Bird News Thursday 28th May

Three Garganey were at RSPB Portmore (Nigel Moore)

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at RSPB WoW this evening. A Ruff was also present. (Michael Latham)

A Little Gull was at RSPB WOW this morning (Ed O’Hara / Comghal McQuillan). Possibly the same bbird was there this evening (John Spottiswood)

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Slieve Gullion, Mark Elliott:

Long-billed Dowitcher, Michael Latham:

Juvenile Cuckoo being fed by a Meadow Pipit:

Bird News Wednesday 27th May

A drake Garganey was at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning (Mark and Karen Elliott)

A pale-bellied Brent Goose was on Lower Lough Erne (Brad Robson)

A first summer Little Gull is at RSPB WoW (Garry Wilkinson)

The Long-billed Dowitcher was at RSPB WoW early evening (Daniel Newton)

Yesterday a Grey Phalarope was at Lough Foyle (Richard Donaghey)

Garganey, Mark Elliott:

Leucistic Herring Gull (presumed), Cultra, Garry Wilkinson:

Update From RSPB NI

Update from RSPB NI:

From 9am on Wed 27 May the outdoor spaces at RSPB’s Belfast’s Window on Wildlife and Portmore Lough will be re-opening to visitors. However, both visitor centres plus the toilets and enclosed bird hide at Portmore Lough will remain closed.

There is added signage that will help visitors explore the reserves safely, please adhere to these directions when visiting. Please also follow government guidance on social distancing and be considerate of others when visiting the reserve.

Check out our Covid19 blog for the latest visitor information: http://bit.ly/reservesupdate

Bird News Tuesday 26th May.

A Common Rosefinch is on Rathlin, a Marsh Harrier was also seen.  (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

The Long-billed Dowitcher and 2 first summer Little Gulls were at RSPB WoW this afternoon (Gerard McGeehan) From tomorrow 1 & 2 hides at WoW will open from 9am, but main hide is still closed, social distancing remains in place, our  thanks to Garry Wilkinson who passed on the info 

Three Whitethroat were along the Flowbog Rd Slievenacloy Belfast Hills this morning at two separate territories. 2 singing males, 1 female (David Clarke)

A Cuckoo was calling at Drumkeeragh Forest, nr Ballynahinch.(Terry Hanna)

Common Rosefinch - Ric Else.

Kestrel

Whitethroat - David Clarke.

Greenfinch - Alastair McLean.

Bird News Monday 25th May

An adult Little Gull and a Mediterranean Gull were at Kinnegar Shore (Garry Wilkinson)

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still present at RSPB WoW (Wilton Farrelly)

A Spotted Flycatcher was along the Riverside Walk, Ballinahinch (Ian Jackson)

An Osprey was at Lower Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh, seen at 2pm by Katy Bell and Simon Grey near the water treatment plant, near Portora.

A Red Kite was seen on Rathlin (Ricelse \ Hazel Watson)

A male Garganey (already starting moult into eclipse plumage) was with a small group of Teal in the southwest corner of Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele)

Buzzard, Brian Redpath:

Red Kite, Ric Else \ Hazel Watson:

Spotted Flycatcher, Jonny Rosborough:

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

Bird News Sunday 24th May

RSPB WoW had a Little Gull and 2 Mediterranean Gulls (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop).

12 Whimbrel and a Peregrine were at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Ed O'Hara).

A Hen Harrier, Merlin and 2 Cuckoos were in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Jason Bain for the picture of the Fulmar, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Merlin and to Alex McCooke for the picture of the Sedge Warbler:

Bird News Saturday 23rd May

An adult summer plumaged Long-billed Dowitcher was at RSPB WOW. (Daniel Newton) A first summer Little Gull was also present. (Tom Ennis).

A summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was just outside Strangford (Michael Latham)

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Curlew Sandpiper, to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Long-billed Dowitcher and to Jason Bain for the picture of the Little Gull:

Bird News Friday 22nd May.

Between 7.30 and 9.00: c.3,600 Manx Shearwaters, c.1,000 Guillemots, c.600 Guillemots, 300 Kittiwakes were the dominant species passing close in at St Johns Pt. Also: small numbers Red-throtaed Diver (3) Puffin (2), Fulmar and Sandwich, Arctic and Common Terns (Chris Murphy)

A juvenile Little Gull, was at Groomsport beach this afternoon. (Shane Wolsey)

A Little Gull was also at Sandy Bay, Larne, this evening (Jason Bain)

Redpoll - Terry Hanna

Cuckoo - Jason Bain.

Goldfinches - Juliet Fleming.

Bird News Thursday 21st May

A Black Redstart was on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

RSPB WoW had a first summer Little Gull and 4 Sanderling were at Kinnegar (Gerard McGeehan).

A Lesser Whitethroat was at Strand Lough and 16 Whimbrel in Killough Harbour; 160 Sanderling, 45 Dunlin, 33 Ringed Plover and 5 Whimbrel were at Rossglass (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Whitethroat, to Fulton Somerville for the picture of the Sedge Warbler, to Mark Magee for the picture of the Wheatear, to Thomas Campbell for the picture of the Dipper and to Mike McLaughlin for the picture of the Yellowhammers:

Bird News Wednesday 20th May

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Stewartstown, Co Tyrone (Liam McKillion)

A Red Kite was at Castlewellan Forest Park (Daniel Moore)

Bird News Tuesday 19th May

A Hobby was at Lower Lough Erne Fermanagh this evening hunting insects (Brad Robson)

Two Stock Dove and a Cuckoo where at Giants Park.(Stuart McKee)

Our thanks to Thomas Campbell for the photo of the House Sparrows.

Bird News Monday 18th May

Two Garganey are at RSPB WoW, Belfast Harbour Estate. (Sam Thomas).

An escaped Ring-necked Parakeet was in a garden in Holywood. (William Smiton).

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the picture of a Wheatear and to William Smiton for the picture of the Parakeet:

Bird News Sunday 17th May

Yesterday an adult Little Gull was at Kinnegar Shore (Dermot Hughes)

A Greenland Wheatear was at Groomsport (Jeff Silvers)

A Cuckoo was at Giants Park, Belfast (Stuart McKee)

Little Gull, Dermot Hughes:

Greenland Wheatear, Groomsport: