Bird News Wednesday 31st July

The Hobby is still at Brackagh Moss. It flew over the moss and perched in a dead tree visible from the rampart along the red route. (Stephen Foster).

An adult Little Gull was still at RSPB Belfast Lough. (Keith Bennett).

2 adult Greenshank, 2 Turnstone, 377 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper and 10 adult Knot (most in summer plumage) were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Stuart McKee).

A family group of Sparrowhawks were at Fardross near Clogher. Last night at Crocknagrally Loop near Fivemiletown Co Tyrone were a group of Crossbills, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroats and group of 7 Fallow Deer. (Colin Bell).

A juvenile Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, 15 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Ringed Plover, 7 Redshank and 5 each of Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser were at Reedy Flat on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Oscar Campbell).

At Larne Lough an adult Mediterranean Gull, 5 Greenshank, a Little Egret and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit were at Glynn. 2 Little Egret and 3 Common Sandpiper were still at Ballycarry Bridge (Cameron Moore).

A flock of 30 Sanderling were on the shore at Magilligan Point, see pictures below. (David Hill).

Thanks to today's photographers, to David Hill for the pictures of the Sanderling at Magilligan, to Dessie Loughrey for the picture of the juvenile Robin, to Mervyn Campbell for the picture of the Black-tailed Godwits and to Ian Jackson for the picture of the Sand Martin. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Tuesday 30th July

A Balearic Shearwater went past Ballyquintin, Down, heading south, late this afternoon. (Keith Bennett)

On Copeland Bird Observatory were 1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Roseate Tern and a Whitethroat. Yesterday a juvenile Cuckoo was on the island yesterday. (Kerry Leonard)

The Cattle Egret was looked for today without success.

At the Killough wader roost this evening were 140 Redshank, 100 Oystercatchers, 110 Curlews, 35 Dunlin, 30 Turnstone, 3 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel,  8 Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling and 1 Common Sandpiper. Also present were 6 Grey Herons,1 Little Egret, 1 Arctic Tern, I Common Tern and 6 Sandwich Terns (4 ads, 2 juvs). (Oscar Campbell and Chris Murphy)

3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egret and a Carrion Crow were at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough (Cameron Moore)

Thanks to William Smiton for the picture of a Willow Warbler in Co Fermanagh, to Mervyn Campbell for the pictures of the Little Egret and Whimbrel  from Dundrum and to Tom McCreery for the pictures of the Chiffchaff and the Yellowhammer. 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Monday 29th July

TAn adult Little Gull was at RSPB Belfast Lough. (Keith Bennett)

AWhooper Swan and 10 Wigeon  were at Portmore Lough and the 2cy Little Gull was still nearby at Lady Bay. A Stock Dove was at Ellis Cut.(Oscar Campbell)

Thanks to David Hill for this pic of a Spotted Flycatcher. Stephen Maxwell for the Sedge Warbler and finally to Robert McDowell who had this Red-legged Partridge come into his house, after posing for this photo Robert kindly ushered the bird out.

Rathlin Boat Trips

The Saturday boat trips have went really well. The seabirds will soon be gone but Jim Wells is trying to organise one last boat trip this week. This would leave at 5pm and return at 9.30. If you are interested let Jim know which evening would be suitable. Obviously, the earlier the better. Jim Wells - 07856235144 

Photos from a trip yesterday, taken by Ciaran Crozier, are below. They include Puffin, Gannet, Fulmar and Peregrine. 

Bird News Sunday 28th July

The Hobby was still at Brackagh Moss, Portadown. The bird can be inactive for long periods and also cover a large area. (Oscar Campbell / Alistair Prentice)

A Little Gull was in Lady Bay, Lough Neagh this afternoon (Birdguides)

A Long-eared Owl was calling at 1am at the Moss Road, Millisle near Ballycopeland Windmill (David McCormick)

An 'escaped' Ring necked  Parakeet was behind Queens PEC this morning. (Daniel Barry)

The Lesser Sand Plover, a first for Ireland, was showing throughout the day at Pilmore, Co Cork.

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for these pics of the Hobby. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.com

Bird News Saturday 27th July

The Cattle Egret was still at Randalstown this morning (Gary Brown)

The Hobby was still around the Portadown area at Brackagh Moss but also covering areas around the Bann Meadows in Portadown. (Alistair Prentice)

Melmore Head, Donegal this morning, in 2.5 hours - quite a lot of birds flocking on the sea; c400 Manxies, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 150 Gannets, 30 Kittiwakes and a passing Sabine's Gull at c0830. Also 10 Puffins, 2 Bonxie and a Basking Shark. (Oscar Campbell).

12 Whimbrel and 5 Sanderling were at Knockineder Bay, Ballyquinton Point. (Richard Weyl).

A Peregrine, Buzzard and 2 Whitethroat were at Kenbane Head. (Robert Scott).

Thanks to Alistair for the Hobby pictures. In the latter one it is being chased by Swifts and House Martins. Also thanks to Gary Brown for the Cattle Egret picture and to Zach McCreery for the Yellowhammer picture. You can see more NI bird pictures and a video clip of the Hobby by Mark Killops at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk 

 

Bird News Friday 26th July

The Cattle Egret was seen again in fields on Ballylurgan Rd nr.Randalstown.

A Hobby was seen at Brachagh Moss, Portadown.(Mark Killops, see photo below)

Just a quick update from Donegal today - one Balearic Shearwater with 600 Manxies in the morning off Melmore Head. Also one adult Mediterranean Gull and the first Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits (5) and Dunlin (19) back on the estuary at Carrigart. (Oscar Campbell)

Our thanks to Mark Killops for the photograph of the Hobby. David Hill for sending in this pic of a Wren enjoying the sun. Tom McCreery for the Reed Warbler and also to Zach McCreery for the Sedge Warbler.

 

 

Bird News Thursday 25th July

The Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper and 150 Dunlin were at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve (George Gordon)

Yesterday the Cattle Egret was still at Randalstown, along the Balylurgan Road (Mervyn Campbell)

Thanks to Chris Henry for this picture of a Great Skua on Rathlin Island, Christine Cassidy for the Black Guillemot and Mervyn Campbell for the Cattle Egret. You can see more bird pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.com

Bird News Wednesday 24th July

The adult Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Belfast Lough RSPB. (Keith Bennett)

An adult Mediteranean Gull was at Glenarm (Neal Warnock)

Yesterday a Tree Sparrow was in a field near Portrush (Robert Scott)

There will be a butterfly walk led by Butterfly Conservation, held at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve on Tue 30^th July 2pm-4pm. Adults £4, RSPB Members £2 and Children FREE. Booking essential: Telephone Janice 02890491547.

Thanks to David Hill for this pic of a Dipper from Roe Valley Country Park and Alistair Prentice for the young Sedge Warbler:

Bird News Tuesday 23rd July

A Cattle Egret was seen and photographed this morning at Randalstown, Co Antrim.  The Cattle Egret is in fields off Ballylurgan Road in the townland of Ballylurgan near Randalstown (Randy Weir).

The Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper and 22 Dunlin were at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve (James Robinson)

A Med. Gull (see bottom photograph) 8 Whimbrel and 5 Common Sandpiper were at Ballycastle.(Colin Guy)

17 Whimbrel were at Kinnegar shore.(Stuart McKee)

Thanks to Randy Weir for this pic of the Cattle Egret. Also to Alistair Prentice for the pic of the Willow Warbler. Mervyn Campbell for the Spotted Flycatcher and Colin Guy for the bottom photograph is off the Med. Gull currently residing at Ballycastle.

Bird News Monday 22nd July

The Pectoral Sandpiper is still at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve. (Chris Sturgeon).

The ringed adult Mediterranean Gull is still at Whitehead this morning. (Ian Enlander).

This evening an adult summer Mediterranean Gull was at the outlet near the former Marconi’s cottage at Ballycastle,6 Common Sandpipers were also present(Colin Guy)

The female Ring-necked Duck still at the Mullagh, Lough Beg.(Birdguides)

Our thanks for to-days photographs from Christine Cassidy for this photograph of a Meadow Pipit. 

Bird News Sunday 21st July

An adult Pectoral Sandpiper is at Belfast Harbour RSPB Reserve. (Jeff Larkin).

The female Ring-necked Duck is still at The Mullagh, Lough Beg. (David Steele).

A Pomarine Skua was at Killard this evening. (Craig Nash).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Stuart McKee for the Pectoral Sandpiper picture, to Craig Nash for the Pomarine Skua picture, to Zach McCreery for the Reed Warbler picture, to Martina Boyle for the picture of the Chough, to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Mediterranean Gull with colour ring 32LU and the Common Sandpiper and to Lindsay Hodges for the pictures of the Razorbill and Guillemot and the Peregrine from yesterday's boat trip around Rathlin. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peregrine Falcons & Rathlin Boat Trip

Peregrine Falcons.

Peregrines have had an excellent year in Northern with 54 successful nests producing at least 134 flying young. Twenty eight pairs fledged 67 young in quarries (all but six of these sites are still being used for rock extraction).   

All the seats on the boat trips around Rathlin Island for this evening and Tuesday are booked but there are two places available for Monday evening and six for Wednesday. For further details contact jimwells6@gmail.com  

Jim Wells

Bird News Saturday 20th July

At Blackhead 2 Whimbrel flew over calling, 4 Harbour Porpoise were also present, at Whitehead there was a 2nd year Mediterranean Gull with a green leg ring, 32 LU, 2 Common Sandpiper were also present. (Ian Enlander).

An adult and a first summer Roseate Tern were at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve. (Birdguides).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Mervyn Campbell for the pictures of the Stonechats and to Paul Friel for the pictures of the Siskin and the juvenile Robin. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Friday 19th July.



 Two Common Sandpiper and 6 Dunlin were at Killard this evening.(C.Nash)

 

5 Common Sandpiper were at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough and another Common Sandpiper was at Whitehead (Cameron Moore).

 

 

Our thanks to Vivienne Beck for this fine flight shot of a Manx Shearwater, also to Craig Nash for his equally fine shot of a Sand Martin. Tom McCreery for his lovely photo's off Reed Warbler(3rd pic) and Sedge Warbler.