Bird News Wednesday 30th September

A Yellow-browed Warbler is on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The juvenile American Golden Plover was in the flock of Golden Plover, quite close to the channel at Myroe levels on the part of the western ploughed field. (Martin Deehan)

2 Greenland Wheatear were on at Divis Mountain at lunchtime today. (Philip McErlean)

Circa 1000 Skylark passed through St John’s Point, Co Down this morning (Chris Murphy)

Greenland Wheatear, Philip McErlean:

Bird News Tuesday 29th September

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still in the same field at Ballykelly (Nigel Moore et al)

The Little Stint was still at Myroe (J Clarke, J McDowell, S Riddell)

2 Black-throated Divers were at Carnlough - 1 still in summer plumage (Gerard McGeehan)

An interesting gull showing characteristics of eg Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull and even Little Gull was at Kinnegar shore - see pic below (Ian Enlander)

A second calendar year White-tailed Eagle was on Rathlin this evening (Ric Else \ Hazel Watson)

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Nigel Moore:

White-tailed Eagle, Ric Else \ Hazel Watson:

Little Stint, Myroe, John Clarke:

Potential hybrid Gull, Kinnegar, Ian Enlander:

Bird News Monday 28th September

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still in the ploughed field at Ballykelly(still present at 17.30) , there was no sign of the American Golden Plover there. A Little Stint was at the eastern end of Myroe. (Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn/Martin Deehan) 

The Long-billed Dowitcher was seen again at Mullagh, Lough Beg this afternoon; also a Pectoral Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and 12 Ruff in the area. (David Steele)

Bird News Sunday 27th September

A juvenile American Golden Plover and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper are at Ballykelly with a Golden Plover flock (Garry Armstrong) Location: 

Dropped pin:

https://goo.gl/maps/ZFrGjnMSgDk2nTt56

The AGP was at 4pm at the west end of Myroe (Tony Dodds / Billy Miskelly / Gerard McGeehan / Jeff Larkin)  The bird was back at Ballykelly at 6pm (Daniel Newton)

5 Grey Plover, 2 Greenland Wheatear, a Peregrine and a Merlin were also at Ballykelly. (Garry Armstrong, Neal Warnock).

The Marsh Harrier was still at Portmore Lough RSPB, 3 Kestrel were also present. A Merlin was at Ballinacor on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Ed O’Hara)

42 Slavonian Grebe were off Myroe. (Jeff Larkin)

A Pink-footed Goose was with circa 35 Greylag, 3 miles north of Portaferry (Michael Latham)

4 Ruff were at RSPB WoW (Daniel Newton)

 4 Pink-footed Geese and a Sand Martin were at Kearney (Richard Weyl)

A Pied Flycatcher was on Arranmore, also over the weekend there was a Yellow-browed Warbler. 20 Crossbills, 3 White Wagtails, 6 Bonxies and 3 Sooty Shearwaters. (Davy Hunter).

Around 30 Whooper Swans arrived in several flocks late last night in Upper Lough Erne at Crom. They were sighted again today. (Paul Lynas).

A single Whooper Swan was just outside Ballygally, Larne. (Linda Thompson),

A ring-tailed Hen Harrier was in the Antrim hills, 2 Pink-feet were seen in flight. A Merlin and a Wheatear were at Sandy Bay in Larne. (Brian Halligan).

2 juvenile Hen Harriers were on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper & Greenland Wheatear, Christine Cassidy:

Marsh Harrier & Merlin - Ed O'Hara:

Whooper Swan - Linda Thompson:

Hen Harrier - Ric Else:

Bird News Saturday 26th September

14 Pink-footed Geese were at Kearney,  2 Wheatear were along the shore.  (Billy Miskelly, Garry Armstrong)

A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen and heard in a garden in Comber, near the Ballygowan Road (Chris Shaw)

A first winter Glaucous Gull and 3 Barnacle Geese were seen at Fanad Head this morning (Wilton Farrelly).

Two ring-tailed Hen Harriers were in the Antrim hills. (Kenny Moore, Michael Latham).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at the Ecos Park in Ballymena. (John Parkinson).

Dargan Bay in Belfast Lough today had 6 Common Scoter, 2 Red-Breasted Mergansers, a Red-throated Diver, 5 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a 1cy Mediterranean Gull and a 1cy Peregrine flew over. (Kevin Kirkham).

4 Ruff were at Belfast Lough WOW reserve. (Stuart McKee).

10 Pink-footed Geese and a Red Kite were seen over Fairhead. (Jeff Larkin).

At St John’s Point visible migration from 8am to 10am produced 1 Pinkfooted Goose, 1 Merlin, c. 500 Skylarks, 300 Linnets, 30 Siskins, 10 Redpolls, 4 White Wagtails, 5 Goldcrests, and 30 Golden Plover (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to John Parkinson for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Razorbill and the Gannet and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Hen Harrier:

Bird News Friday 25th September

There was no sign of the Bobolink at all today.

The juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher was seen again at Lough Beg today, along the shoreline at Mullagh. Also 25 Ruff and a Pink-footed Goose in the area.(David Steele) 

60 Whoopers were back at Myroe (Lindsay Hodges)

2 Mandarin Duck were at Broughshane on the River Braid.  A seawatch at Ramore was very quiet - 4 Bonxies, 3 RT Diver, 1 GN Diver, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 Manx Shearwater, 4 Teal + Gannet and Kittiwake (Ian Enlander)

3,000 Skylark where noted between 10am - noon at St Johns Point.(Chris Murphy)

A Yellow-browed Warbler,  50+ Coal Tits and 2 Wheatear were the best on Arranmore today (Davy Hunter)

Yesterday 122 Pink-footed Geese were observed flying over Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A seawatch at Ramore Head produced 1 Sabine's Gull and 3 Great Skua. (Hill Dick)

24 Pink-footed geese flew over Orlock today (Richard Weyl)

2 juv Sabine's, 6 Bonxie, 2 Red-throated diver, and an Arctic Skua were at Ramore Head this evening. (Matthew Tickner)

Our thanks to Ian Enlander for the Mandarin photo  to Lindsay Hodges for the Wheatear and to David Hill for the Arctic Skua. 

Bird News Thursday 24th September

The Bobolink is this morning in the brambles and rush patch, opposite the cottage for sale by Sherry Fitzgerald, at Fanad Head. (Robert Vaughan)

Two Lapland Bunting were seen flying low at the Bann Estuary. A Chiffchaff was also present (Richard Donaghey)

12 Pink - footed Geese where seen nr Ballycarry.(Cameron Moore)

Bobolink, Dick Coombes:

Bird News Wednesday 23rd September

The Bobolink is back in the brambles and rush patch, opposite the cottage for sale by Sherry Fitzgerald, at Fanad Head. The bird was still present at this location at late afternoon (Chris Ingram / Brian Porter / Dick Coombes / Tony Dodds)

A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Kinramer on Rathlin this morning and a Lapland Bunting flew over. (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

8 Lapland Bunting and 37 Pink Feet were at Fair Head, Co Antrim. A Curlew Sandpiper was at the Bann Estuary (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).

70 Pinkfeet in 4 groups were over Killough today; 3 Wheatears, a Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 400 Skylarks and c. 700 Linnets were at St John’s Pt this afternoon (Chris Murphy)

Yellow-browed Warbler, Ric Else:

Bird News Tuesday 22nd September

The Bobolink was still at the wet field at Fanad Head, Donegal this morning, close to this point - 55.2753479, -7.6542799 (Richard Hunter). The bird was looked for from 5pm to darkness without success. 50 Pink Feet were seen flying over. (John Spottiswood)

Bobolink, Richard Hunter:

Greenland Wheatear, Ballywalter, Alastair Mclean:

Bird News Monday 21st September

The Bobolink is still at Fanad in Donegal this morning, much closer to the coast than yesterday. It was in the field east of the Sherry Fitzgerald house for sale. (Mark Stewart)

A juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher in southwest corner Lough Beg this evening. Found at 1830, present up to at least 1930. Also two Curlew Sandpipers were present. (David Steele)

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Kinnegar Shore (Tony Dodds)

Bird News Sunday 20th September

A Bobolink is at Fanad Head, in front of the cottage for sale by Sherry Fitzgerald. It favoured the dense area of rushes / brambles. The bird was seen to 4:05pm when it flew north (Wilton Farrelly)

Four Lapland Buntings were at Fair Head. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

A red-head Goosander was off Ballykelly in Lough Foyle. (Neal Warnock).

A male Hen Harrier was in the Antrim hills, 3 Red Grouse were also seen. (Kevin Kirkham).

A Slavonian grebe off Glynn Station, Larne Lough this morning (Brian Sutton).

Four White Wagtails were at Ballyfrench and five Mediterranean Gulls were at Portavogie. (Richard Weyl).

The Bobolink at Fanad and thanks to Kevin Kirkham for the picture of the Grey Wagtail:

Bird News Saturday 19th September

The Marsh Harrier is still at Portmore this morning.  (Garry Armstrong).

A Ruff, 3 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff were at Belfast WOW reserve, (Stuart McKee).

4 Ruff were at Belfast WOW (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop)

Grey Point in Belfast Lough from 16.30 to 18.00 hrs had 1 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua and 1 Great Northern Diver. (Paul McCullough).

A Long-eared Owl, 2 White Wagtail and a Chiffchaff were at Kearney. (Richard Weyl).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Dunlin and to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Wheatear and the Red-throated Diver:

Bird News Friday 18th September

 A Marsh Harrier was at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Ed O'Hara).

Two Lapland Buntings and four Crossbills flew over Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A Curlew Sabdpiper and Ruff were at RSPB WoW (Stuart McKee)

Six Red Kites were near Castlewellan this morning and two Red Kites were around Hilltown this afternoon. (Mike & Isabel McLaughlin).

Six Common Scoter flew past St John's Point this evening. (Michael Latham).

A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Myroe.

The Spoonbill was off Ballykelly again today. (Lindsay Hodges).

There were reports of an Osprey at the Bann estuary.

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Marsh Harrier and the Kestrel, to Alastair McLean for the picture of the female Reed Bunting and to Lindsay Hodges for the picture of the Spoonbill:

Bird News Thursday 17th September

The Lapland Bunting remains at Ramore Head (Ian Dickey/Nigel Moore)

A Hobby is on Tory Island (Chris Ingram / Theo Campbell)

9 Lapland Bunting were still at Malin Head (Christine Cassidy / Lindsay Hodges)

A Short-eared Owl was at Craigantlet, late afternoon. (Aaron Devlin).

The Garden Warbler and 3 Ruff were at Belfast WOW reserve. (Derek Polley).

A Curlew Sandpiper and nine Ruff were in the southwest corner of Lough Beg this afternoon. Another six Ruff and an inland Bar-tailed Godwit were at Mullagh. (David Steele).

The juvenile Hobby was seen again this evening at St John’s Pt; earlier between 11.30 am and 12.30 pm, 39 Red-throated and 3 Great Nirthern Divers flew south (Chris Murphy)

2 Wheatear were at Kearney, also 1 Whimbrel on shore. An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the shore at Cloughy. (Stuart McKee).

Thanks to Christine Cassidy for the first picture of the Lapland Bunting, to Stuart McKee for the picture of the Wheatear and to Nigel Moore for the second Lapland Bunting picture:

Bird News Wednesday 16th September

Lapland Buntings continue to be reported. 6 were over Keeble, Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson) and 8 were at Malin Head (Brian Hegarty). Another Lapland Bunting was at Ramore Head (Colin Guy)

A Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcaps and a Willow Warbler were in the trees to the path hide at RSPB WoW (Stuart McKee)

A juvenile Hobby was seen briefly hunting over Killough Harbour at 10am before flying south over village; 7 White Wagtails and 1 Wheatear were around Killough pier; 1 Whimbrel, 10 White Wagtails, 2 Wheatears were at Tyrella (Chris Murphy)

2 Whooper Swans were this morning on the northern shoreline of Lough Neagh between Cranfield and Farr's Bay. (Ciara Laverty & Peter Harper)

3 Ruff were still at RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan \ Shirley Dunlop)

A Wheatear was at Port Davey, Whitehead (Derek Polley)

The Spoonbill was still at Ballykelly (Michael Savage / Martin Deehan)

Lapland Bunting, Brian Hegarty:

Whooper Swans, Ciara Laverty:

Bird News Tuesday 15th September

The Lesser Yellowlegs is still at Grangemore Pool at the Bann estuary. (John Spottiswood \ Gerard McGeehan \ Shirley Dunlop).

Three White Wagtails were with Pied Wagtails at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (Kevin Kirkham).

Five Whooper Swans flew over Lough Foyle heading towards Myroe. (Christine Cassidy).

Three Ruff were at Belfast WOW reserve this evening. (Wilton Farrelly).

Three Lapland Buntings were on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A Mediterranean Gull was at Helen's Bay, see picture below. (Stuart McKee).

The Spoonbill was still off Ballykelly. (Trevor Wilkinson).

A flock of 500 Sanderling were at Magilligan. 2 Curlew Sandpipers and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Myroe. As well as the Spoonbill a Peregrine was off Ballykelly. (David Nixon, Philip McHaffie).

This Long-tailed Skua was photographed on Murvagh Golf Course, Donegal by Neville McClements:

This Goshawk picture (video still) below was taken in a suburban garden in Co Down. Goshawk is a very rare breeding bird in NI but it is extremely unusual for a bird to be seen in a garden. Details have been passed to the NIRSG.

Mediterranean Gull - Stuart McKee

Bird News Monday 14th September

At least 4 Lapland Buntings were at Kebble, Rathlin Island this morning (Ric Else and Hazel Watson)

At Station Road, Ballykelly the Spoonbill was still present. Myroe had a single Wheatear (Michael Latham)

The Lesser Yellowlegs was still on The Bann at Grangemore, about half a mile south of the house (Jeff Larkin / John Clarke). A Corncrake also was in the area (Jeff Larkin)

You can see more local bird pics at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Lesser Yellowlegs, John Clarke:

Michael Latham, Spoonbill:

Sandwich Tern, Lindsay Hodges:

Bird News Sunday 13th September

A Lesser Yellowlegs was at the Bann Estuary at 5:05pm (Richard Donaghey)

The Little Stint was still at Myroe this morning (Lindsay Hodges)

The first year Little Gull is again at Belfast WOW Reserve (Jeff Larkin)

The Spoonbill was showing again off Station Road, Ballykelly (Lindsay Hodges)

A Hen Harrier was in the Antrim Hills (Michael Latham)

Six White Wagtail were at Kearney (Wilton Farrelly)

Two Lapland Buntings and a Grasshopper Warbler were at Fair Head this morning. A Curlew Sandpiper was at Sandy bay, Larne this afternoon (Neal Warnock)

Five Arctic Skua were at Burial Island (Richard Weyl)

Lesser Yellowlegs, Richard Donaghey:

Little Stint, Lindsay Hodges:

Spoonbill, Lindsay Hodges:

Hen Harrier, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 12th September

The Spoonbill was again west of Faughanvale. Myroe had the Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper. At least 5 Arctic Skua were at Magilligan (Garry Armstrong / Wilton Farrelly)

Two Lapland Bunting, two Twite and 39 Siskin were at Fair Head (Richard Donaghey)

Eight Common Scoter were in Larne Lough past the harbour - end of Bay Road. (Ed Simpson)

Nine Lapland Bunting were at Malin Head (Richard Hunter).

Up to 40 Sanderling were on rocks at the back of Newcastle Harbour. (Michael Latham).

Two Twite, three Knot and two Red-throated Diver were at Sandy Bay in Larne. (Kevin Kirkham).

Belfast WOW reserve had three Ruff and a single Swift was among 150 hirundines. (Stuart McKee).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Sanderling: