Bird News Saturday 16th July

The two Little Gulls were still at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh this morning along with two Common Sandpipers. (Garry Armstrong). Three Little Gulls, the adult and two sub-adults were present this afternoon. (David McCreedy).

At least 2 Common Sandpiper were at Blackstaff creek just before high tide along with a Red Kite and a Kingfisher. No sign of the Green Sandpiper. (Chris Rankin).

A melanistic Collared Dove was an unusual sight on Islandmagee. (Kevin Kirkham.

An adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gull were at Glynn station in Larne Lough. (Gareth Platt).

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the first picture of the Little Gull, to Michael Latham for the first picture of all three Little Gulls, to David McCreedy for the final three pictures of the Little Gulls, to Gareth Platt for the picture of the Mediterranean Gulls and to Stephen Maxwell for the picture of the Black-tailed Godwit:

Bird News Friday 15th July

 Nine Sooty Shearwaters went west past Bloody Foreland in Donegal, among 1,300 Manx Shearwaters. (Theo Campbell & Chris Ingram).

Two Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper were along the River Main at Slaght near Ballymena. (David Steele).

The Green Sandpiper and 5 - 6 Common Sandpipers were at the Blackstaff creek in Dundrum. (Michael Latham).

The two Little Gulls and a Common Sandpiper were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh this evening. (Richard Caves)

Thanks to Richard Caves for the pictures of the Little Egret and the Little Gull and to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Green and Common Sandpipers:

Bird News Thursday 14th July

 A Green Sandpiper and 4 Common Sandpipers were at Blackstaff Creek, Dundrum. (Dermot Hughes).

The two Little Gulls and a Common Sandpiper were still at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (Michael Latham).

The Little Ringed Plover was still in the southwest corner of Lough Beg today. Two American Wigeon (the 2nd calendar year male and a female) were on the lake and the Great White Egret was still on the western shoreline. Two Whimbrel were at Mullagh. (David Steele).

The Arctic Skua was on the golf course at Castlerock before flying to the river. (John Spottiswood).

Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve today had two adult Mediterranean Gulls and two chicks along with two Common Sandpipers and two Arctic Terns. (Derek Polley).

A Whimbrel was at Killard this afternoon. (Graham McElwaine).

Thanks to David Clarke for the picture of the Sedge Warbler, to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Blackbird, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Little Gulls and to Tim Jess for the picture of the Little Egret:

Bird News Wednesday 13th July

 The Arctic Skua was at the Barmouth again this afternoon, the bird appears to be in poor health. See pictures below. (John Clarke).

Mediterranean Gulls continue to be seen at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve, thanks to William Smiton for the pictures:

Bird News Tuesday 12th July

An adult summer plumaged Little Gull has joined the 2nd year bird at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. Three Common Sandpipers were also present.  (Garry Armstrong).

The female Marsh Harrier was showing well at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Dermot Hughes).

A Little Ringed Plover is in the south west corner of Lough Beg, still present at 5.30pm. Six moulting male Ruff were also present.  A Great White Egret was on the western shoreline of the lake. (David Steele).

A male Ruff is at Portmore RSPB (Michael Latham)

Thanks to David Steele for the picture of the Little Ringed Plover, to Tim Jess for the picture of a Sparrowhawk in his garden, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Ruff and to Richard Caves for the pictures of the Little Gulls:

Bird News Monday 11th July

 A Great Spotted Woodpecker is visiting a garden near Woodburn outside Carrickfergus. (George Stewart).

Two Spotted Flycatchers were in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Spotted Flycatcher and to Stephen Maxwell for the pictures of the Arctic Tern and the juvenile Mediterranean Gull:

Bird News Sunday 10th July

The Little Gull was on the roof of the hide at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

A Common Sandpiper, 2 Curlew and 2 Little Egrets were in Larne Lough at Islandmagee. (Kevin Kirkham).

A Common Sandpiper, 80 Redshank, 6 Greenshank and 43 juvenile Sandwich Terns were at the Barmouth. (Theo Campbell).

A Green Sandpiper was along the River Main at Slaght near Ballymena this morning. (David Steele).

Three Ruff were at Church Island in Lough Beg. (Shirley Dunlop & Gerard McGeehan).

RSPB WoW, Belfast had 2 adult and to young Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Arctic and 1 Sandwich Tern. There was  no sign of the Common Sandpiper or Ruff from yesterday. (Ian Enlander).

Little Gull Portmore

Bird News Sunday 10th July

The Iceland Gull was still at Mageraorty Pier, Donegal (Adam McClure)

A Common Sandpiper was at Islandmagee (Kevin Kirkham)

Bird News Saturday 9th July

3 Common Sandpiper are at Lady’s Bay, Lough Neagh (Richard Hunter)

A Ruff and a Common Sandpiper were at RSPB WoW this morning (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Ruff and to Juliet Fleming for the pictures of the Chiffchaff and the Bullfinch:

Bird News Friday 8th July

A Ruff, Common Sandpiper and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits were at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve. (Shirley Dunlop & Gerard McGeehan).

The Little Gull and a Common Sandpiper were at Lady's Bay today (Michael Latham).

A Curlew Sandpiper was in the southwest corner of Lough Beg this evening. Three Ruff (moulting males) and a Garganey were also seen. (David Steele)

Thanks to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Blackcap, to Tim Jess for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker and to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Little Gull and the Common Sandpiper:

Bird News Thursday 7th July

2 Arctic Terns, a Ruff and two Common Sandpiper are at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

A Common Sandpiper was on the wooden jetty at Oxford Island (Dot Blakely)

At Blanketnook, Donegal this afternoon, the Black Tern, 2 Ruff and 2 Common Sandpiper were present (Chris Ingram)

Two Common Sandpiper were at the north end of Murlough (Mike McLaughlin)

Common Sandpipers, Mike McLaughlin:

Bird News Tuesday 5th July

A Ruff is at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Daniel Newton)

The Arctic Skua was still at the Bann Estuary this morning. (Stephen Riddell)

A Black Tern and a male Ruff are at Blanketnook, Donegal (Derek Brennan)

A Great Northern Diver, in non-breeding plumage, was at South Bay, Tara, Portaferry this afternoon. (Dermott Hughes)

Arctic Skua, Stephen Riddell:

Bird News Monday 4th July

Two Roseate Tern have been reported at RSPB WOW.

The Arctic Skua was at the Bann Estuary again at 13.45. (John Spottiswood). Thanks to everyone who contributed comments about the identification of this bird.

Five second year Arctic Tern were on Cockle Island this evening. A Minke Whale was offshore. (Bob Watts)

Bird News Sunday 3rd July

Tha Skua (Arctic or Pomarine), was still at the Barmouth this morning, chasing terns (Chris Rankin).

Two Common Sandpipers and five Arctic Terns were at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve. (Shirley Dunlop & Gerard McGeehan).

Bird News Saturday 2nd July

The Skua, which now appears to be an Arctic, was seen again at the Barmouth flying towards Castlerock beach. A single Whimbrel and two Greenshank were also present. (Dean Jones).

The Little Gull was still at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh, along with 3 Common Sandpipers. (Garry Armstrong).

Two Mediterranean Gulls were at Lough Mourne. (Joe Lamont).

The Marsh Harrier was at Reedy Flats this afternoon. (David McCreedy).

Two American Wigeon, a female and an immature (2nd calendar year) male were at Lough Beg today,(the male is a different bird to the adult male seen previously). Also seen were at least one juvenile Garganey and a male Ruff. (David Steele).

Thanks to Richard Caves for the pictures of the Lady Bay Little Gull and to David McCreedy for the picture of the Marsh Harrier

Bird News Friday 1st July

A Green Sandpiper (Moyle End), and a summer plumaged Black Tern were at Blanketnook, Co Donegal. (Graham Mitchell).

The female Smew was still at Lough Beg today, at the north end of the lake, resting on rocks along with three male Goldeneye. (David Steele).

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Peregrine and to Ivan Dalglish for the picture of the Jays:

Bird News Thursday 30th June

A Pomarine Skua was in the Bann estuary at lunchtime today (John Clarke)

A Red Kite was seen over Ballinahinch late afternoon (Greg Heaney)

The Common Sandpiper and Little Gull were both at Lady Bay this afternoon. (Suzanne Belshaw)

Pomarine Skua, John Clarke:

Mediterranean Gulls, Stephen Maxwell:

Bird News Wednesday 29th June

A Red Kite was quartering over Bryansford this afternoon, (Eric Mansell)

Thanks to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Sandwich Tern:

 

Bird News Tuesday 28th June

 A Red Kite flew from north to south over Ballynahinch this afternoon. (Ian Jackson).

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Buzzard:

Bird News Sunday 26th June

 A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been visiting a garden outside Ballygown for the last month, now accompanied by a juvenile. (Suzy Martin).

A 2nd year Little Gull and a Common Sandpiper were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (Garry Armstrong).

Two Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay this evening. (Chris Rankin).

At least two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were at Learmont Forest near Park village, Claudy. (Derek Brennan).

Thanks to Suzy for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpeckers, To Christine Cunningham for the picture of the Sedge Warbler and to Stephen Maxwell for the picture of the Arctic Tern:

Bird News Saturday 25th June

An Osprey was on Dairyland Road near Straid this morning (Neil Kilpatrick)

The female Marsh Harrier was showing well this afternoon at the east end of Reedy Flats. (Michael Latham)

Marsh Harrier, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 24th June

An Osprey was on the River Maine at Shanes Castle Demesne last observed yesterday evening. (Sam Andrews)

The unusual phylloscopus warbler singing in trees by the track on the NE side of Belfast WoW is still present. It is employing both 'song- switching' and 'mixed singing,' using elements of both willow warbler and chiffchaff songs. (Maureen Harvey-Graham / Matthew Tickner)

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper is at Lough Beg, on the mud by Church Island. (David Steele).

A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker continues to visit a garden in Ballynahinch. (Ian Jackson).

Thanks to Ian Jackson for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, to David Steele for the picture of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper and to Rebecca Tanner for her excellent painting of the recent Rathlin Rosy Starling:

Bird News Thursday 23rd June

An immature White-tailed Eagle was at Banagher Forest near Dungiven today, soaring and calling, mobbed by Buzzards. (David Steele).

The Marsh Harrier was at the east end of Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Joe Devlin)

An Arctic Tern was at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

A Cuckoo is at Ballymacornick Point, Bangor for its second day (Dot Blakely)

Marsh Harrier, Joe Devlin:

Puffins, Rathlin Island, Tom McDonnell: 

More pictures of local birds are at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Wednesday 22nd June

A single Mediterranean Gull was mixing with Black-headed Gulls on Holywood sea front at dusk last night. (Tom Trouton).

A Fieldfare was on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The three American Wigeon were still at Lough Beg today, all three birds were at the south end of the main lake. Also 60 Pochard were on the lake (a high site count for this species). (David Steele).

The White-tailed Eagle was still at Blanketnook, Co Donegal (Bob Watts)

Bird News Tuesday 21st June

An immature White-tailed Eagle, a Little Gull, Whimbrel and Greenshank are at Blanketnook, Donegal (Jamie Bliss)

The Marsh Harrier is still at the eastern end of Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (John Lambe).

The Rosy Starling was seen again on Rathlin this afternoon after a 3 day absence. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The feral Barnacle Goose was seen again at Hillsborough Lake. (Tim Jess)

The high water Moneycarragh River roost at Dundrum Inner Bay had a flock of 24 Curlew (Graham McElwaine)

Rose-coloured sarling, Ric Else \ Hazel Watson: