Ireland's First

Nigel Beers Smith has a DVD and book on the time he spent in Mountshannon County Clare, documenting and photographing the first White Tailed Sea Eagles to successfully breed in Ireland in over 100 years.

Nigel spent 8 months every day documenting this pair, becoming, in sort, their guardian, watching over them making sure that over enthusiastic people didn't get too close to the nest. This story is full of major ups and downs, it was a roller coaster ride of event that led to an historic success story, all of which can be found in the book Ireland's First.

Nigel has also brought out a second book with 100+ of my favourite photos from start to fledging, which I am offering free to people that buy the hardback of "Ireland's First".

You can obtain a copy and see further information at:

Www.irelandsfirst.com
Www.NigelBeersSmith.com

Bird News Sunday 26th January

The Pacific Diver is still present at Lough Fea, Co Tyrone (Ian Graham / Ed O'Hara / Mark Killops)

The Siberian Chiffchaff was still showing at Rockport School at the coastal path near Holywood (Ian Graham)

8 Yellowhammers were in a garden at Richhill, Co.Armagh. (Andrew Poots)

2 Twite were at Glenarm and a female Goosander offshore (Neal Warnock)

A little egret was at the floodgates, Newtownards and 2 more were at Pattons Marsh. (Karl Martin)

A second-winter Iceland Gull was at the slipway in Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

4 Pink-footed Geese were at the swan-fields at the Creagh near Toome (Mark Smyth, Gary Brown)

A mixed flock of c150 Fieldfare and mistle thrushes were near kearney today (Chris Henry)

For anyone interested in Ireland's First successful breeding White Tailed Eagles, please see the previous blog post.

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the top pic of the Pacific Diver, Mark Killops for the second one and Karl Martin for the Little Egret:

Bird News Saturday 25th January

The Pacific Diver was still at Lough Fea up until 16.45.  ( Our thanks to everyone who kindly reported bird to-day. ). A Matin camera accessory cover was found by a fellow birder at the site to-day, if you lost it contact the blog.

An Iceland Gull was at Larne outfall (Joe Lamont)

Ballyquintin Point, Co Down had 2 Short-eared Owl.  Portavogie had a 1st year Glaucous Gull and 3 Jack Snipe. (Richard Weyl)

The first winter Glaucous Gull was still at East Strand Car Park, Portrush (John Clarke)

The Ring-billed Gull was still at  Carrickfergus harbour and a Med Gull off Kilroot outfall (Birdguides)

In the Mournes, 3 Snow Bunting were at the summit of Slieve Commedagh this morning. (Matthew Scott)

The drake American Wigeon was still at the mouth of the River Drowse, Co Leitrim (Wilton Farrelly)

The blog team would like to thank everyone who kindly make time to send in their sightings, your efforts benefit the wide birding committee and it is down to all of you that the blog continues to grow on a weekly basis.

Thanks to Christine Cassidy for the pic. of the ever popular Pacific Diver. Also to John Clarke for the picture of the Portrush Glaucous Gull: Lindsay Hodges for the Redwing.

 

 

 

 

Bird News Friday 24th January

The Pacific Diver is still present at Lough Fea. It was feeding until 3:45 in the north west corner of the Lough.

The Spoonbill was showing on the Wader Marsh at Castle Espie.

Thanks to James O'Neill for the picture of the Pacific Diver, to Bobby Moffett for the pictures of the Whooper and Black Swans and the Little Egret, to Alex Coroliu for the pictures of the Stonechat and the Meadow Pipit.

 

 

 

 

 

More Pacific Diver Pics

Thanks to John Murphy for these superb pics of the stunning and showy Pacific Diver. The bird was favouring the western wooded shore today. 

Bird News Thursday 23rd January

The Pacific Diver is still showing well at Lough Fea, Co. Tyrone. (Robert Vaughan)

The Siberian Chiffchaff was still near Holywood, showing well along the North Down Coastal Path by Rockport School (Birdguides)

2  Bramblings were in a garden on the Belmont Road, Belfast (Margaret Mackle)

Thanks to William Smiton for this pic of the Pacific Diver and Lindsay Hodges for the Kestrel:

The Pacific Diver Twitch

Rarely does Northern Ireland attract so many birders from further afield (perhaps the last time was for the Great Grey Shrike?) but the showy Pacific Diver has proved to be highly popular. 

Thanks to Stuart McKee for the 'birders' pic and the top Diver photo and James O'Neil for the other two pics. Enjoy.

Bird News Wednesday 22nd January

The Pacific Diver is still present at Lough Fea, Co Tyrone this morning. (Stuart McKee/Philip West).

A Glossy Ibis was in a field beside the heronry (at the back of the village) Killough, Co Down (Tim Murphy)

5 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Knockaginny, Caledon this morning. (Matthew Scott & Michael McLaughlin).

 A walk this morning from Scarva to Lough Shark produced the following birds: - A long flock of finches etc, near the old centre at Lough Shark included 4 Bullfinches, c15 Goldcrests, 20+ Goldfinches, 1 Jay, c20 Lesser Redpoles, 20+ Longtailed Tits, c30 Siskin and 1 Tree Creeper. About 1/2 a mile south of Scrava, close to the large dead tree on the west side of the canal, 1 Water Rail was calling close to the rail track and another was 'singing' at the near side of the canal which flew across the canal to the other bank. (Fulton Somerville).

A Little Egret was at Ballymacormick Point, Groomsport. (David McCormick).

 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Great Northern Diver and a Red-throated Diver were at Ballyholme Bay (Shane Wolsey).

A possible Great White Egret was seen perched on a roof in Dundonald before drifting off south towards Craigantlet.

Thanks to today's photographers, to Chris Murphy for the picture of the Glossy Ibis, to Fulton Somerville for the pictures of the Bullfinch and the Log-tailed Tit, to Dick Glasgow for the picture of the Jay, to David McCormick for the picture of the Turnstones and to Tom McCreery for the pictures of the Tree Sparrow. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Tuesday 21st January

The Pacific Diver was seen again at Lough Fea, Co Tyrone (Eimear Rooney / Stuart McQueen / Gary Wilkinson).

On Sunday a Waxwing was seen in a garden at Cabin Hill Park, Knock in Belfast. (Bert Montgomery).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Gerry O'Neill for the first two Pacific Diver pictures, to James McQueen for the third and fourth Pacific Diver pictures, to David Hill for the picture of the Siskin, to Dick Glasgow for the pictures of the Sparrowhawk and the Jay and to Lindsay Hodges for the pictures of the Redpoll and the Greenfinch, the first two taken in the dry yesterday, the second two taken in the rain today. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Monday 20th January

The Pacific Diver was showing well at Lough Fea this morning. (Joe Devlin/Clifford Sharpe). See previous post / pics. The bird was present to Dusk (Chris Murphy). It is believed that the bird has been present for at least 10 days.

5 Twite were showing well at south end of Tyrella Beach. 13 Long-tailed Ducks were with the large Scoter and Grebe flock, off shore at Murlough. (David Nixon).

News for yesterday was that on the River Bann at Portglenone was a Great Spotted Woodpecker and Kingfisher (John Loughlin and Irene Miller).

 The Glossy Ibis was on the south side of Ballycarry Bridge (Jeff Larkin).  

2 Sandwich Tern were at Killyleagh (Spencer Marshall).   

200 Pied Wagtail were roosting in trees again outside Iceland in Bridge Street in Belfast (David Clarke).

In south Down 3 Pink-footed Geese were with 112 Greylag at the Quoile Pondage. 6 Goosander (2 of them adult male) were at Lough Island Reavy and 7 Purple Sandpiper at Newcastle (Gerard McGeehan).   

Thanks to today's photographers, to Chris Murphy for the first Pacific Diver picture, to Joe Devlin for the rest of the pictures of the Pacific Diver, to Stephen Foster for the picture of the Carrickfergus Ring-billed Gull, to Dick Glasgow for the pictures of the Sparrowhawk and the Jay and to Lindsay Hodges for the pictures of the Reed Bunting and the Stonechat:

 

 

 

 

 

Pacific Diver Update - Monday

The following has been received from Elaine Warnock the finder:

Today whilst out walking along the shores of Lough Fea, Cookstown, Co Tyrone I spotted this bird swimming and diving on the water.  I took some photos and examined them on my computer.

If anyone is interested Lough Fea can be found approx. 5 miles outside of Cookstown http://www.walkni.com/walks/295/lough-fea/