Bird News Sunday 31st January

A red head Smew was at Portmore Lough (Garry Armstrong) The Great White Egret was also seen again this morning. (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

The adult Ring-billed Gull was at Belfast Waterworks (Wilton Farrelly).

The male Black Redstart was on Greencastle beach near the lifeboat station. (John Spottiswood).

950 Common Scoter were off the public car park at Tyrella, also present in the area were: 500 Brent Geese, 2000 Golden Plover, 1000 Lapwings, 160 Sanderling, 120 Curlew, 60 Ringed Plover, 150 Skylark, 12 Tree Sparrows, 2 Twite. 15 Stock Doves in Killough was an increase from seven two weeks ago and the most seen here in 16 years, also 15 Tree Sparrows at garden feeders (Chris Murphy)

Thanks to John Spottiswood for the picture of the Black Redstart and to Donna Riddell for the picture of the Glaucous Gulls at Portballintrae:

Bird News Saturday 30th January

The Marsh Harrier and the Great White Egret were both at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Garry Armstrong)

Three Glaucous Gulls were at the mouth of the river Bush , Portballintrae (John Clarke)

62 Tree Sparrow were visiting a garden at Kilraughts Road, Ballymoney (Derek McIntyre)

Between Donaghadee and Groomsport were an adult Little Gull (north of Donaghadee), 30 Stock Dove (Portavoe), 3 Whimbrel and an adult Mediterranean Gull (Brigg’s Rocks) and 3 Jack Snipe (Sheep Point). (Richard Weyl)

Gull numbers at Clea Lake, Keady have reduced significantly. This evening circa 50 birds were present with the best been one Iceland Gull and 3 agentatus Herring Gulls.

Portaferry had 14 Sandwich Terns yesterday (John Wilson Foster)

Glaucous Gull, John Clarke:

1w Iceland Gull and adult argentatus Herring Gull:

Bird News Friday 29th January

 A Mediterranean Gull was with Black-headed Gulls at Bangor Marina. (Derek Polley).

2 Long-tailed Ducks and 9 Slavonian Grebes were off Newtownards Sailing Club in Strangford Lough, another 17 Slavonian Grebes were in Greyabbey Bay.  (Richard Weyl).

The Spotted Redshank was with a large flock of geese and waders at high tide, in a field at the 12 Arches end of Dundrum South Inner Bay today. (David Nixon).

Bird News Thursday 28th January

An adult Little Gull was at Ballyholme Beach this evening. (Richard Weyl)

A garden in Banbridge had two Red Kite over and 8 Yellowhammer (Mike McLaughlin)

Tree Sparrow in a garden near Hillsborough, Juliet Fleming:

Red Kite, Mike McLaughlin:

Bird News Wednesday 27th January.

 A flock of 40+Tree Sparrow where visiting a garden outside of Banbridge.(Mike McLaughlin)

Two first winter Glaucous Gulls were at Corbally reservoir near Portrush.(John Clarke)

Two Slav. Grebes where at Macedon Point.(Joe Lamont)

Our thanks to Christine Cunningham for this image of a Red-breasted Merganser.

Bird News Tuesday 26th January

22 Pink-footed Geese were at Steele’s Point, Larne Lough (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

An adult hybrid Herring Gull x Glaucous Gull, 2 1w Iceland and 2 1w Glaucous with at least 20 Argentatus Herring Gull were at Clea Lake, Keady this evening. 

Below is a picture of the hybrid Herring x Glaucous Gull from Clea Lake:

 

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Bird News Monday 25th January

5 Twite are at Sand Bay, Larne (Ed Simpson)

10 Tree Sparrow were visiting a garden at Killinchy Road, Comber (Dave Weir)

Jay, Dave Weir:

Reed Bunting, Mike McLaughlin:

Red Kite, Dromara, Shona McVea:

Bird News Sunday 24th January

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Derrynoyd Forest, Draperstown this morning. (Claire Hassan)

A first winter Iceland Gull was seen briefly at Whitehouse Lagoon (Brian Murphy)

The female Smew was again at Lough Beg today and the Great White Egret was also seen again. (David Steele)

The adult Ring-billed Gull and first winter Iceland Gull were at Belfast Waterworks (Shirley Dunlop / Gerard McGeehan)

Clea Lake, Keady this evening had a 1w Glaucous, 1w Iceland, 4-5 Argentatus and 1 presumed Herring x Lesser Black-backed Gull.

6 Tree Sparrow were still at Groomsport (Sam Thomas)

This Woodcock was unfortunately found dead in a garden in Bangor by David Miller:

There is an excellent feature on our local Woodcock on Winterwatch, Episode 4, featuring the work of James O'Neil.

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

Bird News Saturday 23rd January

The Great White Egret was still at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Michael Latham)

The first winter Iceland Gull is still at Belfast Waterworks (Richard Hunter)

Six Tree Sparrows were at the bottom of the Point Lane in Groomsport. (Colin Mayes).

There was no sign of the Caspian Gull at Clay Lake near Keady this evening but a Glaucous Gull and two Iceland Gulls were present.

2 Jack Snipe were at Sheep Point, Groomsport. (Richard Weyl).

Late news, the Hawfinch seen on Islandreagh Road, Dunadry last year was seen again a few weeks ago. (Per Mark Smyth).

The Glaucous Gull was still at Portrush East Strand Carpark. (S Riddell).

A Great White Egret was at Mullagh, Lough Beg, this afternoon, also 26 Ruff in the area and two Great Northern Divers on the Beg. (David Steele).

3 Iceland Gulls, 2 juveniles and an adult, and a 4th year Glaucous Gull were at Enniskillen, one of the juveniles is a new bird. (Brad Robson).

A Merlin was t South Island, Greyabbey. (S Thomas).

Thanks to Richard Hunter for the picture of the Iceland Gull, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Great White Egret, to S Riddell for the picture of the Glaucous Gull and to Wilbert Hollinger for the picture of the Goldcrest:

Bird News Friday 22nd January.

 A Brambling was visiting a garden in Lurgan.(Michael Henderson)

Belfast Waterworks still had the Ring-billed Gull, Iceland Gull and the sinensis Cormorant.(Stuart McKee)

A Glaucous Gull was at Portstewart.(S Riddell)

The hybrid Ring-billed Gull x Common Gull was seen again at Millisle.(Richard Weyl)

Our thanks to  Chris Babes for the Kingfisher, to Michael Henderson for the photo of the Brambling. To Stuart McKee for the Ring-billed Gull and the sinensis Cormorant showing the gular pattern. Bottom pic is of the Glaucous Gull from Portstewart sent in by S. Riddell.

 

Bird News Thursday 21st January

A Caspian Gull and an adult and 1st winter Iceland Gulls were at Clay Lake outside Keady, Co. Armagh this afternoon. (Brian McCloskey). 

The two Long-tailed Ducks were seen again in Killough Harbour and 8 Tree Sparrows were at a garden feeder in the village. (Chris Murphy).

80 Whoopers and 60 Greylag were along the Lagan outside Moira this morning. (Juliet Fleming).

Thanks to Brian McCloskey for the picture of the Caspian Gull, to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Whoopers and Greylag and to David Cassells for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker:

 

Bird News Wednesday 20th January

4 Iceland Gull (1 adult and 3 1w), 2 Glaucous Gull (both 1w) and a minimum of 6 Argentatus Herring Gulls were at Clay Lake, Keady again this evening.

Bird News Tuesday 19th January

Two 1w Glaucous Gulls and two 1w Iceland Gulls and 5+ argentatus Herring Gull were at Clay Lough, Keady this evening.

Bird News Monday 18th January

20 Twite are at the Boatyard, Whitehead (Dave Allen)

Bird News Sunday 17th January

A first winter Mediterranean Gull was at Portrush East Strand car park this morning (S Riddell).

The Great White Egret was still at Portmore this morning. (Ed O'Hara).

4 Long-tailed Duck were off Carrickfergus (Gerard McGeehan /Shirley Dunlop)

3 Purple Sandpiper were at Seacliffe Road, Bangor. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Ballymacormick Point (Philip West)

Mediterranean Gull, Donna Riddell:

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Philip West:

Bird News Saturday 16th January

The first winter Iceland Gull was still at Belfast Waterworks, a Cormorant of the European sub-species sinensis was also present. (Stuart McKee)

The Marsh Harrier and the Great White Egret were both at Portmore, a Peregrine was also present. (Sam Thomas/Seamus O'Hara)

6 Yellowhammer were at Loughinisland.  64 Whooper, 4 Mute, 20 Greylag, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Curlew were at Magheralagan. (Andrew Crory)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was feeding on a bird feeder in Poleglass (Thomas Cullen).

A Red Kite was seen at Clough in south Down today. (Jools Crory).

Thanks to Guy Hamilton for the picture of the Stonechat and to Stuart McKee for the pictures of the "sinensis" Cormorant:

Bird News Friday 15th January

The first winter Iceland Gull, adult Ring-billed Gulla BD two Mediterranean Gills were at Belfast Waterworks (Dermott Hughes)

An adult Iceland Gull was at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush (John Clarke)

In Strangford Lough, 13 Slavonian Grebe were at Newtownards Sailing Club and another 2 Slavonian Grebe, a Whimbrel and 2 Jack Snipe at South Island. (Richard Weyl)

3 Sandwich Tern were at Portaferry (John Wilson Foster)

Treecreeper, Juliet Fleming:

Bird News Thursday 14th January

A 1st winter Iceland Gull was at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush this morning. A Great Northern Diver was also in Portrush Harbour (S Riddell)

A female Brambling was at Cogry near Ballyclare. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

The Bufflehead has not been seen in recent days.

A 3rd winter and a juvenile Iceland Gulls were at Enniskillen this afternoon (Brad Robson)

Bird News Wednesday 13th January

The first winter Iceland Gull and adult Ring-billed Gull were at Belfast Waterworks this morning (Sam Thomas).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Drumkeeragh Forest, Co Down. (Marty Rooney).

The two Long-tailed Ducks were still in Killough Harbour. (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to Mark Magee for the picture of the Fieldfare:

Bird News Tuesday 12th January

6 Common Scoter and a male flew into Belfast Lough past Fisherman's Quay (Dave Allen)

Macedon Point, Belfast Lough had three Slavonian Grebe, two Long Tailed Duck, and a Great Northern Diver (Stuart McKee)

A young Immature Whte-tailed Eagle was at the west end of Lower Lough Erne (Fionnbarr Cross). A drake Smew was at Lower Lough Erne (Peter Taylor)

The first winter Iceland Gull was still at Belfast Waterworks (John O’Boyle)

Bird News Monday 11th January

 The Ring-billed Gull, 1st winter and adult Iceland Gulls and an adult winter Mediterranean Gull were all at Antrim Road Waterworks in Belfast. (Stuart McKee).

An adult Iceland Gull was in Enniskillen (Brad Robson).

19 Twite were at the boatyard in Whitehead. (Cameron Moore).

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Siskin:

Bird News Sunday 10th January

At least 2 male Brambling were with a large flock of Chaffinch, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Redwings at Orlock Point. (Billy Miskelly).

The first winter Iceland Gull was again at Belfast Waterworks (Brian Murphy)

Drake Shoveler, Belfast Waterworks, Darren Moore:

Bird News Saturday 9th January

Yesterday the Bufflehead and Red-throated Diver were at The Quoile (Tony Donaldson)

A first winter Glaucous Gull was in Portstewart this morning (S Riddell)

Two Long-tailed Duck were off Dargan (Wilton Farrelly)

The Iceland Gull still present at the Belfast Waterworks, Antrim Rd.(David Stirling)

Our thanks to Michael Latham for this photo of a Purple Sandpiper. To David Stirling for the pic of the Iceland Gull, also to Ian Enlander for the Redwing. Bottom pic is of a leucistic female Blackcap  

Bird News Friday 8th January

A Red Kite was south of Slieve Croob in Co.Down (Owen Beckett).

A Water Pipit was south of the farmhouse at Ballyquitan Point this morning. (Richard Weyl).

5 Long-tailed Ducks were off Rhanbuoy Park in Carrickfergus. (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

Three Great Northern Divers were on Lough Beg this afternoon, however there was no sign of the Smew. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Mullagh. (David Steele).

A near adult and a juv Glaucous gull were in Enniskillen Fermanagh this afternoon (Brad Robson)

Birding By Boat

            Inishtrahull, Co Donegal

The RSPB have organised a talk on Zoom at 7.15pm next Monday - 11th January entitled 'Birding by Boat'. It shows the widlife of the islands close to our shores including Islay, Jura, Ailsa Craig, Inishrahull and Rockabill. Anyone who would like to watch the talk can contact Colin Graham at the RSPB or Jim Wells at jimwells6@gmail.com

Bird News Thursday 7th January

The Bufflehead was showing quite well down towards the Yacht Club end of the Quoile. As there was a bit of ice it was a little bit closer to the road.  Also present was a single Pintail duck. (Michael Latham)

A high count of 54 Tree Sparrows were today at Kilraughts Road Ballymoney. (Derek McIntyre)

A first winter Mediteranean Gull was at the Albert Basin, Newry (David Knight)

The first winter Iceland Gull was still at Belfast Waterworks (Derek Polley)

Bufflehead, Michael Latham:

Mediteranean Gull, David Knight:

Bird News Wednesday 6th January

 The 1st winter Iceland Gull was still at Marlacoo Lake this afternoon. (Robert Hughes).

The 1st winter Iceland Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull were still at Belfast Waterworks with a female Long-tailed Duck off Macedon point. (Jeff Larkin)

Yesterday a Dark-bellied Brent Goose was at Greencastle. (Michael O'Clery).

19 Twite were at the boatyard at Whitehead. (Adam McClure/Philip McErlean).

A 3rd winter and a juvenile Iceland Gull were at Enniskillen. (Brad Robson).

The two Long-tailed Ducks were in Killough Harbour again. ( Chris Murphy)

A flock of 50 Whooper Swans were at Flatfield outside Lisburn. (Juliet Fleming)

12 White-fronted Geese were again roosting on Rathlin before crossing to the mainland. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Philip McErlean for the picture of the Twite, to Brad Robson for the picture of the White-tailed Eagle and to Michael O'Clery for the picture of the Dark-bellied Brent:

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NIOC 2021 Photographic Competition

 

Bird News Tuesday 5th January

This morning, two Long-tailed Duck flew past Fisherman’s Quay, Carrickfergus into Belfast Lough (Dave Allen)

A 1w Iceland Gull was at Marlacoo Lake, near Markethill, Co. Armagh (Clifford Sharpe)

The male Black Redstart was still on Greencastle Beach this morning (Frank Carroll)

The Black Redstart was still at Ballylumford (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

8 Sandwich Tern were at Net Walk, Killyleagh (David Nixon)

A Male Ring-necked Duck and an unringed / untagged adult White-tailed Eagle was at Knockninny, Upper Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

2 Slavonian Grebes were at Macedon Point this afternoon (John O’Boyle / Stuart McKee)

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was in a garden at Newtownbreda (Jen Clarke)

Sandwich Terns, David Nixon:

Bird News Monday 4th January

Two male Ring-necked Ducks were in a large flock of Tufted Ducks at Knockninny refuge, Upper Lough Erne Fermanagh.  Kilmore Lough is frozen so it is likely/possible that the adult male may be the same individual seen there recently. (Brad Robson)

11 Whooper Swans were at Lough Shark this morning. (Mike McLaughlin).

20 Tree Sparrows were at Unicarval Road in Comber. (David Clarke).

A Great White Egret was at Barton's Bay on Lough Neagh. (Richard Caves).

A Merlin and seven Stock Doves were in stubble off the Point Road, Killough this afternoon, together with 300 Skylarks, 60 Tree Sparrows and mixed flock of finches and buntings. Another (or same) Merlin was earlier at Tyrella where 3,000 Knot was a high count for the south coast of Down. (Chris Murphy).

The 1st winter and an adult Iceland Gull were both at Antrim Road Waterworks in Belfast. (Stuart McKee, John O'Boyle).

53 Whooper Swans were feeding in fields by the Newry Canal between the Red Bridge (Portadown) and the Madden Bridge (Tandragee). (Robert Hughes).

A Carrion Crow was at Skernaghan Point, Islandmagee. (Adam McClure).

Thanks to David Clarke for the picture of the Tree Sparrows, to Angus Kennedy for the picture of the Redwing, to Richard Caves for the picture of the Great White Egret and to Brad Robson for the picture of the Ring-necked Duck: