Bird News Sunday 18th August

An Osprey flew west north of Capanagh Forest at 9.30am (Larry Toal)

The female Ring-necked Duck and 5 Ruff were at Lough Beg (David Steele)

200 Kittiwake were to the east of Copeland Bird Observatory (George Henderson)

The juvenile Ruff, 3 Snipe, 84 Teal, 60 Dunlin, 12 Knot and a pair of Gadwall were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Dot Blakely)

A Green Sandpiper was seen today at Shaw's Lake Glenanne Co. Armagh (Joe Devlin)

At Church Island, Lough Beg, another Green Sandpiper was present feeding on the exposed shoreline. (Ciaran Burns)

Ramore Head in 2.5hrs had 525 Manx, 14 Sooty Shearwater, 154 Whimbrel, 1 Ad Sabine's Gull, 2 Arctic Skua and 3 Bonxie (Neal Warnock)

Bloody Foreland, Co Donegal, from 6.15 to 11.45 had 2 Corys, 268 Sootys, 744 Manx, 5 Bonxies, 2 Arctic Skuas, 4 Poms, 4 scoters and 94 Whìmbrel (Chris Ingram / Ralph Shepard)

Melmore Head highlights this morning included a Corys and 2 Great Shearwaters. Also 57 Sooty Shearwater, a Pomarine Skua, an Arctic Skua and 20 Whimbrel. Last night a Great Shearwater was also present. (Eric Randall)

In County Sligo a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, was of Streedagh Point today. (Sligo Birding)

The Snowy Owl was seen again at the Twin Lakes area, Aranmore, Co Donegal.  (Robert Vaughan)

Our thanks to Tom McCreery for this fine image of a Kingfisher, Alistair Prentice for this pic of the Brackagh Moss Hobby, last seen a few days ago, to David Steele for the female Ring-necked Duck (on the right) and Joe Devlin for the Green Sandpiper:

Bird News Saturday 17th August

A 90 minute sea watch from Fanad Head this evening had 1 Great Shearwater, 22 Sooty Shearwaters and a Storm Petrel (W Farrelly)

At Burial Island, Co Down were 2 Great Skua, a Storm Petrel and 500 Kittiwake.  At Orlock Point 4 Whimbrel. The hybrid ring-billed gull was at Millisle (it was also present on 3rd and 10th). (Richard Weyl).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Alistair Prentice for the pictures of the Goldcrest and the Kingfisher, to Zach McCreery for the picture of the Chiffchaff and to David Hill for the picture of the Dunlin. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Bird News Friday 16th August

The Hobby was seen briefly at Brackagh Moss, Portadown this morning. (Brian Murphy).

 A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at the outlet near Marconi's cottage, Ballycastle. (Colin Guy).

These evening 2 young Cuckoo were at Carrickphaddymone near Clogher, Co. Tyrone. (Colin Bell).

Thanks to Tom McCreery for the picture of a Kingfisher, to Margaret Adamson for the unusual 'Carrion Crow' at Groomsport and to Christine Cunningham for the pictures of the Buzzard and the Small Copper butterfly:

 

 

Bird News Thursday 15th August

Three Sabine Gulls (two adult and a juvenile) were seen from a boat 5 miles north of Portrush this morning. Also 18 Storm Petrels were seen (Birdguides)

A brown coloured leucistic Carrion Crow with whitish wing feathers was on the shore at Groomsport today.(Robert Scott)

A juvenile Ruff and Common Sandpiper were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (George Gordon)

Yesterday a Dipper and Kingfisher (the first noted there in some years) were along the Derriaghy River in the centre of Dunmurry (Chris Acheson).

Thanks to Gareth McDonald for these pics of a Long Eared Owl from his garden in Newry. Also to Ian Jackson for the this flight shot of a Swift.

 

 

 

Bird News Wednesday 14th August

A Mediteranean Gull and 3 Little Egret were at Mill Bay, Carlingford Lough, Co Down. (Paul Scott)

A Blue Fulmar was seen 20 miles north of Malin Head, from fishing boat out of Culdaff this afternoon (Birdguides)

The male Snowy Owl was still on Aranmore (Irish Birding)

Many thanks to Alistair Prentice for this pic of a pair of Spotted Flycatchers. 

Bird News Tuesday 13th August

A Sooty Shearwater was 4 miles NE of the Maidens and a Great Skua a mile north. 10/12 Storm Petrel were in the area (David Galbraith).

At Larne Lough 5 Little Egret and 7 Black-tailed Godwit were at Ballycarry Bridge and 2 Whimbrel and 3 Common Sandpiper were at Brown's Bay (Cameron Moore).

4 Green Sandpipers were at Derryloughan, Lough Neagh, Co. Tyrone. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at Waterworks Park in Belfast. (David Knight).

5 Buzzards were in the Antrim Hills. (Bill Guiller).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the Kingfisher, to Martina Boyle for the pictures of the young House Martin and the Golden Plover, to David Knight for the pictures of the juvenile Mediterranean Gull and to Bill Guiller for the pictures of the Buzzards. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Monday 12th August

The Blackstaff River, Dundrum had a Green Sandpiper  6 Little Egrets, 37 Greenshank 146 Redshank, 5 Common Sandpiper, I Ruff  and 2 Grey Heron.(Craig Nash)

Bloody Foreland this morning had 2 Corys, 62 Sooty Shearwaters, 281 Manx, 2 Storm Petrels, 10 Bonxies, 10 Pomarine Skua and 11 Arctic Skuas in a 3hr seawatch (Chris Ingram)

A Red Kite was along the A2 south of Clough (Derek Polley)

107 Sandwich Tern (one with a red ring), 3 Arctic Tern and 7 Common Tern were at Whitehead at low tide (Cameron Moore)

Yesterday 70 Mediterranean Gull and 3 juveniles were at Sandycove in Dublin (Gerard McGeehan)

Our thanks to Craig Nash for this fine photograph of a Common Sandpiper at the Blackstaff river.  David Hill for this  photo of a Grey Wagtail.

Bird News Sunday 11th August

A 3hr seawatch from Bloody Foreland Co Donegal this morning had 1 Balearic Shearwater, 27 Sooty Shearwater, 251 Manx Shearwater, 1 Arctic Skua, 4 Bonxie, 4 Storm Petrel and 19 Whimbrel (Brad Robson)

The Snowy Owl was still on Aranmore Island, Co Donegal. (Irish Birding)

Thanks to Lilian Cummings for this pic of a Kingfisher and Alistair Prentice for the Black Guillemot. Many thanks to everyone who contributes pictures. You can see more at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk :

Bird News Saturday 10th August

The Hobby is still at Brackagh Moss and 2 Raven were in Portadown. (James O'Neill).

The adult Little Gull was still at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve (James Robinson)

3 juvenile Ruff, a Common Sandpiper and 7 Black Tailed Godwits were at Inch, Co Donegal (Brad Robson)

Blanket Nook Donegal had 2 Scaup, 1Whimbrel, 17 Black tailed Godwits, 16 Greenshank and 4 Whooper Swan (Brad Robson)

Yesterday along the Outer Ards 3 Storm Petrel were at Burial Island and 4 pale phase Arctic Skua flew south at Kearney (Billy Miskelly).

2 Yellowhammer were calling outside Articlave (Mark Smyth).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the Spotted Flycatcher, to Dick Glasgow for the picture of the Swallow, to Tom McCreery for the first picture of a Kingfisher and to James O'Neill for the second Kingfisher picture. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Bird News Friday 9th August.

3 Arctic Skuas – two dark and one light phase flew past Briggs Rocks, Groomsport this morning. (Colin Guy)

5 Twite flew past Giants Causeway in the afternoon. c.1,000 Swallows and Sand Martins roosted in reedbed at Strand Lough, (ChrisMurphy)

A Ruff was at the foot of the Blackstaff river, Dundrum. (David Nixon)

Thanks to Tom McCreery for this pic of a Kingfisher: Also to Mervyn Campbell for the juv.Ringed Plover.

Bird News Thursday 8th August

One of the adult Little Gulls and 2 Common Sandpiper were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (George Gordon)

Thanks to Christine Cassidy for the Buzzard pic, Noel Austin for the Common Terns and Mervyn Campbell for the Dunnock:

'Orange headed Starlings'

We have received a number of reports of such birds and had some recent pics from Margaret Adamson (see also - .http://www.birdingforpleasure.blogspot.com/ ), Chris Murphy has also kindly sent in the pics below of birds feeding and the cause. It is due to the orange pollen on stamens of New Zealand Flax, which paints the heads of nectar-feeding birds and can cause birders to miss a heartbeat! 

Bird News Wednesday 7th July

No news so far today.

Thanks to today's photographers, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the Spotted Flycatcher feeding it's young and to Noel Austin for the pictures of the young Reed Bunting and Great Crested Grebe. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

Bird News Tuesday 6th August

The female Ring-necked Duck was still at Lough Beg (Jeff Larkin)

Portmuck, Co Anrrim had a dark phase Arctic Skua harassing Kittiwakes (Ian Enlander)

2 Red-throated Divers flew past Briggs Rocks this morning (Colin Guy)

2 Mediterranean Gull (adult and second-winter), 3 Greenshank, a juvenile Wheatear and a Snipe were at Mill Bay on Island Magee (Cameron Moore)

6 Manx Shearwaters were flying in Belfast Lough this evening, near RSPB Harbour Reserve (Robert Scott)

Thanks to Margaret Adamson for the pic of a juvenile Starling, presumably with pollen staining and Dessie Loughrey for the Jay. You can see more bird pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Monday 5th August.

Melmore Co.Donegal had  95 Manxies in 2 hrs but still one each for Balearic and Sooty Shearwaters.

Also single Great, Arctic and even a Pomarine Skua, 4 Common Scoter and 2 Basking Sharks, one very close!

Carrigart Estuary had 200 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling and 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults in near full breeding plumage; one 2nd-summer) Oscar Campbell.

For those of you unaware the hide at the Quiole pondage is closed until further notice. The reason for the closure is that the floor needs repaired, the damage was due to the high water levels last year, if we get any info. of when it will re-open we will let you know.

Item for sale.

For anyone who might be interested Mark Killops has a  Swarovski Digital camera bracket (angled) DCB-A for sale, it is in perfect condition (only used twice) and comes complete with instructions and original box.
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Pics and News

You can see further pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Please feel free to send rare and scarce bird news or pictures to us at nibirds@live.co.uk

Many thanks

Bird News Sunday 4th August

An adult Little Gull, a single Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpipers and 300+ Dunlin were at RSPB Belfast Harbour (James Robinson)

Melmore Head over the last 2 days had:

Saturday 3rd: 2 hours from 1700: 400 Manx, 1 Balearic and 6 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Puffin.

Sunday 4th: 2 hours from 0700: 300 Manx and 5 Sooty Shearwaters, 10 Storm Petrels, 2 Puffins, 25 Arctic Terns, 3 Bonxies, 2 Red-throated Diver, 17 Whimbrel, 1 Peregrine. (Oscar Campbell)

The female Ring-necked Duck was still at Mullagh at the south end of Lough Beg (David Steele)

The two Little Gulls were seen together this afternoon at RSPB Belfast Harbour (George Gordon)

A Whimbrel was at the Sheepland coast, Co Down, this morning (Ron Price)

Magilligan Point to-day had 60 Sandwich Terns,45 sanderling 2 Grey Heron and 17 Ringed Plover (Charles Stewart)

Thanks to Christine Cassidy, Dermot McLaughlin & Brian Heagarty for this pic of a Long Eared Owl on Inishowen. 

Bird News Saturday 3rd August

A Yellow Wagtail flew south early this morning at Briggs Rocks, Co Down. A Cuckoo flew over this evening (Colin Guy)

Two Little Gull were at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve this afternoon (Ed O'Hara)

Ballyquintin Point (Down) today (from 2 visits): 11 Eur Storm Petrel, 1 juv dark Arctic Skua, 6 Black-tailed Godwit past (going S), 1 Brent Goose resting. (Keith Bennett)

6 Whimbrel were at the Ballyholme end of Ballymacormick Point (George Henderson)

16 Whimbrel, 6 Willow Warbler, 1 Whitethroat and 4 Sand Martin passed through Copeland BO today. (Kerry Leonard)

A Bonxie and a Pomarine Skua were seen of Ramore Head (Neal Warnock)

A juvenile Black Tern and Greenshank were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Stuart McKee)

Rocky Point, Co Donegal in a 4hr seawatch this morning had 4 Sooty Shearwater, 5 Bonxie, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Storm Petrel and 1500 Manx Shearwater (Brad Robson)

Thanks to Robin Cunningham for the pic of the Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on Great Willowherb seen at Malin Head. Also thanks to Ed O'Hara for the Little Gull pics. 

Bird News Friday 2nd August

Late news from 1st August was a probable 1st summer Forsters Tern on Copeland Bird Observatory. Also another Balearic yesterday. Today 34 Greylag Geese were roosting on Mew this evening. (Kerry Leonard)

The adult Little Gull, 285 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover and 40 Black-tailed Godwit were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Dot Blakely).

A pair of Stonechat, 2 Yellowhammer and 40 Goldfinch were at Camphill Community at Cultra (Warren Rainey).

Melmore Co.Donegal this morning in strong southerlies, over 2 hours, had c700 Manxies in several rafts offshore, holding one each of Sooty and Balearic Shearwaters. Also 55 Arctic Terns, a Bonxie and 100 Kittiwakes(Oscar Campbell)


Our thanks to David Hill for this photo of a Chough(taken in Co.Donegal) To Christine Cassidy for the pic of a Buzzard currently visiting her garden. Finally to Mervyn Campbell for the Long-tailed Tit. 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Thursday 1st August

A drake Common Scoter was at Shaw's Lake Glenanne Co. Armagh. 600+ Lesser Black Backed Gulls were in meadows at Canal Bank Road Poyntzpass Co. Armagh. (Joe Devlin)

The moulting adult Little Gull and a Common Sandpiper were at Belfast Harbour RSPB Lagoon (George Gordon)

The Hide on the Quoile Pondage Castle Island Road is closed until further notice (Tony Donaldson)

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this pic of a Rock Pipit: