He's back!
Actually, he (or possibly she) never left. This gull is still ruling the Lidl car park in Newcastle, Co. Down, with an iron fist. Nothing can stand in the way of this seagull.
Spot the Bird (Part 23)
Hint: there is a single Northern Ireland record of this species, not that long ago either.
Answer to Part 22: Wallcreeper
Rarity Photos
Well not really! Video grabs from yesterday afternoon and all the excitement at the South West Corner of Lough Beg (Londonderry)
Male Garganey with male and female Teal. The Garganey is the duck in front with the white eyestripe!
Female Ruddy Shelduck sleeping. It was copying the Spoonbill which spent most of the time asleep!
The aforementioned Spoonbill, doing what it does best, sleeping!
Male Garganey with male and female Teal. The Garganey is the duck in front with the white eyestripe!
Female Ruddy Shelduck sleeping. It was copying the Spoonbill which spent most of the time asleep!
The aforementioned Spoonbill, doing what it does best, sleeping!
Moths on the Wing - 7th June
Thanks to Ian Graham for a great series of photos of moths taken at Murlough NNR yesterday.
Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum
Buff-tip Phalera bucephala
Monday Morning, Butterflies
These beautiful images of two gorgeous Butterflies were sent on by Ian Dickey. Many thanks Ian
Orange Tip
Green-veined White
Sunday 6th June News
Ruddy Shelduck - South West Corner, Lough
Beg, Co. Londonderry (D Steele)
Garganey - 1 (male) - Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Spoonbill - South West Corner, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry (D Steele)
Curlew Sandpiper - 1, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Black-tailed Godwit - 11, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Grasshopper Warbler - 1, Bann Estuary, Co. Londonderry
Sedge Warbler - 8, Bann Estuary, Co. Londonderry
White Wagtail -1, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry (the only one of the spring at the Beg).
Garganey - 1 (male) - Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Spoonbill - South West Corner, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry (D Steele)
Curlew Sandpiper - 1, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Black-tailed Godwit - 11, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Grasshopper Warbler - 1, Bann Estuary, Co. Londonderry
Sedge Warbler - 8, Bann Estuary, Co. Londonderry
White Wagtail -1, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry (the only one of the spring at the Beg).
Today's Birdguides map.....not something you see often.
Saturday 5th June News
Spoonbill - Blackers Rocks, Lough Neagh, Co Tyrone. One flew north at 11:45
Ruddy Duck - 3 (all male), Portmore Lough RSPB.
Garden Warbler - 2, Crom Castle, Co. Fermanagh
Lapwing - Belfast Harbour Estate, today, by Ed O'Hara
For the latest UK news visit the rarebirdsinbritain blog
For the latest Irish news visit irishbirding
Ruddy Duck - 3 (all male), Portmore Lough RSPB.
Little Egret - 2, Dundrum Inner Bay South, Co. Down
Little Gull - 4, (adult and 3 1st summer), Blackers Rocks, Lough Neagh, Co Tyrone.
Cuckoo - 2, Murlough NNR, Co. DownGarden Warbler - 2, Crom Castle, Co. Fermanagh
Lapwing - Belfast Harbour Estate, today, by Ed O'Hara
Check out the 'Natural History Downloads' in the links section for free books.
For the latest UK news visit the rarebirdsinbritain blog
For the latest Irish news visit irishbirding
Spot the Bird (Part 23)
Answer to part 22: Common Buzzard
.....as mentioned before - nothing is unfair in a mystery bird quiz. This one is easy - if you've been paying attention!
Common Buzzard returned to Northern Ireland in the
1950's starting at Rathlin Island. According to C. D. Deane a pair bred on Fair Head in 1933 and possibly Torr
Head in
1949. However, two pairs nested on Rathlin in 1952, one of them
successfully.
- Thanks, as always, to George Gordon for the best gen out there on Northern Ireland birds.
Friday 4th June News
For all you year listers out there, two Little Terns are present at the RSPB Reserve Belfast.
Carrion Crow - 4, Belmont (3 adults and 1 juvenile), Co. Down
Carrion Crow - 1, Killyleagh (juvenile), Co. Down
If you've nothing better to do try and solve this puzzle.
To learn Carrion Crow swearwords click here (although he could just be saying hello)
Carrion Crow - 4, Belmont (3 adults and 1 juvenile), Co. Down
Carrion Crow - 1, Killyleagh (juvenile), Co. Down
If you've nothing better to do try and solve this puzzle.
To learn Carrion Crow swearwords click here (although he could just be saying hello)
Iberian Chiffchaff (update)
Irelands first Iberian Chiffchaff has not materialized so far this spring although there is time yet! At least six appeared in the UK including the first for Wales and the second for Scotland. My thanks to English birder Tristan Reid for this picture of an Iberian Chiffchaff taken a couple of days ago in South Yorkshire.
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Tristan Reid
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Tristan Reid
http://www.binocularface.co.uk/
Newsflash!!!! One reported at Halligarth, Unst, Shetland today. It must have been blown off course on its way here. The map below shows this individuals predicted reverse migration at the end of the breeding season (no harm in being optimistic!).
Butterfly News Bulgaria
One of the highlights of the trip was the numbers and varietys of Butterfly's. Here are a few examples. You could easily do a weeks Butterfly Trip to Bulgaria on its own!!
Spot the Bird (Part 22)
(Hint: this was pic was taken in Bulgaria)
Answer to Part 21: Woodlark
Confined to County Down as a breeding bird by 1874 - breeding ceased by 1884.
Thursday 3rd June News
A new day, a new low for this blog. Just to prove it here's a picture of some bemused locals from Tory Island taken on a recent birdless adventure.
(A spot prize will be awarded for guessing the correct breed).
Don't let anybody say birdwatching in Northern Ireland isn't infectious - look what it's done to the rest of the island!
(Today's Birdguides map - calm before the storm!?)
Breaking News!
Curlew Sandpiper - 1
Sanderling - 1
Dunlin - 32
Ringed Plover -15
All the SW corner of Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry.
A Whimbrel was at Mullagh and 200 Swift over the Beg, Co. Londonderry.
Slight improvement on the birdmap too - things are looking up!
(County Cork steals the show again)
Spot the Bird (Part 21)
A new era has dawned for the Spot the Bird competition - well, not really but the next few are ace shots from Bulgaria. What more can I say than there's a bucketload of 'professional' mystery bird photos to look forward to over the next while!
Answer to Part 20: Dunlin
Wednesday 2nd June News
Ring-necked Duck - 1, drake, Oxford Island, Co. Armagh
Mediterranean Gull - 2, Blue Circle Island, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim
Roseate Tern - 1, Blue Circle Island, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim
Cuckoo - 1, Murlough NNR, Co. Down
Spotted Flycatcher - 1, Clotworthy House's ornamental
garden, Antrim Town
Spotted Flycatcher by Ed O'Hara, today, Antrim Town
Marsh Fritillary, Murlough NNR, today (over 40 seen)
Small Copper, Loughinisland, today (over 30 seen)
Bulgaria pics added to Trip Photos page here
For the latest UK news visit the rarebirdsinbritain blog
For the latest Irish news visit irishbirding
Bulgaria Photo
The Bulgarian Explorers made it back mostly in one piece! 181 Species recorded and to prove that at least one species was seen here is a picture of one of Bulgarias specialities, the White Pelican. A trip report will follow soon.
Tuesday 2nd June News
by Ed O'Hara, today
Spotted Flycatcher - 1, Camlough, Co. Armagh
Cuckoo - 1, Leitrim Lodge along the Rostrevor Road, Co. Down
Orange Tip
by Mark Killops
NIBA Bulgaria Update
No news for two days - it looks like the lads have disappeared off the face of the planet. They might not come back. You can't really blame them, it was nice knowing them....some of them at least.
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