Bird News Wednesday 18th July

A high tide count at Belfast WOW reserve between 17.15 and 17.45 produced: 320+ Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 30 Bar-tailed Godwit, 18 in summer plumage the rest were probably a mixture of juveniles and 1st summers. 6 Dunlin, all were adults in summer plumage, 1 Roseate Tern, an adult in breeding plumage. Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwits were still arriving at 17.45. (Tom Ennis).

Approximately 12 Yellowhammers were outside Ardglass this evening, see picture below. (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for the picture of the Swift over his garden, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Yellowhammer and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Sparrowhawk:

Bird News Tuesday 17th July

11 Common Sandpipers were at Dargan today (Adam McClure)

Thanks to Rob McAllister for the picture of the Whitethroat and to Linda Thompson for the picture of the Common Sandpiper:

 

 

Bird News Monday 16th July.

22 Ruff were on the western shoreline of Lough Beg this evening, also 3 Greenshank and the first returning Dunlin of the season.(David Steele).

2 Great Spotted Wooodpecker were heard tonight at Fardross Glen, near Fivemiletown/Clogher Co Tyrone. (Colin Bell). 

Bird News Sunday 15th July

Three Roseate Terns, all ringed on both legs, were at RSPB WoW this morning (Garry Armstrong) The terns were still present at 4p.m. (Kevin Kirkham-Brown). A fourth, unringed, Roseate was at the reserve this afternoon along with a summer plumaged Grey Plover, the Ruff, a Turnstone and 4 Knot. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop & Carole Gillespie).

A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen in Kilclief, Co Down (Simon Rodgers).

A Long-Eared Owl was calling on the Moss Road near Ballycopeland Windmill in Millisle on Thursday and Friday night. (David McCormick).

A young Long-eared Owl was at the Argory in Co. Armagh. (Mark Elliott).

A mixed pair of Mediterranean and Common Gulls have raised two chicks on a rooftop in Antrim. (Gareth Platt).

Thanks to Stuart McKee for the first picture of two of the Roseate Terns, to Comghal McQuillan for the second Roseate Tern picture and to Mark Elliott for the picture of the Jay:

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Saturday 14th July

An adult Med Gull was at the south end of Kilhorne Bay, Annalong this morning. (Richard Gray)

Yesterday two Mediterranean Gulls, an adult and a 2nd summer, were at Antrim Lough Shore Park. (Stephen Foster). Today two Mediterranean Gulls, at least one a different bird from yesterday, were in the KFC car-park in Antrim. (Gareth Platt).

A Spotted Flycatcher was at Palace Demesne Park in Armagh City this afternoon. (Colin Bell).

Thanks to Stephen for this picture of the Mediterranean Gulls from yesterday and to Gareth Platt for the picture of another Mediterranean Gull from today:

 

 

Bird News Friday 13th July

The single Roseate Tern, Ruff, 3 summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper were at Belfast Lough WOW reserve. (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara).

Quite a few Yellowhammers were singing, as well as 2 Tree Sparrows on the Buskhill road just off the A1 near Newry (Karen Elliott)

Yesterday a male Great-spotted Woodpecker was in a garden in Bessbrook (Alan Synnot).

Reedy Flat on the south shore of Lough Neagh had a Greenshank, a Peregrine and a female Shoveler with a brood of 5 young. (James O'Neill).

The Ruff and Common Sandpiper at Belfast WOW reserve:

Bangor Boat Trips

There are various boat trips happening over the next month to see Puffins, Manx Shearwaters and other birds around the Copelands and Gobbins. You can see details of the trips at:

http://bangorboat.com/ and the individual trips at:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/bangorboat

Bird News Thursday 12th July

An adult Rose-coloured Starling has been reported feeding in a garden in the Bangor Spectator (per Kerry Leonard).

Two Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (Richard Caves).

3 Crossbills weee at west Fermanagh scarplands, west of Derrygonnelly (Brad Robson)

Thanks to Kerry for this picture from the paper:

Bird News Wednesday 11th July

A Roseate Tern was at the Belfast WOW reserve briefly before flying out to Belfast Lough, also present three summer plumaged Bar-Tailed Godwits, two Common Sandpipers and a new Ruff. (Stuart McKee)

For anyone interested there is a boat trip planned for Ailsa Craig for Monday (10am). The Gannet nesting season is now in full swing. The trip will be in a 12 seat covered rib which can also facilitate photography if the weather is good. For more information contact Jim Wells on ‭07856 235144‬.

Thanks to Stuart for the pictures of the Ruff and the Common Sandpiper:

Bird News Tuesday 10th July

No news so far today.

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for this picture of a Swift with a full crop:

Bird News Monday 9th July

Two Great Skua were seen in Rathlin Sound (Martin Murphy)

A dark phase Arctic Skua was near the Barmouth this afternoon (Colin Guy)

Thanks to David Hill for this pic of a Reed Bunting:

Bird News Sunday 8th July

The Ruff and three Common Sandpiper were at RSPB WoW this morning (Garry Armstrong)

A Reed Warbler was singing along the Quoile river near the countryside centre, Downpatrick this afternoon. (Karen Elliott)

2 Whimbrel were at Murvagh, Co Donegal (Brad Robson)

Bird News Saturday 7th July

A singing Stock Dove was at Clandeboye Estate, Bangor. Yesterday a Short-eared Owl was at Tara Bay near Portaferry. (Dermot Hughes).

6 Common Sandpiper were along the Newry Estuary/ River this morning. (Frank Carroll).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the juvenile Whinchat and to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Peregrine and the Kestrel and to Jonny Rosborough for the picture of the Puffins: