Bird News Tuesday 22nd August

An eclipse male American Wigeon was at Lough Beg this afternoon, it was with Eurasian Wigeons on the main lake south of Church Island. Also today high site counts of 102 Little Egrets and 14 inland Turnstones. (David Steele).

A Whimbrel dropped into Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve briefly this morning. (Daniel Newton).

Yesterday a Merlin was on Rathlin. Also an injured Short-eared Owl was found, possibly from a collision with a powerline, unfortunately the bird subsequently died. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The Black-headed Wagtail was still at Myroe this morning. (Jim Dowdall)

A Little Stint is by the pump house at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Chris Ingram).

The Black-winged Pratincole has been refound at Farland Bank at Inch Lake in Donegal. (Chris Ingram).

The Osprey is still at the Bann Estuary. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop). Four Whimbrel were also at the Bann Estuary. (Aaron Long).

An adult Roseate Tern was with Sandwich and Common Terns near the old pier at the Bann Estuary. The Osprey flew over Ballywollen Road heading towards Binevenagh. (Dean Jones).

The Black-headed Wagtail was still at Myroe at 5.30 this evening. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).

Two Black Terns were at the Barmouth this evening. (Richard Donaghey).

A Black Tern is at Kinnegar shore this evening. (Emma Mulholland, Matthew Flood).

A single Ruff was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve this evening. (Richard Caves)

Thanks to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Whimbrel, to Richard Caves for the picture of the Ruff and to John Spratt for the pictures of the Black-headed Wagtail:

Bird News Monday 21st August

The Osprey remains at the Bann Estuary this morning (Donna & Stephen Riddell). This bird was ringed in June 2012 at the nest at Dornoch Firth, N Scotland (Aaron Long).

4 Ruff ringed last night Bann Estuary (Richard Donaghey).

Today at the Barmouth roosts Juvenile Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Red-throated Diver, 4 Common Sandpipers, Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Tern, c20 Arctic Tern, c180 Sandwich Tern, 2 Wheatear (Richard Donaghey).

Adult moulting male Black-headed Wagtail still at Myroe Levels this afternoon. Also 2 Spotted Redshank on the shore (Brian Murphy).

22 Mediterranean Gulls on rocks south of Portavogie (Dermot Hughes).

No sign of the juvenile White-winged Black Tern at Lough Beg with one Green Sandpiper present (David Steele).

Black Tern Kinnegar Shore this evening (Tony Dodds).

Short-eared Owl Rathlin but severely injured after presumed collision with power lines (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Little Gull, Richard Donaghey:

Osprey, Donna & Stephen Riddell:

Aaron Long:

Black Tern, Tony Dodds:

Bird News Sunday 20th August

A juvenile White-winged Black Tern is at Lough Beg, ranging widely over the south end of the lake...not in view at 12:45 but likely still in the area. (David Steele) The bird was last seen heading towards Paddy's Dub so probably best to try from the farm at Annagh, wellies definitely needed. At 3:05 the bird flew past Paddy's Dubh towards Church Island (Tony Dodds / Ian Young)

Still at least 5 Black Terns off the breakwater behind the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong)

An Osprey and a Garganey were also at Lough Beg (David Steele)  

The Osprey is still fishing at the Bann Estuary this morning (Dean Jones). The bird was still present at 4:30 (Stephen Dunbar)

A Ruff was at RSPB WoW (Daniel Newton)

An Osprey is off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara). Later two Osprey were seen over the marina at Oxford Island. (Ed O’Hara)

2 Black Tern and 4 Little Terns at Magilligan this morning (Stephen Riddell)

Portmuck this morning had 9 Storm Petrels, 2 Black Terns, a Bonxie & 2 Whimbrel (Kevin Kirkham)

The Black-headed Wagtail has been seen again at Myroe (Martin Deehan). The bird was showing well again at 1:30 (Dean Jones / Richard Gray). Still present 1930 (Wilton Farrelly).

Two Black Terns are also off Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (Garry Armstrong)

Black-headed Wagtail, Martin Deehan:

Black-headed Wagtail, Dean Jones:

White-winged Black Tern, David Steel

White-winged Black Tern, David Steel

Whimbrel, Kevin Kirkham

Little Tern, Donna Riddell

Bar-tailed Godwit & Sanderling, Donna Riddell

Osprey, Ed O'Hara

Ruff, Linda Thompson

Bird News Saturday 19th August

A Bonaparte's Gull was at Kinnegar shore this morning. (Daniel Newton). The Bonaparte's Gull returned on the falling tide, also present were a Ruff, Sanderling and a Spotted Flycatcher. (Stuart Cossey).

An Alpine Swift was with a Common Swift at Ballyconagan on Rathlin this afternoon. (Niamh McDevitt)

Four Black Terns were off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island, a LittleTern was also present. At least another 15 Black Terns were off the breakwater at the back of the Discovery Centre.  (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara). At least 2 of the Black Terns were still off the Croaghan hide this afternoon. (David McCreedy, Michael Latham, Mark Smiles).

Magilligan Point had at least 10 Black Terns, 4 Little Terns, 3 Arctic Skua's and 32 Storm Petrels. (Dean Jones). At least 4 Black Terns, 4 Little Terns and 2 Storm Petrels were still present this afternoon. (Richard Grey).

A single Black Tern and 22 Ruff at Lough Beg this morning. (Richard Hunter).

3 Arctic Skuas and 3 Storm Petrels were at St John's Point this morning. (Stephen Dunbar).

Two Black Terns, a Common Tern, juvenile Mediterranean Gull, a Garganey and 45 Ruff were at Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).

Two Black Terns and two Little Terns were at Portmore Lough RSPB this afternoon. Another Black Tern was briefly at Lady Bay. (Garry Armstrong).

A Spotted Flycatcher was at Oxford Island. (Conor McCoy).

An Arctic Skua was at Briggs Rocks this morning. (Richard Weyl)

Four juvenile Ruff were on the seaward side of the Roe estuary and 5 Goosanders, a female and 4 juveniles, were at Ballykelly. (Richard Grey).

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Chris Ingram).

An adult Sabine's Gull was off Fanad in Donegal. (Wilton Farrelly).

An Osprey was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve this afternoon. (Aaron Long, Kevin Rice, Michael Latham).

An Osprey was at Seaghan in Co. Armagh. (John Anderson).

At least one Black Tern was at Kinnegar shore this evening. (Aaron Long).

A Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Sanderling and an Arctic Skua were at Portballintrae this afternoon. (Matthew Flood).

Thanks to Daniel Newton and Stephen Maxwell for the pictures of the Bonaparte's Gull, to Niamh McDevitt for the pictures of the Alpine Swift, to Donna Riddell for the pictures of the Arctic Skua and the Black Tern and to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Osprey:

Daniel Newton

Daniel Newton

Daniel Newton

Stephen Maxwell

Stephen Maxwell

Bird News Friday 18th August

The Little Tern at Magilligan shows features of Least Tern. If anyone was able to hear or record the call, it would be greatly appreciated.

Yesterday a Pink-footed Goose was at Kinramer, Rathlin (Ric Else)

A Little Tern and dark phase Arctic Skua are at Magilligan (Jonny Rosborough)

An adult Sabines Gull was at Castlerock beach (Jonny Rosborough)

Two Whimbrel and two Carrion Crow were at Ballywalter Beach (Garry Wilkinson)

A high count of 75 juvenile Ruff were at Lough Beg today. Four Garganey were also seen. (David Steele)

Two Storm Petrels and a Little Tern were at St Johns Point this evening (Chris Murphy)

Little / Least Tern, Magilligan, Donna Riddell:

Little Tern, Jonny Rosborough:

Sabines Gull, Jonny Rosborough:

Arctic Skua, Jonny Rosborough

Bird News Thursday 17th August

A moulting adult American Golden Plover was photographed yesterday afternoon flying down the channel between Dundrum Inner and Outer Bays. (Terry Hanna).

An Osprey flew over Rue Point on Rathlin today at 1.30 heading towards the mainland. (Philip McHaffie & David Nixon).

62 Ruff, including at least 50 juveniles, were at Lough Beg this afternoon, 3 Garganey were also present. (David Steele).

 3 Common Sandpipers were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Derek Polley).

A high count of 645 Ringed Plover were at Killough Harbour. Best of a one hour sea-watch at St John's Point from 12 noon: 2,200 Manx Shearwaters, an Arctic Skua, 10 Arctic Terns, a Kestrel and a Merlin (Chris Murphy, David Clarke, Bill Mitchell)

Thanks to Terry Hanna for the pictures of the pictures of the American Golden Plover and to David Clarke for the picture of the Gannets:

Bird News Wednesday 16th August

A Hobby seen from the Cairnrayn to Belfast ferry flying towards the Northern Irish coastline reported at 1232 (Gyorgy Szimuly via eBird).

A Spotted Flycatcher at Carrick Lough, Creeshlough, Co Donegal (Mike McLaughlin).

Knot, Donna Riddell:

Bird News Tuesday 15th August

An Osprey and Roseate Tern are at the Bann Estuary. Also present was a Whimbrel and 3 Ruff (Dean Jones)

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

The adult American Golden Plover is still at Myroe. (João Brito). The bird was still there this evening (Michael Hoit)

8 Common Sandpiper were at Seaghan Dam this morning (John Anderson)

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Bird News Monday 14th August

 The Black-winged Pratincole remains at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).

The Antrim hills had a juvenile Hen Harrier, Peregrine, 9 Red Grouse and a Spotted Flycatcher. (Stuart Cossey).

A juvenile Ruff and two Common Sandpipers were at the Bann Estuary this morning. (Theo Campbell).

Two light phase and a dark phase Arctic Skua were chasing terns distantly off Magilligan this afternoon. (John Clarke).

There was no sign of the American Golden Plover or the Yellow Wagtail at Myroe this morning. (Mike McLaughlin).

Thanks to John Clarke for the pictures of the Arctic Skuas:

Bird News Sunday 13th August

The adult American Golden Plover remains at Myroe. Also five Meds and a Whimbrel at Myroe, seven Meds, six adults and a juvenile at Ballykelly. (Stuart McKee / Garry Armstrong). The American Golden Plover was still present this afternoon (Aaron Long / Jeff Larkin)

The Black-winged Pratincole is still at Blanketnook, at the Moyle end (Sean Farrell / Aaron Long)

Rocky Point, Donegal between 8am-10am, wind in WSW winds had 20 Sooty Shearwater, 8 Cory's Shearwater, 1 Great Shearwater, 2 Bonxie, 2 Storm Petrel and 11 Whimbrel (John O'Boyle)

Lough Beg this morning had 19 juvenile Ruff and the first juvenile Black-tailed Godwits of the autumn. (David Steele)

A very distant Yellow Wagtail (not the Black-headed), was on the turf fields south of Shore Ave, Myroe (Jeff Larkin / Aaron Long)

An adult Med Gull was at the flooded meadows, Canal Bank Poyntzpass. (Joe Devlin)

Bird News Saturday 12th August

The American Golden Plover was still in the ploughed field north of Shore Avenue at Myroe this morning. (Mark Smiles). The Plover was still present at 1pm but was distant. (Mervyn & Susanne Guthrie). The Plover was still present at 8.45pm. (Chris Murphy).

The Black-winged Pratincole is still present at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Andrew McMillan).

Three Ruff were at the Bann Estuary this morning. (Aaron Long).

A juvenile Golden Eagle was seen at  approximately 2pm flying north between Foreglen and Derry along the new bypass, then veered off in an eastern direction. (Michael Holgate).

An Osprey flew west over Lough Swilly at 5pm, a Green Sandpiper and six Ruff were also present. (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to David McCreedy for the picture of the Kestrel:

Bird News Friday 11th August

The Black-winged Pratincole is still at Blanketnook, Donegal. 14 Ruff are also present. (Chris Ingram)

The Bann had 4 Whimbrel and a juv Kittiwake this morning along with three Ruff. No sign of Franklin's Gull in three hour search early morning. (John Spottiswood). A Curlew Sandpiper was also present (Martin Deehan)

Whimbrel are on the move with good numbers seen flying in to Lough Foyle at Magilligan (John Clarke)

A Great White Egret is at the Quoile, at Steamboat Quay (Garry Wilkinson)

Common Sandpiper, Stephen Maxwell:

Bird News Thursday 10th August

An adult American Golden Plover is at Meroe - a different bird to that previously seen this summer. A light phase Arctic Skua was at Magilligan (Theo Campbell / Richard Smyth / Derek Brennan)

The best at RSPB WoW this morning was a Common Sandpiper and 2 Arctic Tern (Derek Polley)

An Osprey was at Lough Beg this afternoon, it was an adult bird but a different individual to the one observed on 5th August. Also seen were at least a dozen Ruff including the first juveniles of the autumn(David Steele)

A Franklins Gull was at the Bann Estuary this evening at 9pm (John Spottiswood)

American Golden Plover, Derek Brennan:

Franklins Gull, John Spottiswood:

Bird News Wednesday 9th August

 A single Whimbrel was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve and a summer plumaged Knot at Kinnegar shore. (Daniel Newton).

The Black-winged Pratincole is still at Blanket Nook in Donegal along with a Green Sandpiper, the White-tailed Eagle and eight Ruff. (Derek Brennan). The Black-winged Pratincole and the White-tailed Eagle were still present this evening. (Eric Randall).

A Little Gull was at Magilligan this morning. (Stephen & Donna Riddell).

A Black-throated Diver was also at Magilligan. (John Clarke).

An adult Roseate Tern and a Curlew Sandpiper were at the Bann Estuary. (Dean Jones).

Thanks to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the summer plumaged Turnstone:

Bird News Tuesday 8th August

The Black-winged Pratincole is still at the Moyle end of Blanket Nook, Co Donegal though elusive (Robert Vaughan).

One Whimbrel seen flying inland at Whiterock Bay (Aaron Long).

Peregrine, Jason Bain:

Bird News Monday 7th August

The Black-winged Pratincole remains at Blanket Nook, Co Donegal (BAND).

A single Sooty Shearwater flew east past Groomsport (James Andrew).

A Barn Owl flew past the kitchen window at 8pm on the Seven Mile Straight, Crumlin (Gregory Heaney).

A single Ruff still on the Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood).

Bird News Sunday 6th August

The Black-winged Pratincole remains at the Moyle end of Blanket Nook, Co Donegal (Robert Vaughan).

Several Hen Harriers in the Antrim Hills (Michael Latham).

Pale phase Arctic Skua Magilligan Point (Tom Garner).

Ruff at Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood).

A Little Gull and 5 bMediterranean Gulls at Ballykelly this morning (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

Hen Harrier mobbed by Kestrel, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 5th August

The American Golden Plover is still in the ploughed field at Myroe. (Dean Jones).

The Black-winged Pratincole is still at Blanket Nook in Donegal. It is roosting at the Newton end. (Derek Brennan). A Baird's Sandpiper is at the grange end of Blanket Nook. (Chris Ingram).

An Osprey was at Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).

A Whimbrel was at Dundrum Inner Bay North this afternoon. (Graham McElwaine).

Bird News Friday 4th August

The Wood Sandpiper is still in flooded meadows at Canal Bank Road Poyntzpass. (Joe Devlin).

Circa 100 Sanderling are at Magilligan (Donna Riddell)

The Black-winged Pratincole is still at Blanketnook, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram)

The adult American Golden Plover is still in the ploughed field at Myroe.

Sanderling, Donna Riddell:

Bird News Thursday 3rd August

 The American Golden Plover is still in the ploughed field at Myroe. (David McCreedy). The American Golden Plover was still present at 4pm, the Black-headed Wagtail was also seen briefly in the harvested turf field at the Roe end. (Godfrey McRoberts).

A Wood Sandpiper is in flooded meadows at Canal Bank Road, Poyntzpass Co. Armagh. (Joe Devlin).

An adult Hobby was hunting Swallows on the Ballyutoag Road in the Belfast hills. (Dave Allen).

Three Common Sandpipers and two Arctic Terns are at Belfast lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Derek Polley).

The Black-winged Pratincole, five Ruff and the White-tailed Eagle were at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).

Thanks to Joe Devlin for the picture of the Wood Sandpiper and to David McCreedy for the picture of the American Golden Plover:

Bird News Wednesday 2nd August

Late news from Monday night of a Barn Owl along the Drakes Bridge Road, Crossgar (Ivan Cullen).

Mediterranean Gull with ring but too distant to read at Portstewart also 2 juvenile Peregrines (John Clarke).

A White-tailed Eagle with a yellow wing tag was seen over Naan Island, Upper Lough Erne at 1030 (Matthew Flood).

Pale morph Arctic Skua west off Castlerock coastguard lookout 9pm (John Spottiswood).

Mediterranean Gull, John Clarke:

Bird News Tuesday 1st August

A Pomarine Skua flew west up Belfast Lough this morning (James Andrew).

The Black-winged Pratincole remains at Blanket Nook, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram). Still present this evening showing very well in flight (Ronan McLaughlin & Mark Cullen).

Sea watching yesterday off Rathlin looking across the North Channel included a Great Skua and two distant Arctic Skuas, also Storm Petrels (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Egyptian Goose opposite to GAA club, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal (Mike McLaughlin).

The adult American Golden Plover remains late evening at Myroe Levels at the north Roe end in the penultimate (ploughed) field (John Spottiswood).

Black-winged Pratincole, Ronan McLaughlin:

Egyptian Goose, Mike McLaughlin: