Bird News Wednesday 8th March

A first year Glaucous Gull flew past White Rocks, Portrush and an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the seafront at Ballycastle. (Colin Guy).

A male Goosander was at Waterfoot bridge, Co. Antrim this morning. (Ian Enlander).

The American Wigeon and a Merlin were at the south end of Dundrum inner bay at low tide. (Ronald Surgenor).

The Kumlien's Gull was roosting at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve this evening. (Daniel Newton).

Two Ruff were also at RSPB WOW (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Colin Guy for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull, to Ronald Surgenor for the picture of the Merlin and to Stephen Foster for the picture of the Purple Sandpiper.

 

 

Bird News Tuesday 7th March

The Green-winged Teal was still at the Ecos Park, Ballymena. (Jeff Larkin)

The drake American Wigeon was still at Dundrum Inner Bay South (Derek Polley)

Two Ruff are at Dargan Bay, Belfast Lough (Joe Lamont)

Great Spotted Woodpecker in Cairn Wood, Holywood Hills, this morning. (Julian Greenwood)

You can see video footage of the drake American Wigeon from Daniel Newton at:

https://t.co/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FN3oVo3vZlE%3Fcn%3DbWVudGlvbg%253D%253D&t=1&cn=bWVudGlvbg%3D%3D&sig=a37e1bb8d64d01149f04cf6d9cd1a30a60272a11&iid=e62b29d0c03c434d98d7460b69cfc56c&uid=30440967&nid=4+1268

Thanks to Ian Jackson for this pic of a male Siskin:

 

NI Seabird Report

The excellent 2016 BTO NI seabird report has been published. You can see a copy at:

https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/bto-norther-ireland-seabird-report-2016.pdf

The report contains data on population trends of all of our seabirds as well as a number of excellent articles.

Bird News Monday 6th March

The American Wigeon was still present in Dundrum Inner Bay south this morning. (Gerard McGeehan, Tony Dodds).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming near Moreland's Meadows on the Lagan Towpath in Belfast today. (Philip McErlean).

About 25 Waxwings were at Ballyhartfield Road near Templepatrick but the birds are flighty and may have moved on. (Stephen Foster).

A Merlin was on the Straid Road near Bushmills, see picture below. (Patrick Barton).

Two Pink-footed Geese flew along the seafront at Ballycastle. (Colin Guy).

A Red Kite flew east along Slievenacloy (Belfast Hills) at 1300hrs today. (Dougie Gamble).

Thanks to Patrick Barton for the picture of the Merlin and to Stephen Foster for the picture of the Waxwings.

 

 

Bird News Sunday 5th March

The drake American Wigeon was still present at Dundrum Inner Bay (Daniel Newton). Two Ruff are also present (Garry Armstrong)

The Ring-necked Duck was still at Maghery, Lough Neagh plus 3 Goosanders (male and 2 redheads) (David Knight)

On the east side of Strangford Lough in good conditions 70 Slavonian Grebe (56 between Greyabbey and Kircubbin, 7 east of Chapel Island, 5 off Newtownards Sailing Club and 2 north of Gransha Point), 38 Great Northern Diver (22 at from Marlfield, 12 south of Gransha Point and 4 north of Gransha Point), 8 Black-throated Diver (south of Gransha Point) and 2 Red-throated Diver (at Greyabbey Bay and south of Gransha Point). (Richard Weyl)

The adult Mediterranean Gull was still at Bangor Marina, and 2 Purple Sandpiper at the high tide roost along Seacliff Road (George Gordon)A Little Egret was along the River Main at Slaght near Ballymena this morning - this is the first record of this species at this locality. Also, an adult Mediterranean Gull was with other gulls on fields by the river and 14 Greylag Geese flew north.(David Steele)

3 Goosander, (1 male 2 female), were at Loughislandreavy. (Garry Armstrong)

Four Long-tailed Ducks were off Carrickfergus, 5 Waxwings in Ballygally & a first winter Iceland Gull at Carnlough (Neal Warnock).

2 Brent Geese were inland at Reedy Flat on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Joe Devlin).


Iceland Gull - Neal Warnock

Bird News Saturday 4th March

A drake American Wigeon is at Dundrum south inner bay (David Nixon) 

A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Maghery, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh. (David Knight)

A drake Velvet Scoter was amongst 1000+ Common Scoter off Newcastle Harbour this morning. Also 4 Great Northern Diver and 2 Red-throated Diver. (Daniel Newton)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in garden at Strand Cottages, Ballycastle, not far from woodland at Tow river. (Michael Barton)

Yesterday a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull was at Larne (Stephen Foster)

5 Velvet Scoter and a female Long tailed duck were off Loughshore park, Whiteabbey, Belfast Lough today Sat 4/3/17. (Paul McCullough and Gerard McGeehan)

Up to sixty Twite were at Millbay, Islandmagee today. (Cameron Moore)

The Black Redstart was still at the seafront Whitehead (Cameron Moore / David Stirling)

The Twite flock were still at the Boatyard, Whitehead (David Stirling)

Thanks to David Nixon for the pic of the American Wigeon, Stephen Foster for the pic of the Med Gull and Thomas Campbell for the Greenshank:

American Wigeon, David Nixon:

Med Gull, Stephen Foster:

Greenshank, Thomas Campbell:

Bird News Friday 3rd March

The Kumlien's Gull was showing well at Belfast Lough RSPB Reserve late this afternoon---between 4.0 pm and 5.0 pm. It was sitting crouched on the tern island opposite the Roadside Hide. The bird is in largely juvenile plumage and appeared to be moribund. (Tom Ennis). Later the bird was seen to fly to the far side of the lagoon to join other large gulls. (Nichola Henry).

This afternoon 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls were by the seafront car park in Whitehead. (Ian Enlander).

A single Crossbill has been at Foglish Road, Fivemiletown this week. (Colin Bell).

A second-year Mediterranean Gull was at Larne Harbour (Stephen Foster).

Thanks to David Hill for the picture of the Teal and to Jason Bain for the picture of the Twite.

 

 

 

NI Heron Survey - Help Wanted

Bird News Thursday 2nd March

31 Twite were present at the Boatyard, Whitehead. The Black Redstart was also present today. The Greenland White-fronted Goose was with 56 Greylag at Steeles Point, Islandmagee. (Cameron Moore)

The Spoonbill was at Annes Point, Strangford Lough this afternoon. A Kingfisher was in Bangor Marina this morning (Julian Greenwood)

Lough Beg today had an adult-winter Mediterranean Gull and good early spring counts of 70 Pintail, 85 Shoveler, 600 Black-tailed Godwits and 12 Ruff. (David Steele)

2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were at the RSPB WOW Reserve late this afternoon. One seemed in complete summer plumage but the other had a lot of white in the black head. (Tom Ennis)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at the back of the FE McWilliams gallery cafe at Banbridge Outlet Centre this afternoon. (Garry Wilkinson)

Yesterday an adult Mediterranean Gull was in Bangor Marina (Derek Polley)

A Kingfisher was on the Enler river near Comber today. (Robert McDowell)

A second winter Glaucous Gull was at East Strand Portrush (Colin Guy)

Yesterday a Long-tailed Duck was at Lough Shore, Belfast (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Cameron Moore for this pic of a Twite:

 

Bird News Wednesday 1st March

An adult Mediterranean Gull was on a lamppost with a Black-headed Gull at Knockmore Road, Lisburn  at 08:30 am this morning. (Kevin Kirkham-Brown).

A Pink-footed Goose was with 78 Greylag at Belfast Waterworks. (Dave Allen).

A Water Rail was seen beside Kinnego Hide at Oxford Island. (Michael Loughridge).

A Little Auk was seen from the Rathlin ferry close to Rue Point. (Colin Guy).

A Whimbrel, Sandwich Tern, 7 Common Scoter and a Little Egret were in the sound between Donaghadee and Copeland (Stephen Foster, Ronan Owens).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Kinnegar shore. (Tony Dodds).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Red-throated Diver and the Buzzard, to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Brent Geese and to Stephen Foster for the picture of the Whimbrel.

 

 

 

Bird News Tuesday 28th February

60+ Waxwings are at Balmoral Mews in Belfast, the birds have been present since Sunday. (Julie Tolerton).

50 Twite were at the boatyard in Whitehead (Jason Bain).

Wilton, Garry and myself would like to thank both Neal and Adam for covering the blog over the last few weeks, it was very much appreciated. Ian

Bird News Monday 27th February

A male Goosander was near Moorfields (Ruben Douglas).

A Chough was at Fair Head, Co Antrim (Clive Mellon).

The 5 Velvet Scoter were seen again off Lough Shore, Belfast Lough (Gerard McGeehan and Shirley Dunlop).

An adult Med Gull was at IKEA car park in Belfast (Garry Wilkinson).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming at Drum Manor Forest Park near Cookstown (Shane McGarvey).

It was a good day for raptor sightings around Inch Lake, Co Donegal, with 9 Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Peregrine seen.  Two Kingfishers were at Farland Bank (Christine Cassidy).

Rathlin Island today had a 3rd winter Iceland Gull, a Pochard, a Goldeneye and a Barnacle Goose.  An adult Iceland Gull flew past Runkerry Head, Portballintrae (Colin Guy).

Thanks to Rod Gillan for this photo of Golden Plover at Portstewart.

Bird News Sunday 26th February

RSPB Belfast WOW today had 2 Scaup, 2 Gadwall, 2 male Red-breasted Mergansers and an adult Mediterranean Gull. There was no sign of the Kumlien's Gull (Tom Ennis).

Around Larne Lough, 6 Purple Sandpiper were at Sandy Bay (Gerard McGeehan), 2 Twite were at Chaine Memorial this evening (Neal Warnock), an adult type Iceland Gull was seen from the Harbour Highway (Neal Warnock) and a first winter Iceland Gull was at Glynn this afternoon (Joe Lamont). Around 10 Mediterranean Gulls were seen at various locations.

An adult Med Gull was at Drains Bay (Neal Warnock).

20+ Waxwings were at the junction of Duncairn Gardens and Antrim Road in Belfast (Tom Clarke).

Thanks to John Bamford for the photo of a Treecreeper.

Bird News Saturday 25th February

A probable first winter Kumlien's Gull and a Med Gull were at RSPB Belfast WOW (Daniel Newton and Ronald Surgenor).

An adult Med Gull and 6 Twite were at Larne Harbour. Four adult and a 2nd winter Med Gull were at Glynn.  An adult Little Gull was at Drains Bay (Neal Warnock).

200 Whooper Swans were in fields between Bartons Bay and Lurgan (Thomas Campbell).

2 Waxwings were in a garden in Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone this afternoon (Colin Bell).

Little Gull, Neal Warnock

Bird News Friday 24th February

17 Waxwings were at Stockmans Lane near Boucher Road. Flock very flighty and moving between Musgrave Park and trees along Stockmans Lane  (Adam McClure).

5 Velvet Scoter, a Long-tailed Duck, adult Med Gull and a Great Northern Diver were at Lough Shore Park, Belfast Lough (Gerard McGeehan / Stuart McKee).

A first winter Iceland Gull came to roost at RSPB Belfast WOW this evening (Daniel Newton).

The Black Redstart was around the boat compound at Whitehead and the Brambling in a private garden (Cameron Moore).

A Great White Egret was at Lower Lough Erne (Irish Birding).

A flock of 20 Whooper Swans were in a field outside Donagh village, Co Fermanagh (John Cusack and Vanessa Dunn).

3 female Goosanders were at Lough Island Reavy, Co Down (David Nixon).

Approximately 10 Tree Sparrows were in a garden at Lowry Hill, Bangor this morning (Ken Davis).

A Brambling was at Lisnagra Woods, Inishowen, Co Donegal (Christine Cassidy).

Up to 400 Pied Wagtails were seen going to roost at Sprucefield car park this evening (Garry Wilkinson).


Brambling, Christine Cassidy

Black Redstart, Cameron Moore

Bird News Thursday 23rd February

Yesterday, a male Smew and a Long-tailed Duck were at Inch Island Lake, Donegal (Peter Robinson et al).

A first winter Kumlien's Gull was at RSPB Belfast WOW this morning (Stuart McKee).

Four adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Larne Harbour this morning (Neal Warnock). Another adult was at Whitehead (David Stirling). A second year Med Gull was at Ballylumford and an adult at Browns Bay, Islandmagee (Cameron Moore). Three Med Gulls were also seen at Glynn today (Joe Lamont). See photos by David and Cameron below.

The Brambling was seen again in Whitehead (Cameron Moore).

Med Gull, Cameron Moore




Med Gull, David Stirling

Bird News Wednesday 22nd February

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming and giving good views at Oxford Island (Billy Miskelly).

A 1st-winter Med Gull has joined the adult at Corbet Lough (Robin Vage)

A Woodcock flew over the A8 at Corrs Corner just before 7am and 8 Med Gulls were at Glynn this afternoon (Adam McClure).

20 Waxwings were at Moylena Grove in Antrim (Davy Hunter), 15 Waxwings at Benagh Road, Greencastle (Stephen Foster) and a single Waxwing in Ballygally. A flock was also reported feeding on trees along Stockmans Lane (Dave Welsh).

The Green-winged Teal was still at Ecos Centre, the Red-throated Diver at Glenarm and Twite and Purple Sandpipers at Whitehead yesterday (Garry Wilkinson/Nigel Moore/Sandy McWilliams/David Tomlinson).

Bird News Tuesday 21st February

Three Jack Snipe and three Woodcock were near Kilrea (Adam McClure)

Late news from yesterday - a single Barnacle Goose was with 23 Brent Geese at Myroe (Tom Ennis / Tony Dodds).

The Bittern was looked for this afternoon at Lough Ross without success (Brian McCloskey).

A first winter Iceland Gull was at Whitehouse Lagoon this afternoon (David Nixon / Philip McHaffie).

Many thanks to Thomas Campbell for the photo of the Black Guillemots.

Bird News Monday 20th February

A Bittern was reported yesterday at Lough Ross near Crossmaglen, Co Armagh. Seen in the reed bed and in flight from a fishing boat (Alan Magee).  The reed bed is situated in the northwest corner, where the river enters the lough.  It is viewable from the public car park, but would require a telescope. Please do not enter private farmland without permission from landowners.

10 Waxwings were showing in Lisburn (Mrs. Shaw).

In Donegal, American Wigeon were reported from Culdaff and Malin Town (Birdguides).

Bird News Sunday 19th February

On Strangford Lough, there were 42 Slavonian Grebe between Greyabbey Bay and Kircubbin and a further 5 north-west of Newtownards Sailing Club  (Richard Weyl).

Two female Brambling and a Great Northern Diver were at Cushendun (Colin Guy).

A Waxwing was at Croft Road, Ballygally and a male Goosander and 6 Twite at Glenarm (Stephen Foster).

At Larne Lough this morning, an adult and 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull were at the Inver River and 4 adult Med Gulls and a 1st winter Iceland Gull at Glynn (Neal Warnock).

Late news from yesterday of a 3rd winter Iceland Gull at the Bann Estuary (Colin Guy).

Siskins are being widely reported from gardens.

Thanks to Gareth Platt for the image of two unfortunate Common Gulls from Millisle. There are more details about the ringed bird here.