Many thanks to Tony Dodds for these superb shots of a first winter Ross's Gull which was at Killough this afternoon:
An immature (2nd calendar-year) Marsh Harrier was hunting around Paddy's Dub at Lough Beg this afternoon - a different bird to the individuals reported recently at Portmore (David Steele)
Two Snow Bunting were on Rathlin (Ric Else \ Hazel Watson)
2 Marsh Harrier were seen together at Portmore Lough RSPB today just before dusk, with the Great White Egret seen as well. There were around 350 Whoopers in the surrounding fields as well. (Seamus O'Hara)
Two Little Gull are still in Killough this morning, at the bottom of Quay Lane. Also two Red-throated Divers, one in the inner harbour unusually just off the rope walk at the back of St Anne’s church (Chris Murphy).
The two Little Gulls were still present at Killough at high tide. (David Clarke & John Hamilton).
An Iceland Gull was in Coleraine. (Stephen Riddell).
An Iceland Gull was seen briefly on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
Two Marsh Harriers, the Great White Egret and two Little Egrets were at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Ian Clarke).
150 Whooper Swans were in a field near Oxford Island. (David Shilliday).
Thanks to Stephen Riddell for the picture of the Iceland Gull, to David Clarke & John Hamilton for the picture of the Little Gull, to Ian Clarke for the first Marsh Harrier picture, to Brian Redpath for the second Marsh Harrier picture and to Guy Hamilton for the picture of the Purple Sandpiper and Dunlin:
The female Smew was still at Lough Beg today, showing well just off Mullagh along with four Red-breasted Mergansers (scarce locally). Also seen were a Spotted Redshank, 12 Ruff and a Grey Plover. (David Steele)
The Rathlin Bird Report 2020 is now available and free to download at: https://rathlinstickybeak.wordpress.com/2021/02/13/rathlin-bird-report-2020/
If you've been missing Rathlin's birdlife during the lockdown, this is the place to catch up with everything that's being going on. Read about a Siberian invasion, a new species for Rathlin, seabird surprises, and much more besides. As usual, there’s a comprehensive summary of all the year's sightings, detailed observations from the famous seabird colony, and just about everything else you could possibly wish to know about the island's birds.
It's also illustrated throughout with photos taken on the island, and we hope this will whet your appetite for a visit once it's appropriate to travel again.
Ric Else and Hazel Watson
Kilkeel Harbour area Co. Down had and adult Little Gull and 26 Purple Sandpipers. Nearby, NW of Cranfield Pt were 2 adult Little Gulls. (Michael O’Clery)
An adult Med. Gull was at the off road car parks on Seacliffe Road, Bangor. (Tom Ennis)
A Med Gull was seen at Whitehouse Lagoon.(David Stirling)
11 Whooper Swan where in a field nr Comber.(Stephen Maxwell)
A Whimbrel was at Ballymacormick Point.(Richard Weyl)
Yesterday 22 Pink-footed Geese where seen in fields around Larne Lough.(Cameron Moore).
Our thanks to Linda Thompson for this photo of a Treecreeper.
A Brambling is visiting a garden in Lurgan, see pictures below. (Michael Henderson).
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling at Aberdelghy Golf Course near Derriaghy today. (Suzanne Belshaw).
Thanks to Michael Henderson for the pictures of the Brambling and to Suzanne Belshaw for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker:
A Great White Egret flew over the A6 Glenshane Road near Ballynahone Bog, last seen heading in the direction of Bellaghy (Andrew Crory)
The adult Ring-billed Gull was still at Belfast Waterworks (Stuart McKee)
At Lough Beg, the female Smew and two Great Northern Divers were present (David Steele)
14 Yellowhammer were visiting a garden in Banbridge (Mike McLaughlin)
The Great White Egret was still at Portmore Lough (Richard Caves)
This afternoon at River Lagan, Flatfield, Moira were 212 Greylag Geese and 154 Whooper Swan (Jim Wells)
Ring-billed Gull, Stuart McKee:
Online Training and Events Programme
Spring 2021
All events and sessions will be held on the Zoom platform.
All events are FREE of charge!
If restrictions on outdoor gatherings permit, we may hold informal field outings in association with the Bird ID and BTO Projects courses from April on. All field outings will be entirely outdoors, socially-distanced and limited to twelve participants. They will be subject to whatever NI Executive restrictions are in place at the time.
Date | Time | Description | Booking Link |
Sat 6th Mar | 10:00-12:00 | Garden BirdWatch (GBW) Training | |
| Wed 10th Mar | 15:00-17:00 | Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Training | |
Thu 18th Mar | 19:00-20:30 | NI Seabird Report Launch | |
Sat 27th Mar | 10:00-12:00 | Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Training | |
| Sat 3rd Apr Sat 10th Apr Sat 17th Apr | 10:00-12:00 | Bird ID and BTO Projects Training 1 – three online modules, complemented by supported self-study exercises and optional field outings | |
| Tue 6th Apr Tue 13th Apr Tue 20th Apr | 10:00-12:00 | Bird ID and BTO Projects Training 2 – three online modules, complemented by supported self-study exercises and optional field outings | |
| Tue 18th May Tue 25th May Tue 1st June | 19:00-21:00 | Bird ID and BTO Projects Training 3 – three online modules, complemented by supported self-study exercises and optional field outings |
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My usual working days are Monday to Wednesday inclusive.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker is visiting a garden near Stoneyford outside Lisburn. (Seamus O'Hara).
A Long-tailed Duck and Great Northern Diver were off Myroe, 103 Whoopers and 3 Greylags were on the fields. (Martin Deehan).
3 Iceland Gull were at Clea Lake, Keady this evening with circa 45 Herring Gull.
The Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret and Smew were still at Portmore (Adam McClure)
A Black-throated Diver was off Whitehead this morning.(Ian Enlander)
The female Smew was showing well in small lagoon off viewing platform at RSPB Portmore Lough, also Great White Egret and Marsh Harrier at same spot.(Colin Mayes)
A 3rd winter Glaucous Gull and a juv Iceland Gull seen at Enniskillen dump. (Brad Robson)
Our thanks to Katherine Martin for the photo of the Whooper Swans. Also to Christine Cunningham for the Jay.
