Bird News Thursday 13th January

Two Bramblings, a male and a female, are visiting a garden in Ballymena. (Jeff Larkin)

The Ring Ouzel was still on Ballard Road around the red slurry tank this morning.

A female Brambling was visiting a garden in Lambeth, Lisburn.

A Raven flew over Cliftonville Avenue this morning (Ricky McQuillan)

20 Greenland Whitefronted Geese were seen flying from their Rathlin roost site this morning (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

The Glaucous Gull was at the Bann estuary again, a Great Northern Diver was also present. (John Spottiswood).

16 Purple Sandpiper’s were amongst Turnstones and Sanderling near the Coastal Zone, Lansdown Crescent, Portrush this afternoon (Juliet Fleming)

The adult Med Gull was again at Loughshore today (Dakota Reid)

The two Glossy Ibis were still at Portmore Lough RSPB (Suzanne Belshaw)

This Little Auk was taken in to care on Tory this evening (Anton Meenan):

Bird News Wednesday 12th January

The Cattle Egret was still present near the Creagh outside Toomebridge. (Bob Watts).

The female Brambling was still visiting a garden near Magilligan. (Martin Deehan). Another Brambling was still visiting a garden in Antrim (Mark Smyth)

The two Glossy Ibis were still at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve (Juliet Fleming \ David McCreedy)

A male Brambling is visiting a garden in Poleglass (Ivan Cullen).

20 Whooper Swans and 41 Canada Geese were in a field near Moorlough lake on the A34 outside Newtownbutler. (Colin Mayes).

The two Great White Egret were still at Ballycarry (Alastair McLean)

An unusal Herring, possible hybrid Glaucous Gull was at Corbally Reservoir (John Clarke)

The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead (Linda Thompson)

Great White Egret, Alastair McLean:

Glossy Ibis, David McCreedy:

Possible hybrid Gull, Corbally, John Clarke:

Glossy Ibis, Juliet Fleming:

Bird News Tuesday 11th January

The Glaucous Gull was still present in Mill Bay on Rathlin this morning but there was no sign of the Little Auk in the harbour. (Hazel Watson & Ric Else).

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road, Lislea outside Newry this afternoon. (John Spottiswood).

The Cattle Egret was seen again at The Creagh, Toomebridge (Andrew Crory) The bird was still present up to 4.00pm. (Shirley Dunlop & Gerard McGeehan, Adam McClure).

The two Glossy Ibis were still to the left of the viewing platform at Portmore Lough RSPB (Shirley Dunlop / Gerard McGeehan).

A female Goosander was on the river at Randalstown. (Tony Dodds).

Two Slavonian Grebes were off Macedon Point in Belfast Lough. (Stuart McKee).

The Black Redstart and the Twite flock were still at Whitehead. The Greenland White-fronted Geese were still around Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore, Philip McErlean).

Eighteen Stock Dove were in a field off the Ballyrolly Road near Clough in Co. Down. (David Nixon).

Six Goosanders, three males and three red heads, were at Corbet Lough outside Banbridge. (David McCreedy).

A presumed Glaucous Gull was at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush (John Clarke)

Thanks to Philip McErlean for the first picture of the Black Redstart, to Cameron Moore for the second Black Redstart picture and the pictures of the Twite and the White-fronted Goose, to Nigel Moore for the picture of the Glossy Ibis and to David McCready for the picture of the Goosanders:

Bird News Monday 10th January

A Little Auk is in Rathlin harbour, the bird was also present yesterday. (Hazel Watson & Ric Else).

A Cattle Egret was with cattle at Creagh, visible from the eastern off ramp, a female Goosander was at Ranalstown.(Dermot Hughes)

The Great Northern Diver was again off the breakwater at the rear of the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Clifford Sharpe).

The Ring Ouzel was still along Ballard Road, Lislea near Newry. (John Spottiswood)

20+ Twite were on the shoreline near Kinnegar Sewage Works (D Smylie)

Two Glossy Ibis are at Portmore Lough RSPB, in fields well to the left of the viewing platform. The Marsh Harrier was also present over the reedbed. (Bob Watts).

6 Goosander were on Lough Corbet. (David Stirling)

Eleven Shoveler were at Hillsborough lake along with a Kingfisher. (Garry Wilkinson)

5 Twite where at Whitehead boatyard, but no sign of the Black Redstart. (Mike McLaughlin)

20+Red Kite were nr Ballyward Co,Down. (Ivan Cullen)

A Brambling was visiting a garden in Antrim (Mark Smyth)

Our thanks to Wilf Swain for this photo of Long-tailed Tits.Also to Mike McLaughlin for the Twite.. Photo of the two Glossy Ibis sent in by Anne Keighley, bottom photo kindly sent in by Ric Else of the Little Auk seen on  Rathlin.  

Bird News Sunday 9th January

The Black Redstart, Twite flock and 3 Purple Sandpipers were still at Whitehead (Garry Armstrong)

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road, Co Armagh this morning (Ken Brewster)

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Sandy Bay, Larne (Garry Armstrong)

A Little Gull was at the boathouse at Helen’s Bay, Belfast Lough at 10:50. One GWE was at Ballycarry Bridge at 9:30. (Kevin Kirkham)

A Glaucous Gull was on Rathlin (Ric Else \ Hazel Watson)

12 Purple Sandpiper were opposite Donaghadee Community Centre (Bob Watts)

One Goosander was at Randalstown (Stephen Riddell)

A female Marsh Harrier was on Lough Erne Fermanagh today (Brad Robson)

Glaucous Gull, Ric Else \ Hazel Watson:

Male Goosander, Stephen Riddell:

Bird News Saturday 8th January

The Ring Ouzel was still showing on Ballard Road, Co Armagh in the field with the red trailer and slurry tanker (Richard Hunter).

A single Great White Egret was at Ballycarry Bridge before flying towards Glynn, a Grey Plover was also present. A Slavonian Grebe was off Magheramourne railway halt. (Kevin Kirkham).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Sandy Bay in Larne. (Adam McClure).

The Black Redstart was still along Whitehead seafront. (Tony Dodds).

The male Goosander was still in Randalstown. (Richard Donaghey).

The Great Northern Diver is still off the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

70 Sanderling on the Barmouth pier, and a further 47 on Castlerock beach. (Richard Gray)

4 Brambling were visiting a garden close to Wellington College, south Belfast (Neil Kilpatrick)

Six Goosander were at Corbett Lough (Mike McLaughlin / Chris Rankin)

The Greenland White-fronts were still at Larne Lough (Shirley Dunlop / Gerard McGeehan)

A juvenile White-tailed Eagle, likely to be the bird that was on Rathlin, was seen in north Antrim today.

Two Purple Sandpipers were at Newcastle harbour, a Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver were with the Scoter flock in Dundrum Bay. (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Purple Sandpiper and the Fieldfare, to Cecil Smyth for the picture of the Buzzard and to Nigel Moore for the picture of the Black Redstart:

Bird News Friday 7th January.

2 Goosanders were on Corbet Lough, male and female. (Derek Polley)

The Ring Ouzel site was covered in snow this morning, so no sign of bird, the finder of the bird says he will look out for it over the next few days.

15 Whooper Swans and a Little Egret at Poyntzpass Tow Path.(Paul Mathers)

Black Redstart still at Whitehead and Great White Egret still at Ballycarry.( Garry Wilkinson)

14 Twite also at Whitehead.(Ed O'Hara/Comghal McQuillan)

The Spotted Redshank was at the Moneycarragh high tide roost in Dundrum South Inner Bay.(David Nixon)

E'killen dump, 1 juv. 2nd winter and 1 hybrid Glaucous Gull and a 1st winter Med Gull.(Brad Robson) 

Our thanks to Gerry O'Neill who kindly sent in an illustration of the recent Ring Ouzel  

Bird News Thursday 6th January

 The Ring Ouzel was still along Ballard Road outside Lislea, Newry. (Tony Dodds).

A Long-eared Owl flew over a garden outside Hillsborough early this morning. (Garry Wilkinson). 

A female Brambling is still visiting a garden near Magilligan. (Martin Deehan).

The Black Redstart is still at Whitehead, on the roof of houses behind the wooden mermaid statue and 18 Twite are still around the boatyard. (Bob Watts).

6 Goosanders, 2 males and 4 red heads, were still at Corbet Lough outside Banbridge. (Ed O'Hara, Comghal McQuillan)

3 Goosanders, a male and 2 red heads, were at Randalstown. (Ronald Surgenor).

Thanks to Dakota Reid for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull:

Bird News Wednesday 5th January

The Ring Ouzel was still present this morning at Ballard Road, Co Armagh. (Adam McClure / Clifford Sharpe)

Two Glossy Ibis flew north over Kinnegoe Bay at Oxford Island this morning. (Ed O'Hara, Comghal McQuillan). Presumably the same two Ibis were seen at Portmore before flying off in the direction of Ballinderry (David Stirling)

Seven Goosander were at Corbett Lough, Co Down today (Michael Latham / David McCreedy)

Three Woodcock were seen on farmland at Richhill, Co Armagh (Andrew Poots).

The Black Redstart, 12 Twite and the Mediterranean Gull were still at Whitehead. The Great White Egret were at Ballycarry Bridge. A Black-throated Diver and Common Scoter were off Cushendall beach. (Richard Donaghey)

15 Twite were at Whitehead Boatyard and beach this afternoon (David Clarke)

2 Slavonian Grebes were off the Gasworks opposite the entrance to Mount Stewart (Bob Watts)

An adult Glaucous Gull was at Enniskillen Dump (John Young)

An un-seasonal Puffin was off Garron Point, part of a light passage of auks in the North Channel. At least three Black-throated Divers were still in Red Bay. Earlier, the wintering Green Sandpiper was seen again along the River Main at Slaght near Ballymena. (David Steele)

Glossy Ibis, Portmore, David Stirling:

Twite, David Clarke:

Ring Ouzel, Clifford Sharpe:

RSPB Local Group Online Talks Programme

The RSPB Local Group online series commences on the evening of Monday 10th January and continues until the end of March. The programme has 6 exciting speakers, including Stephen Moss, previous producer of BAFTA award winning Springwatch and Edward Meyer, an internationally recognised Swift Conservationist. The first talk on the 10th features the wldlife of the Gambia.

To find out more about the talks and how to sign up please read the full programme here:

https://community.rspb.org.uk/getinvolved/b/steppingupnorthernireland/posts/rspb-ni-local-group-2022-zoom-talks-programme

Bird News Tuesday 4th January

The Ring Ouzel was present again this morning on site at Ballard Road, Armagh (Mark Stewart / John Spottiswood)

The Black Redstart was showing again at Whitehead. 10+ Twite were also present. Six Greenlad Whitefronts were still at Larne Lough (Michael Latham)

A first winter Iceland Gull was also at Whitehead (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

6 Goosanders (2 male and 4 red heads) were on Corbet Lough this morning. Also 55 Whoopers in a flooded field nearby. (Mike McLaughlin)

A drake Ring-necked Duck was 500m east of Todd's Corner on the Ardmore shoreline, Lough Neagh (Clifford Sharpe)

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Kinnegar Shore (Bob Watts)

The Bonaparte’s Gull was at the north end of Drains Bay, Co Antrim this morning (David Stirling)

A first-winter Iceland Gull was at Garron Point on the Antrim coast this afternoon. (David Steele)

Black Redstart, Michael Latham:

Greenland Whitefronted Goose, Michael Latham:

Iceland Gull, Whitehead, Michael Latham:

Bird News Monday 3rd January

The Ring Ouzel was showing again this morning at Ballard Road, Co Armagh. (David McCreedy). It was still present at 12.00. (Ed O'Hara).

The Black-throated Diver was still in Carnlough Bay, five Great Northern Divers were also present. (Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn).

The two Great White Egrets were at Ballycarry, the Twite flock was at Whitehead Boatyard and the Black Redstart was again at Whitehead (Neal Warnock).

The female Brambling is still visiting a garden near Magilligan. (Martin Deehan).

The Siberian type Chiffchaff is still at Castle Espie. (Jonathan Clark).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at the Chaine Tower in Larne. (Paul Tout). 

A Ruff is at Knockninny Refuge on Upper Lough Erne in Fermanagh. (Brad Robson).

19 Twite and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Whitehead. (Bob Watts)

The Greenland Whitefront geese are still in the field at Larne Lough and an Adult Med Gull is at Whitehead Seafront.(Cameron Moore)

The male Goosander was still along the River Maine in Randalstown this morning. (William Smiton)

A flock of around 100 Whooper swans were in a field to the east of Lough Money, near Ballyalton, at around 2pm; also around 50 Redwing with a couple of Fieldfare and a Mistle Thrush.(Ann Feltham/Alastair Rae)

Thanks to David McCreedy for the 1st two pictures of the Ring Ouzel and to Ed O'Hara for the third, also to Jonathan Clark for the pictures of the Siberian type Chiffchaff and to William Smiton for the pictures of the Goosander, to Paul Tout for the Med Gull.   

Bird News Sunday 2nd January

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road, Co Armagh (Garry Armstrong)

A female Goosander was on the River Maine, Randalstown (Richard Hunter)

A Red Kite was near Broughshane yesterday. (Derek McClean)

There has been no sign of the Rustic Bunting up to 3pm. (David Miller / Ger Murray)

The adult Bonaparte's Gull was at the north end of Drains Bay beach on the Antrim coast . (Neal Warnock).

A Black-throated Diver is in Carnlough Bay. (Jeff Larkin).

Four red head and a male Goosander were on Corbet Lough outside Banbridge. (Garry Armstrong/Shirley Dunlop, Gerard McGeehan).

19 Pink-footed geese were at Kearney. (Richard Weyl).

At least one pf the Great White Egrets was still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Kevin Kirkham).

A female Brambling is visiting a garden near Magilligan. (Martin Deehan).

A female type Marsh Harrier was at Todds Corner, Ardmore on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Clifford Sharpe).

A red head Goosander was still on the River Maine at Randalstown. (Mervyn Campbell).

The Glaucous Gull was still around Burger King in Coleraine. (John Clarke).

Four Goosanders, a male and three red heads, were at Loughisland Reevy, Co. Down. (Chris Murphy).

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

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Ring Ouzel, to Derek McClean for the picture of the Red Kite, to William |Smiton for the picture of the Redpoll and to John Clarke for the picture of the Glaucous Gull:

 

Bird News, New Years Day

The Ring Ouzel was present at 10am at Ballard Road today (Billy Miskelly, Fergal Stanley et al)

There was no sign of the Rustic Bunting today.

One of the Great White Egrets was still at Ballycarry.Twite flock still at Whitehead.(Garry Armstrong)

One Great Northern Diver was in the inner harbour at Killough, three Red-Throated Divers in outer bay and a Purple Sandpiper among waders on Rope Walk spit near the church.(Ann Feltham/Alastair Rae)

Male and female Goosander were  at Loughislandreavy (Andrew Crory)

Both Great White Egrets were at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough this afternoon.  The 6 White-fronted Geese were around Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

A Carrion Crow was at the Netwalk , Killyleagh • 40+ Whoopers in a field between Ards & Comber. 10/12 Whoopers were on the Quoile pondage, yacht club end on the far side. 15 Yellowhammers weee in a large flock of house sparrows along Shore Road, Killyleagh, it also had tree sparrows and chaffinch (Derek Polley)

A 1st win. Iceland Gull and 4 argentatus Herring Gull where on Clay lake fields, Armagh.(Gerry O'Neill)

A Short-eared Owl was at Portavogie this morning. (Richard Weyl)

Two Brambling were in gardens in Antrim (Mark Smyth) and Limavady (Martin Deehan)

Our thanks to Michael Latham for the photo of a dark-bellied Brent Goose seen at Kinnegar this morning and also to Fergal Stanley for the photo off the Ring Ouzel.

Bird News - New Years Eve

The Rustic Bunting was showing well this morning although elusive at times. (David Nixon, Philip McHaffie, Ted Rolston). It was still present at 3.15p.m. (Sam Thomas).

The Great Northern Diver is close in off Croaghan hide, Oxford Island (Garry Armstrong)

The Ring Ouzel was still present on Ballard Road in the field near the junction with Aghmakane Road (Joe Devlin and Clifford Sharpe). The bird was still present around 12:30 (John Cusack).

The male Goosander was still at Begney Lough outside Dromara this morning. (Dave Weir).

The Lesser Whitethroat was seen again in a garden in Bangor. (Sean Wensley).

A Red-throated Diver was close inshore off Pickie, Bangor. (Derek Polley).

A Red-throated Diver was in Killough harbour and a Great Northern Diver off Coney Island. (Chris Murphy).

A 1st winter Little Gull was at Garon Point on the Antrim coast. (David Steele).

At least one of the Great White Egrets was at Ballycarry bridge in Larne Lough. (Kevin Kirkham).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Groomsport and a Whimbrel was just to the north. (Dermot Hughes).

A Black-throated Diver was by Carnalea Golf Course in Bangor. (Sam Thomas).

A single Pinkfoot was at Mount Norris. (David Knight).

A female Ring-necked Duck was at Drumgay Lough outside Enniskillen and a juvenile Iceland Gull was at Enniskillen dump. (Brad Robson).

In Donegal, 5 Barnacle Geese were with 120 Greenland Whitefronts at Big Isle, 200 Pinkfeet were between Inch lake and Bridgend,  and single Barnacle and female Scaup at Inch lake. 200 Barnacles were immediately south of Malin village. A Woodcock was at Portglenone forest. (Richard Gray).

The Marsh Harrier was seen again at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Brian Hegarty).

All of us at NI Birds would like to thank all our contributors and Blog users for their support in 2021. We wish everyone a happy and healthy 2022.

Thanks to Clifford Sharpe for the first picture of the Rustic Bunting, to Stephen Maxwell for the second picture of the Rustic Bunting, to Mike McLaughlin for the first Ring Ousel picture, to David Stirling for the second Ring Ousel picture, to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Great Northern Diver and to Ian Enlander for the picture of the Goosander:

Rustic Bunting - Video

Many thanks to Fergal Stanley for this video of the Rustic Bunting in Bangor:

Bird News Thursday 30th December

The Rustic Bunting in Bangor has been showing all day (Richard Hunter, Chris Murphy et al). Access details are on Monday’s post. Please respect the privacy of the home owner and do not park in the cul de sac. Our thanks to David Miller for facilitating access.

3 Slavonian Grebe are off Macedon Point, Belfast Lough (David Stirling)

The Great Northern Diver is in Kinnego Bay, Oxford Island (Ed O’Hara)

A pair of Goosanders are on the River Main at Slaght near Ballymena this morning (David Steele)

A Hen Harrier and Peregrine were seen in the Mournes yesterday (Gavin Rothwell)

Both Great White Egrets are showing at Ballycarry this morning (Kevin Kirkham)

The Marsh Harrier was showing at Portmore Lough this morning (Michael Latham)

A Ring Ouzel was with Fieldfare at Ballard, Co Armagh (location: 55 Ballard Rd, Lislea, Newry BT35 9UW, UK

https://goo.gl/maps/ZhPBz63kaJHLN3Me8 ) - (John Spottiswood)

The drake Ring-necked Duck is still at Mill Lough, Bellnaleck, Co Fermanagh. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Enniskillen dump (John Cusack)

19 Twite were at Whitehead today (Paul Tout / Philip McErlean)

Red Bay on the Antrim coast this afternoon in calm conditions had three Back-throated Divers, 15+ Great Northern Divers, 30+ Red-throated Divers and three Common Scoter. A Manx Shearwater was off Garron Point, associating with the small feeding flocks of auks and Kittiwakes in the area. Good numbers of Harbour Porpoise were also seen. A Pink-footed Goose was with the small flock of feral geese at Waterfoot. (David Steele)

Two Sandwich Tern were at the Net Walk, Killyleagh (David Nixon)

A Goosander was at Begney Lough, Dromara (Ian Enlander)

Great Northern Divers were at, Quay Lane, Killough and Ballyhenry Island, Strangford Lough; Red-throated Diver, 20 we’re at Carnlea, Belfast Lough; Slavonian Grebes 5 in Greyabbey Bay and 3 at Mount Stewart, Strangford Lough; 100 Red-breasted Mergansers, Mount Stewart; 300 Pintail, at the Maltings, Strangford Lough; A high count of 2,000 Golden Plover were at the Floodgates, Newtownards. 15 Sandwich Terns, were at Portaferry (Chris Murphy)

Twite, Paul Tout:

Leucistic Ringed Plover, Killyleagh (David Nixon):