Bird News Monday 7th January

The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead feeding around the Rangers Club on the seafront (Adam McClure)The Twite flock of around a dozen birds is still feeding around the boatyard.

A Woodcock was seen flying over the Maynooth Rd in Richill.(Andrew Poots)

The small Waxwing flock in Finaghy was seen again to-day.(Norman Pickering)


Our thanks to Cameron Moore for the photo of the Black Redstart and to Ian Enlander for the photo of the Twite. Also to Alistair McLean for the Stonechat.

Bird News Sunday 6th January

The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead along with 11 Twite (Cameron Moore)

Hazelbank, Belfast Lough has a female Velvet Scoter, 6 Common Scoter, a Drake Long-tailed Duck, 2 Slavonian Grebes and 3 Red-throated Diver (Stuart McKee)

4 Waxwings are at Locksley Gardens / Priory Park, Finaghy (Garry Armstrong)

The male Brambling was seen at Glynn station again. (Linda Thompson)

The large mixed flock of Yellowhammers (circa 90), Tree and House Sparrows, Linnets, Skylarks, Reed Buntings and Starlings was still at Killard (Gerard McGeehan /Shirley Dunlop / Ray Bennet/Carol Gillespie)

A male Long-tailed Duck was at Ballyhalbert (Richard Weyl)

An Eider showing Northern Eider borealis features (eg sails and a deeper yellow bill)  was on Rathlin (Neal Warnock)

Thanks to Linda Thompson for this pic of the Glynn Brambling:

Jackdaw, Kevin Kirkham:

Borealis Eider (bird on the right), Neal Warnock:

Bird News Saturday 5th January

The Black Redstart was showing well at Whitehead towards the Rangers Supporters club end. (Michael Latham)

There were three Waxwings at the corner of Sicily and Priory Park in Finaghy at lunchtime today (Clive Mellon). They were still in Finaghy at 2.45pm in a bare tree behind 9 Locksley Gardens (Nigel Moore)

An adult winter Med Gull was at Kinnegar shore Belfast Lough. (Clive Mellon)

The female Surf Scoter was still west of Mountcharles (Brad Robson)

A redhead Smew was at Derrytrasna Bay on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Ed O'Hara).

A male Brambling was at Glynn station. (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

Two Common Scoter were off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough. (Michael Latham).

Black Redstart, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 4th January

6 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Twite and the Scaup were at Ushet Lough around the east side of Rathlin today. An adult Little Gull was at Corbally Reservoir yesterday. (Neal Warnock)

Whitehead had a Med Gull over the railway line.The Black Redstart was at the Rangers club there and ten Twite were at the boatyard.A Great Northern Diver was off the harbour. (Garry Wilkinson / Nigel Moore)

Greyabbey to Kirkubbin had 4  Slavonian Grebe, a Black-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver and a Grey Plover (Ed OHara)

At Ballycarry there was a female Goosander and a Whooper swan over the bridge. Glynn had a male and female Brambling at the train halt and two female Goosanders off shore. Sandy Bay Larne had six Twite (Nigel Moore/ Garry Wilkinson)

The male Black Redstart was on the beach at Ballyhornan at north end today. The large mixed flock of birds mentioned by Dermot Hughes yesterday was still present and attracted a male Merlin (Brian Nelson)

Lapwing, Chris Babes:

Bird News Thursday 3rd January

The Black Redstart and 12 Twite were still along the sea-front in Whitehead. 2 Long-tailed Ducks were off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough. (Garry Armstrong).

53 Tree Sparrows, 1 Brambling and 11 Lesser Redpoll were on feeders in a garden outside Hillsborough. (Garry Wilkinson).

A male Black Redstart is at Benderg Cliffs, Killard. Also at least 60 Yellowhammer are still in a field on the west side of Killard Road along with enormous numbers of Sparrows, Starlings, Skylarks, Wood-pigeons, Crows and, interestingly, Gulls. The Spoonbill was again on Ogilby Island, Comber. At least 8 Slavonian Grebes and one Black-throated Diver  were at Greyabbey. (Dermot Hughes).

At Myroe today on the lawn grass fields were 54 Pink-footed Geese, 35 Greylag Geese, c200 Brent Geese and 54 Whooper Swans. Off the sea embankment there were 4 Slavonian Grebes. (Hill Dick / Peter Robinson)

Bird News Wednesday 2nd January

The Hoopoe was seen again today, feeding in a garden in Donaghmore village, Co Tyrone.

The Black Redstart and 9 Twite were still at Whitehead (Daniel Newton) Later in the day, up to 15 Twite were recorded (Ed O'Hara and Paul Mulvenna / Niall Mulvenna)

An Iceland Gull and a Glaucous Gull, along with a presumed Glaucous \ Herring Gull hybrid were at Enniskillen Dump. A high count of 8 Little Egrets were on Lower Lough Erne (Brad Robson)

A possible male Northern Bullfinch was at Kinnego Hide, Oxford Island (Peter Phillips)

7 Twite were at Larne (Ed O'Hara)

A Peregrine was at Islandhill, Strangford Lough (Harry Byron)

A Greater Scaup was on Ushet Lough Rathlin today and a Twite was in Church Bay (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Yesterday a Peregrine was at Castle Espie, 1000+ Golden Plover were at the Floodgates. A female Long-tailed Duck was on the Quoile, about 200m from the old coal quay looking downstream towards Castle Island Road/Collectors Bay (Derek Polley / David Miller)

A female Brambling was in a garden in Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson)

Brad Robson, Iceland Gull:

Ed O'Hara, Black Redstart:

Paul & Niall Mulvenna, Twite:

New Years Day 2019

Portadown town had 7 Whooper Swan ( incl. at least 3 juveniles) on the Bann river (Peter Guy)

The Spoonbill was showing at distance from Lime Kiln Hide Castle Espie WWT, towards Rough Island, (Kevin Kirkham)

A Black Redstart and 7 Twite were at Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

At least 16 Goosander were at Lough Island Reevy, Co Down (Garry Armstrong)

There was no sign of the Waxwings at Ballycastle this morning.

4 Pink - footed Geese and 3 Pintail where at Reedy Flats.(Ed O'Hara)

A Grey Plover was at Holywood Bank and 5 Greenshank at Whitehouse.(Gerald McGeehan/ Shirley Dunlop)

A Brambling was at the WOW reserve in Belfast.(Daniel Newton)

Two Long-tailed Duck and a Velvet Scoter where off Dargan Bay.(Neal Warnock)

WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Our thanks to Mervyn Campbell for the pic of the Song Thrush,to Mark Elliott for the Turnstone. Cameron Moore for the Black Redstart. Ed O'Hara for the Goosander.

Bird News Monday 31st December

The Spoonbill was on Ogilby Island off Rough Island, Strangford Lough at 11.30 (Dermot Hughes)

The two Waxwing were at the mouth of the river in Ballycastle, first thing this morning.

A Sandwich Tern was in Ballyholme Bay, Bangor at 10.40 today (Shane Wolsey)

Two female scaup were at Crom, Upper Lough Erne (Jamie Dillon)

A flock of 55 Pink-footed Geese and a female Merlin were at Myroe, Lough Foyle (David Nixon / Philip McHaffie)

Thanks to Lesley Barker for this pic of a Peregrine at Mount Stewart:

Bird News Sunday 30th December

This morning between 8:30 and 9, Whitehead seafront had 103 Red-throated Diver and 13 Great Northern Diver flying into Belfast Lough.  4 Twite were at Whitehead boat park (Ian Enlander)

Two Waxwings were still fly-catching from trees at the mouth of the river in Ballycastle (Neal Warnock/Michael Latham/Paul & Niall Mulvenna).

Several Brambling were in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

A Brambling was at Glynn Station this afternoon. (Brian Halligan).

A 1st winter Little Gull and a 1st winter Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid were at Corbally Reservoir outside Portrush. (Neal Warnock).

7 Pink-footed Geese, 200 Greylag Geese and 300+ Whooper Swans were in several large flocks over a wide area around Aghagallon outside Lurgan. (Ed O'Hara).

A flock of 30 Greylag Geese was at Begney Lough near Dromara this afternoon. (Ian Jackson).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the first picture of the Waxwing, to Niall Mulvenna for the second Waxwing and Red-breasted Merganser pictures, to Mervyn Campbell for the picture of the Guillemot, to Brian Halligan for the picture of the Brambling, to Jeff Higgott for the picture of the Kumlien's Gull at Moville, to Ed O'Hara for the picture of Pink-feet with Greylags and to Dick Glasgow for the picture of the Tree Sparrow: 

Bird News Saturday 29th December.

2 Waxwings again catching insects, flying up from tree tops at the mouth of the River Tow, Ballycastle. (Patrick Barton).

A Barn Owl was over the staff car park at Sprucefield at approx 6.25am this morning flying in the direction of the dual carriageway. (Garry Wilkinson).

Inch Levels in Donegal had 2 Barnacle Geese and 10 Pink-feet and 450 Whoopers among 1,000+ Greylags and 180 Canada Geese. Big Isle had 32 Greenland White-fronts and a Peregrine. (Richard Grey).

The adult Kumlien's Gull was still at Moville in Donegal. (Jeff Higgott).

At Ballyquintin Point there were 3 Gannet and 1200 Kittiwake and a high count of 400 Black-tailed Godwit were at Quintin Bay. (Richard Weyl).

An Iceland Gull was in a field at Ballyrashane, just outside of Coleraine. 18 Sanderling, 61 Purple Sandpiper, 14 Redshank & 18 Ringed Plover, were at Landsdowne Crescent, Portrush. (Gareth Platt).

An escaped Mandarin Duck was at the WOW reserve this morning.(Robert Evans)see photo below.

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Sparrowhawk, to David Clarke for the picture of the Grey Wagtail and to Gareth Platt for the picture of the Iceland Gull:

Bird News Friday 28th December

2 Waxwings were fly catching on the Cushendall Road outside Ballycastle, last seen flying towards the town, see pictures below. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn),

A Spoonbill was seen from Castle Espie this afternoon (Kenny Moore / Cameron Moore).

A Ruff was at Belfast WOW reserve this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

25 Tree Sparrows were now in a garden at Kilraughts Road, Ballymoney. (Derek McIntyre)

A male Ring-necked Duck was on Lough Beg this afternoon, off Mullagh. Also, a 1st-winter Little Gull was over the ponds at the south end and the Little Stint, 28 Ruff and the Great White Egret were also seen. (David Steele).

40+ Purple Sandpiper were at the back of Newcastle Pier, a Red-throated Diver and a small raft of Common Scoter were off the pier. (Michael Latham).

35 Slavonian Grebe and 4 Long-tailed Duck were off Myroe and 57 Pink-footed Geese were in nearby fields. An adult Kumlien's Gull was at Moville in Donegal. (Neal Warnock).

A pair of Brambling were in a north Antrim garden. (Dick Glasgow).

A Black Redstart was on the beach at Newcastle. (Birdguides).

Bird sightings on Newry Canal this morning included: - 3 Raven, 1 Snipe, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Redwing, 16 Cormorants and 30 Whooper Swan. (Fulton Somerville).

Thanks to Ivan Quail for the pictures of the Waxwings, to Kenny Moore for the picture of the Spoonbill, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Purple Sandpiper, to Dick Glasgow for the pictures of the Brambling and to Neal Warnock for the pictures of the Greenshank and the Pink-footed Geese:

Bird News Thursday 27th December

2 male Long-tailed Duck were at Loughshore, Belfast Lough. Glynn had 7 Greenshank and 2 Dippers on the adjoining river (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

A Common Sandpiper was in the small bay south of Garron point feeding on the wrack (Davy Hunter)

Killard Point Co.Down had..a female Merlin, huge mixed Sparrow flocks at least 70 Yellowhammer and 200  Skylark.(Dermot Hughes)

Bird News, Wednesday 26th December

Portmore Lough had the red head Smew, 200 Whooper Swan, 300 Pochard and 500 Teal (Ed O’Hara)

Yesterday a Woodcock was seen in Ormeau park (Dermot Hughes)

17 Tree Sparrows were visiting a garden at Kilraughts Road, Ballymoney (Derek McIntyre)

The juvenile / female Surf Scoter was still at the west end of Mountcharles, Donegal this morning feeding near green buoy and viewed from end house with white shutters (Gavin Thomas)

A Sandwich Tern was off Donaghadee marina (George Gordon)

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for this pic of the Smew:

Bird News Christmas Day, Tuesday 25th December

A single Waxwing was around Toome Road, Ballymena (David Steele)

A male and female Brambling were visiting a garden in Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson)

The Goosander was still at Ballycarry and a Velvet Scoter Glynn. (Michael Latham)

Thanks to David Clarke for this pic of a male Blackcap:

Bird News, Christmas Eve, Monday 24th December

The Brambling was still showing this morning at the feeders at the Discovery Centre, Oxford Island (Garry Armstrong / Mick McLaughlin)

Three Crossbill flew over a garden at Fivemiletown (Colin Bell)

An adult Glaucous Gull was at Enniskillen dump along with a few argentatus Herring Gull (Brad Robson)

This afternoon, a juvenile Surf Scoter was off the west end of Mountcharles, Donegal, along with 20 Common Scoter (Gavin Thomas)

The south end of Lough Beg had the Great White Egret, a Little Stint, 23 Ruff and a Merlin (David Steele)

We wish all our contributors and readers a very Happy Christmas.

Thanks to Mike McLaughlin for this pic of the Brambling:

Bird News Sunday 23rd December

A Brambling was along the Lagan towpath in Lisburn this morning, just east of the Island Arts Centre. (Kevin Kirkham-Brown).

A first winter Laughing Gull was at the pier at Moville, Co Donegal this morning (Theo Campbell).

Blackcaps continue to move into gardens including a male in a garden in Hillsborough this morning. (Jeff Higgott).

The east shore of Strangford Lough had 15 Slavonian grebe (12 in Greyabbey Bay and 3 off Newtownards Sailing Club), 18 Great-northern Diver (11 south of Gransha Point and 7 off Kircubbin) and a Black-throated Diver south Gransha Point. (Richard Weyl).

Larne Lough still had a single Velvet Scoter and the female Goosander. A single Slavonian Grebe was off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough. (Ed O'Hara).

The Brambling was seen again at Oxford Island, see picture below. (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Neal Warnock for the picture of the female Scaup, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Brambling to Linda Thompson for the picture of the female Goosander and to Mark Killops for another picture of the Oxford Island Brambling:

Bird News Saturday 22nd December

The Brambling was showing well at the feeders at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Oxford Island (Niall Mulvenna)

A Red Kite was at the junction of the Stang Road and the Bryansford Road just outside Hilltown. (Jim Wells)

The Hoopoe was looked for today without success.

Over 250 Scaup were at Ballyronan, Lough Neagh. A Ruff was the best at Lough Beg and a single Velvet Scoter was still at Larne Lough today (Neal Warnock)

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for this pic of the Oxford Island Brambling:

Bird News Friday 21st December

A Brambling was around the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island at lunchtime today, see picture below.(Dougie Gamble).

Unusually a Tree Sparrow was visiting a garden in Finaghy, Belfast. (Clive Mellon).

Thanks to Dougie Gamble for the picture of the Brambling, to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Jay, to Clive Mellon for the picture of the Tree Sparrow and to Michael Henderson for the picture of the male Sparrowhawk:

Bird News Thursday 20th December

Late News for yesterday were that two male Goodander and 4 Scaup were at Tully Castle, Lower Lough Erne (Jamie Dillon)

The Hoopoe was still in Donaghmore this morning again in the vicinity of st Patrick's Graveyard (Stephen McNally)

20+ Brambling were again today on the Antrim Hills in amongst Chaffinches. Tere was a Great Northern Diver at the back of Islandmagee Harbour. (Michael Latham)

Hoopoe, Stephen McNally:

Male Brambling, Michael Latham: