Bird News Friday 20th January

The Kumlien's Gull is still at Fanad Head this morning (Robert Vaughan / Chris Ingram)

The Black Redstart at the harbour in Newcastle, the Spotted Redshank was at Dundrum Inner Bay south and a pair of Dippers were on the Shimna River in Tollymore. (Garry & Gayle Wilkinson).

A Jack Snipe was at Corbet Lough outside Banbridge this morning. (Mike McLaughlin)

A male and two female Ring-necked Ducks are at Lough Fern, Donegal (Robert Vaughan)

The Long-tailed Duck was still off Portballintrae. (Stephen Riddell).

A red head Goosander was on the Glenarm River. (David Gillespie).

A male Smew was at Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh. (Ken Simpson).

Thanks to Stephen Riddell for the picture of the Long-tailed Duck, to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Water Rail, to Ken Simpson for the picture of the Smew and to Robert Vaughan for the picture of the Kumlien's Gull:

Bird News Thursday 19th January

An Iceland Gull is at RSPB WoW this morning (Tony Dodds / Derek Polley)

Two Sandwich Tern were at Drumfad Bay, Millisle (Guy Hamilton)

Two Great Northern Diver are in Portrush Harbour (Donna Riddell)

A Kumliens Gull was at Keadew Bridge and a Snow Bunting was at Ballyhooriskey, Fanad, Donegal (Jamie Bliss)

A Chiffchaff was at Portmore Lough (Tim Jess)

At Copeland BO, a Chiffchaff was calling in Bluebell gully (Philip Galbraith) and a Merlin was also seen (CBO team)

The Glaucous Gull was still at Burger King, Coleraine (John Clarke)

Iceland Gull, John Fraser:

Great Northern Diver, Donna Riddell:

Kumliens Gull, Jamie Bliss:

Bird News Wednesday 18th January

Late news from yesterday of a dead Little Auk found carefully laid out in Ballycastle harbour at the ferry terminal (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The Black Redstart feeding along windowsills and drainpipes on houses adjacent to Marine Avenue at Whitehead at 1415 this afternoon. It was also seen along the sea wall. Also 11 Twite and four Purple Sandpipers (Ian Enlander / Bob Watts).

Thanks to Ian Enlander for the Black Redstart:

Bird News Tuesday 17th January

 The Marsh Harrier was showing well in front of the viewing platform at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Kenny Moore). A Chiffchaff was near the hide. (Ed O'Hara, Comghal McQuillan).

The Black Redstart, five Twite and two Purple Sandpipers were still at Whitehead seafront today. (Kevin Kirkham).

The Russian Whitefront, three Pinkfeet and single Barnacle Goose were with Greylags at Tunney Cut near Portmore. (Ed O'Hara, Comghal McQuillan).

There was no sign of the Ferruginous Duck at Ballysaggart Lough this morning but a Ring-billed Gull was present. (Garry Wilkinson).

A Chiffchaff was at Strickland's Glen, Bangor. (Derek Polley)

Thanks to Kevin Kirkham for the picture of the Black Redstart, to Garry Wilkinson for the picture of the Water Rail and to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Russian Whitefront, Pinkfeet , Chiffchaff and Great Spotted Woodpecker:

Bird News Monday 16th January

A Slavonian Grebe was at Dargan in Belfast Lough. (Kevin Kirkham). 

A Barnacle Goose with c130 Greylag Geese at Flatfield (Jim Wells).

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker coming to feeder in Dunmurray garden (Christopher Acheson).

Three Pink-footed Geese, a Greenland White-fronted Goose and a Barnacle Goose were with large numbers of Whooper Swans and Greylags at Tunney Cut, near Portmore. The female Marsh Harrier remained at Portmore Lough RSPB (David Nixon and Philip McHaffie). Also a Hen Harrier here (Gerry Judge).

Two Black-throated Divers showing well at O’Kanes Lay-by, Red Bay this afternoon, also five Common Scoter present (David Steele).

A Woodcock flew over the Beltoy Road, close to Lough Mourne, circa 5:15pm this evening. (Kevin Kirkham)

A Short-eared Owl was hunting on the eastern slope of Divis Mountain this afternoon (Margaret McLachlan)

A Barnacle Goose and 6 Scaup were at Dargan today (Kevin Mawhinney)

Bird News Sunday 15th January

The drake Ferruginous Duck is still present on Ballysaggart Lough, Dungannon. (Jeff Larkin). It was still showing well this afternoon (Michael Latham / Brian McCloskey)

The Great Egret was at Mullagh,  Lough Beg. The Green Sandpiper was feeding in a flooded field downstream of Slaght Bridge, Ballymena (Richard Gray)

4 Ring-necked Duck (1 male, 3 female/juv), 14 Scaup and 2 Goosander were on Lough Fern, Co Donegal (Jamie Bliss)

An Iceland Gull was at RSPB WoW late afternoon (Daniel Newton)

The Black Redstart, 3 Purple Sandpiper and 2 Red Throated Diver were at Whitehead Promenade today. A high count of 230 Dunlin were also present (Cameron Moore)

The Black Redstart was still in Newcastle Harbour (Richard Caves)

23 REd-throated Diver were at Greenisland (Gerard McGeehan)

Blog readers may be interested in this report on rare birds in Ireland in 2022: https://band.us/band/81990195/post/3306

Ferruginous Duck, Jeff Larkin:

Michael Latham, Ferruginous Duck:

Iceland Gull, Daniel Newton:

Black Redstart, Richard Caves:

Further pics of local birds are at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Saturday 14th January

Eight Twite were at the boatyard in Whitehead. (Daniel Newton).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was along the Newry Canal at Acton Lake, Poyntzpass. (Mark Killops).

The Black Redstart was still at Newcastle harbour. (Michael Latham).

The Spotted Redshank was at the high tide roost in Dundrum South Inner Bay. (David Nixon).

Five Ring-necked Parakeets were at the waterworks on Antrim Road in Belfast. (Aaron Long).

A sinensis race Cormorant was in Alexander Park in Belfast before flying towards the waterworks. (Stuart McKee).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Black Redstart, to David Nixon for the picture of the Spotted Redshank and to Bill Guiller for the picture of the Ring-necked Parakeet:

Bird News Friday 13th January

A drake Ferruginous Duck is at Ballysaggart Lough, Dungannon (David Williamson)

A Red Kite without obvious wing tags observed over Monkstown being mobbed by two gulls (Kevin Rice).

Thanks to Guy Hamilton for the Brent Geese:

Bird News Thursday 12th January

Six Purple Sandpiper were on the rocks off Portmore Road, Portstewart (Sean Hickey)

The Glaucous Gull is still at Burger King, Coleraine (Martin Deehan)

The Common Sandpiper was still at Christie Park, Coleraine (Richard Donaghy)

The Marsh Harrier was still present at Portmore this afternoon (Richard Caves)

Marsh Harrier, Richard Caves:

Marsh Harrier, Gerry Judge:

Bird News Wednesday 11th January

Two male Goosander were at Lough Aghery near Annahilt this morning. (Kerry Leonard)

The Arctic Redpoll was still at Lenagh Road outside Antrim this morning.

Two Purple Sandpipers were just west of the marina in Bangor. (Derek Polley).

Two Great Northern Divers were near the harbour at Portballintrae. (Juliet Fleming)

A Peregrine was over Warrenpoint Golf Club this afternoon. (Mike McLaughlin).

Two Pinkfeet were at Knockninny, Derrylin in Co. Fermanagh. (Ronan Owens).

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker from Ballinacor outside Lurgan:

Bird News Tuesday 10th January

Late news from yesterday of female Marsh Harrier still at Portmore Lough (Gerry Judge).

Just outside the region the Tundra Bean Goose still at Big Isle, Lough Swilly, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram).

The Arctic Redpoll was again in the bonfire field adjacent to Lenagh Road this morning at Dunsilly.

At least six Ring-necked Parakeets at Waterworks, Belfast (Stuart McKee).

Nine Twite at Whitehead boatyard and the Purple Sandpiper still with the Dunlin flock this afternoon (David Clarke).

The regular Glaucous Gull and wintering Common Sandpiper were both observed in Coleraine today (John Clarke).

Thanks to Stuart McKee for the Ring-necked Parakeet photo:

Bird Walk at 12-2 on Sunday 22nd January at RSPB WoW organised by BTO (aimed at Beginners)

 

Bird News Monday 9th January

Black Redstart still at Whitehead also two Twite (Kevin Kirkham).

Late news for yesterday of 17 White-fronted Geese again on Rathlin (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Arctic Redpoll still at Dunsilly in the bonfire field this afternoon (Chris Hamilton).

Skein of 13 probable Pink-footed Geese over Newtownards Floodgates this morning (Ian McKee).

A female Brambling was in with the small Chaffinch flock on the east side of Hillsborough Lake below the beeches halfway along (Garry Wilkinson).

Copeland Bird Observatory Winter Talks

CBO Winter talks are back. Join us on 18th January, 7:30pm at the Queens MBC building in the North Lecture Theatre, (97 Lisburn Road, Belfast).

 Steven Fyffe will be giving a virtual tour of the island and an update on Observatory life.

Admission is £2.00, free car parking and teas/coffee and biscuits provided.

Bird News Sunday 8th January

The Arctic Redpoll sowed briefly this notation Lenagh Road, Dunsilly (Bob Watts / Garry Armstrong)

The Bonaparte’s Gull was again at Ballygally (Philip West / Bob Watts)

A Slavonian Grebe was off Glynn in Larne Lough. Three Crossbills were in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

The Spotted Redshank was at Dundrum inner Bay south, seen from the wooden footbridge along the path by the football pitch. The Black Redstart is still at Newcastle harbour. (Daniel Newton).

Orlock Point had 2 Black-throated Diver, a male Merlin, Whimbrel and 4 Jack Snipe. (Billy Miskelly).

The Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine were at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Alan Dickson).

8 Twite and a Purple Sandpiper were at Whitehead. (Bob Watts).

6 Pinkfeet and a Whitefront were at Ballyquintin. (Richard Weyl).

2 Common Scoters were close in off Tweeds Port above Larne. (Ivan Quail, Nicky Lynn).

The Black Redstart was at Whitehead. (Jeff Larkin).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Slavonian Grebe:

Bird News Saturday 7th January

The Marsh Harrier was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve this morning. (Kenny Moore).

A Black-throated Diver was at Sandy Bay, Larne. A Goosander was off Glynn. (Kevin Kirkham).

The Arctic Redpoll is still at Lenagh Road outside Antrim. (Bob Watts / Brian McCloskey / Brian Carruthers)

The Bonaparte’s Gull is still at Ballygally (Brian Carruthers / Bob Watts)

The hybrid Ring-billed Gull was at Millisle yesterday (George Gordon)

The female Smew was still at the south end of Lough Beg today and Spotted Redshank still at Mullagh (David Steele)

2 Ring-necked Parakeets around the lower pond at the Antrim Road waterworks, Belfast. (Derek Polley)

Ring-necked Duck 2.5 miles south of Enniskillen at Balenaleck

Black Redstart still at Newcastle Harbour. At least four Goosanders including a drake at Lough island Reavy (Daniel Newton)

Sixteen Twite with Linnets at Whitehead boatyard (David McCreedy)

Spring Grove Forest, Rosslea, Co Fermanagh had a Crossbill. (Colin Bell)

2 Slavonian Grebe were off Belfast Harbour (Stuart McKee).

A pair of Whooper Swans were at Lough Natroey, Jenkin Forest near Fivemiletown. (Colin Bell)

This juvenile female Great Spotted Woodpecker was trapped and ringed in a garden in Dumurry, Chris Acheson:

Twite Whitehead

Buzzard - Colin Mayes

Arctic Redpoll - Paul Keogh

Bird News Friday 6th January

 The Bonaparte's Gull was still at Ballygally this morning. (Andrew Crutchley). The bird was present to 1.30 at least. (Mark Stewart).

The Arctic Redpoll is still at Lenagh Road outside Antrim. (Ed O'Hara).

A male Great Spotted Woodpecker was visiting a garden outside Annahilt. (Garry Wilkinson).

Seven Twite were at the boatyard in Whitehead. Two Black-throated Divers were off the Chaine Memorial tower in Larne. (Ed O'Hara).

The Black Redstart and Purple Sandpipers are still at Newcastle harbour. (Garry Wilkinson).

The Russian Whitefront was with the Barnacle and Greylags in a field near Portmore. (Michael Latham).

A male Snow Bunting was at Kebble Lough on Rathlin. (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

A Whimbrel and 2 Black-throated Divers were at Donaghadee Sound. (Stephen Foster, Abbie Kilgore).

The Marsh Harrier was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve at first light this morning. (Ryan Holgate).

Ballyquintin Point this morning had 1 Greenland White-fronted Goose and 1 Pink-footed Goose. Stubble fields had 200+ Skylark and 400+ Linnet. (Ian Enlander).

A Whimbrel was at Ballygally. (David Gillespie).

Six Crossbills and two Woodcock were at Jenkin Forest near Fivemiletown. (Colin Bell).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Russian Whitefront and to Mark Stewart for the pictures of the Bonaparte's Gull:

Bird News Thursday 5th January

The Bonaparte’s Gull was still at Ballygally this morning (Andrew Crutchley)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was visiting a garden in Dunmurry this morning (Chris Acheson)

The Lesser Scaup is off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island (Ed O'Hara).

The Arctic Redpoll is again at Lenagh Road, Dunsilly (Tony Dodds \ Michael Latham \ David Steele \ Ross McLaughlin)

A Hen Harrier and female Marsh Harrier on show at Portmore Lough this afternoon. (Steven Fyffe \ Richard Caves)

Arctic Redpoll, Michael Latham:

Arctic Redpoll, David Steele:

Arctic Redpoll, Ross McLaughlin:

More pictures are at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Wednesday 4th January

The Bonaparte’s Gull was showing well at Ballygally this morning (Tony Dodds)

The Arctic Redpoll (probable Coue’s, exilipes race) was showing well from late morning/early afternoonat Dunsilly, Co Antrim (Tony Dodds, Bob Watts, Dave Fox, Mark Stewart et al). Viewable from the slip road to the works yard overlooking the Bonfire/Horse field. Please do not park on the grass verges no enter the driveway of the house.

Four Ring-necked Parakeets were at Belfast Waterworks (Orla McAllister)

A single Barnacle Goose with approx. 250 Greylags at Annaghroe, Co. Tyrone. (David Knight)

A drake Goosander roosted at Castle Park, Newcastle this evening (Suzanne Belshaw).

Arctic Redpoll, all pics by Tony Dodds: 

(The size difference with the Lesser Redpolls is very clear in the above picture)

NIOC Meeting at Belfast Lough RSPB - WoW - 4th January at 730pm

Presented by Catherine Jardine of Birds Canada.

£1 to NIOC members, £3 non-members.

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System (motus.org) is a collaborative global network using automated radio telemetry to track small flying organisms (birds, bats, and insects). Motus answers fundamental research questions underpinning conservation, animal movement and behaviour, from local to global scales.

The Motus system has four unique characteristics:

1. lightweight tracking devices can be safely fitted to the smallest birds, bats and larger insects;

2. it enables high resolution tracking in time and space;

3. the infrastructure, technology and data are affordable and accessible; and

4. individual contributions are magnified through a diverse, networked community of people working cooperatively toward shared science and conservation objectives.

Motus uses digitally-coded radio tags that emit signals on a single frequency, detectable at ranges of up to 20km by an open-source network of receiving stations, unlike traditional VHF radio telemetry, where tags emit pulses on different frequencies. This enables thousands of animals of hundreds of species to be tracked simultaneously. Irrespective of where an animal has been tagged, be it northern Europe or southern Chile, all data are processed centrally and returned to the user. Participants in the network set up receivers and deploy registered tags for their own purposes, and in doing so leverage the time and effort of other users, with mutually reciprocal benefits. Join Catherine Jardine from the Birds Canada Motus team to learn more about the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, the current state of the network in Europe and examples of how Motus optimizes scarce research and conservation funds to answer conservation and research questions.

Bird News Tuesday 3rd January

The Black Redstart is still at Newcastle Harbour. 5 Great Northern Divers were also present (Daniel Newton).

The probable Coue’s Arctic Redpoll still present with Chaffinches and Redpolls in the horse/bonfire field at Dunsilly, on Lenagh Road (Andrew Crutchley).

The Bonaparte’s Gull remains viewable from the car park at Ballygally Hotel (Andrew Crutchley).

Bird News Monday 2nd January

The Bonaparte’s Gull was showing well at Ballygally today (Ivan Quail / Arron Long)

The Black Redstart was showing well alng the promenade wall this morning. There were also 8 Twite at the boat yard. (Robert McDowell)

The probable Coues Arctic Redpoll was seen briefly this morning (Nigel Moore / Richard Gray). With fog, viewing conditions have been poor. The bird then showed well again this afternoon in the field with the horses (Stuart McKee / Peter Phillips)

A Little Gull was at Ballyholme beach. (James Andrew).

8 Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks beside the Belfast end of the pond between Whiteabbey and Hazelbank Park. (Tim Davis)

2 Slavonian Grebe were in Greyabbey Bay, 2 Carrion Crow at Strangford. A 200+ mixed finch flock near Killyleagh included 30 Yellowhammer. A Sandwich Tern was at Killyleagh rope walk. (Derek Polley)

A Hen Harrier was at Reedy Flats (Comghal McQuillan)

A Common Sandpiper was seen at the Cutts Coleraine today (Ian Mercer)

We are sorry to learn of the death of Don Scott and pass our condolences to his family. Don was an expert on Hen Harriers and had spent a lot of time studying them throughout NI.

Hen Harrier, Comghal McQuillan:

Presumed Coues Arctic Redpoll, Stuart McKee:

Coues Arctic Redpoll, Peter Phillips:

Bird News Sunday 1st January

Late news from yesterday of a drake Ring-necked Duck still 3 miles south of Enniskillen at Mill Lough.

The Marsh Harrier and the Barnacle Goose were at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Alan Dickson, Ed O'Hara, Garry Armstrong).

The Long-tailed Duck is still off the Amici restaurant (Donna Riddell).

Arctic Redpoll feeding at top end of field 100m left or original location (field with bonfire in it). Flock is ranging over a large area and appeared for ten minutes late morning (Richard Hunter). The bird was seen again in the bonfire field this afternoon. (Garry Wilkinson, Derek Brennan, Theo Campbell).

Black Redstart still at Newcastle Harbour (Daniel Newton).

12 Goosander Lough Island Reevy (4m, 8f) (Daniel Newton).

The Black Redstart and five Twite were at Whitehead and the redhead Goosander and a Slavonian  Grebe were at Glynn in Larne Lough. (Shirley Dunlop, Gerard McGeehan)

The ringtail Hen Harrier was seen again at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Ed O'Hara).

The Bonaparte's Gull was still at Ballygally (Michael Latham / Dave Craig). The Black Redstart, 7 Twite and a Purple Sandpiper were at Whitehead and 2 Brambling in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham).

At least 4 quite probably more Brambling with a large flock of Chaffinch along the Clandeyboye Way by Blackwood Golf Course. (James Andrew).

18 Crossbills were in Spruce trees 1km east of Killylane reservoir. (Paul Tout).

At least 8 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks beside the Belfast end of the pond between Whiteabbey and Hazelbank Park. (Tim Davis).

The juvenile Iceland Gull was still at Enniskillen dump today. (Ronan Owens).

We wish everyone a happy new year and thank all contributors for their news and photographs over the last year.

Thanks to Derek Brennan for the pictures of the Arctic Redpoll and to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Bonaparte's Gull, Brambling and Twite: