nibirds

Bird News Friday 15th March

10 Waxwings at Victoria Court Nursing Home grounds, Victoria Road, Carrickfergus at 8am (Paul McCulloiugh).

7 Purple Sandpipers with Turnstones on rocks by Donaghadee Community Centre (Steven Farquhar).

Male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers coming to garden feeders in Comber (David Weir).

Drake Lesser Scaup from outer marina Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).

Chiffchaff singing at Traad Point near Ballyronan (Andrew Upton).

Twite and Purple Sandpipers still at Whitehead but no sign of the Black Redstart (Garry Wilkinson).

Green Sandpiper in flooded meadows along the Newry Canal north of Jerrettspass (Joe Devlin).

Iceland Gull at Portballintrae at lunchtime (John Clarke).

11 Waxwings in the Tesco car park at Portstewart at 530pm (Sean Hickey).

Great Spotted Woodpecker, David Weir:

Iceland Gull, John Clarke:

Lesser Scaup, Ed O’Hara:

Bird News Thursday 14th March

The drake Lesser Scaup remains at the outer marina, Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Garry Wilkinson).

2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull Killough (Chris Murphy).

Great White Egret at Portmore Lough RSPB (Chris Hamilton).

2 male and a female Brambling in a Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).

Brambling, Cameron Moore:

Black-tailed Godwit, Alastair McLean:

Bird News Wednesday 13th March

The drake Lesser Scaup remains visible from the outer marina at Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).

Single Jack Snipe flushed on farmland near Mackan, Co Fermanagh (Paul Reed).

2 Pink-footed Geese at Glynn (Paula Campbell).

Bird News Tuesday 12th March

Late news from yesterday of a Chiffchaff at School Road, Crossnamuckley (Kerry Leonard).

Drake Goosander still on the lake at Billy Neill CP at 1030-1130 at least (Derek Polley).

Chiffchaff at St John’s Point (Garry Wilkinson).

Drake Lesser Scaup still from outer marina Kinnegoe Bay (Ed O’Hara).

The overwintering Green Sandpiper still along the River Main at Slaght near Ballymena (David Steele).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Killough (Chris Murphy).

A drake Goosander at the Dromara end of Begney Lough this afternoon (David Nixon).

Spotted Redshank roosting off the main Newcastle Road past Dundrum. Also several Purple Sandpipers at Newcastle swimming pool. Red Kite and 20+ Yellowhammers at East Down Farmers (Garry Wilkinson).

Download the Rathlin report at https://rathlinstickybeak.wordpress.com

Bird News Monday 11th March

Waxwings still along Portrush Road (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

Drake Lesser Scaup still from outer marina at Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).

Great White Egret in flight over fields beside the Ards to Donaghadee road at 1120 (Chris Shaw).

Drake Goosander on the lake at Billy Neill CP again from 1550 when it flew in presumably to roost (Chris Shaw).

5+ Waxwings adjacent to the A2 near the George Best Belfast City Airport terminal building (Stephen Foster).

Common Buzzard & Hen Harrier, Bill Guiller:

BTO Spring Training Opportunities

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Bird News Sunday 10th March

Probable Tundra Bean Goose with Pink-footed Goose at Bann Estuary 10am. Both birds were moving along shore to Articlave River (Dean Jones).

Waxwings in garden of No 10 Portrush Road (John Clarke / Donna & Stephen Riddell).

Adult Little Gull at Ballykinler high tide roost (Andrew Crory).

Lesser Scaup from outer marina at Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR at 3pm (Ed O’Hara).

Great White Egret at Portmore Lough RSPB (Ross Thompson).

Male Brambling in a Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).

A Spoonbill in flight between Armagh and Middletown yesterday lunchtime (Joe Burns).

Waxwings, Donna Riddell:

Brambling, Cameron Moore:

Bird News Saturday 9th March

The Lesser Scaup was at Kinnegoe marina, Oxford Island again this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

The Cattle Egret is still at Brankins Island Road near Lady Bay. (Daniel Newton).

An Iceland Gull was at Portballintrae again. (Michael Latham).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Castle Espie. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

Three Pinkfeet were with Whoopers and Greylags at Lady Bay and a Great White Egret was at Portmore. (Wilton Farrelly).

12 or 13 Waxwings were at the University of Ulster at Coleraine. (Richard Donaghey).

A Glaucous Gull was at Portballintrae (John Clarke).

A Glaucous Gull was at the far end of Runkerry strand. (Tom Garner).

The 13 Waxwings in Coleraine were on the Portrush Road near the junction of the Boulevard this afternoon. (John Clarke).

Two Sand Martins were over Roughan Lough near Newmills. (Ernie Hunter).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Castlewellan Forest Park. (Elaine Huey)

Lesser Scaup, Oxford Island.

Iceland Gull, Michael Latham.

Bird News Friday 8th March

A singing Chiffchaff was at RSPB WoW. 5 Mediterranean Gulls were also present (Daniel Newton)

The drake Goosander was back at Billy Neil playing fields at lunchtime (Nigel Moore)

Two male Brambling were with chaffnches at Mourne Park car park, Kilkeel. A Red Kite was over the estate and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight over the car park. (Garry Wilkinson)

The adult Lesser Scaup was back at Kinnego Marina this morning (Ed O’Hara)

An adult Iceland Gull was at Kinnegar Shore this afternoon (Daniel Newton)

Seven Great Egrets and the 1st-winter Little Gull were still at Lough Beg today, also a 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull (David Steele)

Iceland Gull, Daniel Newton:

Stonechat, Julet Fleming:

Until the end of July, we will no longer be putting details of any sightings or pictures of potential breeding raptors on to the Blog.

Bird News Thursday 7th March

**Please Note** There is one seat available on Monday’s boat trip Ballycastle to Islay. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details.

Drake Goosander again on lake at Billy Neill CP this morning (Dave Weir).

Iceland Gull at Portballintrae this morning (John Clarke).

3 Red Kites; one low over the A26 Moira Road near Glenavy and two over the Dromore Road one mile from Ballynahinch (Gregory Heaney).

2 Great White Egrets at Portmore Lough RSPB and Cattle Egretbstill along Brankins Island Road near the bridge (Robbie Hughes).

Great White Egret, Merlin and 2 Pink-footed Geese at Reedy Flats (Ed O’Hara).

Impressive Starling murmuration between 249D Ballynahinch Road and Lough Aghery, presumed to roost in the conifers near the lough (Liz Wilson).

Iceland Gull, John Clarke:

Goosander, William Smiton:

Starling Murmuration, Liz Wilson:

Bird News Wednesday 6th March

Great Spotted Woodpecker in a garden near Banbridge (Mike McLaughlin) and also in a garden on Lisburn Street, Hillsborough (John Kelly).

Waxwings heard briefly 98nStrand Road, Derry at 0945 (John Spottiswood).

Glaucous Gull still in the Bann Estuary this morning (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

Drake Goosander not present 0900-1000 but seen 1052-11 when it flew towards Strangford Lough (Paul Hilton) and no further sign by 1115 on the lake at Billy Neill CP (Guy Hamilton). Seen to fly towards Strangford Lough yesterday at 1520 (Chris Shaw).

Glaucous Gull at the mouth of the river, Portballintrae early afternoon (John Clarke).

Red Kite flying over Kinnegoe Bay hide, Oxford Island NNR at 1430 (Rachel McIlroy), 2 Red Kites at 0930 over Ballyduggan Road near Downpatrick Racecourse (Ann-Marie Smyth) and another over Loughbrickland Lake (Jim Wells).

11+ Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Twite at Ballymacormick Point this afternoon (James Andrew).

The Black Redstart remains along the Whitehead seafront (Cameron Moore).

Glaucous Gull, Donna & Stephen Riddell:

Long-eared Owl, Donna & Stephen Riddell:

Glaucous Gull, John Clarke:

Goosander, Paul Hilton:

Bird News Tuesday 5th March

Drake Goosander still at Billy Neill CP Lake (Daniel Newton / Adam Roberts / William Smiton).

Iceland Gull at Portballintrae this morning (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

Short-eared Owl on Rathlin (Tom McDonnell).

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Belvoir Park Forest (Kevin Kirkham).

9 Waxwings outside 18 Ballymacash Road, Lisburn 4-5pm (Tim Ryan).

Black-throated and 6 Red-throated Divers off Whitehead (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

Goosander, Daniel Newton (1st image) & William Smiton:

Iceland Gull, Donna & Stephen Riddell:

Short-eared Owl, Tom McDonnell:

Bird News Monday 4th March

Yesterday 3 Bramblings were visiting a garden in Whitehead. (Cameron Moore).

A male Goosander is on Billy Neill lake in Belfast. (Chris Shaw).

The Glaucous Gull was still at the Bann Estuary this morning. (Stephen Riddell).

Two Iceland Gulls were at Portballintrae. (John Clarke).

The Waxwing flock was between 18 and 23 Ballymacash Road in Lisburn this morning. (Ivan Murdock).

Approximately 20 Waxwings were in Balmoral Avenue in south Belfast. (Damian McAuley).

A Slavonian Grebe was off Newtownards Sailing Club in Strangford |Lough. (David Stirling).

Three Cattle Egrets seen in flight at the south end of Lough Beg today, also in the area were two Great Egrets, nine Pink-footed Geese, Little Gull and Spotted Redshank. (David Steele).

Yesterday a probable juvenile Golden Eagle was seen in the Sperrin's, 3 Red Grouse were also seen. (Alan Faulkner).

Brambling, Cameron Moore.

Goosander, Chris Shaw.

Waxwings, Damian McAuley.

Bird News Sunday 3rd March

The drake Lesser Scaup is back at Kinnego Marina, Oxford Island, this morning (Garry Armstrong)

The Black Redstart was still at the Promenade, Newcastle (Daniel Newton)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was visiting a garden at Lord Wardens, Bangor (John Thompson)

The Great White Egret was still at Portmore (Michael Latham)

The drake Smew is off the Bayshore car park, Ardmore, Lough Neagh (Garry Armstrong)

A red head Smew and Great White Egret were at the east end of Reedy Flats (Garry Armstrong)

13 Waxwings were at 9 Ballymacash Road, Lisburn (Walter Veale)

A White-tailed Eagle was in the Antrim Hills (Gerard McGeehan)

95 Purple Sandpiper and 2 Sanderling were on rocks at the Coastal Zone Portrush (Adrian Fox)

A Green Sandpiper was at the stream bed at Stonebridge Roundabout, Richhill, Co Armagh (Andrew Poots)

The Cattle Egret was still at Brankins Road, Lough Neagh (Michael Latham)

5 Long-tailed Duck were off Greenisland (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Around 10 Snow Buntings were on the summit of Slieve Commedagh in the Mournes (Margaret McLachlan)

An adult winter Ring-billed Gull and a winter plumaged Common Tern were at Ballyronan Marina today. (David Morrow)

Many thanks to everyone who contributes bird news and pictures. It is greatly appreciated.

Black Redstart, Daniel Newton:

Cattle Egret, Michael Latham:

More local bird pics are at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Saturday 2nd March

8 Twite were still at Whitehead seafront. (Aaron Long).

A White-tailed Eagle was in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

Two Great White Egrets were seen from Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (Rosemary Millar).

The Cattle Egret was still at Brankins Island Road near Lady Bay, a Great White Egret was at Portmore. 30+ Whoopers were at Flatfield outside Lisburn. (Derek Polley).

A probable eastern Jackdaw was at Belfast Waterworks. (Stuart McKee).

White-tailed Eagle, Michael Latham.