Bird News Wednesday 31st August

Ringed at the Bann Estuary last night were 4 Ruff, 2 Curlew Sandpiper & 1 Greenshank (Richard Donaghey)

The Glossy Ibis was still at the Ecos Centre (Stephen Riddell)

2 Ruff and an adult Grey Plover were off the hide at the Bann Estuary (John Clarke). 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull were also seen from the hide this afternoon (Jeff Larkin)

Two Curlew Sandpiper were at RSPB WOW. Also ten Ruff and the Spotted Redshank heard only (Stuart McKee)

5 Wheatear and a flock of Whimbrel were at Killard (David Stirling)

The Little Ringed Plover was still at Seagahan Dam, there was no sign of the Green Sandpipers. (John Cusack / David Knight)

A dark phase Arctic Skua was lingering off Castlerock pier this evening (John Spottiswood)

Blog viewers may be interested in this series of meetings and events from the Belfast RSPB Members Group:

https://group.rspb.org.uk/belfast/news-blogs/news/rspb-belfast-local-groups-2022-2023-season/

Wheatear, David Stirling:

Bird News Tuesday 30th August

 Two Green Sandpipers still at Seagahan at far end from dam (Ian Young). Also a Little Ringed Plover (Nigel Moore).

The Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank remain at Belfast Lough RSPB, also two Ruff and several Bar-tailed Godwit (Martin Deehan). Also 4 Ruff, Sanderling, 2 Greenshank, 4 Knot (Gerard McGeehan). Two juvenile Curlew Sandpiper present this evening also 30 Common Snipe (Stuart McKee).

A Marsh Harrier was seen at Portmore Lough RSPB (Martin Deehan).

There is a Glossy Ibis at the Ecos Park, Ballymena (Jeff Larkin).

4 Purple Sandpipers were at Seacliffe Road in Bangor. (James Andrew).

An Osprey was seen over the M1 at Oxford Island heading towards Moria c4pm (Garry Wilkinson).

Thanks to Jeff Larkin for the Glossy Ibis and to Nigel Moore for the LRP photos:

Bird News Monday 29th August

 The Curlew Sandpiper is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Daniel Newton/Ronnie Doggart). Also the Spotted Redshank is still present (David McCreedy).

The Little Ringed Plover is still at Seagahan Dam in Co. Armagh, 3 Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper are also present. (Joe Devlin).

The Osprey was at Woodburn middle dam between 4.15 and 7.15pm (Shirley Dunlop & Gerard McGeehan/Jonathan Cooke/Ricky McQuillan).

A Great Skua flew south past Balygally Head (Stephen Foster).

Thanks to Ronnie Doggart for the pictures of the Curlew Sandpiper and to David Mcreedy for the images of Ruff, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin and to Jonathan Cooke for the Osprey:

Bird News Sunday 28th August

A juvenile Little Gull is at Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island possibly the Lady Bay bird. (Garry Armstrong)

The Little Ringed Plover is still present at Seagahan Dam Co. Armagh. (Joe Devlin)

The Curlew Sandpiper was still at RSPB WoW. Also present were a Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank and 5 Ruff. (Dermot Hughes)

A Spotted Redshank is at RSPB WOW, viewable from the Observation Room (Garry Armstrong).

An Arctic Skua was off Ramore Head this morning (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

An Arctic Skua and 3 Whimbrel were at Ballyquintin Point. (Richard Weyl).

Two adult winter plumaged Little Gulls and 2 Ringed Plover were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (Garry Armstrong).

The Osprey at showed again briefly twice at the middle reservoir at Woodburn at 5.15pm and 6.15pm. (Ricky McQuillan/Kevin Rice)

Two Arctic Skuas were at Magilligan, a Curlew Sandpiper was at Balls Point and a Peregrine at Myroe. (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

Thanks to William Smiton for the Ruff and Curlew Sandpiper photographs and to Michael Latham, Stephen Maxwell and David McCreedy for the Spotted Redshank pictures and also Stephen Maxwell for the Curlew Sandpiper picture and to Kevin Rice for the picture of the Osprey.

  

William Smiton

William Smiton

William Smiton

Michael Latham

Stephen Maxwell

Stephen Maxwell

Stephen Maxwell

David McCreedy

Kevin Rice

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Saturday 27th August

 An Osprey is at Woodburn Forest, Carrickfergus, at the upper South Woodburn Dam (George Stewart). The bird was still present at 4pm (Dakota Reid)

A Garden Warbler and Tree Pipit found at Runkerry (Richard Donaghey).

Two Green Sandpipers along the River Maine near Slaughter Ballymena this morning (Richard Hunter).

A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper is at Belfast Lough RSPB, also three Ruff and two Greenshank (Garry Armstrong).

A Slavonian Grebe is off Myroe (Dean Jones).

7 Brent Geese were off the Comber estuary this morning. (Richard Gray)

Seagahan Dam Armagh this morning had a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper and 3 Ruff. (Joe Devlin)

A Great Skua was chasing terns at Magilligan Point (Chris Rankin)

3 Mediterranean Gull were off the hide at the Bann (John Clarke)

Two Little Gulls are at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. One of them is a very fresh juvenile (Garry Armstrong)

A single wing tagged Red Kite was close to Killyleagh today. (Michael Latham)

Little Ringed Plover, Joe Devlin:

Red Kite, Michael Latham:

Bar-tailed Godwit, Thomas Campbell:

Osprey, Dakota Reid:

Bird News Friday 26th August

The 3 Black Terns were still at Lough Beg this morning. (Richard Hunter).

Yesterday a leucistic Shag was at Bloody Bridge outside Newcastle. (Stephen Foster).

The Bann Estuary had a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Knot and 274 Sandwich Terns. (John Spottiswood).

There was no sign of the Black Tern at RSPB WOW. 4 juvenile  Ruff, two Greenshank, two Common Sandpiper, a Knot and at least 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, some in summer plumage, were present (Wilton Farrelly/Tom Ennis)

Thanks to Stephen for the picture of the Shag and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Sparrowhawk:

Bird News Thursday 25th August

 A Black Tern is at Belfast Lough RSPB (Quincy Dubois) and still present at 1800 (Michael Latham).

Three Black Terns present at Lough Beg, with five Garganey, 11 Ruff and a Reed Warbler at the Mullagh (David Steele).

No sign of putative Iberian Wagtail Rathlin (Tony Dodds & Ian Young).

Thanks to John Fraser  and Michael Latham for the pictures of the Black Tern, also to Michael for the pictures of the Greenshank and Ruff and to Tim Jess for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker:

John Fraser

Michael Latham
 

Bird News Wednesday 24th August

The presumed Iberian Wagtail is again back in the horse paddock on Rathlin after 4 days of no sightings (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Seagahan reservoir, Co Armagh had 2 Green Sandpipers and 3 Common Sand’s (Tony Dodds)

Two Mandarin were at the River Inver (Linda Thompson)

Presumed Iberian Yellow Wagtail, Ric Else:

Bird News Tuesday 23rd August

An adult and imm Roseate Tern were at RSPB WOW. Also 3 Greenshank and 3 Ruff (Dermot Hughes / John O'Boyle)

Seagahan Dam, Co. Armagh this morning had 2 Green Sandpiper, 7 Common Sandpiper and 6 Ringed Plover. (Joe Devlin).

A female American Wigeon was at the south end of Lough Beg this evening, also a Garganey, Great Egret, two Ruff and a juvenile Hen Harrier. (David Steele)

A Ruff and two Common Sandpiper were near The Spirit Store, Dundalk (Mike McLaughlin)

Kestrel, Terry Hanna:

Ruff, Mike McLaughlin:

Bird News Monday 22nd August

A single Little Gull and 13 Snipe was the best at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh this morning. (Nigel Moore).

A Whooper Swan was on Lough Neagh close to Toome canal. (Malcolm Rocke).

Four Fieldfares were seen in flight at the Seven Mile Straight near Antrim. (Gregory Heaney).

A Ruff was opposite the hide at the Bann estuary. (James McDowell).

Three Arctic Skua were off Grey Point, Belfast Lough this evening (Bob Watts)

Thanks to James McDowell for the pictures of the Sandwich Terns and the Little Egret:

Bird News Sunday 21st August

Magilligan Point 0645-1030 produced 10+ Arctic Skua including a very pale individual and some intermediates at close range, moulting adult Little Gull, 4+ Whimbrel, 5 Red throated Diver, Harbour Porpoise, distant Otter near Warren lighthouse on far shore ( Bob Watts, Tony Dodds, Ian Young)

A Fanad Head, Donegal seawatch, 8-10:30 had 8 Great Shearwater, 1 Corys, 100+ Sooty Shearwater, 5 Storm Petrel, 2 Pomarine Skua, 6 Arctic Skuas and 1 Bonxie. 1 Risso's Dolphin seen briefly (Wilton Farrelly / Jamie Bliss). A Long-tailed Skua was also seen (Ralph Sheppard)

Seagahan Dam, Co. Armagh  had 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Ringed Plover and a Wheatear. (Joe Devlin).

A Golden Eagle has been seen in the Glenwherry area this morning (Chris, Walter and Ethan Veale) The bird was seen subsequently around 5pm. Red Kite is also in the area (Richard Gray)

The best at RSPB WoW this morning were 2 Ruff, 3 Greenshank and 2 Common Sandpiper (Ian Enlander / Gerard McGeehan et al)

Several Storm Petrels were with Manx Shearwaters off the seabird platform on Rathlin and 3 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Rathlin ferry this evening. (Kevin Kirkham).

An Osprey was at the floodgates at Newtownards. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop). The Osprey was still present this evening fishing in the deep channel further out from the floodgates and moving down the Lough towards Greyabbey. (Ian Young). Again briefly viewing from floodgates 1845 then flew towards far shore (Bob Watts).

Ruff, RSPB WoW, Stephen Maxwell:

Arctic Skua, Stephen Riddell:

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

Bird News Saturday 20th August

No sign this morning of adult Little Stint at Belfast Lough RSPB but Whimbrel, 2 Ruff, 2 Common Sandpipers (Garry Armstrong).

Fanad Head 0830-1200: 3 PomarineSkua including one with spoons, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, 1+ Storm Petrel, 180+ Sooty Shearwaters, countless Manx Shearwaters in strong westerlies (Wilton Farrelly).

Five Common Sandpipers were at Croaghan hide at Oxford Island this morning. (Ed O'Hara).

Two Little Gulls and two Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh this afternoon. )Nigel Moore, David McCreedy, Michael Latham).

Arctic Skua Magilligan Point (John Clarke).

Glaucous Gull again at Burger King car park Coleraine (John Clarke).

Thanks to Jeff Higgott for the picture of the Red Grouse, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Little Gulls and to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Curlew:

Bird News Friday 19th August

 The putative Iberian Yellow Wagtail was still in the horse field on Rathlin this morning. (Stephen Riddell).

The Wood Sandpiper was still at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh this morning. (David McCreedy).

A juvenile Ruff and 25 Whimbrel were at the Barmouth this morning. (Theo Campbell).

The adult Little Stint was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve again this afternoon, a Ruff was also present. (Chris Hamilton, Tom Ennis & Carol Gillespie). Two Common Sandpipers and two Knot were also present. (Michael Latham).

Two Arctic Skuas were off Greencastle on the Donegal side of Lough Foyle. (Ian Dickey).

Seawatching from the East Light on Rathlin this afternoon produced four Sooty Shearwaters and a Storm Petrel among the Manx Shearwaters. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was just off the harbour. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

This afternoon a Red Kite was on the Cushendun to Ballycastle Road near Lough Areema. (Patrick Barton).

Thanks to Stephen Riddell for the picture of the putative Iberian Yellow Wagtail and to David McCreedy for the picture of the Wood Sandpiper:

Bird News Thursday 18th August

A Ruff, Common Sandpiper and Greenshank were at RSPB WoW (Stephen Maxwell)

A possible adult White-rumped Sandpiper is at RSPB WoW hide 2. The bird was showing well at 8:15.

(Dermot Hughes) [The identification of this bird has not been definitively confirmed but opinion now favours an adult Little Stint]

A Wood Sandpiper is at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh this evening (Michael Latham)

Two Osprey were seen perched on an old Oak tree, near to the River Maine, south of Randalstown and about 0.5 mile from Lough Neagh (Sam Andrews)

White-rumped Sandpiper with two Dunlin:

White-rumped Sandpiper, BoC shot, Ronald Surgenor:

Wood Sandpiper, Michael Latham:

Bird News Wednesday 17th August

4 Red Kites were seen soaring together in the Antrim hills this morning. (Kenny Moore).

The putative Iberian Wagtail was still on Rathlin in the pony field opposite the Kelp House and adjacent to Rathlin Hostel (John Clarke \ James McDowell).

Two Tree Pipits at Maghery Country Park, SW Lough Neagh shore, early this morning. (Kerry Leonard)

Putative Iberian Wagtail, James McDowell:

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of a male Sparrowhawk:

Bird News Tuesday 16th August

 Ramore Head 0630-0830: Sooty Shearwater, 4 Arctic Skua, juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 7 Whimbrel, 473 Manx Shearwater, 155 Gannet, 60 Sandwich Tern (Dean Jones).

An Osprey was angling at 11am along the River Maine upstream from Lough Neagh (Sam Andrews).

A Common Sandpiper at Kinnegar Pools early afternoon and at least 3 Swifts hawking over road at Belfast Lough RSPB (Bob Watts). Earlier Greenshank (Daniel Newton).

Juvenile Little Gull at Belfast Lough RSPB reported from 1551 (Tony Dodds). 

Rathlin East Light this evening 1700-1900 produced Great Shearwater, adult/subadult Sabine’s Gull, 50+ Sooty Shearwater, Great Skua, 2 Arctic Terns, several Commic Terns and 1000s of Man Shearwater (Ric Else).

Putative Iberian Wagtail still present Rathlin in field with ponies opposite Kelp House (Ric Else).

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tim Jess:

Bird News Monday 15th August

 The Yellow Wagtail, of still indeterminate race, is still on Rathlin this morning. It was seen in a field with cattle before flying back towards Kelp House. Three Common Sandpipers were in Mill Bay. The Yellow Wagtail was showing well back in the horse field this afternoon.(Kevin Kirkham)

A Great Skua was seen mid channel from the Rathlin Ferry. (Patrick & Michael Barton).

A Little Gull is close to the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Comghal McQuillan).

The female Marsh Harrier was showing well at the east end of Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh this afternoon. (John Lambe).

At least 30 Mediterranean Gulls were south of Portavogie at low tide, mostly adults with some juveniles. (Dermot Hughes).

Thanks to Comghal for the picture of the Little Gull: