Bird News Saturday 29th June

Yesterday the Corncrake was still calling on Rathlin. (David Clarke).

Also yesterday two Whooper swans were at Lough Beg. (Jimmy Christie).

A juvenile Great-spotted Woodpecker was visiting a feeder in a garden in Upper Ballinderry this afternoon. (Robin Brown).

Thanks to Mervyn Campbell for the pictures of the Stonechat and the Rock Pipit:

Bird News Friday 28th June.

A Red Kite was seen at the roundabout M22 for Antrim/Randalstown.(Viv/Derek Gruar).

A 1st summer Mediterranean Gull was along the promenade in Larne, see picture below. (Neal Warnock).

Mediterranean Gull - Neal Warnock

Buzzard - Thomas Campbell

Ringed Plover - Thomas Campbell

Bird News Thursday 27th June

4 Common Sandpiper were along the Clanrye River/ Newry Estuary this morning. (Frank Carroll)

There was no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher at Belfast WOW reserve up to 12.30. (Derek Polley).

Yesterday 5 Mediterranean Gulls were at Belfast WOW. (Gerard McGeehan).

Thanks to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Linnet and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Song Thrush:

Bird News Wednesday 26th June

3 Cuckoos were calling in Glenwherry valley at 5 30 am (Kenny Moore).

A Quail was singing today near Glenarm, in similar upland grassland habitat to the birds heard yesterday near Corkey. (David Steele).

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Belfast RSPB WOW reserve. (George Gordon/Daniel Newton/Gerard McGeehan).

The small flock of Yellowhammers were still just north of Portaferry, see picture below. (Michael Latham)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Meadow Pipit and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Yellowhammer:

Bird News Tuesday 25th June

A Hobby was at Portmore Lough this afternoon (Joe Furphy)

This morning a moulting flock of 3000+ Eider were at Greenisland shore with 60 Manx Shearwater flying up the lough towards Belfast (Ian Enlander)

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at RSPB WoW today (Daniel Newton)

Two Quail singing today from the grassland at Magheraboy near Corkey in North Antrim. (David Steele)

There will be a boat trip from Portballintrae to Innishtrahull this Thursday (June 27th). Please contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details.

Bird News Monday 24th June

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at RSPB WoW this afternoon (Daniel Newton)

The Black-necked Grebe is still at Reedy Flats (Richard Weyl)

Two Twite were at Fair Head (Stephen Foster)

Twite, Stephen Foster:

Bird News Sunday 23rd June

A possible Woodchat Shrike was briefly seen on wires / in flight at Orlock Point between Groomsport and Donaghadee. It was not relocated by 12. (Billy Miskelly). The bird was looked for this afternoon without success.

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at RSPB WoW this morning (Garry Armstrong) The bird was still present this afternoon (Anne Guichard)

The Corncrake was calling this morning on Rathlin (Ronald Surgenor)

A Reed Warbler was singing at The Mullagh, Lough Beg (David Steele)

Juvenile Wheatear, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 22nd June

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still present at Belfast RSPB WOW reserve this morning. (Ian Graham). The bird was still present at 8pm (Daniel Newton).

The Black-necked Grebe was seen again at Reedy Flat, Lough Neagh, see picture below. (James O'Neill).

A Whimbrel was at Ballymcormick Point this morning (Richard Hunter).

Six Yellowhammer were north of Portaferry, see picture below. (Michael Latham)

The Corncrake continues to be heard on Rathlin.

Thanks to James O'Neill for the picture of the Black-necked Grebe, to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Hen Harrier and the Peregrine, to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Dunlin and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Yellowhammer:

Bird News Friday 21st June (Summer solstice)

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still present at Belfast RSPB WOW reserve early this morning. It was outside the Observation Room before being flushed by a Sparrowhawk. (Ed O'Hara). The bird was still present this afternoon (Dennis O’Sullivan)

5 Pink-footed Geese flying over Giants Causeway, Antrim this morning also about 15 Twite (Dennis O'Sullivan)

A Golden Eagle, possibly a sub adult type, was drifting inland high over Fair head. Lost over hills/forest area east of Ballycastle (Dennis O'Sullivan)

A Short - eared Owl was at Kebble, Rathlin Island (Dermot Hughes/John O'Boyle)

Our thanks to Ed O'Hara for his pic of the Long-billed Dowitcher.

Bird News Thursday 20th June

The Long-billed Dowitcher is still at Belfast RSPB WOW reserve this morning. (Derek Polley).

The Glossy Ibis was still at Portmore RSPB reserve, see picture below. (David Hunter).

Thanks to David Hunter for the pictures of the Glossy Ibis and the Sedge Warbler, to Stephen Maxwell for the picture of the Arctic Terns, to Richard Hunter for the picture of the Meadow Pipit and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Sparrowhawk:

Bird News Wednesday 19th June

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at RSPB WoW this morning (Gerard McGeehan)

7 Manx Shearwater were high up Belfast Lough at the Cruise Liner Terminal (Adam McClure)

Female Whinchat, Ronald Surgenor:

Spotted Flycatcher, Jonny Rosborough:

You can see more pictures of local NI birds at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Tuesday 18th June

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at RSPB WoW this morning (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop) The bird was still present this evening. (Colin Mayes)

A Roseate Tern was on the planks at RSPB WoW at 1:30 (Gerard MGeehan)

A video of the Long-billed Dowitcher from Derek Polley is at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=12fQrN2q90c&feature=youtu.be

Bird News Monday 17th June

The Long-billed Dowitcher is still present at Belfast WOW this morning. (Daniel Newton). The bird was still present this evening. (Michael Latham/Garry Wilkinson/Wilton Farrelly).

Thanks to Michael for the first two Dowitcher pictures and to Garry for the second two pictures and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Jay:

Bird News Sunday 16th June

A Long-billed Dowitcher was at RSPB WoW this morning (Daniel Newton). The bird was back again at 4:15, viewable from Hide 2.

The Antrim Hills today had Whinchat, Spotted Flycatchers, Grasshopper Warbler and a number of Cuckoos (Michael Latham)

Long-billed Dowitcher, Daniel Newton:

Long-billed Dowitcher, Kevin Kirkham

Whinchat, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 15th June.

No fresh bird news so far to-day.

However a very interesting record sent in by Neal Warnock off a Humpback Whale tail slapping of Larne this afternoon for about 20 mins, but there was no further sign up until 6pm tonight.

Our thanks to Thomas Campbell for his flight shot of a Sand Martin,  to Mike McLaughlin for the pic of a juv. Tree Sparrow. to David Nixon for the pair of Stock Doves which were photographed at Ardilea Co Down. 

Bird News Friday 14th June

No news so far today.

Thanks to Ric Else for the pictures of the Great Skuas and the young Wheatear and to Paul McCullough for the picture of the leucistic Chaffinch:

Bird News Thursday 13th June

A Rose l-coloured Starling was seen in a private garden in Donaghadee on the 11th June.

A Garganey was showing well at RSPB WoW this morning (Derek Polley)

A Great Spotted Woodpeckers was seen and heard calling at Belvoir Forest car park at mid-day today. (Ron Price) Another was seen at Dromore, Co Down (Kenny Gibson).

The Glossy Ibis was at Portmore Lough yesterday (Jonny Rosborough)

Many thanks to all who send in pictures. You can see more pictures of local birds at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/ 

Great Spotted Woodpecker, David Cassells:

Glossy Ibis, Jonny Rosborough:

Garganey, Stephen Maxwell:

Bird News Wednesday 12th June

4 Med Gulls and a Garganey were at RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan)

A Red Kite was over fields adjacent to Murlough inner South bay this afternoon. (Mike McLaughlin)

A Cuckoo was calling at Shillnavogy Forest (Kenny Moore)

Great Crested Grebes, Jonny Rosborough:

Bird News Tuesday 11th June

A Hobby was seen briefly over the Antrim hills.(Ronald Surgenor)

A Red Kite was seen at Kilcoo this morning.(Robert Hughes)

Hobby - Ronald Surgenor

Bird News Monday 10th June

A Short Eared Owl at the East Lighthouse on Rathlin Island today. (David Morrow)

A Cuckoo was calling near Church Rd, Glenwherry valley (Kenny Moore)

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for the picture of the young Tree Sparrow and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Song Thrush: