Bird News Thursday 31st August

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Myroe turf fields, The American Golden Plover was still present (Jeff Larkin). Both birds were still present at 2:15. (Billy Miskelly)

1200 Manxies, 175 Sooties and 4 Sabs Gulls flew past Melmore Head in flat conditions with only a light swell. Birds were going past til c0845 and then dried up quickly. Also 5 Arctic Skua, 6 Bonxies, 3 Arctic Terns and 8 Common Scoter were seen (Oscar Campbell)

A flock of c.50 Brent Geese were at the Floodgates in Newtownards today (Chris Henry)

A late Swift was still flying around and entering its roof nesting space today in Derrytrasna (Pat Flowerday)

RSPB WoW had at least three adult and one juvenile Roseate Terns. Also a Little Gull moulting into second winter/adult winter plumage, one adult Ruff and a juvenile Sanderling (Stuart McKee)

A Black Tern was at Loughshore Park, Belfast Lough (Lilian Cummings)

Two Hen Harrier were seen on Rathlin (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)

Thanks to Jeff Larkin and Lilian Cummings for todays pics:

Buff-breasted sandpiper, Jeff Larkin:

 Black Tern (RHS), Lilian Cummings:


Bird News Wednesday 30th August

An adult American Golden Plover was at Myroe today, on the main lawn fields (Hill Dick \ Peter Robinson) A picture of the bird is below and more can be seen at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk/
A Green Sandpiper was on Rathlin this morning (probably the first modern record on Rathlin) Also seen were a single Whimbrel, 32 Curlews and 2 White Wagtails (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)
55 Brent Geese flew over Whitehead this afternoon (Cameron Moore) 40 were subsequently seen at Whitehead and also an Arctic Skua (Gerard McGeehan)
A Brent Goose was at Kinnegar Shore. A Roseate Tern was also at RSPB WoW (Daniel Newton)
Melmore Head, Co Donegal in 7 hours had 2 Sabines, 1 Balearic, 370 Sooties, 9 Poms, 14 Arctic Skuas, 17 Bonxies, 4 Arctic Terns, approximately 2000 Manxies, 13 Common Scoter, 1 Whimbrel, and 3 Pintail. (Eric Randall and Oscar Campbell)
At St Johns Point, Co Down this morning a feeding frenzy just off the lighthouse included c500 gulls, Gannets, Kittiwakes, Sandwich Terns, Cormorants and 600+ Common and Black Guillemots and Razorbills (Fulton Somerville)

A Long-eared Owl was at the Ecos Centre, Ballymena (John Parkinson)
Thanks to Hill Dick for the pic of the American Golden Plover and John Parkinson for the Long-eared Owl:

American Golden Plover, Hill Dick:
Long-eared Owl, John Parkinson:


Bird News Tuesday 29th August

Melmore Head, Co Donegal throughout the day had 2 Great Shearwaters, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 320 Sooties, nearly 3000 Manxies, 7 Arctic Skuas, 15 Bonxies, 1 Wilson's Petrel, 2 Sabines Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 65 Whimbrel, 6 Sanderling, 12 Arctic terns, 7 Common Scoter and 12 Kittiwakes (Eric Randall / Oscar Campbell)

A high count of 47 Little Egret were at Ballykelly Marsh (Michael Savage).

600 Razorbills, 50 Common Guillemots, 2 adult and 1 juvenile Roseate Tern, 1 Common Tern and 55 Sandwich Terns were feeding at sea off Killough. 10 Stock Dove and 12 Black tailed Godwits were feeding in an arable field 300m south of Killough. (Tim Murphy).

3 Roseate Terns and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull were at Whitehead. (Cameron Moore).

Thanks to Cameron for the pictures of the Roseate Tern and the Mediterranean Gull.


 

Bird News Monday 28th August

A second year Little Gull was at Whitehead, near the Boat Club (Cameron Moore)

2 Arctic Skuas, a Red-throated Diver, a Common Sandpiper and 235 Sandwich Terns were at the car park at Greenisland (Gerard McGeehan)

A Roseate Tern was at Kinnegar Shore and another at RSPB WoW. (Wilton Farrelly) Three were on show early evening at RSPB WoW along with two Ruff and and the Sanderling (Daniel Newton)

The Little Stint was still at the Bann Estuary (Colin Guy)

Little Gull, Cameron Moore:

Roseate Tern, Wilton Farrelly:

Bird News Sunday 27th August

At least two adult Roseate Terns were with a large flock of mainly Common Terns at Kinnegar shore this morning. The Ruff and 5 Swifts were at Belfast WOW reserve (Jeff Larkin).

A Little Stint was amongst a flock of Dunlin at the Barmouth, the Bann Estuary (Wilton Farrelly)

RSPB WoW this afternoon had an adult Roseate Tern, Ruff and a Sanderling (Daniel Newton / Stuart McKee)

An Arctic Skua flew past Ballyhornan Co Down this morning.(Michael Latham)

A Little Egret flew through Rathlin Sound this afternoon. 16 Whimbrel were also seen.(Colin Guy)

Bird News Saturday 26th August

Melmore Head this morning (7:30 to 11) had  380 Manx Shearwater, 15 Sooty Shearwater and one Balearic Shearwater. Also 17 Bonxies, 10 Arctic Skua and 5 Common Scoter (Oscar Campbell)

A Red Kite was seen near Moneyslane - not far from where the juvenile Kite was recently shot (Karen Elliott)

The Forsters Tern was at Soldiers Point, Co Louth. Also present were 3 Grey Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 7 Greenshank and 20 Little Egret. A Ruff was at the Swords Estuary. At Dundalk there was a Spotted Redshank and 2 Ruff  (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Grey Point, Belfast Lough in an early evening sea watch had a minimum of 4 Arctic Skua, a Bonxie and 4 Porpoise (Wilton Farrelly)

Thanks to Christine Beggs for this pic of an adult and juvenile Sandwich Tern:

Bid News Friday 25th August

Yesterday morning at 8 o'clock there were 36 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Oystercatchers on the GAA pitches beside the Bog Meadows. At 5pm this had increased to 99 Black-tailed Godwits (John O Boyle).

33 Little Egrets were with seven Grey Herons in a field next to the gate lodge at NT Murlough. (Garry Wilkinson).

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the pictures of the Bullfinch and the Lapwing.

 
 

Bird News Thursday 24th August

A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was at the southwest corner of Lough Beg this evening - it dropped into the flooded area with a flock of Snipe at about 5pm; flew out about thirty minutes later but not relocated after that. The spit at Mullagh had six Ruff (including four juveniles), a Whimbrel and 300 juvenile Black-tailed Godwits. (David Steele)

Reed Warblers are still showing in the reed bed around Kinnegoe Hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong)

9 Black-tailed Godwits where in the grounds of Stormont estate this morning (Paul McCullough), A lot of people were left mystified by them, so if you were one of those people, now you know. (you can see Paul's picture below)

Rathlin Island had a few new migrants making things slightly more interesting: the first White Wagtails of the autumn, Grey Wagtail, Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper, 8 Golden Plovers, 2 Lapwings and 2 Kestrels were probably the highlights. Also 2 Arctic Skuas offshore (Ric Else /Hazel Watson)

A Kingfisher was at Belfast Waterworks. (Larry Toal)

Below a Chiffchaff and a Sedge Warbler from Oxford Island today. Third pic is the Black -tailed Godwits at Stormont and the fourth pic is of a Sand Martin, kindly sent in by Linda Thompson.






Bird News Wednesday 23rd August

There was no sign of the juvenile Black Tern at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve this morning, a Ruff and a single Sanderling were present. (Garry Armstrong).

A few family parties of Twite were seen around the Giants Causeway this morning (Colum Flynn)

100+ Black-tailed Godwits were at the King's Park Primary School playing fields, Newtownabbey (Nichola Henry)

3 Little Egrets were at the Bann Estuary (Colin Guy/Hill Dick).  A pale phase Arctic Skua was at the Barmouth. (Colin Guy)

A juvenile Whinchat and a Swift were the highlights from today on Rathlin (RicElse and Hazel Watson)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for this pic of Magpies interacting with a Buzzard:
 

Young Red Kite Shot in Co Down

Young red kite found dead in Co Down – suspected shot


RSPB NI and the PSNI are appealing for information after a young red kite was found dead in County Down. 

The bird was found with suspected gunshot wounds on a public laneway outside Moneyslane (halfway between Banbridge and Newcastle) on Thursday 17th August and was recovered by the RSPB and passed to the PSNI. An initial x-ray indicated there are pieces of shot in the bird and it has now been sent for a post-mortem examination.

The red kite, tagged ‘Black 5W’, was born in May 2017 at a nest site near Downpatrick and was exploring the County Down countryside before its premature death.

Alan Ferguson, RSPB NI Red Kites Project Officer, said, “Any loss of these under-threat birds is utterly heartbreaking. Our red kite population in Northern Ireland is small at just 20 breeding pairs and that makes it particularly vulnerable to losses. 

“It would appear that someone has deliberately targeted one of these beautiful creatures, so this is incredibly frustrating and upsetting and is a real setback for the future of the species here.

“RSPB NI have been working on a red kite reintroduction programme for nine years. I really thought we were turning a corner, because persecution incidents seemed to be dropping off and the last confirmed shooting of a red kite happened in Crossgar in 2014. People have really taken the birds to heart and are happy to see them in our skies again.”

In fact, RSPB NI’s new RKites Project has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and part funded by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and aims to strengthen the link between people and the red kites.

Red kites, along with all birds of prey, are protected in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, as amended by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (NI) Act 2011. 

Police are appealing for information on the incident and have asked that anyone who can help with enquiries contact the 101 number quoting reference number 837 of 17/8/17. 




Bird News Tuesday 22nd August

The juvenile Black Tern was still at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve this morning. (Colin Mayes).
The Tern was still present at 5pm. (John Edwards)

Two Whimbrel flew over Skegoneill Avenue North Belfast. (Stuart McKee).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Slieve Gullion Forest. (Dermot Hughes).

High counts at Dargan Bay, Belfast included 1127 Eider, 43 Red-breasted Merganser & 43 Black Guillemot. The high-tide roost included 1239 Oystercatcher & 3 Greenshank. (Adam McClure)

Bird News Monday 21st August

The juvenile Black Tern was still at RSPB WoW this morning (Daniel Newton).

Two Red Kites were with two Buzzards at Millvale Road in Castlewellan this afternoon. (Paul Allen).

Yesterday between 200 and 300 Linnets were in a stubble field at Islet Hill, Groomsport. (George Henderson).

Thanks to Ronald Surgenor for the pictures of the Black Term, to Ginny McKee for the pictures of the Dunlin and the Linnet and to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Common Tern with a black ring on the left leg and a metal ring on the right and the Sandwich Tern with a red ring on the right leg and a metal ring on the left, both taken at Whitehead on Sunday.




 

 

Bird News Sunday 20th August

A juvenile Black Tern is at RSPB WoW Reserve this afternoon. The bird disappeared for an hour but reappeared at 6pm (Billy Miskelly)

A Roseate Tern and a Ruff were at RSPB Belfast Lough Reserve this morning, 2 Greenshank were at Kinnegar Pools. (Garry Armstrong). A large hirundine flock, including 5 Swifts, moved through the Reserve this afternoon (Tom Ennis)

Thanks to John Bamford and Garry Armstrong for todays pics:

Black Tern,Garry Armstrong:

Common Sandpiper, John Bamford, near Ballycastle:

Bird News Saturday 19th August

3 Whimbrel were at Glynn in Larne Lough. (Joe Lamont).

Melmore Head, Co Donegal in a 3 hour morning sea watch had 2 Great Shearwaters , 63 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel , 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 11 Bonxies, 1 Great Northern Diver and 15 Whimbrel. 3 hrs from 6.30. (Eric Randall)

In an early morning and evening seawatch, Fanad Head, Co Donegal had 2 adult Sabines Gulls, an adult Pomarine Skua, 4 Arctic Skua, 9 Bonxie and 150+ Sooty Shearwaters (Wilton Farrelly).

A Bonxie was off Rathlin this evening. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Tern Counts

Brian Burke from Birdwatch Ireland is currently coordinating a survey of post-breeding Tern flocks around the coast of ROI and is hoping to also gather counts and locations of Tern flocks in Northern Ireland, England and Wales (I.e. around the Irish Sea) to get a better idea of the kinds of numbers of Terns around at this time of year and to get an idea of their movements and timing etc too.

Brian is seeking help from anyone who can provide details or counts of terns from around our coasts. If you visit sites such as the Bann Estuary, Whitehead (Co Antrim), Belfast Harbour area (RSPB reserve/Kinnegar shore/Whitehouse Lagoon), Groomsport/Ballymacormick Point, Strangford Narrows/The Quoile, plus perhaps other spots like Killard and Killough on the Co Down coast or any other sites were terns gather and can provide details for Brian please email him at bburke@birdwatchireland.ie

Bird News Friday 18th August

A juvenile Cuckoo was seen on the Carclinty Rd, Cullybackey (Jeff Larkin)

A juv Med. Gull was at  Whitehead.(Cameron Moore) see pic below.


Curlew Comeback In County Antrim

Under-threat curlews make a comeback in County Antrim

Juvenile Curlew - Pic by Neal Warnock


FOR the first time in 20 years, curlew chicks have fledged at a County Antrim farm.

Last year a pair of curlews attempted to breed at Greenmount Hill Farm in Glenwherry for the first time since 2005 - only to fail to hatch young.

But this summer RSPB NI’s Conservation Advisor Neal Warnock was delighted to see that two pairs arrived back at the farm and he can confirm that one of the pairs has successfully fledged three young.

It is believed that these are the first curlews to fledge from the site since the 1990s. The happy news is a real boost considering that over the past two decades curlew numbers across the UK have almost halved. In Northern Ireland we have lost more than 80% of the curlew population since 1987.

Since 2009, RSPB NI, the Irish Grouse Conservation Trust (IGCT), the College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and other partners have been working as part of the Glenwherry Hill Regeneration Project (GHRP) on an integrated management approach in the area in a bid to ‘give nature a home in Glenwherry’.

“When news broke that one of the pairs had hatched three young, their progress became the talk of the community,” said RSPB NI’s Neal Warnock. “It was a very long six-week wait watching them grow until they finally stretched their wings and departed. Curlews only rarely fledge three young, so this was terrific news for all involved in the project and should help see them become established on the farm.”

Graeme Campbell, CAFRE’s GHRP Project Manager, added, “We are delighted with this year’s curlew success and that the work to attract breeding waders over the last six years has also resulted in increasing numbers of snipe breeding on the farm.”

Farmers and landowners have a crucial part to play in helping to halt and reverse the decline of curlews. The Glenwherry Hill Regeneration Project has undertaken a string of measures to make the area attractive to curlews and to encourage them to return. This has involved habitat management measures including rush cutting and tree removal, as well as predator control carried out by the IGCT.

Joanne Sherwood, Director for RSPB NI, added: “This is such fantastic and heartwarming news. It highlights that this partnership work makes a real difference to the fortunes of threatened species. We see this as a milestone on the way to what we hope will be the recovery of curlews and other breeding waders in Glenwherry.”

Sites across the UK are amongst the most important in the world for breeding European curlews, hosting around a quarter of the global breeding population. Yet their numbers have declined due to factors including a loss of suitable habitat and increased predation.

The Antrim Hills and County Fermanagh are the last remaining hotspots for curlews in Northern Ireland.

In the wider Glenwherry area, there are approximately 45 breeding pairs recorded annually. The area is also home to Lapwings and Snipe.

 
 
(left to right) Alex Rodgers (Irish Grouse Conservation Trust), Lewis Davidson and Willie Warwick (CAFRE), Neal Warnock (RSPB NI) and Graeme Campbell (CAFRE) at Greenmount Hill Farm in Glenwherry

Bird News Thursday 17th August

This morning Belfast Lough RSPB reserve had a Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Raven and a Sparrowhawk. (Derek Polley).

A Mediterranean Gull was at Whitehead, see picture below. (Cameron Moore).

Two Little Egrets were feeding at Islandmagee bridge. (Jim McKeown).

A Whooper Swan was on the River Lagan between Lisburn and Hilden. (Ian Enlander).

A Kingfisher was off Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island (Shane McGarvey).

A summer plumaged Red Throated Diver was at Marconi's, Ballycastle. A Purple Sandpiper was at Ramore Head . (Colin Guy).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Mediterranean Gull and the Common Tern and to Ian Enlander for the pictures of the Whooper Swan and the Kingfisher.




Bird News Wednesday 16th August

A Balearic Shearwater and 2 Storm Petrels were seen on a seawatch at St John's Point between 3pm-4.30pm. (Tim Murphy)

A Long-eared owl was seen, flying last night at Millhouse Meadows, Antrim. (Sandy McWilliams)

Ballykelly had a high count of 19 Little Egrets with another Little Egret at the Bann Estuary (Hill Dick/Peter Robinson)

Two Arctic Skuas were seen on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for this pic of a Grey Heron:


Bird News Tuesday 15th August

Late news for yesterday and a Green Sandpiper was heard flying over Portrush Golf Club at 1045pm (Colin Guy)

3 Garganey were in the South-west corner of Lough Beg (Jeff Larkin).

A Red Kite was in a field on the Ballykenver Road in Armoy. (Ray Hamilton).

14 Little Egrets were at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Portballintrae. (Colin Guy).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the picture of the Greenshank and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Mistle Thrush.


 

Bird News Monday 14th August.

RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve had 1 Ruff, 3 Common Sandpipers, c 60 Dunlin. Kinnegar Pond had 1 Greenshank and 3 summer plumage Turnstone (Tom Ennis)

Bird News Sunday 13th August

A probable adult American Golden Plover was with 5 Golden Plover at Myroe before been flushed by a Peregrine. (Stuart McKee / Garry Armstrong)

A Greenland White-fronted Goose (with a damaged wing) and a Whimbrel were at the Roe Estuary (Garry Armstrong)

A high count of over 20 Little Egret were at Ballykelly (Philip West)

Two Arctic Skua were at Burial Island, Co Down (Richard Weyl)

Victoria Park, Sydenham had a Greenshank and 60 Black-tailed Godwits (Ian Enlander) 

14 Greenshank, 3 Little Egret and 145 Mergansers were at Glynn (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Thanks to Michael Latham for this picture of a Crossbill taken at Capanagh, Co Antrim. Note the bird has two faint wing bars:
 

Bird News Saturday 12th August

An Osprey was at Lough Beg this evening (Gary Cunningham)

2 Dippers were at Terryhoogan Locks, Newry Canal, this evening (Fulton & Janet Somerville)

Thanks to Christine Beggs for the pic of the Turnstone from Whitehead and Jason Bain for the male Hen Harrier from Co Antrim:

Turnstone, Christine Beggs:

 Hen Harrier, Jason Bain:








Bird News Friday 11th August

2 Green Sandpipers were in a pool beside the Newry Canal about 3 miles south of Poyntzpass. (Joe Devlin).

A Spotted Flycatcher was in the wood adjacent to Knockmore Road in Lisburn this evening. (Kevin Kirkham-Brown).

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the picture of the Buzzard, to Christine Beggs for the picture of the Common Terns, to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Goldfinch and to Hill Dick for the picture of a leucistic Dunlin.

 

 
 
 

Bird News Thursday 10th August

Late news for yesterday was that a seawatch from Torr Head in the afternoon produced 1500+Kittiwakes and 800 + Manx Shearwaters (Colin Guy)

Also yesterday a Red Kite was seen not far from the Causeway Coast, in north Antrim. (Dick Glasgow)

Barn Owls have been seen recently at Waterloo Road, Lisburn and Magheradartin Road, Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson \ William Martin)

A Peregrine was at RSPB WoW today (Stephen Maxwell)

Thanks to Dick for this pic of the Red Kite:


A6 Judicial Review

Due to a bereavement the A6 Lough Beg - Heaney Country Judicial Review case has been re-listed for 10:30 on Tuesday 15 August in the Court of Appeal, Chichester St, Belfast. This case is important for nature conservation in Northern Ireland where some of Europe's most important bird areas (IBA) have been under siege for decades. The case aims to ensure that EU Nature Laws which came into force 25 years ago are properly applied and enforced. The legal challenge was launched when the Dept. for Infrastructure announced on 17 August 2016 that construction was due to begin on a controversial off-line dual carriageway that would sever the grazing meadows of the largest population of Whooper Swans in Ireland (WWT, RSPB et al) from the principal swan roost in the Lough Neagh basin. It is held this will cause irreparable harm to the integrity of the SPA, particularly Lough Beg, where RSPB recently acquired a new reserve.  Under the terms of the Birds and Habitats Directives EU Member States have an obligation to protect wetlands, particularly wetlands of international importance such as Lough Beg and Strangford Lough, another IBA threatened with unsustainable development. Conservationists need to be vigilant in making full use of these Directives and resist the temptation to settle for an offer of mitigation, or compensation, or neither. There is a public gallery in the court room and any support would be welcome. 
Chris Murphy

Bird News Wednesday 9th August

Late news for yesterday was that a Turtle Dove was seen at New Road, Donaghadee. This could be the same bird seen in the area earlier in the summer (Billy Miskelly)

On Lough Neagh an Osprey was just north of Ballyronan (Shane McGarvey)

Little Egrets seem to have had another successful breeding season. 40+ were at Dundrum Bay yesterday (Fulton Somerville) and 26 were in Killough Harbour this morning - where the previous highest count was 16 (Chris Murphy)

Two Crossbills were in Kinramer Wood, Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

The Bann Estuary was still holding the Spotted Redshank now in quite grey plumage; also present: 1 Greenshank, 1 Ruff, 60 Dunlin one of which was a "leucistic" bird, 6 Sanderling, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, 50 Sandwich Tern, 1 Little Egret and 1 Peregrine. (Hill Dick)

Thanks to Jason and Jeff for our pics this evening. You can see more local bird pics at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk/

Cormorants, Jeff Silvers:

 Wheatear, Jason Bain:

Bird News Tuesday 8th August

Dundrum Inner Bay north had 40+ Little Egrets at the high tide roost at the north of the bay and 14 Greenshanks. Dundrum Inner Bay south had 2 Whimbrel, 20+ Dunlin changing from summer plumage and 6 Turnstone in summer plumage. (Fulton Somerville).

Several Spotted Flycatchers were at Mount Stewart. (Jonny Andrews).

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the picture of the Tree Sparrow, to Jonny Andrews for the picture of the Spotted Flycatcher and to Fulton Somerville for the picture of the Whimbrel.



Bird News Monday 7th August

Yesterday, an immature Marsh Harrier flew east over Collin Road, Ballyclare at 2pm (Thom Shannon)

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still on the spit at Mullagh, Lough Beg this evening. A juvenile Hen Harrier was also in the area. (David Steele)

Rathlin Island was quiet but an immature Arctic Skua was the highlight from a seawatch at Rue Point this morning. Also a good passage of Manxies looked promising. Also two Black-tailed Godwits (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)

The adult Med Gull was still at East Strand Car Park, Portrush (Colin Guy)

As always, many thanks to all contributors for sharing news on rare and scarce birds.

Thanks to Wilf Swainfor this ic of two Little Egrets:

 

Bird News Sunday 6th August

An adult Pectoral Sandpiper Was on the spit at Mullagh, Lough Beg (David Steele)

A Ruff and 4 Knot were at RSPB WoW Reserve. 4 Whimbrel were at Glynn (Garry Armstrong)

Three Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and five Little Egrets were on the Comber River today (Gerard McGeehan \ Shirley Dunlop)

Thanks to Thomas and Harry for the raptor pics below:

Red Kite, Rathfriland, Thomas Campbell:

Peregrine, Scrabo, Harry Byron: