Three Corncrake were calling on Rathlin this morning (Stuart Cossey)
Three Ruff are still in the rushy pool at Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh (Garry Armstrong)
An Osprey was seen on Rathlin, at the east Lighthouse this morning (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)
Bird News Sunday 19th May
The second calendar year Iceland Gull is still at Portballintrae (Chris Murphy)
Bird News Saturday 18th May
A Common Redpoll was on on Rathlin (Stuart Cossey)
An Arctic Skua went past Portstewart Head this morning. (Stephen Riddell).
A Roseate Tern was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Kevin Kirkham).
There are still 3 Ruff in the rushy pool in the middle of Reedy Flats. (Garry Armstrong).
A Short-eared Owl flew high over Mill Bay on Rathlin. (Chris Murphy).
2 Yellowhammers were at Ballyhalbert Road near Killough. (David Clarke).
A Whimbrel with an injured leg was at Orlock Point. (Steven Farquhar).
An Osprey seen from the car flew north west over Upper Road, Carrickfergus. (Bob Watts).
Arctic Skua, Stephen Riddell
Short-eared Owl, Ric Else.
Bird News Friday 17th May
The Wood Sandpiper at RSPB WoW was looked for early this morning but was not seen. (Stuart Cossey)
A Dark-bellied Brent and 21 Brent, are still present in Dundrum North Inner Bay, seen from Keel Point. (David Nixon)
A Short-eared Owl was on Inishtrahull, Co Donegal (Jim Wells)
The drake Garganey was at Portmore RSPB late afternoon (Garry Armstrong)
Garganey, Portmore, Richard Caves:
Bird News Thursday 16th May
Wood Sandpiper at Belfast RSPB WoW Reserve found 1145 still present 1910 at least, on mud far side from Hide 1 but closer from Hide 2 though elusive at times in grass (Derek Polley / Ronnie Doggart / John Fraser / Bob Watts / Stuart Cossey et al). Also 2 Mediterranean Gulls on raft in front of visitor centre (Derek Polley et al). 11+ Arctic Terns in front of Hide 2 (Bob Watts).
Spotted Flycatcher at Kelly’s Wood, St John’s Point (Aaron Long).
Great White Egret and Garganey from the platform at Inch, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram).
Cuckoo calling from Kellswater Road, north of Randalstown this morning (Chris Hamilton).
Cuckoo in the Downhill area (John Spratt).
4 Garganey at Church Island Bay, Lough Beg; 3 drakes and duck (Richard Hunter).
Adult Yellow-legged Gull on River Lagan in central Belfast off Concentrix at 1825 (Niall Keogh).
2 Curlew Sandpipers at the Bann Estuary this evening (John Spottiswood).
Wood Sandpiper, Daniel Newton:
Bird News Wednesday 15th May
No sign of Temminck’s Stint at Portmore Lough RSPB 0700-0800 (Aaron Long).
Cattle Egret on Brankins Island Road with the bull (Aaron Long / Richard Caves).
Unconfirmed report of Chough from Derry Cityside early morning (Greg Ness via eBird). No sign late morning/early afternoon Prehen Woods (Theo Campbell / Barry Walls).
Osprey over the harbour this morning (Chris Bell), also Tree Pipit and Fieldfare at Keble, Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson). Late news from yesterday of Short-eared Owl (Chris Bell).
3 Garganey (2 male, female) Church Island, Lough Beg (Adam McClure).
3 Ruff in the rushy pool in the middle of Reedy Flats (Garry Armstrong).
Cattle Egret, Richard Caves:
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Bird News Tuesday 14th May
The Temminck's Stint is still at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Daniel Newton). The bird was still present early afternoon. (Bob Watts).
A sea watch this morning from St. John's Point produced a single pale phase Arctic Skua and two Whimbrel. Also 11 Red-throated Divers and 6 Common Scoter. (Stephen Foster).
A Whimbrel, Purple Sandpiper, Golden Plover, 20 Sanderling and 220 Turnstone were at Kearney on the Outer Ards. (Dermot Hughes).
3 Garden Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher and Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Crom in Co.Fermanagh. (Stuart Cossey).
Temminck's Stint, Daniel Newton.
Bird News Monday 13th May
The Temmincks stint present this morning at Portmore, co Antrim. Has moved to the mud bank at the far right of the pool in front of platform (Arron Long)
Cattle Egret, Garry Wilkinson:
The Temmnicks Stint was still at Portmore late morning and the Cattle Egret was with calves before you come to the bull on Brankins Island Road at midday (Garry Wilkinson)
Three Garganey were at Lough Beg this morning, also four male Ruff present. (David Steele)
A Spotted Flycatcher was at Ervey Wood/Ness Wood. (Conor McCoy). Another was on Rathlin (Ric Else)
Temmincks Stint (in front of the Common Terns), David McCreedy:
Many thanks to all who send in bird news and pictures. You can see more pictures of local birds at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/
Bird News Sunday 12th May
No sign of male Grey-headed Wagtail on Rathlin this morning (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
At Belfast WoW RSPB Reserve this morning 2 Mediterranean Gulls on the raft in front of the visitors centre and an Arctic Tern by Hide 2. No sign of either Roseate Tern or Bonaparte’s Gull (Aaron Long).
Cuckoo at D3 next to Belfast WoW RSPB Reserve (Stuart Cossey).
2nd winter Iceland Gull still at Portballintrae (Stephen & Donna Riddell).
Drake Ring-necked Duck and 2 Whimbrel around the Mullagh, Lough Beg this morning (Richard Hunter).
Cuckoo at Murlough NR (Paul Hunter).
Temminck’s Stint on the pool at Portmore Lough RSPB (Garry Armstrong).
Temminck’s Stint, Michael Latham:
Iceland Gull, Stephen Riddell:
Reed Warbler, Michael Latham:
Bird News Saturday 11th May
An Alpine Swift was over the southern end of Ballycastle this evening. (Daniel McAfee, Geoff Campbell).
Male Grey-headed Wagtail on Rathlin at Glebe Marsh; field/pool behind bar where Blue-headed & Ashy-headed seen previously (Clive Mellon et al)
Yesterday, an adult Bonapartes Gull was at RSPB WoW (Lilian Ferguson)
There was no sign of the Bonaparte's Gull at RSPB WoW reserve this morning but 3 Mediterranean Gulls were present. A Whimbrel and a Knot were present this afternoon but there was still no sign of the Bonaparte's Gull. (Aaron Long).
A White-tailed Eagle was over the sea at Portstewart. (Peter Hough).
A Roseate Tern was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Dot Blakeley, Aaron Long). An Arctic Tern was also present. (Bob Watts).
2 Mediterranean Gulls were at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Alan Dickson).
A Cuckoo was calling at Sharvogues Bog outside Randalstown. (Norman Allison).
Bonaparte's Gull, Lilian Ferguson:
Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail, Ric Else.
Roseate Tern & Cuckoo, Michael Latham.
Bird News Friday 10th May
The drake Lesser Scaup and a Great White Egret are still at Blanketnook, Donegal (Theo Campbell / Chris Ingram)
Ring-necked Duck, David Steele:
A Short-eared Owl was on Copeland BO this morning (Megan Eastick)
The drake Garganey was still at Portmore RSPB this afternoon (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop / David Gillespie). An adult Mediterranean Gull and 3 Common Tern were also present (David Gillespie)
A male Garganey (a dull individual already well into its summer moult) is at Lough Beg- it’s a different bird to the one on 5th May (which was in full breeding plumage). The male Ring-necked Duck is also present. There was no sign of the Little Ringed Plover (David Steele)
A Dark- bellied Brent (probably 2) was with 80 Brent in Dundrum South Inner Bay today. 6 Whimbrel were also present. (David Nixon)
Dark-bellied Brent, David Nixon:
Sanderling flock, David Hill:
Bird News Thursday 9th May
The Garganey was still at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Stephen Riddell).
At least 2 Garden Warblers were at Doohat near Crom in Co.Fermanagh. (Dermot Hughes, John O'Boyle).
16 Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit were at the Lough Erne Golf Resort outside Enniskillen. (Ronan Owens).
3 Dark-bellied Brent were with 11 Pale-bellied Brent in Killough Harbour. (Chris Murphy).
A Cuckoo was calling in the Burntollet Valley near Claudy From the carpark of Ness Country Park. (Stephen Davis).
Garganey, Stephen Riddell.
Bird News Wednesday 8th May
The Wood Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover were still at Lough Beg this morning (Richard Hunter)
The drake Lesser Scaup is still at Blanketnook, Donegal (Chris Ingram)
The drake Garganey was still at Portmore although can be elusive. (David McCreedy)
At least two Corncrake have been calling on Rathlin (Ric Else)
A Grasshopper Warbler and Cuckoo were on the Causeway Coast (Richard Donaghy)
A Red-throated Diver and Greenland Wheatear were at Kinnegar this morning (Jonny Clark)
Two Wood Sandpiper were at Lough Beg (David Steele)
Greenland Wheatear, Gibbs Island NT, Terry Hanna:
Garganey, David McCreedy.
Bird News Tuesday 7th May
No sign of the probable Ashy-headed Wagtail on Rathlin this morning (Hazel Watson / Ric Else).
Mediterranean Gull on the rafts at Portmore Lough RSPB (Robbie Hughes).
A Whimbrel yesterday along the seashore at the bottom of the snake path in Chaine Park, Larne (David Gillespie).
3rd calendar year Iceland Gull still at Portballintrae (Stephen & Donna Riddell).
3 Whimbrel and 2 Red-throated Divers heading north at St John’s Point this morning (Aaron Long).
Male Ring Ouzel and 2 Wheatears atop Slieve Bernagh, Mournes (Tim Murphy).
Wood Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover at Lough Beg (David Steele).
The drake Garganey is still at Portmore Lough RSPB. Nearby at Lady Bay 35 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper (Richard Caves).
5 Dark-bellied Brent Geese among c 290 Brents at Killough Harbour, also 16 Whimbrel and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits (Chris Murphy).
Little Ringed Plover, David Steele:
Common Whitethroat, Donna Riddell:
Bird News Monday 6th May
An apparent Ashy-headed Yellow Wagtail was on Rathlin this evening. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
A male Garganey and the female Marsh Harrier were at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Michael Latham). The female Marsh Harrier was still present at 4.30, there was no sign of the Garganey. (Garry Wilkinson).
2 Ruff and 2 White Wagtails were in the rushy pool in the middle of Reedy Flats. (Clifford Sharpe).
4 Whimbrel were around Orlock Point. (Steven Fyffe).
Yesterday a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Turnstone were at Toome, 3 Fieldfare were at Slieveanora and 5 Pinkfeet at Lough Beg. (Chris & Tim Murphy).
A Common Sandpiper was at Dungonnell Dam, Cargan. (Ginny McKee).
A Red-throated Diver was off Kinnegar shore. (Dan Barry).
A Wood Sandpiper was at Lough Beg, also present were two Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank, two Sanderling (among a strong passage of Dunlins and Ringed Plovers), 50 Whimbrel and 15 White Wagtails. (David Steele).
A pair of Ravens have bred near Belfast City Centre with young now close to fledging. (Richard Gray).
Apparent Ashy-headed Yellow Wagtail, Hazel Watson.
Wood Sandpiper, David Steele.
Garganey, Michael Latham.
Marsh Harrier, Michael Latham.
Sedge Warbler, Terry Hanna.
Bird News Sunday 5th May
2 Long-tailed duck are still off Kinnegar barracks. 8 Whimbrel and 4 Common Sandpiper were at Kinnegar shore (Stuart Cossey)
Spotted Flycatcher, David Stirling:
Sedge Warbler, David Stirling:
A Marsh Harrier was at Portmore this morning (Ryan Holgate)
A Cuckoo at Bann Estuary yesterday evening (John Spottiswood).
4 Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Sedge Warbler & Fieldare ringed at Copeland BO today, also Whinchat, Short-eared Owl & Cuckoo seen (David Sterling).
Around Newcastle; Cuckoo calling from Bloody Bridge, with 2 Common Sandpipers and a Wheatear Blackrock (Stephen Foster).
4 Common Sandpipers in the harbour side of Portballintrae (Chris Rankin).
Male Yellow Wagtail near farmhouse at Ballyquintin Point also 2 Garden Warbler in hedges near entrance and a Whinchat (Richard Weyl). Whinchat still present at 1530 with 6 Greenland Wheatear in vicinity and several Whimbrel but no further sign of Yellow Wagtail or Garden Warblers (Bob Watts).
2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese with c50 PB Brent Geese Cloughy Bay (Richard Weyl).
12 Great Northern Divers in summer plumage from Tyrella public car park and a pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins (Chris Murphy).
8 Greenland Wheatear, 7 Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, 2 Great Northern Divers St John’s Point, 2 Spotted Flycatchers at Kelly’s Wood. Whimbrel at Killough (Bob Watts).
Iceland Gull still at Portballintrae (Donna & Stephen Riddell).
A Cuckoo at Fairy Water Bogs (Steven Fyffe).
Flock of 70 Whimbrel at Reedy Flats (Garry Armstrong).
3 Wheatear, 15 Whimbrel, Grey Plover and Jack Snipe at Ballymckormick Point (James Andrew).
Drake Garganey at Lough Beg this morning, also Turnstone, 70 Whimbrel, 17 White Wagtail, 5 Pink-footed Geese (David Steele).
Cuckoo at Benevanagh Forest (Tom Garner).
3 Cuckoo at Keel Point, Dundrum (Rhona Bell).
26 Whimbrel at Lady Bay this evening (Garry Armstrong).
32 Whimbrel, 9 Common Sandpipers and 6 Purple Sandpipers on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
Garden Warbler, David Stirling:
Fieldfare, David Stirling:
Iceland Gull, Stephen Riddell:
Bird News Saturday 4th May
A Wood Sandpiper and 3 Ruff were in the centre of Reedy Flats (Garry Armstrong)
3 Whinchat were on Copeland today (CBO)
A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was off Tides restaurant, Portstewart(Natalie Montgomery)
A Dark-bellied Brent was off Loughshore car park. The north foreshore Belfast lough also had a Common Scoter and 6 Red Throated Diver (Stuart McKee)
Fourteen Turnstone, 52 Dunlin, two Whimbrel, four Pink-footed Geese, a Cuckoo and 24 White Wagtails were at Lough Beg today. (David Steele)
Yesterday two Ravens were in and around City Hall, Belfast yesterday afternoon (Seamus O'Hara)
Bird News Friday 3rd May
A single Whimbrel was on the shore at Carnalea in Bangor. (Mark Coyle).
A cuckoo was calling again near Gortin Lakes outside Omagh. (Ian McKee).
A pair of Whinchat were at Murlough, Co. Antrim. (Adam McClure).
A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling at Valley Park, Newtownabbey this morning. (Andrew Upton).
An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve. (David McCreedy).
A male Common Scoter was at Lough Shark. (Joe Devlin).
A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was at Fisherman's Row in Killough and an immature was off Rossglass. (Tim Murphy).
15 Whimbrel and a Grasshopper Warbler were between the Giants Causeway and Runkerry. (Clive Mellon).
2 Cuckoos were at Murlough Nature Reserve, Co. Down. (Tim Davis).
Rathlin today had a Whinchat, 3 Fieldfare, 9 Twite, 3 Grasshopper Warblers and a Corncrake. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
80 Whimbrel, a Cuckoo and a Grasshopper Warbler were at the Bann Estuary. (John Spottiswood).
Wheatear, Michael Latham.
Whinchat, Ric Else.
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