Bird News Sunday 21st July

The Osprey remains at Portmore Lough RSPB (Ryan Holgate). Still present early afternoon (Wilton Farrelly).

An unseasonal Pale-bellied Brent Goose at the Barmouth this morning (Dean Jones).

2 adult Little Gull and 2 Stock Dove at Lady Bay (Wilton Farrelly). A single Common Sandpiper (Richard Caves).

2 Whimbrel Bar Hall Bay. 2+ Whimbrel heard Templecooey. Whimbrel & Common Sandpiper Kearney (Bob Watts).

Single Common Sandpiper on Muck Island and probable dark phase Arctic Skua distantly beyond Muck Island (Aaron Long).

A Whimbrel, Carrion Crow and 2 Carrion Crow x Hooded Crow hybrids at Ardglass, another Carrion Crow at Coney Island (Dave Weir).

Kestrel at Holywood train station (Paula Campbell).

Kestrel at junction of Ballycreen and Ballynahinch Roads (Garry Wilkinson).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Dean Jones:

Bird News Saturday 20th July

2 Arctic Skuas, one dark one pale phase chasing Common Tern Portmuck and 2 Puffin drifted around the back of Muck Island (Ivan Quail). 

Single Ruff, 5 Common Sandpipers and 2 Arctic Terns at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW (Mike McLaughlin / Aaron Long). Nearby a minimum of 4 Common Sandpipers along the shoreline near the D3 car park (Stuart Cossey). 2 Common Sandpipers at Kinnegar Pools (Aaron Long).

Osprey still at Portmore Lough RSPB (Garry Armstrong).

3 Common Sandpipers at Lady Bay also 4 juvenile Little Egrets indicate breeding nearby (Garry Armstrong).

Common Sandpiper,  Mike McLaughlin. 

Bird News Friday 19th July

Late news from yesterday of an adult Short-eared Owl in wing moult on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson),

Ruff still at Belfast Lough WoW also 3 Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper (Michael Latham).

At Dundrum 2 Whimbrel and 4 Common Sandpipers at South Inner Bay and another 9 Common Sandpipers at the Ardilea/Blackstaff area of Inner Bay (David Nixon).

2 Common Sandpipers at Lady Bay this afternoon (Richard Caves).

Adult Mediterranean Gull still at Portrush (John Clarke).

9 Ruff and 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull at Lough Beg (David Steele).

Ruff and Greenshank, Michael Latham:

Common Sandpipers, Richard Caves:

Mediterranean Gull, John Clarke:

Bird News Thursday 18th July

Adult Mediterranean Gull East Strand car park Portrush (Stephen & Donna Riddell).

Single Ruff and Common Sandpiper at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve (Derek Polley). Also adult Mediterranean Gull, 198 Curlew, 300 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Bar-tailed Godwit, single Arctic Tern (Stuart McKee).

3 Common Sandpipers Kinnegar Pools (Ian Young / Bob Watts).

Great Spotted Woodpecker in a Lambeg garden (Noeni Bryars).

Wood Sandpiper still from Tready hide, Inch, Co Donegal (Derek Brennan).

3 Common Sandpipers Lady Bay (Aaron Long).

Mediterranean Gull, Stephen Riddell:

Bird Nws Wednesday 17th July

 The Ruff and a Common Sandpiper were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Aaron Long).

2 Common Sandpipers were at Shaw's Lake, Glenanne. (Rosie Mulholland).

The Wood Sandpiper was still off the viewing platform at Inch Lake in Donegal. (Theo Campbell). Still showing well off the Tready hide although can disappear behind the grass verge at times. (Derek Brennan).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the shore at Groomsport. (Derek Polley).

Wood Sandpiper, Derek Brennan.

Bird News Tuesday 16th July

The Wood Sandpiper is still at Inch, Co Donegal, viewable from the disabled access platform (Derek Brennan / Martin Deehan)

A male Ruff and two Common Sandpiper are at RSPB WoW. Two Common Sandpipers and 3 Stock Dove were at Kinnegar (Stuart McKee)

The Osprey was again at Portmore this morning, very distantly off the far bank across from the viewing platform. (Alan Fitzsimmons). The bird was still present this evening (Aaron Long)

A female Garganey and six Ruff (five moulting males and unusually an adult female) are at Lough Beg. (David Steele)

Two Storm Petrel were seen this evening on the Cairnryan to Larne ferry (Tom Garner)

A female Ring-necked Duck was at Toome, Lough Neagh.

There will be a boat trip to Tory this Saturday (20th July). The boat will sail around the high cliffs of the island. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details. 

Bird News Monday 15th July

 A Wood Sandpiper was off the viewing platform at Inch Lake in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).

Unusually a pair of Common Terns were on the island in Hillsborough Lake. (Garry Wilkinson).

A summering Whimbrel was at Church Bay on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Little Egret, Mel O'Hagan.

Bird News Sunday 14th July

The Osprey was still at Portmore Lough this morning (Michael Latham)

The Forsters Tern was again at Soldiers Point, Dundalk (Aidan Kelly)

Yesterday a presumed borealis Eider was at the pier at Inishbofin, Donegal (Wilton Farrelly)

A Whimbrel was at the Bann Estuary this evening (Aaron Long)

Presumed borealis Eider:

Kingfisher, Jonny Hanna:

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker, Hillsborough, Juliet Fleming:

Bird News Saturday 13th July

The Red-throated Diver was still at the Bann Estuary. (Aaron Long, Chris Rankin).

The Osprey is still at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. A single Ruff and 3 Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay. (Garry Armstrong).

2 Greenshank were with 300+ Black-tailed Godwits in Dargan Bay. (Richard Gray).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker is visiting a garden beside Woodburn Forest. (George Stewart).

A Common Sandpiper was at Ballyhenry Island, Portaferry. (Ian Young).

Bird News Friday 12th July

The Osprey is still at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Daniel Newton). The bird was still there this afternoon (John Spottiswood)

The Red-throated Diver was still off the Bann Estuary (Aaron Long)

An adult Little Gull is at the Bann Estuary (Dean Jones)

A Whimbrel was at Ardilea, Dundrum (David Nixon)

One of the Minke off West Light, Rathlin on Monday is now believed to be a Fin Whale (Viv Biazzaro)

Red-throated Diver, Michael Lathan:

Bird News Thursday 11th July

 A Great Spotted Woodpecker is visiting a garden in Lambeg. (Noeni Bryars).

A Green Sandpiper is still at the Blackstaff river near Clough, Co. Down. (Aaron Long).

A summer plumaged Red-throated Diver was off the hide at the Barmouth. A 2nd year Mediterranean Gull was at the old pier at the Estuary. (John Spottiswood).

The Osprey is at Portmore this afternoon. (Alan Dickson).

3 hybrid juvenile Carrion x Hooded Crows were at the Strangford ferry. (Stuart Cossey).

Goldcrest, Terry Hanna.

Bird News Wednesday 10th July

A Little Tern was at RSPB WoW at lunchtime (Gerard McGeehan). Three Common Sandpiper are also present.

2 Common Sandpiper were at Galwally Lake, Belfast (Aaron Long)

A Great Skua and a Storm Petrel were seen from a boat trip around Rathlin this morning (Stephen Riddell)

4 Common Sandpiper were on the River Bann near Corbett Lough (David McCreedy)

Great Skua, Stephen Riddell:

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

Bird News Tuesday 9th July

No sign of Green Sandpiper this morning at Belfast Lough WoW RSPB but 5 Common Sandpipers, 2 adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls still present, also 2 Common Sandpipers at Kinnegar Pools (Daniel Newton).

Late news from Monday of two young Long-eared Owls calling to the north of Long Point, Lough Beg and another two calling from Moyola Park, on the Knockloughrim Road (Chris Murphy).

Bird News Monday 8th July

Osprey still at Portmore RSPB getting mobbed by terns and moved to trees far right of platform but no sign of Little Ringed Plover (Ian Young / Michael Latham).

Forster’s Tern still at Soldiers Point, Dundalk but flew East mid morning (Mark Stewart).

Up to 2 Minke Whale off West Light, Rathlin (Viv Biazzaro). Also one Minke off Portstewart (Donna & Stephen Riddell)

There are 3 seats available on the round Rathlin boat trip on Saturday 13th July. Please contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details. 

Osprey, Michael Latham:

Forster’s Tern, Mark Stewart:

Bird News Sunday 7th July

A 2nd calendar year Little Ringed Plover is at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Alan Dickson).

A Little Tern, Roseate Tern, juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 2nd year Mediterranean Gull, 3 Common Sandpipers and 40 Knot were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Garry Armstrong, Gerard McGeehan).

The Osprey is still at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Ralph Walker).

At least 11 Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay this evening. (Garry Armstrong).

Little Ringed Plover, Michael Latham.

Common Sandpiper, Paul Hunter.

Bird News Saturday 6th July

The Forsters Tern was at Soldiers Point, Dundalk (Daniel Newton)

On Wednesday, a Ring-necked Parakeet was seen at the Donard Car Park, Newcastle (Sam Scott)

The Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel and 3 Whooper families were visible from Long Point, Lough Beg. A Spotted Flycatcher was in wood. (Richard Gray)

Circa 15 Storm Petrel were seen from the Liverpool to Belfast ferry, about 5 km south east of the Copelands (Pierre)

Forsters Tern, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 5th July

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Portmore this morning. (Ed O'Hara). However, no sign after 12 noon (Steven Farquhar). Still no sign by 5pm but Osprey present (Garry Armstrong). No further sign of LB Dowitcher 1845-1945 (John Spottiswood).

A single Common Sandpiper at Lady Bay (Steven Farquhar).

Adult Roseate Tern at the Bann Estuary early afternoon (Dean Jones).

2 Common Sandpiper and 33 Knot at Belfast Lough WoW RSPB (Stuart Cossey).

Pectoral Sandpiper (new bird) at Lough Beg (Chris & Tim Murphy / David Steele).

First Sooty Shearwater of the year off Rathlin this evening also a Whimbrel has been lingering (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Roseate Tern, Dean Jones:

Bird News Thursday 4th July

The Long-billed Dowitcher is at Portmore. (Gerry JUdge / David McCreedy / Mike McLaughlin). The bird was still present early evening and to 9pm (Daniel Newton / Nigel Moore)

3 Common Sandpiper were at Lady Bay (Ian Young)

RSPB WoW had a Common Sandpiper (Dot Blakely). The adult Med Gull pair and fledgling are also present (Bob Watts)

RSPB NI kindly asks for anyone visiting Lough Beg:

We appreciate that there have been a few interesting sightings of birds visiting the shores of Lough Beg, however, there are also a number of nationally important populations of breeding waders, including  Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe who are currently nesting in the area. Ground-nesting birds are incredibly susceptible to disturbances at this time and as they perceive humans as predators, they will respond accordingly, including disrupted behaviours, leaving nests and avoiding areas of valuable resources. 

As part of our commitment to safeguarding these species, RSPB NI asks that visitors to Lough Beg use only the designated path at Long Point Wood for views of the Lough, and refrain from accessing the shore via other routes as there is no public access to wet grassland or shore.

Long-billed Dowitcher, Gerry Judge:

Bird News Wednesday 3rd July

A Long-billed Dowitcher is at Portmore Lough RSPB this evening (Aaron Long)  The bird was still present at 9:45 (Michael Latham)

A Spotted Flycatcher is still in Antrim Castle Gardens. (Chris Hamilton).

The Quail was heard calling again from the farm gate at Annagh, Lough Beg. (Bob Watts).

A Great Skua was over the harbour on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Long-billed Dowitcher, Aaron Long.

Bird News Tuesday 2nd July

Quail still calling from SW corner of Lough Beg and a Spotted Flycatcher family but no sign of the Red-necked Phalarope (Tony Dodds / Ian Young). Quail still calling intermittently in the afternoon and also a Green Sandpiper (David Steele).

A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker visiting a garden between Hillsborough and Moira (Juliet Fleming).

Great Spotted Woodpecker:

Bird News Monday 1st July

The Red-necked Phalarope was seen again in the south west corner of Lough Beg (Mike McLaughlin/ David McCreedy)

The Quail was again calling at Paddy's Dubh, Lough Beg, this afternoon (Chris Murphy)

Quail calling video (volume needs to be at full strength):

Sparrowhawk with Starling, Ivan Daglish:

Bird News Sunday 30th June

The Quail was heard distantly from Paddy's Dubh at Lough Beg. (Bob Watts).

Bird News Saturday 29th June

Quail calling from Paddys Dubh, SW corner of Lough Beg but no sign of Red-necked Phalarope by 1015 though it has ranged widely during its stay (Daniel Newton).

Green Sandpiper still at River Blackstaff, Dundrum (Michael Latham).

Green Sandpiper, Michael Latham:

Yellowhammer, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 28th June

Both Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpipers are at the Blackstaff river, Dundrum Bay (Dermot Hughes)

The Red-necked Phalarope is still in the southwest corner of Lough Beg. A moulting male Ruff (a new bird) was also present and a female Greater Scaup was at the lake. (David Steele)

Red-necked Phalarope, David Steele:

Bird News Thursday 27th June

Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning had a Common Sandpiper, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Arctic Terns. (Derek Polley)

A female Marsh Harrier hovering near side of carriageway before Toome roundabout over a marshy area (Philip West)

The Red-necked Phalarope was still in the south west corner of Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele).

A Spotted Flycatcher was along the Newry Canal this evening. (Keith Bates & Julie Hillman).

Bird News Wednesday 26th June

The female Red-necked Phalarope was still in the south west corner of Lough Beg, giving good views (Clifford Sharpe / David McCreedy). It should be noted that this bird covers a wide area and in the last 24 hours has been seen at Church Island, Annagh and the Mullagh. The bird was still present at 8pm (John Spratt)

RSPB WoW had a Common Sandpiper and 8 Knot (Gerard McGeehan)

A single Brent Goose was at the Floodgates, Newtownards (Dermot Hughes)

A Long-eared Owl was at the Six Mile Water, Antrim (Willy White)

Red-necked Phalarope, David McCreedy:

Yellowhammer, William Smiton:

Bird News Tuesday 25th June

Red-necked Phalarope still in the SW corner of Lough Beg (Andrew Crory).

Sand Martin, Terry Hanna:

Bird News Monday 24th June

 The Red-necked Phalarope was seen distantly in the south west corner of Lough Beg, a Whooper Swan with young was also seen. (Bob Watts).

A Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank were at Lady Bay. There was no sign of the Osprey at Portmore. (Aaron Long).

A Corncrake was calling outside Crossgar. (Craig Nash).

3 Brent Geese were at Carrickfergus. (Paul McCullough).

Bird News Sunday 23rd June

The Red-necked Phalarope is still in the south-west corner of Lough Beg. (Jeff Larkin)

The Iceland Gull was still at Portballantrae (Stephen Riddell)

RSPB WoW had a Whimbrel and 23 Knot (Stuart Cossey)

Three Great Spotted Woodpecker have been visiting a garden at Killyleagh (Paul Megahey)

Two Twite were at Fair Head (To Garner)

The Red-throated Diver remains at Ballyholme, Bangor (David Rainey)

An Osprey was at RSPB Portmore this evening (Aaron Long)

A record shot of yesterdays Pectoral Sandpiper:

Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Paul Megahey:

Red-throated Diver, David Rainey:

Bird News Saturday 22nd June

Red-necked Phalarope still in SW corner of Lough Beg. There was also a Pectoral Sandpiper this evening though often elusive and 3 Ruff (David Steele).

Great Spotted Woodpecker family still frequenting a garden near Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson).

News from last night of a Long-eared Owl at Seagahan Reservoir, Co Armagh (John Anderson).

Approximately 5 pairs of Arctic Tern at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve also one Knot (Stuart McKee).

3 Common Sandpipers at Lady Bay (Garry Armstrong).

Red-throated Diver at Long Hole, Bangor (Peter Stanyon / Richard Weyl).

Great Northern Diver at Ballymacormack Point (Richard Weyl).

Common Sandpiper and reeling Grasshopper Warbler at the Bann Estuary (Aaron Long).

Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel and juvenile Wheatear at Tara near Portaferry (Dermot Hughes).

Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Garry Wilkinson:

Bird News Friday 21st June

 A Little Tern was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Stuart Cossey). The Little Tern is still present this evening. (Aaron Long). A Common Sandpiper was also present.

The Red-breasted Flycatcher is still on Tory. (Anton Meenan).

2 juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers are visiting a garden outside Hillsborough. A Common Sandpiper was on the rocks at Ballygally outfall. Another Common Sandpiper was at Cushendall beach. (Garry Wilkinson)

Little Tern, Michael Latham.

Kittiwake, Juliet Fleming

Bird News Thursday 20th June

A female Red-necked Phalarope was in the southwest corner of Lough Beg early evening. (David Steele). The bird was visible from Church Island at 7:45pm. Itsubsequently flew to the south east (Aaron Long)

A Common Rosefinch and Red-breasted Flycatcher are on Tory Island (Anton Meenan)

Red-necked Phalarope, David Steele:

More local bird pics are at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Wednesday 19th June

2 Grasshopper Warblers from new sites on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Bird News Tuesday 18th June

A Red-necked Phalarope was briefly off the hide at the Barmouth this morning (Dennis Weir). No sign 1345-1445 (Richard Donaghey). There was still no sign of the Phalarope this evening but a Brent Goose was present. (John Spottiswood).

 A Whimbrel was at Portstewart headland. (Chris Hamilton).

An adult and juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers were visiting a garden in Banbridge. (Kevin Maguire).

A Spotted Flycatcher was along the river trail at Clare Glen. (Garry Wilkinson)

A Spotted Flycatcher was at Antrim Castle Gardens. (Jeff Silvers).

Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Kevin Maguire.

Spotted Flycatcher, Jeff Silvers.

Bird News Monday 17th June

The Common Sandpiper remains at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh (Juliet Fleming)

Two Great Spotted Woodpecker were visiting a garden in Rostrevor (Catriona McLaughlin)  another was seen at a feeder at Cushendall (Paul Connolly)

Two Spotted Flycatcher were at Rowallane (Sharon Anderson)

Common Sandpiper, Juliet Fleming:

Bird News Sunday 16th June

Great Skua off Portstewart this morning (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

Great Spotted Woodpecker in a garden between Ardglass and Downpatrcik (Alex Simpson).

Common Sandpiper at Lady Bay (Garry Armstrong).

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Alex Simpson:

Bird News Saturday 15th June

A Glaucous Gull was at Portballintrae. (Jonny Rosborough).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Peatlands Park. (Bob Watts).

A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Dot Blakeley).

A Long-eared Owl was at Castle Espie this afternoon. (Jonathan Clark).

A Reed Warbler, possibly the first record, was on Rathlin. (Ric Else, Hazel Watson)

Long-eared Owl, Jonathan Clark.

Bird News Friday 14th June

Tullyhill, Kilclief had a Whimbrel and a Sanderling (Chris Murphy)

Kearney had 11 Sanderling (Dermot Hughes)

Yesterday the Bann Estuary had a Whimbrel (John Spottiswood)

Reed Warbler, Castle Island Hide, Quoile, Chris McNally:

Bird News Thursday 13th June

Stock Dove again calling from fields immediately adjacent to David Lloyd gym car park, Dundonald (Bob Watts).

St John’s Point 0915-45: 1200 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Puffin (Chris Murphy).

Great Spotted Woodpecker male feeding 2 juveniles in garden outside Moneymore yesterday (Godfrey McRoberts).

Yesterday afternoon at Davagh Forest 9 Crossbill, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and a single Cuckoo (Godfrey McRoberts).

At Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve the Mediterranean Gull pair now have one chick, there are 2 pairs of Arctic Tern and a Knot whilst a presumed feral Barnacle Goose briefly dropped in (Derek Polley).

The weather will improve and there are 4 seats available for the boat trip from Bangor to the Gobbins and Muck Island this Saturday. The boat leaves at 10an. Great opportunity to see and photograph Puffins. Phone Jim Wells on-07856235144 for full details.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Godfrey McRoberts: