Wednesday 31st March

Merlin - 1, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 12, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1. Galgorm Estate, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
Swallow - 60, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Swallow - 2, Dundrum, Co. Down (beside cricket pitch)
Sandmartin - 120 - Lough Beg, Co. londonderry
Willow Warbler - 1, Long Pt.
Chiff-chaff - 3, Long Pt.
Fieldfare - 1, Belvoir Park, Belfast
Siskin - 10, Belvoir Park, Belfast



Republic of Ireland

Pied-billed Grebe - 1, Lough Gur, Co. Limerick

Tuesday 30th May News

The weather today was atrocious. The only bird news was:

Yellowhammer - 7 Visiting a garden in Rasharkin

Monday 29th March News

Manx Shearwater - 18, Kearney Point, Co. Down

Gannet - 100, Kearney Pt., Co. Down

There are over 300 wildlife photos on this blog!

Sunday 28th March

Ring-necked Duck - 1, male. Derrywarragh, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh
Scaup - 300, Dargan Bay, Co.Antrim

Pintail - 2, Dargan Bay, Co. Antrim

Long-tailed Duck - 2, Dargan Bay, Co. Antrim
Goosander - 1, female, Lough Island Reavy, Co. Down
Manx Shearwater - 1, Burial Island, Co. Down

Little Egret - 1, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry

Little Egret - 2, Murlough NNR, Co. Down
Hen Harrier - 1, female/ immature, Crossgar / Killyleagh, Co. Down
Buzzard - 1, Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone

Purple Sandpiper - 8, Sand Eel Bay, Co. Down
Purple Sandpiper - 9, Newcastle Rock Pool, Co. Down
Turnstone - 102, Newcastle Rock Pool, Co. Down
Greenshank - 2, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry

Black-tailed Godwit - 150, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry

Hybrid Ring-billed x Common Gull - 1, Millisle, Co. Down

Sandwich Tern - 4, Cockle Island, Co. Down
Sandwich Tern - 2, Sand Eel Bay, Co. Down

Razorbill - 6, Sand Eel Bay, Co. Down
Guillemot -1000, Burial Island , Co. Down

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1, Downpatrick, Co. Down
Swallow - 50,Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Swallow - 1, Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone
Stonechat - 1, female, Sand Eel Bay, Co. Down
Wheatear - 1, Knocklayd, Co. Antrim
Blackcap - Doneygore, Co. Antrim
Chiff-chaff - 1, Magheramourne, Co. Antrim
White Wagtail - 1, Lisnevin, Co. Down 
Water Pipit - 1, Millisle, Co. Down

Brambling - 1, Whitehead, Co. Antrim

Republic of Ireland
Pacific Diver - 1, Finvarra Pt., Co. Clare

Saturday 27th March News

Sparrowhawk - Killard Pt., Co. Down
Purple Sandpiper - 2, Ballywalter, Co. Down
Turnstone - 20, Ballywalter, Co. Down
Golden Plover - 1000, Ballykelly, Lough Foyle, Co. Londonderry
Black Guillemot - 34, Bangor Marina, Co. Down
Kingfisher - 1, Kiltonga, Newtonards, Co. Down
Swallow - 5, Church Island, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Sandmartin - 50, Church Island, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Housemartin - 1, Church Island, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Willow Warbler - 1, Islands Park, Newcastle, Co. Down
Chiff-chaff - 2, Islands Park, Newcastle Co. Down
Chiff-chaff - 1, Murlough NNR, Co. Down
Chiff-chaff - 1, Kiltonaga, Newtonards, Co. Down
Wheatear - 3, Tyrella Beach, Co. Down
Wheatear - 1, Groomsport, Co. Down
Tree Sparrow - 6, Ardilea, Co. Down
Water Pipit - 1, North end, Cushendun Beach, Co. Antrim  (Very flighty).
Scandinavian Rock Pipit - 1, Cushendun Beach, Co. Antrim.
Yellowhammer - 6, Ardilea, Co. Down
Linnet - 135, Killard Pt., Co. Down



Republic of Ireland

Pied-billed Grebe - 1, Corofin, Co. Clare

Forster's Tern - 1, Nimmo's Pier, Co. Galway

Friday 26th March

Whooper Swan - 1, Glynn Halt, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim
Hybrid Tufted Duck x Scaup, Dargan Bay, Co. Antrim
Long-tailed Duck - 1, female, Dargan Bay, Co. Antrim
Greenshank - 2, Glynn Halt, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim
Mediterranean Gull - 1, 2nd winter, Kinnegar Shore, Co. Down
Sandwich Tern - 1, Sandy Bay, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim
Wheatear - 1, Ballygally, Co. Antrim
Brambling - 1, private garden, Whitehead, Co.Antrim

Republic of Ireland
Pacific Diver, Finvarra Pt., Clare
Pied-billed Grebe - 1, Corofin, Clare

Thursday 25th March News

Little Egret - 3, Ballykelly, Co. Londonderry
Buzzard - 16, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Buzzard - 3, Lough Shark, Co. Down
Black-tailed Godwit - 160, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Swallow - 3, Broughshane, Co. Antrim
Swallow - 3, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Swallow - 1, Moneymore, Co. Tyrone
Swallow - 1, Donaghadee, Co.Down
Swallow - 1, Lough Shark, Co. Down
Willow Warbler - 1, Lough Shark, Co. Down
Chiff-chaff - 1, Lough Shark, Co. Down
Chiff-chaff - 1, Islands Park, Newcastle, Co. Down



Republic of Ireland
Smew - 1, drake, Inch, Donegal.

Wednesday 24th March

Red Kite - 1, Levallyreagh, Rostrevor, Co. Down
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1, Donard Forest, Newcastle, Co. Down


There are now over 250 wildlife photographs on this blog!

The recent 'parvipes' Canada Goose at Trawbega Bay, Co. Donegal by Dave Allen.

Tuesday 23rd March News

Scaup - 1, Ballykelly, Co. Londonderry
Slavonian Grebe - 3 Faughanvale, Lough Foyle, Castlederg
Little egret - 1, Myroe, Co. Londonderry
Little egret - 2, Roe Estuary, Co. Londonderry
Long-eared Owl - 1, Boho, Co. Fermanagh
Swallow - 1, Castlederg, Co. Tyrone
Sandmartin - 2, Oxford Island, Co. Armagh
Wheatear - 2, Lough Foyle, Co. Londonderry



Republic of Ireland
Green-winged Teal - 1, Tacumshin, Co. Wexford
Spoonbill - 2, Timoleague, Co. Cork
Glossy Ibis - 1, Tacumshin, Co. Wexford
Alpine Swift - 1, Drogheda, Co. Louth

2nd Winter Ring-billed Gull Donegal Town

Monday 22nd March

Scaup - 28, Gawley's Gate, Co. Armagh
Sandmartin - 3, Drumahoe, Co. Londonderry
Willow Warbler - 1, Oxford Island NNR, Co. Armagh
Chiff-chaff -1, Drumahoe, Co. Londonderry
Tree Sparrow - 5, private garden, Castlerock
Siskin - 4, private garden, Castlerock
Lesser Redpoll - 4, private garden - Castlerock

Tree Sparrow/ Reed Bunting / Chaffinch - 500 (mixed flock) - Portmore Lough, Co. Antrim


Republic Of Ireland
An Alpine Swift has been reported from Drogheda today.

Sunday 21st March

Long-tailed Duck -1, female, Ballyhalbert, Co. Down
Ruddy Duck - single bird, lake, Co. Down
Red Kite - 1, Tollymore Forest Park, Co. Down
Little Egret - 4, Mill Bay, Carlingford Lough
Little Egret - 1, Greyabbey, Co. Down
Greenshank - 11, Dundrum Inner Bay South, Co. Down
Mediterranean Gull -1, 2nd winter, Greyabbey, Co. Down
Mediterranean Gull - 1, Annalong, Co. Down
Brambling - 3, private garden, Whitehead, Co. Antrim
Crossbill - 9, Keady, Co. Armagh

Saturday 20th March

Ferruginous Duck - Lurgan Park, Co. Armagh
Smew - Redhead, Portmore Lough, Co. Antrim
Black-throated Diver - 1, Herring Bay, Strangford Lough
Slavonian Grebe - 8, Greyabbey Bay South, Strangford Lough
Ring-billed Gull - 2nd w, Antrim Town
Black Redstart - 1, Newcastle Beach, Co. Down
Water Pipit - 1km south of Millisle, Co. Down
Brambling - 1, female, Whitehead, Co. Antrim

Friday 19th March

Ferruginous Duck - 1, Lurgan Park Lake, Co. Armagh
Goosander - pair, Lough Island Reavy, Co. Down
Ruddy Duck - 19, Oxford Island, Co. Armagh
Ring-billed Gull - 1, adult, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim
Swallow - 1, Templepatrick, Co. Antrim
Housemartin - 1, Belfast Lough
Black Redstart - 1, male, Newcastle Beach, Co. Down
Black Redstart - 1, Killough Harbour, Co. Down
Wheatear - 1, Newcastle Beach, Co. Down
Crossbill - 2, Castlewellan Forest Park, Co. Down

Thursday 18th March

Wednesday 17th March

Goosander - pair, Lough Island Reavy, Co Down
Mandarin Duck - 1 Braid Water, Antrim, Co. Antrim
Slavonian Grebe - 5, Greyabbey Bay South, Co. Down
 Little Egret - 1, Drumfad Bay, Millisle, Co .Down
Golden Plover - 1000, Bann Estuary, Co. Londonderry
Sanderling - 52, Bann Estuary, Co. Londonderry
Purple Sandpiper - Newcastle Rock Pool, Co. Down
Purple Sandpiper - 9, Portrush, Co. Antrim
Jack Snipe - 1, Ballyfrench, Co. Down
Mediterranean Gull - 1, 2nd winter, Cloghy Bay, Co. Down
Mediterranean Gull - 1, 1st winter, Annalong, Co. Down 
Glaucous Gull - 1, 1st winter, Annalong, Co. Down
Sandwich Tern - 4, Portaferry, Co. Down
Sandmartin - 1, Castlerock, Co. Londonderry
Black Redstart - 1, male, Newcastle Beach, Co. Down 
Water Pipit - 1, Drumfad Bay, Millisle, Co. Down

Tuesday 16th March

Pink-footed Goose - 3, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Long-tailed Duck - 2, Fisherman's Pier, Co. Antrim
Red-throated Diver - 3, Grey Pt., Co. Down
Ruff - 4, Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry
Whimbrel - 1, Ballymacormick Pt., Co. Down
Mediterranean Gull - 1, summer plumaged, Newtonards Sailing Club, Co. Down
Ring-billed Gull - 1, 2nd Winter, Antrim, Co. Antrim
Yellowhammer - 2, Millisle, Co. Down

Monday 15th March

Canada Goose - 1, Back at Diamond Lane, nr Lough Neagh
Mediteranean Gull - 1, 1st w, Drains Bay, Antrim
Robin - 1, continental bird in a garden at Killough, Co Down
Brambling - 1, female in a garden, Bangor

Republic of Ireland
Pacific Diver - 1, seen again today, Martello Tower, Finvarra Point, Co. Clare.

Sunday 14th March

Greylag Goose - 1500, Myroe Levels, Co. Londonderry
Pink-footed Goose - 1, Myroe Levels, Co. Londonderry
Goosander - pair, Lough Island Reavy - Co. Down
Red-throated Diver - 12, Whitehead, Co. Antrim
Great Northern Diver - 1, Whitehead, Co.Antrim
Red Kite - 1, Dublin Rd., Castlewellan, Co. Down
Peregrine Falcon - 1, Strabane, Co Tyrone
Mediterranean Gull - 1, 1st winter, Annalong, Co. Down
Ring-billed Gull - 3rd Winter, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim
Water Pipit - 1, Millisle, Co. Down
Yellowhammer - 20, Kircubbin, Co. Down

Saturday 13 March

Canada Goose - 1, parvipes, Flatfields, Moira, Co. Down
Pink-footed Goose - 1, Craigantlet, Co. Down
Goosander - pair, Lough Island Reavy, Co. Down
Slavonian Grebe - 2, Greyabbey Bay South, Strangford Lough
Little Egret - 6, Saltwater Brig, Strangford Lough
Little Egret - 2, Ann's Pt, Strangford Lough
Red Kite - 1, Castlewellan Forest Park, Co. Down
Purple Sandpiper - 18, Blackrock, Newcastle, Co. Down
Turnstone - 61, Blackrock, Newcastle, Co. Down
Mediterranean Gull - 1, 1st Winter, Annalong, Co. Down
Mediterranean Gull - 1, 2nd winter1, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim
Ring-billed Gull - 1, 3rd Winter, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim
Redwing - 143, Queen's Playing Fields, Upper Malone, Belfast

Republic of Ireland
Pacific Diver, Finvarra, Co. Clare
Forster's Tern, Nimmo's Pier, Co. Galway

Friday 12th March

Little Egret - 1, private garden, Movilla, Newtonards, Co. Down
Ring-billed Gull - 1, 1st Winter, Belfast Lough RSPB, Co. Down
Iceland Gull - 1, 1st Winter, Ballycastle, Co . Antrim
Scandinavian Rock Pipit - 1, Cushendun Beach, Co. Antrim

Republic of Ireland
Canada Goose - 1, parvipes, Trawbega, Co. Donegal
Pacific Diver, Finvarra, Co. Clare
Forster's Tern, Nimmo's Pier, Co. Galway

Thursday 11th March

Golden Plover - 50-70, Maguiresbridge, Co. Fermanagh 
Ring-billed Gull - 1, adult, Belfast Lough RSPB, Co. Down
Blackcap - 1, private garden Banbridge, Co. Down
Crossbill - 50, Garry Wood, Co. Antrim


Republic of Ireland
Canada Goose - 1 parvipes, Trawbega, Co. Donegal

Wednesday 10th March

Ring-billed Gull - 1, adult, Carrickfergus Harbour, Co. Antrim
Ring-billed Gull - 1, 2nd Winter, Antrim Marina, Co. Antrim

Tuesday 9th March

Common Scoter - 800, Dundrum Outer Bay, Co. Down
Goosander - pair, Lough Island Reavy, Co. Down
Great Northern Diver- 1, Dunseverick, Co. Antrim
Great Northern Diver - 1, Whitepark Bay, Co. Antrim
Common Buzzard- 1, Omagh, Co Tyrone
Snipe - 3, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Jack Snipe - 2, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Woodcock - 1, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Ring-billed x Common Gull Hybrid - 1, Donaghadee, Co. Down


Republic of Ireland
Pied-billed Grebe - Lough Gur, Co. Limerick
Eastern Jackdaw - Ardee, Co. Louth

Monday 8th March News

Ferruginous Duck - Lurgan Park, Co. Armagh
Long-tailed Duck - 14, Killowen Pt, Carlingford Lough, Co. Down
Smew - Pair, Portmore Lough, Co. Antrim
Goosander - Pair, Lough Island Reavy, Co. Down
Little Egret - 1, Moat Park, Dundonald, Co. Down
Mediterranean Gull - 1st Winter, Annalong, Co. Down
Twite - 10, Bird Island Strangford Lough, Co. Down

Sunday 7th March News

Canada Goose - Aghagallon, near Lough Neagh (with Whoopers)
Smew - Two Males, Portmore Lough, Co. Antrim
Ruddy Duck - 17, Lough Neagh, Co. Antrim
Snow Bunting - 10, summit of Slieve Commedagh, Co. Down

Saturday 6th March News

Smew - Drake, Portmore Lough, Co. Antrim
Goosander - pair Loughislandreavy, Co. Down
Black-throated Diver - 2, Newtownards Sailing Club
Slavonian Grebe - 10, Herring Bay, Strangford Lough
Mediterranean Gull - Adult, Hillsborough Lake.
Water Pipit - 1 km south of Millisle but north of car park.
(This bird can be mobile and feeds amongst the rocks as well as the shoreline).
Brambling - 2 Moyallen, Co Armagh
Crossbill - 20. Carnagh Forest, Keady



Republic of Ireland
Canada Geese still in Sligo
Two Pied-billed Grebes in Limerick \ Clare.

Friday 5th March News

Long tailed Duck - 7, Fishermans Pier, Carrickfergus, Co.Antrim
Long tailed Duck - 2 Carlingford Lough, Co. Down
Ring-billed Gull - 3rd Winter Bird, Carrickfergus Leisure Centre, Co.Antrim

Thursday 4th March News

Republic of Ireland
The Pacific Diver has been relocated at Doorus Pier, Co. Galway.
The Pied-billed Grebe has been seen again at Lough Gur.

Wednesday 3rd March News

Smew - 1, redhead, Columbkille Point, Lough Neagh
Ring-billed Gull - 2nd w, Six Mile Water, Co Antrim
Crossbill - 40 to 50, Gosford Forest Park, Co. Armagh


Republic of Ireland
The Dressers Eider has been reported again from Fanad Head, Co. Donegal.

SPOT THE BIRD (Part 1)

This is both a spot the competition and mystery bird competition rolled into one. This bird took this action when a Peregrine Falcon appeared overhead.

March can be a good time for finding your own Black Redstart. They do like beaches with washed up seaweed and rubbish. Anywhere along the coast could hold a Black Redstart but especially in Co.Down.

NIBA TALK

Last month Martin Garner held a talk for the NIBA. Martin is one of the UK's top birders as well as being an honorary Ulsterman! Everyone who was at the talk learned something about the common birds around them and also the possibilities of rarities from further afield.
NIBA hope to hold more events and already have speakers lined up for next winter. We hope that people will come out and support both the events and the speakers.
During his visit, Martin caught up with the Dressers Eider in Donegal, a bird that he had forecast in his book 'Frontiers in Birding'.

Tuesday 2nd March News

Goosander - 1, Larne Lough, Co. Antrim
Great Northern Diver - 4, Kircubbin, Strangford Lough
Slavonian Grebe - Monaghan Bank, Kircubbin, Strangford Lough
Eastern Jackdaw - 1, Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone


Republic of Ireland
Iceland Gull - 2, ad and 1st w, Greencastle, Co. Donegal.

Is this the worst winter in recent times for Iceland Gull?

American Golden Plover is a rare but probably overlooked visitor to Northern Ireland. This autumn at least 6 different individuals were identified, 3 adults and 3 juveniles. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues in future autumns. Northern Irelands first Pacific Golden Plover has yet to be found and maybe July could be the best month to look for one!

This Red Necked Grebe was present for just one afternoon at Ballycastle in early January.

Monday 1st March News

Pink-footed Goose - 3, Ardmore Point, Lough Neagh
Goosander - Larne Lough, Co. Antrim
Ring Billed Gull - 1, 3rd winter, Carrickfergus Leisure Centre, Co. Antrim



A potential Great-spotted Woodpecker record has been received for the Slieve Gullion area, Co. Armagh.


Republic of Ireland
The Pied-billed Grebe is still at Lough Gur, Limerick