Helping our Swifts

Thanks to John Young for providing this:

These photos are of three pairs of Swifts which have recently arrived at the gable of my house in Brookeborough, Co Fermanagh. Three boxes were put up last year and I added another four earlier this year. I’m hoping to see eggs and chicks throughout the summer.  See the “Save our swifts NI” website at - http://www.saveourswifts.co.uk

Bird News Monday 19th May

The Osprey was still at Corbet Lough, Banbridge this morning. (Andy Cleeve)

Five Spotted Flycatcher, three Whitethroat and a Redwing passed through Copeland Bird Observatory at the Weekend (Wesley Smyth)

Three Little Terns were on the beach at Ballykinlar. The birds were viewable from the shoreline opposite at the mouth of Dundrum bay, accessed via Murlough. Approximately 450 Sanderling were also present. (Stewart McKee)

A Glossy Ibis was in a wet field along the Portaferry Road near Ardkeen at 3pm. (Thom Shannon).

3 Sanderling and an adult Mediterranean Gull (with a green ring) were at Sandy Bay in Larne Lough and the first-summer Little Gull, a Wheatear and 2 Gadwall at Glynn (Cameron Moore).  

Yesterday a first-summer Little Gull and a Whimbrel were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Stuart McKee).

For those interested, there has been an amazing record of a  Bermuda Petrel seen and photographed at sea, 170 nautical miles northwest of Slea Head today (Niall Keogh) - http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/68444/Birding_Opportunity.html

Thanks to today's photographers, to Christine Cassidy, David Hill and Tom McCreery:

Dunlin - Christine Cassidy

 

 Guillemot - David Hill

Linnet - David Hill

 

Cuckoo - Tom McCreery

Bird News Sunday 18th May

NI mega: A Red-rumped Swallow was seen this morning for a total of 30 minutes flying round a garden near Strangford Village, Co Down. (Craig Nash). It is worthwhile looking out in the wider area inc Castle Ward / Quoile where there are large numbers of Hirundines.

An Osprey was hunting this morning at Corbet Lough bear Banbridge (Andy Cleeve)

The drake Garganey was still at Inch, Co Donegal (Christine Cassidy and Theo Campbell)

Unusually, a pair of Ravens nested in a Scots Pine in a  garden in Newcastle and the young are just about to fly. (Jim Wells)

The first-summer Little Gull, a Sedge Warbler and a Carrion Crow were at Glynn in Larne Lough (Cameron Moore)

A Cuckoo was at Crocknafeola Wood between Hilltown and Kilkeel in the Mourne Mountains (Ann McComb)

Six Sanderling, 11 Ringed Plover and 4 Dunlin were at Ballyholme beach (George Henderson)

A White Wagtail was at Greencastle, Co Down (Ian Jackson)

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for this pic of a Swallow, Christine Cassidy for the Garganey, Ian Jackson for the White Wagtail and Sean Hennessy for the pictures of the Osprey:

 

 

 

 

Bird News Saturday 17th May

A first summer Little Gull was at Glynn, Larne Lough (Neal Warnock)

A drake Garganey was at Inch, Co Donegal today, visible from the causeway (Chris Ingram)

A pale phase Arctic Skua was at Magilligan and a female Marsh Harrier and hybrid Carrion Crow at Bann Estuary (Theo Campbell)

A Cuckoo, 6 Raven and 8 Wheatear were on the south side of Sallagh Braes (Brian Halligan)

Yesterday a Cuckoo was at Cave Hill (Larry Toal)

Thanks to Roger Greaves for this pic of a Swallow and Dick Glasgow for the male Hen Harrier:

Bird News Friday 16th May

3 Spotted Flycatchers and 2 Chough were on Rathlin Island. (Colin Guy).

6 Whinchat, a Wheatear and Raven were on the Antrim Plateau. A Mediterranean Gull, 2 Gadwall, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Treecreeper were at Glynn in Larne Lough (Gerard McGeehan).

2 terns on Tory Island reported as Black Terns have been re-identified as White-winged Black Terns. (Chris Ingram).

4 late Brent Geese were at Killard this afternoon. (Philip McErlean).

A single Whimbrel was at Lough Beg. (Richard Hunter).

Thanks to today's photographers, Dessie Loughrey, Philip McErlean and Stuart McKee.

Grey Heron - Dessie Loughrey

Brent Geese - Philip McErlean

Shelduck & Fox - Stuart McKee

Seabird Pics Needed

The RSPB is calling for help to build a picture of seabird declines. Kittiwakes have declined across the UK and have been hardest hit in northern Scotland where their numbers have fallen by 86 per cent in 25 years - many colonies in places like Orkney and Shetland have virtually disappeared. Guillemots and Arctic terns have also suffered catastrophic declines in the same period.

The RSPB is campaigning for Marine Protected Areas to be designated to help tackle the threat to kittiwakes, guillemots and Arctic terns, and also for governments to take the issue of climate change, and its impact on wildlife, more seriously. Campaigners are trying to collect images of thriving seabird cliff colonies from the past in order to compare them to the same sites today.

The RSPB are asking anyone who has been birdwatching, gone on holiday, worked or volunteered anywhere where there are kittiwake strongholds like Orkney, Shetland or elsewhere to have a look through their old photos and see if they have pictures of thriving cliff colonies from before 2000. When compared with photographs of the same cliffs now, we will have a really stark image of these declines which we hope will raise awareness of the seabirds’ plight, and help get them better protection. If you have some images gathering dust in a loft or sitting on a hard-drive which you think would help, then please let us know - they could make a big difference.

Anyone who has photographs of colonies of kittiwakes, guillemots or Arctic terns before 2000 can email them to lostseabirds@rspb.org.uk

Bird News Thursday 15th May

Two Garden Warbler where calling at the RSPB Lower Lough Erne reserve.(Brad Robson)

A near adult Iceland Gull was at Portballintrae today (Colin Guy)

A Cuckoo was calling at Ballywatermoy Rd, Glarryford, about 5 miles north of Ballymena. (Margaret Murray-Tait)

A Cuckoo was calling this evening around 6pm at private bog land on the Hogstown Road near Donaghadee (David McCormick)

Greenfinch - James O'Neill.

Cuckoo - Tom McCreery.

Blue Tit - Christine Cassidy.

Bird News Wednesday 14th May

A Red Kite was seen at Hilltown, Co Down today (Neil Cartmill)

Two Reed Warbler were in song at Oxford Island (Brian Murphy)

Thanks to Christine Cassidy for this Wheatear Pic:

Bird News Tuesday 13th May

A pair of Cuckoos was calling at Murlough Nature Reserve this morning and giving excellent views. (Gilly Irwin). 

What was probably an escaped Harris Hawk, with jesses, was at Boucher Retail Park opposite the Cotswold outdoor store this afternoon. (Philip Higginson).

Yesterday 10 Whimbrel, 3 Whooper Swan and 2 Wheatear were at Mullagh, Lough Beg and a Whimbrel and 4 Wheatear were at the Giants Causeway.

Thanks to today's photographers, Christine Cassidy and James O'Neill.

Wheatear - Christine Cassidy

Greenfinch - James O'Neill

Wheatear - Giants Causeway

Bird News Monday 12th May.

Yesterday one of the male Garganey was still at Blackers Rock on the west shore of Lough Neagh.(Godfrey McRoberts)

A Mediterranean Gull was at Brown's Bay on Island Magee and a second-year Iceland Gull and 11 Pale -bellied Brent were still at Sea Park in Belfast Lough (Cameron Moore)

Planned boat trip around Rathlin Island....

A boat will leave Ballycastle this Saturday (17th May) at noon, they need 12 people to fill the boat, if interested contact Jim Wells at jimwells6@gmail.com.

Cuckoo - Zach McCreery.

Stonechat - Stephen Maxwell

Blue Tit - Noeni Bryars.

Chaffinch - James O'Neill.

Bird News Sunday 11th May

This morning at Lough Cowey, Outer Ards the Glossy Ibis was seen again. It flew over again, circled high and then drifted off south. (Keith Bennett)

The drake Green-winged Teal was seem again at Castle Espie along with a Mediterranean Gull.

A Great-spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Kilbroney Park Rostrevor, this morning. Also 7 Little Egret were seen at Millbay Carlingford Lough. (Frank Carroll)

5 Cuckoo were at Skinboy Wood, Strabane, Co Tyrone (Brian Hegarty)

A singing male Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Mealy Redpoll were on Rathlin Island (Neal Warnock)

A Crane was at Paddy's Dubh, Lough Beg this morning before flying south east. A drake Ring-necked Duck was also at the Mullagh (David Steele)

2 Long-tailed Duck were still at Greenisland Sea Park and 16 Wheatear at Capanagh (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Keith Bennett for the pic of the flyover Glossy Ibis, Brian Hegarty for the Cuckoo and Karl Martin for the Black Guillemots:

Bird News Saturday 10th May

At the Castle Island hide at the Quoile, Co Down the 1st summer Little Gull was still present (Keith Bennett).

A Pintail and 4 Whimbrel were at Glynn (Brian Halligan)

Unusually a Sandwich Tern was well upriver at Ramelton, Co Donegal (David McIlveen)

Thanks to today's photographers, James O'Neill and Tom McCreery.

Jay - James O'Neill

 

 Cuckoo Tom McCreery

Cuckoo - Tom McCreery

Bird News Friday 9th May

Three Little Egret and two Whimbrel were at the Quoile Pondage this morning (Brian Murphy)

The Mediterranean Gull was back again at Castle Espie. 

A Cuckoo has been calling at the southern end of Sallagh Braes (David Ledsham)

Yesterday a Cuckoo was on the Frosses Bog near Cloughmills (Dr Simon Pickett)

Thanks to Dessie Loughrey for this pic of a Swallow:

Bird News Thursday 8th May

At Killard, Co Down this morning were 19 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatear a Bar-tailed Godwit in summer plumage and 4 Whitethroat (Craig Nash)

Swifts were seen today in Derry City and at Lifford Bridge, Co Tyrone (Brian Hegarty)

The Bann Estuary today had 31 Whimbrel, 500 Dunlin and 3 Black-tailed Godwits. Also present a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull and a single Whooper Swan (possibly a 'sick' bird) (Hill Dick / Peter Robinson)

Thanks to James O'Neill for this pic of a Pochard:

Bird News Wednesday 7th May

Late news for yesterday was that 2 Common Tern, 3 White Wagtail and 3 Whimbrel were on Upper Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh. (Brad Robson).

A male Great Spotted Woodpecker is visiting a garden feeder on the Upper Ballynahinch Road in Hillsborough. A male and female Whitethroat were at Ballintoy. A Whooper Swan was in front of the hide at the Quoile Pondage, a Little Gull and a pair of Blackcap were also present.(Gary Wilkinson).

3 Little Egrets were at the causeway on the way down to the Quoile Pondage. (Tony Donaldson).

Thanks to Cameron Moore, James O'Neill, David Hill and Tony Donaldson for today's pictures.

 

Red-breasted Merganser - Cameron Moore

 

Sedge Warbler - James O'Neill

 

 Chiffchaff - David Hill

Little Egrets - Tony Donaldson



Bird News Tuesday 6th May

The Avocet is still on show at Castle Island, Quoile Pondage it is at the yacht club end. (Keith Bennett / Tony Donaldson)

A Red Kite was on the A26 road between Seapatick and Lenaderg. (Patrick Herrity)

The Spoonbill still being seen at Castle Espie. (Birdguides)

A Little Egret was in a pond beside the railway line at Portstewart. (Richard Reid)

Whimbrel - Cameron Moore.

Jay - James O'Neill.

A distant shot of the Avocet by Tony Donaldson:

Bird News Monday 5th May.

An Avocet was at the Quiole Pondage this evening, the Garganey and a Little Gull were also present.(Tim Murphy)

A drake Green-winged Teal is on the wader marsh at Castle Espie.(Stuart McKee) see pic. below.

A Reed Warbler was singing at the reed bed at Kinnegar.(Stuart McKee)

South Down... 100 Sanderling and 50 Dunlin were on the beach at Murlough. The male Garganey and 200 Common Tern were at Quiole Pondage.(David Clarke, John Pyper)

A first summer Med Gull and 2 Purple Sandpiper were on Cockle Island, Groomsport.(George Gordon)

A Twite was at the Giant's Causeway visitors Centre.(Robert Scott)

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Inch Co.Donegal.(Chris Ingram)

Cuckoo - Tom McCreery.

Purple Sandpiper - Stephen Foster.

Bird News Sunday 4th May

Lough Cowey, Outer Ards had a Glossy Ibis that flew over just after 9am (Keith Bennett)

A Little Gull and a drake Garganey are at the Quoile, Co Down. (Birdguides)

41 distinct species were recorded at WWT Castle Espie this afternoon including the Spoonbill, a Buzzard, Sedge Warbler and 14 Light Bellied Brent (Kevin Kirkham-Brown)

A Quail was calling at Paddy's Dubh, Lough Beg (David Steele)

2 male Garganey were in a pool at Blackers Rock along the west shore of Lough Neagh (Godfrey McRoberts).  

As a correction 300 (not 500) Whimbrel were at Lough Beg on the 1st (David Steele).

120 Whimbrel were at the Colebrooke River, Upper Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh. (Brad Robson).

This morning Larne Lough had a minimum of 35 Whimbrel around the Ballycarry Bridge area. Off Blackhead was a raft of 200 Manx Shearwater and 2 Red-throated Diver. Portmuck had 1 Red-throated Diver and 2 Common Dolphin. (Ian Enlander).

Thanks to today's photographers, Karl Martin and James McDowell.

 Raven - Karl Martin

 Sandwich Tern - James McDowell

 White Wagtail - James McDowell

Rock Pipit - James McDowell

Bird News Saturday 3rd May

Castle Archdale Country Park, Co Fermanagh had a Swift and a Garden Warbler this morning (Brad Robson)

A Red Kite and good numbers of Swifts were seen in Solitude Park, Banbridge, this morning. (David McCreedy)

Fanad Head had 27 Whimbrel, 16 Long-tailed Ducks and 4 White Wagtail. (Wilton Farrelly)

 A male Garganey was in the drainage ditch at the Lapwing meadows at Portmore Lough (Paul Toner).  

2 Swift were at Crumlin (Nigel Ireland).

Thanks to Angus Kennedy for today's photograph.

Whitethroat - Angus Kennedy

RSPB Dawn Chorus Coleraine Sunday 4th May

Please note this event is taking place on the university campus in Coleraine and not in the Castleroe Woodland as previously advertised.

Bird News Friday 2nd May

A Pectoral Sandpiper, 30 Whimbrel, 5 Swift and a Wheatear were at Lough Beg today. (Amy Burns).

28 Brent Geese and 16 Whimbrel were at the high tide roost in Dundrum Inner Bay south. (David Nixon).

Lower Lough Erne islands RSPB reserve in Co. Fermanagh had 45 Whimbrel, 26 White Wagtails and 3 Black-tailed Godwits. (Brad Robson).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Blessingbourne Estate at Fivemiletown (Derek Polley).

Boat Trip Around Rathlin

The first of the seabird boat trips around Rathlin takes place this Monday, May 5th at noon. 
The four hour trip takes visitors right in amongst the huge seabird colonies, into caves and close to the seals.   
Booking is essential by contacting Jim Wells at jimwells6@gmail.com or on 07856235144.

Bird News Thursday 1st May.

A female Ring Ouzel was at Slievenacloy (where the Great Grey Shrike was a few years ago) Billy Miskelly.

5 Arctic Tern and a male Pintail were at Lough Beg, as well as 500 Whimbrel. Most of the Whimbrel were at Mullagh but a few were along the western shore. 5 male Ruff and 50 Black-tailed Godwit were at Church Island (David Steele).

A Whinchat was at the Gobbins, nr Islandmagee.(Kerry Leonard)

Tory Island had 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 25 White Wagtail, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler 2 Whimbrel and a Purple Sandpiper.(Chris Ingram)