Bird News Tuesday 18th September

The Grey Phalarope was still at Craigavon North Lake (Paul Toner).     

Copeland Bird Observatory had 8 Pink-footed Geese, 6 Greylag, 6 Scaup, a Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 3 Red-throated Diver, 5 Puffin, 2 Chiffchaff, 25 Meadow Pipit, 40 Swallow, a Merlin and 2 Carrion Crow (Kerry Leonard).          

Nearby 2 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 43 Pale-bellied Brent, 2 Great Northern Diver, 5 Red-throated Diver and a Peregrine were at Briggs Rocks (Colin Guy).         

At Larne Lough the Pink-footed Goose was with 48 Greylag at 40 Acre Bay (Cameron Moore).      

At Strangford Lough 2 Gannet, 24 Sandwich Tern, 6 Ringed Plover and a Wheatear were at the Netwalk at Killyleagh (Spencer and Joan Marshall).        

A Leach's Petrel was giving views down to 20 feet in Greenore Harbour of the Lough side of Carlingford Lough (Shane Wolsey, Nicole Robinson).       

Magilligan Point this morning had 21 Sanderling and 5 Wheatear. (Christine Cassidy).       

Tullyhill just south of Strangford had 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 45 Dunlin, 1 Knot, 18 Redshank, 8 Golden Plover, 21 Snipe, 1 Whimbrel, 16 Curlew, 11 Oystercatcher and 36 Ringed Plover. (Craig Nash).

Thanks to Tom McCreery for the pictures of the Grey Phalarope, Craig Nash for the pictures of the Snipe and Knot, Ian Jackson for the Peregrine picture and Christine Cassidy for the Sanderling picture.

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News for Monday 17th Sept.

There are now 3 Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Myroe.(Tyrone Nelson)

 

 

A moulting Grey Phalarope is on the small Balancing Lake, Co Armagh. It is at the far end of the lake furthest from the road. Not often we get the opportunity to see this species at close quaters, they are usually seen from a headland on a sea-watch. 

 

A Kingfisher was at Lurgan Park Lake. A Common Sandpiper, Grey Phalarope, 2 Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk were at Craigavon North Lake (Stephen Hewitt, Glen West). They considered the Grey Phalarope a juvenile moulting to first-winter and not a moulting adult.

3 Green Sandpiper were along the east shore of Lough Beg (Matthew Tickner).

Copeland Bird Observatory had a Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Wheatear, 78 Meadow Pipit, 52 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Siskin, 150 Swallow and 20 House Martin. A Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, 3 Great Skua and 2 Red-throated Diver were at sea (Kerry Leonard).

A dark morph Arctic Skua was at Briggs Rocks near Groomsport and 6 Wheatear were in the area (Colin Guy).

 

 

 

 

 

Our thanks to Tom McCreery who kindly sent in this image of the Grey Phalarope, which was on the small balancing lake up until 18.30.  

 

 

 

 

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Two lovely images of Wheatear's the top one was taken by Alistair Prentice the bottom by Tom McCreery.

An Albino House Martin?

Many thanks to John Loughlin for the interesting pics below. John says "the pics were taken from a sailing boat on Lough Neagh on Saturday afternoon. The bird was all white and was flying with a huge flock of House Martins". The bird does on the face of it seem to be an albino House Martin.

Bird News Sunday 16th September

The Bonaparte's Gull was showing very well at Tweed's Port, Carnfunnock Bay this morning (Neal Warnock)

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the east end of the Myroe Lawn fields (Jeff Larkin / Philip West)

A Pink-footed Goose is at Forty Acre Bay, Larne Lough (Neal Warnock)

A Chiffchaff was near Corbally reservoir (Portrush) this afternoon (John Clarke)

The Bann Estuary was quiet with the best 1 Bar-tailed godwit, 2 Black-tailed godwit, a Peregrine falcon and 1 Sanderling (Richard Donaghey)

The female Red-created Pochard and 4 Ruff were at Inch, Donegal (Ian Graham)

Thanks to Neal Warnock for the pics of the Bonapartes and the Gyr (from earlier in the week).
You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Saturday 15th September

A juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper is at Ballykelly on Lough Foyle this morning. A Goshawk was also seen.

The adult plumaged Ring-billed Gull was still at Groomsport (Zach / Tom McCreery - see the pic below)

Rathlin island had1 twite, 6 white wag, 2 chough, 1 little egret (island first?), bonxie off rue point and 1 pom skua, 2 arctic skua and 2 bonxie from the ferry (Neal Warnock)

In south Down 6 Storm Petrel - all new birds - were ringed last night at Sheepland near Ardglass (Declan Clarke).

28 Pochard flew past Briggs Rocks near Groomsport and 6 Wheatear were in the area (Colin Guy).

On the Antrim side of Belfast Lough 78 Red-breasted Merganser and 1,463 Eider were at Loughshore (Gerard McGeehan)

An adult Med Gull was at Kinnegar Shore (Wilton Farrelly)

Five Mediterranean Gull and four Pink-footed Geese were at Myroe Levels.

An adult Reed Warbler was trapped at Copeland Bird Observatory this morning. 100 Lesser Redpoll were present and 30 of them were ringed (Chris Acheson)

Birds at Whitehouse Lagoon this morning included 551 Black-tailed Godwit, 37 Bar-tailed Godwit, 61 Turnstone, 11 Knot and 7 Great Black-backed Gull. There were also 2 Wheatear on Dargan Road (Adam McClure)

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper is at Inch, Co Donegal.
A Pacific Golden Plover was at Derrybeg, Donegal this morning (Chris Ingram)
The female Red-crested Pochard was at Inch Lake, Donegal (Brad Robson)

Thanks to Zach McCreery for the pic below of the Groomsport Ring-billed Gull. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Friday 14th September

The adult Bonaparte's Gull is back at  the Princess Victoria Memorial Larne Lough and an ad. Med. Gull at Sandy Bay, Larne.(Gavin Ferguson) see photo's below.

At Lough Beg a Blue-winged Teal was at Church Island. A Curlew Sandpiper and a Garganey were in the south-west corner (David Steele).

Ramore Head, between 0645-19.15 produced, 13 RT Diver, 2GN Diver, 1,500 Manx Shearwaters,47 Sooty Shearwater, 6 Storm Petrel, 20 Leach's Petrel, 4 Brent, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Grey Phalarope,158 Great Skua,1 Pom Skua, 21 Arctic Skua, 79 Arctic Tern, the escaped Gyr was seen around 11.45 (N.Warnock).
Portstewart Point had 38 Great Skua, 3 Pomarine Skua, 5 Arctic Skua, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 220 Manx Shearwater, a Blue Fulmar, 14 Fulmar, 16 Sandwich Tern, 37 Arctic Tern, 3 Leach's Petrel, a Storm Petrel, 2 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver and 500 Gannet (Stuart McKee).

Rinagree Point between Portstewart and Portrush had a Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua and a Red-throated Diver (Colin Guy).

3 Whimbrel, 6 Dunlin and 6 Knot were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Dot Blakely).

The adult-winter Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport.

Malin Head today; 200 Sooty Shears 79 Bonxies 11 Arctics 1 Leach's Petrel 3 Sabines 100's Gannet Manxies and Fulmar(A.Gillespie)

Our thanks to Gavin for providing these images of  the Bonaparte's Gull(top)and Med.Gull. 

Bird News Thursday 13th September

A seawatch from Ramore head, 07:10- 11:10 & 13:00- 16:30 had 9 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Norther Diver, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 45 Brent Goose, 33 Common Scoter, 1 Velvet Scoter, 36 Bonxie, 4 Arctic Skua, 14 Sandwich Tern, 20 Arctic Tern and 1 Puffin. The Escaped Gyr Falcon was again present around 2pm (Neal Warnock)

The Glaucous Gull (almost into third-winter plumage) was at Ballintoy and an immature Little Gull at the mouth of the river in Ballycastle (Colin Guy)

A Flamingo species has been reported in Drogheda (Peter Phillips)

Thanks to Allen Gillespie for this great picture of a Turnstone. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Sandwich Terns

Sandwich Terns are still along our coasts and a handful will probably over-winter. Many thanks to Alistair Prentice for these pics, including one of an adult and juvenile.

Bird News Wednesday 12th September

Ramore Head over the day had 8 Red Throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, 5 Sooty Shearwater, 38 Leach's Petrel, 4 Storm Petrel, 2 Grey Phalarope, 24 Brent Geese, 12 Teal, 14 Common Scoter, 1 Whimbrel, 32 Great Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 6 Arctic Skua, 2 adult Sabine's Gull, 8 Sandwich Tern, 24 Arctic Tern and 1 Puffin. (Neal Warnock, Colin Guy, Hill Dick).

Portstewart Point had 36 Arctic Tern, a Pomarine Skua, 5 Common Scoter, 10 Arctic Skua, 13 Great Skua, 35 Wigeon, a few Leach's Petrel. 3 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Diver (Stuart McKee).         

A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 14 Ruff and a Garganey were at Lough Beg (David Steele).            

At Strangford Lough 7/8000 Pale-bellied Brent were between Newtownards and Greyabbey (Aaron Devlin).         

The adult-winter Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport.       

Yesterday a female or immature Hen Harrier was one kilometer west of Bangor along the coastal path (Julian Greenwood), and a Kingfisher in the stream beside the Ledom industrial estate in Larne (Lowell Mills).

A Little Gull was at Grey Point at 7.30 this evening. (Wilton Farrelly).

Approximately 2000 Brent Geese arrived at Ballykelly this morning, see picture below. (Christine Cassidy).

The escaped Gyr Falcon was perched at Ramore Head. (Neal Warnock, Hill Dick).

Thanks to Noel Austin for today's Buzzard pictures, Robert Harper for the Little Egret picture and Christine Cassidy for the Brent Goose picture.

 

 

 

Bird News for Tues. 11th Sept.

Ramore Head from 06.50-17.30 had 7 Red throated Diver,2 GN Diver,5 Sooty Shearwater,4Leachs Petrel, 242 Brent, 11 Teal, 12 Tufted Duck, 9 Common Scoter, 25 Golden Plover, 6 Whimbrel,22 Great Skua, 2 Pom. Skua, 33 Arctic Skua, 2 ad Sabine Gull 31 Sandwich Tern, 107 Arctic Tern.(N. Warnock/ Ken Perry/Peter Robinson)
Ramore Head after 7pm had 2 Great Skua. 3 Arctic Skua and 2 Leach's Petrel (Colin Guy)

At the East Strand carpark, Portrush, there was a Ring-billed Gull and eight Sandwich Terns amongst the resting Common and Black-headed Gull flock (Ken Perry and Peter Robinson).
Portstewart Point had 2 Great Skua, 6 Arctic Skua, a Pomarine Skua, a Sooty Shearwater, a Leach's Petrel, 6 Sanderling, 2 Wigeon, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 90 Manx Shearwater, 50 Arctic Tern and 2 Sandwich Tern (Stuart McKee).

Slightly further afield at Melmore Head Co.Donegal a sea-watch for 7 hrs produced,50 bonxies

17 arctic skua, 2possible Long-tailed Skua( too distant to be sure)17 sooty shearwater,11LeachesPetrel,78 Arctic Tern, 10 Red-throadted Diver,a GN Diver, 4 Scoter,5 Brent.(E.Randall)

 

At Strangford Lough 10 Grey Heron, a Little Egret, 10 Linnet, a large flock of Turnstone and 100 House Martin were at Gibbs Island (Spencer and Joan Marshall).

At Larne Lough 2 Knot, 52 Pale-bellied Brent, 48 Greylag, a Greenshank, 38 Dunlin, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Black-tailed Godwit and 118 Curlew were at the salt lagoons a mile north of Ballycarry Bridge (Cameron Moore). 13 Little Egret were also noted there (Cameron Moore, Lowell Mills). A Kingfisher was along the shore coming into Glynn (Lowell Mills).

Jubilee Wood in Whitehead had a female Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 7 Reed Bunting, 35 Linnet and 2 Carrion Crow (Cameron Moore).

 

 

 

 

 

Our thanks for to-days photographers from  the top Tom McCreery -Meadow Pipit. Alistair Prentice- Wheatear and Christine Cassidy for the the Ringed Plover,all wonderful images.                               

Request For Information On Gannets

Eddie Maguire who is recording the passage of Gannets around the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland is trying to find out how many pairs of Gannet are on Saltee. If you can provide any information on the Gannets on Saltee please let us know and we will pass it on.

Thank You.

Bird News Monday 10th September

Ramore Head during the day had 4 Arctis Skua, 9 Great Skua, 2 Storm Petrel, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Red Throated Diver, 3 Pink Footed Geese, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Puffin, 5 Arctic Tern, 11 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Red Breasted Merganser, 9 Wigeon and 299 Brent Geese. (Irish Birding).

At Ballyholme Bay 9 Sandwich Tern, 16 Ringed Plover and a few Turnstone were on the rocks near the yacht club (Jim Whitla).    

A Peregrine Falcon was near at Thompson Street in Belfast near the M2 (Patterson).

Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for todays Sparrowhawk and Turnstone pictures, Stuart McKee for the juvenile Curlew picture and Alistair Prentice for the Common Tern picture. Check out more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

Bird News Sunday 9th September

A Red-crested Pochard, female-type, is at Quoile pondage from Castle Island hide (Keith Bennett)

The Snowy Owl remains on Arranmore, Co Donegal. The bird was on a wall above Cowans Lake, the last lake before the lighthouse.

A 2.5hr seawatch at St John's Point this pm had an Arctic Skua (light and dark), 7 Red-throated Diver (heading S), 2 Scoter (heading S), 1 Arctic Tern (heading S) (Keith Bennett)

1 Whimbrel and 5 Red-throated Diver were at Ballyquintin. 2 Stock Dove and large flock of linnets there too (James Robinson)

A Little Gull was along the marine highway in Carrickfergus (Stephen Drake).

2 Raven were in flight over Ballysillan Playing Fields in Belfast (Andy Elliott).

The adult-winter Ring-billed Gull remains at Groomsport.

Bird News Saturday 8th September

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper is at Myroe Levels (Keith Bennett)

A Common Rosefinch was ringed at Copeland Bird Observatory this morning and was a bird of the year, see picture below. This is the third Copeland record. At 2pm a Sabine's Gull flew north (Chris Acheson)

34 Storm Petrel (all new birds) were ringed at Sheepland near Ardglass (Declan Clarke)

15 White Wagtail were at Killard (Benderg Bay side) Co Down, this afternoon (Ron Price / Ronnie Milligan).

At Ballyquintin Point were 4 white wagtail, 2 whimbrel and a wheatear (Richard Weyl).

A Red-crested Pochard (female or eclipse male) at Inch Lough, Donegal in front of hide (Brad Robson).

Three Black Tern were at Lough Swill (Chris Ingram).

Two Chough were at Fair Head this afternoon and a Hen Harrier was being mobbed by a Raven. (Helen McCallan).

A Great Skua was on the beach at Murlough around midday, feeding on a dead Oystercatcher. (Brian Nelson).

2 Raven and a Peregrine were at Dunluce and a Sparrowhawk at Myroe. (Stephen Maxwell)

15 White Wagtail and a Sandmartin were at Killard Reserve long beach, 3 Wheatear were also present at Killard. 3 White Wagtail were at the outflow stream just north of Killard. (Ron Price & Ronnie Milligan).

Thanks to Adam Middleton for his picture of the Common Tern and to Ken Perry and Richard Donaghey for the Common Rosefinch pictures.

 

 

Ken Perry

 

 

Richard Donaghey

 

 

Richard Donaghey

Bird News Friday 7th September

At Larne Lough 3 Carrion Crow, 10 Little Egret, 2 Whimbrel, 7 Black-tailed Godwit and a Peregrine were at Ballycarry Bridge (Cameron Moore).         

An adult Mediterranean Gull was still at Whitehouse Lagoon in Belfast. Yesterday 290 Sandwich Tern were at Kinnegar shore (Stuart McKee).     

Two Wheatear were at Craigavon Lakes, see picture below. (Tom McCreery).

A Raven and a Kestrel were at Dunluce and a Wheatear at Ramore Head, see picture below. (Stephen Maxwell).        

Thanks to Tom McCreery for the great Wheatear picture, his grandson Zach for the picture of a young Whitethroat and Stephen Maxwell for the Raven and Sanderling pictures. You can see more pictures from NI birders at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Thursday 6th September

An Adult Med Gull and 2 Little Egret were at Lough Foyle (Matthew Tickner, Gareth Bareham and Brad Robson)

The adult Med Gull was at Whitehouse Lagoon (Stuart McKee)

A different adult Mediterranean Gull was at Kinnegar shore (the one legged bird!) (George Gordon)

A dark morph Arctic Skua was at Briggs Rocks near Groomsport (Colin Guy)

500 Brent Geese were at Ballykelly RSPB reserve (Christine Cassidy)

Many thanks to Stuart McKee for the picture of the Whitehouse Med Gull and (one of ?) the Spotted Redshank from the RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve.

Sparrowhawk

We get plenty of photos of Sparrowhawks, usually quickly taken shots from the back garden. Alan Gallagher captured these great detailed pics of this male bird today.

Bird News Wednesday 5th September

Remarkably, near the townland of Finaghoo, south east of Swanlinbar, Co Cavan, a Hawfinch was seen. (Kevin Cuthbert per Brad Robson)

A Curlew Sandpiper & 11 Greenshank were with a large flock of Redshank at Dundrum Inner Bay South (Adam McClure)

3 Swift were with hirundines at Antrim Road Waterworks in Belfast (Larry Toal).

The adult winter Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport (George Gordon)

Thanks to Tom McCreery for this pic of a Turnstone. You can see more pics from local photographers at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Tuesday 4th September

2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, a Peregrine, 6 Knot, 3 Sanderling, 80 Sandwich Tern and a Whimbrel were at Bann Estuary (Lowell Mills, Ken Perry, Peter Robinson and Ludik Petrilak).    

A Spotted Flycatcher was at the wood along the Strand in Killyleagh (Spencer and Joan Marshall).    

92 Pale-bellied Brent, 25 Sanderling, a Stock Dove and a Whimbrel were at Ballykelly, Lough Foyle (Theo Campbell).     

Briggs Rocks had 6 Whimbrel, 2 Pintail, 5 Purple Sandpipers and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits. (Colin Guy).

Whitehouse Lagoon had 8 Knot, approx 50 Bar-tailed Godwits and 400 Black-tailed Godwits. A Mediterranean Gull was off Hazelbank Park, and a Wheatear on the rocks alongside the M5. An estimated 600 - 700 Eider were out on Belfast Lough. (Robert Scott).

Thanks to Craig Nash for the picture of a Kestrel taken at Killard and to Alan Gallagher for the picture of a Coal Tit from Castle Espie. You can check out more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

Lost Something?

William Smiton found this along the Glenhead Road yesterday. It is marked Swarovski and has glass at either end. If this belongs to you you can contact William on his mobile 07792423644.

Bird News Monday 3rd September

The adult-winter Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport (George Gordon)

3 Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, 2 Bullfinch and a Sparrowhawk were at Bay Road LNR in Derry (Lowell Mills)

The Ruff was still at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve (Paul Scott)

Please also see the Garden Warbler record in the previous post.

Thanks to Tom McCreery for this pic of the Ruff at the Harbour Estate. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Garden Warbler

Garden Warbler is a rare breeding bird in NI, largely confined to parts of Fermanagh and usually close to water. This year many birders in the east of the province got the chance to catch up with a male that was at Stranmillis, Belfast. However Rick Hoy caught a bird this morning in his ringing patch on the Bann, close to the University of Ulster at Coleraine. The bird is a juvenile and was carrying significant fat reserves. A very good local patch find! Many thanks to Rick for the photos below:

Bird News for Sunday 2nd September.

Islandhill, Strangford Lough had 2 White Wagtail with 6 Little Egret on the Lough before Mountstewart, a lot of the Brent Geese now seem to be back. An ad Med Gull was in the bay just south of Kearney. Two Whimbrel and a Wheatear were at Ballyquinton Point.(P.West/W.Farrelly)

A Ruff and a Little Gull were at the RSPB Belfast Harbour estate reserve.

12 Ruff were at Mullagh, Lough Beg.(D.Steele)

The Ring billed Gull remains at Groomsport.

2 Chough were at Fair Head. (Ian Enlander)

A Hen Harrier was at the Montiaghs(see above photo) along with 5 Buzzard and 2 Kestrel.(E.O'Hara)

 

Our thanks to Alistair Prentice for this image of a Turnstone.

Bird News Saturday 1st September

A juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Myroe Levels today.

A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper is at the Bann Estuary.

At Belfast Harbour this afternoon there were several small flocks of Dunlin and Ringed Plover, 2 Ruff and a Sanderling. (Adam McClure / Tephen Maxwell)

There were c.600 Black-tailed Godwit and 10 Bar-tailed Godwit at Whitehouse Lagoon (Adam McClure)

A single Great Skua was seen from Ballyhalbert this morning. A roost of 900 redshank were at the Floodgates plus a single little egret (James Robinson)

At Strangford Lough 10 White Wagtail were at Anne's Point (Richard Weyl).

The second-summer Ring-billed Gull (almost into adult plumage) was still at Groomsport (George Gordon)

2 white wagtail and 2 wheatear were at Coney Island beach. 2 white wagtail by killough harbour, high count of 350 redshanks at Killough high tide roost. Also 3 little egrets,12 greenshank, 2 black-tailed godwits and 6 snipe at killough high tide roost. 1 white wagtail and a family of stonechats at St John's point and 1 puffin flew past heading north in the evening (Tim Murphy)

In Louth, the Forsters Tern was still at Soldiers Point, Dundalk (Gerry O'Neil)

Baltray Bay at the Boyne Estuary had 200 Dunlin, 250 Sanderling, 60 Ringed Plover, 300 Golden Plover, 8 Common Tern, 5 Sandwich Tern, 10 Knot, 7 Little Egret, 200 Bar-tailed Godwit, some Whimbrel with the Curlew on the grass and 20 Pale-bellied Brent. A dark morph Arctic Skua, 30 Kittiwake and a Common Scoter were at Clogher Head (Jim Whitla)

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this picture of a Meadow Pipit and to Stephen Maxwell for the Ruff. You can see more bird pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk