Bird News Monday 31st October.

A Pallas's Warbler was seen to-day in Malin Beg, County Donegal (John O'Boyle)

2 Velvet Scoter where seen on Belfast Lough from Loughside Park, Shore Rd, also a Slav. Grebe at Glynn Co.Antrim.(Stuart McKee)

The Little Stint and a Kingfisher where at the RSPB Belfast Harbour reserve.(Noeni Bryars / Tom Ennis)

2 Little Egret where also seen in the morning at Loughside Park.(Stuart Samuel)

Thanks to John Moore for this pic of Pintail at the Maltings:

 

Bird News Sunday 30th October

The Little Stint was still at RSPB WoW, the Long-tailed Duck was still off Kinnegar. (Garry Armstrong)

11 Snipe where also at the RSPB Belfast reserve.(Stephen Maxwell)

Three adult Med Gulls were at Crawfordsburn shore. Four Red-throated Divers were off shore (Stuart McKee)

A juvenile Marsh Harrier was at Lough Beg today (it is a different bird to the one seen earlier in the autumn). Also seen were five Greenland White-fronts (two adults and three juveniles, so likely a family group, watched coming in high from the north), eight Ruff and 20+ Little Egrets.(David Steele)
A juvenile Marsh Harrier was at Upperlands Dams, Co Londonderry (David Morrow). this is probably the same bird reported above 

The Marsh Harrier was still on show at the Quoile pondage.(Kevin Kirkham-Brown)

Whooper Swan - Ian Jackson.

Grey Plover - Lesley Cranshaw.

Marsh Harrier - Kevin Kirkham Brown.

Bird News Saturday 29th October

A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the Sycamore Tree opposite the Coastal Zone in Portrush, a Snow Bunting was at Ramore Head. (Matthew Tickner)

A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped on Copeland Bird Observatory this morning. (Richard Donaghey).

The juvenile Little Stint was still present at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve this morning. (Tom Ennis).

A Pink-footed Goose was with 20 Greylags at Begney Lough near Dromara. (David Nixon).

A Black Brant and two dark bellied Brent were among a large flock of pale bellied Brent off the first car park south of Greyabbey in Strangford Lough. (Stuart McKee).

A Long-tailed Duck was in Belfast Lough, off the car park between Kinnegar and Belfast harbour RSPB reserve, this evening. (Daniel Newton).

24 White-fronted Geese flew in from sea at the Giant's Causeway. Another 14 White-fronts flew in and landed in a field opposite Dunseverick Castle. The field had 4 Whooper Swans and 3 Pink -footed Geese already in it. (Colin Guy).

The Marsh Harrier was showing again outside the hide at the Quoile this afternoon. (Tony Donaldson).

Thanks to David Nixon for the picture of the Pink-foot and to Tony Donaldson for the picture of the Marsh Harrier.

 

 

Bird News Friday 28th October

The Marsh Harrier was still at The Quoile (Tony Donaldson)

The Little Stint and 189 Golden Plover were at RSPB WOW (Daniel Newton)

A Short-eared Owl was seen flying over Groomsport earlier today (Lesley Crawshaw)

Seven Whooper Swans were on Aghery Lough, Anahilt (Gerard McLaughlin)

The Marsh Harrier was still at Portmore Lough.

A Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Divers and 4 Swallows were at Whitehead (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Tony for this pic of the Quoile Marsh Harrier:

 

Islay Boat Trip

There are three seats available of this Saturday's boat trip to Islay. This is the last chance to see the 30,000+ Barnacle Geese and so much more, before they disperse from the RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details. 

Bird News Thursday 27th October

The Marsh Harrier was still showing at Portmore Lough (Bill Guiller)

RSPB WOW had an immature Peregrine, a Little Stint and 60+ Golden Plover. (Derek Polley)

Thanks to Bill for this pic of the Marsh Harrier:

 

Bird News Wednesday 26th October

The Marsh Harrier was again at Portmore Lough this morning (Laura Smith).

24 Pink- footed Geese and 12 Whooper Swans were in a stubble field opposite Dunseverick Castle car park. A female Snow Bunting was on the road down to Dunseverick Harbour and a Little Egret was on the shoreline there. Another Little Egret was flying west past White Rocks Portrush earlier. (Colin Guy).

The Marsh Harrier was still at the Quoile Pondage, see picture below. (Tony Donaldson, Tom Ennis, Carole Gillespie).

At Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve a Little Stint, still mainly in juvenile plumage, was present. (Tom Ennis).

Thanks to Tony Donaldson for the picture of the Marsh Harrier and to David Hill for the picture of the Black-tailed Godwits.

 

Bird News Tuesday 25th October

Four Waxwings flew in off sea near East light Rathlin appeared to land near harbour (Stuart McKee)

A Golden Eagle, possibly an adult, was seen on Rathlin Island this morning (Stuart McKee)

A Little Egret was at Ballintoy (Laura McLean)

A Marsh Harrier was seen regularly over the reedbed at RSPB Portmore Lough today (Laura Smith)

Both of Fermanagh's firsts were still present today - the Great White Egret at Lowry Shore, west end Lower Lough Erne & the 2nd winter Ring-billed Gull at the Round O Enniskillen (Brad Robson)

Binevenagh Mountain, Limavady had 31 Fieldfare, 4 Ravens & a Peregrine (Christine Cassidy & Lindsay Hodges)

Ten Little Egret and a Kingfisher were at Whitehouse Lagoon (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Tony Donaldson for these pics of the Marsh Harrier and Red Kite seen at the Quoile yesterday and Lindsay Hodges for the Fieldfares:

 

 

 

Bird News Monday 24th October.

The Marsh Harrier was again seen at the Quoile pondage, it was mobbing two Red Kite. (Richard Caves)

A female Brambling was with a flock of Chaffinches at Rathlin Harbour, also noted on the island was a Hen Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel, 3 White-fronted Geese, a Fieldfare, a Blackcap and 3 Chough (Colin Guy)

Three Greenshank, an adult Med Gull and thirteen Little Egrets were at Whitehouse Park (Stuart McKee)

The female Goosander was again today on the River Lagan,  just below the red bridge. Last seen heading away from bridge in Shaw's bridge direction. (Muriel Moore)

Pintail - Lesley Barker.

Grey Heron - Robert Scott.

Waxwings

The first Waxwings of the winter have been reported today. Whitehead had 8 Waxwing on cotoneaster in Brooklands Avenue (Tina Enlander). It is worthwhile keeping an eye out for Waxwings as birds are now being widely reported in GB.

Bird News Sunday 23rd October

The Marsh harrier was seen again at the Quoile Pondage (Errol Dunne)

7 Little Egret and 3 Greenshank were at Whitehouse. A Little Stint was with 9 Dunlin at RSPB WOW (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

The juvenile White-tailed Eagle was at Muckross, Kesh, Lower Lough Erne (Wilton Farrelly)

2 Pintail were on the sea at St John's Point. A Mediterranean Gull was at Killough Harbour. (Tim Murphy)

A Long-billed Dowicher and a Glossy Ibis were at Dundalk Docks (Louth Bird News)

Bird News Saturday 22nd October

The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Inch Lake at high tide this afternoon. (Birdguides).

 A drake American Wigeon was at the Culdaff Estuary on the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal. (Michael McLaughlin).

A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat were at Malin Beg, Co Donegal (John O'Boyle / Ian Enlander).

A Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were at Kearney on the Outer Ards. (Richard Weyl)

Thanks to John Bamford for the picture of the Dipper and to Wilf Swain for the picture the Brent Geese.

Bird News Friday 21st October

A Goosander was at Nandas Bridge, below the Lock-keepers Cottage on the River Lagan, Belfast (Muriel Moore)

Two Green Sandpipers were at Clea Lakes, Co Down (Julian Greenwood).

Two families of Whooper Swans were at Ballyronan in Lough Neagh. (David Morrow).

A female Scaup was in the channel at Myroe. (David Hill).

A Pink-footed Goose and a Goldeneye flew north past St John's Point this morning. A Wheatear was at Minerstown beach. 2 Wheatear, 2 Scaup, 2 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 20 Widgeon, 10 Great Northern Diver, 115 Red-throated Diver, 1 juvenile Velvet Scoter and 1500 Common Scoter were between Tyrella and Ballykinler. (Chris & Tim Murphy).

A Red Kite was flying towards Newry directly above the A1 near its junction with the road to Blackskull at approximately 1330hours today. (William Webb)

Thanks to Muriel Moore for the picture of the Goosander, to David Morrow for the picture of the Whooper Swans and to David Hill for the pictures of the female Scaup and the Black Guillemots;
 

 

 

Bird News Thursday 20th October

A Great White Egret was at Lowery Bay, Lower Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh. This is the first county record. (Amy Burns)

Rathlin Island today had a Snow Bunting, 12 Twite, 2 Barnacle Geese, Blackcap, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, 16 Fieldfare, Hen Harrier and 10 Common Scoter (Neal Warnock)

500 Whooper Swans were at Inch Levels, Co Donegal (Christine Cunningham)

12 Whooper Swans flew over Prehen Park this morning, heading towards Inch (Christine Cassidy)

7 Whooper Swan where at Glynn Co Antrim. (Linda Thompson)

14 Whooper Swan where at Islandhill, Strangford Lough.(Dot Blakely)

20 Golden Plover and 2 Ravens were at RSPB Belfast WOW (Derek Polley)

A Glossy Ibis was seen at Malin Head (Birdguides)

Thanks to Amy for this pic of the Great White Egret:

 

Trip to Islay

30,000 Barnacle Geese  arrived on Islay yesterday. There will be a boat trip to Islay on Saturday to see these huge flocks of geese and much more. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for further details. 

Bird News Wednesday 19th October

45 Pink-footed Geese were seen flying over Antrim this morning. (Davy Hunter).

17 Whooper Swans were on Killylane Reservoir outside Larne this afternoon. (Brenda Campbell).

8 Whooper Swans were flying towards the Quoile this morning. (Tony Donaldson).

Castle Island hide at the Quoile today at 2.45pm had the Marsh Harrier hunting in front of hide. Kilclief Bay had a Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 5 Gannets, a Red-throated Diver, Greenshank, 4 Whoopers, family of Brent with 6 young, and 60+ Golden Plover. (Dot Blakely/Noeni Bryars).

2 Swallow were near the entrance to DuPont at Maydown near Derry (William Hiles).

At Ramore Head in Portrush there were 4 Great Northern Divers, 2 Red-throated Diver, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Teal, a lone Eider, 8 Whooper Swan and 107 Barnacle Geese. Also present were 15 Purple Sandpiper and a single Twite. (Dean Jones).

Thanks to Tony Donaldson for the picture of the Whooper, to Noeni Bryars for the picture of the Buzzard and to Cameron Moore for the picture of the 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull.

 

 

Bird News Tuesday 18th October

Late news from Saturday was of a juvenile White-winged Black Tern at Portmore Lough, see pictures below. (Gavin Ferguson)

The Marsh Harrier was still at the Quoile, along with a Ruff (David Nixon)

A seawatch over the day at Ramore Head produced an impressive array of birds including a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, a Sabines Gull, 11 Arctic Skua, 12 Pom Skua, 18 Great Skua, 2 Grey Phalarope, 350 Barnacle Geese, 16 Whoopers and 4 Manx Shearwater (Neal Warnock)

A second winter Mediterranean Gull was at Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

4 Gannets, 2 Sandwich Tern, 30 Razorbills, a Guillemot and a Black Guillemot were off Killyleagh seafront in Strangford Lough. (Spencer & Joan Marshall)

Bird News Monday 17th October

The Marsh Harrier was flying around in front of the Castle Island hide this morning at 9:50am. It landed on a small tree low down next to electric pole far left from hide. It was also seen late afternoon. (Tony Donaldson).

6 Gannets were fishing close to shore at Killyleagh in Strangford Lough this morning, a Buzzard and 40 Meadow Pipits were also present. (Spencer & Joan Marshall).

2 Wheatear were on the beach at the Quays restaurant, Portavogie, a Red-throated Diver and lots of Gannets where out at sea, a Merlin was opposite the Kirkistown race track.(John Edwards)

23 Great Northern Diver flew south off St John's Point this morning. Also at St John's Point were 1 Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Raven, 1 Stock Dove, 4 Redpoll, 60 Goldfinch, 80 Skylark, 200 Linnet and 160 Lapwing. 100 Swallow and 8 House Martin were at Killough. (Tim Murphy)

Thanks to Tony Donaldson for this pic of the Marsh Harrier:

 

Bird News Sunday 16th October

A juvenile Sabine's Gull (flying north), 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Great Skua, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Fulmar, 1 Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Diver and 25 Black Guillemot were seen at St John's Point during a sea-watch from 8.20am-11am.
An adult winter Mediterranean Gull, 1 Goldeneye, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit, 13 Little Egret and 15 Swallow were at Killough Harbour.  (Tim Murphy)

14 Pink-footed Geese were 1 mile north of Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

Yesterday a Woodcock was at Slieve Martín, Rostrevor. (David Cooper).

The Mediterranean Gull with the red leg ring PNU0 was still at Whiteabbey, a second Mediterranean Gull was at Whitehead. (Gareth Platt).

Thanks to Robin Cunningham for the picture of the Black-tailed Godwits, to Cameron Moore for the picture of a Sparrowhawk and to Gareth Platt for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull.

 

 

 

 

 

Finnish Visitors

These two Black-headed Gulls, seen here in September, were ringed in Finland in 2004 and 2006, well travelled birds.