Bird News Thursday 31st August

The Bonapartes Gull is again at Kinnegar Shore at 6:20pm (Daniel Newton)

The Curlew Sandpiper remains at Kinnegar Shore (Nathan Gilbert). It was still present and showing well this evening (Daniel Newton)

A juvenile Yellow Wagtail was on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A female/ring tail Hen Harrier was at Paddy’s Dub, Lough Beg yesterday evening. (Godfrey McRoberts)

Its worth noting that there has been an unprecedneted influx of American Cliff Swallows in to Iceland (and Newfoundland), including some landing on a boat making its way to Belfast. It is therefore worth keeping a look out for any unsual looking Swallows!

Yellow Wagtail, Ric Else:

Five Million Thanks....

A quick word of thanks to everyone who has contributed bird news and pictures to this Blog over the last 13 years. We have now reached over five million views of the Blog which is testament to the support from everyone in NI and further afield. It is impossible to run a service like this without the contribution of so many so thank you!

Bird News Wednesday 30th August

A juvenile Little Gull, 2 juvenile Black Terns and 2 Common Sandpipers were at the Barmouth (Theo Campbell /Richard Smith)

The Osprey is still present at the Barmouth (Theo Campbell) The bird was still present at 4:15 (Ricky McQuillan)

Juvenile Black Tern, Donna Riddell:

Osprey, Gareth Platt:

Bird News Tuesday 29th August

 The Curlew Sandpiper was still on Kinnegar shore this morning. (Daniel Newton). The bird was still present this afternoon. (David Clarke) And it was still present this evening. (Aaron Long).

The Osprey is still at the Bann Estuary this morning. Two Sandwich Terns noted with rings - green 3LO and green 3PB (Stephen Maxwell/David Hill).

The eclipse male American Wigeon seen again at Lough Beg this evening, also three Garganey and a juvenile Cuckoo. (David Steele).

In Dundrum Inner Bay north a single Ruff was at Green Island with another in the bay at Ardilea along with a single Whimbrel. (David Nixon).

A Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Ruff were still in flooded meadows along the Newry Canal near Jerrettspass. (David McCreedy).

Thanks to John McClean for the picture of the Knot, to David Clarke for the pictures of the Curlew Sandpiper, to David Hill for the pictures of the Osprey and the ringed Sandwich Terns and to David McCreedy for the picture of the Wood Sandpiper:

Bird News Monday 28th August

 The moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper is still on Kinnegar pool this morning. (Daniel Newton).

A Whinchat, two Green Sandpipers and a Red Kite were at Creightons Green reservoir above Holywood. (Billy Miskelly).

At least one Sooty Shearwater was among Manx Shearwaters on the 8am Larne to Cairnryan ferry. sailing. (Tom Garner).

The two Wood Sandpipers, two Green Sandpipers and six Ruff are still in flooded meadows along the Newry Canal near Jerrettspass. (Joe Devlin, Clifford Sharpe).

A single Whimbrel was at Orlock Point. (Nathan Gilbert).

The Black-winged Pratincole and the White-tailed Eagle were still at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Richard Donaghey).

Magilligan this morning had three Arctic Skuas and three male Common Scoter. (Aaron Long).

A juvenile Yellow Wagtail was with a large flock of Pied Wagtails at Myroe, a Carrion x Hooded Crow hybrid was also present. (Derek Brennan).

The Osprey was seen again flying up the Bann towards Coleraine. (Ronald Surgenor). 

A Black Tern was at the Bann Estuary. (John Clarke).

A Little Stint was south of Ballywalter beach this morning. (Richard Weyl).

The Bonaparte's Gull is at Kinnegar shore this afternoon. (Jeff Larkin).

A juvenile Spotted Redshank and a Garganey were at Lough Beg this morning. (David Steele).

A Mediterranean Gull was briefly at Antrim Marina. (Gareth Platt)

The White-tailed Eagle was still at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Ben McCook)

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Curlew Sandpiper and the Green Sandpiper, to William Smiton for his pictures of the Curlew Sandpiper and the Turnstone, to Gareth Platt for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull, to Terry Hanna for the picture of the juvenile Spotted Flycatcher and to Richard Caves for his pictures of the Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Ruff:

Michael Latham

Michael Latham

Michael Latham

William Smiton

Richard Caves

Richard Caves

Richard Caves

Bird News Sunday 28th August

2 Wood Sandpiper and 2 Green Sandpiper and 6 Ruff still present in flooded meadows along the Newry Canal north of Jerrettspass Co. Down. (Joe Devlin) 8 Ruff and the Wood and Green Sandpipers were still there at 2:30 (John Spottiswood)

The Black-winged Pratincole is back at the Moyle end of Blanketnook (Derek Brennan)

The Osprey and Little Stint again from the hide at Bann Estuary. (Jeff Larkin). The Osprey was still there at 2:30 (Aaron Long)

A Green Sandpiper and adult Mediterranean Gull were at Ardilea area of Dundrum Inner Bay. (Stephen Foster)

A Curlew Sandpiper is at Myroe (Ivan Quail)

The Bonaparte's Gull, a Black Tern & a Whimbrel were at Kinnegar at 3pm. Two Med Gulls were also present. (Kevin Kirkham)

The Black Terns are still at the Bann Estuary. 3 Ruff m present in high tide roost also. At least five Arctic Skua (two first years, 2 dark morph adults and one pale morph) and 9 Common Scoter (all drakes) at Magilligan earlier too. (Dean Jones)

A moulting Curlew Sandpiper was at Kinnegar (Shirley Dunlop)

Hen Harrier, Michael Latham

 

Wood Sandpiper, Michael Latham

Wood Sandpiper, Richard Caves

Ruff, Richard Caves

Bird News Saturday 26th August

A Red-throated Diver was off Kinnegar shore this morning and the Ruff was still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve.  (Daniel Newton).

Yesterday afternoon between 2.30 and 3.00 from the Larne Cairnryan ferry there were 8 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Storm Petrels, an Arctic Skua and 8 Arctic Terns. (Chris Murphy).

This morning a Little Gull and two Arctic Skuas were at Magilligan. (Aaron Long).

An Arctic Skua and a Great Skua were at Ramore this morning. (Stephen Riddell).

The Osprey and a Little Stint were at the Barmouth hide. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

Two Wood Sandpipers and five Ruff are in flooded meadows along the Newry Canal north of Jerrettspass, Co. Down. (Joe Devlin). The Wood Sandpipers are still present this afternoon and have been joined by two Green Sandpipers. (Clifford Sharpe).

The Pomarine Skua seen yesterday at Larne was found dead this morning at the top of the slipway at Tweeds Port. (Linda Thompson).

A Mediterranean Gull was at Ballyholme this morning. (John McClean).

Five Whimbrel flew over Oxford Island this morning and nine White Wagtails dropped in around the Discovery Centre. (Ed O'Hara).

A two hour sea-watch off Castlerock coastguard lookout had a Red-throated Diver and two Black Terns heading west. (John Spottiswood).

Yesterday morning a juvenile White-tailed Eagle was resting on a marker post on Upper Lough Erne. The wing tag was a yellow D. (Colin Gates).

A Short-eared Owl and 20+ Twite were on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else &Hazel Watson).

A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was at Myroe this afternoon. (Aidan Kelly).

The Bonaparte's Gull was seen again briefly at Kinnegar shore this evening. (John Spottiswood).

The Black-winged Pratincole was with Lapwings again at the Moyle end, Swilly side of Blanket Nook in Donegal, a juvenile Little Stint and 3 Ruff were also present. (Derek Brennan, Aidan Kelly).

90 mintes sea-watching on Rathlin produced an immature Sabine's Gull, Black Tern, 9 Sooty Shearwaters and 45 Arctic Terns. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Colin Gates for the pictures of the White-tailed Eagle, to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Osprey. to John McClean for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull and to Joe Devlin for the picture of the Wood Sandpiper:

Bird News Friday 25th August

 A single Ruff was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Daniel Newton).

Ramore Head this morning between 8.30 and 9.30 had a single Sooty Shearwater with small numbers of Manx Shearwaters, a dark phase Arctic Skua and a Great Skua. (Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn).

The Bonaparte's Gull was at Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough again this morning. (Ronald Surgenor).

There was no sign of the Black-headed Wagtail at Myroe up to 2.30pm but two Peregrines were present. (Mike McLaughlin, David McCreedy).

Two Arctic Skuas were chasing terns at Portstewart this morning. (John Clarke).

A Little Gull was at Magilligan this morning. (Stephen Riddell).

The Osprey is still at the Barmouth. (Ben McCook).

A dark phase Arctic Skua was off Magilligan Point. (Aaron Long).

A Black Tern and the Bonaparte's Gull are again on Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough. The Black Tern headed towards Holywood at 4.45pm. (Daniel Newton)

The eclipse male American Wigeon was seen again at Lough Beg today, south of Church Island. Also at least two Garganey, a Green Sandpiper and six juvenile Turnstones present. (David Steele).

The Osprey and a juvenile Little Gull were at the Bann Estuary this evening. (Stephen Riddell).

A Great White Egret flew upriver at the Bann Estuary at 4.30 this afternoon. (David Nixon & Clifford Sharpe).

As well as the above five Ruff were off the hide at the Bann. (John Spottiswood).

A probable Pomarine Skua was at Larne, the bird appeared to be sick, but it flew off towards Cairndhu rowing club. (Jason Bain).

A sea watch at Ramore between 11.30 and 2.30 had 2 Little Terns, an Arctic Skua, Great Skua and Peregrine. (Shirley Dunlop & Gerard McGeehan).

Thanks to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Black Tern. to David Steele for the picture of the Turnstone. to Stephen Riddell for the picture of the Little Gull and to Jason Bain for the picture of the probable Pomarine Skua:

Bird News Thursday 24th August

Excellent news from Fermanagh where a pair of Osprey nested this year. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-66588325

An injured Nightjar was picked up yesterday near Killyleagh, Co Down and unfortunately passed away overnight. (Fiona McMillan)

The Osprey is still at the BannEstuary. A juvenille Black Tern was also present in the fence line (Jeff Larkin / Aaron Long). The Osprey was still present at 3pm (James McDowell)

A Green Sandpiper is at the south side of Ballnahone Bog, Maghera on dragonfly pool (Dave Allen)

A Common Sandpiper and Arctic Tern are at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

2 Black Terns were showing well with other terns at Kinnegar Shore (David Nixon / Paul Hunter)

The Black-headed Wagtail is still at Myroe (Theo Campbell / Chris Ingram)

The moulting adult Bonapartes Gull was again at Kinnegar shore late afternoon (Michael Latham)

A Little Tern and Ruff were at Ballyholme Beach (James Andrew)

Nightjar, Fiona McMillan:

Black Terns, adult and juvenile, Kinnegar - Paul Hunter:

Bonaparte's Gull, Michael Latham:

Osprey, Bann Estuary, Nigel Moore:

Bird News Wednesday 23rd August

Last night, an immature Yellow Wagtail was seen at the north end of Myroe (John Spottiswood)

The Osprey was showing again at the Bann Estuary this morning. A dark phase Arctic Skua was also present. (Jonny Rosborough)

A juvenile Spotted Redshank is in Killough Harbour (Chris Murphy)

The Black-headed Wagtail is still showing at Myroe (Brian McCloskey / Colin Macnamee/David Clarke & John Pyper) The Wagtail was still present in the channel at the Roe end of Myroe this evening. (John Spottiswood).

At Lough Beg an Osprey was north of Church Island and 5 Ruff were in the bay. (Richard Grey).

Dundrum Inner Bay had an adult Curlew Sandpiper moulting out of summer plumage at the Ardilea roost, 1 Whimbrel at the Moneycarragh roost and a combined total of 83 Little Egrets between three roosts. (Stephen & Noreen Foster).

Six Ruff were at Killough Harbour. (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to Ian Dickey for the pictures of the Osprey at the Bann Estuary and to David Clarke for the picture of the Black-headed Wagtail:

Reed Warbler, Portmore, Terry Hanna:

Bird News Tuesday 22nd August

An eclipse male American Wigeon was at Lough Beg this afternoon, it was with Eurasian Wigeons on the main lake south of Church Island. Also today high site counts of 102 Little Egrets and 14 inland Turnstones. (David Steele).

A Whimbrel dropped into Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve briefly this morning. (Daniel Newton).

Yesterday a Merlin was on Rathlin. Also an injured Short-eared Owl was found, possibly from a collision with a powerline, unfortunately the bird subsequently died. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The Black-headed Wagtail was still at Myroe this morning. (Jim Dowdall)

A Little Stint is by the pump house at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Chris Ingram).

The Black-winged Pratincole has been refound at Farland Bank at Inch Lake in Donegal. (Chris Ingram).

The Osprey is still at the Bann Estuary. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop). Four Whimbrel were also at the Bann Estuary. (Aaron Long).

An adult Roseate Tern was with Sandwich and Common Terns near the old pier at the Bann Estuary. The Osprey flew over Ballywollen Road heading towards Binevenagh. (Dean Jones).

The Black-headed Wagtail was still at Myroe at 5.30 this evening. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).

Two Black Terns were at the Barmouth this evening. (Richard Donaghey).

A Black Tern is at Kinnegar shore this evening. (Emma Mulholland, Matthew Flood).

A single Ruff was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve this evening. (Richard Caves)

Thanks to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Whimbrel, to Richard Caves for the picture of the Ruff and to John Spratt for the pictures of the Black-headed Wagtail:

Bird News Monday 21st August

The Osprey remains at the Bann Estuary this morning (Donna & Stephen Riddell). This bird was ringed in June 2012 at the nest at Dornoch Firth, N Scotland (Aaron Long).

4 Ruff ringed last night Bann Estuary (Richard Donaghey).

Today at the Barmouth roosts Juvenile Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Red-throated Diver, 4 Common Sandpipers, Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Tern, c20 Arctic Tern, c180 Sandwich Tern, 2 Wheatear (Richard Donaghey).

Adult moulting male Black-headed Wagtail still at Myroe Levels this afternoon. Also 2 Spotted Redshank on the shore (Brian Murphy).

22 Mediterranean Gulls on rocks south of Portavogie (Dermot Hughes).

No sign of the juvenile White-winged Black Tern at Lough Beg with one Green Sandpiper present (David Steele).

Black Tern Kinnegar Shore this evening (Tony Dodds).

Short-eared Owl Rathlin but severely injured after presumed collision with power lines (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Little Gull, Richard Donaghey:

Osprey, Donna & Stephen Riddell:

Aaron Long:

Black Tern, Tony Dodds: