Bird News Sunday 30th June

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Kinnego Bay, Oxford Island. 5 Reed Warbler were also seen from Kinnego Hide (Ed O'Hara)

At Island Magee two Arctic Skua (one light and one dark morph) were off Muck Island. A Puffin was close inshore and at Larne Lough 2 Whimbrel were at Glynn (Jeff Larkin).

Thanks to Ed for the pics of the Ring-necked Duck and the Reed Warbler, and Alistair Prentice for the pair of Whinchat. 

Bird News Saturday 29th June

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Kinnego Bay, Oxford Island. Two Little Gull were at Brankin's Bay, Lough Neagh (Ed O'Hara)

A Short-eared Owl and a Greenshank were on Copeland Bird Observatory today. (Kerry Leonard)

15 Puffin, a raft of 350 Manx Shearwater and 950 commic terns were also at Copeland Bird Observatory (Dot Blakely, Robin Vage)

Two Reed Warbler were calling at Kinnegar, Holywood. (Paul Scott)

Thanks to Lindsay Hodges for this pic of a pair of Bullfinch and Alistair Prentice for a Whinchat from the Antrim Hills:

Bird News Friday 28th June

A pair of Red-throated Divers were close inshore in Belfast Lough off Greenisland this afternoon. (Roger Woodward).

An Arctic Skua, 4 Puffin, 40 Manx Shearwaters and a Whitethroat were at the Gobbins. (Gerard McGeehan).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Mark Killops for the Reed Warbler pictures, to Alan Gallagher for the pictures of the Kingfisher and the Yellow Wagtail, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the Common Tern and to Ian Jackson for the pictures of the Swallow and the Swift. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

Bird News Thursday 27th June.



The Ring-necked Duck still present at the Kinnego hide, Oxford Island.(Ed. O'Hara)

 

An eclipse Red-crested Pochard was at Portmore Lough (Nigel Ireland).

20 Turnstone and 2 Sedge Warbler were at Camphill Community at Craigavad (Warren Rainey).

Yesterday evening a Long-eared Owl was in a park near the centre of Ballynahinch (Mark Smyth) and 12 Manx Shearwater, 6 Commic Tern and 2 Sandwich Tern off Donaghadee (Andy Elliott).
 

 

Our thanks to Ed O'Hara for the Ring-necked Duck. Alistair Prentice for this photograph of a Swallow, this photo allows us to appreciate how stunning they really are. Mervyn Campbell for these pics. of a juvenile Black-headed Gull and adult Black-headed Gull, at this time of year they look totally different from the parent bird which you can see below. Finally to Tom McCreery  (top) & Alan Gallagher for these stunning photograph's of a Kingfisher, doing as their name suggests.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Wednesday 26th June

The Drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Kinnego Bay, Oxford Island (Ed O'Hara)

Three Little Gull were seen this morning at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh (Birdguides)

Yesterday 2 Peregrine and 30 Puffin were at the Gobbins (Dot Blakely)

For those following rarity news in GB and who were hoping that there was an outside chance that the White-throated Needletail would pass by NI, it is sad to hear that it has died after striking a wind turbine on the Isle of Harris. 

Thanks to David McCormick for the pic of the Puffins (at The Gobbins) and Ed O'Hara for the Ring-necked Duck pics:

Bird News Tuesday 25th June

A Marsh Harrier was at Portmore Lough.      

8 Crossbill were in Scots Pine near Strickland's Glen at Bangor (Julian Greenwood).

A dead Long-eared Owl was on the road between Crawfordsburn and Ballyrobert. (Richard Weyl).

A Spotted Flycatcher was in Lady Dixon Park in south Belfast. (Robert Scott).

Portmuck had an Arctic Skua and a Red-throated Diver (Gerard McGeehan) 

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this picture of a young Goldcrest.

Bird News Monday 24th June.

3 Reed Warbler were outside the Kinnego hide at Oxford Island.(Ed. O'Hara) 

 

 

 

Our thanks go to Christine Cassidy for the female Eider and family. Alistair Prentice for the male Reed Bunting. Ed O'Hara for the Reed Warbler

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Sunday 23rd June

The Ring-necked Duck was still showing well off the Kinnego Hide, Oxford Island.

this morning (Frank Carroll)

Today on the Outer Ards, Co Down were 1 adult Mediterranean Gull past Ballyquintin, at least 5 European Storm Petrel offshore at Ballyquintin; 2 Common Sandpiper at Kearney. (Keith Bennett)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen in Larch woodland in the Annalong Valley, near Kilkeel yesterday afternoon. (Jim Wells).

A first summer Little Gull was at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve. (Ian Graham)

There is an interview with regular contributor Christine Cassidy on BBC Radio Ulster's 'Your Place or Mine'. Use the link below and the interview is about 50mins in. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b030sb5d

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this pic of a Sparrowhawk and Lindsay Hodges for the Peregrine. 

Buzzards

We are all well aware of how late this spring has been due to the wintery weather experienced back in March.  This is exemplified by this photo, which was taken under license, sent to us by Adam McClure and Eimear Rooney.

While monitoring nests as part of Eimear's research into buzzard ecology, they took this photo on 22nd June which shows a buzzard chick only 3-4 days old.  Normally by this time of year, young would be expected to be much older, around 4-5 weeks.

Please remember, if you see any wing-tagged buzzards, report them to Eimear at buzzardsni@hotmail.co.uk

Bird News Saturday 22nd June

The male Yellow Wagtail is still at McKews mushroom compost plant at Cabragh this morning, vocal but mobile and somewhat elusive. (Clifford Sharpe). Please be very careful around this site.

A drake Ring Necked Duck was at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

A Carrion Crow was with a group of Hooded Crows at the Gobbins on Islandmagee. (Ian Enlander).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Alistair Prentice for the first Yellow Wagtail picture, to Zach McCreery for the second Yellow Wagtail picture, to Ed O'Hara for the Ring Necked Duck pictures and to Tom McCreery for the Yellowhammer picture. You can see more NI bird pictures at
www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk
 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Friday 21st June (summer solstice)

The female Montagu's Harrier has been seen again this morning on  the Antrim Hills.(N.Warnock)

Male Yellow Wagtail at Cabragh, Tandragee, Co. Armagh at a mushroom compost plant. Anyone going to see this bird should be mindful of working machinery. Permission should be sought at the reception. (David Knight) see photo's below

Two male Cuckoo were present at Altnaheglish Dam (Banagher Glen), Dungiven this afternoon and another male Cuckoo at Crieghtons Wood, Kilrea (Richard Donaghey)

To-days photograph's have been kindly sent in by David Knight of the stunning Yellow Wagtail. Christine Cassidy of the Meadow Pipit and the Ringed Plover. Bill Guiller of the Cuckoo.

 

 

 

 

Female Montagu's Harrier

Thanks to Neal Warnock for this picture of the female Montagu's Harrier

Female Montagu's Harrier - Antrim Hills

The Harrier below was photographed on Thursday by Bill Guiller in the Antrim Hills and is believed to be a first summer female Montagu's. Thanks to Owen Foley and Paul Kelly for passing on comments so quickly, after seeing the pic on Irish Birding. The bird was seen again Friday morning (Neal Warnock)

Bird News Thursday 20th June.

2 Cuckoo were seen and heard at Murlough Nature Reserve this morning.(Gilly Irwin)

7 Black-tailed Godwit were on the RSPB Lower Lough Erne Islands reserve. (Brad Robson)

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this great shot of Starlings going to roost at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh.

Bird News Wednesday 19th June

Three Great Skua were seen around Rathlin Island today (Brian Murphy)

An adult-summer Mediterranean Gull was on Cockle Island at Groomsport (George Gordon)

Two 1st-summer Little Gulls were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh (Birdguides)

Yesterday evening a first-summer Little Gull was at Portmuck on Island Magee (Gerard McGeehan)

Good numbers of Puffin were seen again between Observatory and Mew Islands at Copeland (Brian Meharg)

A Brent Goose was at Carnalea late Tuesday afternoon, viewed from the North Down Coastal Path (Suzanne Belshaw)

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for two atmospheric evening shots. One is of a Grey Heron and the other of Starlings going to roost at Lough Neagh:

Bird News Tuesday 18th June

Last night the Tawny Owl (of unknown origin) was heard to call at 18:40 at Castle Ward, but was not seen (David Stirling)

A Corncrake was calling near Stewartstown. It has been present since last Wednesday (Godfrey McRoberts)

38 Common Scoter flew North of Briggs Rocks this morning (Colin Guy)

A Pale-bellied Brent Goose was at Swan Island, Larne Lough (Matthew Tickner / Adam McClure)

Three Raven and five Buzzard were on the lower slopes of Slieve Beagh this afternoon. (Peter Guy)

A Grasshopper Warbler was singing this afternoon in Cabra, Co. Down (Ryan Gallagher)

Thanks to David Knight for this pic of a Spotted Flycatcher taken at Highfield, Craigavon yesterday, and to Alistair Prentice for the pair of Bullfinches:

Liam McCafferty - A Bird In The Hand

This Great Tit knows a good thing when it see's it.

 

Bird News Monday 17th June

Late news from yesterday was of a Red Grouse at Llendrum Wind Farm near Fivemiletown. (Colin Bell).

A Grey Wagtail, 20/30 Turnstone and 10/15 Goldfinch were at Camphill Community near Craigavad (Warren Rainey).

2 drake Wigeon were at Briggs Rocks. (Colin Guy). 

Thanks to today's photographers, to Tony Donaldson for the Swallow picture, to Stephen Maxwell for the Sedge Warbler picture, to Alistair Prentice for the Wllow Warbler picture, to Mark McConnell for the Black-headed Gull picture, to Mervyn Campbell for the Guillemot picture and to David Hill for the Blackbird picture. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk