Bird News Tuesday 5th August

A Green Sandpiper visited a pond in a garden at Brookborough, Co Fermanagh this morning. (John Young).

The Little Gull (moulting to second-winter) and a Little Egret were at Kinnegar Pool. Single juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were at Glynn in Larne Lough and at Ballygalley (Stuart McKee)

Thanks to John Young for the pic of the Green Sandpiper:

Bird News Monday 4th August

A juvenile Ruff and a Little Gull were at Belfast Harbour RSPB Reserve. 

A Little Gull was at Sandy Bay, Larne. (Linda Thompson)

A second-year Mediterranean Gull with a white ring E742 and a Common Sandpiper were at Whitehead and 2 Greenshank, 8 Little Egret and a Peregrine on the north side of Ballycarry Bridge (Cameron Moore)

This evening Newry Canal south of Scarva had 3 calling and one showing Water Rail, plus a Sedge Warbler. (Fulton Somerville)

Thanks to Paul Friel for this pic of a Sedge Warbler in his garden and Linda Thompson for the Little Gull:

Bird News Sunday 3rd August

2 juvenile Ruff, 2 juv Med Gulls and a Grasshopper Warbler were at the Bann Estuary (Neal Warnock)

Fanad Head this afternoon had 341 Manx, 6Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Great Shearwater, 1 Storm Petrel and 2 Bonxies (Chris Ingram).

Paddy's Dub and the SW corner of Lough Beg between 4 and 6pm had 2 Little Egret, 7 adult Whooper Swan, 2,000 duck (mostly Mallard but with 200 Teal, 4 Shoveler and 3 Wigeon), 75 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Curlew, 50 Lapwing, 50 Snipe, 10 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, a Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk (Godfrey McRoberts).

A Fea's Petrel was seen at 19:55 going past Banbas Crown, Malin Head heading west (Rinan McLaughlin).

A Little Gull was at Sandy Bay near Larne. (Irishbirding).

Bird News Saturday 2nd August

A pair of Ospreys where at the foot of the River Maine at Lough Neagh adjacent to Ranalstown forest.(Sam Andrews)

The Spoonbill was back at the spot half way between Castle Island Hide and Yacht Club, Quoile Pondage at 8:45pm last night (Tony Donaldson).

Slightly further afield...2 Ruff and a Scaup were at Blanket Nook, Donegal.(Brad Robson)  

Thanks to Tony Donaldson for the pic of the Spoonbill last night:

Bird News Friday 1st August.

2 Little Egret were at the Bann Estuary.(Colin Guy)

Myroe had 60 Golden Plover, 20 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin. (David Hill). Over the last few years, Myroe has proven to be the hot spot for waders, it is well worth covering the area over the coming months.

Thanks to Tom McCreery for the Reed Warbler pic and David Hill for the Golden Plover:

Reed Warbler - Tom McCreery

Robin.

Golden Plover - David Hill.

Bird News Thursday 31st July

Wader migration is visible at Belfast Harbour. A juv Ruff was at the reserve along with three Common Sands, a Little Gull (moulting more adult like) two Greenshank and a Sanderling (Stewart McKee)

9 Little Egret were at Carlingford (Neil Cartmill)

An adult Mediterranean Gull, Common Sandpiper and 100 Manx Shearwater were at Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

Last night Barn Owls were along Magheradartin and New Roads (Garry Wilkinson)

Thanks to Neil Cartmill for this pic of the Little Egrets

Bird News Wednesday 30th July

Late news for yesterday was that at Bloody Foreland were 2 Cory Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, a Sooty Shearwater and at Derrybeg a juv American Golden Plover. (Chris Ingram)

An hour and a half at Ramore Head produced a pale-phase Arctic Skua. A raft of 200 Manx Shearwater was raised by a Great Skua and a Balearic Shearwater was with them (Stuart McKee)

A Juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at Portrush East Strand car park today

Late news from yesterday was a Juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Briggs Rocks and 9 Common Scoter passing (Colin Guy)

"A conversation with Jim Wells, Chair of the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group. Recorded for Hen Harrier Day 2014" can be heard at:

https://soundcloud.com/bawc/jim-wells-nirsg-july-2014

Thanks to Ginny McKee for this pic of a juvenile Kestrel at Whitepark Bay and Christine Cassidy for the Kestrel in flight:

Bird News Tuesday 29th July

Late news for yesterday was of an adult Mediterranean Gull at the slipway at Whitehead seafront. (Cameron Moore)

Many thanks to today's photographers, to Cameron Moore for the picture of the adult Mediterranean Gull, to Jane McLaughlin for the pictures of the Lapwing and the Bar-tailed Godwit and to Dick Glasgow for the picture of the Buzzard:

Pelagic Opportunity

If you are interested in a birding pelagic to deep water on Saturday 2 Aug leaving Blacksod pier Mayo @ 6am, returning late evening, there are a few places left on a boat. The cost is 100 euro each. If weather is not suitable on the 2nd we'll go 3rd. Can you contact  Brad Robson asap on 07711019808 if you are interested.

Bird News Monday 28th July.

The Cattle Egret was still showing in fields behind Hillsborough Lake.(Garry Armstrong)

A juv. Ruff was at Belfast Harbour Estate reserve. Yesterday 2 Little Egret a Greenshank and 2 Sanderling where also at the Harbour Estate, 2 Sanderling and 620 Redshank at Whitehouse Lagoon.(Stuart McKee)

Fulmar - Richard Gowen.

Gannet - Richard Gowen.

Pied Wagtail - Ginny McKee.

Bird News Sunday 27th July

3 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls currently on east strand, Portrush. An adult was seen on a seawatch at Ramore Head earlier (Neal Warnock)

Ramore Head in a 3 hrs seawatch had 750 Manx Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater,1 Puffin, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 14 Common Scoter, 5 Whimbrel & 100 Golden Plover/ (Neal Warnock).

Thanks to Mark Killops for the Reed Warbler pictures from Oxford Island, John Parkinson for the pictures of the Gannet and the Puffin and Fulton Somerville for the pictures of the Sanderling and Little Terns from Co. Louth. You can see more of John's pictures at https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnfp2012/ 

 Reed Warbler - Mark Killops

 Reed Warbler - Mark Killops

 Reed Warbler - Garry Armstrong

Gannet - John Parkinson

 Puffin - John Parkinson

Sanderling - Fulton Somerville

Little Terns - Fulton Somerville

Islay Boat Trip

There is a plan during the first week of August to have a day trip from Ballycastle to Islay.

It is intended to liaise with experts on Islay to see the Island's specialities such as Chough, Corncrake, and Sea Eagle.

At this stage I am looking expressions of interest and an indication of the dates which are convenient. Tickets will cost around £40 return.
Jim Wells - 07856235144

Bird News Saturday 26th July

The Honey Buzzard has been looked for today without success. (Jim Bowman, Denis Carty, Aidan Kelly et al)

At Glenoo Mountain, nr Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone this afternoon was a Cuckoo being fed by Meadow Pipit, a group of Crossbills drinking in a stream a Wheatear, Kestrel and Buzzard. (Colin Bell)

A juvenile Hobby was unsuccessfully chasing Meadow Pipit and then resting on a fence pole near road 200 m south of The crossroads at Slieveanorra. Seen from Nowtown-Crommelin Road at 11am today. 3 Red Grouse were flying on hill south-east side of Glendun River at 1200 (Jim Bowman, Denis Carty)

A Little Egret was at Briggs Rocks this afternoon (Colin Guy)

The highlights of an evening watch off Ardglass from 2000-2100 were one Minke Whale (feeding) and one Arctic Skua pursuing shearwaters. Another Minke Whale and a Harbour Porpoise were off Killough coastguard at the same time. (Chris and Tim Murphy)

Last night two minke whales, two harbour porpoises and 1,000 plus Manx Shearwaters off Ardglass. Also two porpoises from S John’s Pt and one from Killough coastguard. At least two of the three Killough Long-eared Owl families are still calling.(Chris and Tim Murphy)

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for the pic of the Meadow Pipit and Wilton Farrelly for the littoralis Rock Pipit:

Bird News Friday 25th July

A Honey buzzard was at Slieveanorra this morning at 1020hrs. Over the forest above Bryvore Bridge (where the four roads meet on the Glendun side of Slieveanorra) it then dropped down to the north over Beaghs. (David Steele).

The Cattle Egret was still showing distantly in the fields behind Hillsborough Lake. (Garry Armstrong).

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for the pictures of a Peregrine and a Buzzard.

Bird News Thursday 24th July

The Cattle Egret was still in a field behind Hillsborough Lake. (David Nixon)

Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for this pic of a Greenshank:

Bird News Wednesday 23rd July

The Spoonbill was at Dundrum Bay, on the Blackstaff River this morning (Birdguides)

Newry canal from Scarva to Lough Shark produced 2 calling Water Rails, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Raven, 3 Buzzards, Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Common Sandpiper and Blackcap. (Fulton Somerville)

At least one Humpback Whale was seen of the Copelands.

If you have any rare or scarce bird news, please share it via nibirds@live.co.uk

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for this pic of a Raven:

Bird News Tuesday 22nd July

Yesterday a Common Sandpiper was feeding at the edge of a garden pond in Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, a good garden tick. (John Young).

 4 Sanderling were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Stuart McKee).

Bird News Monday 21st July.

The Cattle Egret was still  in fields (along with cows) behind Hillsborough Lake.(Garry Armstrong)

3 Reed Warbler were in  front of Kinnego Hide, Oxford Island.(Adam McClure)

5 Sanderling were on the shore opposite Troopers Lane on the Antrim side of Belfast Lough (Gerard McGeehan)

Late news from yesterday... 9 Common Sandpiper and 480 Curlew where at  the Belfast Harbour Estate and a Med Gull at Whitehouse Lagoon. (S.McKee)

Black Guillemots - Martha Boyle.

Kingfisher - William Smiton.

Bird News Sunday 20th July

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

The Spoonbill was feeding well this Sunday morning in front of the Castle Island Hide at the Quoile (Tony Donaldson / Mark Elliott)

Also at the Quoile were a Carrion Crow and a Water Rail was sharming. (Mark Elliott)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was found in a garden pond having flown into a window of a house on the Tullyard Road, Drumbo (S Hanna)

2 Little Egret, 3 Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and Carrion Crow were at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough (Cameron Moore)

The first summer Little Gull, a Little Egret and 3 Greenshank were at Kinnegar Pool (Wilton Farrelly)

Thanks to Tony Donaldson (top) and Mark Elliott for the pics of the Spoonblil:

Bird News Saturday 19th July.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was along the Lagan at Drumbeg 5 minutes walk south-west of the bridge.(Vernon Carter)

A first summer Little Gull and a Little Egret were at Kinnegar Pool and 5 Greenshank,7 Common Sandpiper a Whimbrel and 2 Snipe at Belfast Harbour Lagoon.(Joe Lamont)

Grey Heron - Karl Martin.