Report sightings to: Email nibirds@live.co.uk, Text: 07973 403 146 or 07870 863 782 or Twitter: @nibirds See local bird pics at: www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk
Bird News Tuesday 31st October
Bird News Monday 30th October
200+ Fieldfare in off at Ramore and two smaller groups of c50 at Portstewart (John Clarke).
Jack Snipe and 2 Woodcock on Rathlin (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
Male Firecrest still present Bar Hall Bay, Co Down along path towards Ballquintin Farm at 4pm (David Stirling).
Osprey fishing near Bann Estuary hide (John Clarke per local fishermen).
Bird News Sunday 29th October
Bird News Saturday 28th October
Islay Trip
Bird News Friday 27th October
The Osprey again at the Bann Estuary in front of the hide (John Clarke, James McDowell). Juvenile Ruff still (John Spottiswood).
Great White Egret still at Ballycarry Bridge this morning showing well and still present 4pm (Martin Deehan/Timothy Davis) A Spotted Redshank was also present. (Cameron Moore)
Hottentot/Blue-billed Teal still at Belfast RSPB WoW Reserve yesterday (Stephen Maxwell).
7 Red Kites; 4 at Katesbridge, 3 at Ballyward (Ivan Cullen).
8+ Waxwings were on Drumavoley Road in Ballycastle (Tom McDonnell).
The drake Ring-necked Duck has returned to Mill Lough, Bellnaleck a Pink-footed Goose was also with a large flock of Canada Geese at Knockninny (Wilton Farrelly)
Bird News Thursday 26th October
Bird News Wednesday 25th October
The Great White Egret was still showing north of Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Kevin Kirkham).
The Osprey is still at the Bann Estuary. (Richard Donaghey).
A Short-eared Owl flew south over Mullaghboy on Islandmagee being mobbed by Jackdaws. (Adam McClure).
A Merlin was at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Henry McCorry).
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Davagh Forest, Cookstown. (Godfrey McRoberts).
A Brambling and a White-fronted Goose were on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
Bird News Tuesday 24th October
The juvenile Common Rosefinch and Hawfinch remain on Tory Island, Donegal (Anton Meenan).
Feeding frenzy at Magilligan including 3 Little Gulls, Red-throated Diver, 1st winter Arctic and 2 1st winter Common Terns (John Clarke).
Red Kite over Drumbo early afternoon (Garry Wilkinson).
Great White Egret showing well on north side of Ballycarry Bridge mid afternoon (Kevin Kirkham).
First winter male Black Redstart ringed at Copeland Bird Observatory this morning (Chris Acheson).
Thanks to Chris Acheson for Black Redstart, John Clarke for Little Gull, Arctic & Common Tern and to Juliet Fleming for Great White Egret photos:
Student request for help
Travis Maxwell, a student at Queen’s has asked for help as below:
I am a postgraduate student, studying Media and Broadcast Television. I am currently producing a radio story alongside the RSPB and Ulster Wildlife. I am looking for avid birders and/or photographers who would be interested in providing an interview in relation to their hobby. Specifically, how their hobbies have been impacted by nature depletion, whether they believe there is enough nature in Northern Ireland or they have noticed a lack of wildlife, and whether they worry about the future of their hobby and feel as if there is more that can be done for the region in terms of tackling nature depletion.
The interview will last between 5-10 minutes and is capable of being conducted online or in person. If you can help, please email Travis at: travis.melfort@gmail.com
Bird News Monday 23rd October
Bird News Sunday 22nd October
Bird News Saturday 21st October
Mediterranean Gull at Portstewart Promenade this morning (Donna & Stephen Riddell).
Single Ruff at Belfast Lough WoW RSPB Reserve this morning and escaped Hottentot Teal still present (Daniel Newton).
White-rumped Sandpiper at Myroe feeding with Dunlin and single Curlew Sandpiper at river mouth. Also single Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese, 2 Greenland Whitefronts, with another 14 Pink-footed Geese overhead and a Barnacle x Canada Goose hybrid (Dean Jones).
Hawfinch on Tory, also a Lesser Whitethroat and 22 Brambling (Anton Meenan/Brian McCloskey/Chris Ingram/Theo Campbell/Joe Adamson).
3+ Great White Egrets flew over Portmore Lough RSPB; 6 egrets seen but only 3 of them photographed so possibly all Great White (Michael Latham).
Probable Carrion Crow and Wheatear at Newtownards Floodgates (Aron Long).
Slavonian Grebe and female Goosander Glynn (Ivan Quail & Nicky Dunlop).
Great White Egret still this afternoon Ballycarry Bridge (Adam Roberts).
Merlin chasing Jack Snipe at Templecooey (Wilton Farrelly).
3 Cattle Egrets from the Canal Bank Road, Poyntzpass (David Knight/Clifford Sharpe/Joe Devlin).
Osprey at the Bann Estuary 445pm (Alwyn)
A Spotted redshank was at Glynn (Nathan Gilbert)
Magilligan Point had 150 Sanderling and 12+ RT Diver (Tom Garner)
A possible American Herring Gull was seen from the Stranraer to Belfast ferry, near Carrickfergus (Mick Turton)
Thanks to Dean Jones for the White-rumped Sandpiper, Michael Latham & Adam Roberts for the Great White Egrets and Donna Riddell for the Mediterranean Gull:
Bird News Friday 20th October
Bird News Thursday 19th October
A Grey Plover was at Bar Hall Bay on the outer Ards. (Bob Watts).
A female Ferruginous Duck was off Tready hide at Inch Lake in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).
A Cattle Egret is in the flooded fields along Canal Bank Road, Poyntzpass. (Joe Devlin).
The Osprey was back at the Bann Estuary this afternoon. A Ruff was with Curlews in the field by the railway. (John Spottiswood).
A juvenile male Ruff, a flock of 150 winter plumaged Knot, ahigh count of 20 Little Egrets and a duck that appeared to be an escaped Hottentot Teal or hybrid were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Tom Ennis).
Thanks to Derek Brennan for the picture of the Ferruginous Duck and to Joe Devlin for the picture of the Cattle Egret:
Bird News Wednesday 18th October
Late news from yesterday of over 250 Jackdaws with a few Rooks tagging along on Rathlin, the first seen there since 9th May (Hazel Watson & Ric Else).
3 Great White Egrets from Ballycarry Bridge. Also 1W and 2W Mediterranean Gulls at Whitehead (Cameron Moore).
Approximately 30 Twite on the grass behind the Amici restaurant, Portstewart (Sean Hickey).
Thanks to Cameron Moore for the Great White Egret photos: