Bird News Wednesday 30th November

 Between 8 - 9am Whitehead seafront had 77 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Diver flying into Belfast Lough together with approx 15 Gannet and 200 Eider. (Ian Enlander).

A Long-tailed Duck is off the Amici restaurant in Portstewart. (Stephen Riddell).

The Osprey is still at the Bann estuary. (John Clarke).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

Two Black Redstarts were at Killough Harbour, on shore below The Green; Whooper Swans were heard roosting on nearby Strand Lough. Yesterday the Black Redstart was still in paddock of St John’s Point. lighthouse. (Chris Murphy)

Purple sandpipers were dotted along the shore from Eisenhower pier to Jamaica inn in Bangor, with four opposite Jamaica inn. A Carrion Crow was on the rocks immediately south of Ballyholme Yacht Club. A Great Northern Diver was to the northeast of Groomsport car park. (Steven Farquhar)

A Grey Phalarope was on the north side of Rathlin this afternoon. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Gerry Bond for the picture of the Red-throated Diver, to Stephen Riddell for the picture of the Long-tailed Duck, to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Bonaparte's Gull and the Spotted Redshank and to Ric Else for the picture of the Grey Phalarope:

Bird News Tuesday 29th November

The Turtle Dove has been reported again from Lisburn this morning. ( http://nibirds.blogspot.com/2022/11/turtle-dove-in-lisburn.html )

The Bonaparte's Gull was seen briefly this afternoon as it flew south from Ballygally. (Kevin Kirkham)

4 Whooper Swan and larger numbers of wildfowl were at Lough Mourne (Ian Enlander)

Thanks to James McDowell for this picture of the Osprey at the Bann Estuary yesterday:

Bird News Monday 28th November

 The Osprey was still at the Barmouth this morning. Two White-fronts also flew over with two Greylags.(Richard Donaghey).

The Bonaparte's Gull is still at Ballygally on the Antrim coast. (Ian Dickey).

The 2nd winter Ring Billed Gull is back at Hillsborough Forest along with 2 Common Gulls. From the car park walk along the right hand side of lake and it was perched on second lot of sunken logs along with numerous Black-headed Gulls at approx 10.45am. (Garry Wilkinson).

The Black Redstart was still in paddock at St John’s Point lighthouse at 12 noon with 8 Red-throated Divers and an adult Little Gull offshore. (Chris Murphy).

A Great Skua was inshore at Portmuck on Islandmagee,also present were 12 Red-throated Diver, 7 Gannet, approximately 2,500 auks, mainly Razorbills, 350 Kittiwakes and 20 Harbour Porpoises. (Ian Enlander).

2 Black Redstarts were around the harbour at Strangford, just off Quay Lane. (Lindsay Hodges).

Two Slavonian Grebes were off Macedon Point looking towards Belfast and a Great Northern and Red-throated Diver were off Loughshore Park. (Stuart McKee).

The Turtle Dove is still coming to a garden in Lisburn. 

Thanks to Lindsay Hodges for the pictures of the Black Redstarts:

Bird News Sunday 27th November

The Bonaparte’s Gull is still at Ballygalley (Daniel Newton)

The Black Redstart is still present at Newcastle Harbour, currently at the back of the RNLI station (Dan Keightley)

A Black Redstart has also been seen at St John’s Point, at the Paddock at the Lighthouse at 2:30pm (Chris Murphy)

The Great Northern Diver is still showing between Belfast Harbour Estate and Victoria Park. 5 Red-throated Diver were off Kinnegar (Daniel Newton)

The Great White Egret remains at Ballycarry and the female Goosander and a Slavonian Grebe are at Glynn (Michael Latham)

A Kestrel & a Red Kite were along the A1 just north of Newry around 1200. (Karen Elliott)

A Black Redstart was also in the Antrim Hills on the Shillanavogy Road below the green barn on a stone wall - opposite house number 18 (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

A Kestrel was seen this morning on Divis & Black Mountain. (Paula Campbell)

The Lesser Scaup was still at Dunfanaghy New Lake. 600 Barnacle Geese were also present. (Derek Brennan)

The Osprey was again seen feeding at the Bann Estuary today (James McDowell)

A  Jack Snipe was flushed at Mullaghglass (Aiden Crean, Mark Smyth et al)

Slavonian Grebe, Michael Latham:

Goosander, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 26th November

The Goosander was still off the Croaghan Hide, Oxford Island (Ed O’Hara)

The drake Lesser Scaup was still at Dunfanaghy New Lake.

An Osprey was off the hide at the Bann Estuary (John Clarke \ John Purvis \ James McDowell). A Glaucous Gull and Merlin were also in the area (James McDowell).

The Bonapartes Gull was present this morning (Michael Latham) at the Ballygalley Hotel and at 3pm (Ivan Quail)

Bonaparte's Gull, Michael Latham:

Osprey, John Purvis:

Bird News Friday 25th November

A 2nd calendar year Iceland Gull was at the Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood)

The Bonaparte’s Gull was showing well at Ballygally, Co.Antrim, from the hotel car park. (Neal Warnock)

The Black Redstart was still at Newcastle Harbour (Garry Wilkinson)

A juvenile Little Gull was with Black-headed Gulls at high tide in Killough Bay, just outside the harbour wall; a male Black Redstart was at the Newcastle Rock Pool, seen from the adjacent carpark flying around and perching on railings above the 1 metre marking; a party of 20 Purple Sandpipers, a Great Northern Diver, and about 15 Common Scoter were seen from Newcastle Harbour. (Paul Megahey, Alastair Rae and Ann Feltham)

A female Goosander was off the Croaghan Hide, Oxford Island (Ed O’Hara / Stevie Brennan / John Lambe)

The Purple Sandpiper was still at Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

Bonaparte’s Gull, Neal Warnock:

Goosander, Oxford Island, Stevie Brennan:

More bird pics are at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Thursday 24th November

 200 Knot and 30 Bar-tailed Godwit were at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

11 Mediteranean Gull were north of Portavovie (Brian Murphy)

A possible 2nd winter Ring-billed Gull was at Hillsborough Forest Park. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was also in a local garden (Garry Wilkinson)

Great Northern Diver, Victora Park, John Fraser:

Bird News Wednesday 23rd November

An adult Bonaparte’s Gull was feeding offshore at Ballygally, Co. Antrim. (Neal Warnock).

The Common Sandpiper was still at the estuary near Sainsbury's in Derry.  (John Spottiswood)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was off the Knock Road, Belfast (Daniel Newton)

The Marsh Harier and a Peregrine were at Portmore (Richard Caves)

The Black Redstart was seen briefly in Newcastle but at the car park side of the old Swimming Pool. 4 Great Northern Divers were also present (David McCreedy)

A Purple Sandpiper was along the Connswater River by the Sydenham Bypass bridge (Michael McCandless)

The Great Northern Diver was still at Victoria Park, Belfast (William Smiton)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was visiting a garden in Hillsborough (Juliet Fleming)

On Saturday, two very late Swallows were seen at Roughan Lough, Newmills, Co Tyrone (Ernie Hunter)

Marsh Harrier, Richard Caves:

Great Northern Diver, William Smiton:

This Bar-tailed Godwit was at Kinnegar and was ringed in Revtangen, southern Norway on the 21st August. It is a first year bird - info and photograph per Lindsay Hodges:

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

Bird News Tuesday 22nd November

The Great White Egrets were at Ballycarry (Kevin Kirkham / Cameron Moore)

A Peregrine was seen at Glynn (Kenny Moore)

The Lesser Scaup is still at Dunfanaghy New Lake, Donegal along with a single  Egyptian goose. Also present are 200 Greenland white-fronted and 900 Barnacle Geese (Robert Vaughan)

This morning a male and five female Goosander were on Lough Island Reavy (Danny Bailie)

57 Slavonian Grebes were off the sea wall at Myroe this afternoon. 8 Common Scoter also. (Derek Brennan)

2 Black-throated Divers, 5 Great Northern Divers, 24 Red-throats and 2 Common Scoters were between Carnlough and Red Bay (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

The Black Redstart and a Great Northern Diver were present this morning at Newcastle (Richard Caves)

A Slavonian Grebe was at Glynn (Cameron Moore)

A Goosander and 17 Greenland Whitefronts were on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Black Redstart, Richard Caves:

Great White Egret, Kevin Kirkham:

Bird News Monday 21st November

The Spotted Redshank was still at Ballycarry Bridge (Cameron Moore)

Bird News Sunday 20th November

The Black Redstart and two Purple Sandpiper were at Newcastle Harbour (Michael Latham). The Black Redstart was still present this afternoon (Philip West)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Portmore (Richard Caves)

Todd’s Corner, Lough Neagh had a Ruff (Ivan Quail)

13 Twite, a Snow Bunting and a Jack Snipe were on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Long-eared Owl, Coleraine, John Clarke:

Black Redstart and Purple Sandpiper - Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 19th November

The Black Redstart was still at Newcastle harbour. (Daniel Newton, David Clarke, Chris Rankin & John Pyper).

2 Snow Buntings were on Tyrella beach, west of the coastguard houses. (Dermot Hughes).

There was 6 Crossbills up the Antrim Hills today and the 2 Great Egrets were again showing well at Ballycarry. (Michael Latham).

A late Swallow was at Briggs Rocks this morning. (Richard Weyl).

Crossbills and the Great White Egrets, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 18th November

A White-tailed Eagle was seen at Big Isle, near Letterkenny (Adam McClure)

Black Redstart, David McCreedy:

Purple Sandpiper, Mike McLaughlin:

Bird News Thursday 17th November

A Black Redstart was at Newcastle harbour , also seen were 15 Slavonian Grebes, 2 Great Northern Diver, 3 Red-throated Diver, 80 Common Scoter and 6 Purple Sandpipers. (Ian Young). A second Black Redstart and 18 Purple Sandpipers were subsequently seen  (Mike McLaughlin / David McCreedy)

Black Redstart, Mike McLaughlin:

Bird News Wednesday 16th November

The Turtle Dove is still in Lisburn (Garry Wilkinson).

Two Great White Egrets this morning at Ballycarry Bridge. The Spotted Redshank was present this afternoon.  4 Twite were with Linnets at the boatyard in Whitehead. (Kevin Kirkham).

Long-tailed Duck still off Runkerry, also a single Twite (Richard Donaghy).

Two Slavonian Grebes off Kinnegar Shore this morning (John O’Boyle)

140 Whooper Swans were between Hillsborough and Moira today (Juliet Fleming)

The female Goosander is still at Glynn (Cameron Moore)

Bird News Tuesday 15th November

 Great White Egret showing very well at Ballycarry bridge this morning (Kevin Kirkham).

Inch Lake in Donegal had the Ferruginous Duck, male Ring-necked Duck, hybrid, Green-winged Teal,  Merlin and 2 Ruff. (Chris Ingram).

This morning a male Black Redstart was on the stones by Newcastle promenade near the Avoca. (Dan Bailie).

Pair of  Goosanders at Dungonnell Reservoir in the Antrim Hills today (Neal Warnock).

The Turtle Dove is still in Lisburn (Garry Wilkinson).

Red-throated Diver off Glenarm (Ginny McKee).

Bird News Monday 14th November

A Chiffchaff is at Whitepark Bay (Ivan Quail).

Juvenile Little Gull at Sandy Bay, Larne (Ian Dickey).

Approximately 70 Purple Sandpipers at Portrush (John Clarke).

A Grey Phalarope seen this afternoon from the hide at Moyola Waterfoot, Lough Neagh (Ciara Laverty).

70+ Gadwall Millar’s Dam, Skillyscolban between Dromore and Banbridge (Joe Furphy).

Great Northern Diver off Victoria Park looking towards Shorts last Friday (John Fraser).

Thanks to Ciara Laverty (Grey Phalaropes), Jonathan Cooke (leucistic House Sparrow) & John Fraser (Great Northern Diver):

Bird News Sunday 13th November

A drake Long-tailed Duck this morning off Kinnegar Shore, Great Northern Diver off Dargan (Daniel Newton).

Male Hen Harrier Limavady mountain (Richard Donaghy).

Adult Little Gull, Fisherman’s Quay, Carrickfergus (Shirley Dunlop).

One Long-eared Owl at the University of Coleraine roost (John Clarke).

The Goosander was still at Glynn (Michael Latham)

16 Whooper Swans were on Downpatrick Rd, Ardglass. (Chris Murphy)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in a garden in Hillsborough (Juliet Fleming).

First Purple Sandpiper of the autumn in with the Turnstone on Rathlin (Hazel Watson & Ric Else).

Two Mandarin of suspect origin Larne Lough (Brian Sutton/Ian Enlander).

Thanks to Michael Latham (Goosander), Michael McLaughlin (Pheasant), Juliet Fleming (Great Spotted Woodpecker) & Alastair MacLean (Kingfisher) for the pics below:

 

Bird News and Photographs

The Blog team are currently all abroad so photographs and some Bird News over the next 10 days may be a bit slower to appear on the Blog. Apologies in advance! (Garry, Bob, Wilton) 

Bird News Saturday 12th November

The Turtle Dove remains in Lisburn this morning (Michael Latham).

The female Marsh Harrier again at Portmore Lough RSPB (David McCreedy / Linda Thompson)

Three Red-throated Diver were off Kinnegar shore (Daniel Newton)

Two Great White Egrets in the wetland behind Nichols Garage in Toome this morning. (David Morrow)

The White-tailed Eagle and Ferruginous Duck are still at the Inch Reserve Donegal. (Kyle Allen)

A female Goosander was with Red-breasted Mergansers at Glynn and a 1st winter Little Gull at Sandy Bay. (Tom Ennis)

A Grey Phalarope was in Newtownards. See details below.

Turtle Dove, Michael Latham:

Mediterranean Gulls, Garry Wilkinson:

Marsh Harrier, Linda Thompson:

This Grey Phalarope was picked up at Downeys Garage, Newtownards and was in the care of Debbie Doolittle. It was subsequently released in to Belfast Lough (per Paul McCullough)

Bird News Friday 11th November

The Turtle Dove in Lisburn was seen briefly this morning before being disturbed. (Suzanne Belshaw).

The 2 Great White Egrets are still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Martin Deehan).

A 2nd year Mediterranean Gull was at Sainsbury's in L'Derry, and the Common Sandpiper was at the nearby estuary. (Theo Campbell).

A White-tailed Eagle was over Upper Lough Erne this morning and a Common Sandpiper was at Knockninny Refuge. (Brad Robson).

A female Merlin and a Little Gull were at Sandy Bay in Larne,there was no sign of the Black Redstart. (Mervyn Campbell).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was by the food truck in Glenarm carpark. A Long-eared Owl was flying over Larchfield estate at 4.55pm. (Gayle & Garry Wilkinson).

Thanks to Suzanne Belshaw for the picture of the Turtle Dove and to Tim Jess for the picture of the Kingfisher:

Bird News Thursday 10th November

 The Turtle Dove was present again in Lisburn this morning. (Ian Young).

Approximately 40 Twite were at Magheracross viewing area near Dunluce Castle this morning. (Juliet Fleming).

A Common Sandpiper was on the small estuary near Sainsbury's in Derry. (John Spottiswood).

The juvenile American Golden Plover was reported at Myroe again. (Birdguides).

A Mediterranean Gull and a Black-headed Gull, ringed in Poland, were at Ballyholme. (Lindsay Hodges)

Thanks to Emma Luke for the pictures of the Turtle Dove, to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Twite and to Lindsay Hodges for the pictures of the Mediterranean Gull and Polish ringed Black-headed Gull: