Bird News Tuesday 30th June

A Garden Warbler was singing at Tully Castle in Co. Fermanagh. (Brad Robson).

Thanks to Gerry O'Neill for the picture of the Franklin's Gull, to Ginny McKee for the picture of the Spotted Flycatcher and to Stephen Maxwell for the picture of the Sedge Warbler.

Bird News Monday 29th June.

The Franklin's Gull was still present at Church Bay, Lough Beg.(Frank Carroll)

3 Ruff where at the RSPB Belfast Harbour reserve.(Derek Polley) Also at the reserve a Roseate Tern, 2nd summer Med.Gull  a Greenshank and a Widgeon.(Stuart McKee)

Bird News Sunday 28th June

A 2nd Summer Mediteranean Gull and a Roseatte Tern were off Glynn this morning (Mark Brown)

The Franklins Gull and six Whooper Swans were at Church Bay, Lough Beg (Philip West)

The 2nd summer Iceland Gull was at  Glenarm today (therefore the Ballycastle bird yesterday was a new bird) (Colin Guy)

Thanks to Bill Guiller for this Peregrine pic, Marc Killops for the Reed Warbler taken at Oxford Island and Stuart McKee for the Franklins Gull:

Peregrine, Bill Guiller:

Reed Warbler, Mark Killops:

Franklins Gull, Stuart McKee:

Bird News Saturday 27th June

The adult Franklin's Gull was still in Church Bay, Lough Beg (Garry Armstrong)


A 2nd summer Iceland Gull was seen flying and briefly landing at Marconi’s outfall at Ballycastle (Colin Guy)

Yesterday 14 Whimbrel flew south past Annalong (Richard Gray), a Whooper Swan was along the Lagan in Lisburn bear the Island Centre (Vernon Carter) and a Red Kite was at Jordanstown (Ken Reid).

Sedge Warbler - Stephen Maxwell.

Peregrine - Mark Elliott.

Bird News Friday 26th June

The adult summer Franklin's Gull was still at Church Bay at Lough Beg (Tony O'Mahony, George Gordon). The Great White Egret was also seen and yesterday a first-summer Little Gull was at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh (Tony O'Mahony).

The Mediterranean Gull was still at Belfast WOW RSPB reserve. (Derek Polley).

The 1st summer Iceland Gull was still at Glenarm. (Gareth Platt).

A Water Rail and chick were calling by the dead tree on the towpath near Scarva. (Karen Elliott)

A boat birding trip will operate tomorrow evening from Cushendall to Fair Head. It leaves Cushendall Boat Club at 6pm. Seats are £15 each. Please give Jim Wells a call on 07856235144 if interested.

Thanks to Gareth Platt for the picture of the Iceland Gull and to Derek Polley for the pictures of the Mediterranean Gull and the Redpoll.

 

Bird News Thursday 25th June

At Lough Beg the adult summer Franklin's Gull was still at Church Bay (Tony Amani, Joe Lamont)

Yesterday a Greenshank was at Lower Lough Erne Islands RSPB (Brad Robson)

Yesterday a first summer Iceland Gull was at Glenarm (Gareth Platt)

A second summer Mediteranean Gull was at RSPB Belfast WOW (Derek Polley)

Thanks to Gareth Platt for this pic of the Iceland Gull:

Bird News Wednesday 24th June

The Franklins Gull was still at Church Bay, Lough Beg this afternoon between 1pm and 3pm (Jim Bowman and Denis Carty)

Thanks to Jennifer Martin for this pic of a Black Guillemot on Donaghadee Pier:

Bird News Tuesday 23rd June

The adult Franklin's Gull and Great White Egret are still in Church Bay at Lough Beg. (Billy Miskelly) the Franklins Gull was still present at 4pm (Gerard McGeehan).

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was feeding young male at  Windmill Road Aghnaleck near Lisburn. It seems to have bred in a garden off Upper Ballynahinch Road, Agnaleck. (Garry Wilkinson).

A Corncrake has been calling at regular intervals from a field at Articlave near Castlerock for a week. (Patrick Barton).

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for the picture of the Spotted Flycatcher and to Stephen Maxwell for the Buzzard picture:

 

Bird News Monday 22nd June

An adult summer plumaged Franklin's Gull was on rocks at Church Bay, Lough Beg, an adult Roseate Tern was also present. (David Steele). The Franklins Gull was still present until 5:45pm (Richard Hunter) see pics below Bird still present at 19.45

A Great White Egret was at church bay Lough Beg this afternoon. (Richard Hunter)

A second summer Med Gull was at the RSPB Belfast Harbour reserve.(Tony Dodds) see photo below

The second summer Little Gull still showing at Dundrum Inner bay this evening.(David Nixon)

Franklin's Gull - David Steele.

Franklin's Gull - David Steele.

Cuckoo

Med Gull - Stephen Maxwell.

Bird News Sunday 21st June

The Little Gull was seen again at Dundrum and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were at Tollymore Forest Park (Brian Murphy)

An Osprey was at Slieve Foye Wood, Carlingford, Co Louth (Joe Devlin)

Thanks to John Havord for the pic of the Bizzard taken near Dungiven:

Bird News Saturday 20th June

A first year Little Gull was at Dundrum South Inner Bay this afternoon before flying off towards Newcastle. (David Nixon)

4 Crossbill  at crocknagrally trail nr  Fivemiletown this morning (Colin Bell)

An adult Med Gull and 2 Spotted Flycatcher were at Glynn (Gerard McGeehan)

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker were in the woods below Silent Valley Dam (Richard Gray)

An immature Great Northern Diver flew south past Brigg’s Rocks today. A Whimbrel and 6 Turnstone were on the shore. A summer plumaged Sanderling was at Sandy Bay, Larne (Colin Guy)

Two pairs of Spotted Flycatchers were in a garden at Armoy (Chris Easton)

You can report rare and scarce bird news to us via email: nibirds@live.co.uk text 07973403146  Twitter @nibirds or Flightline: 02891467408 

Thanks to David Nixon for the pic of the Little Gull and Chris Easton for the Spotted Flycatcher:

Bird News Friday 19th June.

2 Spotted Flycatchers where beside the riverfoot bridge at the school in Comber.(Harry Byron)

Ringed Plovers - Jeff Silvers.

Peregrine Watch - Whitehead

Bird News Thursday 18th June

At least 2 Spotted Flycatcher were at Slieve Gullion Forest Park, Co Armagh this morning (Frank Carroll)

Thanks to David Hill for this pic of a Dunlin at Myroe:

Bird News Wednesday 17th June

A Roseate Tern was briefly off Glynn tonight. A 1st sum Little Gull was there last night. (Neal Warnock)

Thanks to Chris Easton for the pictures of a Stonechat and a Cuckoo, to David Knight for the pictures of the Yellowhammer and to David Hunter for the pictures of the Swallow and Black-headed Gull.

 

 

Bird News Tuesday 16th June

3 Reed Warbler were singing at Oxford Island this morning. (Brian Murphy).

A Great White Egret, 2 Little Egret and a male Garganey were at Lough Beg (David Steele).

A Corncrake was calling at Horn Head, Co. Donegal yesterday evening and a Long-eared Owlet was calling in woodland at Marble Hill also in Donegal. (Christine Cunningham).

Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for the picture of a Peregrine taken at a roost site and for the first Cuckoo picture, to Christine Cassidy for the Razorbill on Rathlin and to Dick Glasgow for the second Cuckoo picture. You can also see a video of Dick's cuckoo at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxqzN2TWyX4 the picture of the nesting House Martins is from Christine Cunningham:

Peregrine, Stephen Maxwell:

 

 

Razorbill, Christine Cassidy:

 

 

 

 

Bird News Monday 15th June.

U A Knot was at the RSPB Lower Lough Erne Islands.(Brad Robson)

In south Down a Cuckoo was at Murlough.(Ian McKee)

Juv. Greenfinch - Dick Glasgow

Shelduck - Noeni Bryars.

Tree Sparrow - Dick Glasgow

Bird News Sunday 14th June

A Mediteranean Gull was seen at Strangford and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Tollymore (Brian Murphy)

2 Spotted Flycatchers were this evening on the River Lagan in Dromore Park (Chris Rankin)

2 Great Skua were seen on Rathlin Island (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Paul, Stephen and Jason for the pics below:

Red Kite, Paul Allen:

Cuckoo, Murlough, Stephen Maxwell:

Red Grouse, Capanagh, Jason Bain:

Bird News Saturday 13th June

A Great White Egret was near the mouth of the Blackstaff at Dundrum Inner Bay North (Danny Baillie).

2 Spotted Flycatchers were at Union Lock on the Lagan Towpath near Blaris Road in Lisburn this morning. (Eric Randall).

A Cuckoo was at Murlough, Marsh Fritillary Butterflies were also seen. (Angus Kennedy).

2 Red Kites were on the Mountain Road Closkelt County Down at 14.15 today, 2 Buzzard were also seen. (Paul Allen)
 
Thanks to Angus for the picture of the Cuckoo and to Dick Glasgow for the picture of the Tree Sparrow.

 

Bird News Friday 12th June

Yesterday Brigg's Rocks had 5 Brent Geese which flew north, an immature Red-throated Diver was offshore and 20 Turnstone and a Whimbrel were on the shoreline. (Colin  Guy)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Castlewellan Forest Park (Adam McClure)

Thanks to Christine Cassidy for this pic of Black Guillemots at Lough Swilly, Inishowen, Co Donegal: Our thanks also to Stephen Maxwell who sent in these pics of a Peregrine in flight and the head on shot of a Gannet. Swift in flight kindly sent in by Ian Jackson.

Bird News Thursday 11th June

Last night, adult and juvenile Long-eared Owls were seen at Crebilly near Ballymena. (Jeff Larkin)

Thanks to Jeff Larkin for this pic of a juvenile Long-eared Owl and Noeni Bryars for the Peregrine: