Bird News Saturday 13th July

2 adult Roseate Terns, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Greenshank were at RSPB Belfast Harbour. (James Robinson).

A Ruff was at Anne's Point in Strangford Lough. (Richard Weyl)

Thanks to today's photographers, to Zach McCreery for the picture of the Sedge Warbler, to Christine Cassidy for the pictures of the juvenile Wheatear and the Fulmar, to Christine Cunningham for the flight pictures of the Kestrel and the Swallow and to Lilian Cummings for the pictures of the Willow warbler and the Swallow. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

  

 

Bird News Friday 12th July

An adult Roseate Tern, 1st summer Arctic Tern, Mediterranean Gull, 8 Greenshank, single Dunlin and Lapwing were at Glynn in Larne Lough. (Neal Warnock).

A first year Little Gull was at Lady's Bay, Lough Neagh, see picture below. (Ed O'Hara).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Tom McCreery for the picture of the Whitethroat from Peatlands Park, to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Little Gull and Sedge Warbler, to Craig Nash for the picture of the Skylark, to Tony Donaldson for the picture of the adult Swallow feeding young and to Mark McConnell for the picture of the Swift. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Thursday 11th July

An Osprey flew west over Oxford Island at 5 o'clock this evening. (Ed O'Hara).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Portmuck Bay. (Gerard McGeehan).

Thanks to Tony Donaldson for today's pictures of an adult Blackbird feeding it's young and an adult Linnet with it's young. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Wednesday 10th July

The only news is from Monday when a Corncrake was calling 1km east of Desertmartin. (John Stewart).

Irish Rare Breeding Birds Panel

The Secretariat of the Irish Rare Breeding Birds Panel (IRBBP) 

After eleven years in the above post, Dr. Paul Hillis, founder Honorary Secretary of IRBBP, is in the process of retiring and is currently preparing to hand over the function to Ken Perry, who will officially succeed him on 1st September, 2013. Paul would like to thank most warmly and sincerely all those who have helped him in his role and indeed made it more enjoyable, and sincerely wishes Ken well in the work, and would urge all observers to extend to him the same assistance and support as that with which they have assisted Paul. 

  Contact with Ken will be easiest using email ( kennethwilliamperry@hotmail.com) but if preferred his postal address is as follows : Dr K. W. Perry, 43 Portstewart Road, Coleraine, Co. Derry, BT52 1RW.

Irish Rare Breeding Birds Panel,
8th July 2013.

Bird News Tuesday 9th July

5 Kingfisher and 2 Common Sandpiper were along the Lower Bann this morning at The Loughan, Coleraine. (Richard Donaghey).

Thanks to today's photographers, the first Yellowhammer picture is from Tony Donaldson, the second Yellowhammer picture is from David Cassells, the Black Guillemot picture is from Alistair Prentice and the female Pochard with ducklings is from Ian Jackson

The Great Escape

There has been an escape of birds from World of Owls. If you come across any would you please contact the Environment Officer for Lough Neagh Partnership at 07921394876.

Bird News Monday 8th July.

2 juvenile Chough were on the cliffs at Downhill seen from the Gortmore viewpoint. (Harry MacPhillamy).
 

Our thanks to Tony Donaldson for this fine flight shot of a Buzzard. Cameron Moore for the flight shot of a Grey Heron. Alistair Prentice for the Wren and finally to Tom McCreery for the Whitethroat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Sunday 7th July.

A Little Gull was at Bann Estuary (Jeff Larkin).

The Cattle Egret was still at Lifford in Co. Donegal, see pictures below. (Christine Cassidy & Theo Campbell).

At Whitehead this morning 1000+ Manx Shearwater were actively feeding with a few Gannet off shore, also present were 6 Harbour Porpoise and 1 Minke whale. The Manxies continued to feed throughout the day with up to 100 Gannets and this evening 2 Minke Whales were present. (Ian Enlander).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Christine Cassidy for the pictures of the Cattle Egret, to Alistair Prentice for the pictures of the Puffin and the Marsh Fritillary, to Adam Middleton for the pictures of the Sand Martin and the Gannet, to Tom McCreery for the picture of the Linnet and to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Whitethroat. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Saturday 6th July

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Kinnego Bay and two Little Gull at Lady's Bay, Lough Neagh (Birdguides).

2 Common Sandpiper were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Andy Elliott).

A single Common Sandpiper and good numbers of Common Blue butterflies were at Orlock, Co. Down, this afternoon. (James Robinson). 

Thanks to Zach McCreery for the picture of a juvenile Reed Warbler at Oxford Island and the Linnet, to Ed O'Hara for the Ring-necked Duck also at Oxford Island, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the young Tree-creepers, to Tony Donaldson for the picture of the Chiffchaff and to Lindsay Hodges for the picture of the Goldfinch . 

 

 

Bird News Friday 5th July

4 Common Sandpiper were at Whitehead this morning (Ian Enlander).

The Ring-necked Duck was still of Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara, Oscar Campbell)

The Cattle Egret was still at Porthall, Lifford, Co Donegal (Brian Hegarty)

An Ascension Frigatebird  was seen in Islay today........so only 50km off the North coast....

Our thanks to Alistair Prentice for this photo of a Pied Wagtail, also to Lindsay Hodges for the Wren. Tom McCreery for the Yellowhammer. The bottom picture was taken by Brian Hegarty of the Cattle Egret seen at Porthall Co.Donegal to-day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Thursday 4th July

A Cattle Egret was seen from 17:30-17:45 at Porthall Co Donegal. The bird has been in the area for 6 to 8 weeks and is presumably the St Johnstone bird (Brian Hegarty)

Sea Park Greenisland had 2 Med Gull (adult and first year) and 2 Common Sandpipers and circa 450 Eider (Gerard McGeehan)

You can read about new plans by the RSPB for the Belfast Harbour Estate Reserve at:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/348728-be-wowed-by-belfast-harbour

Many thanks to Alistair Prentice for this picture of a Whinchat in the Antrim Hills and Ed O'Hara for the pic of a juvenile Reed Warbler:

Bird News Wednesday 3rd July

An adult male Hobby (carrying a dragonfly) was just south of Windyhill Road between Limavady and Coleraine (Dave Allen, Dennis Weir).

A Peregrine was hunting Starlings near Brookeborough in Co. Fermanagh. (John Young).

Both adult and young Reed Warblers continue to be seen around the Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island, see picture below. (Ed O'Hara).

2 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper were at Briggs Rocks. (Colin Guy).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Alistair Prentice for the pictures of the Spotted Flycatcher and juvenile Hooded Crow, and to Ed O'Hara for the montage of Reed Warblers. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Tuesday 2nd July

The Ring-necked Duck and two Reed Warbler were at Kinnego, Oxford Island. (Stephen Maxwell / Brian Murphy)

A 1st summer Little Tern was at RSPB Belfast Harbour reserve (Keith Bennett)

A Whimbrel was at Briggs Rocks.(Colin Guy)

Last night 5 Storm Petrel were ringed at Sheepland near Ardglass. Unusually (away from breeding colonies) several Manx Shearwater were heard calling (Declan Clarke).

Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for the pics of the Reed Warbler and Ring-necked Duck, and Alan Gallagher for the pic of the male Yellowhammer. 

Bird News Monday 1st July

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Kinnego Bay, Oxford Island (Birdguides)

24 Whimbrel, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Med Gull & 3 Greenshank (one colour-ringed) were at Glynn this afternoon. (Adam McClure).

A single Crossbill flew over Main Street in Tempo, Co. Fermanagh today. (Colin Bell).

 1 Great Skua was at Black Head near Whitehead causing havoc among group of 100 Manx Shearwaters. (Ian Enlander).

At Briggs Rocks a dark phase Arctic Skua flew past very high towards Copeland Sound. (Colin Guy).

10 Turnstone, 15 Greenfinch, 2 Yellowhammer and 2 Bullfinch were at Camphill Community at Craigavad. (Warren Rainey).

A Red-throated Diver and a blue fulmar were off Fair Head. (Kerry Leonard).
 

Thanks to today's photographers, to Christine Cassidy for the pictures of the Common Sandpiper and the Great Skua, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the sunbathing Meadow Pipit, to Ian Jackson for the picture of the Sparrowhawk, to Mervyn Campbell for the picture of the Song Thrush and to Tom McCreery for the picture of the Yellowhammer. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk