Bird News Monday 28th February

An adult winter Mediterranean gull was on the pond at the Billy Neill Centre Dundonald this morning. (Chris Shaw)

A Red Kite was still near Armoy (Dave Allen)

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road, Armagh in the usual fields showing well on the small rocky outcrops there. (John Spottiswood).

The Black-necked Grebe was seen again briefly at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh, there was no sign of the red head Smew. (Bob Watts).

Two Slavonian Grebes were off Whiteabbey in Belfast Lough and the Glaucous Gull was present again on the shore. (David Stirling).

A Ruff was at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve. (Shirley Dunlop & Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Noeni Bryars for the pictures of the Goldeneye and the Grey Wagtail and thanks to Kevin Kirkham for the pictures of the Double-crested Cormorant in Co, Leitrim and the Snow Goose at Lissadell in Sligo:

Bird News Sunday 27th February

The Ferruginous Duck was back again at Ballysaggart Lough this morning (Aidan Kelly / Jim Dowdall) The bird was still present at 2:30pm (Godfrey McRoberts). The bird was still there to 6pm (Luke Geraty)

A Black-necked Grebe was at the east end of Reedy Flat, Lough Neagh (Garry Armstrong)

A red head Smew was also with Goldeneye at Reedy Flat, Lough Neagh (Brian McCloskey)

A Glaucous and Iceland Gull were at the Bann Estuary this morning (Stephen Riddell)

3 Crossbill were in the Antrim Hills (Stephen Dunbar)

A Glaucous Gull was at Whiteabbey Beach today. (Kevin Mawhinney) The bird was still there at 4:30 (Dakota Reid)

The female Brambling was still visiting a garden in Larne (Linda Thompson)

2 Woodcock were seen at Loughry college, Cookstown in woods along the Killymoon river. (Godfrey McRoberts)

A 1st winter Little Gull was feeding off Brigg’s Rocks and 3 Whimbrel at Orlock Point. Yesterday a Pink-footed Goose was south of Anne’s Point. (Richard Weyl)

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was at the RSPB WoW gull roost this evening (Stuart McKee)

The Cattle Egret was still at the Creagh, Toome (Michael Latham)

Two adult Mediterranean Gull were at Loughshore Park, Belfast Lough (Dakota Reid)

Female Brambling, Linda Thompson:

Adult Yellow-legged Gull (rear bird), Stuart McKee:

Mediterranean Gull, Glenarm, Neal Warnock:

Bird News Saturday 26th February

Two Marsh Harriers were at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. 

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road outside Newry this morning. (Nigel Moore).

The juvenile Iceland Gull and Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid were at Enniskillen dump this afternoon. (Gavin Thomas).

A female Brambling is visiting a garden in Larne. (Linda Thompson).

2 Brambling and 10 Tree Sparrows were with a Chaffinch flock in stubble fields at Megargy, Magherafelt. (Godfrey McRoberts).

An adult Iceland Gull, a 1st winter and adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve. A Slavonian Grebe was off Macedon Point. (Stuart McKee).

Thanks to Linda for the picture of the Brambling:

Bird News Friday 25th February

The drake Ferruginous Duck was still at the north end of Ballysaggart Lough this morning. (John Spottiswood). The bird was still present at 3:45pm (Shirley Dunlop)

At least one of the Great White Egrets was still present and showing well at Ballycarry Bridge this morning. (Kevin Kirkham).

A 1st winter Iceland Gull is at the Barmouth, a Slavonian Grebe is also present. (Richard Donaghey).

A 1st winter Iceland Gull and the presumed hybrid Glaucous Gull were at Enniskillen Dump at lunchtime today (Brad Robson)

A Ring-necked Duck (the fifth individual to be seen since the autumn) was at the south end of Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steel)

A male Ring-necked Duck was at Knockninny, Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh. (Ronan Owens).

Thanks to Gerry Bond for the pictures of the Redpoll and the Coal Tit:

Bird News Thursday 24th February

The male Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard Road, Co Armagh this afternoon (John Spottiswood)

Bird News Wednesday 23rd February

The Ferruginous Duck was still at the north end of Ballysaggart Lough, Dungannon to lunchtime at least (Mark Stewart).

The two Ring-necked Parakeets of unknown origin were seen again in north Belfast. (Kevin Kirkham).

A 2nd year Iceland Gull was at the Round O in Enniskillen this morning. (Brad Robson)

Approximately 100 Whooper Swans were at Flatfield outside Moira this morning. (Juliet Fleming).

The Ring Ouzel still at Ballard Co Armagh in the same small fields around the junction of Ballard Road and Aghmakane Road this afternoon (John Spottiswood)

Thanks to Ronnie Doggart for the picture of Purple Sandpipers from Donaghadee:

Bird News Tuesday 22nd February

 The Ferruginous Duck was back on Ballysaggart Lough this afternoon.(David Knight)

The Green-winged Teal is still showing well at Castle Espie this morning. (Jonny Clark).

The 2 Great White Egret are still present at Ballycarry Bridge, Larne Lough.(Cameron Moore)

Thanks to Jonny for this picture of the Green-winged Teal: Also to David for the Ferruginous Duck

Bird News Monday 21st February

A "Blue" Fulmar was at Lough Beg this afternoon - it was resting on the water at the south end of the main lake and present up to at least 5pm. A Spotted Redshank was at Mullagh and the Cattle Egret was also still present in the area. (David Steele)

The 3 Snow Bunting were still at Skernaghan Point, Browns Bay. A Barnacle Goose was among 26 Greylag in a field a Portmuck today. (Ronnie Doggart)

A flock of 16 Sanderlings were at Kinegar shore and a Ruff was at RSPB WOW (Margaret Adamson)

Twite, Whitehead, John Mason:

Bird News Sunday 20th February

At least 40 Pinkfeet were at Larne Lough this morning. (Cameron Moore)

A male Ring-necked Duck is off Croaghan hide, Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong)

The Glaucous Gull is still on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Yesterday 2 Brambling were visiting a garden near Wellington College, Belfast (Neil Kilpatrick)

Glaucous Gull, Ric Else \ Hazel Watson:

Pink-footed Geese, Michael Latham:

Snow Buntings, yesterday, Browns Bay, John Mason:

Bird News Saturday 19th February

A female Long-tailed Duck was close in off Kinnegar barracks in Belfast Lough. (Dermot Hughes).

14 Purple Sandpipers were on the shore opposite the community centre in Donaghadee. (Bob Watts).

The two Velvet Scoters were in Dargan Bay, Belfast Lough this morning. (Ian Enlander).

The Marsh Harrier and a Merlin were at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Michael Latham).

A Slavonian Grebe was at the Bann Estuary. (John Clarke).

The Great White Egret and 10 Little Egrets were seen on the Islandmagee side of Larne Lough this evening. Whitehead seafront had one adult Mediterranean Gull. Sandy Bay, Larne, had 1 adult Mediterranean Gull and one 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull. (Cameron Moore).

A Pink-foot was at Waterfoot on the Antrim coast. (Neal Warnock).

On the east side of Strangford Lough there were 62 Slavonian Grebe (18 off Newtownards Sailing Club, 43 in Greyabbey Bay and 1 at Horse Island). (Richard Weyl).

The Snow Buntings were still at Skernaghans Point on Islandmagee. (Jonathan Cooke)

Four Mediterranean Gulls, 3 adults and a 1st year, were on the north shore of Belfast Lough just north of Macedon at the Whiteabbey War Memorial. The young bird was ringed with a yellow ring, A5 JL. (David Nixon)

Thanks to Neal Warnock for the picture of the Pink-foot, to Shelagh Henry for the picture of the Red-breasted Mergansers, to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Mediterranean Gulls and the Great White Egret to Jonathan Cooke for the picture of the Snow Buntings and to David Nixon for the picture of the ringed Mediterranean Gull:

Bird News Friday 18th February

 The Black Redstart and 10 Twite were along Whitehead seafront. One Great White Egret and 40 Pinkfeet were on Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

Yesterday 80 Whooper Swans were at Lady Bay on Lough Neagh. (Richard Caves).

There was no sign of the Ferruginous Duck at Ballysaggart Lough today. A Jack Snipe was flushed from the north side of the Black Lough. (Mark Stewart).

Thanks to Richard Caves for the picture of the Whoopers, to Brian McCloskey for the picture of the Ferruginous Duck and to Bill Guiller for the picture of the Sparrowhawk:

Bird News Thursday 17th February

The Hoopoe was seen again this morning in the private garden in Kircubbin (David Cole)

A male Ferruginous Duck is on Ballysaggart Lough outside Dungannon. (David Knight).

A Common Sandpiper was on the Bann at Coleraine (John Clarke)

A Carrion Crow was with Hooded Crows in Ormeau Park, Belfast (Bernie Stocks)

Ferruginous Duck with Pochard, David Knight:

Ferruginous Duck, Bob Watts:

Drake Ferruginous Duck, John Cusack:

Further video of the Hoopoe from today, David Cole:

Bird News Wednesday 16th February

A Hoopoe has been videoed in a private garden in  Kircubbin. (David Cole)

 Two Goosander are on Lough Moor, near Strabane (Robert Vaughan)

2 winter Glaucous Gull on Rathlin.(Ric Else/Hazel Watson)

Our thanks to John Mason for this image of a Curlew.

Bird News Tuesday 15th February

The Ring Ouzel was still around the field with the slurry tanker at Ballard Road, Co Armagh (Fergal Stanley)

An immature wing tagged White-tailed Eagle was at Belcoo, Co Fermanagh (Billy Miskelly)

The Double-crested Cormorant was again on Lough Doon, Co Leitrim, this morning (Mike Hoit). The bird was still present early afternoon (Bob Watts).

The Cattle Egret, 8 Ruff and a single Pink-foot were at Lough Beg. (Shirley Dunlop, Gerard McGeehan).

The Pink-foot and a Merlin were at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Ed O'Hara)

Thanks to Billy Miskelly for the picture of the White-tailed Eagle and to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Redwing:

Bird News Monday 14th February

The Pink-footed Goose was still at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh, a Peregrine and a Kestrel were also present. (Ed O'Hara).

A female Brambling was visiting a garden in Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson).

A Carrion Crow and a Carrion x Hooded Crow hybrid were at Greyabbey this morning. (Kevin Kirkham).

Five Slavonian Grebe are at Kircubbin (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

2 Med Gull (2cy & 3Cy) were at Groomsport; ad Little Gull at Donaghadee; ad Little Gull and a Sandwich Tern at Quinton Bay. (Norman Milligan)

Two adult Med Gulls were at Kinnegar (Bob Watts)

A Double-crested Cormorant is at Lough Doon, Co Leitrim. A drake Surf Scoter was also off Rossnowlagh (Rovert Vaughan)

The Glaucous Gull was still at the Burger King, Coleraine (Dakota Reid)

The Green-winged Teal was again on show at Castle Espie (Margaret Adamson)

Pink-footed Geese, Larne Lough, Cameron Moore:

Glaucous Gull, Dakota Reid:

Drake Green-winged Teal, Danny McCaughan:

Siskin are widespread in many gardens at present. Picture by John Mason:

Bird News Sunday 13th February

The Lesser Scaup was still at Oxford Island NNR but very distant and flew into bay towards Gawleys Gate and out of view (Bob Watts)

The Cattle Egret was still at the Creagh with cows beside the mound. A Great White Egret was in the wet area in the channels behind mound (Philip West)

A single Pink-footed Goose is with Greylags at the east end of Reedy Flats. (Garry Armstrong)

45 Pink-footed Geese are at Larne Lough (Cameron Moore)

A male Brambling is at Dickeystown Road, Glenarm (Ivan Quail)

An adult Little Gull is at Groomsport. (Richard Weyl)

The three Snow Buntings were still at Skernaghan Point, Browns Bay, last Friday. 

The Green-winged Teal was still at Castle Espie. (John Spottiswood).

A Peregrine was seen along the seven mile straight near Antrim. (Gregory Heaney).

Two Gadwall, a rare bird on the island, flew past Church Bay on Rathlin, a Common Scoter was also present. (Hazel Watson & Ric Else).

Bird News Saturday 12th February

The Ring Ouzel was again in the field with the slurry tanker at Ballard Road, Co Armagh (Niall Hatch). The bird only showed briefly this afternoon (Dermot O’Mahoney)

A Carrion Crow was visiting a garden in Islandmagee this morning. (Kevin Kirkham)

A male Brambling and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker visited a feeding station today in Bryansford, Newcastle. (Joanne Mansell)

The Green-winged Teal was again at Castle Espie (Bob Watts)

A first winter Iceland Gull was off Ballyquintin before heading north (Billy Miskelly)

The Lesser Scaup was seen again today at Kinnego Bay at 1:45, Oxford Island (per Birdguides).

A Twite was with 5 Linnets at Moyraverty Lurgan.

200 Knot, 50 Black-tail Godwit and 200 + Golden Plover were in Dundrum Bay (David Clarke)

Ring-necked Parakeet, North Belfast, Kevin Rice:

Bird News Friday 11th February

The Ring Ouzel was showing again at Ballard Road, Co Armagh this morning (Robert Vaughan)

A Red Kite on Carnlough Rd Broughshane this morning (Gregory Moorehead)

A Barn Owl was seen near Bangor yesterday evening. (James Hendry).

The Green-winged Teal still on show at Castle Espie.(John Mason) 

Our thanks to Juliet Fleming for this image of a Great Northern Diver. Also to John Mason for the Green-winged Teal.

Bird News Thursday 10th February

 The Green-winged Teal was still on the main lake at Castle Espie this morning. (Jonny Clark).

A Pink-foot was with 10 Greylags at Reedy Flats before flying off towards Ardmore. (Joe Devlin).

Approximately 100 Whooper Swans were in fields on left on Caster Bay Road heading towards Aghagallon, a female Kestrel was at Aghagallon, a male Kestrel and Merlin were at Portmore. (Garry Wilkinson).

Bird News Wednesday 9th February

 2 Brambling, 16 Yellowhammers and 7 Grey Plover were at Myroe this morning. (Richard Donaghey).

Yesterday 2 Ring-necked Parakeets of unknown origin were at Belfast Waterworks. (Leonard Charles).

Ballymccormack Point had 3 Mediterranean Gulls, a Whimbrel and a Great northern Diver. (James Andrew).

6 Goosanders, a male and 5 redheads, were on Begney Lough outside Dromara. (David Nixon).

Thanks to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Red-breasted Mergansers:

Bird News Tuesday 8th February

The Cattle Egret is still at the Creagh, Toome (Andrew Crory)

The Ring Ouzel was still at Ballard around the Aghmakane Road/ Ballard Road junction early this afternoon (John Spottiswood). The bird was still present at 3:40. (Garry Wilkinson)

A high count of circa 150 Pied Wagtail were on the roof of Brennans Garage, Seaforde this evening (David Nixon)

You can see more pictures of local birds at http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Ring Ouzel, Garry Wilkinson:

Purple Sandpiper, Ramore, Robert Plant:

 

Bird News Monday 7th February.

The Snow Buntings were still on show at Brown's Bay.(Albert Boyle)

Our thanks to Albert for the photo of the Snow Buntings. 

 

Bird News Sunday 6th February

The Green-winged Teal is still at Castle Espie (Wilton Farrelly)

Four Brambling are visiting a garden in Ballymena (Jeff Larkin)

The Glaucous Gull is still at the Burger King, Coleraine (Theo Campbell / Richard Smith)

The Lesser Scaup was back in Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara, Garry Armstrong, Comghal McQuillan).

3 White-fronted Geese were in the Carnalbanagh area of the Antrim hills. (Sandra McDowell).

A female Brambling was with the Chaffinch flock at the north end of Cushendun beach. (Richard Grey).

A Pink-footed Goose was south of Anne's Point on Strangford Lough. (Richard Weyl).

 

Thanks to Nigel Moore for the first two pictures of the Lesser Scaup, to Ed O'Hara for third Lesser Scaup picture and to Sandra McDowell for the picture of the White-fronted Geese:

Bird News Saturday 5th February

3 Goosander were still on the River Maine, Slaght near Ballymena (Richard Hunter)

The Cattle Egret is still at The Creagh, Toome. A single Pink-footed Goose was at Lough Beg. (Richard Hunter)

Two Brambling were in the grounds of Antrim Castle (Ivan Quail)

The Glaucous Gull was off the hide at the Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood)

Bird News Friday 4th February

 The 3 Snow Buntings are still at Brown's Bay on Islandmagee. (Thomas Campbell)

Twelve Twite on beach opposite toilets at Ballywalter beach. At far end of beach opposite the caravan park were 6 Grey Plover and a single Sandwich Tern. (Garry Wilkinson).

The Ring Ouzel was seen again along Ballard Road outside Newry.

Two Bramblings, a male and a female, are still in Stormont Estate. (Paul McCullough).

The Ring-necked Duck was still at Crom in Co. Fermanagh. (John Cusack).

The Black Redstart and Twite flock were still at Whitehead seafront. (Ian Enlander).

33 Ruff were at Lough Beg, 28 in Church Bay and 5 in the south west corner. The Cattle Egret was also in the south west corner. The Green Sandpiper and a pair of Goosanders were on the River Maine at Slaght outside Ballymena. (David Steele).

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Siskin, to Brian Redpath for the picture of the Kingfisher, to Ian Enlander for the picture of the Meadow Pipit and to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Snow Buntings and the Purple Sandpipers: