A Red Kite was seen over Ballinahinch late afternoon (Greg Heaney)
The Common Sandpiper and Little Gull were both at Lady Bay this afternoon. (Suzanne Belshaw)
Pomarine Skua, John Clarke:
Mediterranean Gulls, Stephen Maxwell:
Bird News Thursday 30th June
A Pomarine Skua was in the Bann estuary at lunchtime today (John Clarke)
Bird News Wednesday 29th June
A Red Kite was quartering over Bryansford this afternoon, (Eric Mansell)
Thanks to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Sandwich Tern:
Bird News Tuesday 28th June
A Red Kite flew from north to south over Ballynahinch this afternoon. (Ian Jackson).
Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Buzzard:
Bird News Sunday 26th June
A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been visiting a garden outside Ballygown for the last month, now accompanied by a juvenile. (Suzy Martin).
A 2nd year Little Gull and a Common Sandpiper were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (Garry Armstrong).
Two Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay this evening. (Chris Rankin).
At least two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were at Learmont Forest near Park village, Claudy. (Derek Brennan).
Thanks to Suzy for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpeckers, To Christine Cunningham for the picture of the Sedge Warbler and to Stephen Maxwell for the picture of the Arctic Tern:
Bird News Saturday 25th June
An Osprey was on Dairyland Road near Straid this morning (Neil Kilpatrick)
The female Marsh Harrier was showing well this afternoon at the east end of Reedy Flats. (Michael Latham)
Marsh Harrier, Michael Latham:
Bird News Friday 24th June
An Osprey was on the River Maine at Shanes Castle Demesne last observed yesterday evening. (Sam Andrews)
The unusual phylloscopus warbler singing in trees by the track on the NE side of Belfast WoW is still present. It is employing both 'song- switching' and 'mixed singing,' using elements of both willow warbler and chiffchaff songs. (Maureen Harvey-Graham / Matthew Tickner)
A Buff-breasted Sandpiper is at Lough Beg, on the mud by Church Island. (David Steele).
A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker continues to visit a garden in Ballynahinch. (Ian Jackson).
Thanks to Ian Jackson for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, to David Steele for the picture of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper and to Rebecca Tanner for her excellent painting of the recent Rathlin Rosy Starling:
Bird News Thursday 23rd June
An immature White-tailed Eagle was at Banagher Forest near Dungiven today, soaring and calling, mobbed by Buzzards. (David Steele).
The Marsh Harrier was at the east end of Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Joe Devlin)
An Arctic Tern was at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)
A Cuckoo is at Ballymacornick Point, Bangor for its second day (Dot Blakely)
Marsh Harrier, Joe Devlin:
Puffins, Rathlin Island, Tom McDonnell:
More pictures of local birds are at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/
Bird News Wednesday 22nd June
A single Mediterranean Gull was mixing with Black-headed Gulls on Holywood sea front at dusk last night. (Tom Trouton).
A Fieldfare was on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
The three American Wigeon were still at Lough Beg today, all three birds were at the south end of the main lake. Also 60 Pochard were on the lake (a high site count for this species). (David Steele).
The White-tailed Eagle was still at Blanketnook, Co Donegal (Bob Watts)
The White-tailed Eagle was still at Blanketnook, Co Donegal (Bob Watts)
Bird News Tuesday 21st June
An immature White-tailed Eagle, a Little Gull, Whimbrel and Greenshank are at Blanketnook, Donegal (Jamie Bliss)
The Marsh Harrier is still at the eastern end of Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (John Lambe).
The Rosy Starling was seen again on Rathlin this afternoon after a 3 day absence. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
The feral Barnacle Goose was seen again at Hillsborough Lake. (Tim Jess)
The high water Moneycarragh River roost at Dundrum Inner Bay had a flock of 24 Curlew (Graham McElwaine)
Rose-coloured sarling, Ric Else \ Hazel Watson:
Bird News Monday 20th June
A trip to the Gobbins and Port Muck from Bangor (main pier, just beyond Bregenz House) is taking place at 6:30pm this Thursday (23rd). There are two seats remaining. Price £40. Tea/coffee included! Contact Ann at annlightbody510@gmail.com if interested.
Another boat trip to Tory Island is taking place on Saturday 25th June. Price £80 to include bus from Belfast, boat trip around Horn Head and Tory and 5 hours on the island. Phone Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details.
Reed Warblers continue to show well from the Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (David McCreedy)
Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the pictures of the Grey Heron and the Goldfinch, to David McCreedy for the pictures of the Reed Warbler and to Tim Jess for the picture of the Yellowhammer:
Bird News Sunday 19th June
The Marsh Harrier was still at Reedy Flats (John Lambe)
Adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls continue to show well at RSPB WoW. A Knot was also present.
An Osprey was seen flying north about half way up Lough Melvin. (Fergal O'Connor).
Sand Martin, Terry Hanna:
Bird News Saturday 18th June
The Marsh Harrier was still at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Richard Hunter).
Reed Warblers continue to show around the Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara)
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Reed Warbler
Reed Warbler - Ed O'Hara
Willow Warbler - Terry Hanna
Bird News Friday 17th June
The Rose-coloured Starling was seen this morning on the way to the West Light, Rathlin. Also 2 Corrncrake were heard calling. (David McCreedy)
The female Marsh Harrier remains at Reedy Flats (John Lambe)
Three American Wigeon (the pair and a single female) were still at Lough Beg today. Also the female Smew was still present and two male Garganey transitioning into eclipse plumage. An early returning Greenshank was in the southwest corner. (David Steele)
We still are not publishing pictures of birds at nest sites \ nest holes. However as young birds are now fledging, we will publish pictures of such birds. We thank our regular contributors and everyone else who always ensure the interests of our breeding birds come first.
Fledged Great Spotted Woodpecker with adult male, private garden, Ballinahinch, Ian Jackson:
Bird News Thursday 16th June
A Rosy Starling is on Rathlin this morning among a large arrival of Starlings. It is mobile, roaming around the west end of the island. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
The female American Wigeon has been reported again at Church Island, Lough Beg.
At Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough a Bar-tailed Godwit was with 6 Curlew between 12 and 12.30pm. Also present were 4 Little Egrets, one if full breeding plumage, and a single adult Mediterranean Gull with the Black Headed Gulls. (Kevin Kirkham).
A Marsh Harrier is at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (John Lambe).
Reed Warblers continue to show around the Kinnegar hide at Oxford Island. (Michael Latham).
A Cuckoo was seen again at Murlough Nature Reserve outside Dundrum this afternoon. (Ian McKee).
Two Arctic Terns were at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve this morning but there was no sign of the male Garganey. (Derek Polley).
Thanks to Ric Else for the picture of the Rosy Starling, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Reed Warbler and to Derek Polley for the picture of the Arctic Tern:
Bird News Wednesday 15th June
Two Spotted Flycatchers were at An Creggan on the Cookstown Road outside Omagh, Co. Tyrone. (Annette Elkin)
A Cuckoo was calling this afternoon near the main Murlough carpark. (Graham McElwaine).
The female American Wigeon was with nine Eurasian Wigeon, eight males and a female, at Church Island, Lough Beg. Two Knot in non breeding plumage were also present. (David Steele).
Two Barnacle Geese and a Pink-foot are with the Greylag flock on Ushet Lough on Rathlin. Yesterday 15 Crossbill were on the island. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
Thanks to Annette for the pictures of the Spotted Flycatchers and to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Meadow Pipit:
Bird News Tuesday 14th June
The pair of American Wigeon were again at Mullagh, Lough Beg, the female Smew was also present along the south shore and a drake Garganey in the south-west corner. (Jeff Larkin)
A Kingfisher was seen along the River Blackwater at Ardmillan, Killinchy(Steven Sweeney)
A Cuckoo has been calling for several days along Binmore Road in Derrygonnelly, Co. Fermanagh. (Matt Watson).
Boat trip...
There are 4 seats available on the boat trip from Portstewart to Inishtrahull this Thursday(16th June) If interested contact Jim Wells on 07856235144
Bird News Monday 13th June
No news so far today.
Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the pictures of the Black Guillemot and the Herring Gull and to Christine Cunningham for the pictures of the Sedge Warbler and the Stonechat:
Bird News Sunday 12th June
The male Garganey was still at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve this morning. (Garry Armstrong).
A Grey-headed Wagtail is on Inishtrahull, Co Donegal and was present yesterday and today (Mariona Sarda & John Collins / Inishtrahull Bird Observatory)
There will be trips to Tory Island by bus and boat on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th June. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details.
Red Grouse, Antrim Hills, Michael Latham:
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Bird News Saturday 11th June
The pair of American Wigeon were still off the Mullagh, Lough Beg (Richard Hunter).
This afternoon there were 3 American Wigeons at Lough Beg, the original pair at Mullagh and a new female paired with a male Eurasian Wigeon at Church Island. The female Smew was also off Church Island. (David Steele).
Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Swift and to David Steele for the picture of the female American Wigeon:
Bird News Friday 10th June
A Red Kite was seen flying over the Norbrook factory, Carnbane industrial estate, Newry (John Anderson)
Garganey, Michael Latham:
A Cuckoo was calling this morning at Drumkeeragh Forest, near Balinahinch. (Terry Hanna)
The drake Garganey is still at Belfast WOW (Michael Latham)
The pair of American Wigeon were still at Lough Beg this afternoon, also the female Smew and a male Garganey. (David Steele)
Sand Martin, Terry Hanna:
Garganey, Michael Latham:
Bird News Thursday 9th June
The drake Garganey is still showing well at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Derek Polley).
Thanks to John Fraser for the picture of the Garganey, to Stephen Maxwell for the pictures of the Mediterranean Gull and to Derek Polley for the picture of the Common Terns:
Bird News Wednesday 8th June
The drake Garganey is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Stuart McKee).
The Little Gull was still at Rue on Rathlin yesterday evening. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
At least 4 cuckoo were at Altikeeragh at lunchtime. (Gilly Irwin)
Late news is that a Common Rosefinch has been reported from Rathlin from the 1st June.
Garganey, Stuart McKee:
Bird News Tuesday 7th June
A drake Garganey is at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Daniel Newton).
On Sunday an Osprey was seen crossing the road at Dundrum Inner Bay South (Marty Overend)
A Grasshopper Warbler is singing regularly at the Lough Moss Centre, Carryduff (Angus Kennedy)
Kingfisher, Lindsay Hodges:
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