Bird News Sunday 12th November

The Bufflehead is still at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush this morning (Richard Gray / Adam Roberts / Theo Campbell et al)

A Spotted Redshank was at the Bann Estuary (Dean Jones)

The Firecrest is still present at Kiltonga this morning, with a tit flock (James Andrew)

Two Iceland Gull are at Portballintrae (John Clarke)

The Little Bunting remains on Tory Island (Anton Meenan)

At Inch, Co Donegal, the Lesser Scaup remains off the Causeway (Derek Brennan)

At least two Great White Egrets were still at Portmore. The Marsh Harrier was also reported. (Dave Weir)

Two Short-eared Owls were on Divis Mountain - one below the cafe and another close to the entrance gate(Glenn Hamill)

If you would like to contribute to the annual IRSBG Band report, you can do so at:

https://twitter.com/IRSBG1/status/1723644057803497623?t=bgFYep93acOLBmEr91czSw&s=19

Bufflehead, Clifford Sharpe:

Whooper Swans, Christine Cunningham:

Bird News Saturday 11th November

The female/juvenile Bufflehead still present at Corbally Reservoir (Wilton Farrelly/Garry Armstrong/Philip West).

1st winter drake Lesser Scaup showing well at Stoneyford Reservoir. Also 5 Great White Egret at Portmore Lough RSPB (Chris Murphy).

New 1st winter drake Lesser Scaup at Portmore Lough RSPB (Garry Armstrong/Wilton Farrelly/Philip West). 5 Great White Egret were also present along with a Marsh Harrier.

Firecrest at Kiltonga, Newtownards with highly mobile mixed tit and crest flock (Billy Miskelly).

Short-eared Owl being mobbed early morning high over garden and castle gardens in Co Antrim (David Hunter).

Short-eared Owl hunting the apron at Belfast City Airport (Mervyn Campbell).

Little Bunting still on Tory at West Town and an Mealy Redpoll (Anton Meenan).

2 Purple Sandpipers off the rocks at Amici, Portstewart (Michael Latham).

Single Cattle and Great White Egrets behind Mullagh farm, Lough Beg this morning (Richard Hunter). Also 8 Long-tailed Ducks, ringtail Hen Harrier (Chris Murphy).

6 Waxwing in Moneynick, Co Antrim (Maria Mulholland).

2 Slavonian Grebes and c12 Red-throated Divers at Myroe (Michael Latham).

Short-eared Owl quartering below the café at Divis mountain early evening (Stephen McVeigh).

A Short-eared Owl was at Fair Head. (Raymond Fulton).

A Short-eared Owl was at Myroe at sunset. (Steven Fyffe, Matthew Flood, Emma Mulholland).

A Short-eared Owl was at Ballymacormick Point this afternoon. (Richard Weyl)

Bufflehead, Geoff Campbell:

Bufflehead, Michael Latham:

Lesser Scaup, Wilton Farrelly:

Lesser Scaup (Portmore Lough), Wilton Farrelly

Marsh Harrier, Portmore, Linda Thompson

Bird News Friday 10th November

 The Bufflehead is still on Corbally Reservoir this morning. (Stephen Riddell). The bird was still present this afternoon. (Patrick Barton).

A Black Redstart is at Quay Lane in Killough. (Chris Murphy).

A flock of seven Cattle Egrets were at the south end of Lough Beg this morning but very mobile and restless over a wide area. Also seen today at Lough Beg were a single Great White Egret, a late Curlew Sandpiper (with Dunlins and Golden Plovers at the southwestern intake), nine Long-tailed Ducks still at the lake, two juvenile Hen Harriers hunting widely around the area and a Short-eared Owl flying high south over Mullagh. The flock of seven Cattle Egrets also seen again briefly in flight late afternoon.(David Steele)

The Lesser Scaup was still showing well at Stoneyford Reservoir. A ring-tailed Hen Harrier and 6 Great White Egrets were at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Paul Hilton).

A Snow Bunting is at Ramore Head in Portrush. (John Clarke).

An unidentified Eagle species flew over Augher heading towards Clogher or Fintona, Co. Fermanagh. A Brambling was in a garden in Fivemiletown. (Colin Bell).

A Short-eared Owl was at Ballymacormack Point. (Paul Hunter).

Bufflehead - David McCreedy

Bufflehead - David McCreedy

Short-eared Owl - Paul Hunter

Long-tailed Ducks - David Steele

Bird News Thursday 9th November

A juvenile Bufflehead found at Corbally Road Reservoir, Portrush late morning still present mid afternoon. Not approachable and diving and feeding voraciously with no sign of any rings on legs so nothing to indicate a captive origin (John Clarke/Stephen Riddell/Bob Watts/Ian Young et al).

Yesterday on Rathlin 2 Merlins in a dramatic mid-air tussle, a late Arctic Skua chasing Kittiwkae, the first Goldeneye of the year, 4 White-fronted Geese, Kestrel and a Little Gull (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Late Sandwich Tern this morning on the Kinnegar shoreline (Jonathan Clark).

The Little Bunting remains on Tory Island (Anton Meenan)

A male Merlin was on the Ballyregan Road Craigantlet (Simon Morton)

Great Northern Diver, Whimbrel and Wheatear at Ballycastle this morning (Chris Easton).

2 Great White Egrets still at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning though distant (Juliet Fleming).

Waxwing at 43-51 College Square North, central Belfast at 4pm (Petro Pynnonen).

5 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Pink-footed Geese on Rathlin with 6 Greenland White-fronted Geese overhead (Ric Else/Hazel Watson).

A Barn Owl flew over the Ballyatwood Road, Ballywalter into the Dunleith Estate/Ballywalter Park at 930pm (Ian McKee).

Bufflehead, John Clarke:

Bufflehead, Bob Watts:

Little Gull, Ric Else/Hazel Watson:

Merlin, Rice Else/Hazel Watson:

Little Bunting, Anton Meenan:

Great Northern Diver, Chris Easton:

Bird News Wednesday 8th November

A small flock of Twite are at Magheracross viewpoint, Co Antrim (Stephen Riddell)

Yesterday 10 Greenland Whitefronts were on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

The first winter drake Lesser Scaup was still at Stoneyford Reservoir (Ivan Quail)

A single Waxwing was at Augher River Walk, Co Tyrone this morning. (Colin Bell)

15 Jack Snipe were at Horse Island, Strangford Lough (Dermot Hughes)

The drake Lesser Scaup was again off the Tready Hide, Inch, Donegal (Derek Brennan)

The Spotted Redshank was still at Ballycarry this afternoon. A drake Goosander was at Glynn and two Sanderling at Sandy Bay, Larne. (Clive Mellon)

The Great White Egret was still at Ballycarry this evening (Kevin Kirkham)

A Waxwing was at Troopers Lane in Carrickfergus (Andy Morrow)

A Waxwing was also on Rathlin at Ballyconagan Cottages (James Crymble)

Great White Egret, Kevin Kirkham:

Twite, Stephen Riddell:

Bird News Tuesday 7th November

 A Waxwing was along the Comber Road in Dundonald. (Jonathan Clark)

The Iceland Gull is still at Portballintrae, roosting on the rocks between the harbour and the carpark. (John Clarke).

A single Purple Sandpiper was on Whitehead seafront. (Ian Enlander).

The Marsh Harrier, Peregrine and 2 Great White Egrets were still at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (David McCreedy).

A Merlin flew over Kinnegoe Bay at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

The Lesser Scaup is still at Stoneyford Reservoir. (Tony Dodds).

There are now ten Long-tailed Ducks (including one adult male) at Lough Beg and a Red-throated Diver was also seen today. A Cattle Egret was at Mullagh. (David Steele).

Cattle Egret - David Steele

Purple Sandpiper - Ian Enlander

Whooper Swans - Juliet Fleming

Bird News Monday 6th November

The first winter drake Lesser Scaup is showing well at Stoneyford Reservoir this morning (Aaron Long). Still present 1330 (Bob Watts).

Great White Egret still at Portmore Lough RSPB to right of viewing platform (Martin Deehan).

Iceland Gull in flight at Portballintrae (John Clarke).

Little Bunting on Tory (Anton Meenan).

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker Stormont Estate (Barry McKee)

A possible Black-throated Diver was at Stoneyford Reservoir (Joe Lamont).

Amongst 89 species between Castle Ward and Killard, a Ruff with c200 Golden Plover at Cloghy, Swallow at Castle Ward, Great Northern Diver and Merlin at Killard NR (Stuart Cossey).

Purple Sandpiper and Snow Bunting on Rathlin today (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Lesser Scaup, Aaron Long:

Iceland Gull, John Clarke:

Little Bunting, Anton Meenan:

Bird News Sunday 5th November

A first winter drake Lesser Scaup is at the east end of Stoneyford Reservoir (Garry Armstrong)

Male Brambling in a flighty mixed chaffinch/ tree sparrow (approx 30 of the latter) flock in stubble field opposite Nicholls, Toome. Also Great Egret flying south towards Lough Neagh. (Richard Gray)

Portmore this morning had a Marsh Harrier and 2 Great White Egrets (Kenny Moore)

Circa 40 Twite and a Merlin were at Ramore, Portrush (Richard Donaghey)

A White-tailed Eagle was at Inch, Co Donegal (Martin Deehan)

The Spotted Redshank and Great White Egret were still at Ballycarry (Michael Latham / Cameron Moore)

Two Black-throated Divers and a Long-tailed Duck are in Carnlough  Bay. (Jeff Larkin)

Mullagh, Lough Beg, had a ringtail Hen Harrier, 12 Ruff and the Spotted Redshank. A small wader with a white rump was seen distantly with the Golden Plover flock north of Long Point. (Richard Gray)

A Long-tailed Duck was at the Roe Estuary this afternoon. Also, 2 Snow Buntings seen briefly at Myroe levels. (Matthew Flood)

A single Waxwing flew over Rathlin harbour this morning. Also numerous Snow Buntings and a couple of flocks of Twite on the island. (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Lesser Scaup, Garry Armstrong:

Lesser Scaup in flight, Daniel Newton:

Great White Egret, Ballycarry, Jason Bain:

Long-tailed Duck, Matthew Flood:

You can see more local bird pics at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Saturday 4th November

The Great White Egret was still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Kevin Kirkham).

Portmore Lough RSPB this morning had 2 Marsh Harriers, a Cattle Egret and Great White Egret. (Daniel Newton, Stuart Cossey).

Six Grey Plover and 2 Chiffchaffs were at Bar Hall Bay on the outer Ards, there was no sign of the Firecrest. Two Jack Snipe were at Templecowey and a Merlin was at Kearney an a Mediterranean  Gull was at Kirkistown. (Bob Watts, Wilton Farrelly, StuartMcKee).

A Mediterranean Gull was at Kinnegar shore. (Daniel Newton).

A 1st winter Little Gull flew up the Bann south of Coleraine. (Richard Donaghey).

A Red-throated Diver and Grey Plover were at Ballykelly Marsh. (Adam Roberts).

The Lesser Scaup was still at Inch Lake in Donegal. (Chris Ingram, Theo Campbell).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Great White Egret:

Bird News Friday 3rd November

4 seats available for tomorrow’s boat trip to Islay. Please contact Jim Wells on 07856 235144 for full details.

2 Great White Egrets, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning (Aaron Long/Garry Wilkinson/Michael Latham). No sign of Northern Harrier photographed on Tuesday by Brendan Esler. Short-eared Owl (Gerard McGeehan).

Female Ring Ouzel at Kebble on Rathlin, also a late Wheatear (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Great White Egret in flooded field opposite Nichols at Toome this morning (Kerry Leonard).

Jack Snipe in clearfelled area near Lough Navar viewpoint, Co Fermanagh (Clive Mellon).

A Snow Bunting at Black Mountain trig point this morning (Nigel Moore).

Great White Egret showing well south of Ballycarry Bridge (Kevin Kirkham).

2 Brambling near Strangford (David Stirling).

A Merlin at Ballymacormick Point this afternoon (James Andrew).

9 Long-tailed Duck including a male at Lough Beg this afternoon (David Steele).

The male Ring-necked Duck is still at Mill Lough, Bellanaleck, Co Fermanagh (Ronan Owens).

Northern Harrier, Brendan Esler:

Short-eared Owl, Michael Latham:

Black Guillemot, Juliet Fleming:

Greenshank, David Clarke:

Bird News Thursday 2nd November

There is an unconfirmed report that a Spotted Sandpiper was seen in flight at Victoria Park, Belfast.

In Donegal, the drake Lesser Scaup was showing well from the Inch Island Causeway (Chris Ingram)

A female Ferruginous Duck, Long-tailed Duck, 7 Barnacle Geese and 130 Pink-feet were viewable from the Tready hide, Inch lake, Donegal (Chris Ingram)

Circa 40 Pink-footed Geese were at Cromore Road, 1 mile from Portstewart (John Clarke)

A Pallas's Warbler is on Tory (Anton Meenan)

A ring-tail Hen Harrier (the Northern Harrier could not be ruled out due to distance), Marsh Harrier and Great White Egret were at Portmore today (David McCreedy)

An exceptionally late Garden Warbler and 4+ Brambling, Crossbill, Twite and Little Gull were on Rathlin. Yesterday 3 Pintail, only the second record, were on the island. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

A Short-eared Owl and Snow Bunting were at Castlerock. (Simeon Cathcart).

Ferruginous Duck, Derek Brennan:

Drake Lesser Scaup, Derek Brennan:

Pallas's Warbler, Anton Meenan:

Garden Warbler, Ric Else

Marsh Harrier, David McCreedy

Bird News Wednesday 1st November

A possible Northern Harrier was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve yesterday afternoon. (Frank Ryan). The bird was possibly also present this morning. (Birdguides).

The Firecrest is still present at Bar Hall Bay on the outer Ards and showing occasionally. (Aaron Long).

A Long-tailed Duck is off Amici in Portstewart. (John Clarke).

A male Lesser Scaup is with Tufted Duck and Pochard opposite the Tready hide at Inch Lake in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).

The Great White Egret was still north of Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Paula Campbell).

The Osprey is still off the hide at the Barmouth. (Alwyn Spence).

Probable Northern Harrier - Frank Ryan

Probable Northern Harrier - Frank Ryan

Probable Northern Harrier - Frank Ryan

Bird News Tuesday 31st October

The Firecrest is still showing in the trees at Barr Hall Bay (Billy Miskelly). Exact location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q8Sqmc8yZJYRqdE77?g_st=ic

A Grey Phalarope was at RSPB WoW yesterday (BirdGuides)

A single Waxwing was on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

The Great White Egret and Spotted Redshank were at Ballycarry (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

The male Ferruginous Duck was at Inch Lake, Donegal, viewable from the Tready Hide (Michael O'Clery)

Five Twite and three Red-throated Diver were at Ballymckormick point this afternoon (James Andrew)

Two Little Gull were on Rathlin (Ric Else)

Bird News Monday 30th October

200+ Fieldfare in off at Ramore and two smaller groups of c50 at Portstewart (John Clarke).

Jack Snipe and 2 Woodcock on Rathlin (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Male Firecrest still present Bar Hall Bay, Co Down along path towards Ballquintin Farm at 4pm (David Stirling).

Osprey fishing near Bann Estuary hide (John Clarke per local fishermen).