Bird News Monday 12th August

There has been no sign of the Stilt Sandpiper on Rathlin this morning and the bird is presumed to have departed (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

4 Roseate Tern where off Whitehead this morning.(Ian Enlander)

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still present this evening at RSPB WoW (Daniel Newton)
Also at WoW where 200-300 Curlew,a Greenshank,a Ruff and a Snipe.(Noeni Bryars)


A male Hen Harrier was seen just outside Brougshane.(Peter McAllister)

Our thanks to Stephen Dunbar for  this pic of a Twite.Also to Thomas Campbell for the Common Sandpiper

Stilt Sandpiper

An adult Stilt Sandpiper is in Church Bay, Rathlin early evening (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Blue-headed Wagtail

The Blue-headed Wagtail was present at Oxford Island up to 6.30 this evening and we have received many pictures a selection of which are below:

Michael Henderson

Ed O'Hara

Danny Gibson

Michael Latham

Mark Killops

Paul & Niall Muvenna

Bird News Sunday 11th August

The Blue-headed Wagtail was again at Oxford Island Discovery Centre (Ed O’Hara, Mick Henderson and Co McQuillan)

Three Roseate Tern were at Whitehead sea front (Cameron Moore)

The Long-billed Dowitcher and a juvenile Ruff were at RSPB WoW (Daniel Newton)

A Wood Sandpiper and two Ruff were at the Bann Estuary (Wilton Farrelly)

Between Ballykelly and Myroe there were 18 Mediterranean Gulls (Stuart McKee)

Two Arctic Skua were off Castlerock. A Twite was in the dunes (John Spottiswood)

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Roseate Tern and the Kittiwake:

Bird News Saturday 10th August

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at RSPB WoW this morning (Daniel Newton)

A Tree Pipit was at Kinramer, Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Burial Island, Co Down had an Arctic Skua and a Storm Petrel. (Richard Weyl)

Three Ruff and six Mediterranean Gull were at Myroe this afternoon (Brian Murphy)

An Arctic Skua was chasing terns off the Barmouth this evening. (John Spottiswood)

Bird News Friday 9th August

A single Arctic Skua was harassing Sandwich Terns off Portstewart this afternoon. (Richard Gray).

A juvenile Ruff was at Belfast WOW reserve. (Stuart McKee).

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Great Crested Grebes and Common Tern:

Bird News Thursday 8th August

Three Green Sandpipers were in the south east corner of Ballylough, Annsborough, Co Down today (David Nixon)

A Hen Harrier was seen near Ballinahinch this afternoon (Terry Hanna)

The adult Long-billed Dowitcher was seen again at RSPB WoW.

Thanks to David Clarke for the pic of the Sand Martins:

Bird News Wednesday 7th August

A 1st year Mediterranean Gull was at Whitehead seafront this morning. (Cameron Moore).

A Reed Warbler was at the Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (Annette Elkin).

Thanks to Cameron for the pictures of the Mediterranean Gull and to Annette for the pictures of the Reed Warbler and the Sedge Warbler:

Bird News Tuesday 6th August

A Green Sandpiper was captured in a camera trap at the Bann Estuary last Thursday (Richard Donaghey)

At least one adult Roseate Tern was at RSPB WoW this vening (Michael Latham)

The Great Northern Diver was seen again last Sunday afternoon, at Murlough (Terry Hanna)

Roseate Tern, Michael Latham:

Great Northern Diver, Terry Hanna:

Bird News Monday 5th August

A Green Sandpiper was at the M1/ River Lagan crossing near Lurganville (Daniel Newton)

An adult and a juvenile Roseate Tern were at RSPB WOW this evening (Stuart McKee)

Our thanks to David Hunter for his pic of a Common Tern and also to Stevie Knox for the pic of the Puffins seen on Rathlin over the weekend.Bottom pic is a Red Knot taken by Cameron Moore

Bird News Sunday 4th August

Lough Beg had an Osprey, Ruff and 20 Whoopers (Gerard McGeehan)

Grey Point, Belfast Lough had two Arctic Skua and an adult Med Gull (Brian Murphy)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker & a Spotted Flycatcher were at Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch this afternoon. (Karen Elliott)

Good numbers of Crossbill and a Spotted Flycatcher were in the Antrim Hills today (Michael Latham)

The recent Little Gull at Whitehead - Cameron Moore

Crossbill - Michael Latham

Bird News Saturday 3rd August

Reed Warblers are still present in the reed bed around Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island, a Common Sandpiper was behind the Discovery Centre and a leucistic Cormorant in Closet Bay. (Garry Armstrong/Mick Henderson)

Two Ruff ere in the south west corner of Lough Beg. There was no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher (Richard Hunter).

17 Greenshank were at Glynn. (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was off Newcastle beach (Daniel Newton).

10 Crossbill and a Spotted Flycatcher were at Capanagh, 2 Common Sandpipers were at Kinnegar Pool. (Michael Latham).

A Kingfisher was at Solitude Park in Banbridge. (Colin Bell).

2 young hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crows were at Windmill Hill, Portaferry. (Graham Day)

Great Northern Diver - Daniel Newton

Crossbill - Michael Latham

Sandwich Tern - Thomas Campbell

Redshank - Thomas Campbell

Reed Warbler - Oxford Island

Bird News Friday 2nd August

The Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Ruff & 2 Garganey were in the south west corner of Lough Beg this morning (Richard Hunter)

The Dowitcher was still in SW corner of Lough Beg this evening, also present were a Green Sandpiper and 2 Osprey out on the Beg.(David Steele)

2 Great Skua where at Burial Island.(Richard Weyl).

Two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Gull were at Larne harbour this evening. (Neal Warnock).

Inch Lake had 1 Green Sandpiper, and Blanketnook 1 Pink-footed Goose. (Ken Perry/Hill Dick).

Thanks to Neal for the pictures of the Mediterranean Gulls:

Bird News Thursday 1st August

A Long-eared Owl was calling in the Belvoir area of Belfast this evening. (Kevin Kirkham).

Boat Trip to Islay and Jura

Tomorrow (Friday) there will be a boat trip to Islay and Jura to see Golden Eagle and Sea Eagle pairs and their young. There will also be a stop off on Jura for 2 hours to have lunch and look for Otters.

Please contact Jim Wells on 0785623144 for full details.

Bird News Wednesday 31st July

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Lough Beg this morning. (Richard Hunter)

A Little Gull wa at Whitehead and unusually a Pochard was with Mallard at Ballycarry (Cameron Moore)

This evening an Arctic Skua and a Great Skua were off Whitehead (Shirley Dunlop / Gerard McGeehan)

2 ad Med Gulls and at least 6Whimbrel were at Ballykelly RSPB (John Spottiswood)

The two Wood Sandpipers were seen again today at the Bann Estuary along with a high count of 19 Greenshank (Richard Donaghey)

Bird News Tuesday 30th July

A Long-billed Dowitcher was in the southwest corner of Lough Beg this evening, it was an adult in faded summer plumage. Also present were a Green Sandpiper, two male Ruff and two Garganey. An Osprey and juvenile Mediterranean Gull were at Mullagh. (David Steele).

Bird News Monday 29th July

The Blue-headed Wagtail was still around the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island though it is elusive. (Clifford Sharpe).

A Med. Gull was at Smelt  Mill Bay, Bangor.(Philip Watson)


Our thanks to Thomas Campbell for the pic of a Greenshank, also to Wilfred Swain for the Little Egret.

All Ireland Pine Marten and Squirrel Survey

If you have any sightings of Pine Marten, Red or Grey Squirrels, please assist Ulster Wildlife and report them at the site below:

 https://www2.habitas.org.uk/records/uw-squirrel-monitoring

Bird News Sunday 28th July

A female Garganey was at RSPB WoW this morning. A Sanderling was at Kinnegar shore this evening. (Daniel Newton)

The Blue-headed Wagtail was seen again today at 12:50 at Oxford Island, Craigavon, behind the activities centre. (Kevin Kirkham)

A Roseate Tern was at RSPB WoW this afternoon (Stuart McKee)

Two possible Wood Sandpipers were at the Bann Estuary (Richard Donaghey)