern Bullfinch (Dennis Weir).

At the Roe Estuary this evening there were at least 5000 Whoopers flying over to roost this evening plus 3 skeins of Pink Feet estimating a total of just over 200. (Martin Deehan)

Our  thanks to Ed O'Hara for the photo of a Merlin.

The 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler Influx

Autumn 2020 will go down in Northern Ireland birding as the best year ever for seeing or finding your own Yellow-browed Warbler. The status of this Siberian migrant has changed dramatically in the last twenty years. From been an extremely rare warbler with records every few years at best, it was removed as a rarity description species in 2018 as it was then an annual vagrant in NI. However the influx in 2020 has been unprecedented.

The first indications of the potential for the autumn came when Ric Else and Hazel Watson found a Yellow-browed Warbler on the 23rd September and another on the 30th September on Rathlin Island. Then from further afield, birders on Barra in the Western Isles reported 35 birds on the 2nd October and then a staggering 94+ birds on the 3rd October. Birds on the Western Isles of Scotland are likely to continue their migration by filtering down the west coast of Britain so surely some would hit our shores?

It was only a matter of time and as expected, Ric and Hazel started to find them on Rathlin. To date, it is estimated that at this stage over 30 birds have been reported including the following:

Rathlin Island – 22, Runkerry Wood – 3, Templecowey – 1, Kearney – 2, Browns Bay – 1, Jordanstown – 1, Gobbins – 1, Portrush – 1, Whitehead – 1, Comber – 1.

(The Rathlin number is the estimated minimum number of  birds present. It is possible that up to 30 were actually seen with 8 alone on the 11th October. There are unfortunately no records from Copeland due to Covid restrictions closing the observatory this autumn).

A number of the above birds were seen in gardens, a brilliant garden tick for some! It is still not too late to find your own Yellow-browed Warbler. The best approach is to find some sycamores or willows close to the coast and listen out for their distinctive call! Thanks to all who have reported and shared the above sightings.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Kearney - Garry Armstrong

Bird News Thursday 15th October

A Red Kite was in the Antrim hills this morning. (Kenny Moore)

A Spotted Redshank was at Dundrum Inner Bay (David Nixon)

Rathlin today had 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Brambling, 3 Crossbills and a Barnacle Goose (Ric Else \ Hazel Watson)

30 Twite were at Ramore Head (Juliet Fleming)

Spotted Redshank, David Nixon:

Twite, Juliet Fleming:

 Coal Tit, Dick Glasgow. There have been large numbers of Coal Tits moving through in the last month:

Bird News Wednesday 14th October

Two Yellow-browed Warblers were on Rathlin. 6 Barnacle Geese, 7 Fieldfare and a Merlin were also seen (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A Marsh Harrier remains at Portmore Lough (Suzanne Belshaw \ Richard Caves)

Yellow-browed Warbler, Ric Else \ Hazel Watson:

Marsh Harrier, Suzanne Belshaw:

BTO NI Conference

BTO NI Birdwatchers' Conference

This November BTO NI will be hosting a "virtual" conference on Zoom. The conference will be held over three sessions, costing only £5 for all three. For more information and online booking, please see the following link: https://www.bto.org/community/events/202011-bto-northern-ireland-birdwatchers-conference 

Bird News Tuesday 13th October.

 Rathlin Island had 3 Yellow-browed Warbler and a Brambling.(Ric Else/Hazel Watson et al)

Bird News Monday 12th October

 Three American Golden Plover, an adult and two juveniles, and a Ruff were at the turf fields at Myroe.

A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Blackcap were at Runkerry Wood. (Martin Deehan).

Three male Long-tailed Ducks were off Carnalea this morning. (Philip Watson).

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Snipe:

Bird News Sunday 11th October

At least 8 Yellow-browed Warblers were on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson / Wilton Farrelly)

A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Blackcap are at Templecowey, Outer Ards (Richard Weyl)

The Lesser Whitethroat was still present at gardens at the east end of Runkerry Wood along with a Yellow-browed Warbler (Stuart McKee)

An American Golden Plover was at Ballykelly (Daniel Newton)

A juv. White-tailed Eagle was seen in the Antrim Hills.(Michael Latham)

A flock of 10 Twite and a Wheatear where at Sandy Bay, Larne.(Kevin Kirkham)

A Red Kite was in the Antrim hills. (Kenny Moore)

The Sacred Ibis was still at kiltybane lough, Cullyhanna a Common Sandpiper was also present.(Frank Carroll)

The Pied Flycatcher was seen again at Runkerry Wood late afternoon (Daniel Newton)

5 Barnacle Geese were at Glynn this afternoon. (Brian Halligan)

Our thanks to Michael Latham for the photo of the White-tailed Eagle.

Bird News Saturday 10th October

A flock of 32 Barnacle Geese were flying over the Skerries heading west (Garry Armstrong)

A Yellow-browed warbler is still at Kearney, 80 Whoopers were also present. 8 Whoopers were at Burial Island, 2 Mediterranean Gulls were in Cloughy  Bay and another Mediterranean Gull was at Knockenelder Bay. (Richard Weyl)

3 Yellow-browed Warblers & a Lesser Whitethroat are at the east end gardens, Runkerry Co.Antrim. A Pied Flycatcher is also present with 3 Twite on the beach. (Richard Hunter / Richard Donaghey)

A female Goosander and 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Ballykelly.  120 Whoopers were at Myroe with another 150 in stubble fields along Broighter Road.  (Garry Armstrong).

An adult Little Gull was at Belfast WOW reserve, 3 Ruff were also present. (Kevin Kirkham).

A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Brown's Bay in trees and bushes opposite the gates to Inishreen. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

3 American Golden Plover, an adult and 2 juveniles were with 1,000 Golden  Plover in a ploughed field at the west end of Myroe.  (Garry Armstrong).

A Yellow-browed Warbler was in a private garden in Jordanstown near the railway station. (Paul McCullough).

143 Whooper Swans in 7 flocks flew over Prehen Park in L'Derry. (Christine Cassidy).

Rathlin this morning had 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 10 Twite, 14 Barnacle Geese, a Brambling and a few Redwings. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A Norwegian-rung Common Gull (White JE334), was on the shore at Glynn this afternoon - ringed as a chick in the Karmøy area, in July 2017. Today's sighting was the first sighting outside of Norway. A colour-ringed Common Gull (Blue 2BKX), at Glynn, was ringed as a chick in June 2019, on Rathlin Island. An un-ringed juvenile Mediterranean Gull was also at Glynn. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Sandy Bay in Larne. (Gareth Platt).

2 Barnacle Geese, 6 Pink Footed Geese and 4 Whooper Swans flew past Ballintoy this evening. (Colin Guy).

Thanks to Richard Hunter for the picture of the Yellow-browed Warbler, to Ric Else for the picture of the Twite and to Gareth Platt for the pictures of the ringed Common Gull and the Mediterranean Gull: