Bird News Monday 18th October

A first year White-tailed Eagle was again on Rathlin today (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

There were 2 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Lomond Road / Myroe Levels (Lindsay Hodges)

30 Purple Sandpiper were at the Countryside Centre, Portrush (Juliet Fleming)

Juvenile White-tailed Eagle, Hazel Watson:

One of the Greenland White-fronts at Myroe was colour banded and was caught as a first winter male on Big Isle, Lough Swilly in November 2019. The mother of this bird was fitted with a satellite tracker and was recorded over two years returning from Greenland, visiting the North West and also south-west Ireland (when it then eventually relocated to the north west). Thanks to Lindsay Hodges for the picture and Tony Fox for this information.

 

Bird News Sunday 17th October

A Tundra Bean Goose was with 20 Pinkfeet and a large flock of Whooper Swans on the road down to Ballykelly Marsh. (Stuart McKee, Hal McCullough). The Bean Goose was still present at 17.00, with 24 Pinkfeet in a stubble field east of the road to the Saltmarsh. An immature redhead Goosander was with Mergansers off the river mouth at high tide. (Richard Grey).

A Pectoral Sandpiper was opposite the hide at the Barmouth. (Ian Dickey).

The Pectoral Sandpiper was again in the south west corner of Lough Beg, a Garganey was also present. 8 Pinkfeet were at Mullagh. (David Steele).

The Marsh Harrier was at Portmore Lough RSPB this afternoon. (Michael Latham).

The two Great White Egrets were still at Ballycarry Bridge, a Pinkfoot was also present. (Linda Thompson).

At least 150 Whooper Swans were between Burnally Road and Broighter Road on the way down to Myroe. (Felicity Currie & Nick Lynch).

The hybrid Ring-billed Gull was still at Millisle. (Richard Weyl).

3 Whooper Swans flew high east over Stormont this evening. (Paul Lynas).

Rathlin had 2 Brambling, a Mistle Thrush, Redwings and 41 Pinkfeet which have been commuting between the island and the mainland. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Marsh Harrier, to Linda Thompson for the picture of the Great White Egrets and to Steven Fyffe for the picture of the Merlin from Copeland:

Bird News Saturday 16th October

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at the Barmouth. (Richard Donaghey).

A Marsh Harrier was on the island behind the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

63 Whooper Swans flew over Lough Foyle heading towards Inch. (Christine Cassidy).

The two Great White Egrets and fifteen Little Egrets were at Ballycarry Bridge. (Philip West).

The Spotted Redshank was in the channel running through Dundrum Inner Bay south, two Ruff were also present. (David Nixon).

A Pectoral Sandpiper was in the south west corner of Lough Beg until 15.30 when it flew high north, 30 Ruff were in the area and the Great White Egret was at Paddy's Dub. Six Pinkfeet were still at Mullagh. (David Steele).

The Glaucous Gull was seen again at the Barmouth. (Birdguides).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Merlin and to Julia Fleming for the picture of the Redwing from her garden:

Bird News Friday 15th October

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at the Barmouth, distantly off the hide. (Garry Armstrong).

The Long- billed Dowitcher still at the south end of Lough Beg, a Great White Egret, 6 Pink-feet and 12 Greenland Whitefronts werevalso present.(David Steele)

The two Great White Egrets were still at Ballycarry (Linda Thompson) see Linda's pic below

2 Carrion Crow at Kinnegar,  Belfast. (Kenneth Anderson & Jim McKeown).

5 Slavonian Grebes, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 12 Red-throated Divers and 2 Great Northern Divers were off the west end of Myroe, a flock of Twite were with Linnets at the Roe end. (Garry Armstrong).

7 Twite were at Ramore Head in Portrush, a single Wheatear and 18 Barnacle Geese were also seen.  (Richard Donaghey).

Rathlin had a late Willow Warbler, good numbers of Goldcrests, a White-fronted Goose, 41 Pink-feet, 50 Greylags and 70 Barnacle Geese over the day. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A Snow Bunting was at Slieve Gullion. (David Knight).

The two Barnacle Geese and at least four Pink-feet were with the Greylag flock at the Ecos Centre in Ballymena. (Ginny McKee).

A Little Gull was at Sandy Bay in Larne this evening. (Suzanne Belshaw)

Thanks to Linda Thompson for the picture of the Great White Egrets, to David Knight for the picture of the Snow Bunting, to Ric Else for the picture of the White-fronted Goose and to Suzanne Belshaw for the pictures of the Little Gull:

Bird News Thursday 14th October

An immature White-tailed Eagle was at The Rue, Rathlin. Also present around the island were 5 Arctic Skua, a Red-throated Diver, Mediterranean Gull, a Merlin chasing a Peregrine, the Grey Plover and 47 Pink-feet (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

A single Barnacle was with 71 Greylags at the Roe Estuary. (Martin Deehan).

The two Great White Egrets were still at Ballycarry (David Stirling)

Thanks to Ric for this picture of the White-tailed Eagle, to David Stirling for the pictures of the Great White Egret and to Lindsay Hodges for the picture of the Merlin:

Bird News Wednesday 13th October.

 The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at the Bann Estuary.(James McDowell)

2 Great White Egrets  where at Ballycarry bridge.(David Stirling/Cameron Moore) .

Rathlin today had 2 Snow Buntings, 6 Redwing, 20 Barnacle Geese, 2 White-fronted Geese, a juvenile Grey Plover and a Blackcap. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Our thanks to Cameron for the photo of the 2 GWE together, also to Ric Else for the pic of one of the Snow Buntings from Rathlin.

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Bird News Tuesday 12th October

 The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at the Barmouth this morning. (Richard Donaghey).

A Sabines Gull was just outside Portstewart. Also present was a large pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins (John Clarke)

Bird News Monday 11th October

A Pink-footed Goose and two Barnacle Geese (of unknown origin) were at the Ecos Centre, Ballymena (John Parkinson)

The Long-billed Dowitcher was again showing at Bann Estuary; also 2 Grey Plover and 8 Whooper Swans were present (Hill Dick / James McDowell)

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Oxford Island (Paul and Jennifer Topliss).

Barnacles & Pink-footed Goose, John Parkinson:

Bird News Sunday 10th October

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was in a ploughed field at Ballykelly this morning. A Grey Plover and a Ruff were at Ballykelly Marsh. An adult American Golden Plover, probably the same bird as last week,  was in the ploughed field at the junction of Lomond Road and Broighter Road.  Three Grey Plover were at Myroe. (Garry Armstrong).

A Long-billed Dowitcher was in the bay by the wooden pier at the Barmouth. (John Clarke).

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still at the south end of Lough Beg, the Long-billed Dowitcher, last seen on the 4th October was also present. (David Steele).

Paddy's Dub at Lough Beg this afternoon had a ring-tail Hen Harrier, Little Stint, Grey Plover, Greenshank, 2 Ruff and 25 Snipe. (Godfrey McRoberts)

Rathlin today had 13 Twite, 4 Crossbill and 2 Pinkfeet. (Ric Else, Hazel Watson, Bob Watts, Wilton Farrelly).

Thanks to David Steele for the pictures of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper from Lough Beg yesterday, to Stephen Riddell for the first picture of the Long-billed Dowitcher and to John Clarke for the second Long-billed Dowitcher picture:

Birding Dumfries & Galloway

Any birders from NI visiting Dumfries & Galloway are encouraged to report sightings to a new D&G Bird News Blog at: https://dumfriesgallowaybirdnews.blogspot.com/

The Blog also has some excellent information to assist visiting birders.

Bird News Saturday 9th October

The Pectoral Sandpiper and Marsh Harrier were both still at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

A Spotted Redshank & 3 Ruff were at Dundrum Bay inner bay - this morning (Kenneth Brewster)

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper is at the south end of Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele)

22 Mediterranean Gull were along the Outer Ards (7 at Cloughey Bay, 8 south of Portavogie, 1 south of Millisle, 3 at Groomsport and 3 east of Ballyholme Bay) - (Richard Weyl)

Marsh Harrier, Portmore, Michael Latham:

Red Kite, Tim Jess:

Bird News Friday 8th October

 The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Richard Donaghey / Richard Caves). The Marsh Harrier was also seen briefly (Richard Caves).

A Merlin was on Islandmagee. ( Cameron Moore).

10 Mediterranean Gulls, 15 Whooper Swans and a Peregrine were at Ballykelly, 2 Grey Plover and 6 Knot were at the Barmouth. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).

2 Snow Buntings were on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

Thanks to Richard Caves for the picture of the Pectoral Sandpiper, to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Marsh Harrier, Dipper and Whooper Swans and to Cameron Moore for the picture of Merlin:

Bird News Thursday 7th October

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Portmore Lough RSPB but there was no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher. (Alastair Rae)

4 Curlew Sandpipers were on the wall behind the Rangers Club, Whitehead, circa 2pm this afternoon. (Kevin Kirkham)

BTO Northern Ireland Birdwatchers' Conference 2021

Please see the BTO Northern Ireland Birdwatchers' Conference 2021 programme here.

The conference will be "virtual" again this year, with online presentations on seabirds, volunteering, migration, the new Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland list and the important local sites of Lough Neagh and the Antrim Hills.

The conference is to be held via Zoom on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th November. The total cost for both sessions is £5.

To book a place please register online before 31st October.

Bird News Wednesday 6th October

The Long-billed Dowitcher was present at lunchtime at Portmore RSPB. The Pectoral Sandpiper was also present this afternoon. (Richard Caves \ Kenneth Brewster \ Joe Lamont \ Carol Gillespie \ David McCreedy)

The Marsh Harrier was also at Portmore Lough this morning (David McCreedy)

5 Whooper Swans were back in fields at the Comber end of Ballydrain Road today (David Weir)

The Bonaparte’s Gull was still at Kinnegar Sewage Works (Daniel Newton)

Many thanks to those who contacted us about the hide at the Quoile which DAERA say must still remain closed 'due to the Pandemic'. Disappointingly we do believe that this is the only hide in the UK and Ireland that remains closed.....

Long-billed Dowitcher, Kenneth Brewster (This picture shows the underwing detail which helps separate it from Short-billed Dowitcher - https://subalpinebirding.com/blog/strongunderwing-pattern-in-dowitchersstrong ):

Long-billed Dowitcher, Richard Caves:

Bird News Tuesday 5th October

 A Long-billed Dowitcher and the Pectoral Sandpiper were at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Martin Deehan). The Long-billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper and the Marsh Harrier were all still present at 4.30pm. (Shirley Dunlop, Gerard McGeehan). The Dowitcher was flushed out by the Marsh Harrier at 6 and hadn't returned by 6.45.

Ramore Head between 9am and 11am had 5 Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Leaches Petrel and 19 Barnacle Geese flying west. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

A juvenile Sabine's Gull was at Ringaree between Portrush and Portstewart this morning. (John Clarke).

A Turtle Dove was visiting a garden in the Downpatrick/Ardglass area on the 3rd and 4th. (Christina Palmer).

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Mullagh this afternoon but no sign of the Lesser Yellowlegs. Also at least one Black Tern still. (David Steele).

The Bonaparte's Gull was at Kinnegar Waterworks this afternoon. (Daniel Newton).

Ramore Head had between 2pm --4pm, 1 Sabine's Gull, 4 skeins of Barnacle Geese totalling 40 birds flying West, and 3 Red-throated Divers. (Hill Dick / Martin Deehan)

Thanks to Comghal McQuillan for the pictures of the Long-billed Dowitcher and to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Bonaparte's Gull:

Bird News Monday 4th October

A single Curlew Sandpiper was on pools in the field behind the pond in the centre of Myroe. An adult American Golden Plover was in the ploughed field at the junction of Lomond Road and Broighter Road. (Garry Armstrong, Ed O’Hara).

A Yellow-browed Warbler was calling at Runkerry. (John Clarke).

19 Pinkfeet were with Greylags on Islandmagee. (Cameron Moore).

A Long-billed Dowitcher is at Lough Beg this afternoon, it's a juvenile but a different individual to the one seen in September, it is on the grassland at Mullagh with Lapwings, Golden Plovers and Ruffs. A Lesser Yellowlegs has also now joined the flock. The Long-billed Dowitcher and the Lesser Yellowlegs both flew high towards the main lake at 6pm. The two Black Terns were also present. (David Steele)

A single Ruff was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve,  there was no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper. (Bob Watts).

A Short-eared Owl was at Lower Lough Erne RSPB reserve in Fermanagh this afternoon. (Brad Robson).

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at RSPB Portmore Lough reserve.(Ian Enlander) 

Our thanks to Michael Latham for the photo of the Pectoral Sandpiper, this is from the Portmore Lough reserve and to David Steele for the pictures of the Long-billed Dowitcher and the Lesser Yellowlegs

Long-billed Dowitcher

Lesser Yellowlegs

Long-billed Dowitcher & Lesser Yellowlegs

Bird News Sunday 3rd October

A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning,  one Ruff was also present. (Garry Armstrong).

13 Pinkfeet were on Islandmagee this morning. (Cameron Moore).

3 Wheatears were around Maud's cafe in Newcastle. (Ed O'Hara).

A juvenile American Golden Plover was in the ploughed field at the junction of Lomond Road and Broighter Road on the way down to Myroe. (Derek Brennan). The American Golden Plover was seen this afternoon in fields just beyond the footbridge at the west end of Myroe. (Martin Deehan).

93 Whooper Swans were along Broighter Road near Myroe. (Martin Deehan).

Two Black Terns were at Lough Beg today, one over the ponds at Mullagh and a second bird over the main lake. (David Steele).

The Bonaparte's Gull was at Kinnegar Waterworks again this afternoon. (Bob Watts) and also at Kinnegar Pools (Joe Lamont)

A Barn Owl was on the Crom Estate in Co. Fermanagh last night. (Paul Lynas, Rick Treacy).

All four of the boat trips to see the 30,000 Barnacle Geese on Islay are now fully booked. To meet demand a 5th trip is planned for Friday 29th October - leaving Ballycastle. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details.

Thanks to Mike McLaughlin for the picture of the Buzzard:

Pectoral Sandpiper - Belfast WoW Reserve

Pectoral Sandpiper - Belfast WoW Reserve

Ruff - Belfast WoW Reserve

Bird News Saturday 2nd October

The Pectoral Sandpiper and the Marsh Harrier were both at Portmore this morning (S Riddell/Ed O’Hara).

Two Ruff were still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Bob Watts).

A Puffin was amongst a feeding flock of Gannets close inshore at Carnalea this afternoon. (Philip Watson).

A juvenile Black Tern was over the ponds at Mullagh this afternoon. (David Steele)

A Yellow Wagtail was seen on Ballymoney Road, Banbridge this morning. (Alison Mastin Moore)

A Snow Bunting was at White Park Bay. (Robert Plant).

A probable Osprey was near Church Island,  Lough Beg this afternoon. (Hugh Evans).

Our thanks to Michael Latham for this pic of a Red Kite taken in the Dromara Hills and to Robert Plant for the pictures of the Snow Bunting:

Bird News Friday 1st October

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Portmore Lough RSPB in company with a Dunlin. (Garry Armstrong).

A Pectoral Sandpiper was at the south end of Lough Beg .mobile over the area between Mullagh and the SW corner, also 30 Ruff and a Garganey.(David Steele)  

Two Ruff were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW. (Bob Watts)

A Pink-footed Goose was at the Ecos Centre, Ballymena.(Jeff Larkin)

Juvenile Great Skua, Ramore Head, Lindsay Hodges:

Red Kites Tim Jess: