Bird News Wednesday 26th February.

The male Lesser Scaup was seen again at Portmore Lough (Brad Robson)

15 Waxwing were at Mill Pond off Station Road in Doagh this morning. (Ivan Quail)

A Grey Phalarope was at the west end of Myroe at Lough Foyle (Brian Hegarty)

The Black Redstart was still showing in Portstewart (Mervyn Campbell)

Yesterday 9 Sandwich Tern were at Portaferry (John Wilson Foster)

Thanks to Brian for these pics of the Grey Phalarope:

Black Redstart, Mervyn Campbell:

Bird News Tuesday 25th February

The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen again this afternoon with Redshanks at the south end of Lough Beg, also present were 35 Ruff and 800 Black-tailed Godwits. (David Steele).

Between 7 - 8am Whitehead had 72 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Diver flying into Belfast Lough. The Twite were still present at boat park. (Ian Enlander).

Around 200 Whoopers were in fields 3 miles from Magherafelt along the A6. (Jim McKeown).

The Black Redstart was at the Crescent, Portstewart today at 3 pm. (Sean Hickey).

At least 30 Tree Sparrows were feeding in muddy coastal field at Minerstown Co Down today at 2 pm and a separate and distinct flock of 40 Linnets arrived at same location. A female Kestrel was at McNabs recycle area, Downpatrick Road, Killough. (David Clarke et al)

59 Sanderling were at Castlerock (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Thanks to Ian Enlander for the picture of the Twite and to David Clarke for the picture of the Tree Sparrows:

Bird News Sunday 23rd February

An adult Iceland Gull was at Kinnegar (Daniel Newton)

24 Twite were still present at Whitehead Boat Park, Co Antrim (Fianna MacGinley and Paul Smith)

The hybrid Ring-billed Gull was still at Millisle and there were 4 Pink-footed Geese south of Anne’s Point. (Richard Weyl)

The adult Iceland Gull was at Glynn and a Merlin in the Antrim Hills (Gerard McGeehan \ Shirley Dunlop)

A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Lough Fern, Co Donegal (Robert Vaughan / Jamie Bliss)

The Black Redstart was still at Portstewart (Jonny Rosborough)

Mediterranean Gull, Kinnegar, Gareth Platt:

Twite, Ed O'Hara:

Twite, Paul Smith:

Black Redstart, Jonny Rosborough:

Bird News Saturday 22nd February

A redhead Smew was at Portmore Lough RSPB, there was no sign of the Lesser Scaup. (Ian Stevenson).

8 Waxwings were opposite Divis Tower on the Falls Road in Belfast. (John O'Boyle)

25 Twite were at Whitehead (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

3 Great Northern Diver were with the Scoter flock off Newcastle. (Michael Latham).

The hybrid duck resembling an American Wigeon is still present at the Barmouth, 237 Black-tailed Godwits were also present, see pictures below. (Hill Dick).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Greenshank and to Hill Dick for the pictures of the hybrid Wigeon:

Bird News Friday 21st February

At the Bar mouth the bird presumed to be a male American Wigeon was still present, photographs, although taken at very long range, do suggest that this bird may show some signs of hybridisation. See pictures below. (Hill Dick).

Thanks to David Hill for the pictures of the Red-throated Divers and the Barnacle Geese taken around Malin Head in Donegal and to Hill Dick for the pictures of the presumed American Wigeon:

Bird News Thursday 20th February

23 Twite were beside the boat compound at Whitehead seafront. (Cameron Moore)

A drake American Wigeon was at the Barmouth. The Black Redstart was still at the bandstand at Portstewart and a Long-eared Owl was roosting at the University of Ulster. (Nigel Moore / Garry Wilkinson)

2 Sandwich Tern were at Groomsport (George Gordon)

Myroe had c 900 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and c1100 Golden Plover on the lawn grass fields: also 250 Whooper Swans were feeding on potato fields. Off Magilligan Point 15 Common Scoter. (Ken Perry/John Clarke/Hill Dick)

Black Redstart, Nigel Moore:

Long-eared Owl, Garry Wilkinson:

This Kestrel was in a garden at Cavehill, Belfast, Reece Hinton:

Bird News Wednesday 19th February

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker has been visiting a garden in Ballynahinch, see pictures below. (Ian Jackson).

Bird News Tuesday 18th February

There were 5 Long-tailed Duck off Loughshore, Belfast Lough (Gerard McGeehan)

There was no sign of the Lesser Scaup or the Smew at Portmore Lough this morning (Dylan Branagh)

Male and female Shelduck, Christine Cunningham:

Bird News Monday 17th February.

About 200 Whooper Swan where in  flooded fields on the banks of the Lagan at the junction of Lany Rd and Innisloughlin Rd. Down /Armagh( Mike McLaughlin)

Bird News Sunday 16th February

The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Portmore Lough RSPB (Garry Armstrong)

A Short-eared Owl and 14 Pink-footed Geese were around Portrush. A second Short-eared Owl, single Snow Bunting and 6 Twite were in the dunes around Portstewart and Portrush (Marc Hughes)

3 Goosander were at Lough Island Reavey (Gerard McGeehan /Shirley Dunlop)

Yesterday a White-tailed Eagle was at Lower Lough Erne (Michael Stinson).

A female Brambling was near the caravan park area in Gosford Forest Park this morning. (Ed O'Hara & Comghal McQuillan).

An adult Iceland Gull was in Larne harbour. (Neal Warnock).

A male Lesser Scaup and 3 redhead Smew were at Portmore.

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Brambling, to Linda Thompson for the picture of the Crossbill, to Marc Hughes for the picture of the Snow Bunting and to Neal Warnock for the picture of the Iceland Gull:

Bird News Saturday 15th February

There was no sign of the Hawfinch at Dunadry between 9.20 and 11.25am (Nigel Moore)

A Lesser Scaup was at Portmore Lough, just in front of hide (Paul Toner)

A female Long-tailed Duck was off Portrush (Marc Hughes)

Female Yellowhammer, visiting a garden - Mike McLaughlin:

Bird News Friday 14th February

42 Waxwing are at Cherryvale playing fields, Ravenhill Rd, Belfast at the back of Knockeden Park (Dermot Hughes)

4 Twite where at Whitehead seafront.(Ian Enlander)

76 Waxwings were at Lockview Road Car Park, Stranmillis at 4pm (Sam Thomas)

3 Waxwing where seen at No. 12 The Beeches, Drumahoe.(Graham Mitchell)

A 1st winter Glaucous Gull was at Portrush. (Marc Hughes)

A Hawfinch visited a garden in Dunadry on Thursday.(Mark Smyth). The bird is at: 62 Islandreagh Drive, Dunadry

https://goo.gl/maps/2nVVr6DaYUbYbauw5

The house is to the right of the thatched house and the bird table is approx 5m away. It is narrow road so please park with consideration.