Bird News Friday 18th November.

2 Snow Buntings and 9 Raven (feeding on a sheep carcass) were at Carntogher Mountain, Co Londonderry (David Morrow).

Whooper Swans - Jason Bain.

Irish Brent Goose Research Group Video

There is a superb video on the movements and ecology of our wintering Brent Geese, from the Irish Brent Goose Research Group, WWT and the University of Exeter at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc_LqLPKRu4

More Bird Pics

Remember you can see more pictures of local birds at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk/

Contributions from everyone are welcome.

Bird News Thursday 17th November

4 Whooper Swans, a Little Egret and 2 Fieldfare were at the Quoile Pondage this morning. (Spencer & Joan Marshall).

An adult Little Gull was in Larne harbour. (Neal Warnock)

The Cattle Egret was in Malin Town, Donegal yesterday (Birdguides)

This morning, RSPB WOW had a Raven, a Peregrine and a high count of 40+ Bar-tailed Godwit (Derek Polley)

A Merlin was seen in Markethill, Co Armagh, this morning (John Anderson)

A Merlin and a Starling flock of circa 5000 were at Strand Lough, Killough, Co Down (Chris Murphy)

Thanks to Cameron Moore for this pic of the Larne Little Gull and Thomas Campbell for the Marsh Harrier (recently at the Quoile):

Lough Beg

If you would like to learn more about the threats to Lough Beg and the campaign to change the route of the road please see:

https://www.change.org/p/save-the-seamus-heaney-landscape-s…
and
https://www.facebook.com/LoughBegForLife/

To obtain further information you can contact Chris Murphy at wildlife@murphys.dnet.co.uk 

Bird News Wednesday 16th November

Late news for yesterday was that 19 Purple Sandpipers were at Ramore Head (Gilly Irwin).

The Marsh Harrier was mobbing a Buzzard this evening at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve. Also present was a Peregrine, Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk, and 3 Pintail on the Lough. (James O'Neill)

Three Pink-footed Geese were at the Quoie (Dot Blakely

Thanks to Dessie Loughrey for this pic of a Razorbill from the summer:

Bird News Tuesday 15th November

The Ring-necked Duck was still at Lough Mourne near Carrickfergus, a Brambling was in Whitehead and 2 Long-tailed Ducks were in Larne Lough, see pictures below. (Cameron Moore).

Two Water Rails were fighting below the hide at the Quoile. (Gary Wilkinson).

A Red-throated Diver was in Ballyholme Bay. (Derek Polley).

A winter plumaged Mediterranean Gull was in front of the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, see picture below. (Dougie Gamble).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Ring-necked Duck and the Brambling and to Dougie Gamble for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull.

 

 

Bird News Monday 14th November.

The Marsh Harrier was still at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve this afternoon (Laura Smith)

5 Long-tailed Ducks were off Seapark, Greenisland (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for this pic of a Greenshank:

Greenshank - Thomas Campbell.

Bird News Sunday 13th November

The female Velvet Scoter was still at Hazelbank (Daniel Newton)

A Drake Ring-necked Duck was at Lough Mourne near Carrickfergus Also 10 pochard, a Scaup & 240 Teal (Neal Warnock)

A flock of 18/20 Twite were at Glenarm Harbour carpark this afternoon. (Pauline Majury)

This afternoon the Velvet Scoter was off Hazelbank with 7 Red-throated Divers. 35 Common Scoter were off Loughshore and 5 Long-tailed Duck of Fishermans Quay, Carrickfergus (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Neal for this pic of the Ring-necked Duck:

 

Bird News Saturday 12th November

A female Velvet Scoter was off Hazelbank, Belfast Lough. Also 6 Common Scoter off Hazelbank, a Long-tailed Duck still off Kinnegar and a male Pintail at Whitehouse lagoon. (Neal Warnock)

8 Little Egrets were at Whitehouse Lagoon this evening (Gerard McLaughlin)

9 Common Scoter were off Crawforsdburn (Wilton Farrelly)

A Cattle Egret was in Malin Town, Co Donegal (Birdguides)

You can share news on rare and scarce local birds via email: nibirds@live.co.uk and Twitter: @nibirds

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for this pic of a Buzzard:

 

Bird News Friday 11th November

Four Goosander, including 2 male and probably 2 female were on the River Maine in Randalstown viewed from the viaduct looking downstream. (Rodney Monteith).

A Snow Bunting was at Ramore Head today and 86 Purple Sandpipers were at Portandoo, Portrush on Wednesday. (Matthew Tickner).

A probable Grey-bellied Brent was off Castle Espie on Wednesday. (Birdguides).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for this picture of a Buzzard and to David McIlveen for the picture of the Brent Geese.

 

 

Bird News Thursday 10th November

A Grey Phalarope flew past Ramore Head today at 9:30. Also 4 Great Northern Diver from 8 - 11:30. (Dean Jones)

A Little Egret and a Greenshank were at Islandreagh, Nendrum in Strangford Lough this morning. (Spencer & Joan Marshall).

A Brambling was in a garden at Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

A Peregrine and 8 Snipe were at RSPB WOW (Derek Polley)

The Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine were at Portmore Lough (Graham Finley)

You can share rare and scarce bird sightings via nibirds@live.co.uk or twitter @nibirds

Bird News Wednesday 9th November

A male Pintail and 9 Snipe were at RSPB Belfast WOW. 8 Little Egret were at Whitehouse Lagoon (Gerard McGeehan)

An adult winter Mediterranean Gull, a Carrion Crow, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 8 Little Egret, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 7 Red-breasted Merganser were at Killough Harbour (Tim Murphy)

Boat Trip To Jura

The final boat trip of 2016 will be to Jura, this Saturday (November 12th). Otters, Sea Eagles, Red Deer and Hen Harrier have regularly been seen on previous trips.

Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details.

Bird News Tuesday 8th November

At least 50 Twite were present at Ramore Head this morning along with a lone Whooper Swan. (Dean Jones).

A Spoonbill was on the mudflats c.400m southeast of Islandhill in Strangford Lough. (Birdguides).

Thanks to Noeni Bryars for the picture of the Turnstone.

Bird News Monday 7th November.

A probable Green-winged Teal at Roe Estuary this evening, a male as yet only partially in breeding plumage.(Matthew Tickner)

A Little Gull was seen of Ramore Head, also 55 Purple Sandpiper and 18 Sanderling.(Dean Jones)
Also a Grey Phalarope was also at Ramore Head.(Colin Guy)

A Kingfisher was seen in Victoria Park, Sydenham.(G.Irwin)

Appox. 1,500 Whooper Swan and 1,300 Greylag Geese where at Inch levels Co. Donegal.(Christine Cassidy/Lindsay Hodges)

Late news from week-end the Marsh Harrier was seen again at Lough Beg on Saturday and 10 Pink-footed Geese where seen at Blacker's rock on Sunday.(Godfrey McRoberts)

Whooper Swans - Christine Cassidy.

Bird News Sunday 6th November

There was no sign of the Isabelline Shrike by 3pm.

2 Pink-footed Geese were at the Quoile (Neal Warnock)

Two Twite were on the beach north of Ballywalter (Marty McClenaghan)

A Barn Owl was seen last night on the Onagh side of Strabane (Colin Bell)

Thanks to Marty for this pic of one of the Twite:

Isabelline Shrike

An Isabelline Shrike was at Murlough, Co Down this afternoon (Dave Allen). Take the track at 12 arches and drive around south arm of the bay until track forks. Park. The bird was in conifers and the hedge on the left side of the right fork or in the hedge in the field to the right. Power lines are through the area.

Present since yesterday and until at least 4pm today. Found by Dan Bailey and confirmed by Andy Crory.

If visiting the site, please park sensibly and ensure local residents have full access. It may be best to park on the main road to Newcastle. 

This is the 1st record for Northern Ireland and only the 7th for the whole of Ireland, there was one on Toe Head Co Cork a few weeks ago 

 

Bird News Saturday 5th November

A Great White Egret was seen at Rossigh, Lower Lough Erne (P.Taylor)

The Marsh Harrier was seen again at the RSPB Portmore Lough reserve.(Linda Thompson)

An Iceland Gull was at Larne Lough (Neal Warnock)

Thanks to Neal for this pic of the Iceland Gull: Also to Stephen Maxwell who took this photo of the Peregrine, taken at the RSPB Belfast WOW reserve. Bottom pic is of the Marsh Harrier at Portmore Lough taken by Linda Thompson.

 

Winter Bird Trip to France

Winter in the Grands Causses, France for NI & ROI Birders (4^th to 8^th Jan. 2017)

This trip may interest local birders:

Find Wallcreeper, Black Vulture, Alpine Accentor and Golden Eagle in scenery like this!  Hungry Bird Tours (www.hungrybirdtours.com) is offering a winter break in this stunning area, flying from Dublin to Carcassonne (participants organise their own air travel - see Ryanair). Airport pick-up and drop-off, all road transport and three and a half full guided tours with local snacks and drinks provided. Full board accommodation and picnic lunches are provided by l’Ancienne Auberge (www.lancienneauberge.com), a friendly and cosy guest house serving excellent home cooked meals from locally sourced ingredients. Prices from €531/person. Contact hungrybirdtours@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/hungrybirdtours for booking and further details.

 

Bird News Friday 4th November

The Marsh Harrier was at Portmore this evening. An adult female Hen Harrier was also seen. About 200 whooper swans were present on the lough. 2 Whooper swans were on the fields by the River Bann, by the Derrycarne road, Portadown. (James O'Neill)

Thanks to Andrew Poots for this pic of a Tree Sparrow:

 

CBO Winter Meeting

 

Bird News Thursday 3rd November

25 Whooper swans were in flight over Millbrook, Larne this morning. (David Smylie).

Two male Ruffs were at South Inner Bay, Dundrum, this afternoon. One has been present for weeks, the second is a new bird. (David Nixon).

Thanks to Chris Rankin for the picture of the Merlin and to Christine Cassidy for the picture of the Sparrowhawk.

Bird News Wednesday 2nd November

2 Brambling were in a garden at Monea, Co Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

A Merlin was at Ramore Head (Chris Rankin)

A Jack Snipe was at Lower Lough Erne islands RSPB reserve, Co Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

Two Red-throated Divers were off Groomsport (Karl Martin)

The Marsh Harrier was at the Quoile today along with a leucistic Lapwing (Noeni Bryars)

Three Common Scoter were seen on Belfast Lough at Carnalea (Derek Polley)

7 Whooper Swans were at Lough Money this evening (Richard Caves)

Thanks to Karl for this pic of a Red-throated Diver and Noeni for the Marsh Harrier: 

 

Bird News Tuesday 1st November

A Red-throated Diver was off Ramore Head in Portrush. (Chris Rankin).

The Marsh Harrier was still showing from the hide at the Quoile, see picture below. (Cecil Smyth).

The Marsh Harrier was still present at Portmore this afternoon. (Brad Robson).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the picture of the Purple Sandpiper taken at Whitehead Yacht Club and to Cecil Smyth for the picture of the Marsh Harrier .

 

 

Bird News Monday 31st October.

A Pallas's Warbler was seen to-day in Malin Beg, County Donegal (John O'Boyle)

2 Velvet Scoter where seen on Belfast Lough from Loughside Park, Shore Rd, also a Slav. Grebe at Glynn Co.Antrim.(Stuart McKee)

The Little Stint and a Kingfisher where at the RSPB Belfast Harbour reserve.(Noeni Bryars / Tom Ennis)

2 Little Egret where also seen in the morning at Loughside Park.(Stuart Samuel)

Thanks to John Moore for this pic of Pintail at the Maltings:

 

Bird News Sunday 30th October

The Little Stint was still at RSPB WoW, the Long-tailed Duck was still off Kinnegar. (Garry Armstrong)

11 Snipe where also at the RSPB Belfast reserve.(Stephen Maxwell)

Three adult Med Gulls were at Crawfordsburn shore. Four Red-throated Divers were off shore (Stuart McKee)

A juvenile Marsh Harrier was at Lough Beg today (it is a different bird to the one seen earlier in the autumn). Also seen were five Greenland White-fronts (two adults and three juveniles, so likely a family group, watched coming in high from the north), eight Ruff and 20+ Little Egrets.(David Steele)
A juvenile Marsh Harrier was at Upperlands Dams, Co Londonderry (David Morrow). this is probably the same bird reported above 

The Marsh Harrier was still on show at the Quoile pondage.(Kevin Kirkham-Brown)

Whooper Swan - Ian Jackson.

Grey Plover - Lesley Cranshaw.

Marsh Harrier - Kevin Kirkham Brown.

Bird News Saturday 29th October

A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the Sycamore Tree opposite the Coastal Zone in Portrush, a Snow Bunting was at Ramore Head. (Matthew Tickner)

A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped on Copeland Bird Observatory this morning. (Richard Donaghey).

The juvenile Little Stint was still present at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve this morning. (Tom Ennis).

A Pink-footed Goose was with 20 Greylags at Begney Lough near Dromara. (David Nixon).

A Black Brant and two dark bellied Brent were among a large flock of pale bellied Brent off the first car park south of Greyabbey in Strangford Lough. (Stuart McKee).

A Long-tailed Duck was in Belfast Lough, off the car park between Kinnegar and Belfast harbour RSPB reserve, this evening. (Daniel Newton).

24 White-fronted Geese flew in from sea at the Giant's Causeway. Another 14 White-fronts flew in and landed in a field opposite Dunseverick Castle. The field had 4 Whooper Swans and 3 Pink -footed Geese already in it. (Colin Guy).

The Marsh Harrier was showing again outside the hide at the Quoile this afternoon. (Tony Donaldson).

Thanks to David Nixon for the picture of the Pink-foot and to Tony Donaldson for the picture of the Marsh Harrier.

 

 

Bird News Friday 28th October

The Marsh Harrier was still at The Quoile (Tony Donaldson)

The Little Stint and 189 Golden Plover were at RSPB WOW (Daniel Newton)

A Short-eared Owl was seen flying over Groomsport earlier today (Lesley Crawshaw)

Seven Whooper Swans were on Aghery Lough, Anahilt (Gerard McLaughlin)

The Marsh Harrier was still at Portmore Lough.

A Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Divers and 4 Swallows were at Whitehead (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Tony for this pic of the Quoile Marsh Harrier:

 

Islay Boat Trip

There are three seats available of this Saturday's boat trip to Islay. This is the last chance to see the 30,000+ Barnacle Geese and so much more, before they disperse from the RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details. 

Bird News Thursday 27th October

The Marsh Harrier was still showing at Portmore Lough (Bill Guiller)

RSPB WOW had an immature Peregrine, a Little Stint and 60+ Golden Plover. (Derek Polley)

Thanks to Bill for this pic of the Marsh Harrier:

 

Bird News Wednesday 26th October

The Marsh Harrier was again at Portmore Lough this morning (Laura Smith).

24 Pink- footed Geese and 12 Whooper Swans were in a stubble field opposite Dunseverick Castle car park. A female Snow Bunting was on the road down to Dunseverick Harbour and a Little Egret was on the shoreline there. Another Little Egret was flying west past White Rocks Portrush earlier. (Colin Guy).

The Marsh Harrier was still at the Quoile Pondage, see picture below. (Tony Donaldson, Tom Ennis, Carole Gillespie).

At Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve a Little Stint, still mainly in juvenile plumage, was present. (Tom Ennis).

Thanks to Tony Donaldson for the picture of the Marsh Harrier and to David Hill for the picture of the Black-tailed Godwits.

 

Bird News Tuesday 25th October

Four Waxwings flew in off sea near East light Rathlin appeared to land near harbour (Stuart McKee)

A Golden Eagle, possibly an adult, was seen on Rathlin Island this morning (Stuart McKee)

A Little Egret was at Ballintoy (Laura McLean)

A Marsh Harrier was seen regularly over the reedbed at RSPB Portmore Lough today (Laura Smith)

Both of Fermanagh's firsts were still present today - the Great White Egret at Lowry Shore, west end Lower Lough Erne & the 2nd winter Ring-billed Gull at the Round O Enniskillen (Brad Robson)

Binevenagh Mountain, Limavady had 31 Fieldfare, 4 Ravens & a Peregrine (Christine Cassidy & Lindsay Hodges)

Ten Little Egret and a Kingfisher were at Whitehouse Lagoon (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Tony Donaldson for these pics of the Marsh Harrier and Red Kite seen at the Quoile yesterday and Lindsay Hodges for the Fieldfares:

 

 

 

Bird News Monday 24th October.

The Marsh Harrier was again seen at the Quoile pondage, it was mobbing two Red Kite. (Richard Caves)

A female Brambling was with a flock of Chaffinches at Rathlin Harbour, also noted on the island was a Hen Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel, 3 White-fronted Geese, a Fieldfare, a Blackcap and 3 Chough (Colin Guy)

Three Greenshank, an adult Med Gull and thirteen Little Egrets were at Whitehouse Park (Stuart McKee)

The female Goosander was again today on the River Lagan,  just below the red bridge. Last seen heading away from bridge in Shaw's bridge direction. (Muriel Moore)

Pintail - Lesley Barker.

Grey Heron - Robert Scott.

Waxwings

The first Waxwings of the winter have been reported today. Whitehead had 8 Waxwing on cotoneaster in Brooklands Avenue (Tina Enlander). It is worthwhile keeping an eye out for Waxwings as birds are now being widely reported in GB.

Bird News Sunday 23rd October

The Marsh harrier was seen again at the Quoile Pondage (Errol Dunne)

7 Little Egret and 3 Greenshank were at Whitehouse. A Little Stint was with 9 Dunlin at RSPB WOW (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

The juvenile White-tailed Eagle was at Muckross, Kesh, Lower Lough Erne (Wilton Farrelly)

2 Pintail were on the sea at St John's Point. A Mediterranean Gull was at Killough Harbour. (Tim Murphy)

A Long-billed Dowicher and a Glossy Ibis were at Dundalk Docks (Louth Bird News)

Bird News Saturday 22nd October

The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Inch Lake at high tide this afternoon. (Birdguides).

 A drake American Wigeon was at the Culdaff Estuary on the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal. (Michael McLaughlin).

A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat were at Malin Beg, Co Donegal (John O'Boyle / Ian Enlander).

A Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were at Kearney on the Outer Ards. (Richard Weyl)

Thanks to John Bamford for the picture of the Dipper and to Wilf Swain for the picture the Brent Geese.

Bird News Friday 21st October

A Goosander was at Nandas Bridge, below the Lock-keepers Cottage on the River Lagan, Belfast (Muriel Moore)

Two Green Sandpipers were at Clea Lakes, Co Down (Julian Greenwood).

Two families of Whooper Swans were at Ballyronan in Lough Neagh. (David Morrow).

A female Scaup was in the channel at Myroe. (David Hill).

A Pink-footed Goose and a Goldeneye flew north past St John's Point this morning. A Wheatear was at Minerstown beach. 2 Wheatear, 2 Scaup, 2 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 20 Widgeon, 10 Great Northern Diver, 115 Red-throated Diver, 1 juvenile Velvet Scoter and 1500 Common Scoter were between Tyrella and Ballykinler. (Chris & Tim Murphy).

A Red Kite was flying towards Newry directly above the A1 near its junction with the road to Blackskull at approximately 1330hours today. (William Webb)

Thanks to Muriel Moore for the picture of the Goosander, to David Morrow for the picture of the Whooper Swans and to David Hill for the pictures of the female Scaup and the Black Guillemots;
 

 

 

Bird News Thursday 20th October

A Great White Egret was at Lowery Bay, Lower Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh. This is the first county record. (Amy Burns)

Rathlin Island today had a Snow Bunting, 12 Twite, 2 Barnacle Geese, Blackcap, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, 16 Fieldfare, Hen Harrier and 10 Common Scoter (Neal Warnock)

500 Whooper Swans were at Inch Levels, Co Donegal (Christine Cunningham)

12 Whooper Swans flew over Prehen Park this morning, heading towards Inch (Christine Cassidy)

7 Whooper Swan where at Glynn Co Antrim. (Linda Thompson)

14 Whooper Swan where at Islandhill, Strangford Lough.(Dot Blakely)

20 Golden Plover and 2 Ravens were at RSPB Belfast WOW (Derek Polley)

A Glossy Ibis was seen at Malin Head (Birdguides)

Thanks to Amy for this pic of the Great White Egret:

 

Trip to Islay

30,000 Barnacle Geese  arrived on Islay yesterday. There will be a boat trip to Islay on Saturday to see these huge flocks of geese and much more. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for further details.