Bird News Sunday 16th July

The Black-winged Pratincole is still present at Blanketnook, Co Donegal this morning (Derek Brennan). The bird was still showing at 2pm but was often hidden in the grass (Stuart McKee / Jeff Larkin). The bird was seen on and off in the afternoon.

Two Egyptian Geese are at Lady’s Bay, Lough Neagh this morning. Also 2 Common Sandpipers. (Chris Rankin)

The Wood Sandpiper and two Dunlin are also present at Portmore (Chris Rankin / Michael Latham). The bird was still present at 4pm (Gerard McGeehan). It was present this evening along with a Ruff (Aaron Long)

Five Common Sandpiper were at RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan)

Five Whimbrel were at the Bann Estuary (John Clarke)

Wood Sandpier, Michael Latham:

Hen Harrier, Brian Redpath:

Black-winged Pratincole, Wilton Farrelly:

Bird News Saturday 15th July

Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning had a summer plumaged Knot, 4 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Common Sandpipers, 4 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 42 Redshank, 93 Curlew, 120 Black-tailed Godwits and 12 Arctic Terns. (Stuart McKee).

A Wood Sandpiper was with 3 Greenshank and 2 Dunlin at Portmore Lough RSPB. Lady Bay had 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Dunlin and several Black-tailed Godwits. (Michael Latham).

There was no sign of the Pratincole at Blanket Nook up to 12 o'clock. (Emma Mulholland). The Pratincole is present again at the Moyle end of Blanket Nook this afternoon. (Theo Campbell).

25 Common Sandpipers were at Kinnegar in Belfast Lough. (Tim Davis)

11 Ruff, a Greenshank and at least 6 Reed Warblers (including three singing) were at Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).

2 adult and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and a juvenile Wheatear were at Ballyholme this evening. (James Andrew).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Wood Sandpiper:

Bird News Friday 14th July

A probable Collared Pratincole (though Oriental not ruled out) found mid morning at the Letterkenny end of Blanketnook, Co Donegal. Observers have confirmed not Black-winged. Still present 3pm at least but then no further sightings by 10 pm. (Brian McCloskey/John Cusack).

A single Whimbrel with Curlews and Godwits at the high tide roost at Belfast RSPB WoW reserve this morning (John O’Boyle).

Mediterranean Gull at the Bann Estuary (Aaron Long).

Probable Collared Pratincole (or Oriental), Robert Vaughan:

Bird News - Thursday 13th July

At Belfast RSPB WoW Reserve 9 Common Sandpipers, Greenshank, 4 Dunlin, 6+ Arctic Tern, female Kestrel flying north towards Carnmoney Hill (Stuart Cossey/Derek Polley).

Hen Harrier, Derek McClean:

Arctic Tern, Juliet Fleming:

Common Tern, Juliet Fleming:

Bird News Wednesday 12th July

Three Common Sandpipers and a Stock Dove were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh this morning. Yesterday a 1st year Mediterranean Gull was at Kinnegar. (Bob Watts, Dominic Mitchell).

Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve had 20 Arctic Terns, 8 Common Sandpipers, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 7 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plover. A Common Sandpiper was at Kinnegar pool.(Bob Watts, Dominic Mitchell).

A Stock Dove was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Michael Latham).

A family group of four Red Kites and a large falcon, possibly a Peregrine/Saker or Peregrine/Lanner hybrid, were in the Antrim hills. (Richard Gray).

 

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Stock Dove, to Jonathan Cooke for the picture of the Common Sandpiper and to Derek McClean for the picture of the possible hybrid falcon:

Bird News Tuesday 11th July

 At least 40 Common Sandpipers were seen from Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve to Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough. (Stuart Cossey).

Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this afternoon had 11 Common Sandpipers, 40 Arctic Terns including one 1st summer, 4 Ring Plover and 4 Dunlin. (Stuart McKee). At least 10 Bar-tailed Godwits were also present. (Bob Watts).

7 Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh this afternoon. (Richard Caves).

At least 14 Common Sandpipers were around the mouth of the Blackstaff River in Dundrum North Inner Bay, with another in South Inner Bay. A Stock Dove was at Ardilea. (David Nixon).

6 Common Sandpipers were at Newcastle Harbour this evening. (Stephen Foster).

Thanks to David Clarke for the picture of the Little Egret and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Arctic Tern:

Bird News Monday 10th July

Eclipse male Garganey and three male Ruff at Lough Beg (David Steele).

One Storm Petrel off the entrance to Carlingford Lough and two leucistic Shags at Blockhouse Island (Stephen Foster).

One Common Sandpiper at Lady Bay (Richard Caves).

One Common Sandpiper at Kinnegar (Juliet Fleming).

No sign of Wood Sandpiper at Portmore Lough (David McCreedy/Richard Caves).

Common Tern, Terry Hanna:

Leucistic Shags, Stephen Foster:

Common Sandpiper, Richard Caves:

Bird News Sunday 9th July

A Wood Sandpiper is at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. A single Common Sandpiper was at Lady Bay. (Garry Armstrong)

Arctic Tern, RSPB WoW, Stephen Maxwell:

Male Henn Harrier, Antrim  Hills, Bill Guiller:

Bird News Saturday 8th July

A Red Kite was over Loughbrickland Lake this morning. (Juliet Fleming).

Two Common Sandpipers and five Arctic Terns were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve, another Common Sandpiper was at Kinnegar. (Daniel Newton, Aaron Long).

A Red Kite was at Cargacreevy near Lisburn this morning. (Leia Giesel).

Two Greenshanks were at Portmore and three Dunlin at Lady Bay. (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Reed Warbler and the 1st Sedge Warbler and to Terry Hanna for the pictures of the Swift and the 2nd Sedge Warbler:

Bird News Friday 7th July

Sea watching at St John’s Point 0845-0945 produced 1500 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Puffins, also a juvenile Wheatear present (Chris Murphy).

The police have confirmed that the 2 dead White-tailed Eagles recently found in the Ballymena area were poisoned. RSPBNI are offering a reward of £5,000 for information leading to the prosecution of those involved. See https://twitter.co./LoveBallymena/status/1677271880451883008?t=oZohvc6ICmWDit3_UwHtyA&s=08

Woodpigeon, David Hunter:

Bird News Thursday 6th July

The two Common Sandpiper and at least 6 Arctic Tern were at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

Great Spotted Woodpecker, visiting a garden near Hillsborough, Juliet Fleming:

Kingfisher, Kinnegar, William Smiton:

Bird News Wednesday 5th July

 Two Common Sandpipers were at the reopened Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Aaron Long).

At least ten Arctic Terns were also at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW. (Wilton Farrelly).

A Red Kite with the wing tag 7K was near Dromore, Co. Down. (Terry Hanna).

A Corncrake was calling on Rathlin. (Viviana Biazzo).

Thanks to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Meadow Pipit:

Bird News Tuesday 4th July

A Common Sandpiper is still at Kinnegar (David Clarke)

The 3 Common Sandpipers were still at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh (Richard Caves)

4 Greenshank were at Glynn (Gerard McGeehan)

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker, Terry Hanna:

Sanderling and Dunlin, David Hill:

Common Sandpiper, Kinnegar, David Clarke:

Bird News Monday 3rd July

Sea watchers keep your eyes peeled! Barolo Shearwater yesterday off Kennacraig to Port Askew ferry east of Islay in the Sound of Jura (Rare Bird Alert).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker visiting a garden at Ballyskeagh, Lisburn (Pauline McKee).

Late news from yesterday evening of a Peregrine jus outside Saintfield (Paula Campbell).

Red Kite and Peregrine in the Antrim Hills today (Bill Guiller).

Juvenile Chiffchaff, Tree Sparrow & Juvenile Treecreeper, Juliet Fleming:

Female Shoveler, Terry Hanna:

Bird News Sunday 2nd July

Three Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay and another two Common Sandpipers were at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong,  Ed O’Hara).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was visiting a garden in Lambeg. (Noeni Bryars).

A Common Sandpiper was at Sandy Bay in Larne and a Spotted Flycatcher and three Great Spotted Woodpeckers were at Rowallan in Saintfield. (Nathan Gilbert).

Thanks to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Spotted Flycatcher:

Bird News Saturday 1st July

A returning juvenile Northern Wheatear was at the Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood)

A Common Sandpiper was at RSPB WoW which is now open again (Gerard McGeehan)

The Common Sandpiper and 2 Greenshank were at Lady’s Bay, Lough Neagh (Richard Caves)

A Storm Petrel was seen off Portrush.

Common Sandpiper, Richard Caves:

Male Yellowhammer, David Clarke:

Bird News Friday 30th June

Late news from yesterday of a possible Night Heron in Mourne Park, Kilkeel close to the northern bridge of two footbridges over the river on the pink/purple walk, It would be worth any observers in the area checking this report out (Jim & Val via Dot Blakely). No sign of Night Heron at midday (Mike McLaughlin).

Common Sandpiper still at Lady Bay this afternoon (Richard Caves).

For sale: Leica Televid 77 telescope in mint condition with case (angled head), Leica 32x eyepiece with zip pouch and original box, Slik tripod. £550 ono. Please call Iris Millar on 0776 1142763 (not Sunday).

Common Sandpiper, Richard Caves:

Dipper, Mike McLaughlin:

Bird News Thursday 29th June

A White-tailed Eagle and Great Skua were seen on Rathlin (Stuart Cossey)

Black Guillemots, Guy Hamilton:

Bird News Wednesday 28th June

The Common Sandpiper was still at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (Richard Caves).

An adult summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull flew west off Castlerock beach this evening. (John Spottiswood).

Per the RSPB 18 pairs of Red Kites have raised 32 chicks so far this year, 30 of these have been wing-tagged by the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group so if you spot any of these birds let the NIRSG or RSPB know the details. 

Thanks to Richard Caves for the picture of the Common Sandpiper and to Mike McLaughlin for the picture of the Wheatears:

Bird News Tuesday 27th June

Common Sandpiper at Kinnegar Lagoon (Nathan Gilbert). Also Carrion Crow and Kestrel (Aaron Long).

Collared Doves, Ivan Dalglish: