Bird News Saturday 9th September

This morning at Ramore Head there were 6 Leach's Petrels, a juv Sabine's Gull, 4 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Great Northern Diver, a Red-throated Diver, 8 Bonxie and 4 Arctic Skua (Neal Warnock)

There were good numbers of seabirds feeding in Belfast Lough, including a Storm Petrel and a dark phase Arctic Skua off Grey Point. (Philip Watson)

Three juv Ruff & 2 juv Curlew Sandpipers were at Myroe Levels before a Peregrine scattered everything (Neal Warnock) There were another 4 Curlew Sandpipers at the Bann Estuary (Neal Warnock)

The Hudsonian Whimbrel was still 3km east of Easkey, Co Sligo (Philip West / Mark Stewart).

The high tide roost at Murlough today had 32 Little Egrets. (William Jefferson).

Five Ruff were at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

A single Swift was outside Garvagh today. (Brian Nelson).

A 40 minute seawatch from Marconi's at Ballycastle this evening produced an adult Sabines Gull, a Sooty Shearwater and at least 250 Manx Shearwaters. (Colin Guy).
 

Thanks to Stephen Ffyfe for the picture of a Ruff at RSPB WoW this morning and to Colin Guy for the picture of the Red-throated Diver from Ballintoy:

 

Bird News Friday 8th September

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Myroe this morning (Jeff Larkin)

A juv/1st win.Red-necked Grebe was seen at Mullagh, Lough Beg this evening, there was also 3 Garganey and 4 Ruff.(David Steele)

The second year Little Gull was seen again at Whitehead (Cameron Moore) see pic below

Seawatching from Rathlin Island was quiet this morning, with 3 Bonxies (Great Skua) probably the highlight. Another Hen Harrier was out at the west end (Ric Else/Hazel Watson)

Ramore Head had 39 Leach's Petrel, a juv Sabine's, a Grey Phalarope & a Bonxie in 2 hours (Gareth Bareham, Neal Warnock & Colin Guy) additional birds over 30 mins included 6 Leach's Petrels and 1 dark phase Arctic Skua. Earlier a Red-throated Diver was sheltering in Ballintoy Harbour(Colin Guy)

A Bonxie and a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins were at the mouth of Belfast Lough. (Stephen Dunstan)

Bird News Thursday 7th September

Five Ruff were at RSPB WoW this evening. Three Swift were also seen. (Daniel Newton) 200+ House Martin were also present and the Terns have now left the Reserve (Derek Polley)

Unusually, a Kingfisher was seen at Rue Point, Rathlin Island today (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)

Everyone will be aware of the bird hunting issues in the Mediterranean. However the work by CABS and what they have observed in Lebanon in the last few days deserves as much publicity (and support) as we can give:

https://youtu.be/RCG0v0tX3j0

Thanks to Ginny McKee for this pic of Sandwich Terns at Carnlough:

 

Bird News Wednesday 6th September

A seawatch from Rue Point, Rathlin this morning had a Long-tailed Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Bonxies, 1 Sooty Shearwater and 2 Red-throated Divers (Ric Else and Hazel Watson).

A Roseate Tern, 2 Ruff and 15 Knot were at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve. (Gerard McGeehan).

Thanks to Richard Hunter for the picture of the Wheatear.

 

Bird News Tuesday 5th September

A Red Kite was at Armoy, Co Antrim (Chris Easton)

The first Purple Sandpiper of the autumn was at Rue Point, Rathlin Island this morning, as well as an Arctic Tern, two Whimbrels and two White Wagtails. Quite a few Swallows and Meadow Pipits were making their way south too. Yesterday there was another juvenile Hen Harrier. (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)

Yesterday a Mediterranean Gull was at Newcastle (Leonard Charles)

Yesterday a Harrier species was seen at Islandhill, Newtownards (Paul Allen)

Thanks to Chris Easton for the pic of the Red Kite and Angus Kennedy for the Jay:

Red Kite, Chris Easton:

Jay, Angus Kennedy:

Bird News Monday 4th September.

The best at RSPB WoW today was a Ruff. (Ronald Surgenor)

Last night a high count of 800 Kittiwake were on the shore at Newcastle.(Suzanne Belshaw). Recent figures, (British Birds vol.110) show that Kittiwake breeding populations in mainland Britain, (Northern Ireland is excluded) have dropped by a staggering 81%.

Oystercatchers - Wilfred Swain.

Bird News Sunday 3rd September

An adult American Golden Plover, presumed to be the recent Myroe bird, was at Ballykelly in the first ploughed area by the marsh, at 12:30 (Garry Armstrong).

Two Ruff were at RSPB Belfast Lough reserve. (Carol Gillespie).

A Hudsonian Whimbrel was at Easkey in County Sligo. (Seamus Feeney)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Buzzard.

Bird News Saturday 2nd September

The adult American Golden Plover and the Buff-breasted Sandpiper were still at Myroe this morning (Daniel Newton) the American Golden Plover disappeared for a while but was refound at 3:30 pm. A Hen Harrier, Merlin, 2 Peregrines and 10 Wheatear was also seen. (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop/Carol Gillespie)

An Osprey was at the Barmouth, Bann Estuary (Birdguides).

On Rathlin two Sooty Shearwaters headed north past the East Light this morning. Not much of note on the island, with three White Wagtails, one Grey Wagtail and a Wigeon the highlights so far. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Two Red Kites were just off the B2 opposite Lough Aghery between Hillsborough and Ballynahinch. (Gerard McLaughlin).

Thanks to Gerard Murray for the flight shot of the American Golden Plover, to Noel Austin for the picture of the Dunlin and to Gerard McLaughlin for the picture of the Red Kite:

 

Bird News Friday 1st September

The adult American Golden Plover was still at Myroe this morning (Gerard Murray) The Buff - breasted Sandpiper was located from the same location this afternoon with a flock of Ringed Plover (Gerard Murray)

Seawatching at Melmore Head was quieter this morning. In 2.5 hours in a very gentle westerly there were 28 Sooties, 16 Bonxies, 8 Arctic Skuas, 2 Arctic Terns, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers, 5 Kittiwakes and a Peregrine and Whimbrel over the headland. (Eric Randall)

A flock of c40 Black-tailed Godwit were feeding on pitches at Musgrave Park, Belfast at lunchtime (Adam McClure)

An adult Little Gull flew past Carrick this morning heading towards Belfast.(Ian Enlander)

The blog team would like to thank everyone who kindly report Little Egrets, the sightings have become so numerous and widespread that we feel they no longer need to be included on the daily sightings, the only sightings that will appear are eg any high counts.

Bird News Thursday 31st August

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Myroe turf fields, The American Golden Plover was still present (Jeff Larkin). Both birds were still present at 2:15. (Billy Miskelly)

1200 Manxies, 175 Sooties and 4 Sabs Gulls flew past Melmore Head in flat conditions with only a light swell. Birds were going past til c0845 and then dried up quickly. Also 5 Arctic Skua, 6 Bonxies, 3 Arctic Terns and 8 Common Scoter were seen (Oscar Campbell)

A flock of c.50 Brent Geese were at the Floodgates in Newtownards today (Chris Henry)

A late Swift was still flying around and entering its roof nesting space today in Derrytrasna (Pat Flowerday)

RSPB WoW had at least three adult and one juvenile Roseate Terns. Also a Little Gull moulting into second winter/adult winter plumage, one adult Ruff and a juvenile Sanderling (Stuart McKee)

A Black Tern was at Loughshore Park, Belfast Lough (Lilian Cummings)

Two Hen Harrier were seen on Rathlin (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)

Thanks to Jeff Larkin and Lilian Cummings for todays pics:

Buff-breasted sandpiper, Jeff Larkin:

 Black Tern (RHS), Lilian Cummings:

Bird News Wednesday 30th August

An adult American Golden Plover was at Myroe today, on the main lawn fields (Hill Dick \ Peter Robinson) A picture of the bird is below and more can be seen at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk/

A Green Sandpiper was on Rathlin this morning (probably the first modern record on Rathlin) Also seen were a single Whimbrel, 32 Curlews and 2 White Wagtails (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)

55 Brent Geese flew over Whitehead this afternoon (Cameron Moore) 40 were subsequently seen at Whitehead and also an Arctic Skua (Gerard McGeehan)

A Brent Goose was at Kinnegar Shore. A Roseate Tern was also at RSPB WoW (Daniel Newton)

Melmore Head, Co Donegal in 7 hours had 2 Sabines, 1 Balearic, 370 Sooties, 9 Poms, 14 Arctic Skuas, 17 Bonxies, 4 Arctic Terns, approximately 2000 Manxies, 13 Common Scoter, 1 Whimbrel, and 3 Pintail. (Eric Randall and Oscar Campbell)

At St Johns Point, Co Down this morning a feeding frenzy just off the lighthouse included c500 gulls, Gannets, Kittiwakes, Sandwich Terns, Cormorants and 600+ Common and Black Guillemots and Razorbills (Fulton Somerville)

A Long-eared Owl was at the Ecos Centre, Ballymena (John Parkinson)

Thanks to Hill Dick for the pic of the American Golden Plover and John Parkinson for the Long-eared Owl:

American Golden Plover, Hill Dick:

Long-eared Owl, John Parkinson:

Bird News Tuesday 29th August

Melmore Head, Co Donegal throughout the day had 2 Great Shearwaters, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 320 Sooties, nearly 3000 Manxies, 7 Arctic Skuas, 15 Bonxies, 1 Wilson's Petrel, 2 Sabines Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 65 Whimbrel, 6 Sanderling, 12 Arctic terns, 7 Common Scoter and 12 Kittiwakes (Eric Randall / Oscar Campbell)

A high count of 47 Little Egret were at Ballykelly Marsh (Michael Savage).

600 Razorbills, 50 Common Guillemots, 2 adult and 1 juvenile Roseate Tern, 1 Common Tern and 55 Sandwich Terns were feeding at sea off Killough. 10 Stock Dove and 12 Black tailed Godwits were feeding in an arable field 300m south of Killough. (Tim Murphy).

3 Roseate Terns and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull were at Whitehead. (Cameron Moore).

Thanks to Cameron for the pictures of the Roseate Tern and the Mediterranean Gull.

 

Bird News Monday 28th August

A second year Little Gull was at Whitehead, near the Boat Club (Cameron Moore)

2 Arctic Skuas, a Red-throated Diver, a Common Sandpiper and 235 Sandwich Terns were at the car park at Greenisland (Gerard McGeehan)

A Roseate Tern was at Kinnegar Shore and another at RSPB WoW. (Wilton Farrelly) Three were on show early evening at RSPB WoW along with two Ruff and and the Sanderling (Daniel Newton)

The Little Stint was still at the Bann Estuary (Colin Guy)

Little Gull, Cameron Moore:

Roseate Tern, Wilton Farrelly:

Bird News Sunday 27th August

At least two adult Roseate Terns were with a large flock of mainly Common Terns at Kinnegar shore this morning. The Ruff and 5 Swifts were at Belfast WOW reserve (Jeff Larkin).

A Little Stint was amongst a flock of Dunlin at the Barmouth, the Bann Estuary (Wilton Farrelly)

RSPB WoW this afternoon had an adult Roseate Tern, Ruff and a Sanderling (Daniel Newton / Stuart McKee)

An Arctic Skua flew past Ballyhornan Co Down this morning.(Michael Latham)

A Little Egret flew through Rathlin Sound this afternoon. 16 Whimbrel were also seen.(Colin Guy)

Bird News Saturday 26th August

Melmore Head this morning (7:30 to 11) had  380 Manx Shearwater, 15 Sooty Shearwater and one Balearic Shearwater. Also 17 Bonxies, 10 Arctic Skua and 5 Common Scoter (Oscar Campbell)

A Red Kite was seen near Moneyslane - not far from where the juvenile Kite was recently shot (Karen Elliott)

The Forsters Tern was at Soldiers Point, Co Louth. Also present were 3 Grey Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 7 Greenshank and 20 Little Egret. A Ruff was at the Swords Estuary. At Dundalk there was a Spotted Redshank and 2 Ruff  (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Grey Point, Belfast Lough in an early evening sea watch had a minimum of 4 Arctic Skua, a Bonxie and 4 Porpoise (Wilton Farrelly)

Thanks to Christine Beggs for this pic of an adult and juvenile Sandwich Tern:

Bid News Friday 25th August

Yesterday morning at 8 o'clock there were 36 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Oystercatchers on the GAA pitches beside the Bog Meadows. At 5pm this had increased to 99 Black-tailed Godwits (John O Boyle).

33 Little Egrets were with seven Grey Herons in a field next to the gate lodge at NT Murlough. (Garry Wilkinson).

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the pictures of the Bullfinch and the Lapwing.

 

 

Bird News Thursday 24th August

A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was at the southwest corner of Lough Beg this evening - it dropped into the flooded area with a flock of Snipe at about 5pm; flew out about thirty minutes later but not relocated after that. The spit at Mullagh had six Ruff (including four juveniles), a Whimbrel and 300 juvenile Black-tailed Godwits. (David Steele)

Reed Warblers are still showing in the reed bed around Kinnegoe Hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong)

9 Black-tailed Godwits where in the grounds of Stormont estate this morning (Paul McCullough), A lot of people were left mystified by them, so if you were one of those people, now you know. (you can see Paul's picture below)

Rathlin Island had a few new migrants making things slightly more interesting: the first White Wagtails of the autumn, Grey Wagtail, Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper, 8 Golden Plovers, 2 Lapwings and 2 Kestrels were probably the highlights. Also 2 Arctic Skuas offshore (Ric Else /Hazel Watson)

A Kingfisher was at Belfast Waterworks. (Larry Toal)

Below a Chiffchaff and a Sedge Warbler from Oxford Island today. Third pic is the Black -tailed Godwits at Stormont and the fourth pic is of a Sand Martin, kindly sent in by Linda Thompson.

Bird News Wednesday 23rd August

There was no sign of the juvenile Black Tern at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve this morning, a Ruff and a single Sanderling were present. (Garry Armstrong).

A few family parties of Twite were seen around the Giants Causeway this morning (Colum Flynn)

100+ Black-tailed Godwits were at the King's Park Primary School playing fields, Newtownabbey (Nichola Henry)

3 Little Egrets were at the Bann Estuary (Colin Guy/Hill Dick).  A pale phase Arctic Skua was at the Barmouth. (Colin Guy)

A juvenile Whinchat and a Swift were the highlights from today on Rathlin (RicElse and Hazel Watson)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for this pic of Magpies interacting with a Buzzard:

 

Young Red Kite Shot in Co Down

Young red kite found dead in Co Down – suspected shot

RSPB NI and the PSNI are appealing for information after a young red kite was found dead in County Down. 

The bird was found with suspected gunshot wounds on a public laneway outside Moneyslane (halfway between Banbridge and Newcastle) on Thursday 17th August and was recovered by the RSPB and passed to the PSNI. An initial x-ray indicated there are pieces of shot in the bird and it has now been sent for a post-mortem examination.

The red kite, tagged ‘Black 5W’, was born in May 2017 at a nest site near Downpatrick and was exploring the County Down countryside before its premature death.

Alan Ferguson, RSPB NI Red Kites Project Officer, said, “Any loss of these under-threat birds is utterly heartbreaking. Our red kite population in Northern Ireland is small at just 20 breeding pairs and that makes it particularly vulnerable to losses. 

“It would appear that someone has deliberately targeted one of these beautiful creatures, so this is incredibly frustrating and upsetting and is a real setback for the future of the species here.

“RSPB NI have been working on a red kite reintroduction programme for nine years. I really thought we were turning a corner, because persecution incidents seemed to be dropping off and the last confirmed shooting of a red kite happened in Crossgar in 2014. People have really taken the birds to heart and are happy to see them in our skies again.”

In fact, RSPB NI’s new RKites Project has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and part funded by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and aims to strengthen the link between people and the red kites.

Red kites, along with all birds of prey, are protected in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, as amended by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (NI) Act 2011. 

Police are appealing for information on the incident and have asked that anyone who can help with enquiries contact the 101 number quoting reference number 837 of 17/8/17. 

Bird News Tuesday 22nd August

The juvenile Black Tern was still at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve this morning. (Colin Mayes).
The Tern was still present at 5pm. (John Edwards)

Two Whimbrel flew over Skegoneill Avenue North Belfast. (Stuart McKee).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Slieve Gullion Forest. (Dermot Hughes).

High counts at Dargan Bay, Belfast included 1127 Eider, 43 Red-breasted Merganser & 43 Black Guillemot. The high-tide roost included 1239 Oystercatcher & 3 Greenshank. (Adam McClure)