Bird News Monday 30th November

The Black Brant was again on the lawn fields at Myroe (Derek Brennan)

The Great White Egret still present at RSPB Portmore Lough.(Richard Caves)

Two Iceland Gulls, adult and first winter, Darkley Lough, Co. Armagh. Also, the first winter Glaucous Gull still present there.(David Knight)

By Warrenpoint Baths there was circa 300 Dunlin, 2 Great Northern Divers and 4 Red-breasted Merganser.(Liam Rice)

At Ballycarry Bridge The Great White Egret was still present and at Glynn Station the female Goosander. The juvenile Glaucous Gull Was at Burger King, Coleraine (Tom Ennis / Guy Hamilton)

An Iceland Gull was at Parklake Dungannon today (David Shilliday)

Our thanks to Derek Brennan for the photo of the Black Brant and also to Juliet Fleming for the Fieldfare

Bird News Sunday 29th November

The Great White Egret and Marsh Harrier were still at Portmore Lough RSPB (Daniel Newton)

The Great White Egret was still at Ballycarry and the Slavonian Grebe at Glynn (Paul McCullough)

A Black Brant is at Myroe (Theo Campbell)

3 Long-tailed Duck were north of Newtownards Yacht Club (Wilton Farrelly)

A Black Redstart is at Ballylumford, along the wall at the Coastguard Station (Ivan Quail / Nicky Lynn)

The Spotted Redshank is at Ardilea (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop / Carol Gillespie / Ray Bennett)

A drake Long-tailed Duck was at Drumgay Lough, Co. Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

A Great Northern Diver was by the NT hide at the Barmouth (John Spottiswood)

Two Swallows were at Whitehead train station. (Paul McCullough).

14 Tree Sparrows were visiting a garden in Buskhill Road near Newry. (Karen Elliott).

Macedon Point in Belfast Lough had 2 Slavonian Grebes and a male Long-tailed Duck. (Stuart McKee).

A Chiffchaff and a Merlin were at Derrytrasna on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Ed O'Hara & Comghal McQuillan).

Thanks to Jonathan Clark for the picture of the Red-throated Diver, to Brian Redpath for the picture of the Red-breasted Merganser and to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Great White Egret:

 

Bird News Saturday 28th November

A Carrion Crow was at Delamont Country Park this morning. (Kevin Kirkham)

19 Pinkfooted Geese were at Steele’s Point Islandmagee today and the Great White Egret at Ballycarry Bridge (Cameron Moore)

2 juv Iceland gulls are at Enniskillen dump, Co Fermanagh (Brad Robson).

A Short-eared Owl was a mile east of the north end of Lough Beg over the B52 Largy Road. (John Spottiswood)

The Great White Egret was still at Portmore Lough (David Gotto / Michael Latham)

Great White Egret, David Gotto:

Great White Egret, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 27th November

 The Great White Egret and the Marsh Harrier were both still at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve today. (Brad Robson).

The 8 Buzzards and 11 Grey Herons are still in a field at Flatfields between Moira and Hillsborough. . Also circa 500 Golden Plover and over 100 Lapwing also present. (Juliet Fleming).

Five Long-eared Owls were in Coleraine and a Merlin was between Portrush and Portstewart. )John Clarke).

The Spotted Redshank was giving good views at Ardilea, Dundrum North Inner Bay. (David Nixon)

Three Great Northern Divers were in and around Portrush harbour. (David Hill).

Three Pinkfeet were with 155 Greylags and 600 Whoopers at Myroe. 15 Slavonian Grebes were offshore. Six Stock Dove were near the Burnfoot River. (Richard Gray).

The Great White Egret was still at Ballycarry Bridge. (Cameron Moore),

Yesterday a Swallow was at Whitehead. (Cameron Moore).

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Buzzard, to John Stewart for the pictures of the Long-eared Owl and the Merlin, to David Nixon for the picture of the Spotted Redshank and to David Hill for the picture of the Great Northern Diver:

Bird News Thursday 26th November

The Marsh Harrier and Great White Egret were still at Portmore (Garry Wilkinson / Nigel Moore)

Two adult and two 1st winter Mediterranean Gulls were on Ballyholme beach at Bangor. (James Andrew)

2 Great Northern Divers were off Church Island, Lough beg and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier was also present (Garry Wilkinson / Nigel Moore)

An extremely late Swallow was at Killough. A Great Northern Diver was at Ardglass (Margaret Adamson)

A Great White Egret was at the west end of lower Lough Erne today also a Great Norther Diver Co.Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

Lough Shore Park, Belfast Lough had 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 adult winter  Med Gull, 1 second winter Med. Gull, a Great Northern, 3 Red Throated Divers and a good count of 26 Common Scoter (Stuart McKee)

The Great White Egret was still at Ballycarry (Cecil Smyth)

Swallow, Margaret Adamson:

Siskin, Fulton Sommerville:

Great Northern Diver, Kenny Moore:

Great White Egret, Cecil Smyth:

Bird News Wednesday 25th November

A Great White Egret was at Boa Island, Co Fermanagh this morning (Fionnbarr Cross).

The Great White Egret is still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough this morning. (Ian Dickey).

2 Great Northern Divers were in Portrush Harbour this morning and 12 Twite were at Ramore Head. (John Wilkinson).

The Newry Canal between Jerrettspass and Poyntzpass this morning had a Great White Egret, 2 Little Egrets, a Kingfisher, Carrion Crow, 4 Raven, 51 Fieldfare, 3 Reed Bunting, Water Rail and a Jay. (Fulton Somerville).

The Long-tailed Duck is still on Strand Lough outside Killough, also present were 2,478 Golden Plover, 1,060 Lapwing, 1,800 Black-headed Gulls and 300 Dunlin. St John's Point had 1,000 Wood Pigeon and 400 Skylarks.  (Chris Murphy).

3 Jack Snipe were at Portavogie this morning and 3 Great Northern Divers were at Whiteabbey this afternoon.  (Richard Grey).

A female type Long-tailed Duck was with a large Goldeneye flock at Reedy Flat on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Dermot Hughes & John O'Boyle).

The Great White Egret and the Marsh Harrier were both still present at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. 8 Buzzards were still feeding in a field at Flatfield outside Lisburn (David Nixon).

A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Lough Beg today. (Nigel Moore).

Thanks to Fulton for the picture of the Great White & Little Egrets:

Bird News Tuesday 24th November.

A Red Kite was seen searching fields on Drumcaw Road with the junction of Drumanaghan Road approaching the Ballynahinch Road.(Sean Hennessy)

The Glaucous Gull was still present at Burger King, Coleraine.(Gerard McGeehan/Shirley Dunlop)

The Great White Egret and the Marsh Harrier still present at RSPB Portmore Lough reserve.(Richard Caves)

In Killough this afternoon: Long-tailed Duck, Strand Lough, Mediterranean Gull Inner Harbour, Great Northern Diver, Outer Harbour, 1300 Golden Plover, 1200 Lapwing, 74 Curlew opp. Brickworks (Chris Murphy)

The Goosander still present at Glynn.(Richard Gray)

Our thanks to Richard Caves for the photo of the Great White Egret. 

 

Bird News Monday 23rd November

Yesterday a Mediterranean Gull was at Glenarm (David Stirling)

The Great White Egret was still at Portmore Lough this morning (Mark Killops)

A possible Grey-bellied Brent Goose was at the Roe Estuary with circa 800 Brent (Theo Campbell)

The Great White Egret was still at Ballycarry (Cameron Moore)

Great Northern Diver, Lindsay Hodges:

Great White Egret, Cameron Moore:

Mediterranean Gull, David Stirling:

Bird News Sunday 22nd November

The Great White Egret was still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough this morning. (Paul McCullough).

The Glaucous Gull was back at the Burger King in Coleraine this morning. (Daniel Newton).

A Great White Egret was at Ballynacor on the south shore of Lough Neagh this morning. (Ed O'Hara)

The Spotted Redshank was at Ardilea. (Jeff Larkin)

8 Buzzards, 6 Grey Herons, approximately 500 Golden Plover and over 100 Lapwing were at Flatfields, between Moira and Hillsborough, this morning. (Juliet Fleming).

5 White-fronted Geese flew from Rathlin towards the north coast this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Three Long-tailed Ducks and a Slavonian Grebe were off Glynn in Larne Lough this morning. (Neal Warnock).

A Siberian Chiffchaff was in a garden in Jordanstown. (Paul McCullough).

The Great White Egret was still at Portmore Lough RSPB this afternoon. (Richard Caves).

Two Black-throated Diver, a Slavonian Grebe and a Jack Snipe were at Horse Island. Six Jack Snipe were at Portavogie. (Richard Wyle).

35 Ravens were on cliffs at Sallagh Braes, Co. Antrim. (Jimmy Christie).

Thanks to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Glaucous Gull, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Great White Egret and to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Buzzard:

Bird News Saturday 21st November

 The Great White Egret is still present at Ballycarry and giving excellent views, the Goosander remains at Glynn.(Richard Hunter)

A high count of 8 Buzzards (Buteo buteo) in a field between Moira & Hillsborough, County Down. 50+ Whooper, 200 Lapwing, 500 Golden Plover.(Kevin Kirkham)

The Greenland White-fronted Goose is still at St John's Point along with 30 Whooper Swan.(Michael Latham).

The Great White Egret and the Marsh Harrier were both still present at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve.(Seamus O'Hara)

Our thanks to Richard Hunter for the GWE pic , to Michael Latham for the White-fronted Goose, also to Richard Donaghey for the Glaucous Gull. Bottom photo kindly send in by Linda Thompson is off the GWE at Portmore Lough

 

Bird News Friday 20th November

The Great White Egret was still at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve this morning (Laura Smith)

A single Great Northern Diver was off Drains Bay and three were off Ballygalley (Garry Wilkinson)

The Great White Egret was still at Dromantine Lough this afternoon (Mike McLaughlin)

The Greenland White-fronted Goose was among 35 Whooper Swans at St John’s Pt; also present were high counts of 500 Golden Plover, 400 Lapwing, 200 Skylarks, 40 Tree Sparrows and up to 60 Whoopers (43 ads, 17 juvs) continue to roost on Strand Lough, Killough (Chris Murphy)

The Slavonian Grebe and Goosander were still at Glynn this afternoon and the Great White Egret was still at Ballycarry. (Garry Wilkinson)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Castle Archdale, Co Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

Kingfisher, Barmouth, Ginny McKee:

Golden Plover, Linda Thompson:

Bird News Thursday 19th November

The Great White Egret is still showing on Dromantine Lake. (Albert Boyle)

The Great White Egret was still at Portmore RSPB reserve this afternoon, in reeds close to hide. (Comghall McQuillan / Richard Caves)

The Spotted Redshank and a Ruff were in Dundrum South Inner Bay today. A high count of 15 Grey Plovers were in North Inner Bay. (David Nixon & John O'Boyle)

St John’s Point, Co Down today had 200+ Skylark, 3 Stock Doves, a White Fronted Goose, and a Canada Goose. Lough Island Reavy had 2 Goosander (male & female) & a good number of Red-breasted Merganser (Fulton Somerville)

The Great White Egret at Ballycarry was still present (Ian Enlander)

Four Great Northern Diver were at Portrush (John Clarke)

A Brambling was still visiting a garden in north Antrim (Dick Glasgow)

The female Goosander was still at Glynn (David Rainey)

Great White Egret, Portmore, Comghal McQuillan:

Great Northern Diver, Portrush, John Clarke:

Great White Egret, Ballycarry, Ian Enlander:

Brambling, Dick Glasgow:

Bird News Wednesday 18th November

 A Great White Egret was at Dromantine Lake in Dromantine Estate, Co Down. (Joe Devlin).

The Goosander was still showing well at Glynn this morning. (Robert McDowell).

The Great White Egret was seen again at Ballycarry Bridge this afternoon and a Knot was at Whitehead seafront. (Ian Enlander).

A Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier were at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Richard Caves).

A Barn Owl was seen near Annahilt outside Hillsborough this evening. (Garry Wilkinson).

Thanks to Robert McDowell for the picture of the Goosander, to Ian Enlander for the picture of the Knot and to Richard Caves for the pictures of the Marsh Harrier and the Great White Egret:

Bird News Tuesday 17th November

At Glynn the Goosander was still present along with a Slavonian Grebe and a Long-tailed Duck (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

The juvenile Glaucous Gull is still at Burger King at Coleraine this morning (Michael Latham). The bird was still present early afternoon (John Spottiswood). This bird has been giving excellent views!

Yesterday an Iceland Gull was seen at Marconi’s Cottage, Ballycastle. (Tommy Breen).

A Great Northern Diver was off Stricklands Glen in Bangor. (James Andrew)

The Great White Egret is still at Ballycarry (Michael Latham). It was still present at 4pm (Cameron Moore)

A Spotted Redshank and two Twite were at Mullagh, Lough Beg. Duck numbers are down in the area and there was no sign of the Ring-necked Duck. (David Steele)

200+ Whooper / Mute Swans were at Flatfields, Moira (David Clarke)

Glaucous Gull, John Spottiswood:

Iceland Gull, Tommy Breen:

Great White Egret, Ginny McKee:

Cameron Moore, Goosander:

Glaucous Gull, Michael Latham:

Bird News Monday 16th November

Rathlin this morning had 2 immature Iceland Gulls, a 1CY Little Gull and 1 adult Mediterranean Gull (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

The Great White Egret was at Ballycarry Bridge at midday - at high tide it was towards the southern end of the lough on the 'mainland' side. (Ian Enlander)

The juvenile Glaucous Gull was still at Burger King in Coleraine. (John Clarke)

4 Great Northern Divers and a Red-throated Diver were off Glenarm (Michael Latham)

A Great Northern Diver was this morning on Lough Neagh off Kinturk Shoreline (Ciara Laverty)

Glaucous Gull, John Clarke:

Great Northern Diver, Michael Latham:

Bird News Sunday 15th November

The Great White Egret continues to show very well at Ballycarry (Cameron Moore).

Two Swallows and a Red-throated Diver were between Holywood and Seapark. (Sam Thomas).

Two Great Spotted Woodpecker where seen visiting a garden in Banbridge.(Arnold Morgan)

Glynn station still had the female Goosander, along with 5 Whooper Swan.(Michael Latham)

The hybrid Ring-billed Gull was at Millisle and a Jack Snipe at Drumfad Bay. (Richard Weyl)

200 Knot where at Murlough this afternoon.(Garry Wilkinson)

A Long-tailed Duck, Slav. Grebe where also seen at Glynn.(Gerard McGeehan/Shirley Dunlop)  

Our thanks to Michael Latham for the photo of the female Goosander. 

Bird News Saturday 14th November

 A 3rd winter Glaucous Gull and 4 Purple Sandpipers were at the Barmouth. (Richard Donaghey)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Purple Sandpiper and the Jay and to Richard Donaghey for the picture of the Glaucous Gull:

Bird News Friday 13th November

Two first winter Ring-necked Ducks were with the Tufted Duck flock at the south end of Lough Beg,  two Great Northern Divers were also on the Lough.  (David Steele).

A Red-necked Grebe was off the Gasworks in Strangford Lough at high tide this morning. (Dave Weir).

 The Great White Egret was still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough this morning. (Dot Blakely/Cameron Moore).

A Purple Sandpiper was on the rocks off Seacliffee Road in Bangor. 99 Whooper Swans were in fields opposite the road to Islandhill and 19 Whoopers were along Ballyhenry Road outside Newtownards. (Margaret Adamson)

Yesterday an adult Mediterranean Gull was at Fisherman's Quay, Carrickfergus. (Dave Allen).

St John's Point had 30 Whooper Swans. Newcastle Harbour had 2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red Throated Diver, and at least 500 Common Scoter. (Fulton Somerville)

Thanks to Jonny Andrews for this picture of the Great White Egret, to Cameron Moore for the picture showing the size difference between Great White and Little Egrets and to Fulton Somerville for the picture of the Great Northern Diver: