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.

Bird News Saturday 15th October

The Glossy Ibis was at Strand Lough, Killough, still, at 9am. (Tim Murphy)

A female / imm Marsh Harrier was at the Quoile (Joe Lamont).

An adult Mediterranean Gull with a green leg ring, AETC, and a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull were at Whitehead Promenade. (Cameron Moore).

An adult Ring-billed Gull was at Carrickfergus Harbour at high tide (Brian Sutton).

The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Inch in Donegal. (Birdguides).

On the shore of Belfast Lough at Whiteabbey were a Mediterranean Gull with a red leg ring, PNU0, which was ringed in Poland in May 2012, a Lesser Black-backed Gull with a black ring, F461, which was ringed in Portugal in November 2014 and a Common Gull with a blue ring, 2AIP, which was ringed on the Copelands in June 2012. (Gareth Platt).

Thanks to Cameron Moore for the pictures of the adult and 2nd winter Mediterranean Gulls and the Pied Wagtail and to Christine Cunningham for the picture of the Teal.

 

 

 

Bird News Friday 14th October

A Glossy Ibis flew north over Killough Harbour at 1pm. (Tim Murphy).

A Snow Bunting was at Ramore Head in Portrush and a Merlin was at Magilligan Point. (Christine Cassidy & Lindsay Hodges).

A Marsh Harrier has been present at the Quoile for the last two days. (Tony Donaldson).

6 Red Kites were in the Leitrim area of Co. Down. (Bill Guiller).

A single male Ruff (which has been there for around 3 weeks) was with 155 Black-tailed Godwits in Dundrum South Inner Bay. 14 Grey Plovers were near Green Island in North Inner Bay. This morning in stormy conditions, around 80 Razorbills and Guillemots were sheltering close to shore around the Rock Pool area in Newcastle and 220 Sanderlings were roosting on the rocks nearby. (David Nixon).

This evening at Killough there was the Glossy Ibis (constantly chased by gulls and jackdaws), along with 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 56 Lapwing, +350 Black-headed Gull, 4 Little Egret and 4 Grey Heron. Also at Kilclief were 35 Golden Plover, 1 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin. (Toni Costello).

A juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was at Inch Lake in Donegal. (Birdguides).

Yesterday a Little Egret was on the River Bann at Carnroe, Aghadowey. (Maura Creelman).

Thanks to Christine Cassidy for the picture of the Snow Bunting, to Tony Donaldson for the picture of the Marsh Harrier, to Bill Guiller for the picture of the Red Kite and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Grey Heron.

Bird News Thursday 13th October

A Crossbill was seen this morning in Slieve Gullion Forest Park. (Frank Carroll).

The Red-flanked Bluetail was looked for but not found at Kelly's Wood this afternoon. (William Smiton).

A female Common Scoter was at Lough Beg today, also 16 Ruff. The six Pinkfeet (a juvenile and five adults) were still at Mullagh. (David Steele).

Belfast Lough off the RSPB WOW reserve had a Red-throated Diver, 3 Guillemot, a Black Guillemot and 2 Great Crested Grebe. (Derek Polley).

A Jack Snipe was at Lower Lough Erne Islands RSPB reserve this afternoon. (Brad Robson).

Thanks to Marty McClenaghan for the pictures of the Kestrel and the Grey Plover and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Little Egret.

Bird News Wednesday 12th October

Red-flanked Bluetail still showing well at times, 40m north from the south end of Kellys Wood, St John's Point. The bird was still present at this location at 4pm (Tim Murphy)

The 2nd winter Ring-billed Gull was still at the Round O, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

A Lesser Whitethroat was seen today on Rathlin Island and an adult Little Gull was at Fair Head. (Eamonn Larresey)

At Teiges Hill near Brookeborough, Co Fermanagh this morning there were 3 Swallows, a total of about 60 Redwings and 11 Fieldfare,  also seen were 32 Crossbills. (Clive Mellon).

A 1st winter Little Gull was at Glynn in Larne Lough this morning, see picture below. (Cameron Moore).

The Spoonbill was still at Ballykelly this morning.

A White-tailed Eagle was at Lower Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh today.

Thanks to Cameron for the picture of the Little Gull at Glynn.

   

Seamus Heaney Homeplace - Birds in the Landscape

An event that may be of interest to Blog viewers is ‘Birds in the Landscape’ which is being held at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy on Sunday 23 October at 4pm.

 

It features two writers who share Seamus Heaney’s fascination with birds - in his book A Single Swallow, travel writer and novelist Horatio Clare followed the epic flight path of a migrating Swallow across fourteen countries from Cape Town to Wales, while in Birds and People, naturalist (and Birds Britannica co-editor) Mark Cocker drew on 40 years of writing and studying birds to present a wide-ranging celebration of man’s relationship with birds.

 

More details are available here: https://seamusheaneyhome.ticketsolve.com/#/shows/873562992

Bird News Tuesday 11th October

A Marsh Harrier was flying over the reedbed at Portmore Lough today. Seen this morning and seen again at 3.30pm. (Zoe McGee/Laura Smith)

The Red-flanked Bluetail was looked for by a number of birders without success.

Late news for yesterday was off 2 Curlew Sandpipers at RSPB WOW. (Noeni Bryars)

Thanks to Mervyn Guthrie for this pic of the Spoonbill and Little Egrets at Ballykelly (taken on Sunday):

 

Tree Sparrow, Ginny McKee:

 

Bird News Monday 10th October.

The Red-flanked Bluetail was still at Kelly's Wood, St Johns Point, it was seen up to 18.15 (Nigel Moore/Garry Wilkinson/ Tony Dodds/James O'Neill/Brad Robson) see Nigel's pic below

A Yellow-browed Warbler was on Big Copeland to-day. (Birdguides) 

3 Whimbrel were at Ballykinlar beach. (James O'Neill) see James pic of the Red-flanked Bluetail below (second pic)

Kearney had 5 Swallow, Chiffchaff and up to 30 Goldcrest. There was no further sign of the Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ian Enlander)

Tory Island today had 7 Yellow Browed Warblers, 6 Chiffchaff, 11 Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, 2 Snow Bunting, a Tree Pipit and a Siberian Chiffchaff (Peter Phillips)

2 Wheatear and 3 White Wagtail were on the Portstewart side of the Bann Estuary (David Morrow).

16 Little Egrets present in the SW corner of Lough Beg from 4- 6pm. Several thousand dabbling duck were present, mostly Mallard, Teal and Wigeon with smaller numbers of Gadwall and Shoveler. (Godfrey McRoberts)

Nigel Moore:

James O'Neill:

Bird News Sunday 9th October

The Red-flanked Bluetail was showing 30m north of gates of house in Kelly Wood, St Johns Point at 8:20 (Brian Porter). The bird was still present up to circa 12 in the same area. However the bird was not seen in the afternoon despite extensive searching.

The north east shore of Lough Macnean, Co Fermanagh had a Common Crane and a fem/imm  Marsh Harrier. Please do not enter any farm lanes and only view from the main road (per Brad Robson)

The Red-breasted Flycatcher was seen again at Kearney, Co Down. It was favouring the trees and gardens around the toilet block (Billy Miskelly)

The Spoonbill was still at Ballykelly (David Hill)

Redwings are widely reported and can be heard at night, on migration.

Thanks to Gerard Murray for the two top pics of the Red-flanked Bluetail also Ian Graham for the third pic and Brad Robson for the record shot of the Crane:

 

 

 

It is not often that there is a twitch in NI!

 

Red-flanked Bluetail

A Red-flanked Bluetail, a first record in NI, was in Kelly's Wood (directly 1 km north of the lighthouse), St John's Point. It was showing well, feeding in Sycamores on the south side of the lane, 50m NE of the black gates to St John's House.  It was still present at dusk and appears to be a 1st winter male. (Tim Murphy)

Bird News Saturday 8th October

A Yellow-Browed Warbler and two Chiffchaff were in the garden beside the toilets at Kearney, Co Down (Billy Miskelly)

A Red-breasted Flycatcher was at the sycamore wood Kearney (Stuart McKee)

The Lapland Bunting was still circa 1 mile north of Ballywalter, on the beach (Stuart McKee)

A count of 27 Little Egret were at the Floodgates / north end of Strangford Lough. A second winter Med Gull was at the Floodgates (Wilton Farrelly)

3 Curlew Sandpipers were at Blanketnook, Co Donegal (Brad Robson)

The Spoonbill was still at Ballykelly this afternoon (Birdguides)

Thanks to Erin Galbraith for this pic of a Wheatear on Copeland:

Lapland Bunting, Wilton Farrelly:

Bird News Friday 7th October.

A Spoonbill was at Ballykelly Co.L'derry (Brian Hegarty) see pic below.

As well as the Spoonbill at Ballykelly, Lough Foyle had 10 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Ruff, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Med. Gull, 32 Little Egret.(Gareth Bareham/Matthew Tickner)

A male Long-tailed Duck was off the hide at the Bann.(Brian Hegarty)

The Lapland Bunting was still present yesterday at Ballywalter.(Garry Wilkinson) see pic below.

St. John's Point Co.Down had...1000 Linnet, 200 Skylark and 10 Swallow were at St John's Point. Seawatching produced 3 Manx Shearwater, a Red-throated Diver, a juvenile and an adult Common Tern.(Tim Murphy)

The winter-plumage Common Tern was still at Lough Beg today. A Jack Snipe and 20 Ruff were at Mullagh. (David Steele)

Bird News Thursday 6th October

The Snow Bunting was still at Ramore Head. (Matthew Tickner)

Two Pink-footed Geese were at Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

A Red Kite was over the Downpatrick Road about a quarter of a mile from Clough in Co. Down. (Wilf Swain).

Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve this morning on a rising tide had 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 680 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, 100+ Knot, 280 Teal, a Raven and a female Sparrowhawk. (Derek Polley).

A Yellow-browed Warbler was on Tory Island, Donegal. (Birdguides).

Today at Myroe, there were large numbers of Curlew, Golden Plover, 2 Wheatear, 1 Buzzard and a female Sparrowhawk, at Magilligan Point there were 10 Bar Tailed Godwits and 12 Common Scoters and near a farm on the Crannagh Road, Coleraine were about 10/12 Swallows. (Sean Hickey)

Inch Lake in Donegal had 12 Pink-footed Geese, 45 Whooper Swans, 1 Ruff and 1 Kingfisher; and at Blanket Nook 14 Grey Plover (Hill Dick/Peter Robinson).

Thanks to Cameron for the pic of the Pink-footed Geese, to Christine Cassidy for the picture of the Golden Plover, to David Hill for the pictures of the Wheatears and the Meadow Pipit and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Little Egret:

Bird News Wednesday 5th October

A Snow Bunting was at Ramore Head this morning. (Matthew Tickner)

3 Curlew Sandpipers were at RSPB Belfast WOW Reserve (Robin Vage)

A late Common Tern (an adult in winter plumage) was over Lough Beg this afternoon. Six Pink-footed Geese at Mullagh (David Steele)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for this pic of a Buzzard:

 

Bird News Tuesday 4th October

A Lapland Bunting was seen on the beach north of Ballywalter yesterday afternoon (Marty McClenaghan)

Two Buzzard where seen at Maze, nr Lisburn.(Paul Allen)

On Sunday, an adult Mediterranean Gull was at Glenarm (Pauline Majury)

Thanks to Marty for this pic of the Lapland Bunting and Pauline for the Med Gull:

 

 

BTO Northern Ireland Birdwatchers Conference

The annual BTO NI conference is on Saturday 5th November at Oxford Island. You can see further information and book this event at:

https://www.bto.org/news-events/events/2016-11/northern-ireland-birdwatchers-conference

Simon King In Northern Ireland

Simon King’s passion for the natural world is well known to television viewers worldwide through his work as a presenter and award-winning cameraman. He has been instrumental in some of the best known award-winning natural history television of recent years, including presenting BBC’s Springwatch, Big Cat Diary, Planet Earth, Blue Planet and the Life series plus more recently African Cats for Disney.

For the first time, Simon’s profound knowledge of the techniques and tricks needed to find and watch our most beautiful and elusive animals, is presented in this beautiful reference book, Simon King’s NatureWatch, the ultimate guide to tracking and watching wildlife in Britain and Europe fully illustrated with Simon’s own stunning photography. Hear Simon talk on his work as a nature conservationist, his career as a wildlife broadcaster, photographer & cinematographer and get the chance to purchase a copy of Nature Watch for yourself.

http://www.roevalleyarts.com/rv_events/steinbeck-celebration-naturewatch-with-simon-king/

Bird News Monday 3rd October

An immature White-tailed Eagle was at Boa Island Fermanagh this morning (Peter Taylor / Andrew Gallagher).

Four Grey Plover were at Ballykelly Bank in Lough Foyle, see picture below. (David Hill).

On Rathlin 4 Pink-footed Geese in company of one Greylag were in a field beside Ushet Lough and 
a Chough was at Roonyvoolin cliff walk. (Patrick Barton).

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Belfast Lough RSPB WOW reserve. (Stuart McKee).

Five Crossbills flew over a garden in Fivemiletown today. (Colin Bell).

Thanks to David Hill for the pictures of the Grey Plover and the ringed Brent Goose and to Patrick Barton for the picture of the Chough.

Bird News Sunday 2nd October

A Slavonian Grebe was in Greyabbey Bay, a whimbrel at Ballyquintin Point and a chiffchaff at Kearney. (Richard Weyl)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for this pic of a Goldfinch:

 

Bird News Saturday 1st October

A Great White Egret was at Lough Beg today. Two Pink-footed Geese, a Wheatear and two Chiffchaffs at Mullagh (David Steele)

Jay - Jane McLaughlin