Bird News Thursday 31st May

A great-spotted woodpecker is visiting a garden in Loughgall (Dennis Lavery).

 

Belfast Lough RSPB Reserve had male pochard, 200+ black-tailed godwit, 2 ringed plover, 15 dunlin, 5 pairs of Med gulls and young of coot, mute Swan (5) and black-headed gull.

 

Lower Lough Erne RSPB Reserve, Co. Fermanagh had a Knot (just the third county record), 2 Turnstones, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank (Brad Robson).

For the third year in a row a Common Gull has bred with a Mediterranean Gull in Antrim (Gareth Platt).

Thanks to Jonny Andrews for the photo of the Great Skuas on Rathlin Island and to Gareth Platt for the Common x Med Gull pairing.

 

Bird News Wednesday 30th May

No birds news so far today.

Copeland Bird Observatory will be running another day trip, weather permitting, to Old Lighthouse Island this Saturday 2nd June. This is a great opportunity to see Puffins and Manx Shearwater and visit a beautiful place. The trip will leave the Eisenhower pier in Bangor at 1000 and depart the island again at 1530 to return to Bangor by 1630. The cost of the trip will be £20pp and booking is essential. A full guided tour of the island will be included. You will need to bring your own refreshments and lunch, stout footwear and waterproofs in case of either rain or spray on the boat. If you want to book a place on the trip please contact the Bookings Secretary, at ‪davidgalbraith903@btinternet.com‬. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Bird News Tuesday 29th May

Cuckoos were heard calling at Slieve Gullion and Camlough Lake this morning (Francis Carroll).

Late news of an Osprey at Lower Lough Erne on the 26th at Ferney Island (Gary Montgomery).

Bird News Monday 28th May

A Glaucous Gull was at Cloughy, Co Down (Kevin Kirkham).

Bird News Sunday 27th May

A Crossbill and small numbers of Spotted Flycatchers were on Rathlin today (Ric Else).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Scarva House (Karen Elliot).

Several Whinchats and a Cuckoo were in the Antrim Hills above Cushendun (Michael Latham).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was along the riverside walk in Ballynahinch (Ian Jackson).

Two Mediterranean Gulls were at Castle Espie (Gareth Platt).

Bird News Saturday 26th May

No bird news so far today.

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the photo of the Whinchat, to Chris Babes for the Common Tern and to Thomas Campbell for the Skylark.

Bird News Friday 25th May

No bird news so far today.

Bird News Thursday 24th May

Two Whinchats were at Capanagh Forest (Cameron Moore).

Bird News Wednesday 23rd May

A 2nd year Marsh Harrier was on Rathlin this afternoon - probably same bird from earlier this week. A single Chough was seen calling over Church Bay (Colin Guy).

Bird News Tuesday 22 May

A 2nd year Iceland Gull was at Dunseverick Castle this evening (Colin Guy).

Unusual sight at Lough Beg today of a pair of Red-breasted merganser (Gareth Bareham)

Bird News Monday 21st May

A Marsh Harrier was on Rathlin Island (Ric Else and Hazel Watson).

A Long-eared Owl was at Oxford Island (Stephen Moore).

A drake Garganey at Belfast RSPB Reserve (John O'Boyle). 

Bird News Sunday 20th May

A second calendar year Glaucous gull and 35 Sanderling were at Knockinelder Bay (Richard Weyl).

 

A second calendar year Glaucous Gull was at Garron Point (Neal Warnock).

 

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was near Hilltown (William Smiton).

 

Thanks to Neal Warnock for the photo of the Glaucous Gull and Michael Latham for the Whinchat.

 

 

Bird News Saturday 19th May

Ring-tail Hen Harrier seen again on Copeland (CBO).
 

Cuckoo at Murlough this morning (Michael Latham).

Many thanks to Dick Glasgow for the photo of the Swift and to Stephen Maxwell for the Yellowhammer.

 

Bird News Friday 18th May

An adult Little Gull was at Swan Island, Strangford Lough (Ron Price et al).

A female Eastern Subalpine Warbler was on Tory Island (Brian McCloskey and Gerard Murray).

A female Hen Harrier was on Copeland Bird Observatory (Wes Smyth).

A pair of Whinchats were near Capanagh Forest in the Antrim Hills (Derek Polley).

Thanks to Brad Robson for this photo of a Garden Warbler from Lower Lough Erne RSPB Reserve.

Bird News Thursday 17th May

A drake Garganey was at Kinturk Flat, Lough Neagh today. 22 Whimbrel were at Lower Mullan, Lough Neagh (John O’Boyle)

A Great Skua flew east of Portstewart Head today, also a Red Throated Diver was off the Head (Sean Hickey)

Three White-billed Divers were off the east end of Tory Island today (Brian McCloskey)

A Cuckoo was at Altnahinch Dam (Joe Lamont)

11 Garden Warbler territories were on Lower Lough Erne Islands RSPB Reserve Co Fermanagh today (Brad Robson)

Thanks to Fulton Sommerville for this pic of a Sedge Warbler:

Bird News Wednesday 16th May

A White Stork was seen flying north near the A8, a short distance from Larne at 7pm this evening (Colin Guy)

An Osprey flew over Belfast tonight at 9 o clock, heading towards Belfast Lough (Stephen Corr)

Probable Common Redpoll that was on Rathlin, Patrick Barton:

Shelduck, Wilf Swain:

Bird News Tuesday 15th May.

A Little Ringed Plover was seen at Paddy's Dub, Lough Beg, although it is mobile.(David Steele)see bottom pic

A Hawfinch was visiting a garden in Glenhead Road, Glenwherry, Ballymena. (Gregory Moorehead) see photo below

A 2nd year Glaucous Gull was flying over Ballycastle Road, Coleraine.  Another 2nd year was seen flying over Gateside Road Coleraine later in the day - possibly the same Bird - (Colin Guy)

A male Mandarin was between Shawsbridge and the Minnowburn car park. The bird also flew so not pinioned (Sam Thomas)

 

On Sunday a Common (Mealy) Redpoll was at Kebble on Rathlin. (Patrick Barton).

Bird News Monday 14th May

A 2nd year Mediterranean Gull is attempting to breed with a Black-headed Gull at Castle Espie, see picture below. (Jonathan Clark)

Bird News Sunday 13th May

RSPB WoW had this morning, a 2nd summer Little Gull and 16 Med gulls - 13 adult, 2 1st year and a 2nd year. (Stuart McKee)

A Red Kite was over the centre of Lisburn this morning.(Eric Randall)

The Corncrake continues to call on Rathlin (Daniel Newton)

Two White-billed Divers were off Tory Island (Brian Carruthers)

A 3rd year Iceland Gull was near Dunseverick Harbour.  Yesterday a Tree Pipit was seen briefly bathing at a puddle on the White Rocks Road Portrush (Colin Guy)

Thanks to John Moore for this pic of a Whitethroat:

Kestrel, Wilf Swain:

Bird News Saturday 12th May

A female hybrid aythia showing characteristics of Pochard and Tufted Duck was at the Quoile this morning; A 2cy Iceland Gull and 21 Whimbrel were in Killough Harbour (Chris Murphy)

A female Whinchat was on Lighthouse Island CBO.

2 Red Kite where near Katesbridge and a Cuckoo at Murlough Nature reserve.(Bill Guiller)

Brackagh Reserve had a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Bullfinch (Peter Guy)

A male Bluethroat has been reported below the caravan site behind the low wall at Gyles Quay, Co Louth. (Louth Bird News)

A Hen Harrier was seen over Bangor this afternoon, it was being mobbed by a Sparrowhawk.(James McClean)

Red Kite - Bill Guiller.