Bird News Sunday 14th May

Montagu’s Harrier again at Portmore Lough between horse paddocks and Boghead Bridge Road 1050 onwards (Martin Deehan / Chris Veale / Ryan Holgate). 2 Barnacle Geese from viewing platform (Martin Deehan).

One Osprey again at Woodburn Reservoir sitting in a tree towards the wind turbines at 1520 (Martin Deehan). Seen to catch fish and flew from Middle to Upper Reservoir 1550-1605 then south (Tim Davis). The bird was also seen at 5:45pm (Margaret McLachlan)

Montagu’s Harrier, Brian Redpath:

Bird News Saturday 13th May

The Montagu’s Harrier showed again at Portmore RSPB this morning, seen from the viewing platform (Garry Armstrong). The bird was seen again early afternoon from the Paddock area (Stephen Maxwell). The bird was seen again at 3:30pm (Paul Keogh) and between 5pm and 6:30pm (David McCreedy / Clifford Sharpe/ David Gillespie)

Unusually a Tree Sparrow was seen on Rathlin. A Pink-footed Goose was also present. (Ric Else)

A late Grey Plover was at the Bann Estuary (John Clarke)

The Osprey was seen again at Woodburn Upper Dam this morning (Daniel Newton / Michael Latham)

Osprey, Michael Latham:

Corncrake, Rathlin Island, Tom McDonnell: 

Bird News Friday 12th May

 The Montagu's Harrier was seen again at Portmore at 12.30. (Bill Guiller). The bird was still present after 1.00pm. (Guy Hamilton, Tom Ennis, Aaron Long).

Two Ospreys are at Woodburn Dams, Carrickfergus. (Alan Webster). At least one of the Ospreys was still present this evening. (Daniel Newton).

Thanks to Bill Guiller for the pictures of the Montagu's Harrier and to Ian Proctor for the pictures of the Osprey:

Bird News Thursday 11th May

Adult Montagu’s Harrier still Portmore Lough near paddock area until 1020 then flew towards Lough Neagh and no further sign by 1330 (Ian Proctor / Seamus Feeney). Seen distantly from horse paddocks 1715-30 but not subsequently. On view again 2000 (Peter Doyle).

Spotted Flycatcher at Benone (Richard Donaghey).

White-tailed Eagle this evening north of Knockninny (Richard Weyl).

An Arctic Tern, 100+ Common Terns and 7 Mediterranean Gulls at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve (Derek Polley).

Montagu’s Harrier, Ian Proctor:

Bird News Wednesday 10th May

A Hobby was briefly seen on Rathlin this morning. Also a Tree Pipit was present. A Wood Warbler was also singing this evening. (Ric Else). A Black Redstart was also seen (Tom McDonnell)

The Montagu’s Harrier is still at Portmore Lough, favouring the south side of the reserve (Theo Campbell)  The bird was seen again from the paddock area around 6:30pm (Daniel Newton)  The bird was seen towards Hannon Transport at 7:45pm (Philip West) and seemed to go to roost in the area at 8:40pm.

Unusually a Sedge Warbler was at the top pond at Ward Park, Bangor (Dot Blakely)

Yesterday a Cuckoo was at Murlough Nature Reserve (Siobhan McGonnell)

Tree Pipit, Ric Else:

Garden Warbler, Lower Lough Erne, John McClean:

Montagu's Harrier, Wilton Farrelly:

Montagu’s Harrier, Stephen McVeigh;

Bird News Tuesday 9th May

The adult male Montagu's Harrier was still present at Portmore Lough this morning. It was way right of viewing platform in marshy fields 10.50am (Mark Stewart)

Two Common Sandpiper and a Whimbrel were at Portmuck, Islandmagee this morning (Kevin Kirkham)

A Nightjar was ringed on Copeland this morning (Ollie Padget)

A Garden Warbler was on Rathlin (Richard Hunter)

1 Little Gull and 2 Arctic Tern were at RSPB Wow. 1 Little Gull was also at Kinnegar lagoon. (Nathan Gilbert)

An Osprey was at Lough Beg this evening, also a male Garganey. (David Steele)

Nightjar, Ollie Padget:

Bird News Monday 8th May

The Montagu's Harrier was seen again at Portmore at 4.45. (Garry Armstrong). It was still present up to 6.30pm. (Derek Brennan)

2 1st year Little Gulls were at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve. (Garry Armstrong).

A Spotted Flycatcher was at Kilnasaggart. (John Spottiswood).

A total of 4 Garganey were at Lough Beg, a 1st year Little Gull was also present. (David Steele).

A White-tailed Eagle was soaring over Agnews Hill on the Antrim Plateau. (Sorrel Lyall). The bird was seen flying from Shane's Hill towards Larne. (Linda Thompson).

A Carrion Crow was on Copeland. (Birdguides).

Thanks to Linda Thompson for the picture of the White-tailed Eagle, to David Steele for the pictures of the Garganey and Little Gull and to John Mason for the picture of the Whimbrel:

Bird News Sunday 7th May

Male Montagu’s Harrier at Portmore Lough RSPB throughout the day. First seen at 10am but not seen 11-12 (Alan Dickson / Garry Armstrong). Then again when photographed at 1pm (Mark Magee). Still present 1615 and again from 1810-30 over pools before drifting off right (Garry Armstrong, Brian McCloskey et al). Not seen again up to 2135.

A Pectoral Sandpiper and 3 Curlew Sandpipers in front of the Bann Estuary hide at the Barmouth 1441 though disturbance from fishermen resulting in flushing of birds; the Pectoral Sandpiper was not seen again (John Clarke).

10 Crossbill and a Cuckoo were at Woodburn Forest, Carrickfergus (George Stewart).

Spotted Flycatcher and female Marsh Harrier from Bellaghy boardwalk, Lough Beg (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

Tree Pipit yesterday on Rathlin with a new Whinchat today (Ric Else / Hazel Watson). Also a Black Redstart (Cecil Taise).

An Arctic Tern still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve (Chris Hamilton).

A Cuckoo is at Binevenagh AONB (Ian Proctor).

Spotted Flycatcher near Kells (Steve & Kate Ingleby).

Montagu’s Harrier, Mark Magee:

Curlew Sandpiper, John Clarke:

Corncrake, Tom McDonnell:

Spotted Flycatcher, Donna Riddell:

Montagu’s Harrier, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 6th May

On the 4th a Hawfinch was in a garden in Cloughey in Co. Down).

An adult female Marsh Harrier was In Portballintrae at 9.40 this morning, being mobbed by gulls and crows flying across the fields at Bayhead Road then flew out across the bay towards the Giants Causeway (Simon Morton).

At least 3 Corncrakes were calling in Church Bay on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Lough Beg had a Garganey, Great White Egret and 2 Whimbrel. (Richard Hunter).

A Common Sandpiper was at Oxford Island. (Ryan Holgate).

A summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was at the Bann estuary. (Dean Jones).

Two male Garganey are at Lough Beg this evening, also the Great Egret still present, 56 Whimbrel flying through and a dozen White Wagtails. (David Steele).

An Arctic Tern was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Daniel Newton).

Several Arctic Terns were at Cockle Island in Groomsport. (Bob Watts).

Thanks to Ryan Holgate for the picture of the Common Sandpiper and to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Sedge Warbler and the Blackcap:

Bird News Friday 5th May

 A Cuckoo flew across the Monbrief East Road, Craigavon this morning (Stephen Foster)

13 Whimbrel were at Ballywalter Beach (Garry Wilkinson)

4 Purple Sandpiper are at Church Bay, Rathlin (Ric Else).

A summer  plumaged Spotted Redshank was at the tidal pools/wader scrape at the back of Castle Espie viewable from the path to the lough although elusive at times. (Dave & Amy Weir).

A Great White Egret (in breeding condition with blackish bill and reddish tibia) was at Lough Beg this evening, also a male Garganey and 60 White Wagtails. (David Steele).

Many thanks to everyone who sends us rare and scarce bird news, sightings and photos - it is greatly appreciated.

Whimbrel, David McCreedy:

Spotted Redshank, Amy Weir:

Bird News Thursday 4th May

At least 8 Mediterranean Gulls were still at RSPB WoW. Common Tern numbers are now up to 35 in number. (Derek Polley)

An Osprey is at the Bann Estuary and it was last seen flying up river at lunchtime (Dean Jones). The bird was back again early afternoon (Richard Donaghey)

Circa 80 Whimbrel are at the Bann Estuary (John Clarke)

A Carrion Crow and 2 Whitethroat were at Orlock Point (Nathan Gilbert)

Circa 50 Whimbrel were at Dunseverick (Juliet Fleming)

A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Whitepark Bay at the Park end with Common Sandpipers and Dunlin (Patrick Barton)

Yesterday an adult Glaucous Gull was at the outfall of the Glencloy River, Carnlough (Graham McIlwaine)

Summer migrants such as Whitethroat, Swift and House Martin continue to be widely reported.

Sandwich Tern, Terry Hanna:

Bird News Wednesday 3rd May

An Osprey at tea time at Lough Beg (David Steele).

A Cuckoo has returned to Killunaght near Dungiven but 11 days later than last year (Marian O’Hara).

2 Great White Egrets flew south past Ballymacormick Point at midday (William Smiton).

3 Common Whitethroat and a Cuckoo at Peatlands NP (Ed O’Hara).

Common Whitethroat at Whitepark Bay (Donna Riddell).

Cuckoo calling at Drumkeeragh Forest (Terry Hanna).

A new female Whinchat at Keble and substantial numbers of Greenland Wheatear on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Swifts are now being widely reported so only exceptional counts will be itemised. Thanks to all our subscribers sending in their records.

Common Whitethroat, Donna Riddell:

Sedge Warbler, William Smiton:

Sand Martin, Terry Hanna:

Bird News Tuesday 2nd May

 Linford - Knockdhu area had 2 'Greenland' Wheatear and a group of 57 Golden Plover. (Ian Enlander).

The juvenile dark-bellied Brent was with 15 Brent on the beach at Newcastle. (David Nixon).

Two Common Sandpipers were at the Bann estuary. (James McDowell).

A Cuckoo was at Altikearagh. (Donna Riddell/James McDowell).

A Red-throated Diver was at Bangor marina. (Ronald Surgenor).

Rathlin produced a couple of Cuckoos, another Whinchat and 35 White Wagtails (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Ian Enlander for the picture of the Golden Plover and to Stephan Maxwell for the picture of the Sandwich Terns:

Bird News Monday 1st May

A single male Crossbill was in Woodburn forest near Carrickfergus this morning (George Stewart)

A White-tailed Eagle was in the Antrim Hills (Kenny Moore / Ian Dickey)

St John’s Point shoreline this morning had a male Whinchat, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 20+ Wheatear, c10 Whitethroat and 6 Whimbrel. (Billy Miskelly / David Stirling)

Over 200 Whimbrel were seen at Millisle (Brian Redpath)

2 Cuckoo were at Murlough Nature Reserve (Ian Proctor)

Lough Cowey had 2 Reed Warbler. 45+ Whimbrel were at Ballyquinton along with 5 Wheatear and 3 White Wagtail (Wilton Farrelly)

A male Garganey was at Lough Beg this evening, also two Pink-footed Geese, Spotted Redshank, three Ruff, 60 Whimbrel, an Arctic Tern and 120 White Wagtails. (David Steele).

Two Wheatear were on Sollus Hill, Magheramason. (Paul Wallace).

Many thanks to everyone who has reported Swifts, House Martins and Grasshopper Warblers which now seem to back in reasonable numbers.

Grasshopper Warbler, Michael Latham:

Whimbrel, Brian Redpath:

Cuckoo, Jonathon Cooke:

Whitethroat, Mike McLaughlin: