Bird News Saturday 31st August

A Slavonian Grebe was off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong). An Osprey and a juvenile Marsh Harrier were also off Croaghan before flying towards Kinnegoe Bay. (Ed O'Hara, Clifford Sharpe).

2 Swift were over Kinnegar in Belfast. The American Golden Plover was still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve, there was no sign of the Little Ringed Plover. (Stuart Cossey). The American Golden Plover and the Little Ringed Plover were both present this afternoon. (Stuart McKee).

A leucistic Swallow was on Slievetrue Road in Carrickfergus. (George Stewart).

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper and 2 Curlew Sandpipers are still present at the south end of Myroe. 2 Great Skua,  4 or 5 Arctic Skua and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Magilligan. (John Clarke).

A Black Brant was with 2000 Brent was on the mudflats at the north end of Strangford Lough, seen from the Floodgates path. No young birds were seen among the Brent suggesting a poor breeding season. A Red Kite was over a garden in Spa outside Ballynahinch. (David Nixon).

A pelagic off north Donegal had at least 200 Great Shearwaters, 40 Corys Shearwaters, 30 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Wilson's Petrels, 4 Great Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 4 Arctic Terns and 2 Purple Sandpipers.

22 Sanderlings were at White Park Bay. (Tim Davis).

Curlew Sandpiper, John Clarke.

Leucistic Swallow, George Stewart.

Black Brant, David Nixon.

Bird News Friday 30th August

American Golden Plover still at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve this morning (Daniel Newton). AGP still present mid afternoon also 2 Ruff, Common Sandpiper (Stuart McKee). Juvenile Little Ringed Plover this evening and AGP flew off at 1810 but returned 1817 (Garry Armstrong).

The long-staying Whimbrel remains on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

A couple of hours seawatching at Fanad, Co Donegal yesterday included 2 Pomarine Skuas and Sabines Gull as well as Great, Cory’s and Sooty Shearwaters, Arctic Skua and Choughs (Stephen Riddell).

Fanad Head 0730-0845: 23 Great, 16 Cory’s, 35 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Storm Petrel, Arctic Skua (Wilton Farrelly).

Red Kite over Larchfield, near Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper still at Myroe 200m past the level crossing in the field past Wigeon Lodge (Clifford Sharpe / David McCreedy). Still showing well this evening also Curlew Sandpiper (Ivan Quail). Still present 730pm though flighty at times (John Spottiswood).

Red Kite near Sheepsbridge, Newry (Ryan Holgate).

3 dark phase Arctic Skua from the 5pm Larne to Cairnryan sailing (Tom Garner).

An Osprey was at the Bann Estuary late afternoon (David O’Neill)

Pomarine Skua, Stephen Riddell:

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Mervyn Guthrie:

Bird News Thursday 29th August

The adult American Golden Plover remains at RSPB WoW (Daniel Newton). It was still present at lunchtime (David Stirling / Mel O’Hagan / Derek Polley) 

Three Ruff and an Arctic Tern were at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

At least one Osprey is still at the Bann Estuary (Ian Dickey / Dennis Weir)

2-3 dark phase Arctic Skua were at Magilligan (Theo Campbell / Peter McCarron)

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper is at Myroe in the last field down from Wigeon lodge. (Theo Campbell / Peter McCarron). 4 Ruff and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper were also present. A second Curlew Sandpiper was present this evening (John Spottiswood)

Two hours at Bloody Foreland from 8:40-11:00, west force 5 had Cory's 54 and Sooty 21 (Ralph Shepherd)

Ramore head over c. 2 hrs this pm: 6 Sooty Shear, 3 Arctic Skua, a single Bonxie and Storm Petrel, 5 Arctic Tern, 95 Brent and 9 whimbrel. (Matthew Tickner)

A seawatch from 7:50pm to 8:40pm at Glassagh Bay, Fanad Head had 69 Corys (no Greats), 29 Sooties, 3 Bonxie, 5 Arctic Skua and 2 Storm Petrel. Also bizarrely, a white (presumed leucistic) Fulmar. (Wilton Farrelly)

A Spotted Flycatcher was on Wallace Avenue, Lisburn, this evening. (Suzanne Belshaw)

Two Whimbrel were at Kearney, and two Brent Geese at Cloughy Beach (Graham McIwaine)

A seawatch at Rocky Point, Donegal from 11:30 to 4:15 had 400 Corys Shearwater, 150Great Shearwater, 100 Sootys, 3 Sabines Gull, 5 Pom Skuas, 4 Storm Petrel, 9 Arctic Skuas, 1 Bonxie, a Long-tailed Skua and 80 Brent Geese (Gerard McGeehan) 

American Golden Plover, Daniel Newton:

American Golden Plover, William Smiton:

American Golden Plover, Garry Wilkinson:

Bird News Wednesday 28th August

An American Golden Plover is at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Gerard McGeehan). 3 Ruff are also present. (Bob Watts). The American Golden Plover is still present this afternoon. (Wilton Farrelly).

 A female type Marsh Harrier was at Oxford Island this morning. (Ed O'Hara).

Both Ospreys were still at the Bann Estuary this morning. (James McDowell)

2 Ruff were at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Richard Caves).

An adult Roseate Tern was on Inishanier Island in Strangford Lough and yesterday 10 Sanderling were at Benderg beach, Ballyhornan. (Hugh Thurgate).

Ramore Head this evening between 7 and 8pm had 8 Arctic Skua, 2 Storm Petrel, 6 Whimbrel and around 100 Manx Shearwaters. (Matthew Tickner).

The Bann Estuary this evening had 2 Little Gulls, a juvenile and a 2nd year, and one of the Ospreys. (John Spottiswood).

American Golden Plover.

Daniel Newton

                Stuart Cossey

Ruff, Richard Caves.

Bird News Tuesday 27th August

Three different Osprey were at The Bann Estuary this morning (Ian Dickey / John Murdock)

Three Ruff were still at RSPB WoW (Bob Watts)

A female Garganey was at Inch, Donegal (Theo Campbell / Chris Ingram)

Purple Sandpipers have returned to Portrush (John Clarke)

Yesterday a dark phase Arctic Skua and a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver were off Portstewart (Juliet Fleming)

Burr Point, Co Down had 10+ Storm Petrels. Ratallagh, Portavogie had 25 Mediterranean Gulls. Cloughey had 3 Brent Geese (Dave Weir)

Osprey, Ian Dickey:

Purple Sandpiper, John Clarke:

Bird News Monday 26th August

2 Osprey again at the Bann Estuary (Dean Jones / Richard Gray). 3 Ospreys reported late afternoon (Garry Wilkinson).

Ruff and 2 Greenshank at Belfast Lough WoW but no sign of Hobby this morning (Michael Latham). 4 Ruff, 41 Dunlin, Knot, 12+ Bar-tailed Godwit late afternoon (Tom Ennis).

2 Swift Roe Park (Martin Deehan).

Late Swift over Portstewart (Chris Hamilton).

4 late Swifts over the Bann in Coleraine (Richard Gray).

2 Storm Petrels and a Swift off Burr Point near Ballyhalbert. Another 11 Storm Petrels off Ballyfrench Beach. 51 Mediterranean Gulls at Ratallagh, south of Portavogie and 2 Storm Petrels (Ivan Quail).

Single Whimbrel Ballymacormick Point (Bob Watts).

3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Whimbrel and 5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Kearney (Davis Stirling).

Great White Egret and 3+ Ruff at Church Island, Lough Beg. 4 pairs of Whooper Swan raised 7 cygnets with c50 non breeding adults (Chris Murphy).

Green Sandpiper and Greenshank at Blackstaff Creek, Dundrum Bay (Dermot Hughes).

Dark morph Arctic Skua and 2 Sanderling at Magilligan (Garry Wilkinson).

Greenshank, Terry Hanna:

Arctic Skua, Garry Wilkinson:

Osprey, Garry Wilkinson:

Bird News Sunday 25th August

Red Kite and Great Spotted Woodpecker in Larchfield near Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson).

Arctic Skua at Portstewart this morning (Donna Riddell).

Arctic Skua, 8 Whimbrel and 2 Sanderling at Portrush East Strand this morning (Andrew Upton).

Osprey at the Bann Estuary this morning (Gerry Bond). The white darvic ringed Osprey yesterday was ringed at Spinning Dale on Dornoch Firth on the 23rd June 2012 as a female in a nest of two. Barring the Bann Estuary sightings last and this year the only other blighting was in Gambia on the 13th January 2020 (Gareth Platt).

2 Ruff, 3 Common Sandpipers, Knot and Sanderling at Belfast Lough WoW (Gerard McGeehan). Juvenile Hobby this evening hirundines then flew low over the reserve (Stuart McKee).

32 Storm Petrels from St John’s Point 1130-1430 (Aaron Long).

Arctic Skua, Donna Riddell:

Knot, Mervyn Guthrie:

Osprey, Gerry Bond:

Bird News Saturday 24th August

An Osprey with a white leg ring, a Red-throated Diver, Ruff and Arctic Tern were at the Bann Estuary. (Dean Jones). A second Osprey was present this afternoon before catching a fish and flying inland. The ringed Osprey is white EY and was seen and photographed on 29th August last year. (Gareth Platt).

A 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull was at Whitehouse Lagoon. (Kevin Kirkham).

2 Arctic Skua, 2 Common Scoter and a flock of Whimbrel were at Magilligan. (Donna Riddell) Several flocks of Brent Geese were along the north coast. (Donna Riddell, Dean Jones).

2 Green Sandpipers and 4 Common Sandpipers were at Seaghan Dam in Co.Armagh. (David Knight).

Up to 60 Storm Petrels and a pale  phase  Arctic Skua were off Burr Point Ballywalter and 500 Brent Geese were on the mudflats at the north end of Strangford Lough. (James Robinson).

A Ruff was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Nathan Gilbert)

A sea watch at Fanad in Donegal between 11am and 5pm had 25000+ Manx Shearwaters, 3 Corys Shearwaters, 31 Sooty Shearwaters, 5 Great Shearwaters, 1 Sabines Gull, 1 Grey Phalarope, 2 Great Skua, 5 Arctic Skua, 9 Storm Petrels, a Red-throated Diver and a Chough. (Michael Latham, Aaron Long, Daniel Newton, Stephen Dunbar, Derek Brennan). 

Ramore Head this evening between 5.15 and 7.15 had 2 adult Sabines Gulls, 13 Artic Skua, 1 Storm Petrel, 158 Arctic Tern, approximately 600 Manx Shearwaters, 7 Brent Geese and 3 Whimbrel. (Matthew Tickner).

 

Osprey, Gareth Platt.

Brent Geese, Donna Riddell.

Bird News Friday 23rd August

 83 Brent Geese were on Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough this morning. (Daniel Newton).

A sea watch at Ramore Head between 6.20 and 8.50 had 2 Sabines Gulls, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 7 Arctic Terns, 15 Sandwich Terns, 2 Great Northern Diver, 19 Whimbrel and around 350 Manx Shearwaters. (Dean Jones).

A juvenile White-tailed Eagle, Black Tern and 2 Ruff were off the viewing platform at Inch in Donegal. (Chris Ingram).

Two juvenile Cuckoos (a rufous phase and a grey-brown phase) were at Lough Beg this afternoon. A female or juvenile Garganey and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull were also seen. (David Steele).

Juvenile Cuckoo, David Steele.

Bird News Thursday 22nd August

Arctic Skua from Kinnegar Shore as well as 100s of Manx Shearwaters (Stuart Cossey). 

Single Little Gull and Great Skua off Rathlin from East Light in an hour this morning (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Storm Petrel past St John’s Point 8-10am also 20,000+ Manx Shearwaters (Chris Murphy).

20+ Mediterranean Gulls south end of Cloughy Beach near Portavogie (Dermot Hughes).

27 Cory’s and 362 Sooty Shearwaters, 7 Pomarine Skuas past Bloody Foreland, Co Donegal 0630-0930 (RBA).

Albatross species presumed Black-browed at 0745 past Malin Head, Co Donegal. Also 19 Cory’s, Great, 46 Sooty, 3000+ Manx Shearwaters, 8 Sabine’s Gulls, 3 Pomarine, 4 Arctic Skuas, 7 Puffins 0630-0850 (Daniel Moloney).

3 Ruff, 3 Common Sandpipers and 20 Knot at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve this morning and from the Concentric car park a Great Northern Diver flew east out of the Lough this morning (Derek Polley). 4 Ruff this evening (Stuart Cossey).

Osprey still at the Bann Estuary mid afternoon (Rev Rhys Jones / Stephen Riddell).

3 late Swifts over Belfast Waterworks (Garry Wilkinson).

Tara, north of Ballyquintin midday seawatch had Storm Petrel and Great Northern Diver and c3,500 Manx Shearwaters per hour but tailed off at 1pm (Dermot Hughes).

Adult Bonaparte’s Gull again at Carfunnock Bay, Larne (Neal Warnock).

Great Skua, Ric Else:

Bird News Wednesday 21st August

Osprey still at the Bann Estuary from the hide this morning (Alwyn).

3 Ruff, 4 Knot, Common Sandpiper, 37 Dunlin and Kingfisher at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Gerard McGeehan).

Bird News Tuesday 20th August

 Sea watching at Bloody Foreland in Donegal to 9am produced 1439 Manx Shearwaters, 50 Sooty Shearwaters, 6 Cory's Shearwaters, 5 Storm Petrels, 1 Great Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Sabines Gull, 1 Grey Phalarope, 3 Great Northern Diver, and 6 Arctic Tern. (Theo Campbell et al).

Fishermen reported an Osprey at  the Barmouth this morning. Whimbrel arriving in off the sea. (John Clarke).

Bird News Monday 19th August

Arctic Skua past Portstewart this morning (Stephen Riddell).

Sabine’s Gull from boat 10 miles NW of Rathlin (Ms S Sheehan via Birdtrack)

4 Arctic Skuas from St John’s Point 5-7pm (Chris Murphy).

Arctic Skua, Stephen Riddell:

Bird News Sunday 18th August

A Green Sandpiper was over Ballyculter, near Castle Ward (David Stirling)

A Ruff was at Portmore and a Common Sandpiper at Lady’s Bay (Michael Latham)

A seawatch at Bloody Foreland, Donegal, 6.15-11 in a wind W6 had Sooty Shear 221, Great Shear 295, Cory’s 128, Storm petrel 3, Sabines 4, Bonxie 2, Arctic Skua 5, Pom Skua 17, Whimbrel 14, grey phalarope 1 (Theo Campbell, Derek Brennan and Chris Ingram)

The Little Stint was still at Lady’s Bay (Michael Latham)

12 Ruff and 8 Whimbrel were at Lough Beg (Gerard McGeehan)

A Green Sandpiper was seen at Dundrinne Hill, Castlewellan on a small pool before flying off north (Andrew Crory)

3 Ruff were at RSPB WoW (Wilton Farrelly)

This morning Fanad Head had Cory Shearwater 25, Sooties 150, GreatShear 45, Bonixe 7 and Arctic Skuas 7 (Stephen Dunbar)

Little Stint, Michael Latham:

Little stint, Richard Caves:

Bird News Saturday 17th August

A Little Gull was at Magilligan. (Donna Riddell).

One Osprey was still at the Bann Estuary. (Michael Latham).

Two Whimbrel were at Ballyquintin Point and a single Whimbrel at Kearney. (Bob Watts).

The Little Stint was still at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh this afternoon. (Garry Armstrong).

A juvenile Black Tern was at the Barmouth this afternoon, the Osprey was also present. (Derek Brennan).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Portstewart. (John Clarke).

Four Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a male, two females and a juvenile, are visiting a garden outside Hillsborough. (Garry Wilkinson).

Little Gull, Donna Riddell.

Osprey, Michael Latham.

Little Stint.

David McCreedy.

Richard Caves.

Bird News Friday 16th August

2 Osprey still at the Barmouth (Ian Dickey / Robbie Hughes).

Juvenile Little Stint at Portmore Lough early afternoon with Wood Sandpiper mid afternoon but no sign in the evening. Little Stint moved to Lady Bay in the evening, also juvenile Mediterranean Gull and Common Sandpiper (Ivan Quail / David McCreedy / Garry Armstrong).

Female Garganey (new), 5 juvenile Ruff at Lough Beg (David Steele).

Bloody Foreland, Co Donegal 0605-0900: 15 Cory’s Shearwaters, 2 Great Shearwaters, 105 Sooty Shearwaters, 400+ Manx Shearwaters, 2 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas, 8 Storm Petrels (Dean Jones).

Osprey, Ian Dickey:

Little Stint, Kevin Maguire:

Bird News Thursday 15th August

2 Ospreys Barmouth Hide (Dennis Weir). 

Osprey with blue ring NS2 was ringed just south of Tain, East Ross-shire on 10th July 2022 (Michael Latham).

Roseate Tern amongst a large gull and tern flock off Kinnegar Shore this evening (Stuart Cossey).

Feas/Desertas Petrel at 630pm off Melmoare Head, Co Donegal, also 15 Cory’s Shearwaters, 6 Sooty Shearaters, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Great Skua, Great Northern Diver (Eric Randall).

Walter Veale

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Walter Veale. Walter was well known in NI birding circles and was a font of knowledge not just about birds but all our wildlife and our local built and natural environment. Having seen the Fox Sparrow on Copeland in June 1961, he was always able to remind us about a sighting that no one could match. 

At this time, our condolences, thoughts and prayers are with his family and in particular his wife Marie and sons Chris and Nicolas.

Funeral arrangements are at: https://www.elwoodcapper.com/campaigns/mr-walter-henry-veale/

Bird News Wednesday 14th August

 At least one of the Ospreys is still at the Bann Estuary this morning. (Ian Dickey).

The Wood Sandpiper is now at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (David McCreedy). The bird moved to Portmore this afternoon before returning to Lady Bay this evening. (Clifford Sharpe).

At least 10 Whimbrel were at Glynn in Larne Lough. (Kevin Kirkham).

Two Ruff were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Michael Latham).

Wood Sandpiper, Kevin Maguire.

Wood Sandpiper, Richard Caves.

Bird News Tuesday 13th August

2 Ospreys still at the Barmouth (Ian Dickey).

St John’s Point 9-10am: 3,000 Manx Shearwaters, 8 Gannets, 26 Kittiwake, 29 Sandwich Terns, Black Guillemot, 2 Golden Plover all north (Chris Murphy).

Wood Sandpiper at Portmore Lough RSPB (Aaron Long).

In 2 hours at Melmore Head, Co Donegal this evening 10 Cory’s Shearwater, 20 Sooty Shearwaters, 10 Arctic Terns, Storm Petrel (Eric Randall).

Wood Sandpiper, Aaron Long:

Bird News Monday 12th August

At least two Osprey are at the Bann Estuary this morning (Martin Deehan / Jonny Rosborough). It is believed that up to 3 Osprey have been present.

Whitehouse Lagoon has a Mediterranean Gull and Whimbrel (Kevin Kirkham)

The Marsh Harrier was still at Lough Beg today, hunting widely around the area. Two juvenile Cuckoos were also seen. Also Osprey, juvenile Garganey and 15 Ruff (including one juvenile) at Lough Beg later today. (David Steele)

A Red Kite was flying low over stubble fields off Drumnamether Road near Clare, Tandragee (Clifford Sharpe)

Osprey, Jonny Rosborough:

Common Sandpiper, Lady's Bay, Richard Caves:

Bird News Sunday 11th August

2 Ospreys were at the Bann Estuary this morning. (Jonny Rosborough). At least one was still present this afternoon. (Daniel Newton). It appears that there were 3 Ospreys at the Bann Estuary today, a bird with a blue and a metal rings, a bird with a white and metal rings and a bird without rings. (Michael Latham).

A Garden Warbler was ringed on Copeland this morning. (David Stirling, Stuart Cossey).

A summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe was off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough. (Kevin Kirkham).

The juvenile Ruff and 3 Common Sandpipers were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Stuart McKee).

A juvenile Cuckoo (a different bird to the one seen last week) was at Lough Beg this afternoon, also a Garganey, four Whimbrel and two Greenshank. (David Steele)

A Green Sandpiper and 6 Greenshank were at the Blackstaff river. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).

Garden Warbler, David Stirling.

Osprey, Michael Latham.

Buzzard, Christine Cunningham.

Bird News Saturday 10th August

Osprey at Bann Estuary this morning returning bird with EY ring. Headed off towards Binevenagh c830 after catching large salmonid (Dean Jones). Still present at Barmouth 7pm (John Spratt).

Juvenile Ruff and Common Sandpiper still at Belfast Lough WoW RSPB (Kevin Kirkham).

4 Corys, 23 Sooty Shearwaters, single Pomarine, Arctic and Great Skuas 0900-noon at Fanad Head, Co Donegal (Wilton Farrelly).

Corys and 4 Sooty Shearwaters, Great Skua, c70 Whimbrel off Bloody Foreland, Co Donegal this morning by noon (Aaron Long / Stephen Dunbar).

Marsh Harrier still at Lough Beg (Richard Hunter).

 2 Carrion x Hooded Crow hybrid Orlock Point (Bob Watts).

6 Arctic Skuas up the Lough at Magilligan and others further out also a distant Great Skua (John Clarke).

4 Arctic Skua Portstewart (Jonny Rosborough).

Little Gull at Lady Bay late afternoon (Michael Latham).

Osprey still at Portmore Lough RSPB (Robert Gilbert).

Osprey, Dean Jones:

Arctic Skua, John Clarke & Jonny Rosborough:

Little Gull, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 9th August

 3 Storm Petrels were seen from the Larne Cairnryan ferry this morning. (Tom Garner).

2 Green Sandpipers were at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (David McCreedy).

2 Arctic Skuas, a Common Scoter and 30+ Whimbrel were at Magilligan this morning. (Jonny Rosborough, David Hill).

3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Whimbrel and a juvenile Ruff were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Stuart McKee).

St John's Point at lunchtime had 9 breeding plumage Grey Plover flying south, 2 Wheatear and single Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper. (Garry Wilkinson).

151 Whimbrel were at the Bann Estuary this afternoon. (Dean Jones).

A Marsh Harrier, Garganey, juvenile Arctic Tern and two juvenile Golden Plovers were at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

2 Arctic Skua and 17 Whimbrel past Portstewart Head this evening. (Stephen Riddell).

A single Cory's Shearwater and an Arctic Skua passed Fanad Head this evening. (Wilton Farrelly).

Whimbrel, David Hill.

Green Sandpipers, David McCreedy.