Bird News Wednesday 6th November

3 Slavonian Grebes west from Macedon Point early morning. The Red-necked Grebe was with the Eider flock (Stuart Cossey).

The Shore Lark is still at Clermont Carn, Co Louth in very foggy conditions this morning (Andrew Crory). It flew high north just at 1230 and no further sign (Peter Philips).

The Barred Warbler is still present at Ballymacormick Point, Groomsport this morning (Clifford Sharpe). Still present early afternoon also male Blackcap (Stuart Cossey).

Female type Black Redstart Harbour Hill, Portstewart (Richard Donaghey).

Spotted Redshank at the roost Dundrum South Inner Bay. If the returning bird then it’s 5th winter (David Nixon).

3+ White-rumped Sandpipers with the Golden Plover flock at Church Island, Lough Beg (David Steel).

Barn Owl on successive evenings c1740 in Coleraine at University Corner, Cromore Road (Peter Hough).

Black Redstart, Stephen Riddell:

Spotted Redshank, David Nixon:

Bird News Tuesday 5th November 2024

The Shore Lark was still at Clermont Carn, Cooley Peninsula, Co Louth this morning, at the RTE transmitter. (Aaron Long). The bird was still present at 2:30 (Mike McLaughlin / David McCreedy / Eamon Larrisey)

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/d4DRbyMudBqGvZp8A

The Barred Warbler was still present this morning at Ballymacormick Point, Groomsport (Martin Deehan). It was last seen at 1:45 but is elusive (Des Higgins)

Location for viewing the Barred Warbler: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZrgpidTYTeNRLNHS6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Runkerry Wood, Bushmills (Richard Donaghey)

2 Snow Buntings were at Ramore Head this morning (Juliet Fleming / John Clarke)

At least six Slavonian Grebe were off Myroe this morning (Stephen Riddell)

At least 70 Twite were at Ramore Head this morning (John Clarke)

4 Velvet Scoter flew past Groomsport in to Belfast Lough earlier today. A Black Brant x Pale-bellied Brent was at Rugh Island, Strangford Lough. Behind Islandhill there were 7 Pink-footed Geese (one an adult) with the Greylags (Anthony McGeehan)

55+ Whoopers were at Whinney Hill, Holywood (Tom Ennis)

Shore Lark, Aaron Long:

Shore Lark, Mike McLaughlin:

Snow Bunting, Juliet Fleming:

Bird News Monday 4th November 2024

 The Barred Warbler is still present this morning in the same area of Ballymacormack Point though elusive. (Aaron Long). The bird is still being seen occasionally up to lunchtime at least. (Stuart McKee, Dermot Hughes, Richard Weyl).

A juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper is at the Roe Estuary, Lough Foyle. (David Hunter).

The Snow Buntings are still at Ramore Head, 25 Twite are also present. (John Clarke).

A Ruff is at the Bann Estuary. (John Spottiswood).

A Shore Lark was at the RTE mast on Cleremont Carn in the Cooley Mountains in Co. Louth. (David Knight).

The Red-necked Grebe was still present distantly with the Eider flock in Belfast Lough. (Ian Young).

There are two seats available for the boat trip from Ballycastle to Islay on Saturday 7th November. Please text Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details.

Mediterranean Gull, Stephen Foster.

Shore Lark, David Knight.

Bird News Sunday 3rd November 2024

Barred Warbler 1st winter at Ballymacormick Point for 2nd day becomes the 6th NI record and the 1st mainland record since the 1971 individual in a quarry between Portstewart and Coleraine (Wilton Farrelly / Bob Watts et al).

Cattle Egret in trees at Closet River, Oxford Island NNR (Garry Armstrong). Slavonian Grebe also reported here (Birdguides).

Slavonian Grebe off Kinnegar Shore also 1w Mediterranean Gull (Kevin Kirkham).

Slavonian Grebe at Hazelbank (Michael Latham).

Red-necked Grebe still with Eider flock from Hazelbank (Michael Latham). 3 Slavonian Grebes and 1w Mediterranean Gull (Kevin Kirkham).

At least 1 White-rumped Sandpiper still from Long Wood view point at Lough Beg and a drake Ring-necked Duck (Daniel Newton).

11 Twite at Newcastle Harbour and Common Sandpioer just south (Daniel Bailie). Adult Mediterranean Gull at Newcastle (Stephen Foster).

Female Marsh Harrier and Great White Egret at Portmore Lough RSPB 

2 Snow Buntings still Ramore Head (Martin Deehan).

Snow Bunting below peak of Slieve Gullion (John Spottiswood).

Grey Plover at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve this morning (Jonny Clark).

Pair of Crossbill at Banagher Forest (Marian O’Hara).

Hybrid Ring-billed x Common Gull again at Millisle (Richard Weyl).

Barred Warbler, Ronald Surgenor:

Red-necked Grebe & Slavonian Grebe: Michael Latham:

Crossbill, Marian O’Hara:

Bird News Saturday 2nd November 2024

Six or seven Snow Bunting are at Ramore Head this morning (Stephen Dunbar / Aaron Long)

A White-tailed Eagle remains at Inch, Co Donegal (Theo Campbell)

Unusually 10 Brent Geese were at Oxford Island (Garry Armstrong)

The Great White Egret and a juv Marsh Harrier are at Portmore Lough (Alan Dickson and Kevin Kirkham)

2 juv White-rumped Sands still with Golden Plover and Lapwing flock, Long Wood viewpoint Lough Beg, Co Derry. 30+ Ruff also present. (Bob Watts)

The Red-necked Grebe was still of Macedon Point, Belfast Lough. A Slavonian Grebe was also present (Stuart McKee)

8 Crossbill were at Ballycarton Wood, Limavady. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Windyhill Road (Michael Latham)

A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed on Copeland. A second bird was then ringed late afternoon (Chris Acheson / Adam Ringland)

Rocky Point, Donegal between 11-11.50am had 64 Great Shearwater, 8 Sooty Shearwater, 5 Manx Shearwater, 6 Red throated Diver and 1 Great Northern Diver in a fresh southerly breeze. (John O'Boyle)

A second year Mediterranean Gull was at Newcastle (Stephen Foster)

A Great White Egret was seen in flight at Oxford Island, possibly going to roost (Dermot Breen)

Yellow-browed Warbler, Copeland BO:

Crossbill, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 1st November 2024

 Two Slavonian Grebes were off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough this morning. (Aaron Long).

Two Snow Buntings are on Ramore Head in Portrush. (John Clarke).

A White-rumped Sandpiper and a Ruff were off the hide at the Barmouth. (John Spottiswood).

A female Long-tailed Duck, 2 female Scaup and a Whooper were off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough. (Stuart Cossey).

A single Great White Egret was at Lough Beg. (Chris Hamilton).

A Red Kite was in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

Yesterday a Fieldfare was on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

A single juvenile Dark-bellied Brent was with Brent in Killough Harbour. A leucistic Great Black-backed Gull was in Ardglass Harbour.   (David Nixon).

A Spotted Redshank and six Great White Egrets were at Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).

Bird News Thursday 31st October

Snow Bunting at Ramore Head (Tom Garner). 60 Twite near car park (Robert Plant).

Adult and 1st winter Little Gulls at Magilligan Point this morning (Stephen Riddell).

Great White Egret and Merlin at Reedy Flats this morning (David McCreedy).

Barnacle Goose of unknown origin amongst the Brent Geese at Strangford Lough at Castle Espie WWT (Jonathan Clark).

Slavonian Grebe off Macedon Point (Aaron Long).

2 White-rumped Sandpipers still at Lough Beg near Church Island also 3 drake Ring-necked Ducks and 9 Whitefronts flew south (David Steel).

Pinkfoot still on Rathlin (Nathanael Poffley).

Snow Bunting, Robert Plant:

Twite, Robert Plant:

Barnacle Goose, Jonathan Clark:

Slavonian Grebe, Aaron Long:

Bird News Wednesday 30th October

A Red-necked Grebe was off Macedon Point, about 4:00 pm with the tide well out and it was feeding and moving gradually towards Loughshore Park (Stuart McKee)

The two Black-throated Diver were still at Carnlough (Ian Dickey)

Yesterday 3 Snow Bunting were seen on Slieve Croob (per Aaron Long)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen off the Belmont Road, Belfast (Philip West)

6 Snow Buntings were on Ramore Head, Portrush (John Clarke)

A male snow bunting on the summit of Slieve Commedagh this morning. (Dan Baillie)

Two juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers were at Lough Beg this afternoon, with the plover flock in the Church Island area. Two male Ring-necked Ducks and six Pinkfeet were also seen. (David Steele)

Snow Bunting, Ramore, John Clarke:

Yellowhammers, Bushmills, Robert Plant:

You can see more pics of local birds at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Many thanks to everyone who shares local bird sightings, news and pictures.

Bird News Tuesday 29th October 2024

Two Slavonian Grebes and two Sandwich Terns were off Macedon Point in Belfast Lough, a Whooper flew north up the Lough. (Kevin Kirkham). 

More than 40 Twite were near Ramore Head in Portrush this morning. (Juliet Fleming).

A female Merlin was hunting at Ballywildrick near Articlave. (John Spottiswood).

Two Great Skuas were chasing gulls off Whitehead, a Great Northern Diver was also present. (Kevin Kirkham).

Two Black-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver and a Red-throated Diver and two Whoopers were off Carnlough. (Mike McLaughlin, David McCreedy).

A pair of Snow Buntings were on the pathway at Slieve Croob in Co. Down. (Ann-Marie Smyth).

Twelve Twite were at the plover roost outside Portstewart. (John Clarke).

A 2nd year Mediterranean Gull and an adult Little Gull were on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Snow Buntings, Ann-Marie Smyth.

Twite, John Clarke.

Red-throated Divers & Twite, Juliet Fleming.

Bird News Monday 28th October

Common Sandpiper at Stoneyford Res (Chris Murphy).

Female/immature Goosander still at Corbet Lough also a Red Kite (David McCreedy).

2 Ruff on the Bann Estuary (James McDowell).

Bonaparte’s Gull still at Drains Bay this afternoon. Also 2 Mediterranean Gulls including one ringed in Poland in  2014 (Stephen Riddell).

Bonaparte’s Gull, Stephen Riddell:

Mediterranean Gull, Stephen Riddell:

Bird News Sunday 27th October

The Rough-legged Buzzard has been refound this morning by Aaron Long / Mel O’Hagan and Sean Gibson, just south of Glenarm. At 9:35 the bird had drifted south of Ballygalley (Ivan Quail)

At 9:55 the bird headed south east out over the sea. (Brian McCloskey). It is worthwhile checking Islandmagee for it. As of 11:50, the bird has not been seen again today. However it is felt that it could still be in the Islandmagee \ Whitehead area.

Rough-legged Buzzard, Aaron Long:

Rough-legged Buzzard, Ivan Quail:

A Gyr Falcon (of likely captive origin?) was seen on the road at Glenwherry, near Ballymena, this morning (per Dennis Weir)

A Great Egret was at Paddys Dubh, and 4 Pinkfeet and 3 flyover Greenland White-fronts at Church Island, Lough Beg. A further 2 Great Egrets were at the Mullagh along with a Cattle Egret at the Cormorant roost (Richard Gray)

Two Black-throated Divers were still off Carnlough (Aaron Long)

A Red Kite was just north of the Rathfriland exit on the A1 (Mark Stewart)

The Bonaparte’s Gull was at Drains Bay at 12:45 (Aaron Long)

The Slavonian Grebe was off Glynn (Aaron Long)

Mediteranean Gulls were widely reported today at Drains Bay, Killard, Millisle and Cloghey.

Bird News Saturday 26th October

A Rough-legged Buzzard has been filmed on the east coast, between Glenarm and Waterfoot (Tim Wright):

The Cattle Egret is still with the cattle in the field opposite the end of the breakwater at Kinnegoe Marina, Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

The Greenland Whitefronts were on the fields at Myroe before flying out onto Lough Foyle. (John Spratt).

A Red Kite was in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

A female or immature Goosander was at Corbett Lough outside Banbridge. (David McCreedy).

Two Greenland Whitefronts flew over Ballyquintan Point, two Grey Plovers were also present. A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver flew over Bar Hall Bay. A Greenland Wheatear was on the beach before Kearney. Seven Mediterranean Gulls and six Sandwich Terns were at the south end of Cloughey beach. (Bob Watts).

A Slavonian Grebe was off Glynn. (Michael Latham).

Turnstone, Rod Gillan.

Bar-tailed Godwit, Gerry Bond.

Greenshank, Gerry Bond.

Knot, Gerry Bond.