Arctic Redpoll In Co, Antrim

 The residents of the property on Lenagh Road near Antrim being visited by the Arctic Redpoll have asked that anyone planning to visit tomorrow only do so between 12 and 4. We would ask all birdwatchers to please comply with the residents wishes and also behave responsibly while on site.

Bird News Saturday 31st December

A redhead Goosander was seen briefly on the Enler River, behind the garage, on the Killinchy Road, Comber.(Colin Mayes).

A Black Redstart is at the harbour in Newcastle with a Great Northern Diver offshore. (Daniel Newton).

Two Black-throated Divers were east of Groomsport this morning. (Richard Weyl).

The Long-tailed Duck is still off the Amicci restaurant in Portstewart and a Red-throated Diver on the West Strand side of Ramore in Portrush. (Chris Rankin).

The probable Coue's Artic Redpoll was seen again on Lenagh Road outside Antrim. (Tony Dodds). The property is not open to visitors this afternoon so please do not go.

The Russian Whitefront and Barnacle Goose were with Greylags and Whoopers near Portmore. (Mike McLaughlin, David McCreedy).

Thanks to Mike McLaughlin for the pictures of the Russian Whitefront and to Richard Caves for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker:

Bird News Friday 30th December

The Marsh Harrier and the ring-tail Hen Harrier were both still at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve this morning. (Kenny Moore).

Late news from yesterday that the Bonaparte’s Gull remained present off Ballygally Castle (Andrew Walker).

At least two Brambling in the Antrim Hills, also two Crossbill (Michael Latham).

Two Purple Sandpipers at Whitehead and a female Goosander at Glynn (Justin Armstrong).

Probable Arctic Redpoll in garden 6 miles South of Ballymena at Dunsilly (Chris Hamilton).

Three juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Geese on the Dundrum United football pitches across the main road from South Inner Bay and beside the Moneycarragh River. Also the Spotted Redshank, which was earlier in a channel and other waders briefly appeared on pitches with the large Brent flock (David Nixon).

Killough yielded a site record 70 species which included two juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Chiffchaff, three Great Northern Diver, 1000 Redwing, 300 Fieldfare, ten Yellowhammers, six Carrion Crows, 220 Black-tailed Godwit and 21 Whooper Swans (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to Chris Hamilton for the probable Arctic Redpoll with Lesser Redpoll photo, Michael Latham for the Brambling photo, to Richard Caves for the Marsh & Hen Harrier photos and to David Nixon for the Brent and Spotted Redshank photos:

Bird News Thursday 29th December

Male Lesser Scaup in Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR, Lough Neagh at 1125 but since flown into bay and out of sight (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara, Daniel Newton, Joan Smyth).

A Hen Harrier was at Killylane Reservoir near Ballyclare. (Paul Tout).

A Spotted Redshank and two Jack Snipe were at the Roe Estuary. Myroe had 21 Grey Plover, 6 Greenshank, 500+ Brent, 25 Greylags, 72 Whoopers and 1,000 Golden Plover. (Martin Deehan).

The Common Sandpiper was still at Christie Park in Coleraine. (Richard Donaghey).

The Spotted Redshank was feeding in the channel on the other side of the main road from Dundrum South Inner Bay today. (David Nixon).

A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Garron Point on the Antrim coast this afternoon. (David Steele)

A female type Black Redstart and two Twite were at Whitehead.

Two Slavonian Grebes were off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough and another Slavonian Grebe was off Glynn in Larne Lough.

Thanks to Ed O’Hara and Colin Kennedy for the pictures of the Lesser Scaup, to David Nixon for the picture of the Spotted Redshank and to David Steele for the picture of the Glaucous Gull:

Ed O'Hara

Colin Kennedy

Bird News Wednesday 28th December

A male Lesser Scaup was off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

Two juvenile Dark-bellied Brent were in Killough harbour. (Chris Murphy).

The Bonaparte's Gull was feeding off Drain's Bay this afternoon before flying south. Gavin Thomas).

Six Goosanders, 3 males and 3 redheads, were at Begney Lough outside Dromara. (David Nixon).

A Short-eared Owl was reported at Island Hill in Strangford Lough. 

Bird News Tuesday 27th December

Five redhead Goosander on River Main at Slaght near Ballymena this morning (David Steele).

A ringtail Hen Harrier was off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island this morning. (Ed O'Hara).

The Bonaparte’s Gull was still at Ballygally this morning (Nigel Moore).

Two female Ring-necked Duck Upper Lough Erne off Inishcreenry near Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh at 1430 (Gavin Thomas).

Juvenile Iceland Gull at Enniskillen Dump at 1530 (Gavin Thomas).

Long-tailed Ducks showing well at Portstewart and Portballintrae this afternoon. 20 Twite near Dunluce Castle (John Clarke).

Two Purple Sandpipers and four or five Twite at Whitehead (Timothy Davis).

Thanks to John Clarke for the Long-tailed Duck and Twite photos:

Bird News Monday 26th December

The Bonaparte's Gull is still at Ballygally. (Neal Warnock).

At least 15 Purple Sandpipers were at Donaghadee. (Bob Watts).

A 3rd winter Iceland Gull is at Larne. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

The male Goosander was still at Corbett Lough outside Banbridge, there was no sign of the Green Sandpiper. (David McCreedy).

A Spotted Redshank was reported south of Greyabbey. 

Thanks to David McCreedy for the picture of the Goosander:

Bird News Sunday 25th December

Juvenile Iceland Gull on Rathlin takes the year list to 156 (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Whimbrel in field with 20 Whooper Swan near sewage farm also 500+ Knot Newtownards Floodgates (Bob Watts).

Two Twite and two Purple Sandpipers at Whitehead. At least one Brambling in the Antrim Hills (Michael Latham).

Female or immature Black Redstart still Killough, 27 Whooper Swans and c500 Skylark Ardglass (Chris Murphy).

Wishing all our subscribers and contributors a very Merry Christmas!

Thanks to Michael Latham for the Twite and Purple Sandpiper:

Bird News Saturday 24th December

Late news for yesterday was off 8 Mediterranean Gulls just north of Portavogie (Brian Murphy).

The male Long-tailed Duck was off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough this morning. Two Purple Sandpipers were at Whitehead and six Crossbills were in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

A Russian Whitefront was with Greylags and Whoopers in meadows along Canal Bank Road, Poyntzpass. (Joe Devlin).

A Black-throated, Red-throated and three Great Northern Divers were in Carnlough Bay. The Bonaparte's  Gull is still at Ballygally. (Jeff Larkin).

Two Slavonian Grebes were off Macedon Point in Belfast Lough. (Stuart McKee).

The male Goosander and Green Sandpiper were still at Corbet Lough outside Banbridge. (Mike McLaughlin).

The Glaucous Gull was back at Burger King, Coleraine this morning (John Clarke).

We wish all our contributors and readers a very happy Christmas.

Thanks to David McCreedy for the picture of the Green Sandpiper, to Brian McCloskey for the picture of the Russian Whitefront and to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Long-tailed Duck, Purple Sandpiper and Crossbill:

Bird News Friday 23rd December

A single Russian Whitefront is with the Greylags and Whoopers on the Closet Meadows, Oxford Island. A female Marsh Harrier is hunting off the breakwater at the back of the Discovery Centre.  (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara).

A female type Long-tailed Duck was off the rocks at the west end of Runkerry beach, Portballintrae. (Paul Tout)

The Bonaparte's Gull is still at Ballygally. 

Bird News Thursday 22nd December

A White-tailed Eagle was at Ardmore this morning (Garry Armstrong).

Two Great Northern Divers were off the breakwater at the back of the Discovery Centre, Oxford Island this morning (Garry Armstrong).

A drake Goosander and Green Sandpiper at Corbet Lough (David McCreedy).

Grey Plover, four Pintail and c35 Twite on the Foyle Estuary (Richard Donaghy).

A small flock of Crossbills seen at Springwell Forest, Coleraine (James McDowell, Ken Perry & John Clarke).

A female Long-tailed Duck was showing well at the Ardilea Road end of Inner Dundrum Bay this afternoon (Paul Megahey).

A female/immature Black Redstart at Whitehead this afternoon along with 4 Twite and 2 Purple Sandpipers. The. Bonaparte’s Gull and 3 Common Scoters were at Ballygally (Neal Warnock)

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the Blackcap and Oystercatcher:

Thanks to James McDowell for the Crossbill:

Bird News Wednesday 21st December

An immature male Velvet Scoter is off Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

Two Slavonian Grebes were off Macedon Point in Belfast Lough. (Stuart McKee0.

50 Siskins were at Kilfennan Country Park in L'Derry. (Theo Campbell).

A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Reedy Flats and single Barnacle and Russian Whitefront Geese with the Greylag flock. (Mike McLaughlin, David McCreedy).

A male Green-winged Teal was with 600 Eurasian Teal at Church Island, Lough Beg this afternoon. A Spotted Redshank was also seen. Earlier in the day a female Ring-necked Duck, female Smew and a Great Northern Diver were at the south end of the lake. (David Steele).

Thanks to Comghal McQuillan and Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Velvet Scoter, to David McCreedy for the pictures of the Whitefront and Barnacle Goose and to David Steele for the picture of the Green-winged Teal

Comghal McQuillan

Ed O'Hara

Bird News Tuesday 20th December

The Bonaparte’s Gull is still at Ballygally (Ian Dickey).

Two Great Northern and one Red-throated Diver, four Goldeneye and many Red-breasted Merganser off Macedon Point. Whilst at Whitehead about a dozen very flighty Twite. (Kevin Kirkham).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Ballycarry Bridge (Kevin Kirkham).

Approximately 300 Redwing and 50 Fieldfare present between Crossnacreevy and Gransha, with a male Kestrel, 400 Golden Plover and 100 Skylark present this afternoon at Islandhill Comber (David Clarke).

A Green Sandpiper was showing well at Corbet Lake this morning (David McCreedy).

The wintering Common Sandpiper remains at Christie Park, Coleraine (Donna Riddell).

17 Greenland White-fronted Geese again flew towards Ushet Lough on Rathlin at sunrise (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The Long-tailed Duck is still opposite the Amici restaurant at Portstewart (James McDowell).

Thanks to Ian Dickey for the Bonaparte’s Gull flight shot:

Thanks to David McCreedy for the Green Sandpiper:

Thanks to David Clarke for the Kestrel:

Thanks to Donna Riddell for the Common Sandpiper:

Thanks to Kevin Kirkham for his Twite:

Thanks to Terry Hanna for the Sanderlings:

Bird News Monday 19th December

 The Long-tailed Duck is again off the Amici restaurant in Portstewart. (Richard Donaghey). Also six Red-throated and four Great Northern Divers present. (John Clarke).

The pair of Goosanders are still present at Randalstown. (Jonny Rosborough).

A Common Sandpiper is at Christie Park in Coleraine. (Stephen Riddell).

At least one of the Green Sandpipers is still at Corbey Lake outside Banbridge. (David McCreedy).

Five hundred Skylarks were at Ardglass this morning, birds moving in the face of the recent cold weather. (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Greenshank:

Bird News Sunday 18th December

 Four Greenland Whitefronts remain at Closet Meadows, Oxford Island NNR (Garry Armstrong).

Bird News Saturday 17th December

Four Greenland Whitefronts and an escaped Swan Goose were with Greylags and Whooper Swans at the Closet Meadows, Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough, a Black Redstart at Whitehead and the Bonaparte's Gull at Ballygally. (Michael Latham).

Two Black Redstarts and a Chiffchaff were in Killough. (Chris Murphy).

The two Waxwings are still in Maxwell Road, Bangor. (Simon Gray)

The male Long-tailed Duck is midway between Hazelbank park and Whiteabbey. (Tim & Isaiah Davis).

Two Slavonian Grebes and a Red-throated Diver were off Hazelbank this afternoon. (Michael Latham)

At least two Twite were at the boatyard in Whitehead. (Jonathan Cooke).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Spotted Redshank, Bonaparte's Gull, Black Redstart and Slavonian Grebe, to Simon Gray for the picture of the Waxwing and to Jonathan Cooke for the picture of the Twite:

Bird News Friday 16th December

The Bonaparte’s Gull was still at Ballygally this morning. (Neal Warnock)

A female/immature Black Redstart still outside the pharmacy in Castle Street, Killough also two Chiffchaff in nettles along Church Avenue (Chris Murphy).

Slavonian Grebe off Macedon Point (Stuart McKee).

Long-tailed Duck still at Portballintrae (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

One Waxwing seen for c10 minutes at Towerview Crescent, Bangor (Peter Gamble).

At least one Waxwing at the corner of East Bridge and Cromac Streets, Belfast this afternoon (Geoff Campbell).

A female Smew was at the south end of Lough Berg this afternoon (David Steele).

At least 200 Knot from Newtownards Floodgates this afternoon (Alastair Maclean).

The Purple Sandpiper is still at Whitehead as well as about ten Twite around the boat yard (Tim & Isaiah Davis).

Shoveler (Stephen Maxwell):

Long-tailed Duck (Donna & Stephen Riddell):

Knot and Skylark (Alastair Maclean):

Sanderling (Juliet Fleming):