Bird News Saturday 19th November

No news so far today.

Bird News Friday 18th November.

2 Snow Buntings and 9 Raven (feeding on a sheep carcass) were at Carntogher Mountain, Co Londonderry (David Morrow).

Whooper Swans - Jason Bain.

Irish Brent Goose Research Group Video

There is a superb video on the movements and ecology of our wintering Brent Geese, from the Irish Brent Goose Research Group, WWT and the University of Exeter at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc_LqLPKRu4

More Bird Pics

Remember you can see more pictures of local birds at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk/

Contributions from everyone are welcome.

Bird News Thursday 17th November

4 Whooper Swans, a Little Egret and 2 Fieldfare were at the Quoile Pondage this morning. (Spencer & Joan Marshall).

An adult Little Gull was in Larne harbour. (Neal Warnock)

The Cattle Egret was in Malin Town, Donegal yesterday (Birdguides)

This morning, RSPB WOW had a Raven, a Peregrine and a high count of 40+ Bar-tailed Godwit (Derek Polley)

A Merlin was seen in Markethill, Co Armagh, this morning (John Anderson)

A Merlin and a Starling flock of circa 5000 were at Strand Lough, Killough, Co Down (Chris Murphy)

Thanks to Cameron Moore for this pic of the Larne Little Gull and Thomas Campbell for the Marsh Harrier (recently at the Quoile):

Lough Beg

If you would like to learn more about the threats to Lough Beg and the campaign to change the route of the road please see:

https://www.change.org/p/save-the-seamus-heaney-landscape-s…
and
https://www.facebook.com/LoughBegForLife/

To obtain further information you can contact Chris Murphy at wildlife@murphys.dnet.co.uk 

Bird News Wednesday 16th November

Late news for yesterday was that 19 Purple Sandpipers were at Ramore Head (Gilly Irwin).

The Marsh Harrier was mobbing a Buzzard this evening at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve. Also present was a Peregrine, Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk, and 3 Pintail on the Lough. (James O'Neill)

Three Pink-footed Geese were at the Quoie (Dot Blakely

Thanks to Dessie Loughrey for this pic of a Razorbill from the summer:

Bird News Tuesday 15th November

The Ring-necked Duck was still at Lough Mourne near Carrickfergus, a Brambling was in Whitehead and 2 Long-tailed Ducks were in Larne Lough, see pictures below. (Cameron Moore).

Two Water Rails were fighting below the hide at the Quoile. (Gary Wilkinson).

A Red-throated Diver was in Ballyholme Bay. (Derek Polley).

A winter plumaged Mediterranean Gull was in front of the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, see picture below. (Dougie Gamble).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the Ring-necked Duck and the Brambling and to Dougie Gamble for the picture of the Mediterranean Gull.

 

 

Bird News Monday 14th November.

The Marsh Harrier was still at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve this afternoon (Laura Smith)

5 Long-tailed Ducks were off Seapark, Greenisland (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for this pic of a Greenshank:

Greenshank - Thomas Campbell.

Bird News Sunday 13th November

The female Velvet Scoter was still at Hazelbank (Daniel Newton)

A Drake Ring-necked Duck was at Lough Mourne near Carrickfergus Also 10 pochard, a Scaup & 240 Teal (Neal Warnock)

A flock of 18/20 Twite were at Glenarm Harbour carpark this afternoon. (Pauline Majury)

This afternoon the Velvet Scoter was off Hazelbank with 7 Red-throated Divers. 35 Common Scoter were off Loughshore and 5 Long-tailed Duck of Fishermans Quay, Carrickfergus (Gerard McGeehan)

Thanks to Neal for this pic of the Ring-necked Duck:

 

Bird News Saturday 12th November

A female Velvet Scoter was off Hazelbank, Belfast Lough. Also 6 Common Scoter off Hazelbank, a Long-tailed Duck still off Kinnegar and a male Pintail at Whitehouse lagoon. (Neal Warnock)

8 Little Egrets were at Whitehouse Lagoon this evening (Gerard McLaughlin)

9 Common Scoter were off Crawforsdburn (Wilton Farrelly)

A Cattle Egret was in Malin Town, Co Donegal (Birdguides)

You can share news on rare and scarce local birds via email: nibirds@live.co.uk and Twitter: @nibirds

Thanks to Dick Glasgow for this pic of a Buzzard:

 

Bird News Friday 11th November

Four Goosander, including 2 male and probably 2 female were on the River Maine in Randalstown viewed from the viaduct looking downstream. (Rodney Monteith).

A Snow Bunting was at Ramore Head today and 86 Purple Sandpipers were at Portandoo, Portrush on Wednesday. (Matthew Tickner).

A probable Grey-bellied Brent was off Castle Espie on Wednesday. (Birdguides).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for this picture of a Buzzard and to David McIlveen for the picture of the Brent Geese.

 

 

Bird News Thursday 10th November

A Grey Phalarope flew past Ramore Head today at 9:30. Also 4 Great Northern Diver from 8 - 11:30. (Dean Jones)

A Little Egret and a Greenshank were at Islandreagh, Nendrum in Strangford Lough this morning. (Spencer & Joan Marshall).

A Brambling was in a garden at Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

A Peregrine and 8 Snipe were at RSPB WOW (Derek Polley)

The Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine were at Portmore Lough (Graham Finley)

You can share rare and scarce bird sightings via nibirds@live.co.uk or twitter @nibirds

Bird News Wednesday 9th November

A male Pintail and 9 Snipe were at RSPB Belfast WOW. 8 Little Egret were at Whitehouse Lagoon (Gerard McGeehan)

An adult winter Mediterranean Gull, a Carrion Crow, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 8 Little Egret, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 7 Red-breasted Merganser were at Killough Harbour (Tim Murphy)

Boat Trip To Jura

The final boat trip of 2016 will be to Jura, this Saturday (November 12th). Otters, Sea Eagles, Red Deer and Hen Harrier have regularly been seen on previous trips.

Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details.

Bird News Tuesday 8th November

At least 50 Twite were present at Ramore Head this morning along with a lone Whooper Swan. (Dean Jones).

A Spoonbill was on the mudflats c.400m southeast of Islandhill in Strangford Lough. (Birdguides).

Thanks to Noeni Bryars for the picture of the Turnstone.

Bird News Monday 7th November.

A probable Green-winged Teal at Roe Estuary this evening, a male as yet only partially in breeding plumage.(Matthew Tickner)

A Little Gull was seen of Ramore Head, also 55 Purple Sandpiper and 18 Sanderling.(Dean Jones)
Also a Grey Phalarope was also at Ramore Head.(Colin Guy)

A Kingfisher was seen in Victoria Park, Sydenham.(G.Irwin)

Appox. 1,500 Whooper Swan and 1,300 Greylag Geese where at Inch levels Co. Donegal.(Christine Cassidy/Lindsay Hodges)

Late news from week-end the Marsh Harrier was seen again at Lough Beg on Saturday and 10 Pink-footed Geese where seen at Blacker's rock on Sunday.(Godfrey McRoberts)

Whooper Swans - Christine Cassidy.

Bird News Sunday 6th November

There was no sign of the Isabelline Shrike by 3pm.

2 Pink-footed Geese were at the Quoile (Neal Warnock)

Two Twite were on the beach north of Ballywalter (Marty McClenaghan)

A Barn Owl was seen last night on the Onagh side of Strabane (Colin Bell)

Thanks to Marty for this pic of one of the Twite:

Isabelline Shrike

An Isabelline Shrike was at Murlough, Co Down this afternoon (Dave Allen). Take the track at 12 arches and drive around south arm of the bay until track forks. Park. The bird was in conifers and the hedge on the left side of the right fork or in the hedge in the field to the right. Power lines are through the area.

Present since yesterday and until at least 4pm today. Found by Dan Bailey and confirmed by Andy Crory.

If visiting the site, please park sensibly and ensure local residents have full access. It may be best to park on the main road to Newcastle. 

This is the 1st record for Northern Ireland and only the 7th for the whole of Ireland, there was one on Toe Head Co Cork a few weeks ago 

 

Bird News Saturday 5th November

A Great White Egret was seen at Rossigh, Lower Lough Erne (P.Taylor)

The Marsh Harrier was seen again at the RSPB Portmore Lough reserve.(Linda Thompson)

An Iceland Gull was at Larne Lough (Neal Warnock)

Thanks to Neal for this pic of the Iceland Gull: Also to Stephen Maxwell who took this photo of the Peregrine, taken at the RSPB Belfast WOW reserve. Bottom pic is of the Marsh Harrier at Portmore Lough taken by Linda Thompson.