Bird News Thursday 20th August

The Wood Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, 39 Ruff, Sanderling, Greenshank, immature Peregrine and a Buzzard were at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve. (Derek Polley).

14 Ruff and 3 Greenshank were at Lough Beg in bays around Coney Island and the Great White Egret was showing well with four Little Egrets in the bay south of Church island today. (Gareth Bareham).

4 Scoter were at the mouth of the Bush at Portballintrae in the evening. 3 of them were showing white secondaries and were possibly Velvet Scoters (Robert Scott).

Thanks to Neil Cartmill for the picture of one of the Belfast Lough Ruff and to Stephen Maxwell for the second Ruff picture..