Bird News Wednesday 31st July

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Lough Beg this morning. (Richard Hunter)

A Little Gull wa at Whitehead and unusually a Pochard was with Mallard at Ballycarry (Cameron Moore)

This evening an Arctic Skua and a Great Skua were off Whitehead (Shirley Dunlop / Gerard McGeehan)

2 ad Med Gulls and at least 6Whimbrel were at Ballykelly RSPB (John Spottiswood)

The two Wood Sandpipers were seen again today at the Bann Estuary along with a high count of 19 Greenshank (Richard Donaghey)

Bird News Tuesday 30th July

A Long-billed Dowitcher was in the southwest corner of Lough Beg this evening, it was an adult in faded summer plumage. Also present were a Green Sandpiper, two male Ruff and two Garganey. An Osprey and juvenile Mediterranean Gull were at Mullagh. (David Steele).

Bird News Monday 29th July

The Blue-headed Wagtail was still around the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island though it is elusive. (Clifford Sharpe).

A Med. Gull was at Smelt  Mill Bay, Bangor.(Philip Watson)


Our thanks to Thomas Campbell for the pic of a Greenshank, also to Wilfred Swain for the Little Egret.

All Ireland Pine Marten and Squirrel Survey

If you have any sightings of Pine Marten, Red or Grey Squirrels, please assist Ulster Wildlife and report them at the site below:

 https://www2.habitas.org.uk/records/uw-squirrel-monitoring

Bird News Sunday 28th July

A female Garganey was at RSPB WoW this morning. A Sanderling was at Kinnegar shore this evening. (Daniel Newton)

The Blue-headed Wagtail was seen again today at 12:50 at Oxford Island, Craigavon, behind the activities centre. (Kevin Kirkham)

A Roseate Tern was at RSPB WoW this afternoon (Stuart McKee)

Two possible Wood Sandpipers were at the Bann Estuary (Richard Donaghey)

Bird News Saturday 27th July

Belfast WOW reserve this morning had a Roseate Tern, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 summer plummaged Knot and 20 summer plummaged Bar-tailed Godwits. (Garry Armstrong/Ed O'Hara).

In the Antrim hills today there were several Spotted Flycatchers and Whinchats, a juvenile Cuckoo, a female Hen Harrier and a family group of 5 Red Grouse. (Michael Latham)

A Grasshopper Warbler was seen in a garden in Newtownards (Ian McKee)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Tyrella this evening (Brian Sutton)

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Roseate Tern, to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Hen Harrier and the Kestrel and to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Red Grouse and the Cuckoo:

Bird News Friday 26th July

3 male Ruff were in the south-west corner of Lough Beg this morning. (Richard Hunter)

A Wood Sandpiper was at Inch, Co Donegal (Robert Vaughan)

A Long-eared Owl was at the back of Dermott Hill west Belfast last night (Stephen Corr)

An Osprey was seen this afternoon near Corkey in North Antrim. It looked to be a migrating bird, came in from NE and continued steadily to SW. (David Steele)

Bird News Thursday 25th July

A Ruff was at Belfast Lough WOW reserve this morning. (Daniel Newton).

Bird News Wednesday 24th July

There was no sign of the Collared Pratincole at Blanketnook today.

An Arctic Skua was seen of Grey Point, Co Down (Terry Rankin)

A Roseate Tern was at RSPB WoW this evening (Daniel Newton)

Earlier today, RSPB WoW had 12 Knot, 14 Dunlin, 20 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel and 2 Roseate Tern (Tom Ennis)

Thanks to Fulton Somerville for this pic of a juvenile Stonechat:

Roseate Tern, Daniel Newton:

Bird News Tuesday 23rd July

The Collared Pratincole was still at Blanket Nook, Co Donegal to 9:00pm. (Ian O’Connor / Niall Keogh / Michael Savage / Derek Brennan).

This morning 2 Red Kites and 4 Buzzards were near Slieve Croob in Co. Down. (Ed Paynter). 

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Curlew and to Mervyn Campbell for the pictures of the Puffins and the Manx Shearwater:

Bird News Monday 22nd July

A Collared Pratincole was found this morning at Blanketnook, Co Donegal. The bird was still present at 7:30pm and has been feeding at the south western end. (Robert Vaughan).

A female Garganey and five Ruff were in the southwest corner of Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele)

Tree Sparrows are visiting feeder near Lough Aghery, Annahilt. (Gerard McLaughlin).

Thanks to Robert Vaughan for the picture of the Collared Pratincole and to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Swift, Grey Wagtail and Willow Warbler:

Bird News Sunday 21st July

An Osprey flew south over the A1 between Hillsborough and Dromore at 11:30 this morning (Chris and Walter Veale).

The Long-Billed Dowitcher was seen briefly this afternoon at Belfast WOW. (Kevin Kirkham).

The blue-headed Yellow Wagtail was looked for without success this morning.

A Peregrine and a Common Sandpiper were at Ardmore on the south shore of Lough Neagh this morning. (Ed O'Hara).

A Spotted Flycatcher and several Whinchats were in the Antrim Hills. (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the young Whinchat and the Kestrel:

Bird News Saturday 20th July

There was no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher at Belfast WOW reserve between 8.30 and 9.30 this morning but a Roseate Tern was on the posts outside hide 2 for a short time and a Common Sandpiper was also present. (Garry Armstrong).

A Yellow Wagtail of the blue headed race flava was at Oxford Island this afternoon, see picture below. (Kevin Kirkham/Danny Gibson).

A second calendar year Mediterranean Gull, was on Kinnegar Beach this afternoon. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Whitehouse Lagoon, was ringed with a tall metal ring, which suggests that it is a foreign rung bird. The ring is on the right leg, which the gull appears to have injured, as it's holding it's foot up. It flew off towards Belfast. (Gareth Platt)

Thanks to Kevin Kirkham for the first picture of the Yellow Wagtail, to Danny Gibson for the second picture and to Gareth Platt for the picture of the 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull:

Bird News Friday 19th July

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still present at RSPB WoW this morning. (Daniel Newton)

Thanks to Mervyn Campbell for this pic of a diving Sandwich Tern:

Bird News Thursday 18th July

The Long-billed Dowitcher, a Common Sandpiper and 11 Bar-tailed Godwits, some still in breeding plumage, were at Belfast WOW reserve this morning. (Derek Polley).

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Buzzard and to Mervyn Campbell for the picture of the Whinchat:

Bird News Wednesday 17th July

The Long-billed Dowitcher has returned to RSPB Belfast WoW. The bird was present to 5pm at least (Daniel Newton)

A Quail was heard calling yesterday evening from pasture edge at Ballystrone Road (at the A37 / Dunhill Road end of Ballystrone Rd), Macosquin, outside Coleraine. (Dylan Thomas)

Six Common Sandpiper were at Whitehead seafront (Ian Enlander)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for this pic of a juvenile Peregrine:

Bird News Tuesday 16th July

A Corncrake was calling from behind the Bar on Rathlin last night (Colin Guy)

The Great Northern Diver was still in Killough Harbour. A movement of waders was also noted with Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper present amongst other species. (Chris Murphy)

A Pectoral Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank were at Blanketnook, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram)

Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Kinnegar Shore (Tom Lavery)

Bird News Monday 15th July

A Turnstone, a Purple Sandpiper and 5 Dunlin - all adults - were at Kilhorne Bay south of Annalong this morning. (Richard Gray).

Yesterday a Quail was calling at 16.30 close to the roadside, 2 km east of Sperrin in Glennelly valley (Larry Toal).

Portmuck had an adult Mediterranean Gull this afternoon, the Gobbins area had 1 Whimbrel. (Ian Enlander).

A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was in Killough harbour this evening. (Chris Murphy).

A single Brent Goose flew south past Annalong this evening. (Richard Grey).

There will be a boat trip to Islay and Jura this Thursday (July 18th) to see Golden and Sea Eagles. Contact Jim Wells on-07856235144 for full details.

Thanks to Jonny Rosborough for the pictures of the Puffins:

Bird News Sunday 14th July

A flock of 20 Common Crossbills flew over Slaght near Ballymena this morning - an unprecedented flock for this area (David Steele)

A Red Kite was circling just above the roundabout in Clough, Co. Down this afternoon. (Paul and Niall Mulvenna)

A Long-eared Owl was seen near Magheragall, Lisburn (Tom Trouton)

Bird News Saturday 13th July

Three Bonxie were seen off Rathlin (Brian Murphy)

Bird News Friday 12th July

A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Bleary, Co Armagh yesterday (Stephen Foster)

This morning a Chough was around the Giants Causeway visitor centre. (Peter Hough)

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at the Bann Estuary along with the 4 Ruddy Shelducks (John Spottiswood)

A seawatch at Kilcummin, Co Mayo produced 3 Arctic Skua, 2 Bonxies and lots of Manx Shearwaters (Brad Robson)

An Osprey was at Lough Beg today, and Green Sandpiper again in the southwest corner. (David Steele)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for these pic's of a Puffin and Swift in flight:

Bird News Thursday 11th July

A Short-eared Owl was seen at Alley, Rathlin Island. (Patrick/Michael Barton)

A Hobby was seen over Tyrella, Co Down. (Brian Sutton)

Bird News Wednesday 10th July

The Rose-coloured Starling was still in Dundrum this morning. (Frank Carroll).

A Green Sandpiper was in the southwest corner of Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).

The Yellowhammer flock was still five miles north of Portaferry, see picture below. (Michael Latham).

The Ruddy Shelducks of unknown origin were still at the Barmouth, see picture below. (Stevie C Knox).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Yellowhammer and Whitethroat, to Stevie Knox for the picture of the Ruddy Shelduck, to Neal Warnock for the picture of the Hen Harrier and to Jonny Rosborough for the picture of the Manx Shearwater:

Bird News Tuesday 9th July

The Rosy Starling was still at Dundrum today (David Nixon)

Yesterday morning the Glossy Ibis was still present at Portmore RSPB reserve. (Steven Fyffe).

Bird News Monday 8th July

The Roseate Tern continues to be seen sitting often on a post to the left of hide 2. Also a Common Sandpiper a Sandwich Tern and a Dunlin were present. Also a Sparrow hawk was causing major agitation amongst the black headed gulls and terns.(Noeni Bryars)

Last night at least four Log-eared Owls were in Gosford. (John Anderson).

The four Ruddy Shelducks of unknown origin are still at the Barmouth. (Birdguides).

Our thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Whinchat and to Olivier Bernard for the picture of the Ringed Plover:

Kestrel Sightings

Kez Armstrong is a PhD student at Queens who is studying Kestrels and she would appreciate any sighting information that you can give.

You can provide any information on Kestrels on the following site http://bit.ly/KestrelsNI

Bird News Sunday 7th July

The Rose-coloured Starling is still present in Castleglen Grove, Dundrum this morning, see picture below. (Michael Latham/Brian Carruthers). The bird was still present this afternoon. (Stephen Maxwell & John Spottiswood).

A Roseate Tern was on the posts again outside hide 2 at the Belfast WOW reserve. (Garry Armstrong).

A Whitethroat was at St John's Point and 3 confiding Yellowhammer about five miles north of Portaferry. (Michael Latham).

A ringed Common Gull on Millisle beach was first ringed on 20th June 1992 meaning it is over 27 years old, see picture below. (Gareth Platt).

There were 4 Ruddy Shelducks of unknown origin at the Barmouth, Bann Estuary, during WeBS Count; they were distant viewing on the far side of the bay from the hide. Also present were 1 Roseate Tern and 40 Black-tailed Godwit.(Hill Dick)

Thanks to Michael Latham for the first picture of the Rose-coloured Starling, the Whitethroat and Yellowhammer, to Jonny Rosborough for the pictures of the Whinchat, to Stephen Maxwell for the second Starling picture and to Gareth Platt for the picture of the ringed Common Gull:

Bird News Saturday 6th July

The Rose-coloured Starling was still in Castleglen Grove, Dundrum this morning. (Billy Miskelly/Sean Hennessey). It was still present this evening. (Ian Enlander).
If looking for this bird please respect the privacy of residents and also park considerately.

A Roseate Tern was on the planks at Belfast WOW reserve this evening, see pictures below. (Daniel Newton).

A Ruddy Shelduck of unknown origin was at the Barmouth. (Birdguides).

A few Reed Warblers were at Oxford Island, see picture below. (Michael Latham)

As well as the Roseate Tern Belfast WOW reserve had 1 Greenshank (breeding plumage), 1 Dunlin (breeding plumage), 2 Common Sandpipers. Also three Painted Lady Butterflies. (Tom Ennis).

Thanks to Sean Hennessy for the first picture of the Rose-coloured Starling, to Richard Hunter for the second picture to Ian Enlander for the third picture, to Daniel Newton for the pictures of the Roseate Tern and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Reed Warbler: