Bird News Sunday 28th February

The two Great White Egrets and the Marsh Harrier were at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Ed O'Hara). The Great White Egrets and the Marsh Harrier were still present at 4.00pm. (Ian Clarke).

An adult Ring-billed Gull was at the Round O, Enniskillen. It was subsequently relocated at The Lakeland Forum. (Brad Robson).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Peatlands Park. (Seamus O'Hara).

An adult Iceland Gull was along the Antrim coast. (Neal Warnock).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Breen Wood this afternoon. (Owen Beckett)

A pair of mandarin ducks were on the River Braid south of Galgorm, Ballymena this evening (Richard Gray)

Thanks to Brad Robson for the picture of the Ring-billed Gull, to Michael Latham and Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Great White Egret and to Lindsay Hodges for the picture of the Dipper:

Michael Latham

Ed O'Hara

Bird News Saturday 27th February

Two Great White Egret are at Portmore Lough this morning. (Steven Fyffe / Thomas Lilburn)

The Ring-billed Gull is again at Carrickfergus, close to the Swift Restaurant (David Stirling)

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at the East Strand car park Portrush this morning (S Riddell)

Yesterday 19 Sandwich Tern were at Portaferry (John Wilson Foster).

A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen in the Antrim hills. (Kenny Moore).

A Great Spooted Woodpecker was at Castle Archdale Co Fermanagh. A Great Northern Diver was at the west end of Lower Lough Erne Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

4 Mediterranean Gulls and a first winter Iceland Gull were at Glynn (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Four Pink-footed geese were at Anne’s Point. (Richard Weyl)

The south end of Lough Beg today had a male Ring-necked Duck, two Great Northern Divers, a Spotted Redshank and 20 Ruff. (David Steele)

David Stirling, Ring-billed Gull:

Mediterranean Gull, Stephen Riddell:

Bird News Friday 26th February

The Ring-billed Gull was again at Carrickfergus this morning. (David Stirling) 

A pair of Snow Bunting were on the summit of Slieve  Commedagh (Danny Baillie)

A 2nd winter and a juv Iceland Gull still at E'killen dump.(Brad Robson)

Our thanks to Guy Hamilton for the photo of a Brent Goose. Also to Michael Latham for the Ring-billed Gull from Carrickfergus. 

Bird News Thursday 25th February

A Spoonbill flew over the Point Road, Magilligan heading towards Lough Foyle late this afternoon. (Richard Donaghey)

A 1st winter Little Gull was at Cloughey this morning.  30 Great Northern Diver were between Kearney and Ballywalter.  (Kerry Leonard).

Two Red Kites were seen near Banbridge this morning. (Mike McLaughlin).

The Spotted Redshank was in the channel running through Dundrum South Inner Bay today. Around 100 Pied Wagtails were at Brennan's Service Station near Seaforde, obviously roosting nearby. (David Nixon).

A Ring-billed Gull was in Carrickfergus. (Zoe Anderson).

The Ring-billed Gull was at Belfast Waterworks. (Stuart McKee).

Thanks to Mike McLaughlin for the pictures of the Red Kites and to Derek Polley for the picture of the Kingfisher:

Bird News Wednesday 24th February

Portmore Lough this morning had the Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier  a female Merlin was also present (Garry Wilkinson / Nigel Moore)

A male Hen Harrier was in the Antrim hills this morning. (Kenny Moore).

Two Red-throated Diver were at Ballygally (Ed Simpson)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Belvoir Forest this morning. (Philip McErlean)

Yesterday Enniskillen Dump had an adult Glaucous and 2 juv Iceland Gulls (Brad Robson).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen briefly in a flooded field along the canal bank road in Poyntzpass this morning. (Joe Devlin).

A Hooded \ Carrion Crow Hybrid, Craffordsburn, Jonathan Clarrk:

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker, Philip McErlean:

Bird News Tuesday 23rd February.

 Both the Glaucous Gull and the Iceland Gull still present in Portstewart.(Stephen Riddell)

Adult Little Gull and 5 Great Northern Divers in Killough (Chris Murphy)

Our thanks to Stephen for the photo's of the Iceland Gull(top) and the Glaucous Gull

Bird News Monday 22nd February

 A ring-tail Hen Harrier was seen in the Antrim hills this morning. (Kenny Moore).

A hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Kinnegar shore in Belfast. (Kevin Kirkham).

61 Whooper Swans were in a flooded field near the Anglers Rest pub off the Castlewellan Road in Banbridge. (Mike McLaughlin).

A female Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver and 11 Tree Sparrows were at Killough. There was no sign of the Ross's or Little Gulls. (Colin Mayes).

A Great-spotted Woodpecker and 2 Woodcock were at Castle Caldwell in Co. Fermanagh. (Brad Robson).

Thanks to Colin Mayes for the picture of the Long-tailed Duck and to Kevin Kirkham for the picture of the hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow:

Bird News Sunday 21st February

Two Little Gull were in Killough Harbour this morning (Garry Armstrong)

The Marsh Harrier and Great White Egret were both still at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning,  3 Pinkfeet were seen in flight over the lough. (Kevin Kirkham). The Smew was seen in the afternoon (David Stirling)

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

A Med Gull was at Ardglass Harbour (Sam Thomas)

3 Barnacle Geese, 6 Pink Feet and a Brent were with a flock of Greylags and Whooper Swans in field opposite Lady Bay (Gerard McGeehan and Shirley Dunlop)

Male Hen Harrier, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 20th February

The red head Smew was still on the pool below the viewing platform at Portmore Lough RSPB before flying out onto the lough. (Garry Armstrong). The Great White Egret was also present. (Seamus O'Hara).

Seven Pinkfeet and three Barnacle Geese were with Greylags and Whooper Swans along Diamond Lane between Aghalee and Portmore. (Garry Armstrong).

The Iceland Gull was still in Coleraine today. The Slavonian Grebe was still off Portstewart Promenade. (Stephen Riddell).

Three Little Gulls were seen over the day at Killough, three Great Northern Divers were also in the harbour. A Red-throated Diver was in Ardglass harbour. A bird resembling the Ross's Gull was seen briefly at 3.00 but not definitely identified. (Chris Murphy).

Nine Sandwich Terns were at Lagnagoppogue in the Strangford Narrows. (Graham McElwaine).

A 1st winter Iceland Gull was at the Round 'O' in Enniskillen. (Ronan Owens).

Thanks to Stephen Riddell for the picture of the Iceland Gull and to Guy Hamilton for the pictures of the Little Gulls in Killough yesterday:

Bird News Friday 19th February

There was no sign of the Killough Ross’s Gull by mid morning in very difficult weather conditions, the bird was looked for throughout the day without success. Two ad. Little Gulls where seen late afternoon.(Chris Murphy)

A Slavonian Grebe was at Portstewart this morning (S Riddell)

A Marsh Harrier was still present at RSPB Portmore Lough reserve.(Brian Redpath)

A male Hen Harrier was seen in the Antrim Hills.(Ian Beggs)   

Our thanks to Juliet Fleming for the photo of a Wren, also to Brian Redpath for the Marsh Harrier.

Ross's Gull - Killough

Many thanks to Tony Dodds for these superb shots of a first winter Ross's Gull which was at Killough this afternoon:

Bird News Thursday 18th February

A first winter Ross's Gull is at Quay Lane , Killough, Co Down (Chris Murphy). An adult Little Gull is also present.

The second year Mediterranean Gull was still at Loughshore Park, Belfast Lough (David Stirling).

A Peregrine was at Kinnegar shore, seen flying towards WOW RSPB reserve. (Colin Mayes)

Two first winter Glaucous Gull were at Portstewart Promenade this morning (Stephen Riddell)

An immature (2nd calendar-year) Marsh Harrier was hunting around Paddy's Dub at Lough Beg this afternoon - a different bird to the individuals reported recently at Portmore (David Steele)

Two Snow Bunting were on Rathlin (Ric Else \ Hazel Watson)

2 Marsh Harrier were seen together at Portmore Lough RSPB today just before dusk, with the Great White Egret seen as well. There were around 350 Whoopers in the surrounding fields as well. (Seamus O'Hara)

Ross's Gull, Tony Dodds:

Glaucous Gulls from Portstewart, Stephen Riddell:

Mediterranean Gull, David Stirling:

Snow Buntings, Ric Else \ Hazel Watson:

Bird News Wednesday 17th February

Two Little Gull are still in Killough this morning, at the bottom of Quay Lane. Also two Red-throated Divers, one in the inner harbour unusually just off the rope walk at the back of St Anne’s church (Chris Murphy).

The two Little Gulls were still present at Killough at high tide. (David Clarke & John Hamilton).

An Iceland Gull was in Coleraine. (Stephen Riddell).

An Iceland Gull was seen briefly on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Two Marsh Harriers, the Great White Egret and two Little Egrets were at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Ian Clarke).

150 Whooper Swans were in a field near Oxford Island. (David Shilliday).

Thanks to Stephen Riddell for the picture of the Iceland Gull, to David Clarke & John Hamilton for the picture of the Little Gull, to Ian Clarke for the first Marsh Harrier picture, to Brian Redpath for the second Marsh Harrier picture and to Guy Hamilton for the picture of the Purple Sandpiper and Dunlin:

Bird News Tuesday 16th February

A first winter Iceland Gull was on Coleraine Playing Fields this morning (S Riddell)

A second year Mediterranean Gull was at Loughshore Park, Belfast Lough (David Stirling)

Two Little Gulls (adult and first winter) and two GN Divers in Killough Hbr today (Chris Murphy)

16 Twite where at Whitehead boat yard.(Ian Enlander)

A Great Northern Diver today in Glenarm bay about one mile south of Glenarm village (David Gillespie)

2 Common Scoter seen offshore at Whitehead.(Robert McDowell)

2 juv Iceland Gull and 1 ad. Glaucous Gull seen at E'killen dump.( Brad Robson)

Our thanks to Ian Enlander for the photo of the Twite, to Juliet Fleming for the Whooper Swans and also to David Stirling for the Med Gull.

Bird News Monday 15th February

A first winter Mediterranean Gull was at Coleraine Playing Fields this morning (S Riddell)

The Marsh Harrier and Great White Egret were seen again at Portmore Lough (Michael Latham)

The female Smew was still at Lough Beg today, showing well just off Mullagh along with four Red-breasted Mergansers (scarce locally). Also seen were a Spotted Redshank, 12 Ruff and a Grey Plover. (David Steele)

Adult Little Gull at Whitehead yeasterday, Cameron Moore:

Marsh Harrier, Michael Latham:

Marsh Harrier, Richard Caves:

Bird News Sunday 14th February

The red head Smew was on the pool below the viewing platform at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

An adult Little Gull was at Whitehead (Philip West)

25 Pink-footed Geese were still at Larne Lough (Cameron Moore)

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

A 2nd calendar year Little Gull was in Killough harbour. (Chris Murphy).

4 Sanderling were at Sandy Bay in Larne. (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Portmore Smew and to Jonathan Cooke for the picture of the Yellowhammer:

Rathlin Bird Report

The Rathlin Bird Report 2020 is now available and free to download at: https://rathlinstickybeak.wordpress.com/2021/02/13/rathlin-bird-report-2020/

If you've been missing Rathlin's birdlife during the lockdown, this is the place to catch up with everything that's being going on. Read about a Siberian invasion, a new species for Rathlin, seabird surprises, and much more besides. As usual, there’s a comprehensive summary of all the year's sightings, detailed observations from the famous seabird colony, and just about everything else you could possibly wish to know about the island's birds.

It's also illustrated throughout with photos taken on the island, and we hope this will whet your appetite for a visit once it's appropriate to travel again.

Ric Else and Hazel Watson

Bird News Saturday 13th February

An adult Iceland Gull was at Whitehead Car Park (Cameron Moore)

A single Snow Bunting was on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Yesterday an adult Med Gull was at the Seacliff Road Car Park, Bangor (Tony Dodds)

Kilkeel Harbour area Co. Down had and adult Little Gull and 26 Purple Sandpipers. Nearby, NW of Cranfield Pt were 2 adult Little Gulls. (Michael O’Clery)

An adult argentatus Herring Gull was in Killough Harbour (Chris Murphy)

Iceland Gull, Cameron Moore:

Mediterranean Gull, Tony Dodds:

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

Bird News Friday 12th February

Ballyholme Bay had at least 3 Mediterranean Gull (1 or 2 adults and 2 first year birds). (Richard Weyl)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Lady Dixon Park, Belfast (Philip McErlean)

A Red Kite was hunting over fields at Ballyroney between Rathfriland and Katesbridge. (Colin Mayes).

The Ring-billed Gull and Iceland Gull where still present at Belfast Waterworks.(Kevin Kirkham)

E'killen dump had 2 juv. and I 2nd winter Iceland Gull.(Brad Robson)

The Glaucous Gull still present in Coleraine.

A Purple Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull were seen at Whitehead. There are now 25 Pink-footed Geese in a few fields opposite Leafield House on the main Larne line.(Cameron Moore)

Our thanks to Kevin Kirkham for the photo's of the Iceland Gull and the Ring-billed Gull, also to Fulton Somerville for the Siskin.