Bird News Monday 30th September

The Red-eyed Vireo was still showing near the East Light, Rathlin (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

The probable Icterine Warbler was seen again on Rathlin this morning (Stuart McKee)

Rathlin also had a Lapland Bunting.(Ric Else)

31 Pink-footed Geese were at Lough Beg today, six at Mullagh and a flock of 25 flying high east. Yesterday another 16 Pink-feet flew east and two Sandwich Terns and a Green Sandpiper were also seen. (David Steele)

24 Whooper Swans flew south over Castleroe, Coleraine this evening. (Clive Mellon)


Our thanks to Christine Cunningham for this image of a Whooper Swan family.

Red-eyed Vireo on Rathlin

Thanks to Ric Else for these pictures of the Red-eyed Vireo on Rathlin, a first record for Northern Ireland.

Bird News Sunday 29th September

A Red-eyed Vireo is on Rathlin Island at the East Light. The bird was still showing in the sycamores at 1:45. (Wilton Farrelly)

A probable Icterine Warbler was on Rathlin Island this evening. (Dennis Weir).

A White-tailed Eagle was on Lower Lough Erne on the island opposite the road just outside Belleek from 8am to930am (Ivan Cullen and Gerard Barkley).

A Red Kite with a red wingtag was perched on a telegraph pole on the Shilnavogey Road, near the end of the road which joins the A36 around 10am. (Tom Swann).

The Spotted Redshank and a Ruff were at RSPB WOW reserve this morning, see picture below. (Michael Latham).

A Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap and Willow Warbler were at Kearney, a Whimbrel was at Orlock. (Richard Weyl).

A Great-spotted Woodpecker was at Galloon, Upper Lough Erne today. (Sarah McCaffrey).

Back of camera shot, Ric Else:

Spotted Redshank - Michael Latham

Red Kite - Gregory Moorehead

Bird News Saturday 28th September

Bloody Bridge had 20+ Red Throated Divers, Newcastle Harbour had a White Wagtail, Rock Pipit and 6 Sanderling. (Robert Hart, Michael Richardson and Fulton Somerville)

Rathlin today had a juvenile Sabine's Gull, Pink-footed Goose, Arctic and Great Skuas, Hen Harrier, 25 Twite and a Mediterranean Gull. (Wilton Farrelly).

Three Hen Harriers were in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

4 Pink-footed Geese were at Malin Beg in Donegal. (Brad Robson).

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Common Scoters, Bar-tailed Godwit and Greenshank and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Hen Harrier:

Bird News Thursday 26th September

An adult Little gull was off Grey Point (Richard Weyl)

RSPB WoW this morning had the Spotted Redshank, 5 Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and 5 Ruff (Derek Polley)

Bird News Wednesday 25th September

The Spotted Redshank is still at RSPB WoW along with a Little Stint (Gerard McGeehan)

Fieldfares were calling over Coleraine this morning.(John Clarke)

Rathlin had a flock of 55 Twite at the  East Light.(Ric Else)

Bird News Tuesday 24th September

A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was at Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele)

Thanks to Ernest Parker for this pic of a Sparrowhawk:

Bird News Monday 23rd September

A Turtle Dove was at Portrush Catering College at 10:50 (Dennis Weir).

Grey Point this morning had a Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skua and 2 Arctic Skua among thousands of Gannets and Auks. (John Edwards).

The juvenile Long-tailed Skua was seen again at 14.50 off Grey Point, Belfast Lough (Paul McCullough)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker and a ring tail Hen Harrier were at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve (Brad Robson).

Thanks to Stephen Foster for the picture of the Meadow Pipit:

Bird News Sunday 22nd September

Belfast RSPB WOW reserve this morning had the Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper and 5 Ruff. (Ed O'Hara).

Grey Point in an hour had a Red-throated Diver, Arctic Skua, Common and Sandwich Terns among large numbers of Auks and Gannets. (Michael Latham).

There was no sign of the Redstart at Kearney, 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Goldcrest were present. (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Spotted Redshank and to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Red-throated Diver and Arctic Skua:

Bird News Saturday 21st September

A female/juvenile Redstart was at Kearney, in the first large garden on right at the car park entrance (Billy Miskelly)

Seacliff Road Bangor high tide roost had 2 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Dunlin and 13 Turnstone (Derek Polley).

A Ruff was at Kirkistown. (Richard Weyl).

The RSPB Wow reserve had the Spotted Redshank a Curlew Sandpiper and a Ruff.(Michael Latham)


The leucistic  Gull photographed a week ago has now re-appeared at Whitehouse Lagoon, our thanks to Suzanne Belshaw for the photo. Also thanks to Alastair McLean for the pic of the Tufted Duck.Bottom pic is off the  Spotted Redshank the bird in front is a Redshank, nice to get a comparsion of the two, this pic was kindly sent in by Michael Latham.\

Bird News Friday 20th September

An Osprey was seen around 2:30 at Clough, Co Down (Trevor Fisher)

Belfast RSPB Wow reserve had 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff and around 20 Knot. (Tom Ennis)

A juvenile Red Kite was at the south end of Lough Beg, 13 Ruff where also in the area.(David Steele)

The American Golden Plover and a Spotted Redshank were at Blanketnook, Co Donegal (Robert Vaughan)

Our thanks to Stephen Foster for the picture of a Great Black- backed Gull and to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Kestrel and the Hen Harrier:.

Bird News Thursday 19th September

Two Lapland Buntings were on Rathlin Island (Ric Else \ Hazel Watson)

The Spotted Redshank was again at RSPB WoW this morning (Stuart McKee)

RSPB WoW also had 3 Ruff and 2 Curlew Sandpiper. A high count of 70 Red-Breasted Merganser were off Kinnegar (Derek Polley)

St Johns Point this afternoon had a single Wheatear and Point Road had a flock of 50+ Skylarks and a Spotted Flycatcher. Bloody Bridge had a singing Chiffchaff and a singing Willow Warbler. (Fulton Somerville)

A high count of 79 Little Egrets were at Lough foyle today (Brad Robson and Matthew Tickner)

The Bann Estuary today had 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Ruff and 6 Pintail. (Hill Dick)

Thanks to Ric Else and Hazel Watson for this pic of one of the Rathlin Lapland Buntings:

Bird News Wednesday 18th September

The Spotted Redshank, a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Ruff and 2 Grey Plover were at RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan)

An adult American Golden Plover was at Blanketnook along with 300 Golden Plover and four Ruff (Chris Ingram)

The juvenile Long-tailed Skua was at Grey Point early afternoon (Paul McCullough)

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for this picture of a male Merlin:

Bird News Tuesday 17th September

The Spotted Redshank, 3 Ruff and 50 Knot were at RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

A Reed Warbler was at the hide at Portmore lough this afternoon (Mark Elliott)

Reed Warbler - Mark Elliott

Bird News Monday 16th September.

The Spotted Redshank and a Curlew Sandpiper are still present at the RSPB WoW reserve.(Jonathan Clark)

A Whimbrel and several Carrion Crow where at Ballyquinton Point.(Mark Elliott)

Grey Point late afternoon / early evening had a Long-tailed Skua, four Arctic Skua, three Bonxies, 5 Roseate Terns, three Mediterranean Gulls and the leucistic Herring or Lesser Black-backed Gull. (Paul McCullough / Stuart McKee / Wilton Farrelly)

Our thanks to Jonathan Clark for the photo of the Curlew Sandpiper(left) and the Spotted Redshank in the same shot. Also to Mark Elliott for the Sparrowhawk.

Long-tailed Skua - Paul McCullough

Leucistic Gull

This leucistic Gull, either a Herring Gull or Lesser Black-backed Gull, was close in off Grey Point this evening. At any distance it could be mistaken for an Iceland Gull. (Stuart McKee).

Bird News Sunday 15th September

Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve this morning between 8.30 and 12.30 had the Spotted Redshank, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 9 Ruff and 3 Whimbrel, there was no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper. (Ed O'Hara, Comghal McQuillan, Michael Latham).

The Pectoral Sandpiper was again at Belfast WOW reserve this afternoon along with the Spotted Redshank, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Ruff, 12 Knot and a Peregrine. (Derek Polley),

An adult Roseate Tern was at Crawfordsburn and Burial Island on the Outer Ards had an Arctic Skua and 4 Red-throated Divers. (Richard Weyl).

Between Swineley Point Bangor and Carrickfergus this afternoon there were: feeding flocks of c500 Gannets, 1500+ auks (Razorbill. and Guillemot.), 2000+ Herring Gulls, 1 2nd winter Iceland Gull, 35 Arctic terns and 6 Sandwich Terns. (Philip Watson).

Off Grey Point in calm conditions there was a Sabine's Gull, 1800 Gannets, 2500 - 3000 Auks mostly Razorbill, 2000+ Kittiwakes,  two adult and a 1st year Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Arctic Terns and 120 Sandwich Terns. Roosting on the rocks were 12 Roseate Terns and 120 Common Terns. Also nearby was a leucistic Herring/Lesser Black-backed Gull. (Stuart McKee).

At Ballykelly a Yellow Wagtail of the flava race dropped into the salt marsh; also seen were: 1 Whooper Swan, two Peregrines (ad and juvenile), 10 Wheatears and a pair of Stock Dove. Waders in the fields behind Ballykelly Bank included small numbers only of Ringed Plover, Golden Plover and Dunlin. There was no sign of the American Golden Plover (Chris Murphy et al).

The Bann Estuary had 1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Little Stint. A Peregrine was also present.(Hill Dick).

Great Skuas were seen off Ramore ahead and Portstewart (Chris Rankin)

Curlew Sandpiper

Ruff

Spotted Redshank - Michael Latham

Roseate & Common Terns - Stuart McKee

Bird News Saturday 14th September

The Pectoral Sandpiper & Spotted Redshank were both seen at RSPB WOW from Hide 2, this morning along with 2 Curlew Sandpipers (Ed O’Hara & Kevin Kirkham)

The Subalpine Warbler (possibly Eastern) was still present, although elusive, on Tory Island for its third day (Derek Brennan)

An adult American Golden Plover is at Ballykelly, Lough Foyle (Neal Warnock)

A 2nd calendar year Ring-billed Gull was at the Roe Estuary this evening (Neal Warnock).

The Little Stint was still at Myroe (John Qzak).

St John’s Point this morning had 34 Red-throated Divers and 1 Great Northern Diver flying south into Dundrum Bay, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Arctic Skuas, and many skeins of Brent Goose. Tyrella had 134 Sanderling; several thousand auks (mostly Razorbill) were between Killough and Ballykinker. Quoile Pondage had 3 Ruff, 1 Pintail; Comber Est. had 3,000 Brent Geese, 3 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Ruff and 2 Curlew Sandpipers; Maltings to Greyabbbey had c. 9,000 Brent Geese; Inch Church near Downpatrick had 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a pair of Stock Dove (Chris Murphy et al)

American Golden Plover - Neal Warnock

Red-throated Diver - Thomas Campbell

Sanderling & Dunlin - Thomas Campbell

Buzzard - Wilf Swain

Wheatear - David Miller

Bird News Friday 13th September

A Long-tailed Skua and a Sabine's Gull were in Belfast Lough this afternoon, see pictures below. (Ronald Surgenor).

A Subalpine Warbler is on Tory Island (Anton Meenan)

A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper is at RSPB WoW reserve (Stuart McKee)

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Belfast WOW reserve this evening with at least 10 Curlew Sandpipers and 3 Ruff. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop, Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

Myroe this morning had a juvenile Little Stint, Whooper Swan and Carrion Crow (Robert Vaughan).

A White-tailed Eagle was at Magho Cliffs in Co. Fermanagh. (Adam Butler)

4 Whoopers were at Ballyronan this afternoon. (Brenda Campbell & Ray Bennett).

4 Wheatear were on the National Trust walk up to Divis above Belfast. (Derek Polley).

Long-tailed Skua - Ronald Surgenor

Sabine's Gull - Ronald Surgenor

Pectoral Sandpiper - Stuart McKee

Little Stint - Robert Vaughan

Wheatear - David Clarke



Whoopers - Brenda Campbell

Bird News Thursday 12th September.

RSPB WOW reserve had... 1Knot, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Sandwich Tern, 3 Ruff, 26 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Swift and still 50+ Common Tern, no sign of Spotted Redshank.(Derek Polley)

An Osprey was at Lough Beg this evening and at dusk a Green Sandpiper was calling at  Slaght nr. Ballymena.(David Steele)

Our thanks to everyone who has reported Brent Geese arriving over the last few days.

Our thanks to Lindsay Hodges for the photo's of a Knot and a Dunlin.  

Bird News Wednesday 11th September

The Spotted Redshank is still at RSPB WoW this morning. 5 Ruff and 2 Curlew Sandpipers were also present (Gerard McGeehan).

An Iceland Gull was on Cockle Island in Groomsport this morning. (Ian Enlander).

Bird News Tuesday 10th September

A Lesser Whitethroat was seen at 10.30 this morning at St Cooeys Wells near Portaferry, in bushes just north of the trees. (Dermot Hughes)

A juvenile Spotted Redshank and two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers are at RSPB WoW (Stuart McKee)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was showing well in Belvoir Forest (Peter McErlean)

Spotted Redshank - Stuart McKee

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Philip McErlean

Bird News Monday 9th September.

20 Scaup where off Hazelbank, Belfast Lough.(Paul McCullough)

Late news from yesterday was of 200 + feral Barnacle Geese seen in a field in Ardmillan, Co Down.(Wallis Jefferson)

Bird News Sunday 8th September

Rathlin today had a Wood Warbler & Spotted Flycatcher at Kinramer, plus a few other migrant Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)

The best at RSPB WoW this morning was a Curlew Sandpiper and 4 Ruff (Wilton Farrelly)

A Lapland Bunting was on the coastal path between Portstewart and Portrush (about a mile from Portstewart). (John Clarke).

An Arctic Skua, Mediterranean Gull and a Wheatear were at Whitehead. (Ed O'Hara).

An estimated 5,000 auks, Guillemots and Razorbills, were in Dundrum Bay between Newcastle and Ballykinler. (Stephen Foster).

A dark phase Arctic Skua and two Wheatear were at St John's Point. (Michael Latham).

An adult Hobby was feeding on dragonflies on the west shore of Lough Beg at lunchtime today. (Godfrey McRoberts).

2 or 3 Lapland Buntings were on Tory Island. The Orca known as John Coe was also photographed heading east (Brad Robson)
Thanks to John Clarke for the picture of the Lapland Bunting, to Ric Else for the pictures of the Wood Warbler and the Spotted Flycatcher and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Wheatear: