Bird News Monday 14th March

 A Merlin was hunting off the Croaghan hide at Oxford Island, two House Martins and two Sand Martins were also off the hide and a Chiffchaff was singing in bushes beside the hide. (Ed O'Hara).

The adult Ring-billed Gull is back at the Round "O" in Enniskillen. (Brad Robson).

3 Carrion Crows were at Orlock Point. (Bob Watts).

The Black Redstart was still between Donaghadee and Orlock. (Derek Polly, Michael Latham).

A Ruff,  Pintail and male Goldeneye were still at Belfast Lough RSPB. (Noeni Bryars).

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road outside Newry this evening. (John Spottiswood).

A 1st winter Glaucous Gull was in Ardglass harbour. (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Black Redstart and to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the House Martin:

Bird News Sunday 13th March

 A Med Gull, 2 Ruff and a Pintail still at RSPB WOW reserve.(Ian Young)

The male Black Redstart was still on the shore opposite 142 Warren Rd, Donaghadee.(George Gordon)

A Wheatear was at Briggs Rocks, Co Down(Richard Weyl)

A Chiffchaff was at Oxford Island.(Ed O'Hara)see pic below

30 Pink-footed Goose remain at  Islandmagee. (Cameron Moore)

4 Sand Martin west of Ardmore Point, Lough Neagh along with 200 Scaup.(John Spottiswood)

 

Bird News Saturday 12th March

The Black-necked Grebe was at the west end of Ardmore on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Garry Armstrong).

The Water Pipit was showing well at the south end of Ballyfrench beach, close to the fence line. (Ian Young).

10 Bramblings are visiting a garden in Richill. (Andrew Poots).

The two Ruff are still at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve, the male Pintail and male Goldeneye are also still present. (Bob Watts). Later 4 Pintail and 4 Mediterranean Gulls were also present. (Stuart McKee/Michael Latham).

The first Wheatear of the year was at Myroe. (Richard Donaghey).

16 Twite were along Whitehead seafront. (Ian Enlander).

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road outside Newry. (Michael O'Clery).

The female Brambling is still visiting a garden in Larne. (Linda Thompson)

A male Ring-necked Duck was seen again at the south end of Lough Beg today, also present were the Cattle Egret, Spotted Redshank and three Sand Martins. A flock of 1,000+ Black-tailed Godwits were on the meadows at Church Island. (David Steele).

The male Black Redstart was opposite 140 Warren Road between Donaghadee and Orlock this afternoon. (Tom Ennis, Andrew Millar).

The White-tailed Eagle and the Glaucous Gull were both still on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

Thanks to Linda Thompson for the picture of the Brambling, to Brenda Campbell for the picture of the Red-throated Diver, to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Red Grouse and the Mistle Thrush and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Black-necked Grebe:

Bird News Friday 11th March

 Yesterday evening a 3rd calendar year Iceland Gull was still at Enniskillen. (Brad Robson).

Two Sand Martins, the first reported this year, were off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

Thanks to Derek Polley for the pictures of the Mediterranean Gull and the Black-tailed Godwits and to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Sanderling:

Bird News Thursday 10th March

 A Water Pipit was on Ballyfrench beach north of Portavogie on the Outer Ards. (Billy Miskelly, Tony Dodds). The bird was still present at 3pm. (Bob Watts).

2 Ruff, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, a Pintail and a Goldeneye were at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW Reserve. (Derek Polley).

A female Brambling was in Coleraine. (Stephen & Donna Riddell).

A Short-eared Owl and a Chiffchaff where on Mew Island, Copelands Island.(Philip McNamara)

Thanks to David McCreedy for the pictures of the Red Kite and to Donna Riddell for the picture of the Brambling:

Bird News Wednesday 9th March

A Red Kite was near the Dunsilly Roundabout in Ballymena. (Alan Hillen)

Thanks to Kevin O'Grady for the picture of a Siskin and to Alan Hillen for the picture of the Red Kite:

 

Bird News Tuesday 8th March

 An untagged White-tailed Eagle was on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

The female Smew was seen again at the west end of Ardmore on the south shore of Lough Neagh.(Bob Watts)

Thanks to Ric Else for the picture of the White-tailed Eagle:

Bird News Monday 7th March

 The Black Redstart is still present on the shore opposite 142 Warren Road between Donaghadee and Orlock. (Alastair McLean).

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh, a Merlin and a single Pinkfoot were also present. (Ed O'Hara).

A Red Kite flew over the Keel Point road near Murlough Bay car park. (Robert & Lynn Hughes).

Sandy Bay in Larne had 3 Twite and 2 Purple Sandpipers among commoner species. (Kevin Kirkham).

The Black Redstart and a Purple Sandpiper were at Whitehead. 36 Pinkfeet were at Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

The Scaup flock and a single Pinkfoot were with the Greylags along Ardmore Road. A female Merlin was along Kinnego Embankment. (Richard Gray)

Thanks to Donna Riddell for this picture of a Great Northern Diver from Portrush harbour and to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Purple Sandpiper and the Goldeneye:

Bird News Sunday 6th March

The male Black Redstart is still half way from Donaghadee to Orlock. (Michael Latham)

A Corncrake was reported calling from the damp rushy bottom of a field near the former rear entrance to Portavo reservoir this morning. (Victor Alastair)

The Black-necked Grebe was at Reedy Flats. (Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn).

The red head Smew was at the west end of Ardmore on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Jeff Larkin).

The RSPB Wow reserve had 2 Ruff and a Med Gull, the Goldeneye still present Robert Hughes/Ian Enlander)

2 Velvet Scoter still at Dargan Bay.(Kenneth Brewster)

Appox. 180 Scaup between Todd's corner and Emerson's Sand Pit.(Jeff Larkin) 

2cy White-tailed Eagle on Rathlin, along with 12 Snow Bunting and the first Jackdaw of the year.(Ric Else/Hazel Watson)

Two adult Med Gulls were at Glynn  (Joe Lamont)

Our thanks to Cecil Smyth for this image of a Siskin.

Bird News Saturday 5th March

The Black-necked Grebe was in the pool in the centre of Reedy Flats, also present were two ring-tail Hen Harriers and a Merlin. (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara,  Joe Devlin).

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard outside Newry, in the field beside the red tanker. (Aidan Kelly)

12 purple sandpipers and a merlin were at the north end of Ballyhornan beach (Richard Weyl)

There again was no sign of the Ferruginous Duck at Ballysaggart. 

A female Brambling is still visiting a garden in Larne. (Linda Thompson).

The Black Redstart was still showing between Orlock and Donaghadee Golf Club. (David Rainey/Jonny Andrews)

A Hen Harrier and a Peregrine were in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

Two Bramblings are still visiting a garden in Ballymena. (Jeff Larkin).

The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead seafront, a Purple Sandpiper was also present. (Neal Warnock).

Thanks to David Rainey for the first Black Redstart picture, to Jonny Andrews for the second Black Redstart picture, to Michael Latham for the Hen Harrier picture, to Linda Thompson for the Brambling picture and to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Peregrine and the Greenshank:

Bird News Friday 4th March

The Ring Ouzel showed well this morning between 8.30 & 9.15pm in the field NW of junction of Ballard &  Aghmakane Roads with Redwings & Fieldfare (John Coveney)

An pair of Ring-necked Duck and a female Scaup were at Inishcreenry, Upper Lough Erne (Gavin Thomas)

The male Black Redstart is still present half way between Donaghadee and Orlock Point (Richard Weyl)

2 Goosanders, a male and a red-head, were on Begney Lough, Co Down this afternoon. (David Nixon)

The female Smew and Black-necked Grebe were on Lough Neagh from the west end of Ardmore. A drake Lesser Scaup was also present. (Conor Foley) 

2 juvenile and one second-winter Iceland Gulls and several 2cy and 3cy Scandinavian (argentatus) Herring Gulls were at Enniskillen dump Co. Fermanagh (Cian Cardiff)

2 Great Northern Diver were at Portrush harbour / West strand beach. Also 15 Purple Sandpipers were in Portballintrae and a further 3 off Portstewart Promenade (Juliet Fleming)

There was no sign of the Ferruginous Duck at Ballysaggart Lake, Dungannon this morning.

The Short-eared Owl was seen briefly near the main carpark on Divis this evening. (Garry & Gayle Wilkinson, Nigel Moore).

A female Brambling is in the Stormont Estate in Belfast. (Paul McCullough).

Many thanks to everyone who shares their sightings, bird news and pictures.

Goosander, Begney Lough, Dave Weir:

Jay, Gerry Bond:

Great Northern Diver, Juliet Fleming:

Bird News Thursday 3rd March

Eleven Snow Buntings were on Divis Mountain this afternoon (at the summit) and a Short-eared Owl hunting between the two car parks. (Suzanne Belshaw)

Two Ruff and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

A male Black Redstart was today on the shore between Donaghadee and Orlock. (Stephen Foster)

The Spotted Redshank was again in the channel running through Dundrum South Inner Bay this afternoon (David Nixon)

There is one seat available for Saturday's boat trip to Islay. Weather conditions will be excellent. Contact Jim Wells on 0785 6235144 for more details.

Snow Bunting and Short-eared Owl, Suzanne Belshaw:

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Derek Polley:

BTO Heronry Census

The BTO heronry census 2022 - help needed!

As ever, I am looking for volunteers to cover specific heronries which currently do not have a surveyor. Can anyone willing to help please check the list of areas below to identify those they may be able to cover. Survey methodology is straightforward requiring 1 - 2 short site visits during the spring period. Please contact ian.enlander1 'AT' hotmail.com for further information and claim your site

Co. Antrim: Bushmills, Cargan, Moorfields - Ballymena, Glenwhirry

Co. Armagh: Caledon, Benburb

Co. Down: Mourne Park, Kilkeel

Co. L'derry: Altnaheglish Res Banagher, Drumahoe, Limavady, Bellarena

Co. Tyrone: Fintona, Termon - Carrickmore

Thanks 

Ian Enlander

Bird News Wednesday 2nd March

Two Ruff were at RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan)

Bird News Tuesday 1st March.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen between Barnett's demesne and Lagan towpath.(Paula Campbell)

A dark-bellied Brent amongst the pale-bellies at Cloughy Beach on the Ards Peninsula this afternoon(Graham McElwaine)

3 Iceland Gull where at E'killen dump(Gavin Thomas)

The Great White Egret is still present at Ballycarry and the Black Redstart still at Whitehead.(Cameron Moore)

The Ring Ouzel was seen again at Ballard Road outside Newry. 

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Loughshore in Belfast Lough. (David Stirling).

Our thanks to Cameron for the Black Redstart and Great White Egret images and to David McCreedy for the picture of the Yellowhammer.

Bird News Monday 28th February

An adult winter Mediterranean gull was on the pond at the Billy Neill Centre Dundonald this morning. (Chris Shaw)

A Red Kite was still near Armoy (Dave Allen)

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road, Armagh in the usual fields showing well on the small rocky outcrops there. (John Spottiswood).

The Black-necked Grebe was seen again briefly at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh, there was no sign of the red head Smew. (Bob Watts).

Two Slavonian Grebes were off Whiteabbey in Belfast Lough and the Glaucous Gull was present again on the shore. (David Stirling).

A Ruff was at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve. (Shirley Dunlop & Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Noeni Bryars for the pictures of the Goldeneye and the Grey Wagtail and thanks to Kevin Kirkham for the pictures of the Double-crested Cormorant in Co, Leitrim and the Snow Goose at Lissadell in Sligo:

Bird News Sunday 27th February

The Ferruginous Duck was back again at Ballysaggart Lough this morning (Aidan Kelly / Jim Dowdall) The bird was still present at 2:30pm (Godfrey McRoberts). The bird was still there to 6pm (Luke Geraty)

A Black-necked Grebe was at the east end of Reedy Flat, Lough Neagh (Garry Armstrong)

A red head Smew was also with Goldeneye at Reedy Flat, Lough Neagh (Brian McCloskey)

A Glaucous and Iceland Gull were at the Bann Estuary this morning (Stephen Riddell)

3 Crossbill were in the Antrim Hills (Stephen Dunbar)

A Glaucous Gull was at Whiteabbey Beach today. (Kevin Mawhinney) The bird was still there at 4:30 (Dakota Reid)

The female Brambling was still visiting a garden in Larne (Linda Thompson)

2 Woodcock were seen at Loughry college, Cookstown in woods along the Killymoon river. (Godfrey McRoberts)

A 1st winter Little Gull was feeding off Brigg’s Rocks and 3 Whimbrel at Orlock Point. Yesterday a Pink-footed Goose was south of Anne’s Point. (Richard Weyl)

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was at the RSPB WoW gull roost this evening (Stuart McKee)

The Cattle Egret was still at the Creagh, Toome (Michael Latham)

Two adult Mediterranean Gull were at Loughshore Park, Belfast Lough (Dakota Reid)

Female Brambling, Linda Thompson:

Adult Yellow-legged Gull (rear bird), Stuart McKee:

Mediterranean Gull, Glenarm, Neal Warnock:

Bird News Saturday 26th February

Two Marsh Harriers were at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. 

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road outside Newry this morning. (Nigel Moore).

The juvenile Iceland Gull and Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid were at Enniskillen dump this afternoon. (Gavin Thomas).

A female Brambling is visiting a garden in Larne. (Linda Thompson).

2 Brambling and 10 Tree Sparrows were with a Chaffinch flock in stubble fields at Megargy, Magherafelt. (Godfrey McRoberts).

An adult Iceland Gull, a 1st winter and adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve. A Slavonian Grebe was off Macedon Point. (Stuart McKee).

Thanks to Linda for the picture of the Brambling:

Bird News Friday 25th February

The drake Ferruginous Duck was still at the north end of Ballysaggart Lough this morning. (John Spottiswood). The bird was still present at 3:45pm (Shirley Dunlop)

At least one of the Great White Egrets was still present and showing well at Ballycarry Bridge this morning. (Kevin Kirkham).

A 1st winter Iceland Gull is at the Barmouth, a Slavonian Grebe is also present. (Richard Donaghey).

A 1st winter Iceland Gull and the presumed hybrid Glaucous Gull were at Enniskillen Dump at lunchtime today (Brad Robson)

A Ring-necked Duck (the fifth individual to be seen since the autumn) was at the south end of Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steel)

A male Ring-necked Duck was at Knockninny, Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh. (Ronan Owens).

Thanks to Gerry Bond for the pictures of the Redpoll and the Coal Tit:

Bird News Thursday 24th February

The male Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road, Co Armagh this afternoon (John Spottiswood)