nibirds: November 2023

Bird News Thursday 30th November

A Barn Owl was at Lomond Road near Myroe early this morning (Bob Watts)

A Barn Owl was seen recently near Cabra Bridge, Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson)

A Waxwing flock are on Artidillon Road junction off Glebe Road near Castlerock (John Clarke) (There was a report of 60 Waxwings yesterday at Glebe Road, Castlerock).

The dark falcon was seen briefly and at distance this morning at Myroe. A Merlin and two Slavonian Grebe were also present. (Bob Watts)

7 Waxwings were near the primary school on Islandmagee Road in Whitehead this morning. (Cameron Moore). The birds were still present this afternoon (Ian Enlander \ Jonathan Cooke)

A drake Goosander was at Glynn (Ian Enlander)

Waxwing, Ian Enlander:

Waxwing, Jonathan Cooke:

Goosander, Ian Enlander:

Waxwing, David McCreedy

You can see more pics of local birds at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Wednesday 29th November

Great Northern Diver in Portrush Harbour (Stephen & Donna Riddell).

4 Slavonian Grebes Myroe but no sign of the large dark falcon in a brief mid afternoon visit (Derek Brennan).

2 Barnacle Geese at Lough Shark (Joe Devlin).

Great Northern Diver & Common Scoter, Donna & Stephen Riddell:

Bird News Tuesday 28th November

Yesterday a Ruddy Shelduck of unknown origin was feeding with Shelduck on the mudflats along the banks of the Newry River between Newry and Warrenpoint. (Stephen Foster, Abbie Kilgore, Niamh McDermott). From photographs this bird now appears to be a hybrid Ruddy Shelduck x Shelduck.

Whitehead seafront between 8 - 9am had 114 Red-throated Diver and 5 Great Northern Diver, all flying into Belfast Lough. 1 Great Skua was also seen. (Ian Enlander).

Four Slavonian Grebes, a female Long-tailed Duck, 4,000 Eider and the Scoter flock were between Macedon Point and Giants Park in Belfast Lough. (Stuart McKee).

Three Slavonian Grebes and the presumed hybrid falcon were at Myroe. (Stephen Riddell).

Nineteen Purple Sandpipers were between Orlock and Groomsport, a Sandwich Tern and 8 Mediterranean Gulls were at Ballyholme. (Dermot Hughes & John O'Boyle).

Around 25 Common Scoter were at Magilligan this afternoon. (John Clarke).

The flock of approximately 25 Waxwings were still along the Ballybogey Road approximately 1 mile outside of village towards Ballymoney. (Richard Hunter).

Two Great White Egrets were reported near Ballycastle. (Irishbirding).

Bird News Monday 27th November

A first winter Kumliens Gull was at Ice House Hill Park, Dundalk.

A Red Kite was at Ballyward, Castlewellan (David Hunter)

Bird News Sunday 26th November

Late news from yesterday evening of Bonaparte’s Gull at Drains Bay, Larne (Matthew Flood per Steven Fyffe). No sign today by 2pm nor at Ballycarry or Sandy Bay (Daniel Newton).

2 Slavonian Grebes still at Hazelbank (Daniel Newton/Ade Fox/Michael Latham).

Red-necked Grebe at Macedon also Great Northern Diver & Long-tailed Duck (Daniel Newton/Shirley Dunlop). 3 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Red-throated Diver, 176 Common Scoter, 4 Gadwall off Macedon (Stuart McKee).

Group of 15 Waxwings in the hawthorn hedge along the first section of back path towards the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre from Riverside Park, Ballymoney at 1003 (David O’Neill). No sign at 1300 (Tom Garner).

Long-tailed Duck from Todd’s Corner, Ardmore, Lough Neagh (Garry Armstrong).

Immature Velvet Scoter still at Fanad in Glassagh Bay with the Long-tailed Duck flock (Wilton Farrelly).

Presumed hybrid falcon still at Myroe, slightly larger than Peregrine (Ian Dickey).

Bonaparte’s Gull, Steven Fyffe:

Slavonian with Great Crested Grebe, Michael Latham:

Red-necked Grebe, Daniel Newton:

Presumed hybrid flacon, Ian Dickey:

Bird News Saturday 25th November

A Slavonian Grebe and good numbers of Common Scoter were off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough. (Michael Latham).

Two Great Northern Diver were at the Bann Estuary. (John Spottiswood).

Two Great Northern Diver were at Magilligan. (Donna Riddell).

A single Pinkfoot was with Greylags at Reedy Flats. (Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn).

A juvenile Velvet Scoter was east of Glassagh Bay at Fanad in Donegal. (Wilton Farrelly).

The Bufflehead appears to have moved on, there was no sign of it yesterday or today. (John Clarke).

The Common Scoter is still at Portrush. (John Clarke).

A Common Scoter was flying off Portstewart, a Red-throated Diver was also present. A Purple Sandpiper was between the strand and the town. (Tom Garner).

Three Slavonian Grebes and 119 Common Scoter, all juveniles and females, were off Macedon Point in Belfast Lough this afternoon. (Stuart McKee).

Bird News Friday 24th November

At least 7 Waxwing are at the entrance to Victoria Park (Park Avenue), Belfast (Stephen Dunbar). The birds were subsequently seen at Mersey Street but have not been seen since.

2 Red Kites were at Glassdrumman Road, Ballynahinch (Ivan Cullen)

Two Great White Egret were at Portmore this morning. (Ade Fox)

A Marsh Harrier was at Reedy Flats this morning. (David McCreedy)

A high count of 110 Common Scoter along with a Slavonian Grebe and a Great Northern Diver, were off Macedon, Belfast Lough (Stuart McKee)

A White-tailed Eagle was still at Inch, Co Donegal (Michael Savage)

The Spotted Redshank was still at Ballycarry Bridge. The Great White Egret seems to have left the area (Cameron Moore)

Gret White Egrets (and Little Egrets), Adrian Fox:

Waxwing, Tom McDonnell:

Bird News Thursday 23rd November

The Ruff still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve (Derek Polley/John Fraser).

6 Pink-footed Geese at Glynn Lagoon (Paula Campbell).

A Carrion Crow with a Hooded Crowe in an Islandmagee garden (Robert MacDowell).

Bird News Wednesday 22nd November

The Bufflehead is still at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush. (John Clarke).

An adult and two juvenile Iceland Gulls are in Portballintrae harbour. Two Common Scoter are at the coastal zone in Portrush. (John Clarke).

A Red Kite was along the A1 just before the turnoff to Bagenal's Castle heading towards Newry. (Ben McCook).

Copeland Bird Observatory Winter Talk

Join us tonight for an update on the 2023 season at the Observatory, followed by a talk given by Ulster Wildlife's, Ross McIlwrath, on Barn Owls.

It will start at 7.30pm at the Queen's University MBC Building in the North Lecture Theatre at 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast (Parking is Free). £2 entry

Bird News Tuesday 21st November

The Cattle Egret was feeding amongst Whoopers in a field on Derrycrow Rd and approaching Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh (David Clarke)

10 Purple Sandpiper were off the Coastal Zone, Portrush. The Common Scoter was also still there (Robert Plant)

A first winter Iceland Gull was at Portballintrae river mouth this morning (Stephen Riddell)

6 Greenland Whitefronts are amongst the Whooper swans at Myroe (John Clarke)

2 Goosander were at Glynn along the river (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

A black falcon, possibly a Falconers bird, was seen at Myroe (John Clarke)

A Great Northern Diver was on Lough Beg this afternoon and at least six Long-tailed Ducks also still present. The Spotted Redshank, 13 Ruff and two Great White Egret were still at Mullagh (David Steele)

The White-tailed Eagle with the green 'N' wing tag remains at Inch Lake, Donegal (Christine Cunningham)

Three Red-throated Diver were off Carnalea Golf Club (Derek Polley)

A pair of binoculars have been found at Reedy Flat. If you left them behind, please make contact with us and we will put you in touch with the finder.

Cattle Egret, David Clarke:

Bird News Monday 20th November

Cattle Egret at Reedy Flats (Steven Fyffe).

3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (2m, f) coming to feeder at a garden near Annahilt (Garry Wilkinson).

Ruff with a small flock of Dunlin at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve midday (Bob Watts).

c30 Twite at East Strand, Portrush (John Clarke).

Hen Harrier hunting at Divis (Stephen Dunbar).

2 Red Grouse in the Mournes (Margaret McLachlan).

A Waxwing still on Rathlin (Ric Else/Hazel Watson).

Cattle Egret, Steven Fyffe:

Lesser Redpoll, Donna Riddell:

Red Grouse, Margaret McLachlan:

Bird News Sunday 19th November

A Long-tailed Duck was off the breakwater at the back of the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

A group of Purple Sandpipers were at the promenade at Portstewart, a female Common Scoter off the coastal zone in Portrush, a Great Northern Diver and Common Scoter at Portballintrae, and Twite at Magheracross. (Donna Riddell).

At least 15 Waxwings in Poplars just outside Ballymoney on the way to Ballymena. (Jeff Larkin).

8 Long-tailed Duck and 3 Ruff were at Mullagh, Lough Beg. (Richard Hunter).

A Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Divers, a Slavonian Grebe, a Carrion Crow & a partially leucistic Rook, were the best at Kinnegar this morning. (Kevin Kirkham).

Portmore Lough RSPB had the Marsh Harrier and 3 Great White Egrets. (Adam Roberts).

A Red-throated Diver was off Macedon Point and a Jack Snipe was at Mossley Meadows. (Steven Farquhar).

A Pinkfoot was with Greylags off Abbacy Road, Ardfern on the outer Ards. (Wilton Farrelly).

Yesterday a single Waxwing was in Carrickfergus. (Andy Morrow, Brian Sutton).

Common Scoter - William Smiton

Bird News Saturday 18th November

The Great White Egret was still at Ballycarry this morning (Paula Campbell)

Circa 50 Waxwing are still at Ballybogey this morning (Brian Hegarty \ Michael Latham)

An immature White-tailed Eagle, probably with a yellow wing tag, has been reported at Castlerock / the Bann Estuary (per John Clark)

The first year drake Lesser Scaup is still at Portmore Lough (Garry Armstrong)

The Spotted Redshank is again at at Dundrum Inner Bay, on the land side mud flat (David Clarke & John Pyper)

A Great White Egret is at Oxford Island (Ed O’Hara)

Two Great White Egret and the Marsh Harrier were showing well at Portmore this morning (Paul Hilton / David Nixon)

The Lesser Scaup was still at Inch Lake, Donegal (Derek Brennan)

A Red Kite was at Killough (Chris Murphy)

The Bufflehead is still at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush (Richard Woods)

A Merlin was at Myroe (Michael Latham)

Spotted Redshank, David Clarke:

Waxwing, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 17th November

Female/immature Bufflehead remains at Corbally Reservoir (Melvyn Campbell).

Still about 30 Waxwings present on and off at Ballybogy late morning with up to 80 present yesterday (Richard Donaghey).

Off Macedon Point looking towards Belfast drake and duck Long-tailed Duck, 2 Slavonian Grebe, also 10 Pochard, 30 Goldeneye, 4000+ Eider in deeper water (Stuart McKee).

3 Red-throated Divers close in off Kinnegar Shore at 2pm (Gilly Irwin).

Red-throated Diver in Victoria Park at 4pm (Kevin Kirkham).

2 Goosander at Glynn, Larne Lough (Cameron Moore).

4 Great White Egret at Portmore Lough RSPB (David Gillespie).

Curlew Sandpiper again at the south end of Lough Beg, with at least 7 Long-tailed Duck still (David Steele).

Spotted Redshank back again at Moneycarragh roost at Dundrum South Inner Bay (David Nixon).

The Lesser Scaup remains at Inch Marshes, Co Donegal (BAND).

Short-eared Owl at Ballyspurge on the Outer Ards this afternoon (Ricard Weyl).

One Whimbrel and 2+Sandwich Terns at Donaghadee (Stephen Foster & Abbie Kilgore).

Yesterday’s Green-winged Teal, Daniel Maloney:

Red-throated Diver, Kevin Kirkham:

Bird News Thursday 16th November

The Bufflehead is still on Corbally Reservoir in Portrush. At least 60 Waxwings are at the corner of Ballyrashane Road and Ballybogy Road, Ballybogy. (Kerry Leonard).

A late Swallow was at Ballycastle Golf Club with both Great Northern and Red-throated Divers in the harbour (Ric Else).

A Great Northern Diver was off Burr Point, Ballyhalbert. (Nathan Gilbert).

16 Pink-feet flew over the Ecos Park in Ballymena heading south east. (Jeff Larkin).

The Marsh Harrier and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve this afternoon. (Conor McCoy).

A Red Kite was at Magheraknock Road in Ballynahinch. (Ivan Cullen).

The 5 Goosanders were still on Begney Lough near Dromara. (Terry Hanna).

A Green-winged Teal was at Ballykelly and a Short-eared Owl at Longfield. (Daniel Maloney)

Waxwing - Donna Riddell

Goosander - Terry Hanna

Bird News Wednesday 15th November

The Bufflehead is still at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush (John Clarke)

4 Great White Egrets were at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Stephen Riddell)

A single Spotted Redshank was with 16 redshank and 7 black-tailed godwits in a flooded field beside the river at Billy Neill playing fields, Dundonald. (Chris Shaw)

Five Goosanders were on Begney Lough near Dromara this afternoon. 1 Male, 4 Redheads. (David Nixon)

This evening a Short-eared Owl was at Divis Mountain (Paul Hilton). Please note that there may be access restrictions to this site, later this week.

A high count of over 1000 Kittiwake were off Skernaghan Point, Islandmagee (Islandmagee)

An early evening visit to the Ulster University, Coleraine produced 4 Woodcock and a Long-eared Owl (John Clarke)

A Red-throated Diver was at the Bann Estuary yesterday. (James McDowell)

An unidentified hirundine was seen at Dargan, Belfast today. Of our breeding species, it looked most like a House Martin. The bird was flying quite purposefully towards the North West. (Suzanne Belshaw)

Red-throated Diver - James McDowell

Kingfisher - James McDowell

Short-eared Owl, Paul Hilton

Great White Egret - Stephen Riddell

Bird News Tuesday 14th November

At Inch, Co Donegal the Lesser Scaup still from Farland hide, with the nearby fields holding 183+ Pink-footed and 9 Barnacle Geese (Chris Ingram).

Male and female Snow Buntings atop Divis this morning (John O’Boyle).

Adult Mediterranean Gull at Whitehead (Gerard McGeehan/Shirley Dunlop).

The Spotted Redshank and Great White Egret remain at Ballycarry Bridge, also a Peregrine (Cameron Moore).

Bird News Monday 13th November

Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers are visiting a garden near Annahilt. (Garry Wilkinson).

An Iceland Gull is at Portballintrae and two Red-throated Divers are in Portrush harbour. (Donna Riddell).

An adult Little Gull was at Quay Lane in Killough. (Chris Murphy).

A Green-winged Teal is in the flooded meadows along Canalbank Road near Poyntzpass. (Joe Devlin).

Iceland Gull - Donna Riddell

Green-winged Teal - Joe Devlin

Bird News Sunday 12th November

The Bufflehead is still at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush this morning (Richard Gray / Adam Roberts / Theo Campbell et al)

A Spotted Redshank was at the Bann Estuary (Dean Jones)

The Firecrest is still present at Kiltonga this morning, with a tit flock (James Andrew)

Two Iceland Gull are at Portballintrae (John Clarke)

The Little Bunting remains on Tory Island (Anton Meenan)

At Inch, Co Donegal, the Lesser Scaup remains off the Causeway (Derek Brennan)

At least two Great White Egrets were still at Portmore. The Marsh Harrier was also reported. (Dave Weir)

Two Short-eared Owls were on Divis Mountain - one below the cafe and another close to the entrance gate(Glenn Hamill)

If you would like to contribute to the annual IRSBG Band report, you can do so at:

https://twitter.com/IRSBG1/status/1723644057803497623?t=bgFYep93acOLBmEr91czSw&s=19

Bufflehead, Clifford Sharpe:

Whooper Swans, Christine Cunningham:

Bird News Saturday 11th November

The female/juvenile Bufflehead still present at Corbally Reservoir (Wilton Farrelly/Garry Armstrong/Philip West).

1st winter drake Lesser Scaup showing well at Stoneyford Reservoir. Also 5 Great White Egret at Portmore Lough RSPB (Chris Murphy).

New 1st winter drake Lesser Scaup at Portmore Lough RSPB (Garry Armstrong/Wilton Farrelly/Philip West). 5 Great White Egret were also present along with a Marsh Harrier.

Firecrest at Kiltonga, Newtownards with highly mobile mixed tit and crest flock (Billy Miskelly).

Short-eared Owl being mobbed early morning high over garden and castle gardens in Co Antrim (David Hunter).

Short-eared Owl hunting the apron at Belfast City Airport (Mervyn Campbell).

Little Bunting still on Tory at West Town and an Mealy Redpoll (Anton Meenan).

2 Purple Sandpipers off the rocks at Amici, Portstewart (Michael Latham).

Single Cattle and Great White Egrets behind Mullagh farm, Lough Beg this morning (Richard Hunter). Also 8 Long-tailed Ducks, ringtail Hen Harrier (Chris Murphy).

6 Waxwing in Moneynick, Co Antrim (Maria Mulholland).

2 Slavonian Grebes and c12 Red-throated Divers at Myroe (Michael Latham).

Short-eared Owl quartering below the café at Divis mountain early evening (Stephen McVeigh).

A Short-eared Owl was at Fair Head. (Raymond Fulton).

A Short-eared Owl was at Myroe at sunset. (Steven Fyffe, Matthew Flood, Emma Mulholland).

A Short-eared Owl was at Ballymacormick Point this afternoon. (Richard Weyl)

Bufflehead, Geoff Campbell: