Bird News Thursday 6th July

2 Sandwich Terns, the Little Gull & an Arctic Tern were at Rue Point on Rathlin yesterday (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A male Hen Harrier just west of Wolf Hill, Ligoneil, this afternoon, flying southwards (Garry Wilkinson)

The 1st year Little Gull and an Arctic Tern were still at Rue Point, Rathlin, today. A Chough was also heard in the area. (Colin Guy)

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for this pic of a male Whinchat:

Bird News Wednesday 5th July

The Spotted Redshank in summer plumage was again showing at Bann Estuary. Also the flock of c100 non-breeding Bar-tailed Godwits was still present.(Hill Dick).

2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers and 3 Med Gulls were at RSPB WOW (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Rod Gillan for the picture of the Black Guillemot.

Bird News Tuesday 4th July

7 Common Sandpipers were at Belfast Lough RSPB Reserve and 2 at Kinnegar Pools,this evening. (Daniel Newton).

2 Greenshank were at Lower Lough Erne islands RSPB reserve, Co Fermanagh (F. Cross)

Thanks to David Hill for the pictures of the Willow Warbler and the Swallow.

Bird News Monday 3rd July

2 Red Kites where at Leitrim,Castlewellan.(Paul Allen) see pic below

Bird News Sunday 2nd July

A summer plumaged Spotted Redshank was at the Bann Estuary (Jeff Larkin)

Thanks to Paul McSwiggan for this pic of  Long Eared Owl at Inch, Co Donegal:

Bird News Saturday 1st July

3 Common Sandpipers were at RSPB Belfast Lough Reserve. (Daniel Newton).

Several Reed Warblers were in the reed beds around Kinnegoe Hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

Below is one of the Reed Warblers from Oxford Island and thanks to Thomas Campbell for the picture of the Little Grebe and to Christine Cunningham for the picture of the Stonechat.

 

 

 

 

Bird News Friday 30th June

3 Common Sandpiper, 100+Black-tailed Godwits where at Dargan Bay Belfast.(Micheal Latham)

Grey Herons - Wilfred Swain.

Bird News Thursday 29th June

645 Black Tailed Godwit, 5 Common Sandpipers, 8 Curlew and a Dunlin were at Dargan Bay, Belfast Lough (Adam McClure)

Two Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper were on the North Down coastal path (Ronald Surgenor)

Don't forget that you can see more local bird pics at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for this pic of a Buzzard:

Bird News Wednesday 28th June

Rue Point, Rathlin Island this morning had a Little Gull, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 Arctic Skua (different bird to yesterday), 2 Great Skuas plus a Wigeon on Ushet Lough. (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

A Spotted Flycatcher was at the Cromore Estate, Portstewart. (Sean Hickey).

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the picture of the Lapwing and to Paul Allen for the picture of the Buzzard.

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Tuesday 27th June

A Balearic Shearwater was seen from the Rathlin Ferry this morning, in with feeding Manx, Auks and Kittiwakes. (Matthew Tickner)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for this pic of a Kingfisher and David Hill for the juvenile Wheatear:

Bird News Monday 26th June.

An Arctic Skua was chasing Kittiwakes distantly from the West Light this afternoon.
Yesterday 5 Great Skuas were flying around together over Kebble (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Bid News Sunday 25th June

The Little Ringed Plover was still in the south west corner of Lough Beg this evening (David Steele)

A Kingfisher and a Dipper were in Dromore Park, Dromore this morning. (Chris Rankin).

Thanks to Christine Beggs for the picture of the female Eider and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Stonechat.

 

 

Bird News Saturday 24th June

Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Kilhorne Bay immediately south of Annalong this morning. (Richard Gray).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Whinchat from Glendun, to William Smiton for the picture of the Sparrowhawk and to Thoams Campbell for the pictures of the Spotted Flycatcher and the Skylark:

Bird News Friday 23rd June

An adult male Little Ringed Plover was at Lough Beg in the southwest corner, showing well on the muddy area (David Steele)

6 Little Egrets have been feeding at the Floodgates, Newtownards (Tony Steed).

A 2nd year Glaucous Gull flew past Ramore Head in Portrush. (Colin Guy).

A Long-eared Owl was hunting around the Cultra Folk and Transport Museum this evening. (John Edwards)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Castle Archdale Country Park, Co Fermanagh today (Brad Robson)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of a Curlew.

 

Bird News Thursday 22nd June

At least 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in Grogey Forest, nr Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh (Clive Mellon)

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers were near the children's play park at the Stormont Estate (Harry Byron)

The Bann Estuary had a sizeable flock of 120 Bar-tailed Godwits, all birds in non-breeding plumage; also present 2 Greenshank. Longfield Point area held 7 singing male Reed Buntings. (Hill Dick/Peter Robinson)

You can share bird news and pics with other birders by sending to nibirds@live.co.uk

Thanks to Wilf Swain for this pic of Oystercatchers in flight:

Bird News Wednesday 21st June

On Rathlin both Little Gulls were still at Rue Point this afternoon. Three Knots were also present. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A Common Sandpiper was at Kinnegar Pools this evening. (Daniel Newton).

2 or 3 singing Garden Warblers were at Doohat Community Woodland (NT) near Newtownbutler, Co.Fermanagh. Blackcaps are abundant in the area. (Dermot Hughes)

Thanks to Ric for this picture of one of the Little Gulls and to Bill Guiller for the picture of the Common Sandpiper.

 

 

Birds of the Western Palearctic

A local birder has a full set of 9 volumes of Birds of the Western Palearctic for sale. All in very good condition with original dust covers.

If you are interested please contact the blog and we will pass on your details.

Bird News Tuesday 20th June

The Bonapartes Gull was at the Bann Estuary, early afternoon, off the Hide (Colin Guy)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Cairn Wood, Co Down (Wilton Farrelly)

4 Greenshank were at Lower Lough Erne Islands RSPB Reserve Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for this pic of a feeding Grey Heron:

Bird News Monday 19th June

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was on a telegraph pole near Lough Aghery, Annahilt this evening. (Gerard McLaughlin)

Two Spotted Flycatchers were in Antrim Castle Gardens today (Lilian Cummings)

Thanks to Ian Jackson for this pic of a Swift:

Boat Trip Tomorrow

There will be a boat trip along the North Coast and around Rathlin on Tuesday (20th), departing Cushendall, focussing on the wildlife along the coast. Please ring 07856235144 for more information.