Tricoloured Heron - Co Louth: Update

A possible Tricoloured Heron has been reported from Port Oriel, Co Louth today (Irish Birding). This is a common species on the east coast of the US and if a genuine vagrant would be a first Irish record.
Update 1st August: the bird now seems to be an odd Grey Heron, possibly an immature with some plumage discolouration.

For everyone disappointed at the news above and dreaming of what might have been here are a couple of shots of the real thing taken in Florida in July.

Bird News Tuesday 31st July

A White-tailed Eagle (adult) was seen just outside Omagh on the road to Strabane (Robin Lawson)

Two Red Kite were between Carryduff and Crossgar (David Stirling)

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this picture of a female Blackbird between the showers!

Bird News Monday 30th July

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Kilclief, Co Down today (the bay just south of the GAA pitch). 9 Common Sandpipers were around the Blackstaff River at Dundrum North Inner Bay as well as 3 little Egrets and 15 Greenshanks. A further 11 Greenshanks were at Dundrum South Inner Bay (David Nixon)

At Larne Lough 9 Greenshank and 100 Red-breasted Merganser were at Glynn (Shirley Dunlop, Gerard McGeehan).

The second-summer Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport (George Gordon)

Many thanks to Craig Nash for this pic of a Yellowhammer at the Quoile and to Alistair Prentice for the pic of the Sedge Warbler. You can see more pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Sunday 29th July

A seawatch at Ramore Head today from 05.45-09.30 had 3400 Manx, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 7 Bonxie, 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Pomarine Skua, 4 Red-throated Diver, 1 Whimbrel and 6 Common Scoter (Neal Warnock)

A Common Sandpiper was on the River Bann in Solitude Park, Banbridge, this morning (David McCreedy).

The Pectoral Sandpiper was seen again at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve. (Chris Surgenor).

7 Jays were visiting a garden in Londonderry, see pictures below. (Christine Cassidy).

A Little Stint and 3 Common Sandpiper were at Kinnegar Pool. (William Smyton).

The Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport again. (Bird Guides).

Many thanks to Christine Cassidy and Stephen Maxwell for today's pictures. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Jay - Christine Cassidy

Jays - Christine Cassidy

Ring-billed Gull - Stephen Maxwell

Ring-billed Gull - Stephen Maxwell

Ringed Plover - Christine Cassidy

Bird News Saturday 28th July

At Larne Lough 4 Little Egret and 2 Common Sandpiper were at Ballycarry Bridge (Cameron Moore). 

A Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk were at Black Head (Andy Elliott).

A moulting adult Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank and 280 Sandwich Tern (only 7 of them juvenile) were at Bann Estuary (Stuart McKee). Yesterday 2 Greenshank, a Whimbrel, 25 Black-tailed Godwit (all but one in summer plumage) and 2 moulting Knot were there (Lowell Mills). 

Last night 24 Storm Petrel were ringed at Sheepland near Ardglass. 3 were controlled and one of these was from Portugal (Declan Clarke). 

The one legged Mediterranean Gull seen at Whitehouse yesterday was at Groomsport today, see pictures below, the Ring-billed Gull was also present. (Mark Killops). 

The Snowy Owl was still on Aranmore Island in Donegal, see pictures below. (Christine Cassidy).  

A sea watch at Fanad Head in Donegal this morning produced 9 Great Skua, a Pomarine Skua and 5 Sooty Shearwater. (Wilton Farrelly).

Thanks to Christine Cassidy and Mark Killops for today's pictures.

Snowy Owl - Christine Cassidy

Snowy Owl - Christine Cassidy

Mediterranean Gull - Mark Killops

Mediterranean Gull - Mark Killops

Bird News Friday 27th July

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve today.

An adult Mediterranean Gull moulting out of summer plummage was at Whitehouse lagoon, this bird has only one leg. 6 adult Bar-tailed Godwits were at Kinegar shore. See photos below. (Stuart McKee).

A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen again in a garden in Aghnaleck between Hillsborough and Ballynahinch (Garry Wilkinson).

2 Common Sandpiper were at Kearney and a Greenshank at Cloghy Rocks (Derek Polley).

3 Greenshank, 3 Redshank and 11 Dunlin were in the southwest corner of Lough Beg (Stephen Hewitt).

The second-summer Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport.

Thanks to Stuart McKee and Alistair Prentice for the pictures below, you can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Mediterranean Gull - Stuart McKee

Bar-tailed Godwit - Stuart McKee

Sedge Warbler - Alistair Prentice

Peregrine Killing

Four peregrine falcons which had been nesting at Glenwherry near Ballymena are believed to have been killed.
The two adult and two chick Peregrine Falcons went missing from the area on the Glenhead Road. One of the chicks was later discovered fatally injured and it is believed it may have been shot.

The other birds are also thought to have been killed and Police have said they are treating it as animal cruelty.

Police investigations are continuing and they want anyone with information to contact them on 0845 600 8000.

We would also remind everyone of the importance of not publicising breeding raptor sites.

Bird News for Thursday 26th July

The Snowy Owl continues to be seen on Aranmore, Co Donegal. It is frequenting the area between Loch Muc and the Reservoir.

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Belfast Harbour Lagoon. 3 Sanderling and 70 Sandwich Tern (only one a juvenile) were at Kinnegar shore (Stuart McKee).

A dark Arctic Skua was at Groomsport (George Gordon).

Yesterday a Yellow Wagtail was perched beside the road on the way down to Ballintoy Harbour (Colin Guy)

The escaped falcon (with jesses) was seen again at Killynether Road, on Tuesday.

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this superb pic of a Sedge Warbler. You can see more pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird news for Wednesday 25th July

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve (Gerard McGeehan)

A summer adult Mediterranean Gull and 3 Whimbrel were at Bann Estuary (Stuart McKee).

3 Buzzard and a female Sparrowhawk were at Dundonald (Warren Fowles).
The second-summer Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport (George Gordon)

Thanks to Tom McCreery for this atmospheric pic of a Mallard. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Pectoral Sandpiper

A nice find by Stuart Mckee this evening at the RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve. This distant shot shows most of the important ID features!

Bird News for Tuesday 24th July

A Pectoral Sandpiper, 8 Common Sandpiper and 2 Sanderling were at Belfast harbour Lagoon (Stuart McKee).

A second-year Glaucous Gull was along the seafront at Ballycastle (Colin Guy)

5 Little Egret were at Inner Dundrum Bay at low tide around midday today (Robert Scott)
Another group of Little Egrets, 6 in number, were at Cadew Point, near Ballydorn, Strangford Lough (Frank Burton)
Two Great Skua were on Rathlin Island.

Yesterday a bird of prey with jesses was seen on the road at Killynether near Scrabo before taking off. If you know anything about it please let us know.

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for the picture below of a Sandwich Tern at Groomsport. You can see more pictures from local photographers at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Monday 23rd July

In 'dire' conditions, two Little Gulls were still present this afternoon at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve. 9 Common Sandpipers were also seen and 4 Knot still present. (Norman Milligan)

The Ring-billed Gull was also still present at Groomsport (Alistair Prentice)

The juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker (probably a male) was seen again in a garden at Aghnaleck near Banbridge (Garry Wilkinson)

Ring-billed Gull - Alistair Prentice

Little Gull - Norman Milligan

Bird News for Sunday 22nd July.

  2 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 17 Manxies, 5 Knot (see photo below) and 11 Ringed Plover where at Killard this evening.(C.Nash)


A Knot, 6 Ruff and 4 Greenshank were at Lough Beg (David Steele). 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Knot coming out of summer plumage, a summer Turnstone and at least 650 Black-tailed Godwit were at Belfast harbour Lagoon. The second-summer Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport (George Gordon).

Bird News for Saturday 21st July.

In south Down last night 26 Storm Petrel were ringed and 3 controlled at Sheepland. One of the controls had been ringed in Portugal (Declan Clarke).

A dark phase Arctic Skua was off Groomsport (George Gordon).

In Donegal a raft of 1,200 Manx Shearwater was off Malin Head. 3 Chough and at least one Bottle-nosed Dolphin were also noted (Richard Gray).




Our thanks to Ed O'Hara for the top photograph of a Common Sandpiper which was one of four at Oxford Island to-day. Also to Stephen Maxwell for the photograph of the now long staying Ring-billed Gull at Groomsport

Our thanks to everyone who sends in information/photographs/texts/e-mails,without all your contributions then this blog would not be possible. 

Bird News for Friday 20th July.

A juvenile Long- eared Owl was at Killynether forest today.(C.Henry)

A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen again in a garden at Aghnaleck near Banbridge (Garry Wilkinson).


The Ring billed Gull remains at Groomsport.

Many thanks to Alistair Prentice for this image of a Kingfisher.

Bird News for Thurs.19th July.

A sea-watch of Drains Bay Co.Antrim produced, 3 Pom Skuas, 1 Arctic Skua, 90 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 7000 Auks, 1200 Manx Shearwaters, all were heading south.(K.Leonard)


The second-summer Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport.


 Yesterday a Common Sandpiper was at Sandy Bay in Larne and a second-winter Mediterranean Gull at the lorry car park (Cameron Moore).

Our thanks to Alistair Prentice for this image of a pair of Black Guillemots. 

Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl is an uncommon breeding resident in Northern Ireland. There is also some evidence that we host migrant birds in winter. Getting a glimpse of one is always a pleasure for any birder. However David Lewis had been observing a bird in recent months at Myroe but he recently found it dead along the Seacoast Road, Limavady. It had presumably been hit by a vehicle.

Red Kites - Red 60

Thanks to Adam McClure for some further information on the Red Kites. Below are pictures of a bird which was tagged as Red 60. It's parents are Black D and Black P and this is the third year in a row they have raised a single chick.
This pair (Black P & Black D) have held a territory near Leitrim just outside Castlewellan since 2010. They've both been adopted by schools in south Down and are known as Paprika and Dobbin!

Bird News for Wednesday18th July

A Hobby was at Cam forest nr Garvagh co derry (D.Steele )

A juv Great Spotted Woodpecker was coming to a feeder in a garden at Aghnaleck nr.Banbridge ,the first seen there (G.Wilkinson )

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this pic of a Rook. You can see more pics by local photographers at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Red Kites

The RSPB have announced that in total, at least 14 young fledged (all in Co Down) during this year’s breeding season, the highest since the reintroduction project began here in 2008. One of the highlights of the 2012 season was the discovery of a new pair near Rathfriland, the male of which is lucky to be alive. In April 2011, Blue 22 was discovered lying in a field by some local residents, apparently suffering from the effects of ingesting poison. They were able to contact RSPB staff in the area who took the bird into care and after several rehabilitation, Blue 22 was re-released into the wild. The bird raised two chicks this year.
Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for the recent picture of a Red Kite:

Bird News for Tues.17th July.

The 2 Little Gull remain at the RSPB Belfast Harbour Estate,along with 8 Common Sandpiper a Greenshank(see photo above)and also two juv Redshank which probably breed somewhere in Northern Ireland,early signs perhaps of a little bit of early movement. (S.McKee)  


A Great Skua and 4 Common Sandpiper were at Whitehead (Cameron Moore).

Yesterday 60 Puffin were of the Gobbins, Islandmagee.(B.Meharg) 

Bird News Monday 16th July

A probably Osprey was at Lough Melvin which is on the Fermanagh / Leitrim border (Birdwatch Sligo)
There was a summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper out at Killard today(C.Nash)
The second-summer Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport.

 Yesterday 140 Dunlin and 2 Red-throated Diver were at Magilligan Point (Lowell Mills).

also yesterday a Pomerine Skua about 10 miles north east of the Maidens. Just in Northern Ireland waters by a whisker.(R.Woods)

Bird News for Sunday 15th July.

Common Sandpiper and 4 Tree Sparrow were around the cafe at Oxford Island (Ed O'Hara)

Thanks to Mark Killops for this picture of a Kingfisher. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.uk

The plight of breeding waders in Northern Ireland-Chris Murphy.

In case any followers of NI Birds wish to comment or might simply be interested, this is the link to the recent Belfast Telegraph article drawing attention to the perilous state some of NI's breeding waders and other wildlife is in.   

http:/www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/last-flight-of-the-curlew-16179795.html 

On a related subject, Chris Murphy would like to give a talk to local biodiversity officers, councillors, MLAs, school teachers, club leaders, etc. about the wonderful birds and wildlife of Lough Beg.  Its part of our campaign, Lough Beg for Life, through which he is trying to raise awareness of the value of this fantastic wetland in the hope that public opinion will ultimately swing the proposed re-routing of the A6 away from the lough which will never be the same again if the road is allowed to go through the Creagh and within c.150m. of Paddy's Dub.  I'm not much of a bird/wildlife photographer myself and so have very little relevant material with which to illustrate such a talk. Chris is asking any photographers willing to let him use their work for the purpose of conservation to contact me. All photographers will be acknowledged. 

If anyone has relevant photographs please contact this blog and we will happily forward them to Chris.

Bird News Saturday 14th July

One of the Little Gulls was at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve (Paul Scott)
At least five Common Sandpiper, 700 Black-tailed and 6 summer Bar-tailed Godwit were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Stuart McKee).

The second-summer Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport (George Gordon)

Yesterday a first-summer Little Gull was at the sewage works at Kinnegar before flying off over Sydenham Conservation Area (Stuart McKee).

Many thanks to Zach McCreery for the picture of the juvenile Greenfinch and to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the Collared Dove. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Friday 13th July

Last night in south Down 23 Storm Petrel were ringed and 1 controlled at Sheepland (Declan Clarke).

Along the north coast 33 Storm Petrel were ringed and 4 controlled at Ballyreagh (Richard Hoy).

Yesterday 4 Common Sandpiper and 300 Black-tailed Godwit were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon. Another 6 summer plumage Black-tails were at the adjacent landfill site and a Greenshank was at Dargan Bay. A Greenshank and 9 Common Sandpiper were at the Blackstaff at Dundrum Inner Bay North (Richard Gray).
3 Common Sandpiper were seen along the Newry Estuary this morning (Frank Carroll)

Four Red Kite were at Castlewellan (Irish Birding)

Thanks to Martina Boyle for this picture of a Swallow chick. There are more pictures at: www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Thursday 12th July

A Reed Warbler was calling at Oxford Island (Paul Scott)
The second-summer Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport (George Gordon)

Thanks to Tom McCreery for this superb pic of a Great-crested Grebe with one of its young.

Bird News Wednesday 11th July

A Great Skua, 3,000 Manx Shearwater and 18 Common Scoter were at St John's Point (Stuart McKee)

Late news for yesterday, 2 Little Gulls were at the RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve along with a 2nd summer Med Gull and 4 Gadwall (Ronald Surgenor)

Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for the top pic of a Little Gull and to Ronald for the bottom pic.

Bird News Tuesday 10th July

The second-summer Ring-billed Gull was still at Groomsport (George Gordon)

Thanks to Mark Killops for the picture of the Fulmar and to Zach McCreery for the shot of the Grey Heron. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.uk

Bird News Monday 9th July

An Immature Golden Eagle was at Agnews Hill, near Larne, last seen flying NE at about 15.30 (Clive Mellon)
The Hobby was seen again at the Montiaghs (E.O'Hara)
An Arctic Skua was off Groomsport (George Gordon).
 Yesterday a second-summer Glaucous Gull was at the mouth of the River Bush at Portballintrae (Colin Guy).
 A Reed Warbler was along the Tyrone shore of Lough Neagh at Blackers Rock (Godfrey McRoberts). 15 Storm Petrel were ringed at Sheepland near Ardglass (Declan Clarke).

Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for the picture of a Common Tern below. You can see more pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

This is the Med Gull seen at Whitehouse Lagoon yesterday.It carries the ring number. 32LU.A Med Gull seen recently at the RSPB Belfast Harbour Estate carried the ring number 32LL. Stuart McKee who photographed the above bird is wondering if both birds are from the same location, which was Belgium. 

Bird News for Sunday 8th July.

A summer plumage Knot was at the RSPB Belfast Harbour Estate S.McKee.(see photo below)

We do not see Knots in this type of plumage a lot in this country, Knot can be a confusing species for inexperienced birdwatchers so it is well worth a look to get yourself familiar with this plumage.

A Med Gull was at Whitehouse Lagoon.(S.McKee)

Bird News for Saturday 7th July

A summer adult Little Gull was at Whitehouse Lagoon in Belfast. see photo below. (Stuart McKee).

On Thursday an escaped male Ringed Teal was at Victoria Park in Belfast (Aaron Davis).

I think this photograph taken at the RSPB Belfast Harbour reserve this morning by Stuart McKee, depicts the weather we have had this summer, absolutely awful.  

Bird News Friday 6th July

An adult Rose-coloured Starling is at Malin Beg, Co Donegal. (Chris Ingram)
The Ring-billed Gull remains at Groomsport.
Thanks to Alex Coroliu for these pics of a Moorhen, taken at RSPB Belfast.
You can see more pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Thursday 5th July

Unusually 2 White-fronted Geese were with the Greylag at the lower pond at Antrim Road Waterworks in Belfast (John Fitzsimmons).

Last night in south Down 33 Storm Petrel were ringed and 2 controlled at Sheepland (Declan Clarke).

Also last night 40 Storm Petrel were ringed at Ballyreagh, Co. Londonderry, see photo below. (John Clarke).

A Common Sandpiper and 5 Gadwall were at Belfast Lough RSPB Reserve. (Jim McKeown).

Yesterday 7 Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk were seen on the road to Lough Ash and Moorlough in Co. Tyrone. (Christine Cassidy).

Thanks to John Clarke and Stephen Maxwell for the pictures below, you can check out more NI bird photo's on our picture blog at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Storm Petrel - John Clarke

Swift - Stephen Maxwell