Bird News Thursday 30th September

One Pectoral Sandpiper and 2 Greenshank are at Portmore Lough RSPB (Alistair Rae)

Two Ruff were at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

A seawatch between 11 and 2 at St Johns Point had a Great Skua, 18 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver (Michael Latham)

15+ Red Kite were in the Dromara Hills. (Tim Jess)

Red Kites, Tim Jess:



Islay Boat Trip

Islay boat trip - There are five seats left for the boat trip to Islay on Saturday 30th October.

The huge flock of 35,000 Barnacle Geese will have arrived on the island and the trip will include a visit to the RSPB's Loch Gruinart reserve where most of these will be easily seen. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details.

Bird News Wednesday 29th September

2 Grey Phalaropes were off Rinagree between Portrush and Portstewart this morning. (John Clarke).

2 White Wagtails were at Millisle (Bob Watts)

A Red Kite was seen low over Carryduff flying towards the Saintfield Road. (Kevin O'Grady).

A dozen Purple Sandpipers were with Turnstones in Portrush. (Lindsay Hodges).

Two Pinkfeet were at Mullagh, Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).

A dark bellied Brent Goose was at Kinnegar shore this afternoon. (Suzanne Belshaw)

An adult  White-tailed Sea Eagle was seen at Dunboe Road, Castlerock this morning. (Noel Anderson)

Thanks to Lindsay Hodges for the pictures of the Purple Sandpipers and the Wheatear, to Jonny Rosborough for the picture of the juvenile Puffin, to Tim Jess for the picture of the Red Kite and to Suzanne Belshaw for the picture of the dark bellied Brent Goose:







Bird News Tuesday 28th September

At least one of the Pectoral Sandpipers was still at Portmore Lough (Michael Latham)

The Little-ringed Plover at Myroe, again near the pallets on the Roe side of the site. (Just for caution, 2 juvenile Ringed Plovers were there as well). , 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were in the fields with a large flock of gulls, and another was off shore. Ballykelly shore also had 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 adult and 1 2nd Winter, as well as 2 Pink-footed Geese. Around 1000 Golden Plovers were in a field not far up the track. (David Nixon & Philip McHaffie)


Our thanks to David &Philip  for the photo of the Little ringed Plover.


Bird News Monday 27th September

The two Pectoral Sandpiper are still at RSPB Portmore Lough (Robert Hughes \ Richard Caves \ Michael Latham)

8 Ruff are still at RSPB WoW (Bob Watts)

4 juvenile Ruff were at Reedy Flat, Lough Neagh (David Knight)

A Ruff was at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh (Richard Caves)

A 1st Winter Mediterranean Gull was at the high-tide roost at the 12 Arches end of Dundrum South Inner Bay this afternoon (David Nixon)

Pectoral Sandpipers, Michael Latham:



Ruff, Richard Caves:


Bird News Sunday 26th September

The Little Ringed Plover was still around the pallets at the Roe end of Myroe. A Pink-footed Goose was also present with 6 Greylags. (Garry Armstrong, Stuart McKee).

A Dotterel is with Golden Plover in a ploughed field at the junction of Lomond Road and Broighter Road on the way down to Myroe. Two Greenland Wheatears were also in the field. (Garry Armstrong, Stuart McKee).

The two Pectoral Sandpiper and a Marsh Harrier were at Portmore Lough (Shirley Dunlop, Gerard McGeehan, Ray Bennett).

Two Great Skua's were chasing Sandwich Terns in Newcastle Harbour. (Philip West).

35 Tree Sparrows were at the end of Brook End Road, Ardboe. A Grasshopper Warbler was flushed from dense grass at Blackers Rock. (Godfrey McRoberts).

At least 7 Red Kites were seen in the Ballyward area today. (Michael Latham).

The Little Ringed Plover was still at the Roe end of Myroe this afternoon, a Curlew Sandpiper was also present. (Wilton Farrelly).

Thanks to Stuart McKee for the pictures of the Dotterel and the Little Ringed Plover and to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Red Kites:







Little Ringed Plover, Derek Brennan:


Bird News Saturday 25th September

The 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were still at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. 2 Wheatears were also present. (Ed O'Hara). The 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were still present this afternoon. (Nigel Moore, Ade Fox, Richard Caves).

The Bonaparte's Gull is on Kinnegar shore again this morning. 8 Ruff and 2 Knot were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW this morning.  (Garry Armstrong).

The Spotted Flycatcher was still in bushes at the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

6 Red Kites were at Ballyward, also two Stock Doves and a White Wagtail. A further 5 White Wagtails, 2 Wheatears and an adult Med Gull were at Kilhorne Bay, Annalong. (Richard Gray)

A White-tailed Eagle is at Douglas Bridge, Co Tyrone (Roslyn Kee).

2 Ruff were on exposed mud at Rea's Wood on the north shore of Lough Neagh. (Stuart McKee),

Thanks to everyone who sent in the pictures below of the Pectoral Sandpipers, to David Steele for the pictures of the Long-billed Dowitcher from Lough Beg last week and to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Spotted Flycatcher:

Ed O'Hara

Nigel Moore

Ade Fox

Richard Caves

David Steele

Ed O'Hara

Bonaparte's Gull, Kinnegar Shore




Bird News Friday 24th September


2 Pectoral Sandpiper have been found at Portmore Lough reserve, a White Wagtail was also present.(Michael Latham)

The juvenile Little Ringed Plover was still at Myroe this morning, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Grey Plover and a Little Stint were also present. (Garry Armstrong)

4 Great Skua and 2 Red Throated Diver were off Ramore Head at lunchtime (S Riddell)

Between 11.30 and 2pm, Ramore Head had 10 Great Skuas, 4 Arctic Skua, 5 Golden Plover and 2 Red-throated Diver, a continued sea-watch between 4pm-5.15pm produced 10 Great Skua, 3 Arctic and 1 Pom. Skua.  (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

A Med Gull was  at Groomsport.(Derek Polley) 

A (ringed)  juv. Sandwich Tern photographed on Kinnegar shore yesterday has been tracked back to the Netherlands, it was ringed on 16th June,here is the link  http://submit.cr-birding.org/animals/82122/AM4FLuM9OOXoDpl0NHH9/.(Ronnie Taggart) see photo below.


Little Ringed Plover, Garry Armstrong:

Sanderling and Knot, Thomas Campbell:

Pectoral Sandpipers - Michael Latham




Sandwich Tern(ringed) - Ronnie Taggart.







Bird News Thursday 23rd September

A Short-eared Owl was at Ramore Head at 10am (Stephen Riddell)

A Spotted Flycatcher was in bushes by the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island this morning. A Wheatear and 3 White Wagtails were at Ballinacor outside Lurgan(Ed O'Hara).

8 Ruff were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Derek Polley).

A 4 hour sea-watch at Melmore Head in Donegal this morning had 43 Sooty Shearwaters, 38 Great Skua, 4 Arctic Skua, 2 Pomarine Skua, 1 Leaches Petrel, 5 Arctic Tern, 18 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Northern Diver, 1 Common Scoter, 4 Teal, 3 Kittiwake, 2 Fulmar and 1 Peregrine. (Eric Randall, Allen Gillespie).

A Curlew Sandpiper was at the Barmouth this morning. (John Spottiswood)

Ramore Head had 6 Arctic Skua, 3 Bonxie, 5 Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Common Scoter, 8 Tufted Duck, 64 Arctic Tern, 520 Kittiwake and circa 300 Gannet all heading west over c.90 mins this morning (Matthew Tickner)

The Little Ringed Plover was still at Myroe this evening (Donna Riddell \ Thomas Campbell)

Little Ringed Plover, Thomas Campbell:

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Spotted Flycatcher and the White Wagtail:




Bird News Wednesday 22nd September

The Black-throated Diver was still off Ballywalter from Harbour Road, also 4 Greenland Wheatear (Bob Watts)

A presumed adult White-tailed Eagle was at Carrigullian Lough, Killinchy on Sunday (Ken Brundle)

The juvenile Little Ringed Plover was seen at the east end of Myroe in the field with the pallets (Graham Mitchell)

Dipper, Ian Jackson:


Bird News Tuesday 21st September

One Buff-breasted Sandpiper was roosting from 6.00 to 6.40 pm, in cut-over lawn fields, Myroe.(Chris Murphy)

The White-tailed Eagle was still around Devenish Island, Co Fermanagh this morning, best seen from the public jetty at Trory (Brad Robson)

The second winter Glaucous Gull was at the Barmouth this morning (Ade Fox)

8 Ruff were at RSPB WoW this morning. (Bob Watts)

The juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher and 22 Ruff were at the south end of Lough Beg at 1.20pm. (Chris Murphy)

A Black-throated Diver in summer plumage was at Long Strand, Ballywalter this afternoon. (Philip Watson.)

17 White Wagtails were at Ballinacor outside Lurgan this afternoon. (Ed O'Hara).

The Bonaparte's Gull was on Kinnegar shore at 18.30.(Wilton Farrelly)

Glaucous Gull, Ade Fox:


Bird News Monday 20th September

 Two Little Stints were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Stuart McKee).

A White-tailed Eagle flew south down the shore of Lower Lough Erne east of Devenish Island. (Brad Robson).

A Great White Egret flew west over Ballyquintan Point this afternoon. (Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn).

A juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher is in the south west corner of Lough Beg, associating with a juvenile Spotted Redshank and two Redshank. (David Steele).

The Glaucous Gull was still in the Burger King carpark in Coleraine this afternoon. (Ade Fox) 

The  Bonaparte's Gull was on Kinnegar shore this evening. (Wilton Farrelly).

A Reed Warbler and a Kingfisher were at Strand Lough. (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to David Steele for the picture of the Long-billed Dowitcher (left), Spotted Redshank (centre), and Redshank (left), and to Ade Fox for the picture of the Glaucous Gull:


Redshank (left), Long-billed Dowitcher (centre), Spotted Redshank (right)

Long-billed Dowitcher (left), Redshank (centre), Spotted Redshank (right).




Bird News Sunday 19th September

3 Chiffchaff, a White Wagtail, Sedge Warbler and 2 Little Stint were at RSPB WoW (Stuart McKee)

At least one of the Buff Breasted Sandpipers is at the Roe Estuary end of Myroe (Garry Armstrong) The 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were present with a Ruff this afternoon. (Jamie Bliss).

Ballykelly had 26 Mediterranean Gulls and a Ruff (Garry Armstrong)

A Slavonian Grebe was off Glynn in Larne Lough. (Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn)

The Glaucous Gull was on the roof top of Benson's Beds opposite Burger King in Coleraine (Jeff Larkin)

A summer plumaged Black-throated Diver was off Ballymacormack Point. (James Andrew).

Two Wheatear were present at Myroe (Marian O’Hara).

Two Wheatear, a White Wagtail and 7 Tree Sparrows were at Ballinacor outside Lurgan. (Ed O'Hara).

Buzzard, Thomas Campbell:


Bird News Saturday 18th September

The Little Stint, a White Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaff and 10 Ruff were at RSPB WoW this morning (Stuart McKee)

A Little Stint was at Kinnegar Pool on the rocks, early afternoon (Daniel Newton).

Two Buff-breasted Sandpipers were in the rough field at the bridge at the Roe Estuary end of Myroe. (Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn), Dermot Hughes)

The Bonaparte’s Gull was at the Kinnegar Sewage Pond at 4:20 (Bob Watts)

 4 Ruff where along the North shore of Strangford Lough today. (seen from along the path that starts at the Floodgates). 2 Wheatears were seen too.(David Nixon)

A Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Ruff at Myroe this evening.(John Spottiswood)

Our thanks to Daniel Newton for the photo of the Little Stint (right hand bird)



Bird News Friday 17th September

The two juvenile Black Terns were still at Oxford Island this morning. (Ed O'Hara).

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover is at the east end of Myroe on the sandy area with pallets. There was no sign of the Buff-breasted Sandpipers this morning. (Jeff Larkin)

A Little Stint and 11 Ruff are at RSPB WoW (Bob Watts)

Two Arctic Skua's were at St John's Point this morning, two Kingfishers were in Killough Harbour. (Chris Murphy).

A 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull was at Kiltonga in Newtownards. (George Gordon).

The Spotted Redshank was still in the south west corner of Lough Beg, three Garganey were also present. (David Steele).

Ten Red-throated Diver were at Grey Point, 56 Knot and 6 Greenshank were at Whitehouse lagoon. (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

Two Wheatear, 5 White Wagtail and 4 Tree Sparrows were at Ballinacor outside Lurgan. (Ed O'Hara).

One of the Buff-breasted Sandpipers was at Myroe this afternoon. The Little Ringed Plover was also still present along with a Curlew Sandpiper. (Richard Donaghey, John Clarke).

Bird News Thursday 16th September

The two juvenile Black Terns were still present at Oxford Island this morning. (Ed O'Hara / Bob Watts)

11 Ruff are at RSPB WoW. (Derek Polley)

2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were on the turf fields at the Roe Estuary end of Myroe. (Stuart McKee, Hal McCullough). The birds were still present at 5:30pm (Bob Watts) At least one of the birds was present at 7pm along with a White Wagtail (John Spottiswood)

10+ Ruff and 2 Little Stint were at Blanketnook, Donegal (Bob Watts)

Two first winter Little Gull were at Kinnegar Pool today (Thomas Campbell)

A juvenile Spotted Redshank was with Ruff and godwits in the southwest corner of Lough Beg this afternoon. A Mediterranean Gull was on the Beg and a Spotted Flycatcher was at Mullagh. (David Steele)

The Bonapartes Gull was at Kinnegar Pool and shore from 3:30 - 5pm (Chris Murphy)

A record shot of the two Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Stuart McKee:

Little Gulls, Kinnegar, Thomas Campbell:



Bird News Wednesday 15th September

The Bonaparte’s Gull was feeding at Kinnegar Sewage Pool at 11:45 (Alistair Rae)

12 Ruff where at the RSPB WoW reserve.(Gerard McGeehan)

1 Black Tern was still at Kinnego, Oxford Island.(Ed O'Hara)

A 1st winter Little Gull was on Whitehead seafront.(Brian Halligan/Cameron Moore)

Last Friday, Debbie Nelson (better known to many as 'Debbie Doolittle'), was asked by Belfast Harbour Police to attend to a bird on the cruise ship, Anthem of the Sea. It turned out that they were two Sooty Shearwaters which may have collided with the ship around the Orkney Islands. Both birds were released in to the Irish Sea, last Friday. Thanks to Debbie for the pics:


Our thanks to Cameron for the photo off the Little Gull. 



Bird News Tuesday 14th September

The Bonaparte’s Gull is at Kinnegar Sewage Pool at 10:50 (Stuart McKee)

11 Ruff were at RSPB WoW (Bob Watts)

A Spotted Flycatcher was at Aghmakane, north of Slieve Gullion (John Spottiswood)

This morning an Osprey was over Dundrum Inner Bay South, flying towards Newcastle (Danny Baillie)

2 Little Stints, 7 Wheatear and a Greenshank were at Ballymacormack Point. (James Andrew).

The 2 juvenile Black Terns were still at Oxford Island. 3 Wheatears and 2 Golden Plover were in a ploughed field at Ballinacor. (Ed O'Hara).

The Osprey was still at the Bann Estuary this afternoon. (Wilbert Mcilmoyle)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Little Egret and the Great Spotted Woodpecker, to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Black Tern and to Wilbert Mcilmoyle for the picture of the Osprey:







Bird News Monday 13th September

11 Ruff and 3 Curlew Sandpiper were at RSPB WoW. An adult winter Mediterranean Gull and a dark phase Arctic Skua were off Kinnegar (Stuart McKee).

A 1st year Mediterranean Gull was at Sandy Bay in Larne this afternoon. Yesterday 7 Mediterranean Gulls were at Mill Bay on Islandmagee. (Cameron Moore).

6 Wheatears were at St John's Point. (John Spottiswood). 3 Wheatears were also at Ballinacor, Lough Neagh (Ed O'Hara)

2 Peregrine, 500 Brent and 6 Greylag were at Ballykelly. (Martin Deehan).

2 Peregrine and a Common Sandpiper were at the Roe Estuary. (Robert Hughes).

2 Arctic Skua were off Grey Point this evening (Wilton Farrelly).

Manx Shearwater, Lough Neagh, Michael Henderson:


Bird News Sunday 12th September.

A Bairds Sandpiper has been seen at the Roe Estuary end of Myroe this morning. A Little Stint, 2 Sanderling and 4 Wheatear were also present. 3 White Wagtails and 2 Wheatear were in a ploughed field at the west end. (Garry Armstrong)

Bann estuary this morning had the Osprey a Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher, 6 Red throated Diver where at Magilligan and the Rosy Starling still in Coleraine.(S Riddell)

2 Ruff were at Lady's Bay.(Ed O'Hara).

An Arctic Skua was off Garron Point on the Antrim coast in calm conditions. 100 Brent Geese were migrating south offshore. (David Steele).

Lough  Beg Paddy's dub this morning had 2 Green Sandpiper, 15 Ruff, 2 Black tailed Godwit, 30 Common Snipe and 60 Teal. (Godfrey McRoberts)

Sea-watching from St John's Point between 7.30am and 2.30pm: Minimum 5 Minke Whales, c. 1000 Gannets, 2 Great Skua, 3 Little Gulls (2adult, 1juvenile), c.100 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Great Northern Diver, 29 Red-throated Divers, 36 Puffins, 72 Scoter, 1 Merlin (flying south, stayed out to sea); Big Visible Migration: c.2000 Swallows and Martins, c.1,000 Meadow Pipits, c.200 Skylarks, 1 Swift, 60 Tree Sparrows; Killough Harbour at 3.30pm (High Tide): 27 Little Egrets, 22 Grey Herons, Peregrine, Kingfisher, Wheatear (Chris Murphy).

Bird News Saturday 11th September

The Bonaparte's Gull was on Kinnegar shore this morning, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was also present. Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve had the 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 10 Ruff, a Sanderling and a Golden Plover. (Garry Armstrong).

The 2 juvenile Black Terns and the 2 Manx Shearwaters were still at Oxford Island this morning. (Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn / Tony Dodds)

2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Chiffchaff & 2 Wheatear were the best at St.John Point, Co.Down this morning. (Richard Hunter)

The Osprey was still at the Bann Estuary this morning. (Richard Donaghey). The Osprey was still present this afternoon, a Common Sandpiper was also present. (Robbie Hughes).

A Greenland race female Wheatear was at Burr Point, Ballyhalbert. (Derek Polley).

An adult Little Gull was at Whitehead seafront today. (Cameron Moore).

An Arctic Skua was off Magilligan Point. (Stephen Dunbar).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the picture of the Little Gull, to Stephen Dunbar for the picture of the Arctic Skua, to Richard Hunter for the picture of the Spotted Flycatcher and to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Wheatear: