Bird News Tuesday 5th November 2024

The Shore Lark was still at Clermont Carn, Cooley Peninsula, Co Louth this morning, at the RTE transmitter. (Aaron Long). The bird was still present at 2:30 (Mike McLaughlin / David McCreedy / Eamon Larrisey)

The Barred Warbler was still present this morning at Ballymacormick Point, Groomsport (Martin Deehan). It was last seen at 1:45 but is elusive (Des Higgins)


A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Runkerry Wood, Bushmills (Richard Donaghey)

2 Snow Buntings were at Ramore Head this morning (Juliet Fleming / John Clarke)

At least six Slavonian Grebe were off Myroe this morning (Stephen Riddell)

At least 70 Twite were at Ramore Head this morning (John Clarke)

4 Velvet Scoter flew past Groomsport in to Belfast Lough earlier today. A Black Brant x Pale-bellied Brent was at Rugh Island, Strangford Lough. Behind Islandhill there were 7 Pink-footed Geese (one an adult) with the Greylags (Anthony McGeehan)

55+ Whoopers were at Whinney Hill, Holywood (Tom Ennis)

Shore Lark, Aaron Long:

Shore Lark, Mike McLaughlin:

Snow Bunting, Juliet Fleming:


Bird News Monday 4th November 2024

 The Barred Warbler is still present this morning in the same area of Ballymacormack Point though elusive. (Aaron Long). The bird is still being seen occasionally up to lunchtime at least. (Stuart McKee, Dermot Hughes, Richard Weyl).

A juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper is at the Roe Estuary, Lough Foyle. (David Hunter).

The Snow Buntings are still at Ramore Head, 25 Twite are also present. (John Clarke).

A Ruff is at the Bann Estuary. (John Spottiswood).

A Shore Lark was at the RTE mast on Cleremont Carn in the Cooley Mountains in Co. Louth. (David Knight).

The Red-necked Grebe was still present distantly with the Eider flock in Belfast Lough. (Ian Young).

There are two seats available for the boat trip from Ballycastle to Islay on Saturday 7th November. Please text Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details.

Mediterranean Gull, Stephen Foster.


Shore Lark, David Knight.




Bird News Sunday 3rd November 2024

Barred Warbler 1st winter at Ballymacormick Point for 2nd day becomes the 6th NI record and the 1st mainland record since the 1971 individual in a quarry between Portstewart and Coleraine (Wilton Farrelly / Bob Watts et al).

Cattle Egret in trees at Closet River, Oxford Island NNR (Garry Armstrong). Slavonian Grebe also reported here (Birdguides).

Slavonian Grebe off Kinnegar Shore also 1w Mediterranean Gull (Kevin Kirkham).

Slavonian Grebe at Hazelbank (Michael Latham).

Red-necked Grebe still with Eider flock from Hazelbank (Michael Latham). 3 Slavonian Grebes and 1w Mediterranean Gull (Kevin Kirkham).

At least 1 White-rumped Sandpiper still from Long Wood view point at Lough Beg and a drake Ring-necked Duck (Daniel Newton).

11 Twite at Newcastle Harbour and Common Sandpioer just south (Daniel Bailie). Adult Mediterranean Gull at Newcastle (Stephen Foster).

Female Marsh Harrier and Great White Egret at Portmore Lough RSPB 

2 Snow Buntings still Ramore Head (Martin Deehan).

Snow Bunting below peak of Slieve Gullion (John Spottiswood).

Grey Plover at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve this morning (Jonny Clark).

Pair of Crossbill at Banagher Forest (Marian O’Hara).

Hybrid Ring-billed x Common Gull again at Millisle (Richard Weyl).

Barred Warbler, Ronald Surgenor:




Red-necked Grebe & Slavonian Grebe: Michael Latham:



Crossbill, Marian O’Hara:



Bird News Saturday 2nd November 2024

Six or seven Snow Bunting are at Ramore Head this morning (Stephen Dunbar / Aaron Long)

A White-tailed Eagle remains at Inch, Co Donegal (Theo Campbell)

Unusually 10 Brent Geese were at Oxford Island (Garry Armstrong)

The Great White Egret and a juv Marsh Harrier are at Portmore Lough (Alan Dickson and Kevin Kirkham)


2 juv White-rumped Sands still with Golden Plover and Lapwing flock, Long Wood viewpoint Lough Beg, Co Derry. 30+ Ruff also present. (Bob Watts)


The Red-necked Grebe was still of Macedon Point, Belfast Lough. A Slavonian Grebe was also present (Stuart McKee)


8 Crossbill were at Ballycarton Wood, Limavady. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Windyhill Road (Michael Latham)


A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed on Copeland. A second bird was then ringed late afternoon (Chris Acheson / Adam Ringland)


Rocky Point, Donegal between 11-11.50am had 64 Great Shearwater, 8 Sooty Shearwater, 5 Manx Shearwater, 6 Red throated Diver and 1 Great Northern Diver in a fresh southerly breeze. (John O'Boyle)


A second year Mediterranean Gull was at Newcastle (Stephen Foster)


A Great White Egret was seen in flight at Oxford Island, possibly going to roost (Dermot Breen)


Yellow-browed Warbler, Copeland BO:


Crossbill, Michael Latham:


Bird News Friday 1st November 2024

 Two Slavonian Grebes were off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough this morning. (Aaron Long).

Two Snow Buntings are on Ramore Head in Portrush. (John Clarke).

A White-rumped Sandpiper and a Ruff were off the hide at the Barmouth. (John Spottiswood).

A female Long-tailed Duck, 2 female Scaup and a Whooper were off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough. (Stuart Cossey).

A single Great White Egret was at Lough Beg. (Chris Hamilton).

A Red Kite was in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

Yesterday a Fieldfare was on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

A single juvenile Dark-bellied Brent was with Brent in Killough Harbour. A leucistic Great Black-backed Gull was in Ardglass Harbour.   (David Nixon).

A Spotted Redshank and six Great White Egrets were at Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).