Bird News Friday 18th October

The three Snow Bunting were still at Ramore Head this afternoon along with 5 Twite and a Wheatear (Richard Donaghey \ Nigel Moore)

Rathlin today had Merlin, Hen Harrier, Blackcap, 40 Redwings & an unusual abundance of Great Tits (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A Barn Owl was seen on upper Ballynahinch Road, Co Down (Garry Wilkinson)

The Nighthawk was looked for at different times today, without success.

Snow Bunting, Nigel Moore:

Snow Bunting, Mervyn Campbell:

Bird News Thursday 17th October

The Nighthawk was feeding along the river at Galgorm at 15:22, just below the Weir. The bird was also seen feeding on the river this evening. (Killian Mullarney et al).

A count on Strangford Lough last week recorded 20,950 Brent Geese. Of these 23.5% were juveniles (WWT).

The Three Snow Bunting we’re still at Ramore Head, Portrush (Mervyn Campbell)

Thanks to Ronald Surgenor for the pictures of the Nighthawk, to Thomas Campbell for the picture of the Red Kite and to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Pink-footed Goose and Curlew Sandpiper:

Bird News Wednesday 16th October

The Nighthawk was seen flying late this afternoon but was not seen roosting (Stevie Knox). The bird showed again shortly after 6pm and fed actively along the river (Stuart McKee)

A Lapland Bunting flew over the slope of Croaghan, County Antrim this morning. (Clive Mellon)

Yesterday a first winter Glaucous Gull was at Mount Stewart, Strangford Lough in the afternoon (Dave Allen)

A Garden Warbler was on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

5 Twite were at Whitehead Boatyard (Ian Enlander)

Many thanks to eveyone who has contributed news, photos and updates of the Nighthawk in the last 10 days.

Thanks to Stevie Knox for this pic of the Nighthawk from this afternoon:

Bird News Tuesday 15th October

The Nighthawk was again showing this morning (Lee Fuller). However mid morning, the bird disappeared up river and as yet has not been relocated (James O’Neill) The bird is back roosting in the horse field. This afternoon it moved further upstream to roost. This evening the bird was feeding along the river from 18:05. (Aidan Kelly)

A Red-backed Shrike, Yellow-browed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat were on Tory Island. (Chris Ingram).

Three Snow Buntings were at Ramore Head, see pictures below. (Christine Cassidy & Lindsay Hodges).

Rathlin today had two Whooper Swans, a  Merlin, Crossbill and the first Fieldfares of the autumn. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Ballycarry Bridge had three Curlew Sandpiper and two Twite were at Whitehead Boatyard (Cameron Moore)

Thanks to Christine Cassidy for the pictures of the Snow Buntings and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Little Egret:

Bird News Monday 14th October

The Common Nighthawk continues to show well roosting on a branch on the ground in its usual field at Corbally Road, Ballymena. (Jeff Larkin).Bird left roosting at 18.15 and feed until dark.

A flock of 30+Redwing where showing on Newry canal.(Fulton Somerville)

A Kingfisher was at Carrick.(Paul McCullough)

Photo below kindly sent in by Thomas Campbell is of two Long-tailed Duck seen at the Barmouth.
Also to Ric Else for the Mistle Thrush from Rathlin.

Bird News Sunday 13th October

The Common Nighthawk was in its usual field off Corbally Road near Ballymena. (Ed O'Hara). The bird was still present at 1.20pm. The Nighthawk left its roost at 6.25 this evening. (heather Larkin).

A juvenile American Golden Plover flew over the Nighthawk field calling. (Birdguides).

A White-rumped Sandpiper was at Myroe, a Carrion Crow was also present. (Theo Campbell).

The Black-throated Diver was showing distantly off Carlough this morning. (Jeff Larkin).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was between Portstewart and Portrush and a flock c25 Twite were at Ramore Head. (John Clarke).

Portmore had a Hen Harrier, Water Rail, 2 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap. (Ed O'Hara).

A Slavonian Grebe was in Greyabbey Bay and 3 Mediterranean Gulls in a ploughed field at Kirkiston. (Richard Weyl).

The Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal had 23 Chough, 5 Great Northern Divers and a Merlin. (Christine Cassidy & Ray Brogan).

3 Snow Buntings were on Ramore Head in Portrush this evening. (Colin Guy).

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Nighthawk and the Hen Harrier, to Mervyn Campbell for this montage picture showing the flight of the Nighthawk and to Christine Cassidy for the pictures of the Great Northern Diver and the Merlin:

Bird News Saturday 12th October.

The Nighthawk is still present, usual location.(Garry Armstrong). The Nighthawk was still present as of 14.40 roosting in ash tree in usual field with horses (Mark Stewart)


A Garden Warbler was trapped on Copeland Islands.(Christopher Acheson)

Pair of Common Scoter seen off Macedon Point, Belfast Lough.(Ian Enlander)

A Long-tailed Duck and Mediterranean Gull were at Ganaway Bay and 2 Pink-footed Geese were with 40 Whooper Swans in a flooded field at Kirkiston on the Outer Ards. (Richard Weyl).

  A Black-throated Diver was seen off Carnlough.(Ric Else/Hazel Watson)

A Hen Harrier was hunting over Portmore Lough, along with 6 Whooper Swan.(Michael Latham)


Our thanks to  Linda Thompson for the Nighthawk and toThomas Campbell for this photo of 3 Bar-tailed Godwits.Bottom photo is of the Garden Warbler kindly sent in by Christopher Acheson.

Bird News Friday 11th October

The Nighthawk is still present this morning roosting in the same field off Corbally Road, Galgorm. (Billy Miskelly). The bird was still present roosting in the field at 1:30pm. (Terry Hanna). The bird was present to 7.15pm. (Michael Cowning).

A juvenile American Golden Plover was at Ballykelly (Theo Campbell)

A Pectoral Sandpiper was flushed from the shoreline at Mullagh, a Hen Harrier was also in the area.(David Steele)

Yesterday afternoon a Red Kite was seen  flying near Glenwherry between Antrim and Larne. (David Gillespie)

Our thanks to Dot Blakely, to Terry Hanna and to Michael McCrum for the pics of the Nighthawk.

Bird News Thursday 10th October

The Nighthawk was showing again this morning, roosting in the horse field. (Billy Miskelly). The bird was still in the same field at 10:45 (Paul McCullough) The Nighthawk is still roosting in an ash tree by the usual field at 16:15 (BirdGuides). The bird flew out from its roost at 18:33 (Ian Stevenson)

Late News for yesterday was that a Lapland Bunting was on Ramore Head (Dennis Weir) and the Spotted Redshank was at RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Jonny Andrews for the first picture and to Mervyn Campbell for the second picture of the Nighthawk:

Bird News Wednesday 9th October

The Nighthawk is currently day roosting in the same field as yesterday at Galgorm (Paul Lynch). Mid morning, the bird was again flushed from its roost by horses and relocated in ash tree on the opposite side of the River Maine.the bird was still present at 2:30pm. The bird is still roosting circa 100m North of the Bridge at 17:50 (Fran O’Connell). The bird left it’s roost at around 18:40 and spent most time feeding close to the weir. It continued to show throughout the remaining light, in the area.

The Nighthawk is an adult male due to the bright white throat, the thick white bars near the base of the primaries and the blackish primaries (Jeremy Bensette per Donny Moore)

A Black-throated Diver is at Carnlough. (Neal Warnock).

A Merlin was hunting along the Helen's Bay shore this afternoon. (Philip Watson).

A flock of 7 Little Egrets flew north over Lurgan this morning. (Stephen Foster).

A Red Kite was seen from the M2 heading north just before Templepatrick turn off, Co Antrim. The Kite was gliding west at circa 3:30 pm. (Kevin Kirkham).

A late Swallow was seen yesterday along the main road south of Ballynahinch. (Derek Polley).

There has been no sign of the juvenile King Eider today.

Today's pictures of the Nighthawk come from: 1) Jonny Rosborough, 2) Kevin Kirkham, and 3) Stuart McKee and thanks to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Red Kite and the Kestrel.

NIOC Talk

Bird News Tuesday 8th October

The Nighthawk was showing this morning at 7am (John Dempsey and Neill Hunt). It has now been found roosting and has shown well all morning (Neal Warnock). The bird left its roost at 7.00pm giving excellent views until dark. It is now believed that the bird has been present in the area since the 13th September. 

The location to access the area is: https://goo.gl/maps/JxhxSumEYEBjxFcr8 and the bird is usually 200m / 300m upstream from here.

The juvenile King Eider was present off Carrickfergus all day today. (per Neal Warnock).

Jerrettspass to Poyntzpass this morning had 6 Raven, 2 Skylark, 1 Swallow, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Dipper. (Fulton Somerville).

A Red Kite flew up-river at Moore's Bridge, Lisburn 1.30p.m. today. (Dougie Gamble).

Thanks to Jonny Rosborough for the first picture, to Mervyn Campbell for the second picture and to Stephen Maxwell for the third picture of the Nighthawk:

Bird News Monday 7th October.

The Common Nighthawk was seen at 3.44pm and seen well, same location as before.The bird was seen again at 19.00 until dark by circa 50 birders. This is the first record for NI and only the 3rd for Ireland.

The King Eider was seen again this morning at Rhanbouy Park, Carrickfergus before heading NE and out of sight.(Neal Warnock)

Nighthawk, Stuart Piner:

Nighthawk, back of camera shot, John Edwards:

Nighthawk

The 'Nightjar' seen along the river at Galgorm is now regarded as a Nighthawk. Video stills of the bird are below. A video of the bird by Niall Mulvenna can also be seen here: https://youtu.be/7lSn9YTLDsw

Last night the bird was seen between 18:55 and 19:15 at this location. It is best to park downstream at the bridge and walk up (wellies are required):

Dropped pin

Near Ballymena

https://goo.gl/maps/fTGRG1LW4Wq55HRz6