National Hen Harrier Survey

 

Male Hen Harrier - Jonny Rosborough

This year there will be a full breeding season survey of hen harriers in the UK. The aim is to provide updated estimates of population size and national and regional trends since 2016. The survey is coordinated nationally by RSPB and is being coordinated locally in Northern Ireland by the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group (NIRSG). The last national survey in 2016 showed a 22% decline in the breeding population of hen harriers in Northern Ireland, from 59 to 46 pairs, reflecting the overall decline in the species across the UK as a whole. 

As a red-listed species of great conservation concern, current information on status across the UK range is vital and we need your help more than ever. If you have any sightings of hen harriers between April and August please send these to https://www.nirsg.com/sightings/ along with the time, date, location and behaviour seen. If you would like to take on an area for the survey please contact Eimear at raptorofficerni@gmail.com.

 Dr. Eimear Rooney 

Raptor Officer NI 

Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group 

 www.nirsg.com 

@nirsg 

www.facebook.com/nirsg

Female Hen Harrier - Marc Ruddock

Bird News Tuesday 11th April

 The Common Sandpiper was still at Kinnegar pool this morning. (Daniel Newton).

The Pink-footed Goose is still at Carnlough and has been joined by a single Barnacle Goose. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

Lough Beg this morning had a Knot, Spotted Redshank, three Ruff, ten Wheatears and six White Wagtails. The Green Sandpiper is still at Slaght near Ballymena. (David Steele).

A Ruddy Shelduck of unknown origin is at the Ecos Park in Ballymena. (Jeff Larkin).

The Spotted Redshank was still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. A Redshank with a white ring, HEA, on the left leg and a yellow flag on the right leg was also present. (Cameron Moore)

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Common Sandpiper and to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Spotted Redshank and the colour ringed Redshank:

Bird News Monday 10th April

A Common Sandpiper was at Kinnegar pool this morning. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

At least ten White Wagtails and a Wheatear were in a stubble field in the middle of Reedy Flats, a Peregrine was also present. (Ed O'Hara, Comghal McQuillan/John Lambe).

A pair of Crossbills were at Binevenagh this afternoon. (Chris Rankin).

A Common Swift was over Whitehead. (Paul McCullough).

The Spotted Redshank was still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Garry Wilkinson).

Rathlin today had a probable Ring Ouzel, heard only, two Twite, three Redwings and a Great Northern Diver with lots of common summer visitors. Yesterday two Great Skua were seen on the island. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Wheatear and to David Hunter for the picture of the Chiffchaff:

Bird News Sunday 9th April

An Alpine Swift was at Mussenden Temple near Downhill. (Dylan Thomas).

2 Ruff still with Black-tailed Godwits this morning at a blustery Reedy Flats (Garry Armstrong).

2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Killough (Chris Murphy).

Stock Dove at Loughry College, Cookstown (Godfrey McRoberts).

A male Hen Harrier was in the Antrim hills. (Brian Halligan).

A female Marsh Harrier, two Little Egrets and a pair of Ravens were at Reedy Flats. (John Lambe).

Thanks to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Black-tailed Godwits and to Dylan Thomas for the picture of the Alpine Swift:

Bird News Saturday 8th April

A Common Sandpiper is at Oxford Island NNR (Garry Armstrong).

Marsh Harrier again at Reedy Flats (Daniel Newton).

An adult Little Gull is at Sandeel Bay, Orlock (Richard Weyl).

A Jack Snipe this morning near the Drumbane Road, Swatragh (Clive Mellon).

20+ White Wagtails were in a stubble field in the middle of Reedy Flats. (Ed O'Hara).

4 Grey Plover were at Ballyquintin on the outer Ards. One White Wagtail Kearney (Bob Watts).

Report of 2 Alpine Swifts over Glenarm Forest car park, Ballymena (Birdtrack).

A minimum of 5 House Martins amongst hirundines along the River Bann south of Coleraine this afternoon (Richard Donaghey).

2 Mediterranean Gulls at Lough Mourne (Joe Lamont).

6 Mediterranean Gulls at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve and a Carrion Crow at Kinnegar (AAron Long).

The Green Sandpiper is still along the River Maine at Slaght near Ballymena. Just the one White Wagtail at the Mullagh, Lough Beg (David Steele).

A Wheatear at Scawt Hill this afternoon (Melanie Ware).

Marsh Harrier, Michael Latham:

Mark Magee, Common Sandpiper:

Bird News Friday 7th April

Yesterday an Alpine Swift was seen flying high on Thursday morning at the far end of the car park at Belvoir Park, overlooking the meadow. (Dot Blakely)

A Great White Egret and Garganey are at Inch, ConDonegal.

Two Pink-footed Geese are with the Greylags on Fair Head (Adam McClure)

5 Ruff are at Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh (Ivan Quail)

A White-tailed Eagle was seen at Fair Head, flying south towards Murlough (Adam McClure)

A female Marsh Harrier was at Reedy Flats (John Lambe)

A White-tailed Eagle was also on the north side of Rathlin today (Ric Else)

Bird News Thursday 6th April

The juvenile Russian White-fronted Goose has relocated to Glynn (Cameron Moore)

9 Mediterranean Gulls were at RSPB WoW (Stephen Maxwell / Derek Polley)

The Spotted Redshank is still at Ballycarry (Cameron Moore)

Two Swallows were outside Portadown (Lee Magennis)

Two White Wagtail were at Whitehead Seafront (Ian Enlander)

A Golden Eagle flew over Whitepark Bay and over the sea towards the Causeway at 5pm. (Michael & Ann Barton)

Blog users may be interested in supporting this: https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/remove-the-light-pollution-at-the-albert-bridge?source=whatsapp

Thanks for all reports of migrants. Sand Martins, Wheatears and Willow Warblers are now widely reported.

Russian White-front - Cameron Moore:

Bird News Wednesday 5th April

Belated report of Hoopoe in Co Derry at undisclosed site on private farmland on Monday 3rd April 1325-1505 & briefly at 1400 on Tuesday 4th April (Peadar Rogers / Irish Birding).

Male Merlin this morning on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

10 Mediterranean Gulls and four Sand Martins at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan).

One Jack Snipe at Horse Island and five Slavonian Grebe from Kircubbin, Strangford Lough (Dermot Hughes).

A record spring total of 2500 Black-tailed Godwit at Lough Beg, also six Ruff, White Wagtail, 1000+ Sand Martin and c20 Swallow (David Steele).

Two Mediterranean Gulls and a solitary Sanderling at Ballycarry Bridge (John Spratt). Also the Spotted Redshank still present (Cameron Moore).

Just outside the region the Great White Egret showed well from the platform with the drake Garganey still present at Inch Lake, Co Donegal (Derek Brennan).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the Spotted Redshank images:

Bird News Tuesday 4th April

 An Osprey flew over the road heading inland near Holywood. (Billy Miskelly).

A single Alpine Swift was at Keeble Lough on Rathlin. A Stock Dove was also on the island. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

A ringtail Hen Harrier was near Fivemiletown this morning. (Colin Bell).

A White Wagtail was on the golf course at Portstewart. (Donna Riddell).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

A Waxwing was in Oaklands in Ballymena. (Amanda Steede).

Thanks to Donna Riddell for the picture of the White Wagtail and to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Willow Warbler:

Bird News Monday 3rd April

An adult and juvenile Dark-bellied Brent were at Killough Harbour (Chris Murphy)

Inch Lake, Co Donegal has a Great White Egret and Marsh harrier. The Tundra Bean Goose and 14 Pinkfeet are on Inch Levels (Chris Ingram)

A Kestrel was at Shaws Bridge, Belfast (Paula Campbell)

5 Mediterranean Gull are on the raft in front of the visitor centre at RSPB WoW. (Aaron Long)

Bird News Sunday 2nd April

One Alpine Swift still south of the seafront at Ballycastle (Garry Armstrong / Daniel Newton). Still present 1440 from seafront looking west (Tom Garner). Three Alpine Swifts 1540 from same location (Tom Garner / Stuart McKey).

258 Red-throated Divers, 13 Great Northern Divers Dundrum Bay, also Merlin at Minerstown (Chris Murphy).

A minimum of five Mediterranean Gulls at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW (Ian Enlander).

An adult Iceland Gull from the hide at Barmouth early afternoon (John Spottiswood).

Nine White Wagtail Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh (Ed O’Hara).

350 Manx Shearwaters from Burial Mound and another six Ballyquintin Point (Richard Weyl).

Again no sign of Hoopoe Loughview Cemetery, Comber 0700-1130 (Ryan Holgate). 

Four / five Crossbill at Blackslee Waterfall and Woods circular walk near Correl Glen, Co Fermanagh (Tom Saxon).

Six Wheatear in one flock and five Fieldfare in the Antrim Hills (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop).

Willow Warblers and Barn Swallows are now being reported from multiple sites so only exceptional numbers or very unusual sites will now be mentioned for these species.

Michael Latham, Goldcrest:

David Hunter, Treecreeper:

Bird News Saturday 1st April

The adult Iceland Gull was in the harbour estate, a Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank and 4 Sandwich Terns were at Kinnegoe shore and a Swallow was at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve. (Daniel Newton).

Two Alpine Swifts were over Kinramer on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Still five Alpine Swifts over St Patrick's church in Ballycastle this afternoon. (Jeff Campbell). At least two of the Swifts were still present at 3.30. (Philip West). Five birds were seen over the seafront up to 4pm. (Richard Woods).

Swallows are now arriving in good numbers including one outside Randalstown this morning. (Norman Allison).

The south west area of Lough Beg today had 1 Great White Egret with 15 Little Egrets, 4 Swallows with 300+ Sand Martin. Large numbers of Teal, Wigeon with 25 Shoveler, 10 Pintail and 100+ Black-tailed Godwit. One Chiffchaff was also seen. Water levels are very high. (Godfrey McRoberts).

A Red-necked Grebe was off shore between Greencastle and Cranfield in Carlingford Lough.(Eamon Larrissey).

Bird News Friday 31st March

The Hoopoe is still present at Loughview Cemetery, Comber (Mervyn Campbell et al). The bird was still present at 6:20 just before the cemetery gates (Paul & Niall Mulvenna). We would remind everyone that the bird should not be disturbed and to please watch from a reasonable distance.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Lady Dixon Park, Belfast. (Paula Campbell)

At least two of the Alpine Swifts are still over Ballycastle. (Geoff Campbell). Three birds were seen this afternoon (Chris Ingram / James McDowell)

The adult Ring-billed Gull is still at the Round O, Enniskillen (Robert Vaughan)

Hoopoe, John Mason:

Hoopoe, Jonathan Cooke:

Bird News Thursday 30th March

Five Alpine Swifts along the Ballycastle seafront this morning (Billy Miskelly). Still three at 1555 over Tow River near Sheskburn Avenue (Tony Dodds).

The Hoopoe is still at Loughview Cemetery, Comber at 1pm. It was in an aerial duel with a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls which nearly caught it but luckily it escaped and landed near the farm barn close to the cemetery entrance (Paul McCullough). Still present 6pm in northern section of cemetery (Wilton Farrelly).

Three Mediterranean Gulls at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve, including the Dutch ringed bird (Derek Polley). Willow Warbler at the back of Kinnegar Pools this evening (Daniel Newton).

Red Kite high over Sloan Street, Lisburn this evening (Garry Armstrong).

The adult Ring-billed Gull remains at Carrickfergus. Also the Green-winged Teal is now at Ballycarry Bridge, Larne Lough (Cameron Moore).

One Great White Egret at Boa Island, Co Fermanagh this afternoon, also two Willow Warblers this evening (Michael Stinson).

Ring-billed Gull, Cameron Moore:

Hoopoe Pictures

 We have received these excellent pictures of the Comber Hoopoe from Jonathan Clark and Michael Latham:

Jonathan Clark

Jonathan Clark

Jonathan Clarke

Michael Latham

Bird News Wednesday 29th March.

Three Alpine Swifts were again in Ballycastle this morning. (Donna Riddell). This afternoon all four Alpine Swifts were back over Ballycastle. (Geoff Campbell).

The Hoopoe was present again in the graveyard outside Comber. (Katy Bell). The bird flew off at 10am. (Kevin O'Grady) .The Hoopoe is back in the field behind the gate at the graveyard. (Ben McCook). The Hoopoe was still present up to 7pm. (Michael Latham, Jeff Larkin, Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn)

For anyone looking for the Hoopoe please be respectful of the graves in the graveyard and stay on the paths at all times. 

Two Swallows were at Cloughmills near Ballymena. (Derek McClean).

A Chiffchaff was singing near the Lagan Valley Island Centre in Lisburn this morning. (Leia Giesel). Another Chiffchaff was in Castlewellan yesterday. (Michael McCandless).

The first Willow Warbler of the year was on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else).

A Snow Bunting is at the bowling green in Portrush. (John Clarke).

The dark bellied Brent is still in Killough harbour. (Chris Murphy).

A single Alpine Swift was on Rathlin. (James Crymble).

As Chiffchaffs and Sand Martins are now arriving in large numbers we won't be reporting further individual sightings of these species. 

Thanks to John Clarke for the picture of the Snow Bunting and to David Clarke for the picture of the Hoopoe:

Bird News Tuesday 28th March

The Hoopoe is still at Loughview Cemetery, Comber (Dave Weir). It was showing on the short turf just inside the cemetery until just before 4pm when it flew low over the hedge near the entrance and landed in nearby fields where it was still showing well this evening. (Thanks to everyone who shared information on this bird)

A single Alpine Swift was over Bryansford this morning.  (Joanne Mansell)

4 Alpine Swift have been seen over Ballycastle at lunchtime, flying east from the Quay Road playing fields (Geoff Campbell). The birds were still present at 1538 over the Quay Road car park and two were still performing at 1855 (Jeff Larkin).

Two Sandwich Terns were at Kinnegar at 12.00 today (William Smiton)

A Willow Warbler is singing at Derryadd Lough, Peatlands Park this evening (Brian Nelson).

8 Ruff were at Dundalk Docks (Mike McLaughlin)

Another and different White-tailed Eagle (the fourth this month) was on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Hoopoe, Derek Brennan:

Hoopoe, Daniel Newton:

Hoopoe, Amy Weir:

Hoopoe, Michael Latham:

Bird News Monday 27th March

A Hoopoe was in the Cemetery at Comber (Jamie Phillips).

Immature White-tailed Eagle mobbed by a ringtail Hen Harrier Antrim Hills (Jonny Rosborough).

Subadult Golden Eagle mobbed by two Common Buzzard in the Antrim Hills, also 20 Crossbill over (Dean Jones).

Six Sandwich Terns and a Carrion Crow Kinnegar Shore, with an adult Mediterranean Gull bathing and two Whooper Swans landed just offshore early afternoon (Bob Watts).

Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming east of the lake in Hillsborough Forest Park (Dougie Gamble).

The adult Ring-billed Gull remains at Carrickfergus (Jonathan Cooke).

Ring-billed Gull, Jonathan Cooke:

Bird News Sunday 26th March

An Alpine Swift was seen at Seagahan Reservoir in Co. Armagh at 7pm this evening. (John Anderson).

There was no sign of the Alpine Swift in Newcastle this morning. 

The Ring-billed Gull was still at Carrickfergus harbour. (Aaron Long).

A dark-bellied Brent was with 625 Brent in Killough harbour. (Chris Murphy).

The Green-winged Teal and Spotted Redshank were both still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

The Glaucous Gull was at the Pure Gym carpark in Coleraine. (Emma Mulholland, Matthew Flood).

Chiffchaffs are now widely reported including birds at the University campus in Coleraine (Emma Mulholland) and at Castle Ward (Niall Mulvenna).

Two adult Iceland Gulls were at the old quarry on Bushmills Road, Coleraine. (John Clarke).

4 Common Terns, 4 Sand Martins and 2 Wheatear were at Killard. (David Stirling).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Derryclone near Gawleys Gate. (Joe Burns).

A pair of Swallows were over Derrykerrib Lough in Co. Fermanagh. (David Cole).

4 Sandwich Terns were off Larne harbour. (Dave Craig).

Thanks to Aaron Long for the picture of the Ring-billed Gull, to John Fraser for the picture of the Pintail, to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Rock Pipit and to Ryan Holgate for the pictures of the Merlin and the Goldeneye:

Bird News Saturday 25th March

An Alpine Swift was just south of Newcastle flying over the car park on the right hand side, 1 mile past the harbour until 10 am (Chris Rankin). Again from 11:20 (Wilton Farrelly). The bird was over Newcastle seafront at 4pm (Ronald Surgenor). The bird was viewable at 4:30pm from the sewage pumping station at the harbour, looking towards the town (Bob Watts)

Three Alpine Swifts were on the north cliffs Rathlin 10:45 (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A first winter Iceland Gull is at RSPB WoW this morning. A singing Chiffchaff was also present along with a Wheatear on the old D3 area. Sandwich Tern on Kinnegar Shore (Daniel Newton)

The Ring-billed Gull was still at Carrickfergus (Garry Armstrong)

The first Puffin of the year arrived back on Rathlin this morning, two Twite and a small arrival of Wheatears (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

The Spotted Redshank was still at Ballycarry and the Green-wing Teal still present at Glynn (Cameron Moore)

The Spotted Redshank was still at Dundrum Bay (David Stirling)

Two Wheatear at Portrush (John Clarke)

Two Purple Sandpiper were at Newcastle Harbour (Richard Caves)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Mount Stewart (David Gillespie)

Alpine Swift, Newcastle, Michael Latham:

Alpine Swift feeding - Ivan Quail:

Ring-billed Gull, Garry Armstrong:

Iceland Gull, Daniel Newton:

Alpine Swift, Rathlin, Ric Else: