Bird News Thursday 12th March

Three Pink-footed Geese were with the Greylag flock in a field south of Anne's Point, near Greyabbey. (David Nixon).

A Ruff, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 1200 Black-headed Gulls were at Belfast WOW reserve. (Derek Polley).

Also at Belfast WOW reserve was a hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow. (Mike McLaughlin).

Thanks to David Nixon for the picture of the Pink-footed Goose and to MikeMcLaughlin for the pictures of the hybrid Crow and the Tree Sparrows:

Cuckoo Records 2020

Mark the return of Spring by listening out for the Cuckoo! Help in recording what is for many the distinctive sound of Spring – the call of the Cuckoo. If you see or hear a Cuckoo please submit your record online.

The Cuckoo is a rapidly declining species Red Listed as a bird of conservation concern in the UK. They arrive from Africa in April and May and sing throughout the Spring. They are much more likely to heard than seen. Their calls are distinctive but can be mistaken for Collared Dove and Woodpigeon .

More information on the Cuckoo can be found on the Priority Species of Northern Ireland website.

If you see or hear a Cuckoo then please visit  https://www2.habitas.org.uk/records/submit-cuckoo-record/ and submit your record.

Damian McFerran

Record Centre Manager, CEDaR

National Museums NI

Bird News Wednesday 11th March

The Ring-billed Gull was at the lower pond at Belfast Waterworks (Stuart McKee)

Three Sandwich Terns were feeding just off Millisle beach today. (Ronnie Doggart)

Two Sandwich Terns were on Cockle Island, Groomsport (George Gordon)

A Red Kite was seen at Dundrum this morning (Wilf Swain)

40 Snipe, 2 Tree Sparrow and 2 Raven were between Gambles Bridge and Pontyzpass. A Water Rail and 2 Redwing were at Jerrettspass (Fulton Sommerville)

You can see more pictures of local birds at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Ring-billed Gull, Stuart McKee:

Bird News Tuesday 10th March

A pair of Ravens are nesting on City Hall in Belfast. (Allen Gillespie).

A Great Northern Diver that was off Cairndhu Rowing Club in Larne this morning, see picture below. (Jason Bain).

A fourth winter Glaucous Gull was at Lower Lough Erne (Brad Robson)

A male and female Brambling and a female Mealy Redpoll were at Shilnavogy.

Bird News Monday 9th March.

A male Ring-necked Duck was at Stoneyford reservoir this morning.(Suzanne Belshaw)

Between 06.30 - 07.30 Whitehead had 111 Red-throated Diver + 2 Great Northern Diver flying into Belfast Lough along with 2 Common Scoter (Ian Enlander)


Yesterday a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard in Shanes Castle.(Sam Andrews)

Our thanks to  Suzanne Belshaw for the photo of  the Ring-necked Duck also to Stephen Maxwell for the photo of the Red-breasted Merganser.

BTO Bird Recording Courses

Two BTO training courses are now live for booking, in Omagh and Derry/Londonderry. Improve your skills ahead of the breeding season, and learn about BTO-led recording schemes. Book online at: https://bit.ly/32WTaBr

Bird News Sunday 8th March

The Spoonbill was showing off the Castle Island Hide, Quoile (Roger Woodward / Dave Weir)

A female Ring-necked Duck was with the Tufted Duck flock at the southwest end of Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele)

24 Twite were still at Whitehead boat park. Between 7 - 7.30am, 73 Red-throated Diver and 3 Great Northern Diver flew past Whitehead into Belfast Lough (Ian Enlander)

The Long-tailed Duck was still at the Back Lough, Cornagrade, Enniskillen (Wilton Farrelly)

Around Belfast Lough the Ring-billed Gull was still at Carrickfergus, 3 Long-tailed Ducks and 2 Slavonian Grebes were off Macedon Point. (Garry Armstrong)

Belfast WOW reserve had a Ruff and 4 Mediterranean Gulls. (Garry Armstrong / Michael Latham)

Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen in Clandeboye Estate this morning. (Terry Paton \ Alatair McLean)

30+ Pinkfeet Geese flew south west after resting on Portmore Lough (Ed O’Hara)

A Pink-footed Goose was at Islandmagee (Sandra McDowell)

The Black-necked Grebe was again at Reedy Flats, along with 5 Pink-footed Geese (Gerard McGeehan et al)

A Tundra Bean Goose was near Newtown, Co Meath.

Dave Weir, Spoonbill:

Michael Latham, adult Med Gull:

Pink-footed Goose, Sandra McDowell:

Bird News Saturday 7th March

The summer plummaged Black-necked Grebe was still at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

This morning an adult Spoonbill was at the Quoile Pondage near the hide. (Dan Bailie).

Thanks to Jonny Clarke for the picture of the Meadow Pipit and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Buzzard:

Bird News Friday 6th March

Reedy Flats had a Black- necked Grebe, 1000 Golden Plover, a Peregrine and 30 Greater Scaup. Ardmore had 500 Black tailed Godwit and 2 Pink-footed Geese ( Ed O.Hara / Comghal McQuillan)


Our thanks to Ed O'Hara for the pic of the Black-necked Grebe. Also to Mike McLaughlin for the Greylag Goose.

Bird News Thursday 5th March

RSPB WoW had a Ruff and 2 Med Gulls. Black-headed Gull numbers are now building up at the reserve (Derek Polley)

Two Med Gulls were also on Kinnegar Shore with a Slavonian Grebe and 2 Long-tailed Duck off Macedon Point (Stuart McKee)

On the east side of Strangford Lough were 52 Slavonian grebe (43 in Greyabbey Bay, 8 off Newtownards Sailing Club and I at Horse Island) and 6 Black-throated Diver (at Horse Island) (Richard Weyl)

A Pink-Footed Goose was at Glynn station today along with 65+ Greylag and 60 Brent. (Brian Halligan)

Antrim Hills had numerous small parties of Crossbills and juvenile birds were noted. A Merlin was also present. (Ken Perry/John Clarke/James McDowell/Hill Dick)

Med Gull & Sandwich Tern, Stuart McKee:

Med Gull, Stuart McKee:

Crossbills, Hill Dick:

Pink-footed Goose, Brian Halligan:

You can see more pictures of other local birds at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Wednesday 4th March

Belfast WOW reserve had a Ruff, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 17 Snipe. (Gerard McGeehan).

The Newry Canal from Jerrettspass to Gambles Bridge had 3 calling Water Rails and a mixed flock of 200+ Fieldfares and Redwings. Newry Canal at Poyntzpass had 1 Dipper, 3 Grey Wagtail and a group of 6 Buzzard (Fulton Somerville).

Three sandwich terns off Killyleagh Yacht Club. (Ronnie Doggart).

The female Marsh Harrier was Portmore RSPB reserve, see pictures below. (Brian Redpath).

 In Donegal Inch Wildfowl Reserve had 6 Barnacle Geese, 2 Greenland White-fronted Geese and a single Pink-footed Goose, along with the many Whoopers and Greylags. Nearby Mill Bay had a Black-throated Diver and 4 Long-tailed Ducks. White Strand, near Malin Head, had a female Merlin and Kestrel and Malin Head had 450+ Barnacle Geese, 2 Choughs and a very tame Snow Bunting. The male American Wigeon was still at Culdaff. (David Nixon & Philip McHaffie).

Thanks to Brian Redpath for the pictures of the Marsh Harrier, to William Smiton for the picture of the Snipe and to David Nixon for the picture of the Snow Bunting:

Bird News Tuesday 3rd March

Approximately 20 Waxwings were in a garden, on a Rowan tree (now without berries) at Drumbeg Road, Dunmurry. (Martie Singleton)

13 Waxwings were in Waterfoot, Glenariff today. They were feeding on a low berry hedge (Dick Glasgow)

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Rowallane Gardens (Philip Ferguson)

This afternoon a Great spotted Woodpecker was heard calling from the canopy of Garvagh Forest near the Main Street carpark and a female Brambling and five Crossbills were spotted foraging close to the beech trees along the river pathway (Ken Perry)

Waxwings, Dick Glasgow:

Bird News Monday 2nd March.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker seen this morning in Slieve Gullion Forest Park. (Frank Carroll)

4 Slavonian Grebe and 3 Long-tailed Duck where off Macedon Point.(Stuart McKee)

There where 25 Twite at Whitehead boatyard.(Philip McErlean

Co.Donegal had... 6 Chough at Malin Head, the American Wigeon at Culdaff and a Slav Grebe at Moville.(Gerald McGeehan/Shirley Dunlop)



Our thanks to Philip McErlean for the photo of the Twite flock

Bird News Sunday 1st March

The Marsh Harrier was seen again at Portmore Lough RSPB. see picture below (Michael Latham).

Four Pink-footed Geese were at Reed Flats, Lough Neagh (Ed O’Hara)

A juvenile and a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull, 2 adult, a 2nd winter and 7 juvenile Iceland Gulls were at Killybegs (Brad Robson)

The drake American x Eurasian Wigeon hybrid was still at the Bann Estuary. (John Spottiswood)

The Spoonbill was seen today at Castle Espie, roosting on the pier and feeding in the Peninsula field saltmarsh. (Ross McIlrath).

Inch, Co Donegal had 3 Barnacle Geese, 20 White-fronted Geese with 400 Greylags, 300 Whoppers in fields and a Black-throated Diver (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Marsh Harrier and to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Marsh Harrier and the pink-footed Geese.

Michael Latham

Bird News Saturday 29th February

Yesterday 2 Mediterranean Gulls were at Belfast WOW reserve, see picture below. (Daniel Newton).

A female Marsh Harrier was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve, the bird was also present yesterday. (Garry Armstrong, Paul Toner, John O'Boyle).

15 Waxwings were at the Roden Street end of the Westlink in Belfast. The Ring-billed Gull was still at the Antrim Road Waterworks.

A male Hen Harrier was in the Antrim hills. (Stephen Dunbar).

The Twite flock was still around the boatyard in Whitehead, (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull, to Seamus Feeney for the picture of the American Herring Gull from Sligo, to Stephen Dunbar for the picture of the female Crossbill and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Twite:

Interesting Redpoll.

Below are pictures of an interesting Redpoll taken at the RSPB Portmore Lough by Anna Leschinki on Wednesday, the rump seems to be clean with no streaking, any comments on the bird are most welcome.

Anna Leschinki

Anna Leschinki

Anna Leschinki

Bird News Friday 28th February

The first winter American Herring Gull was at Cartron, Sligo (Brad Robson)

1 Female Marsh Harrier 1 Merlin, 4 Pinkfeet ,1 Jack Snipe, 500 Black-tailed Godwits and 1000 Golden Plover where at Reedy Flats.(Ed O'Hara/Comghal McQuillan/David Knight)


Our thanks to Ed O'Hara for the photo of the Marsh Harrier and to Christine Cunningham for the picture of a Yellowhammer. 

Bird News Thursday 27th February

The Waxwing flock was still at Mill Pond off Station Road in Doagh this morning. (Ivan Quail).

A Black-necked Grebe is at Reedy Flat on the south shore of Lough Neagh - almost certainly the same bird as last spring and summer. It was calling and practising courtship. (James O'Neill).

A Brambling has been feeding in garden in the Ballycrochan area of Bangor for the last two weeks, see picture below. (Michael Richardson).

10 Snipe and a Red-breasted Merganser were at Belfast WOW reserve. (Derek Polley).

10 Twite were at Rossglass Co Down today on the coastal fence.At Killough harbour there was a Greenshank, 45 Turnstone were along shoreline. 200 Fieldfare were at Grange Road outside Downpatrick. A 300 mixed flock of Fieldfare & Redwing were at Quoile Nature Reserve and 200+ Fieldfare at Ballywillanlough Road, Crossgar. (David Clarke).

The Black Redstart was still at Portstewart, 15 Buzzard and a Kestrel were seen in County Londonderry. (Christine Cassidy & Lindsay Hodges)

A first winter American Herring Gull was at Sligo (Seamus Feeney)

Thanks to Michael Richardson for the picture of the Brambling, to David Clarke for the picture of the Greenshank and to Christine Cassidy & Lindsay Hodges for the picture of the Black Redstart:

Bird News Wednesday 26th February.

The male Lesser Scaup was seen again at Portmore Lough (Brad Robson)

15 Waxwing were at Mill Pond off Station Road in Doagh this morning. (Ivan Quail)

A Grey Phalarope was at the west end of Myroe at Lough Foyle (Brian Hegarty)

The Black Redstart was still showing in Portstewart (Mervyn Campbell)

Yesterday 9 Sandwich Tern were at Portaferry (John Wilson Foster)

Thanks to Brian for these pics of the Grey Phalarope:

Black Redstart, Mervyn Campbell:

Bird News Tuesday 25th February

The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen again this afternoon with Redshanks at the south end of Lough Beg, also present were 35 Ruff and 800 Black-tailed Godwits. (David Steele).

Between 7 - 8am Whitehead had 72 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Diver flying into Belfast Lough. The Twite were still present at boat park. (Ian Enlander).

Around 200 Whoopers were in fields 3 miles from Magherafelt along the A6. (Jim McKeown).

The Black Redstart was at the Crescent, Portstewart today at 3 pm. (Sean Hickey).

At least 30 Tree Sparrows were feeding in muddy coastal field at Minerstown Co Down today at 2 pm and a separate and distinct flock of 40 Linnets arrived at same location. A female Kestrel was at McNabs recycle area, Downpatrick Road, Killough. (David Clarke et al)

59 Sanderling were at Castlerock (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Thanks to Ian Enlander for the picture of the Twite and to David Clarke for the picture of the Tree Sparrows: