Bird News Wednesday 18th January

Yesterday 60 Waxwings were near Cushendall (Dick Glasgow)

There are still 3 Waxwings at Grange, Bangor this morning (Derek Polley)

A drake Lesser Scaup is off the car park at Airport Road West. (Stuart McKee). The bird was still showing well up to 4.30p.m. (Ronald Surgenor)

Around 60 Waxwings are currently on the Duncan's Road Lisburn. (Karen Elliott).

Between 08.10 - 09.30 this morning a watch at Whitehead had 137 Red-throated Diver and 14 Great Northern Diver flying into Belfast Lough. (Ian Enlander)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was with a mobile tit flock at Eshywulligan, County Fermanagh this afternoon. A ringtail Hen Harrier was nearby at Teiges Hill (near Brookeborough). (Clive Mellon).

Many thanks to Dick Glasgow for the picture of the Cushendall Waxwings, to Ronald Surgenor for the second and third Lesser Scaup pictures, to Stuart McKee for the fourth Lesser Scaup picture, to Jason Bain for the Treecreeper picture and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Brent Geese:

Lesser Scaup (front bird) and Greater Scaup, Wilton Farrelly:

Lesser Scaup, Ronald Surgenor:

Treecreeper, Jason Bain:

Brent Geese, Wilf Swain:

 

Copeland Winter Meeting - 24th January

Bird News Tuesday 17th January

A Glaucous Gull was in Bangor Central Primary School - seen during the Schools Birdwatch! You can also see a video of the bird here: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk/  (Derek Polley)

The drake Ring-Necked Duck was still at the Templewater, NT Castle Ward (Ronald Surgenor)

10 Goosander (inc 4 males) were on the River Maine, Randalstown (Brenda Campbell)

30 Scaup were between WOW and Kinnegar opposite the carpark. (Brian Hill)

The Black Redstart and Twite flock were still at Whitehead (Noeni Bryars)

The Floodgates, Newtownards, had 3 Little Egrets, approx. 500 Golden Plover and a Greenshank (Ian McKee)

Three Waxwings and two Redwings were feeding on the berries at Donard Court \ Rugby Manor, Grange Road,  Bangor (Stephen Macauley \ Dora Ferguson)

A Great White Egret & a redhead Goosander were at White Island near Castle Archdale Lower lough Erne islands, RSPB reserve, Co Fermanagh (Brad Robson / Amy Burns)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in a garden at Benvardin Road, Ballymoney (Annabel Farrell)

Two Ravens and a Kestrel were seen at The Ponderosa, Glenshane (Christine Cassidy \ Lindsay Hodges

The Black Redstart and Twite flock were still at Whitehead (Noeni Bryars)

Glynn had 2 Whooper Swans and 3 Greenshank. Lough Mourne had a Whooper Swan, Pochard and 2 Raven (Gerard McGeehan)


Thanks to Derek Polley for the Glaucous Gull and Dora Ferguson for the Waxwing pic:

Bird News Monday 16th January

2 Waxwings in Rowan trees next to Spar at Cornagrade Road, Enniskillen. Also redhead Goosander, 2 Jack Snipe and 1 Little Egret on Lower Lough Erne Islands RSPB Reserve (Brad Robson).

An adult Mediterranean Gull and 3 Greenshank were at Whitehouse Lagoon (Ruben Douglas).

A Chiffchaff was in the willows on the East side of Belfast Waterworks (Larry Toal).

This afternoon a Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Derrnavogie Road near Fivemiletown in Co Fermanagh. (Colin Bell).

A Waxwing was at the leisure centre in Stramore Road, Gilford at 3-15pm. (Cliford McCready).

A single Pink-footed Goose was with 200 Greylags at Crannagh Bridge, Aghagallon, today. (David Nixon/Philip McHaffie).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Hillsborough Forest today. (Mandy Cromie/Paul McCullough) 
   

Bird News Sunday 15th January

The Waxwing flock were still at the bottom of Lower Cairncastle Road, Larne this morning (Daniel Newton \ Bill Guiller). You can see video of the birds by Daniel at: https://www.youtube.com/embed/rFD7ciA6hYA

A Glaucous Gull and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush (Daniel Newton)

The Waxwing flock of circa 40 birds were still at Loughgall Road, Portadown (James O'Neill)

A Slavonian Grebe was at Glynn and a 1w Glaucous Gull was seen flying over towards Ballylumford (Gerard McGeehan \ Shirley Dunlop)

The redhead Smew was still at Drumgay Lough, Enniskillen. No sign of the Great White Egret (Adam McClure)

We have had some excellent pictures in today and you can see them at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk/

Waxwing, Bill Guiller:

 Waxwing, James O'Neill:

Waxwing, Linda Thompson:

Bird News Saturday 14th January

The drake Ring-Necked Duck was showing well at the lake at Castle Ward NT, Co Down (Daniel Newton)

35+ Waxwing are at the bottom of Lower Cairncastle Road, Larne (Neal Warnock).

Dargan Bay and Greencastle areas had 21 Common Scoter, 27 Scaup and 700 Shelduck. Whitehouse Lagoon had 1 Pintail. (Ian Enlander).

The red head Smew and a Little Egret were at Portmore Lough this afternoon. (Clive Mellon).

A Kingfisher was at the outfall of Patton's Marsh, tidebank, Newtownards this morning. (Hilary McKee), 

A Black Redstart was at Annalong Harbour. (David Knight).

The Great White Egret was still at Drumgay Lough in Co. Fermanagh. (Ronan Owens)

A juvenile and a 2nd winter Iceland Gull, 4 Lesser Black Backs and a "Viking" type hybrid were at Enniskillen Dump. (Brad Robson).

The Black Redstart is still at Whitehead with over 50 Twite (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop & Cecil Smyth)

The 40+ Waxwing flock is still at Loughgall Road in Portadown and includes one bird that was ringed at Ballater in Royal Deeside, Aberdeen on 10th December last year. If you find a colour-ringed Waxwing you can report it to the Grampian Ringing Group at grampianringing@gmail.com and help to track the Waxwing spread across the country. (James O'Neill).

Thanks to Cecil Smyth for the picture of the Black Redstart, to Lillian Cummings for the picture of the Purple Sandpiper, to Rod Gillan for the picture of the Redwing and to James O'Neill for the picture of the Waxwing.

 

 

 

Bird News Friday 13th January

The Black Redstart was showing well this afternoon at Whitehead. (Linda Thompson).

A flock of 25 Waxwings are on the Loughgall Road opposite St Colombus church in Portadown. The flock  has been feeding in the area for approx. 3 days. (Mark Killops).

A White-tailed Eagle was at  Trory Bay Lower Lough Erne. The Great White Egret was again at Drumgay Lough Enniskillen (Brad Robson)

A Little Egret was in Comber this morning in the river at Mill Street (H Hill).

A flock of approx. 200 Linnets were visiting gardens in Windmill Road, Hillsborough. (Garry Wilkinson).

Thanks to Linda for the picture of the Black Redstart and to Rod Gillan for the picture of the Bullfinch.

Bird News Thursday 12th January

The Spoonbill was again on show at Castle Espie this morning (WWT Castle Espie)

Yesterday the King Eider was on show again at Mermaids Cove, Mullaghmore (Birdguides)

A flock of 12 Waxwings are in Latharna House/St. Sedma's area in Larne. Birds extremely mobile. (Neal Warnock)

The Black Redstart is still at Whitehead (Ronald Surgenor)

Drumgay Lough Enniskillen had a Great White Egret and a redhead Smew. Enniskillen dump had a 2nd winter and a juv Iceland Gull and a hybrid Glaucous x Herring Gull. The 2nd winter Ring-billed Gull was also at Enniskillen Dump, Enniskillen (Brad Robson)

The Ring Billed Gull was in Carrickfergus. The Black Redstart, 3 Purple Sandpipers and the flock of Twite wee still at Whitehead. The Green-winged Teal was at the Ecos centre. A Black Redstart was also at East Strand Portrush. A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Corbally Reservoir and an adult Little Gull at the Bann estuary (Garry Wilkinson/ Nigel Moore)

At RSPB WOW today were over 40 species including: 3 Twite, Peregrine, Buzzard, 200+ Bar-tailed Godwits and Redpoll (Derek Polley)


A Little Egret was in Lurgan Park, Co Armagh (Pam Faulkner)

Many thanks to Rod Gillan for this pic of a Greenfinch and Lilian Cummings for the Black Redstart:

Bird News Wednesday 11th January

The 2nd winter Ring-billed Gull was still at The Round O, Enniskillen. A first Winter Iceland Gull and a third winter Glaucous Gull were at Enniskillen Dump (Wilton Farrelly)

The Black Redstart and Twite flock were still at Whitehead, Co Antrim (Richard Hunter/Jason Bain)

A possible male Lesser Scaup was seen at Oxford Island. The wing pattern was not observed. (Joe Devlin)

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still on the lake at Nationals Trust Castle Ward (Garry Wilkinson)

Ring-billed Gull, Wilton Farrelly and thanks to Jason Bain for the pictures of the Black Redstart, Twite and Purple Sandpiper

Bird News Tuesday 10th January

6 Waxwings were in Lismore Avenue in Bangor this morning. (William Bullar).

A presumed escaped Gyr Falcon was seen on a house roof in Saitnfield Co down (per RSPB NI).

A Greenshank and at least 20 Red-breasted Mergansers were at the Strand in Killyleagh. (Spencer & Joan Marshall)

A Little Egret was at Whitehouse Lagoon. (Stuart McKee)

A Green Sandpiper flew from a drain just east of Lisleitrim Lough near Cullyhanna Co. Armagh today (Joe Devlin).

The Black Redstart was still present in Whitehead. (Guy Hamilton).

An adult Iceland Gull was at Corbally Reservoir outside Portrush. (Hill Dick).

A Little Egret was in the Stormont  Estate. (Paul McCullough).

Thanks to Paul McCullough for this picture of a Jay.

 

Bird News Monday 9th January

The red head Smew and a Water Rail where at Portmore Lough reserve.(Garry Wilkinson)

A Carrion Crow was feeding in the grounds of the City Hall in Belfast.(Paul McCullough)

The Black Redstart and the flock of Twite where still on show at Whitehead sea front.(Jim McKeown)

3 Goosander (1 male/2female) where on Lough Island Reevy Co Down.(Frank Carroll)

3 Ruff where at N'ards floodgates.(Ross McIIWrath)

The Green-winged Teal continues to be seen at the Ecos centre.(G McGeehan/S.Dunlop)

A Cattle Egret seen at Whitehouse Lagoon has been reported to Irishbirding.

Our thanks to Gavin Ferguson who kindly sent in the pics  from Whitehead of the Black Redstart and the flock of Twite:

Bird News Sunday 8th January

The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead along with up to 22 Twite (Gerard McGeehan \ Clive Mellon) See pictures below.

The drake Ring-Necked Duck was showing well on the lake at NT Castle Ward, Co Down (Wilton Farrelly)

Three Ruff were at Dundrum Inner Bay (Ian Graham)

The Spoonbill was again at Castle Espie (Kevin Kirkham-Brown)

A Brambling and 5 Yellowhammer were in a large finch flock on the road down to the Quoile (Wilton Farrelly)

Two Red Grouse were on Slieve Donard (Edward Cooper)

The drake Surf Scoter and 3 Velvet Scoter were at  Murvagh, Donegal (Brad Robson)

Three Carrion Crows were east of Fishermans Quay and another 2 at Glynn Railway Halt, with 4 Red-throated Divers there as well (Clive Mellon)

Twenty two Red-throated Divers and three Great Northern Divers were off Newcastle (Garry Armstrong)

2 Gadwall were at Galwally Lake, south Belfast. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in Belvoir near the sewage plant. Yesterday an adult Med Gull was at Newcastle at the river outflow on the beach and there were 7 Goosanders on Lough Island Reavy (Dermot Hughes)

A second winter Iceland Gull was on the shore from the small car park at Lough Shore Park, Belfast Lough (Stuart McKee)

2 Red Grouse were today at Breesy Hill, close to Belleek. Also 2 male Goosander were at Assaroe Lake Ballyshannon (Annette Elkin)

A male Gadwall was among Mallards in Mill Bay, Rathlin Island. A Great Northern Diver was also present (Patrick Barton)

12 Purple Sandpipers were at Portrush. A first winter Iceland Gull was at Corbally Reservoir (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Blackcaps are now widely reported from gardens. This male was photographed by Lindsay Hodges in a garden in Dundonald:

Thanks to Cecil Smyth for this pic of the Black Redstart and Twite:

Bird News Saturday 7th January

This morning at Whitehead, Co Antrim were ca 20 Twite at the boatyard and the female Black Redstart on the adjacent sea wall (Keith Bennett)

7 Scaup and a Red-throated Diver were off Kinnegar. At Dargan were 56 Scaup and 2 Long-tailed Ducks (Daniel Newton)

A 1st winter Ring-billed Gull was at Whitehouse lagoon Co Antrim and 2 Long-tailed Duck at Carrickfergus, from Fisherman's wharf. (Keith Bennett).

2 Slavonian Grebe were off Glynn Station and the Ring-billed Gull was still at Carrickfergus harbour. (Garry Armstrong).

A first winter Glaucous Gull was at Whiteabbey (Wilton Farrelly)

28 Common Scoter and 5 Red-throated Divers were off Crawfordsburn. Two Carrion Crow and five Carrion / Hooded Crow hybrids were on the shore with Hooded Crows (Stuart McKee)

The juv Iceland Gull Was at Enniskillen dump. The long staying Ring-billed Gull was still at the Round O, Enniskillen (Brad Robson)

In Strangford Lough, 12 Slavonian Grebe were at Greyabbey Bay and 7 Black-throated Divers south of Gransha Point. (Richard Weyl)

The red head Smew was still at Portmore Lough. A Green Sandpiper was at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh. (Neal Warnock)

200 Whooper were in the swan fields at the Creagh near Toome (Shane McGarvey)

Two Ruff were at Dundrum Inner Bay (Angus Kennedy)

Thanks to Angus Kennedy for this pic of a Greenshank:

Bird News Friday 6th January

Two Bewick Swans were with Whoopers at Closet Meadows, Oxford Island (Billy Miskelly)

A Brambling was in a garden at Islandmagee this morning (Robert McDowell)

A Waxwing is in Windsor Avenue, Belfast (Dave Allen)

The Black Redstart and approximately 15 Twite were still in Whitehead this afternoon. (Nigel Moore).

Thanks to Robert McDowell for the picture of the Brambling and to Nigel Moore for the picture of the Black Redstart:

Bird News Thursday 5th January

57 Waxwings are now at Carniny Rd, Ballymena. (Jeff Larkin).

Two Ravens were among 39 species seen at Belfast Lough WOW RSPB reserve this morning. (Jim McKeown).

The Red-head Smew was still at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve and a flock of up to 6 Yellowhammer were at the Quoile Pondage. (John & Michael Cusack).

A single Waxwing was in a garden in Greenland Crescent in Larne. (Geraldine Seymour).

Yesterday the Great White Egret was still at Rosscor in Co. Fermanagh. (Peter Taylor).

3 Jack Snipe, 212 Snipe and 4 Little Egrets were at Lower Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh today. (Brad Robson).

You can report rare and scarce birds via email: nibirds@live.co.uk  Twitter @nibirds  or via text on the numbers at the top of this page. Thanks to everyone who shares sightings!

Thanks to Geraldine Seymour for the Waxwing picture and to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Brent Geese.

 

 

 

Bird News Wednesday 4th January

16 Twite and the Black Redstart were still at Whitehead this morning. (Adam McClure)

49 Waxwings were on Carniny Rd at the junction with Cullybackey Rd in Ballymena (Jeff Larkin)

The Green-winged Teal was still at the Ecos Centre and a Med Gull at Sandy Bay, Larne. (Adam McClure)

The adult Glaucous Gull and an adult Iceland Gull were at Corbally Reservoir, Portrush (Wilton Farrelly / Garry Armstrong)

A Pink-footed Goose and a Merlin were at Fair Head (Stuart McKee)

Circa 1500 Barnacle Geese, a Merlin and 3 Chough were at Malin Head (Christine Cassidy, Lindsay Hodges and Dermot McLaughlin)

6 Waxwings were at Roe Valley Country Park at 12pm today (Claire Hassan)

A flock of 20 Yellowhammer were with Redpoll & Reed Bunting on the Ballydrain Road near Castle Espie WWT. (Jim McKeown)

A Chiffchaff was at the North end of Belfast Waterworks this morning (Larry Toal)

The drake Smew was still at Inch, Co Donegal (Robin Cunningham)


Thanks to Linda Thompson for this pic of the Whitehead Twite, Christine Cassidy for the Barnacle Geese and Robin Cunningham for the Smew:

Twite, Linda Thompson:

 

Barnacle Geese, Christine Cassidy:

Drake Smew, Robin Cunningham:

Bird News Tuesday 3rd January

A Waxwing flock were on Ormonde Avenue Newtownabbey around 1015 this morning ( Chris Rankin)

The red-head Smew and female Marsh Harrier were still at Portmore Lough this morning (Keith Bennett \ Nigel Moore)

3 Waxwing were in a tree at the war memorial, Church Place in Lurgan (Aidan Donohoe)

Two Long-tailed Duck were off Dargan (Adam McClure)

A Slavonian Grebe was off Glynn Station, Larne Lough (Neal Warnock)

Another 23 Waxwing where on Windmill Road, Hillsborough.(Gary Wilkinson) see pic below.

14 Twite were at Whitehead boat compound.  A fem/imm type Black Redstart was along seawall between car park and old swimming pool (Ian Enlander)

The Ring-billed Gull was seen again at Carrick harbour.(Daniel Newton)

The Ring-billed Gull was again seen at the Round O, E'killen.(Brad Robson)

Waxwing( taken in Lurgan) - James O'Neil.

Ring - billed Gull - Dougie Gamble.

Black Redstart - Cameron Moore.

Bird News Monday 2nd January

A flock of 50 Waxwings are at Sherwood Road, Sherwood Park, Newtonabbey Co. Antrim, eating berries at the very top of the estate. (John Cusack, Tom McEntee and Vanessa Dunn/Stephen Maxwell).

The female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the reed-beds at Portmore Lough Co. Antrim circa 2.40.(John Cusack, Tom McEntee and Vanessa Dunn).

Around 30 Waxwing were at Birch Meadow, Ballyhenry, Glengormley. (Jim McKeown)

2 Waxwings were in the. car park at Belvoir Park, Belfast (Dave Allen)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Blackwood Golf Club this morning. (Colin Cardy)

A male Brambling is visiting a garden in Glengormley (Philip McHaffie)

18 Twite were at the car park beside Whitehead Boat Club this morning (Clive Mellon)

Portmore Lough had a Ring-necked Duck, Smew and Green-winged Teal (BirdGuides)

A female Peregrine was along Windmill Road near Annahilt. (Garry Wilkinson).

A pair of Dipper were on the Shimna River in Tollymore Forest. (Derek Polley).

A Sandwich Tern and 3 Black Guillemots were in Holme Bay, Killyleagh in Strangford Lough. (Spencer & Joan Marshall).

The Green-winged Teal was still at the Ecos Park in Ballymena this morning. (John Parkinson).

2 Woodcock , Prehen House Grounds, Prehen Park, Derry (Christine Cassidy)

Thanks to Gareth Platt for the picture of a Common Gull taken at Antrim Marina, this bird was ringed as a juvenile in Finland over 21 years ago, to Stephen Maxwell for the pictures of the Waxwings and to John Parkinson for the picture of the Green-winged Teal.

 

 

 

 

Bird News New Years Day, Sunday 1st January 2017

The Green-winged Teal is still at the Ecos Centre, Ballymena. (Jeff Larkin)

The adult Little Gull was at Drains Bay, Larne (Neal Warnock)

The Spoonbill was seen again today on the salt marsh at Castle Espie (Kevin Kirkham-Brown).

A male Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Mount Stewart, Co Down, today (Keith Bennett)

A pair of Crossbills were in courtship this morning near Clabby Co Fermanagh. (Colin Bell)

A Great-spotted Woodpecker was seen on the Comber Greenway at Knock Police HQ

The Ring-billed Gull was still in Carrickfergus Harbour (Birdguides)

18 Waxwings were seen again this afternoon at Birch Green, Newtownabbey (Brian Murphy)

A happy new year to all users of this Blog. Also a big thank you to everyone who shared their bird news, sightings and pictures in 2016. This Blog could not exist without your continued contribution and support. Thanks again.

Many thanks for this pic of a Buzzard from John Moore and the Spoonbill from Kevin Kirkham-Brown: