Bird News Monday 20th June

A trip to the Gobbins and Port Muck from Bangor (main pier, just beyond Bregenz House) is taking place at 6:30pm this Thursday (23rd). There are two seats remaining. Price £40. Tea/coffee included! Contact Ann at annlightbody510@gmail.com if interested.

Another boat trip to Tory Island is taking place on Saturday 25th June. Price £80 to include bus from Belfast, boat trip around Horn Head and Tory and 5 hours on the island. Phone Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details.

Reed Warblers continue to show well from the Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (David McCreedy)

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the pictures of the Grey Heron and the Goldfinch, to David McCreedy for the pictures of the Reed Warbler and to Tim Jess for the picture of the Yellowhammer:

Bird News Sunday 19th June

The Marsh Harrier was still at Reedy Flats (John Lambe)

Adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls continue to show well at RSPB WoW. A Knot was also present.

An Osprey was seen flying north about half way up Lough Melvin. (Fergal O'Connor).

Sand Martin, Terry Hanna:

Bird News Saturday 18th June

The Marsh Harrier was still at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Richard Hunter).

Reed Warblers continue to show around the Kinnegoe hide at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara)

Reed Warbler

Reed Warbler - Ed O'Hara

Willow Warbler - Terry Hanna

Bird News Friday 17th June

The Rose-coloured Starling was seen this morning on the way to the West Light, Rathlin. Also 2 Corrncrake were heard calling. (David McCreedy)

The female Marsh Harrier remains at Reedy Flats (John Lambe)

Three American Wigeon (the pair and a single female) were still at Lough Beg today. Also the female Smew was still present and two male Garganey transitioning into eclipse plumage. An early returning Greenshank was in the southwest corner. (David Steele)

We still are not publishing pictures of birds at nest sites \ nest holes. However as young birds are now fledging, we will publish pictures of such birds. We thank our regular contributors and everyone else who always ensure the interests of our breeding birds come first.

Fledged Great Spotted Woodpecker with adult male, private garden, Ballinahinch, Ian Jackson:

Bird News Thursday 16th June

 A Rosy Starling is on Rathlin this morning among a large arrival of Starlings. It is mobile, roaming around the west end of the island. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The female American Wigeon has been reported again at Church Island, Lough Beg.

At Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough a Bar-tailed Godwit was with 6 Curlew between 12 and 12.30pm. Also present were 4 Little Egrets, one if full breeding plumage, and a single adult Mediterranean Gull with the Black Headed Gulls. (Kevin Kirkham).

A Marsh Harrier is at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (John Lambe).

Reed Warblers continue to show around the Kinnegar hide at Oxford Island. (Michael Latham).

A Cuckoo was seen again at Murlough Nature Reserve outside Dundrum this afternoon. (Ian McKee).

Two Arctic Terns were at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve this morning but there was no sign of the male Garganey. (Derek Polley).

Thanks to Ric Else for the picture of the Rosy Starling, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Reed Warbler and to Derek Polley for the picture of the Arctic Tern:

Bird News Wednesday 15th June

 Two Spotted Flycatchers were at An Creggan on the Cookstown Road outside Omagh, Co. Tyrone. (Annette Elkin)

A Cuckoo was calling this afternoon near the main Murlough carpark. (Graham McElwaine).

The female American Wigeon was with nine Eurasian Wigeon, eight males and a female, at Church Island, Lough Beg. Two Knot in non breeding plumage were also present. (David Steele).

Two Barnacle Geese and a Pink-foot are with the Greylag flock on Ushet Lough on Rathlin. Yesterday 15 Crossbill were on the island. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Annette for the pictures of the Spotted Flycatchers and to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Meadow Pipit:

Bird News Tuesday 14th June

The pair of American Wigeon were again at Mullagh, Lough Beg, the female Smew was also present along the south shore and a drake Garganey in the south-west corner. (Jeff Larkin)

A  Kingfisher was seen along the River Blackwater at Ardmillan, Killinchy(Steven Sweeney)

A Cuckoo has been calling for several days along Binmore Road in Derrygonnelly, Co. Fermanagh. (Matt Watson).

Boat trip...

There are 4 seats available on the boat trip from Portstewart to Inishtrahull this Thursday(16th June) If interested contact Jim Wells on 07856235144

Bird News Monday 13th June

 No news so far today.

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the pictures of the Black Guillemot and the Herring Gull and to Christine Cunningham for the pictures of the Sedge Warbler and the Stonechat:

Bird News Sunday 12th June

The male Garganey was still at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

A Grey-headed Wagtail is on Inishtrahull, Co Donegal and was present yesterday and today (Mariona Sarda & John Collins / Inishtrahull Bird Observatory)

There will be trips to Tory Island by bus and boat on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th June. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details.

Red Grouse, Antrim Hills, Michael Latham:

You can see more pictures of local birds at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Irish Rare and Scarce Bird News Competition

 Best Find Of The Year Competition

https://irishrareandscarcebirdnews.blogspot.com/2022/05/best-find-of-year-competition.html

Bird News Saturday 11th June

The pair of American Wigeon were still off the Mullagh, Lough Beg (Richard Hunter).

This afternoon there were 3 American Wigeons at Lough Beg, the original pair at Mullagh and a new female paired with a male Eurasian Wigeon at Church Island. The female Smew was also off Church Island. (David Steele).

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Swift and to David Steele for the picture of the female American Wigeon:

Bird News Friday 10th June

A Red Kite was seen flying over the Norbrook factory, Carnbane industrial estate, Newry (John Anderson)

A Cuckoo was calling this morning at Drumkeeragh Forest, near Balinahinch. (Terry Hanna)

The drake Garganey is still at Belfast WOW (Michael Latham)

The pair of American Wigeon were still at Lough Beg this afternoon, also the female Smew and a male Garganey. (David Steele)

Sand Martin, Terry Hanna:

Garganey, Michael Latham:

Bird News Thursday 9th June

 The drake Garganey is still showing well at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Derek Polley).

Thanks to John Fraser for the picture of the Garganey, to Stephen Maxwell for the pictures of the Mediterranean Gull and to Derek Polley for the picture of the Common Terns:

Bird News Wednesday 8th June

The drake Garganey is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Stuart McKee).

The Little Gull was still at Rue on Rathlin yesterday evening. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

At least 4 cuckoo were at Altikeeragh at lunchtime. (Gilly Irwin)

Late news is that a Common Rosefinch has been reported from Rathlin from the 1st June.

Garganey, Stuart McKee:

Bird News Tuesday 7th June

A drake Garganey is at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Daniel Newton).

On Sunday an Osprey was seen crossing the road at Dundrum Inner Bay South (Marty Overend)

A Grasshopper Warbler is singing regularly at the Lough Moss Centre, Carryduff (Angus Kennedy)

Kingfisher, Lindsay Hodges:

Bird News Monday 6th June

A Common Rosefinch is at East Town, Tory Island (Derek Brennan)

A Barn Owl flew across the Upper Springfield road close to the junction with Ballycolin Road at 2am this morning. (Paul Mulvenna)

A 2nd year Little Gull was among Kittiwakes at Rue Point Lighthouse on Rathlin today. Also a Barnacle Goose was on Ushet Lough. (Gareth Platt)

The female Smew and a 2nd-calendar year Little Gull were at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele)

15 Crossbills were at Banagher Forest near Dungiven (David Steele)

Barnacle Goose and Little Gull, Gareth Platt:

Bird News Sunday 5th June

Two Little Tern are at RSPB WoW this afternoon (Garry Armstrong)

Yesterday a Stock Dove was at Megargy, Magherafelt with 4 Tree sparrows including 2 juvs. Both are scarce in this area. (Godfrey McRoberts)

Yesterday an Osprey was at Castlewellan lake, Co Down (Peter Fee)

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Little Tern:

Bird News Saturday 4th June

A male Ring-necked Duck is in the Closet River at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Ring-necked Duck and the Little Gull, to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Puffins and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Cuckoo:

Bird News Friday 3rd June

A Cuckoo was calling at Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Michael Latham).

A report has been received of a possible Turtle Dove in the Rathgael Road area of Bangor.

A Quail was calling from a crop field along Old Road, Poyntzpass, Co.Armagh. (Joe Devlin).

The female Smew was still at Lough Beg but there was no sign of the American Wigeons. (David Steele).

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the pictures of the Willow Warbler and the Meadow Pipit:

Bird News Thursday 2nd June

The second year White-tailed Eagle is still at Blanketnook, Donegal this morning (Chris Ingram)

A female Smew is at Lough Beg this morning. The bird was at the south end of the main lake seen from Mullagh. (David Steele).

A pair of American Wigeon were at the south end of Lough Beg this afternoon, also present were two male Garganeys and eight Wigeon, four single males and two pairs. (David Steele).

Thanks to David Steele for the pictures of the American Wigeons and female Smew, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Sedge Warbler, to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Willow Warbler, to Christine Cunningham for the picture of the Mistle Thrush and to David McCreedy for the picture of the Reed Warbler:

Bird News Wednesday 1st June

The Wood Sandpiper is still at Lough Beg - to the left of the Road just before the farm at The Mullagh, with Black-tailed Godwits & Dunlin (Bod Watts)

An adult White-tailed Eagle was over Portmore Lough RSPB this morning. (Robin Brown) The Eagle was also possibly present yesterday.

Inch Lake Co Donegal had a 1st summer Little Gull. An adult Little Stint and 2 1st summer Little Gulls were together at Blanket Nook. (Graham Mitchell)