Bird News Saturday 16th March

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Glen Wood nature reserve in Florencecourt Forest, Co Fermanagh this morning (Brad Robson)

The Green-winged Teal was at Barr Hall Bay, Outer Ards, Co Down. (Keith Bennett).

13 Waxwings were in Donaghadee this morning. (James Robinson).

7 Bramblings, 6 males and a female, were in a garden in Richhill. (Andrew Poots).

2 Jack Snipe and the Red Crested Pochard were at Oxford Island today. (Ed O'Hara).

2 Brambling were visiting a garden in the Waterside area of Derry. 3 Little Egrets, a Peregrine and 2 Buzzards were at Myroe. (Christine Cassidy).

Yesterday a Scandanavian Rock Pipit was at Ballintoy, see picture below. Today a new 1st winter Iceland Gull was at Portballintrae and the 3rd winter Glaucous Gull was still at Ballycastle. (Colin Guy).

3-4 Snipe were showing well outside the Observation Room at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve. (Adam Middleton).

A Water Rail was at the lagoon at the Groomsport end of Ballymacormick Point (George Henderson).    

Yesterday 12 Waxwing flew north at Peatlands Park (Stephen Foster).

 Thanks to today's photographers, to Colin Guy for the picture of the Scandanavian Rock Pipit, to Andrew Poots for the Brambling picture, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the Goldfinch, to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Red Crested Pochard, to Christine Cassidy for the pictures of the Little Egrets and the Peregrine and to George Stewart for the picture of the Redpoll. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Friday 15th March

5 Brambling were visiting a garden in Pirrie Road off the Belmont Road in Belfast this morning. (Philip West).

The blue phase Snow Goose is still at Lough MacNean, 38 Golden Plover, 120 Fieldfare and 25 Redwing were at Monea in Co. Fermanagh . (Brad Robson).

The Ring-billed Gull was still at the East Strand in Portrush, a 3rd winter Iceland Gull was near the visitors centre at the Giant’s Causeway, a 1st winter Iceland Gull was at Ballintoy and the 3rd winter Glaucous Gull was still at Ballycastle. (Colin Guy).

5 Purple Sandpiper were at Pickie in Bangor (Richard Moore).

Thanks to todays photographers, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the Redpoll, to Christine Cassidy for the pictures of the male Siskin and the female one-eyed Siskin and the Whooper Swans and to Chris Colhoun for the pictures of the Dunnock and the Blue Tit. You can see more NI bird photographs at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Bird News Thursday 14th March

27 Waxwing were in Ballymena. They were between the roundabout at County Hall and the entrance to Galgorm Castle (Shirley Gray).     

A Dipper and a Kingfisher were along Six Mile Water at Antrim (Derek Polley).

Thanks to todays photographers, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the Yellowhammer and to Stephen Maxwell for the pictures of the Dunlin and the Shoveler. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Upcoming Castle Espie Events

BTO Garden Birdwatch Training Day, Thursday 21 March 9.30am – 1.30pm.  

Want to learn more about the birds that visit your garden? Then why not come and join the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden Birdwatch. Both experienced and amateur bird watchers welcome. BTO Garden BirdWatch monitors the changing fortunes of birds and other garden wildlife through its network of 'citizen scientists'. Observations collected by BTO Garden BirdWatchers are analysed by BTO researchers and published in leading journals. BTO Garden BirdWatchers have charted the decline of the House Sparrow, the rise of the Woodpigeon, have discovered that urban birds get up later than their rural counterparts and have alerted conservationists to the impact of an emerging disease in Greenfinches.  

This event is free to attend to book your space please contact Maeve Curran, Marketing and communications Manager on maeve.curran@wwt.org.uk or phone 02891 875975  

  Dawn Chorus 31 March & 21 April, 6am Join our resident expert Dot Blakely to explore the reserve at one of the most productive times of the year. Learn how to identify these birds by their songs and calls. Followed by a hot breakfast in the loughshore Cafe. The event is £12.50 for adults and £5 for children. To book your space please contact reception on 02891 874146 or email info.castleespie@wwt.org.uk

Bird News Wednesday 13th March

4 Buzzards were displaying, soaring and hunting over Prehen Park, Derry today, also 3 Buzzards were at Muff, Inishowen Co Donegal. (Christine Cassidy).

A summer plumaged Red-throated Diver was in the bay at Portballintrae A Great Northern Diver and the Glaucous Gull were in Ballycastle Harbour. (Colin Guy).

A Little Egret was in the culvert by McDonald's in Moat Park, Dundonald. (Lindsay Hodges).

9 Long-tailed Duck and a Sandwich Tern were at Greenisland Sea Park (Gerard McGeehan).    

A Buzzard with a yellow tag on the left wing was along Glenhead Road at Glenwherry. Also seen were a Stonechat, 2 Raven and a Sparrowhawk (William Smyton).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Lindsay Hodges for the Grey Heron picture, to Christine Cassidy for the Buzzard picture and to Tom McCreery for the Treecreeper and Otter pictures. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

Bird News Tuesday 12th March

The Green-winged Teal was this afternoon at Barr Hall Bay just before the road bends. (Tony Donaldson)

The Little Gull was still at Craigavon Balancing Lakes (Ed O'Hara)

On 5th March there were 7 Waxwing feeding on berries at Ballyhalbert Co Down. (Jack Hughes)

A male Great Spotted Woodpecker was showing on feeders on the Stormont Estate this morning.

Two Shelduck were on a flooded field at Cotton Road, Bangor (David McCormick)

A Red-legged Partridge was present this afternoon in the dis-used limestone quarries above Carnlough. (Richard Donaghey)

3 Little Ergets and a flock of approx 300 Golden Plover were at Myroe (Christine Cassidy)

2 Great Northern Diver were at the Netwalk in Killyleagh (Spencer and Joan Marshall).

A Short-eared Owl was in the dunes between Portstewart Strand and Bann Estuary (Paul Toner)

29 Waxwing were in Cullybackey. The were along Ballymena road feeding on cotoneaster in a garden near the level crossing (Shirley Gray)

Many thanks to Ed for the Little Gull pic, to Danny Boyd for the Black-tailed Godwit and to Tony Donaldson for the Green-winged Teal. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Monday 11th March

At Jordanstown this morn 08.30, following an alarm call from other birds, a brief view was had of a large white falcon flying towards Hazelbank, Belfast Lough. (Paul McCullogh)

Along the south shore of Lough Neagh a Sand Martin was at Ardmore Rectory (Stephen Hewitt, Glenn West)

12 Waxwing and 2 Brambling were in a garden in Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

At least 6 Brambling and 3 Tree Sparrow were in a garden at Knockmore, Lisburn (Kevin Kirkham-Brown)

30 Tree Sparrows and 2 male Bramblings were in a garden this morning at Castlerock (Mervyn Guthrie)

Two Brambling have been visiting a garden at Parkland Avenue, Lisburn (Colin Mitchell)

A Jack Snipe was at Glenwherry, Co Antrim (Neal Warnock)

The Little Egret was still showing in Moat Park, Dundonald (Lindsay Hodges)

Yesterday the Ring-billed Gull was still at Groomsport (Stephen Maxwell)

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this picture of a Starling murmuration in Co Down and to Lindsay Hodges for the Little Egret pic:

Bird News Sunday 10th March

The Green-winded Teal was still at Barr Hall Bay on the Outer Ards (Keith Bennett)

A flock of ten Snow Buntings were in the dunes on Portstewart beach this morning (John Clarke)

The first-winter Spotted Redshank and a Green Sandpiper were at Creighton's Green Reservoir (Mark Smyth, Carol Gillespie)

6 Slavonian Grebes were at Greyabbey (James Robinson)

A Slavonian Grebe was at Rostrevor (Joe Devlin)

A Little Egret was at Creightons Green Reservoir, Holywood this afternoon (Clive Mellon)

Yesterday 16 Brambling were visiting a garden in Lisburn (Kevin Kirkham-Brown)

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this pic of a Treecreeper. You can see more bird pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Saturday 9th March

Two Brambling were in a garden this morning here at Broughshane (Keith Stevens)

The two drake Smew were still at Inch, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram)

Thanks to Keith for this pic of a Brambling.

Bird News Friday 8th March

The Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, Pochard and 20 Black-tailed Godwit were at Creighton's Green Reservoir. (Gerard McGeehan).

3 Brambling and 2 male Blackcap were in a garden at Pirrie Road off the Belmont Road in Belfast. (Philip West).

4 Twite were feeding frantically at Tweed's Port, Carfunnock, Larne late this afternoon. (Neal Warnock).

A pair of Blackcaps were in a garden on the King's Road in Belfast, 2 Little Egrets were in the stream in Moat Park. (Lindsay Hodges).

A female Brambling was with a flock of 31 Chaffinches in Broughshane. (Keith Stevens).

A Kingfisher was at St Johnstone in Donegal at 7.45am this morning. (Brian Hegarty).

65 Pale-bellied Brent and 72 Oystercatcher were at Loughshore Park at Jordanstown (Lowell Mills).

Three Waxwings where at a garden at the end of the Nettle Hill road, Lisburn on Wednesday 6th March. (Rosemary Gardner)

Peter Galloway.

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this picture of a Cormorant.

Bird News Thursday 7th March

5 Waxwings were at Ballymoney Road, Ballymena, this morning (Iris Millar)

6 Waxwing were outside the Palm House in Botanic Gardens in Belfast (David Clarke, John Pyper)

2 Brambling were with Chaffinch in a garden in Castledawson (Graeme Stevenson)

3 Snow Bunting were in the dunes between Portstewart and the Bann Estuary (Paul Toner)

The Spotted Redshank, at least one Green Sandpiper and a Treecreeper were at Creighton's Green Reservoir above Holywood (Joe Lamont)

At Strangford Lough a Greenshank was near the yacht club at Kircubbin. A Sandwich Tern was at Marlfield Bay and a Carrion Crow along the coast coming into Portaferry. Along the Outer Ards 38 Linnet were at Bar Hall Bay and 300 Golden Plover at Finlay's Road (Jim Whitla, Margaret Adamson)

The adult Mediterranean Gull was still on Cockle Island at Groomsport (George Gordon)

A white extremely agile raptor was seen near the International Airport. It was only seen flying low from a car so views were limited but hopefully might be seen again (Emzi Frater)

Yesterday 40 Twite were seen at 5.30pm along Edgewater Road in Belfast near the Stena terminus (perhaps coming into roost). 3 Gadwall were nearby at Dargan Bay (Garry Wilkinson)

Also yesterday 10 Waxwings were feeding on rosehips outside Scarva Potteries, Scarva Road, Banbridge. Wednesday 6 March 2013. (John Anderson)

A first winter Iceland Gull was on Tory Island, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram)

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this picture of a Ringed Plover and a Fieldfare You can see more pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Wednesday 6th March

At about 6pm yesterday there was a Long-Eared Owl flying over Balloo Wetlands in Bangor (David McCormick)

An Eastern Jackdaw was at the Round O, Enniskillen (Brad Robson)

On the Antrim side of Belfast Lough 9 Long-tailed Duck were at Greenisland Sea Park (Gerard McGeehan)

A male Brambling, 4 Siskin, a Treecreeper, 25 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, a Long-tailed Tit and 15 Goldfinch were at Saintfield (Norma Price)

Two Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Belvoir Park Forest in Belfast and a third one heard drumming. A Barn Owl flew across the carriageway at Knocknagoney near Tescos at 5.30am (Aaron Devlin)

The Spotted Redshank was still at Creighton's Green Reservoir and an adult Mediterranean Gull on Cockle Island in Groomsport (George Gordon)

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for this Coal Tit picture taken at Breen Wood.

Bird News Tuesday 5th March

The blue morph Snow Goose was still at Lower Lough Macnean (Brad Robson).    

The Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 25 Curlew, 10 Redshank and 3 Snipe were at Creightons Green Reservoir (Keith Bennett/Stuart McKee).      

An adult Gannet was at Groomsport and an adult Mediterranean Gull on Cockle Island (George Gordon).

6 Brambling, 11 Siskin, 14 Goldfinch, 5 Redpoll, 13 Chaffinch, 5 Blackbird (3 male, 2 female), 2 Robin, and 6 Greenfinch visited a garden on Knockmore Road in Lisburn today. (Kevin Kirkham Brown).

The Little Gull was still at the Balancing Lakes in Craigavon and 200 Scaup were at Ballyronan on Lough Neagh. (Ed O'Hara).

10 whoopers were feeding at Hollymount near Downpatrick this evening. (Adam McClure).

A wing-tagged Buzzard, pair of Yellowhammer, 16 Linnet and 5 Tree Sparrow were along Ballyhenry Road near Comber (Jim Whitla).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Stuart McKee for the pictures of the Creighton's Green Reservoir Spotted Redshank and the Pink-footed Goose, to Ed O'Hara for the Balancing Lakes Little Gull, to Ian Jackson for the Purple Sandpiper picture, to Alistair Prentice for the first Grey Heron picture, to Dessie Loughrey for the second Grey Heron picture and to Christine Cassidy for the Sparrowhawk picture. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

Bird News Monday 4th March

An Eastern Jackdaw was still around Antrim (Alistair Prentice)

The Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Woodcock, Jack Snipe and 100 Fieldfare were at Creighton's Green Reservoir (Billy Miskelly, Simon Morton).

Waxwings were reported from Lurgan today (Sue-Ellen McAlister)

30 Black Guillemot were at Bangor Marina and 5 Purple Sandpiper off the Long Hole. 15 Pale-bellied Brent were on Ballyholme beach and another 10 at Groomsport (Margaret Adamson)

 A Sandwich Tern was on Cockle Island (George Gordon)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Ballydugan (Ballydugan is a little over a mile to the south-west of Downpatrick, just off the Downpatrick - Clough road). near Downpatrick, this morning.(Ron Price)

Thanks to(from the top) Alistair Prentice for the pic of the Eastern Jackdaw: Margaret Adamson for the two Black Guillemots. David Hill for the Barnacle Geese in flight. Tom McCreery for the Treecreeper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Sunday 3rd March

A Bittern was seen in flight near the road at Balloo Wetlands in Bangor. (Andy Elliott).

A Green Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank were at Creightons Reservoir, in the Holywood Hills, Co Down. (Wilton Farrelly)

Two Brambling were in a private garden in the Limavady Road, Waterside, Derry this morning. (Christine Cassidy).

The drake Green-winged Teal was still at Barr Hall Bay on the Outer Ards. (Keith Bennett)

A Woodcock was flushed near Richhill and 2 Ravens were close by. (Andrew Poots)

Yesterday 9 Ruddy Duck were at Oxford Island. (Maurice Hannafin).

A 2nd winter Iceland Gull was in Ardglass harbour this morning. Three Little Egrets and a Greenshank were off the hide at the Quoile Pondage. (Ian Graham).

15 Snow Bunting were at the old landfill site at Hightown Road above Glengormley. (Larry Toal).  

Yesterday 6 Red-throated Diver were at Portmuck on Island Magee. (Gerard McGeehan).

2 Peregrines were seen at Lough Foyle. (Martina Boyle). 

Thanks to today's photographers, to Christine Cassidy for the Brambling pictures, to Alistair Prentice for the Dunlin picture and to Stephen Maxwell for the Brent Goose and Jay pictures. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Bird News Saturday 2nd March

The drake Green-winged Teal was still at Barr Hall on the outer Ards (Keith Bennett)

On the east side of Strangford Lough between Greyabbey and Marlfield were 36 Slavonian grebe, 10 black-throated diver and 15 great-northern diver. These included 33 Slavonian grebe and 2 black-throated diver (one in full summer plumage) at Greyabbey Bay, 3 Slavonian grebe and 3 great-northern diver south of Kircubbin, 8 black-throated diver (in one group) and 3 great-northern diver (and 3 otter) south of Gransha Point and 9 great-northern diver at Marlfield. (Richard Weyl)

Outer Dundrum Bay had 1700 Common Scoter - scattered across the bay (Ian Enlander)

2 ad Med Gulls in Larne Lough, 2nd w Med Gull at the leisure centre Carrickfergus and the adult Ring-billed Gull at Carrickfergus Castle (Neal Warnock)

5 Brambling were in a garden in Carrickfergus (Gerard McGeehan)

The second-winter Mediterranean Gull was still at Whiteabbey. 2 Pink-footed Geese, a Greater Canada Goose and 300 Greylag were at Reedy Flat. A flock of 200 Fieldfare and 50 Redwing was nearby (Stuart McKee)

A Great-spotted Woodpecker was at Tollymore Country Park.

The Bittern was seen again at Inch, Co Donegal along with two drake Smew (Derek Brennan)

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for these superb pics of a Cormorant feeding on a fish, presumed to be a Bream. You can see more bird pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Friday 1st March

Waxwings were at the entrance to Kensington Ave, Castlewellan Rd, Banbridge this morning (David McCready)

Up to 8 Waxwings were between 276 Coast Road Ballygally and the Ballygally Castle Hotel (co. Antrim) this morning.

A Peregrine was circling above Great Victoria Street railway station, Belfast this morning (Alistair Prentice)

In Donegal, a Green-winged Teal was at Blanketnook and a drake Smew on Inch (Chris Ingram)

A Willow Warbler was at Curryfree Hill, Derry (Tyrone Nelson) This is the first summer migrant of the year.

5 Little Egret were at the Quoile pondage.(J.Lamont)

 

 

Our thanks (from the top) to Joe Lamont for this picture showing four of the five Little Egrets from the Quoile pondage,to Tom McCreery for the Dipper, to Chris Colhoun for the Grey Heron and to Alex Coroliu for this picture of a Buzzard and also to Stephen Maxwell for the male Siskin.