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Bird News Thursday 21st November 2024
Bird News Wednesday 20th November 2024
80 Common Scoter on Lough Foyle (Gilly Irwin).
Wing-tagged Red Kite flew over Dromore Road near Ballynahinch (Gregory Heaney).
Bird News Tuesday 19th November 2024
Bird News Monday 18th November 2024
3 Twite were with the Linnet flock at the boatyard in Whitehead. (Cameron Moore).
An adult Black-throated Diver was off the Barmouth at the Bann Estuary. 6 Great Northern Diver and 80+ Gannets were off Castlerock. 4 Slavonian Grebes were off Myroe. (Derek Charles).
A Great Northern Diver was at Portballintrae this morning. (Stephen Riddell).
A Swallow was over Castle Espie this morning. (Jonny Clarke).
The redhead Goosander was still close in off Kinnegar shore, close to Kinnegar barracks. (Bob Watts).
A Great Spotted Woodpecker continues to visit a garden outside Hillsborough. (Juliet Fleming).
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Juliet Fleming.
Bird News Sunday 17th November 2024
Bird News Saturday 16th November 2024
Bird News Friday 15th November 2024
Bird News Thursday 14th November 2024
A Hoopoe as seen in a garden at the Maze on Tuesday but no sign yesterday (Daniel Henderson).
Female Lesser Scaup still from Kinnegoe Hide, Oxford Island (Tony Dodds / Ian Young).
Great White Egret, ringtail Hen Harrier and female Merlin at Reedy Flats (David McCreedy).
Black-necked Grebe at west end of Reedy Flats (Derek Charles).
Short-eared Owl at the rear of Slieve Gallion in the Sperrins, Co Derry (Adam McClure).
Great White Egret still at Myroe (John Clarke).
Marsh Harrier at Portmore Lough RSPB (Karma Tsering / Barbara Reverd).
Hoopoe, Daniel Henderson.
Bird News Wednesday 13th November 2024
There was no sign of the Barred Warbler at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve up until lunchtime. (Aaron Long).
A Goosander was reported in Randalstown. (EBird).
A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Lough Mann near Ballynahinch, 10 Whoopers were in fields between Farranfad and Nutgrove. (Dave Weir).
A female Lesser Scaup was off the Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (Derek Charles).
Greenshank, Guy Hamilton).
Bird News Tuesday 12th November 2024
Bird News Monday 11th November 2024
Great White Egret at Myroe (John Clarke).
Red-necked and 3 Slavonian Grebes off Macedon point with a female Common Scoter distantly off Dargan (Stuart McKee).
Twite flock still at Ramore Head (Rod Gillan).
3 female Long-tailed Ducks off Helen’s Bay (Philip Watson).
A late Arctic Tern at Cultra (Richard Weyl).
Sandwich Tern still at Loughshore Park Jordanstown (Tim Davies).
Merlin on fence posts at Reedy Flats (Robbie Hughes).
Great Spotted Woodpecker near entrance to Marble Arch caves, Co Fermanagh (Derek Charles).
Great White Egret, John Clarke:
Bird News Sunday 10th November 2024
Bird News Saturday 9th November 2024
Bird News Friday 8th November 2024
8 Pinkfeet and 10+ Ruff from Long Wood viewpoint Church Island, Lough Beg this morning but no sign of the Golden Plover flock nor the associated White-rumped Sandpipers. Note shooting in area. (Aaron Long).
Black Redstart still at Portstewart (Jonny Rosborough).
Snow Bunting at Ramore Head (Jonny Rosborough).
No sign of Barred Warbler at Ballymacormick Point by 1230 (David McCreedy).
Dipper with dark belly at Downhill similar to one from 2021 so Black-bellied not ruled out (John Spottiswood).
Bird News Thursday 7th November 2024
The Black Redstart was still at Portstewart this morning. (John Clarke).
The Barred Warbler was seen again at Ballymacormick Point this morning. (William Smiton).
At least 2 of the White-rumped Sandpipers are still with the Golden Plover flock at Church Island, Lough Beg, at least 8 Ruff are also present. (Ian Young).
8 Ring-necked Parakeets are at Belfast Waterworks. (Stuart McKee).
A Carrion Crow is being seen regularly in Castle Park in Bangor. (Becci).
A Merlin was at Ben Dearg in Kilclief this morning. (Chris McNally).
6 Crossbills were at Fardross Glen, near Clogher, Co Tyrone this morning. Just behind the Carleton Trail no 11 sign. (Colin Bell).
About 20 Twite were at Ramore Head in Portrush. A single Purple Sandpiper was also present. (Richard Caves)
A Snow Bunting was on the road south of Tor Head - top of the hill (Keith Glasgow).
Black Redstart, Stephen Riddell.
Twite, Richard Caves.
Purple Sandpiper, Richard Caves.
Bird News Wednesday 6th November 2024
Bird News Tuesday 5th November 2024
Bird News Monday 4th November 2024
The Barred Warbler is still present this morning in the same area of Ballymacormack Point though elusive. (Aaron Long). The bird is still being seen occasionally up to lunchtime at least. (Stuart McKee, Dermot Hughes, Richard Weyl).
A juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper is at the Roe Estuary, Lough Foyle. (David Hunter).
The Snow Buntings are still at Ramore Head, 25 Twite are also present. (John Clarke).
A Ruff is at the Bann Estuary. (John Spottiswood).
A Shore Lark was at the RTE mast on Cleremont Carn in the Cooley Mountains in Co. Louth. (David Knight).
The Red-necked Grebe was still present distantly with the Eider flock in Belfast Lough. (Ian Young).
There are two seats available for the boat trip from Ballycastle to Islay on Saturday 7th November. Please text Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details.
Mediterranean Gull, Stephen Foster.
Shore Lark, David Knight.
Bird News Sunday 3rd November 2024
Barred Warbler 1st winter at Ballymacormick Point for 2nd day becomes the 6th NI record and the 1st mainland record since the 1971 individual in a quarry between Portstewart and Coleraine (Wilton Farrelly / Bob Watts et al).
Cattle Egret in trees at Closet River, Oxford Island NNR (Garry Armstrong). Slavonian Grebe also reported here (Birdguides).
Slavonian Grebe off Kinnegar Shore also 1w Mediterranean Gull (Kevin Kirkham).
Slavonian Grebe at Hazelbank (Michael Latham).
Red-necked Grebe still with Eider flock from Hazelbank (Michael Latham). 3 Slavonian Grebes and 1w Mediterranean Gull (Kevin Kirkham).
At least 1 White-rumped Sandpiper still from Long Wood view point at Lough Beg and a drake Ring-necked Duck (Daniel Newton).
11 Twite at Newcastle Harbour and Common Sandpioer just south (Daniel Bailie). Adult Mediterranean Gull at Newcastle (Stephen Foster).
Female Marsh Harrier and Great White Egret at Portmore Lough RSPB
2 Snow Buntings still Ramore Head (Martin Deehan).
Snow Bunting below peak of Slieve Gullion (John Spottiswood).
Grey Plover at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve this morning (Jonny Clark).
Pair of Crossbill at Banagher Forest (Marian O’Hara).
Hybrid Ring-billed x Common Gull again at Millisle (Richard Weyl).
Barred Warbler, Ronald Surgenor:
Bird News Saturday 2nd November 2024
The Great White Egret and a juv Marsh Harrier are at Portmore Lough (Alan Dickson and Kevin Kirkham)
2 juv White-rumped Sands still with Golden Plover and Lapwing flock, Long Wood viewpoint Lough Beg, Co Derry. 30+ Ruff also present. (Bob Watts)
The Red-necked Grebe was still of Macedon Point, Belfast Lough. A Slavonian Grebe was also present (Stuart McKee)
8 Crossbill were at Ballycarton Wood, Limavady. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Windyhill Road (Michael Latham)
A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed on Copeland. A second bird was then ringed late afternoon (Chris Acheson / Adam Ringland)
Rocky Point, Donegal between 11-11.50am had 64 Great Shearwater, 8 Sooty Shearwater, 5 Manx Shearwater, 6 Red throated Diver and 1 Great Northern Diver in a fresh southerly breeze. (John O'Boyle)
A second year Mediterranean Gull was at Newcastle (Stephen Foster)
A Great White Egret was seen in flight at Oxford Island, possibly going to roost (Dermot Breen)
Yellow-browed Warbler, Copeland BO:
Crossbill, Michael Latham:
Bird News Friday 1st November 2024
Two Slavonian Grebes were off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough this morning. (Aaron Long).
Two Snow Buntings are on Ramore Head in Portrush. (John Clarke).
A White-rumped Sandpiper and a Ruff were off the hide at the Barmouth. (John Spottiswood).
A female Long-tailed Duck, 2 female Scaup and a Whooper were off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough. (Stuart Cossey).
A single Great White Egret was at Lough Beg. (Chris Hamilton).
A Red Kite was in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).
Yesterday a Fieldfare was on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)
A single juvenile Dark-bellied Brent was with Brent in Killough Harbour. A leucistic Great Black-backed Gull was in Ardglass Harbour. (David Nixon).
A Spotted Redshank and six Great White Egrets were at Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).