NT Bird Hide at the Bann Estuary

The National Trust bird hide at the Bann Estuary is temporarily closed for repairs to the door.

Bird News Monday 16th October

The Short-eared Owl is still near St John's Point this morning. (David Stirling). The bird was still present this evening. (Stephen Dunbar)

Yesterday three Snow Buntings and a Hen Harrier were on Rathlin along with a Common Redpoll among a flock of Lesser Redpolls, late Wheatear, Swallows and House Martins. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Two Twite were between Whitehead and White Harbour. (Adam McClure).

A female Brambling was in a garden in Coleraine. (Donna Riddell).

Thanks to Donna for the picture of the Brambling and to Stephen Dunbar for the picture of the Short-eared Owl:

Bird News Sunday 15th October

Highlights from Bann Estuary WeBs count include 4 Pink-footed Geese on Grangemore side, 6 Gadwall in front of the hide (scarce here) and 63 Whooper Swans in off the sea in small family parties (Dean Jones).

Short-eared Owl St John’s Point, still present 4pm (Andrew Crory/Aaron Long/Kevin Rice).

Male Hen Harrier at Portmore Lough RSPB (Ed O’Hara).

Lesser Yellowlegs from the viewing platform at Inch Lake, Co Donegal (Jeff Larkin).

2 Black-throated Divers at Carnlough (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Knockninny, Derrylin, Co Fermanagh (Ronan Owens).

Thanks to Aaron Long for the Short-eared Owls and to David Hunter for the Buzzards:

Bird News Saturday 14th October

Two White-tailed Eagles and a 1st winter Ring-necked Duck were at Inch Lake in Donegal. (Theo Campbell).

Up to 500 Whoopers and 100 Greylags were in stubble fields along Lomond Road on the way down to Myroe. (Martin Deehan).

An eclipse male American Wigeon and the Great White Egret were both at Lough Beg this morning. (Richard Hunter).

A male Hen Harrier was at St John's Point. (John Spottiswood).

A 2nd calendar year Iceland Gull was at Runkerry beach. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

Two Common Terns were off Greenisland in Belfast Lough at high tide.  (Brian Sutton).

Bird News Friday 13th October

Black Tern at Corbally Road Res but no sign of the Surf Scoter (John Clarke).

Adult and 1st winter Little Gull at Magilligan (Stephen & Donna Riddell).

Adult Pomarine Skua with magnificent spoons 10 metres off Downhill beach heading towards the Foyle Estuary at 4pm (Dean Jones).

A single Pink-footed Goose was with the big Brent flock at Green Island in Dundrum North Inner Bay (David Nixon).

The first Great Spotted Woodpecker at the peanut feeder this autumn at a garden in Magheragall near Lisburn (Richard Caves).

Little Auk of Bloody Foreland, Co. Donegal this morning (BAND).

Thanks to Paul Hilton for the Red-breasted Mergansers and to Richard Caves for the Great Spotted Woodpecker:

Bird News Thursday 12th October

 The Surf Scoter is still at Corbally Reservoir outside Portrush. (John Spratt, Juliet Fleming).

A Yellow-browed Warbler was on Tory Island in Donegal. (Anton Meehan).

An adult Mediterranean Gull, Ruff, juvenile Common Tern and Sandwich Tern were at Kinnegar shore. (David Nixon).

A Curlew Sandpiper is still at Myroe. (Stephen Riddell).

Six Pinkfeet dropped into Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning and flew out again at 1.30pm. (John Fraser, Stephen Maxwell, Denis Connolly).

A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Drumkeeragh between Castlewellan and Ballynahinch. (Ivan Cullen)

Four Red-throated Diver were off Grey Point in Belfast Lough. (Nathan Gilbert).

Up to 15 Whoopers were seen around Killough, Strand Lough and Ardglass, a single Pinkfoot was at Killough harbour. (Ann Feltham).

40 Whooper Swans were at Barton's Bay, Lough Neagh. (Richard Caves).

 Good numbers of Whoopers flew over Portstewart towards the Bann Estuary. (Sean Hickey).

A Curlew Sandpiper and 23 Ruff were at Lough Beg today, also Great White Egret still present and two juvenile Hen Harriers hunting widely around the lake. (David Steele).

Thanks to John Fraser and Stephen Maxwell for the pictures of the Pinkfeet and the Kingfisher, to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Surf Scoter, to Richard Caves for the picture of the Whoopers and to Stephen Riddell for the picture of the Curlew Sandpiper:

John Fraser

Stephen Maxwell

John Fraser

Bird News Wednesday 11th October

Three Black Terns are at Kinnegar Shore this morning (Jonathan Cooke)

The first year female Surf Scoter is still at Corbally, Portrush (John Spottiswood)

Two Arctic Skua are at Magilligan (John Clarke / Ian Dickey)

Approximately 12 Fieldfare were seen travelling at height between Greenisland and Carrickfergus. (Kevin Rice)

3 Arctic Skua, 13 Red-throated Divers and 1 Great Northern Diver were seen from Killough in a short mid-morning seawatch (Chris Murphy)

3 hours at Bloody Foreland from 8am had 16 Bonxie, 8 Arctic Skua, 1 Leach's Petrel and 14 Sooty Shearwater (Ralph Sheperd)

A Wheatear was at Seacliffe Road, Bangor (James Andrew)

Bird News Tuesday 10th October

A Curlew Sandpiper remains at Myroe (Ian Dickey). Two Curlew Sandpiper were there this evening (John Spottiswood)

Yesterday a Snow Bunting was on Rathlin (Ric Else)

4 adult and 4 second year Med Gulls were again at Groomsport harbour/ Cockle Island area (John McClean)

The Surf Scoter was still at Corbally Reservoir (Ian Young). It was still present at dusk (Chris Murphy)

You can see more local bird pics at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Curlew Sandpiper, Ian Young:

Bird News Monday 9th October

Lesser Whitethroat trapped on Copeland Island today (Chris Acheson).

Fieldfares and Redwings at the Bann Estuary. Great Northern Diver off Castlerock beach John Clarke).

Small flock of Redwing in abbey at Greyabbey. Single Slavonian Grebe and 2 Jack Snipe at Greyabbey (Nathan Gilbert).

Carrion Crow Rhanabuoy Park, Carrickfergus (Kevin Kirkham).

3 1st winter Common Tern Kinnegar Shore, Ruff Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve (Bob Watts).

2nd winter Mediterranean Gull Kinnegar Pools (Tom Ennis).

At Myroe the Great White Egret again at the Roe Estuary, also 5 Curlew Sandpipers in the stubble fields, Merlin, and offshore 21 Red-throated Divers, 42 Slavonian Grebes, Great Northern Diver and 6 Common Scoter (Dean Jones).

Barn Owl over M1 south of Lisburn at 840pm (John Spottiswood).

1st winter female Surf Scoter still Corbally Road Reservoir (Colin Mayes).

Lesser Whitethroat, Chris Acheson:

Great White Egret, Dean Jones:

Surf Scoter, Wheatear and Shag, Colin Mayes:

Bird News Sunday 8th October

The female Surf Scoter was still on Corbally Reservoir, Portrush. There was no sign of the Snow Bunting on Ramore. (Brian Hegarty).

Two Black Terns and a Ruff were at Kinnegar Shore this morning. (Michael Latham). Several Whimbrel were also present. (Kevin Kirkham).

A Great White Egret was at the Roe Estuary, Lough Foyle. 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 32 Slavonian Grebes and 100+ Whooper Swans were at Myroe.  (Neal Warnock).

6 Ruff and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Aaron Long, Roy Gray).

A Marsh Harrier was at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Ed O'Hara).

A Wheatear was at Murley Mountain near Fivemiletown. (Colin Bell).

A Hen Harrier and Whimbrel were at Ballyquitan Point. A Slavonian Grebe was at Greyabbey Bay and a Jack Snipe was at Templecowey. (Richard Weyl).

A few Redwing were on Rathlin. (James Crymble).

An Osprey was just offshore from Downhill beach, flying towards Castlerock. (Dean Jones).

Yesterday 4 Snow Buntings were on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The male Ring-necked Duck is still at Inch Lake in Donegal. (Theo Campbell, Chris Ingram).

A large flock of Golden Plover at Myroe contains a White-rumped Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Ruff. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Black Terns:

Bird News Saturday 7th October

1st winter female Surf Scoter remains at Corbally Road Reservoir, also a Red-throated Diver (Aaron Long).

Black Tern and 4 Ruff Kinnegar Shore (Garry Armstrong). Lingering Common Sandpiper at Belfast Lough WoW RSPB Reserve (Daniel Newton).

Flighty Snow Bunting on top of Ramore Head keeping a low profile as a Merlin also present (John Clarke).

4 Greenland Wheatear Kearney, 6 Mediterranean Gulls Cloughey (Bob Watts).

Curlew Sandpiper Myroe in field near pile of stones (Michael Latham).

Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Ruff and Merlin from Ballykelly hide (Dean Jones).

White-tailed Eagle at Crom Estate, Co Fermanagh (Kevin Kirkham).

A Curlew Sandpiper and a Ruff on the north side of Dundrum near Ardilea Bridge (Richard Caves).

Curlew Sandpiper, Michael Latham:

Black Tern, Garry Armstrong:

Ruff, Richard Caves:

Bird News Friday 6th October

 A Curlew Sandpiper was at the north end of Dundrum Bay. (Michael Latham).

This morning there were 7 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 adults and 2 2nd years, in the Groomsport harbour/Cockle Island area. Another adult Mediterranean Gull was in Ballyholme Bay, Bangor. (Anthony McGeehan & John McClean).

Bird News Thursday 5th October

The 1st winter female Surf Scoter remains at Corbally Road Reservoir (Nigel Moore).

Sinensis Cormorant off Kinnegar Shore (Paul Hilton).

Ringtail Hen Harrier, adult Little Gull and Whimbrel at St John’s Point (Chris Murphy).

No sign of the Grey Phalarope at Belfast Lough WoW RSPB Reserve but 4 Ruff and a Common Sandpiper (Derek Polley/John Fraser/Dot Blakely).

Ring-necked Duck still present at Inch Marsh, Co Donegal (BAND).

6 Ruff were at the high tide roost at Dundrum South Inner Bay (David Nixon).

Sinensis Cormorant, Paul Hilton:

Bird News Wednesday 4th October

The Surf Scoter was still at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush, this morning (Ian Dickey)

An immature Golden Eagle was seen heading east at Glen Road near Drumquin Co Tyrone this lunchtime (Clive Mellon)

A Lapland Bunting was on Rathlin this morning (James Crymble)

Bird News Tuesday 3rd October

The Grey Phalarope and a Common Sandpiper were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Aaron Long).

The female Surf Scoter was still on Corbally Reservoir and a Wheatear at Ramore. (Robert McDowell).

Seven Purple Sandpipers and two Wheatears were at the Coastal Zone in Portrush. (Juliet Fleming).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Merlin, to Robert McDowell for the pictures of the Surf Scoter and the Wheatear and to Juliet Fleming for the pictures of the Purple Sandpiper and the Wheatear:

Robert McDowell

Juliet Fleming

Bird News Monday 2nd October

The Grey Phalarope remains at RSPB WoW (Paul Hilton). It was still showing up to 5pm (Chris Murphy)

The first winter Surf Scoter remains at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush. The bird was still present early afternon (Robert Plant / Garry Wilkinson / Tom Ennis / Guy Hamilton / Juliet Fleming)

At least one drake Ring-necked Duck was at Inch, Donegal (Derek Brennan)

Whooper Swans are now widely reported. Many thanks for sightings.

Surf Scoter, Robert Plant:

Grey Phalarope, Paul Hilton:

Ring-necked Duck, Derek Brennan:

Surf Scoter, Garry Wilkinson:

Bird News Monday 2nd October

The Grey Phalarope remains at RSPB WoW (Paul Hilton)

Bird News Sunday 1st October

The 1st winter female Surf Scoter remains at Corbally Road Reservoir (Ian Dickey, Aaron Long et al).

Grey Phalarope still present at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve (Gerry Judge). Also single Common Sandpiper, 3 Ruff, a Wheatear at nearby D3 and a pair of Ravens (Daniel Newton).

4 Purple Sandpipers and a Sanderling at the Portrush Coastal Zone (Aaron Long).

Barred Warbler still present East End of Tory Island (Joe Adamson).

This afternoon an adult Mediterranean Gull off the Blue Quarry, just south of Newcastle (Danny Bailie).

Ringtail Hen Harrier and Kestrel on Divis this afternoon (John O’Boyle).

Two Twite were at Killowen Point in Rostrevor. (Joe Devlin).

Two Snow Buntings, a Merlin and four Knot were on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Ringed juvenile Polish and Scottish Black-Headed Gulls were on Kinnegar Beach. (Gareth Platt).

Surf Scoter & Purple Sandpipers, Aaron Long:

Wheatear, David Hunter.

Polish & Scottish Ringed Black-headed Gulls, Gareth Platt.

Bird News Saturday 30th September

Female Surf Scoter still on Corbally Road Reservoir (Ian Dickey et al).

Grey Phalarope still at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Garry Armstrong).

No sign of Grey Phalarope on Rathlin (Ric Else).

8+ Curlew Sandpipers at Myroe beside the pallets and pile of soil in second stubble field (John Spratt).

Surf Scoter, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 29th September

 The Grey Phalarope is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Daniel Newton). The bird is still present this afternoon. (Ed O'Hara).

A Grey Phalarope was on Rathlin this morning. (Hazel Watson & Ric Else)

A Black Tern and a Little Gull were at Magilligan this afternoon. (Stephen Riddell).

A Barred Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat are on Tory Island in Donegal. (Anton Meehan).

A female Surf Scoter is on Corbally Reservoir at Portrush. (John Clarke).

The Bonaparte's Gull was again on Kinnegar shore. (Daniel Newton)

A Little Gull was at Groomsport. (Richard Weyl).

A Long-eared Owl and 20 Crossbills were on Starbog Road above Larne today. (Brian Halligan).

A Great White Egret was at Lough Beg this afternoon. (Maria Mulholland).

Female Surf Scoter - John Clarke

Grey Phalarope - Ronnie Doggart

Grey Phalarope - Michael Latham

Grey Phalarope - Michael Latham

Grey Phalarope - Viviana Biazzo

Grey Phalarope - Viviana Biazzo

Grey Phalarope - David McCreedy

Grey Phalarope - Garry Wilkinson

Baltimore Oriole Last Weekend - Amy Weir

Black Tern - Donna Riddell

Long-eared Owl - Brian Halligan

Long-eared Owl - Brian Halligan