Bird News Saturday 29th February

Yesterday 2 Mediterranean Gulls were at Belfast WOW reserve, see picture below. (Daniel Newton).

A female Marsh Harrier was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve, the bird was also present yesterday. (Garry Armstrong, Paul Toner, John O'Boyle).

15 Waxwings were at the Roden Street end of the Westlink in Belfast. The Ring-billed Gull was still at the Antrim Road Waterworks.

A male Hen Harrier was in the Antrim hills. (Stephen Dunbar).

The Twite flock was still around the boatyard in Whitehead, (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull, to Seamus Feeney for the picture of the American Herring Gull from Sligo, to Stephen Dunbar for the picture of the female Crossbill and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Twite:

Interesting Redpoll.

Below are pictures of an interesting Redpoll taken at the RSPB Portmore Lough by Anna Leschinki on Wednesday, the rump seems to be clean with no streaking, any comments on the bird are most welcome.

Anna Leschinki

Anna Leschinki

Anna Leschinki

Bird News Friday 28th February

The first winter American Herring Gull was at Cartron, Sligo (Brad Robson)

1 Female Marsh Harrier 1 Merlin, 4 Pinkfeet ,1 Jack Snipe, 500 Black-tailed Godwits and 1000 Golden Plover where at Reedy Flats.(Ed O'Hara/Comghal McQuillan/David Knight)


Our thanks to Ed O'Hara for the photo of the Marsh Harrier and to Christine Cunningham for the picture of a Yellowhammer. 

Bird News Thursday 27th February

The Waxwing flock was still at Mill Pond off Station Road in Doagh this morning. (Ivan Quail).

A Black-necked Grebe is at Reedy Flat on the south shore of Lough Neagh - almost certainly the same bird as last spring and summer. It was calling and practising courtship. (James O'Neill).

A Brambling has been feeding in garden in the Ballycrochan area of Bangor for the last two weeks, see picture below. (Michael Richardson).

10 Snipe and a Red-breasted Merganser were at Belfast WOW reserve. (Derek Polley).

10 Twite were at Rossglass Co Down today on the coastal fence.At Killough harbour there was a Greenshank, 45 Turnstone were along shoreline. 200 Fieldfare were at Grange Road outside Downpatrick. A 300 mixed flock of Fieldfare & Redwing were at Quoile Nature Reserve and 200+ Fieldfare at Ballywillanlough Road, Crossgar. (David Clarke).

The Black Redstart was still at Portstewart, 15 Buzzard and a Kestrel were seen in County Londonderry. (Christine Cassidy & Lindsay Hodges)

A first winter American Herring Gull was at Sligo (Seamus Feeney)

Thanks to Michael Richardson for the picture of the Brambling, to David Clarke for the picture of the Greenshank and to Christine Cassidy & Lindsay Hodges for the picture of the Black Redstart:

Bird News Wednesday 26th February.

The male Lesser Scaup was seen again at Portmore Lough (Brad Robson)

15 Waxwing were at Mill Pond off Station Road in Doagh this morning. (Ivan Quail)

A Grey Phalarope was at the west end of Myroe at Lough Foyle (Brian Hegarty)

The Black Redstart was still showing in Portstewart (Mervyn Campbell)

Yesterday 9 Sandwich Tern were at Portaferry (John Wilson Foster)

Thanks to Brian for these pics of the Grey Phalarope:

Black Redstart, Mervyn Campbell:

Bird News Tuesday 25th February

The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen again this afternoon with Redshanks at the south end of Lough Beg, also present were 35 Ruff and 800 Black-tailed Godwits. (David Steele).

Between 7 - 8am Whitehead had 72 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Diver flying into Belfast Lough. The Twite were still present at boat park. (Ian Enlander).

Around 200 Whoopers were in fields 3 miles from Magherafelt along the A6. (Jim McKeown).

The Black Redstart was at the Crescent, Portstewart today at 3 pm. (Sean Hickey).

At least 30 Tree Sparrows were feeding in muddy coastal field at Minerstown Co Down today at 2 pm and a separate and distinct flock of 40 Linnets arrived at same location. A female Kestrel was at McNabs recycle area, Downpatrick Road, Killough. (David Clarke et al)

59 Sanderling were at Castlerock (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Thanks to Ian Enlander for the picture of the Twite and to David Clarke for the picture of the Tree Sparrows:

Bird News Sunday 23rd February

An adult Iceland Gull was at Kinnegar (Daniel Newton)

24 Twite were still present at Whitehead Boat Park, Co Antrim (Fianna MacGinley and Paul Smith)

The hybrid Ring-billed Gull was still at Millisle and there were 4 Pink-footed Geese south of Anne’s Point. (Richard Weyl)

The adult Iceland Gull was at Glynn and a Merlin in the Antrim Hills (Gerard McGeehan \ Shirley Dunlop)

A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Lough Fern, Co Donegal (Robert Vaughan / Jamie Bliss)

The Black Redstart was still at Portstewart (Jonny Rosborough)

Mediterranean Gull, Kinnegar, Gareth Platt:

Twite, Ed O'Hara:

Twite, Paul Smith:

Black Redstart, Jonny Rosborough:

Bird News Saturday 22nd February

A redhead Smew was at Portmore Lough RSPB, there was no sign of the Lesser Scaup. (Ian Stevenson).

8 Waxwings were opposite Divis Tower on the Falls Road in Belfast. (John O'Boyle)

25 Twite were at Whitehead (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

3 Great Northern Diver were with the Scoter flock off Newcastle. (Michael Latham).

The hybrid duck resembling an American Wigeon is still present at the Barmouth, 237 Black-tailed Godwits were also present, see pictures below. (Hill Dick).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Greenshank and to Hill Dick for the pictures of the hybrid Wigeon:

Bird News Friday 21st February

At the Bar mouth the bird presumed to be a male American Wigeon was still present, photographs, although taken at very long range, do suggest that this bird may show some signs of hybridisation. See pictures below. (Hill Dick).

Thanks to David Hill for the pictures of the Red-throated Divers and the Barnacle Geese taken around Malin Head in Donegal and to Hill Dick for the pictures of the presumed American Wigeon:

Bird News Thursday 20th February

23 Twite were beside the boat compound at Whitehead seafront. (Cameron Moore)

A drake American Wigeon was at the Barmouth. The Black Redstart was still at the bandstand at Portstewart and a Long-eared Owl was roosting at the University of Ulster. (Nigel Moore / Garry Wilkinson)

2 Sandwich Tern were at Groomsport (George Gordon)

Myroe had c 900 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and c1100 Golden Plover on the lawn grass fields: also 250 Whooper Swans were feeding on potato fields. Off Magilligan Point 15 Common Scoter. (Ken Perry/John Clarke/Hill Dick)

Black Redstart, Nigel Moore:

Long-eared Owl, Garry Wilkinson:

This Kestrel was in a garden at Cavehill, Belfast, Reece Hinton:

Bird News Wednesday 19th February

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker has been visiting a garden in Ballynahinch, see pictures below. (Ian Jackson).

Bird News Tuesday 18th February

There were 5 Long-tailed Duck off Loughshore, Belfast Lough (Gerard McGeehan)

There was no sign of the Lesser Scaup or the Smew at Portmore Lough this morning (Dylan Branagh)

Male and female Shelduck, Christine Cunningham:

Bird News Monday 17th February.

About 200 Whooper Swan where in  flooded fields on the banks of the Lagan at the junction of Lany Rd and Innisloughlin Rd. Down /Armagh( Mike McLaughlin)

Bird News Sunday 16th February

The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Portmore Lough RSPB (Garry Armstrong)

A Short-eared Owl and 14 Pink-footed Geese were around Portrush. A second Short-eared Owl, single Snow Bunting and 6 Twite were in the dunes around Portstewart and Portrush (Marc Hughes)

3 Goosander were at Lough Island Reavey (Gerard McGeehan /Shirley Dunlop)

Yesterday a White-tailed Eagle was at Lower Lough Erne (Michael Stinson).

A female Brambling was near the caravan park area in Gosford Forest Park this morning. (Ed O'Hara & Comghal McQuillan).

An adult Iceland Gull was in Larne harbour. (Neal Warnock).

A male Lesser Scaup and 3 redhead Smew were at Portmore.

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Brambling, to Linda Thompson for the picture of the Crossbill, to Marc Hughes for the picture of the Snow Bunting and to Neal Warnock for the picture of the Iceland Gull:

Bird News Saturday 15th February

There was no sign of the Hawfinch at Dunadry between 9.20 and 11.25am (Nigel Moore)

A Lesser Scaup was at Portmore Lough, just in front of hide (Paul Toner)

A female Long-tailed Duck was off Portrush (Marc Hughes)

Female Yellowhammer, visiting a garden - Mike McLaughlin:

Bird News Friday 14th February

42 Waxwing are at Cherryvale playing fields, Ravenhill Rd, Belfast at the back of Knockeden Park (Dermot Hughes)

4 Twite where at Whitehead seafront.(Ian Enlander)

76 Waxwings were at Lockview Road Car Park, Stranmillis at 4pm (Sam Thomas)

3 Waxwing where seen at No. 12 The Beeches, Drumahoe.(Graham Mitchell)

A 1st winter Glaucous Gull was at Portrush. (Marc Hughes)

A Hawfinch visited a garden in Dunadry on Thursday.(Mark Smyth). The bird is at: 62 Islandreagh Drive, Dunadry

https://goo.gl/maps/2nVVr6DaYUbYbauw5

The house is to the right of the thatched house and the bird table is approx 5m away. It is narrow road so please park with consideration.

Bird News Thursday 13th February

A male Brambling has been visiting a garden in Glencairn Estate, Belfast. (Ivan Dalglish).

There was no sign of the Waxwings in Cabin Hill Park this morning, the berry tree they were feeding in is now stripped so they have probably moved elsewhere. (Derek Polley).

The Ring-billed Gull was seen again at the lower pond at Belfast Waterworks. (Michael Orr)

31 Whooper Swans seen this afternoon. Feeding in a ploughed field beside the Masonic Hall on the north side of the Blaris Road, Lisburn (Tom Trouton)

Portrush today had 1 1st W Glaucous Gull on Corbally Reservoir, and in the harbour 1 Red-throated Diver. Also Ramore Head had 2 Ravens. (Ken Perry, John Clarke, James McDowell, Hill Dick)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Derrynoid Forest, Draperstown on 11th February (Geraldine Fox)

Glaucous Gull, Hill Dick:

Waxwings from yesterday, Garry Wilkinson:

Bird News Wednesday 12th February

There were 94 Waxwings in Cabin Hill Park in Belfast today. (Garry Wilkinson).

Two of the Bramblings were still in Gosford Forest Park this morning. (Frank Carroll).

Four Jack Snipe were at Shaw's Lake in County Armagh and a Chiffchaff was along the Newry Canal about 3 miles south of Poyntzpass. (Joe Devlin).

A Ring-billed Gull was at Belfast waterworks bottom pond (Stuart McKee)

Thanks to Kenny Moore for this picture of a Jay and to Linda Thompson for the picture of the Golden Plover:

Bird News Tuesday 11th February

4 Brambling, a male and 3 females, were at Gosford Forest Park. (Clifford Sharpe & David Knight).

Thanks to Mike McLaughlin for the pictures of the Skylark and the Red Kite and to David Knight for the pictures of the Brambling:

Bird News Monday 10th February.

A  flock of 20+Waxwing where still present in Cabinhill Park,Belfast this afternoon(Phillip West)

2 Sandwich Tern where on the rocks off Groomsport.(Terry Paton)

Bird News Sunday 9th February

A flock of circa 30 Waxwing are off Cabin Hill Park, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast (Wilton Farrelly \ Derek Polley)

Six Brambling were at the bottom of Shillnavogie Road in amongst a flock of chaffinches. Two Crossbill were up towards the forest. (Michael Latham)

An adult Med Gull was at Sandy Bay. Carnlough had an adult Iceland gull (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop, Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn).

A flock of circa 30 Tree Sparrows in a garden in Banbridge this morning. ( Mike McLaughlin).
 
Brambling, Michael Latham:

Male Crossbill: