Vivienne Beck - Adopt A Chick
Vivienne noticed this unusual behaviour near her home. The urge to feed young, any young, is so strong in this Blue Tit that it is feeding a brood of Great Tits, perhaps to the detriment of it's own brood.
Bird News Sunday 16th June
A Roseate Tern was at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve. (James Robinson).
The Tawny Owl was calling at Castle Ward at 18:40pm. (Keith Bennett)
A Whooper Swan was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve, see picture below. (Ed O'Hara).
A Cuckoo was calling at Murlough. (Alistair Prentice).
A Garden Warbler was 300m south of the old fort at Mountsandel near Coleraine (Richard Hoy).
A Turnstone, Whimbrel and Pale-bellied Brent were at Briggs Rocks near Groomsport (Colin Guy).
Thanks to today's photographers, to Ed O'Hara for these pictures of the Whooper Swan and a Sedge Warbler both taken at Portmore and to Lilian Cummings for the picture of the young Swallows.
The Tawny Owl was calling at Castle Ward at 18:40pm. (Keith Bennett)
A Whooper Swan was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve, see picture below. (Ed O'Hara).
A Cuckoo was calling at Murlough. (Alistair Prentice).
A Garden Warbler was 300m south of the old fort at Mountsandel near Coleraine (Richard Hoy).
A Turnstone, Whimbrel and Pale-bellied Brent were at Briggs Rocks near Groomsport (Colin Guy).
Thanks to today's photographers, to Ed O'Hara for these pictures of the Whooper Swan and a Sedge Warbler both taken at Portmore and to Lilian Cummings for the picture of the young Swallows.
Bird News Saturday 15th June
Circa 10 European Storm Petrel were off Ballyquintin Point, Co Down, close to shore. (Keith Bennett).
A Storm Petrel was off Burial Island, Co. Down. (Richard Weyl).
A Storm Petrel was off Burial Island, Co. Down. (Richard Weyl).
Ramore head, 5-7pm had 970 Manx, 6 Puffin, 3 Storm Petrel, 1 Bonxie and 1 Arctic Skua (Neal Warnock)
Thanks to today's photographers, to Liam McCafferty for this picture of a drake Eider on Rathlin Island, to Ed O'Hara for the Sand Martin taken at Oxford Island and to Angus Kennedy for the pictures of the Shelduck family and the Tufted Duck. You can see mor NI bird pictures at
www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk 
Bird News Friday 14th June.
A quiet day with no fresh news, probably a lot to do with the weather, a rather miserable day.
Our thanks to Alistair Prentice for this lovely shot of a male Bullfinch.
Bird News Thursday 13th June.
A Med. Gull was at Larne Lough.(Cameron Moore) see photo below.
Late news of a Corncrake calling 2 days ago by Glengannon Petrol Station by Old Egish Road, Co. Tyrone.
Our thanks to Mark Killops for these great photo's of a Fulmar (top) and for the Kittiwake. Tom McCreery for the Whitethroat. Noel Austin for the Reed Warbler and to Andrew Poots for the Tree Sparrow and female Chaffinch, bottom photo is Cameron's Med Gull at Larne Lough, I hope you all agree that we do get a wonderful standard of pictures sent to us, so well done to all you photographers.
Late news of a Corncrake calling 2 days ago by Glengannon Petrol Station by Old Egish Road, Co. Tyrone.
Our thanks to Mark Killops for these great photo's of a Fulmar (top) and for the Kittiwake. Tom McCreery for the Whitethroat. Noel Austin for the Reed Warbler and to Andrew Poots for the Tree Sparrow and female Chaffinch, bottom photo is Cameron's Med Gull at Larne Lough, I hope you all agree that we do get a wonderful standard of pictures sent to us, so well done to all you photographers.
Bird News Wednesday 12th June
A Jay was seen and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard calling at Cnocnafeola Wood near Attical in Co. Down. (Mark Speers).
Yesterday afternoon a large flock of Manx Shearwaters were close in shore at Carrickfergus. (Roger Woodward).
A Buzzard was flying over Lady Dixon Park in Belfast this morning, and another was perched on a street lamp along the A513, just north west of Lisburn. (Robert Scott).
Yesterday a female Eider was in the inner harbour at Killough. (Chris Murphy).
Thanks to today's photographers, to Tom McCreery for the pictures of the Cuckoo and the first Whitethroat, to Ed O'Hara for the Whinchat pictures, to James Gillespie for the Sparrowhawk picture, to Stephen Maxwell for the Sedge Warbler picture, to David Hill for the pictures of the second Whitethroat and the Linnet, to Mervyn Campbell for the Willow Warbler picture and to Tony Donaldson for the picture of the Rock Pipit. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk
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Yesterday afternoon a large flock of Manx Shearwaters were close in shore at Carrickfergus. (Roger Woodward).
A Buzzard was flying over Lady Dixon Park in Belfast this morning, and another was perched on a street lamp along the A513, just north west of Lisburn. (Robert Scott).
Yesterday a female Eider was in the inner harbour at Killough. (Chris Murphy).
Thanks to today's photographers, to Tom McCreery for the pictures of the Cuckoo and the first Whitethroat, to Ed O'Hara for the Whinchat pictures, to James Gillespie for the Sparrowhawk picture, to Stephen Maxwell for the Sedge Warbler picture, to David Hill for the pictures of the second Whitethroat and the Linnet, to Mervyn Campbell for the Willow Warbler picture and to Tony Donaldson for the picture of the Rock Pipit. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk
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Mark Killops - Great Skua
Great Skua's or Bonxies are rarely photographed in Northern Ireland so Mark did really well to capture these images, and the one posted last night, of a Great Skua around Rathlin at the beginning of the week.
Bird News Tuesday 11th June
The Purple Sandpiper was still at Camphill Community near Craigavad. Dunlin, Turnstone and Redshank were also seen (Warren Rainey).
On Saturday, Blacker’s Rock, Lough Neagh, Co. Tyrone had a singing Reed Warbler, a singing Grasshopper Warbler and a female Gadwall + 6 ducklings (Godfrey McRoberts)
On Saturday, Blacker’s Rock, Lough Neagh, Co. Tyrone had a singing Reed Warbler, a singing Grasshopper Warbler and a female Gadwall + 6 ducklings (Godfrey McRoberts)
Thanks to Dick Glasgow for this pic of a Stonechat at Glendun. Also to Ed. O'Hara for the Great Crested Grebe with young and Mark Killops for the Great Skua in flight and also for the Ringed Plover.
Parenthood
This is a busy time of year for our breeding birds. Thanks to Alistair Prentice for these two pics.
These are two photos blown up and magnified 150x. The Willow Warbler is collecting aphids, greenfly and other leaf dwelling insects while this Blue Tit has bagged a big spider.
Aranmore Snowy Owl
"The Snowy Owl was showing well near the upper lakes on Arranmor, Sunday 9th
June. Great scope views were had for a half hour. I was half afraid of disturbing the bird so distant shots only" - Patrick Veale
June. Great scope views were had for a half hour. I was half afraid of disturbing the bird so distant shots only" - Patrick Veale
Bird News Monday 10th June
The Tawny Owl (of unknown origin) was flying around Castle Ward this evening at 19:30. (Tony and Joe Donaldson)
Two Reed Warbler were calling at Kinnegar Pool (Mark Baird)
On the 9th June a Cuckoo was heard from the Silent Valley wood, Kilkeel (Mark Speers)
If you have news on any rare or scarce birds, you can email details to nibirds@live.co.uk
Thanks to Martina Boyle for the Raven pic, Alistair Prentice for the Willow Warbler and Tony Donaldson for the Tawny Owl. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk
Blue Tits in Bangor
Thanks to Peter Smyth for this pic of an unusual nest site (the sign at a Railway stop) for a family of Blue Tits in Bangor.
Bird News Sunday 9th June
The Tawny Owl was calling well and flying at Castle Ward Estate circa 19:30 This evening. (Tony and Joe Donaldson)
A raft of 22 Puffin was 300m north of Copeland Bird Observatory (Brian Meharg)
A male Great Spotted Woodpecker (present for 2 months) was drumming at Saintfield demense (Norma Price).
A male Great Spotted Woodpecker (present for 2 months) was drumming at Saintfield demense (Norma Price).
2 Reed Warbler were singing at Kinnegar Pool and 18 Common Scoter and a summer-plumage Red-throated Diver were between Macedon Point and Loughshore Park (Stuart McKee)
2 Spotted Flycatchers were at Tirnascobe Road, Richhill (Andrew Poots)
Whitehead this morning had 2 Red-throated Diver flying into Belfast Lough. Killard Point this afternoon had 1 Whimbrel (Ian Enlander)
Thanks to Richard Gowen for this pic of a Meadow Pipit at a sunny Killard Point and Bill Guiller for the Buzzard in the Glens of Antrim and Tony Donaldson for the Tawny Owl. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk
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