Bird News Tuesday 30th October

This afternoon a Red Kite was on the Bushmills Road about a mile out of Coleraine. (Godfrey McRoberts).

40 Whoopers were at Glynn in Larne Lough and 4 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver were at Carnlough. Two more Great Northern Divers were at Ballygalley(Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

Thanks to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Little Egret:

Bird News Monday 29th October

Lough Beg yesterday had a Barnacle Goose on the west shore south of Church Island. A pair of Shelduck were seen, which is unusual for this time of year. 3 Fieldfare were also present. (Godfrey McRoberts)

Two White-rumped Sandpipers were at Balls Point, Lough Foyle. Myroe had 26 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Barnacle Geese, 180 Greylag, 800 Whooper Swans and 1200 Golden Plover, and a Jack Snipe in the canal (Stuart McKee)

Yesterday approximately 30 Fieldfare were at the back of Meelmore lodge, Mourne mountains (Christine Armstrong)

Rathlin today had 2 Snow Buntings, 6 Bramblings, 18 Crossbills and 3 Pink-footed Geese (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A Turkey Vulture which seems to have jesses or is ringed has been seen in the last few days around Glendun and later near Dungiven.

Snow Bunting, Hazel Watson:

Turkey Vulture, Steve Fisher:

Bird News Sunday 28th October

Lough Foyle today had 1000+ Whoopers, 26 Pink-feet, Barnacle Goose, Ruff & Merlin at Myroe Levels with 53 Slavonian Grebe from the sea wall. 2 juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers were at the Roe Estuary (Neal Warnock)

The west arm of Rathlin today had a juvenile Red Kite, 17 Bramblings, 18 Twite, 1 Snow Bunting, 2 Woodcocks, 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 1 Pink-footed Goose and 23 Whooper Swans. (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)

A Black-throated Diver was in Carnlough Bay (Jeff Larkin)

Kearney had 5 Pink-footed Geese and 115 Whooper Swans (Philip West)

Greyabbey Bay had 9 Slavonian Grebe (Wilton Farrelly)

A Pink-footed Goose was with the Brent Geese at the Floodgates, Newtownards (Stuart McKee)

A Barnacle Goose and a Ruff were at Myroe (Michael Latham)

Two Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen together accending Birch trees in the NW corner of Portavoe lake, Co Down (Terry Paton)

A juvenile Pacific Golden Plover was at the Bann Estuary (BirdGuides)

A Blyths Reed Warbler was at Malinmore, Co Donegal  this morning, last seen at 12 (Chris Ingram)

White-rumped Sandpipers, Neal Warnock:

Barnacle Goose, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 27th October

A Bonxie flew north between Ballygaĺley & Glenarm early afternoon. 2 Twite were at Glenarm Marina (Paul Tout)

A seawatch from Kilcummin Head, Co Mayo 08:30-16:45 had: Leach's Petrel 17; Pom Skua 4; Arctic Skua 5; Bonxie 1; Iceland gull 1 juv; Great Northern Diver 5; Red-throated Diver 5; Puffin 3; Common Scoter 5; Barnacle Goose 17; Manx Shearwater 1; Kittiwake many 00s; Razorbill 00s; Guillemot <100; Fulmar 2; Sunfish 1 and Harbour Porpoise 2 (Brad Robson)

Stonechat, Thomas Campbell:

Bird News Friday 26th October

Two Greenland White-fronted Geese flew over Ball's Point in Lough Foyle today. A Dark-bellied Brent was with 500 Brent. Another Dark-bellied bird was with the Brent at Ballykelly. Over 700 Whoopers in 3 flocks were in stubble fields in the Lomond area up at Foyle. (David Nixon & Graham McIlwaine).

Thanks to Neil Finlay for the picture of the Little Egret, to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Buzzard and to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Whooper Swans and the Greenshank:

Bird News Thursday 25th October

A Hoopoe was seen this morning at the back of Parkanaur Forest. Castlecaulfield, Dungannon (Paul Topliss), Directions: Go to Quinn's Corner. Turn right into Aughintober Road. Take next left into Tullyallen Road. Drive about a mile to where the road narrows. The Hoopoe was in the right hand side of the road on the grass in front of a metal gate.

12 Whoopers flew up Belfast Lough from Carrick this afternoon (Gerard McGeehan).

Thanks to Paul Topliss for these pictures of the Hoopoe and to Paul Sharpe for the video:

Bird News Wednesday 24th October

27 Purple Sandpiper were at the seafront in Portrush (Christine Cassidy and Lindsay Hodges)

Three Twite were in Ballintoy Harbour (Michael Henderson)

Christine Cassidy, Purple Sandpiper:

Bird News Tuesday 23rd October.

This morning 7:45am - 10:30am a walk from Poyntzpass to Scarva included the following:- 7 Whooper Swans, 11 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 13 Skylark and 4 Raven. (Fulton Somerville)

Lower Lough Erne reserve had a near adult White-tailed Eagle, 2 inland Kittiwakes and 4 Little Egrets. (Brad Robson)

White - tailed Eagle - Brad Robson.

Neil Finlay - Grey Heron

Mistle Thrush - Fulton Somerville.

Bird News Monday 22nd October

A Short-eared Owl was at Ballyquinitn Point this morning. (Dan Bailie).

Yesterday a Great White Egret was with 11 Little Egrets at Paddy's Dubh, Lough Beg. 3 Pintail were on the lough and large flocks of Golden Plover and Lapwing were present. Several small flocks of Redwing were seen in flight and a Peregrine was also present. (Godfrey McRoberts).

50 Black Guillemot in winter plumage were at Bangor Harbour and the Long Hole and 4 Purple Sandpiper on the the rocks along Seacliffe Road. (Margaret Adamson).

On Rathlin a 2nd calendar year Iceland Gull was at Kebble and a single Twite in Church Bay. Several flocks of Whooper Swans flew over the is land heading south. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Up to 18 Little Egrets were at Patton's Marsh on the north shore of Strangford Lough this afternoon. (Philip McErlean).

Thanks to Margaret Adamsonfor the picture of the Black Guillemots and to Ric Else and Hazel Watson for the pictures of the Iceland Gull and the Twite:

Bird News Sunday 21st October

A Marsh Harrier was at Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh (Ed O’Hara)

Inch, Co Donegal had a female Ring-necked Duck, 40+ Pink-feet and six Ruff (Brian Murphy)

A Water Rail was heard calling along the Newry Canal about two miles north of Scava this morning (Sharon Carroll)

The hybrid Ring-billed Gull was at Millisle and a late Manx Shearwater was at Burial Island. (Richard Weyl)

60 Whooper Swans were at Kearney along with 2 Twite (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop / Carol Gillespie / Ray Bennett)

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for this pic of the Marsh Harrier:

Bird News Saturday 20th October.

2 American Golden Plover, 3 White-rumped Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper where at the Roe estuary.(Birdguides)

Slightly further afield...The Little Bunting was still on show at Malin Beg Co.Donegal

Malin Head had 285 Barnacle Geese.(Christine Cassidy/Dermot McLaughlin)

Dundalk has a Spotted Redshank and around 15 Ruff.(M.Richardson/R.Hart/F.Somerville)

Spotted Redshank - Fulton Somerville.(left hand bird)

Bird News Friday 19th October

A Great White Egret was at Duross Point, Lower Lough Erne Islands RSPB Reserve, Co Fermanagh (Fionnbarr Cross).

A single Raven was in the car park of Tesco Ballygomartin Road, Belfast, this morning at 8:30, being mobbed by other birds. (Ivan Dalglish)

A Little Bunting was at Malin Beg, Co Donegal (Robert Vaughan).

Ajuvenile or female Marsh Harrier, Merlin and juvenile Peregrine were at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

Three Whooper Swans flew over Portavo Reservoir this morning coming from the direction of the Copeland Islands. (Ian McKee).

Approx 800 Whooper Swans were at Station Road & 300 Whooper Swans at Maydown, Derry (Christine Cassidy & Marlene Dunnage).

A Wheatear and three Tree Sparrows were at St John's Point. (Fulton & Janet Somerville).

29 Whooper Swans flew west over Portstewart Head in two lots of 13 and 16. Also a Merlin made a brief appearance chasing a Rock Pipit (Sean Hickey).

Thanks to Fulton Somerville for the picture of the Wheatear:

Bird News Thursday 18th October

A Dotterel was at Scawt Hill, Antrim Plateau (above Cairncastle north of Larne) this afternoon: it was a flyover, calling, heading north (bird also seen). Also there was a flyover Snow Bunting and 15 Twite. (David Steele)

A Buff breasted Sandpiper was showing well but fair distance out from the viewpoint at Inch (Nigel Moore / Garry Wilkinson / Richard Smith)

Unusually, 20 Whooper Swans were on the north foreshore of Belfast Lough (Roberta McKee)

A Twite was at Portstewart Strand and over 250 Whoopers were seen (Richard Donaghey)

Two Brambling were on Rathlin. Also present were a Bullfinch and a Treecreeper as well as small numbers of Barnacles (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Myroe had 21 Pink-footed Geese (Ken Perry/ Peter Robinson/Hill Dick)

Wilf Swain, Grey Heron:

Bird News Wednesday 17th October

There was a Short-eared Owl today at stubble fields beside the car park at Islandhill, Strangford Lough (Harry Byron)

At Ligoniel Dams around midday, flocks of fieldfare 200+ were flying west (Larry Toal)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Ballycrune Road, Hillsborough (Richard Warner)

Thomas Campbell, Sanderling:

Wilf Swain, Little Egrets:

Bird News Tuesday 16th October

The Black Tern is still at Lough Shark today. (Joe Devlin).

A large feeding flock of Kittwakes and other gulls between Rathlin and Ballycastle today contained 2 Little Gulls (adult and 2CY), 1 Arctic Tern, and 2 Arctic Skuas. Also the first Fieldfare of the autumn  were on Rathlin today. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

70+ Ringed Plover, 5 Purple Sandpiper plus Turnstone and Dunlin were at Seacliff Road high tide roost in Bangor. (Derek Polley).

Thanks to Ian Jackson for the picture of the Greenshank and to Derek Polley for the picture of the Ringed Plover:

Bird News Monday 15th October

A White-rumped Sandpiper was seen at Myroe, it was seen in the channel near the Roe river end.
(Patrick  & Michael Barton)

A Black Tern was at Lough Shark, County Armagh today. (Joe Devlin).

A Great White Egret was seen on Lower Lough Erne islands RSPB reserve nr. Killadeas.(Peter Taylor)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Cairn Wood.(Geoff Jones)

6 White Wagtails, 6 Whooper Swans and 2  Twite where at Portstewart back strand.(David/Naomi Morrow)

Slightly further afield... a Baird's Sandpiper was seen at Inch Lake Co.Donegal.(Robert Vaughan).

The south end of Lough Beg had the Great White Egret, a Goosander, 13 Ruff and a Greenshank. (Matthew Tickner).

Our thanks to Joe Devlin for the two pictures below showing the Black Tern at Lough Shark. 

Bird News Sunday 14th October

A Yellow-browed Warbler was next to The Lighthouse Tavern, Fanad Head (Robert Vaughan).

The Stilt Sandpiper was again at Inch Island in Donegal. (Birdguides).

A Yellow-browed Warbler was behind the chapel on Rathlin. Also a Snow Bunting was extremely approachable at Keeble. (Ric Else & Neal Warnock).

A Great White Egret was on the western shore of Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was offshore at Drumfad Bay, Millisle at 3.30 today. (Guy Hamilton)

Two Twite where on the beach at Larne leisure centre.(Ed O'Hara/Comghal McQuillan)

Ballyquintin Point, Ards peninsula had 55 Great Northern Divers, 6 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver and a Great Skua seen between 8.45 - 10.45 ..also a Storm Petrel was feeding offshore and also a Whimbrel. Another 2 Whimbrel where at Orlock Point.(Richard Weyl)

A Med Gull was at Whitehead.(Ian Enlander)


500 Common Scoter where of Murlough Strand, 8 Fieldfare where seen near Banbridge.(Mike McLaughlin)

Yellow -browed Warbler - Hazel Watson.

Twite - Ed O'Hara.

Bird News Saturday 13th October

A very wet Rathlin had a Snow Bunting, Merlin, Redwing and a Wheatear. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A ring-tailed Hen Harrier and a Short-eared Owl were at Copeland Bird Observatory. (David Stirling).

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Little Egret, Dunlin and partial albino Rook, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Snipe and to Ric Else for the picture of the Snow Bunting:

Bird News Friday 12th October

No news so far today.

Thanks to David Steele for the picture of the Yellow Wagtail from Lough Beg yesterday, to Mike Pringle for the picture of the juvenile Peregrine from Belfast WOW yesterday and to Mervyn Campbell for the picture of the Sanderling:

Bird News Thursday 11th October

Yesterday a probable Turtle Dove was near the large house at St John’s Point, Co Down (Des Loughridge)

Lough Beg late afternoon had a Yellow Wagtail at Mullagh and a Little Stint in the southwest corner. (David Steele)

A high count of at least 170 Red-breasted Mergansers were off Kinnegar (Derek Polley)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen near Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson)

Portavoe, North Down had a group of 20+ Jays flew. Millisle between 11:30 and 12:45 - had flying south, 30+ Great Northern Divers, mostly in summer plumage, 4 Red Throated Divers (only one in winter plumage) and 2 Scoter. (Robert Hart, Michael Richardson & Fulton Somerville)

9 Pink-footed Geese were still around Larne Lough. 2 Whooper Swans flew south past Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

8 Whooper Swans flew over the Bann Estuary, also present were 2 Whimbrel (Sean Hickey)

Inch Lake,Co.Donegal had 57 Pink-footed Geese (Ken Perry/Hill Dick)

Pink-footed Goose, Cameron Moore:

Bird News Wednesday 10th October

A male Hen Harrier was in the Antrim Hills today (Cameron Moore)

Today Rathlin had 29 Crossbills, 4 Whooper Swans, a Hen Harrier and a Jackdaw (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Three Mediterranean Gulls were at Ballykelly this afternoon (Brian Murphy)

The high tide roost today at Seacliff Road Bangor had Ringed plover 74, Turnstone 18 and Purple Sandpipers 5 (Derek Polley)

There were 12 pink footed geese briefly in a field at Myroe this evening around 6pm (Lindsay Hodges)

An Albatross species was seen heading west at lunchtime today at Malin Head (John Clarke)

Thanks to Ric and Hazel for this pic of the Crossbill:

Pink-footed Geese, Lindsay Hodges:

Bird News Tuesday 9th October

Two Crossbills and a Pink-footed Goose were on Rathlin and a Little Egret was seen flying south over the sea. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Mervyn Campbell for the pictures of the 1st year Mediterranean Gull, Sanderling and Sandwich Tern and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Little Egret:

Bird News Monday 8th October.

16 Crossbill where on Rathlin Island to-day.(Richard Else/Hazel Watson)

Bird News Sunday 7th October

A Short-eared Owl was seen at Magheralave Road / Fairfield’s Glen, outside Lisburn, this morning (Desmond Hassett)

8 Pink-footed Geese were seen flying east at Ramore Head (Brian Murphy)

Desmond Hassett, video still of Short-eared Owl:

Bird News Saturday 6th October

A Blyth's Reed Warbler was at the east end of Tory Island (Anton Meenan)

12 Pink-footed aGeese were with with c500 Brent off Ballykelly this morning (Michael Savage)

9 Pink-footed Geese were with 40+ Greylags in Larne Lough today (Linda Thompson)

Rathlin had its first Redwings of the autumn, a couple of Merlins and Wheatear. Also 5 species of goose including 22 Barnacle Geese flying past, 11 Greenland White-fronts, a Pink-foot and a Brent (Ric Else / Hazel Watson et al)

Sightings in and around the Sperrins today included  a Hen Harrier (Male), 3 Peregrine Falcon, 3 Kestrel, 3 Buzzards and 4 Ravens (Christine Cassidy and Lindsay Hodges)

On Rathlin yesterday ( Friday) there was a Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrines, a Wheatear and a flock of 21 Twite. (Clive Mellon / Jim Wells)

Thanks to our photographers today:

Mervyn Campbell, Arctic Skua:

Mervyn Campbell, Sanderling:

Linda Thompson, Pink-footed Geese:

Chris Babes, Buzzard:

Christine Cassidy, Hen Harrier: