Bird News Monday 20th May

The Tawny Owl was seen again at Castle Ward, a pair of Spotted Flycatchers was also present. (Sam & Andrea Scott).

An Osprey was over Clough in Co. Down at 5.15 this evening. (Adam McClure).

A Garganey was off the hide at the Quoile, see picture below. (Craig Nash).

A single Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Sanderling were with a large flock of waders, including at least 400 Ringed Plovers and 250 Dunlin, at Dundrum Inner Bay North. A single Cuckoo was at Murlough Nature Reserve. (Ian Jackson & David Nixon).

An Osprey was at Larne Lough at 9.45am before flying off north (Cameron Moore).  

A first-summer Little Gull and the adult hybrid Mediterranean x Black-headed Gull were at Belfast harbour Lagoon (Stuart McKee).    

Yesterday evening 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Drum Manor Forest near Cookstown (Seamus and Ciaran Burns).    

A Short-eared Owl was taken into care at the Avian Care Trust (per Margaret Adamson).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Stephen Maxwell for the first picture of the Tawny Owl, to Andrea Scott for the second picture of the Tawny Owl, to Craig Nash for the pictures of the Garganey from the Quoile, to Dick Glasgow for the first Sedge Warbler picture, to Martina Boyle for the picture of the Iceland Gull, to Alistair Prentice for the second Sedge Warbler picture, to Stuart McKee for the pictures of the hybrid Mediterranean x Black-headed Gull and to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Osprey from Larne Lough. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

Bird news Sunday 19th May.

The Tawny Owl was still calling early morning at Castle Ward (I.Graham)

A White-tailed Eagle and a Wheatear were at Capanagh (Gerard McGeehan).
In the Antrim Hills were 1 male Whinchat at Glenwherry, 1 pr Whinchats at Altnahinch, 1 Cuckoo at Altarichard. Red Grouse were calling at Capanagh, Altarichard and Slievanorra (Keith Bennett)

An Osprey was seen flying north at Murlough Co Down this morning (Brian Magee)

A Greater Spotted Woodpecker was seen and heard drumming at Drum Manor Forest Park in Cookstown.(Diane Jameson)

A Cuckoo was calling this morning above Breen Oakwood and another  2 Cuckoo calling & sighted at Drumack Rd, Rasharkin.(Celine Loughlin)

At Burial Island 13 Red-throated Diver and a Great-Northern Diver. Yesterday at Knockinelder Bay 15 Sanderling.(R.Weyl)

Two Mealy Redpoll and 3 Spotted Flycatchers were on Rathlin Island.(N.Warnock)

A first-summer Little Gull, first-summer Mediterranean Gull and adult Mediterranean x Black-headed Gull were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon. 7 summer-plumage Red-throated Diver were off Loughshore Park (Stuart McKee).

 

 

Tawny Owl - Food for Thought?

A number of people have asked us about the likely status of the Tawny Owl at Castle Ward.

Assuming that the bird shows no signs of captivity (eg a non BTO ring, feather \ bare part damage), then could it be possible that this is NI's first naturally occurring Tawny Owl?

Tawny Owl is a widespread breeding resident in GB. However more recently and importantly, breeding has been confirmed in the Isle of Man. Tawny Owl is also regarded as sedentary but ringing recoveries have included a bird ringed in Wales that was recovered in Scotland - so movements can occur, particularly of young birds. It is therefore tempting to think that from Castle Ward, you are within sight of Tawny Owls on the coast of Great Britain and the Isle of Man.

The location is also fitting with where a Tawny Owl (or any westward expanding species) could be expected. It is coastal and within a few miles of Castle Ward, birders were watching a Montagu's Harrier on its migration, the week before.

It is also worth highlighting a recent NI record. On the 17/02/2012, Paul McCullogh and Anne Dowling found a dead Tawny Owl in the Kennedy Way Industrial Estate, Belfast. It was found on the Bog Meadows side of the factory and it was not ringed etc. Contrary to earlier reports, it was not in the loading bay and had not come off a lorry! Local falconers when asked had no information to indicate it was an escaped bird. On the back of the publicity over the Castle Ward Tawny Owl, there have also been recent reports of a calling bird in Carrickfergus.

Tawny Owl , found dead in Belfast in 2012 - Paul McCullogh

However, it is also known that the situation with raptors in NI is complex due to escaped falconry birds. The recent Gyr Falcon at the Giants Causeway is a prime case in point. It was in the right location and the right habitat - but was ringed. Unlike Tawny Owl, Gyr Falcons are also known to move considerable distances.

The Castle Ward Tawny Owl is wary and has to date not shown any reported behavior to indicate that it was once in captivity (nor does it show a ring). Irrespective of status, it has to be said that seeing and hearing a Tawny Owl in this habitat in Ireland, in such a grand and majestic location is a wonderful experience.

If you have any information on Tawny Owls (either for GB or Ireland, and perhaps the status of birds within falconry) that you feel will help inform the current situation, please feel free to email us at nibirds@live.co.uk

Bird News Saturday 18th May

A Lesser Whitethroat was singing in gorse at Ballyquintin Point. It was also seen in a straggly hedge (Dermot Hughes).

3 Cuckoo were at the Drowes River in Donegal (Tony McCormick).

Two 1st summer Little Gulls are at RSPB Belfast Harbour this morning. Tern numbers are building and Black-headed Gulls hatching (James Robinson)

A 1st summer Little Gull was at Lough Cowey, Down, still. (Keith Bennett)

A Great spotted Woodpecker was this morning at Lord Wardens Wood, Clandeboye Estate Bangor (Peter Lockhart)

A Cuckoo was calling at Slievenora, Co Antrim (Adam McClure)

If considering visiting the Tawny Owl, please note that access to Castle Ward will be restricted next weekend due to a concert at the venue. You can also hear this mornings Radio Ulster it's at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0196q19

Thanks to Peter for this pic of the Woodpecker and Alistair Prentice for the Whitethroat (taken yesterday in the sun!) and Christine Cassidy for the Bullfinch.

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Peter Lockhart

Whitethroat - Alistair Prentice

Bullfinch - Christine Cassidy

Bird News Friday 17th May

The Tawny Owl was on show / calling again at Castle Ward this evening (from 5:30pm). It was being mobbed by Blackbirds and Mistle Thrushes (Stephen Maxwell \ Colin MacNamee \ Victor Caschera)

No harriers were seen at Lough Cowey / Ballyherly this morning. The 1st summer Little Gull was however still at Lough Cowey, 1pr Gadwall were at Ballyherly Lough. (Keith Bennett)

3 male Whinchats were in Glenwherry this morning (Neal Warnock)

Lower Lough Erne islands RSPB reserve Co Fermanagh had 1 late Scaup, 4 Turnstone, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 White Wagtail (Brad Robson)

2 singing Garden Warblers were this morning at Crom, Co Fermanagh. They were on the trail from Visitor Centre to Old Crom Castle (Colin Bell)

Tomorrow morning on Radio Ulster between 8.00am and 8.30am on the "Your place or mine", there will be a piece on the Tawny Owl when the BBC came down and recorded it.

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this pic of a Whitethroat and to Jeff Silvers for the Black Guillemot:

Bird News Thursday 16th May

The Tawny Owl is once again calling to-night, 19.45 to be precise (Wilton Farrelly / Stephen Miller)

The 2 Marsh Harrier were still at Portmore Lough (Colin Bell).

Last night the Tawny Owl was calling at 10pm and ceased calling at 10.25pm, presumably to start hunting (Chris Murphy)

Also last night, the Corncrake was heard again at Coney Island. Coming from the direction of Killough the Corncrake is calling beside the road c.400m before Coney Island. (Chris Murphy)

2 singing Garden Warblers were at Lower Lough Erne islands RSPB reserve (Brad Robson)

A Spotted Flycatcher was seen this morning at Stenson's Lock, Newry Canal. Just north of Newry.(F.Carroll)

A roosting Long-eared Owl and singing Grasshopper Warbler were in a young plantation of native trees, near Brookeborough, Co Fermanagh. (John Young)

A Roseate Tern was at Briggs this morning feeding for 20 minutes (Colin Guy)

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for this picture of a Willow Warbler:

Bird News Wednesday 15th May

The Tawny Owl was calling again at Castle Ward this evening and was recorded. (Craig Nash / Stuart McKee) 

Two Marsh Harriers are still at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve (Ed O'Hara)

A very vocal Raven flew over the Medical Biology Centre on the Lisburn Road at 1.00pm today (Chris Shaw)

A 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull was at Castlespie , the pool nearest the sea (Colin Guy)

Yesterday the Ring-billed Gull was back at Groomsport. Briggs Rocks had 25 Whimbrel during the day and a female Merlin and a Gadwall  was at Portavo Reservoir. Today 11 Brent Geese flew past Briggs Rocks (Colin Guy) 

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this pic of a Woodpigeon removing an egg shell from its nest and to Ed O'Hara for the Marsh Harrier:

Bird News Tuesday 14th May

A Tawny Owl was at Castle Ward today - see details below. (Craig Nash).

The Montagu's Harrier was still at Lough Cowey, see pictures below, a Little Gull was also present. (Craig Nash/Sam Scott).

A first-summer Mediterranean Gull was at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Stuart McKee).  

A Barn Owl was seen in the late afternoon at Tunny House along Feumore Road near Portmore Lough (Paul Toner).

2 Wheatear and a Shelduck were at the Commons in Donaghadee this morning. (David McCormick).

A single Waxwing was in a garden in Bushmills today. (Angela Willis).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Noel Austin for the picture of the breeding Common Terns at Oxford Island, to Mark Killops for the picture of the male Blackcap also taken at Oxford Island and to David Hill for the picture of the summer plumaged Great Northern Diver taken near Malin Town in Co. Donegal. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Tawny Owl

A Tawny Owl has been found at Castle Ward between Downpatrick and Strangford in County Down. Locals have reported that the bird has been calling in the area for the last couple of weeks and today Craig Nash found and photographed the bird in the Sunken Garden area of the site. Although the origins of this bird are not known, the bird is not ringed and does not show any sign of having been in captivity.

Castle Ward is a National Trust property and there is a charge for non-members visiting the site. Anyone visiting the site should respect the bird, keep a reasonable distance, desist from playing tape lures and obey any on site instructions.

As a postscript to this story we have received a sighting of another Tawny Owl from Anthony Hallam, an English student who is studying in NI and was not aware of the rarity of the species. Anthony saw the bird while carrying out a Hare survey in Mid Ulster in February.

Thanks to Craig for this excellent picture.

Montagu's Harrier

The male Montagu's Harrier was still at Lough Cowey this morning (Craig Nash / Sam Scott). 

Thanks to Craig for these excellent pics of the bird.

Bird News Monday 13th May.

The male Montagu's Harrier was still at Lough Cowey.

The 2 Marsh Harrier were still at Portmore Lough (Margaret Adamson).

Yesterday the Cattle Egret was seen going to roost at Hillsborough Lake.(Birdguides)

Our thanks to Tom McCreery for this stunning shot of a Kingfisher, also to Alistair Prentice for this fine photo of a Jackdaw in flight and finally to Stuart McKee for the photo of one of the Marsh Harriers seen at Lough Cowey yesterday 

Bird News Sunday 12th May

A male Montagues Harrier and 2 Marsh Harriers are at Lough Cowey. The Montagues was subsequently moving between Ballyherl Lough and Lough Cowey. It was still at Lough Cowey at 5pm (Keith Bennett)

A Lesser Whitethroat was in scrub near the lookout at Ballyquinton Point, Co Down (Keith Bennett)

A Hoopoe was seen in a private garden at Craigantlet, North Down on Sunday 28th April 2013. (per Peter Munro)

Colebrooke river upper Lough Erne Co Fermanagh had 19 Whimbrel and 3 Black-tailed Godwits (Brad Robson)

A first summer Little Gull was at Lough Cowey, Co Down this morning along with hundreds of hurindines (James Robinson)

An Arctic skua (dark phase adult) was off Ballyquintin, Co Down. (Keith Bennett)

Portmore Lough RSPB reserve had 2 Marsh Harrier, a Garganey and 3 Whimbrel (Ed O'Hara)

A male Redstart was today on Rathlin at the Ushet Lough pines (Neal Warnock)

Last night and this morning a Corncrake was calling along Killough Road at Coney Island (Declan Clarke)

Belfast Harbour Lagoon had 2 first-summer Med Gulls, a first-summer Kittiwake and a first-winter Little Gull. A second-winter Ring-billed Gull was at Kinnegar shore (Tom Ennis, Ronald Surgenor)

A Great Northern Diver in summer plumage, two Whimbrel and two White Wagtails and a single Wheatear were at The Commons, Donaghadee. (James Robinson)

30 Knot (many in summer plumage) flew north at Briggs Rocks near Groomsport (Colin Guy)

Thanks to the Rountree family for this pic of the Hoopoe at Craigantlet and Ed O'Hara for the Marsh Harrier at Portmore. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Saturday 11th May

1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 drake Garganey, 15 Whimbrel at Portmore Lough (Ed O'Hara).

70 Sandwich Tern, 60 Whimbrel, 57 Manx Shearwater, a Tufted Duck and a Great-northern Diver were off Ramore Head, Co. Antrim this morning. Male Garganey, 1st summer Iceland Gull, 24 White Wagtails at Bann Estuary (Neal Warnock).

2 Great Skuas, one chasing the other, flew past Briggs Rocks (Colin Guy).

A summer-plumage Knot, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel and a second-year Ring-billed Gull were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon. The Ring-billed was later seen at Kinnegar shore (Stuart McKee).

37 Brent and 3 Whimbrel were at Dundrum Inner Bay South (Adam McClure).

At Malin Head in Donegal there were 70 Whimbrel, 8 Chough, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Great Northern Diver in summer plumage, 40+ Wheatear and 3 White Wagtails (Christine Cassidy and Theo Campbell).

Thanks to Ed for the shot of the Marsh Harrier and Christine for the Wheatear photo. You can see more images at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Friday 10th May

Adult Little Gull, 2 White-fronts and a Pink-foot at Inch, Donegal (Chris Ingram).

11 Whooper Swan were also at Inch (Irish Birding).

4 Great-northern Divers were off Carlingford Lough and a Pom Skua was seen c.5 miles out (Stephen Dunstan).

A first-summer Glaucous Gull was at Whitehouse Lagoon in Belfast (Stuart McKee).

An Iceland Gull was at the Barmouth, Bann Estuary (Bird Guides).

4 Swift were over Antrim railway station (Lowell Mills).

A Cuckoo was heard and seen at Murlough NNR this evening (Ryan Gallagher).

Yesterday 20 Whimbrel flew north at Castlerock pier (Mervyn Guthrie) and 3 Buzzard, 6 Sedge Warbler and a Willow Warbler were at Church Island at Lough Beg - Gadwall were noted on the Lough (Dot Blakely, James Robinson).

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for the Brent images and Dick Glasgow for the shot of the Swallow.

Bird News Thursday 9th May

A drake Ring-necked Duck at Inch, Co. Donegal (Irish Birding).

A Swift was seen today in Strabane, Co. Tyrone (Brian Hegarty).

2 Swift were at Castlewellan and either a Long-eared or Short-eared Owl on farmland west of Seaford (Lowell Mills).

6 Wheatear at RSPB Belfast Harbour (Stephen Maxwell).

On Sunday a male Garganey was off the hide at Bann Estuary (Stephanie Hodge).

Many thanks to Christine Cassidy for sending us this image of a Wheatear, Alistair Prentice for the Reed Warbler and Dick Glasgow for the Bullfinch.

Bird News Wednesday 8th May

A Barn Owl was seen last night near Hillhead, Castledawson (via Mark Smyth).

A first-summer Ring-billed Gull and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon. A different first-summer Mediterranean Gull was at Kinnegar shore (Stuart McKee).

A Long-eared Owl was heard calling on the Moss Road, near Ballycopeland Windmill in Millisle at about midnight last night (David McCormick).

A Grey Wagtail was at Anderson Park, Coleraine (Lynette McLean).

Late news from last night, 1 Kingfisher and 3 Sand Martin at Augher River Walk, Augher (Colin Bell) and at Killard there was a Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear, 8 Whimbrel and a skua, possibly Long-tailed, chasing terns (Angus Kennedy).

Big news in the South, 2 pairs of White-tailed Eagle have managed to hatch chicks. This is the first time wild WTE chicks have hatched on the island of Ireland in 110 years.

Many thanks to Alistair Prentice for the shot of a displaying Pied Wagtail and to Noel Austin for the displaying Willow Warbler.

Bird News Tues 7th May

A Great-spotted Woodpecker was at Belvoir this morning (Michael McLaughlin).

This evening - 7 Common Sandpiper, 3 Kingfisher, 3 Dipper, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Sparrowhawk and a Stonechat along a 2 mile stretch of the Lower Bann south of Coleraine (Richard Donaghey).

2 White-fronted Geese and a Pink-footed Goose are still at Inch, Co. Donegal (Irish Birding)

2 Swift were over Bangor (Nichola Monk).

30 Arctic Tern and a Common Tern were on Cockle Island at Groomsport (George Gordon).

Late news from yesterday was that a male Great-northern Diver in breeding plumage was fishing just off Ballintoy harbour (Ronnie Milligan) and a Wheatear on Groomsport beach (Norma Wallace).

Many thanks to Cameron Moore for this photo of a late Waxwing which is still visiting a garden in Whitehead and to Noel Austin for these excellent comparative shots of Reed (top) and Sedge Warblers (bottom).

Bird News Monday 6th May

A Marsh Harrier flew over Oxford Island today (Noel Austin).

Also at Oxford Island this morning there was 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 6 Sedge Warbler. This evening at RSPB Belfast Harbour there were 2 Whitethroat and 7 Wheatear (Ed O'Hara).

3 Cuckoo, 2 Snipe, many Whitethroat and a Wheatear were at Slieve Beagh on the Tyrone/Monaghan border (Colin Bell).

A Cuckoo was heard late this morning at the sand dunes beside the National Trust car park, Murlough, Co. Down (James McQueen).

A Great-northern Diver was at the entrance to Glenarm Marina this morning (Adam McClure).

A Cuckoo was heard calling at Bancran Road, Draperstown, Co. Derry at 20.35 last night (The Kelly family).

Many thanks to Ed for this image of the Reed Warbler at Oxford Island this morning and Bill Guiller for the Whimbrel photo. You can see more bird images at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Sunday 5th May

A Black Redstart was on Rathlin - the first record for the island. A Great Skua was seen from the ferry (Neal Warnock).

Good numbers of migrants passing through Copeland Bird Observatory this weekend, including a Yellow Wagtail (Ian Humphreys).

A Cuckoo was heard calling at Breen Oak Wood, Co. Antrim at 05.45 this morning (Dick Glasgow).

A Waxwing and a female Blackcap were in a garden in Whitehead (Cameron Moore).

2 Knot (one in summer plumage) were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Warren Fowles).

A summer adult Mediterranean Gull, 14 Arctic Tern and 3 Whimbrel were at Groomsport (George Gordon).

This morning at Crocknagrally Walking Trail near Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone were several Whitethroats, Grasshopper Warblers, Jay and Buzzard (Colin Bell).

Swallow, Swifts, Buzzard & Jay all seen at Carnmoney Hill, Newtownabbey (Jim McKeown).

Many thanks to Zach McCreery for this marvellous shot of a male Kingfisher and to Alistair Prentice for the excellent comparative images of a Willow Warbler (top) and Chiffchaff (bottom).

As always, you can see more images by visiting www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk