Bird News Monday 18th March

 The flock of Waxwings is still at the Tesco store in Portstewart. (Donna Riddell). The 8 Waxwings were still present this evening. (Ben McCook).

The Lesser Scaup was still at Oxford Island, best seen this morning from the viewing platform at Waterside House. (Clifford Sharpe).

A Chiffchaff was singing at Castle Espie this morning. (Jonny Clarke).

A 2nd year Glaucous Gull was at the mouth of the Glenarm River. (Jeff Larkin).

A Glaucous Gull was at Portballintrae this morning. (Stephen Riddell).

The Cattle Egret was at it's usual place on Brankins Island Road and another was in field on left as you turn into George's Island road on way to Portmore. Three Great White Egrets were at Portmore. (David McCreedy).

Sand Martins were along the Newry Canal this morning. (Sharon Carroll).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Antrim Marina (Gareth Platt).

A Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff and Great Spotted Woodpecker were all heard near the Quoile Countryside Centre this morning. (Dougie Gamble).

A 2nd year Kumlien's Gull and seven Mediterranean Gulls were at Kerrykeel in Donegal. (Wilton Farrelly).

Waxwing, Donna Riddell.


Red-throated Divers, Linda Thompson.



Glaucous Gull, Michael Latham.


Mediterranean Gull, Gareth Platt.


Kumlien's Gull, Wilton Farrelly.


Great Spotted Woodpecker, Colin Kennedy.



Bird News Sunday 17th March

The Waxwing flock were still at Tesco, Portstewart (John Clarke / Rosie Kane)

The drake Lesser Scaup was showing very well this morning at Kinnego Marina, Oxford Island (Garry Armstrong)

A 2cy female Lesser Scaup was still present at the eastern end of Monalty Lough. An adult female Ring-necked Duck was showing distantly on Lough Fea also. Both Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. (Brian McCloskey)

The Cattle Egret was still at Brankins Island Road, near Portmore. Another Cattle Egret was in a field near Portmore, opposite the entrance to Holly Island Kennels and Cattery. (Daniel Newton)

A Carrion Crow was at Victoria Park, Belfast (Stuart Cossey)

The possible Tundra Bean Goose was at the Bann Estuary, although identification has not been confirmed (Theo Campbell)

Four Chiffchaff were at Somerset Wood, Coleraine this morning (Donna Riddell)

A Chiffchaff was calling at Peatlands Park (Brian Nelson)

A Brambling was still visiting a garden in Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

The Great White Egret was still at Portmore (Michael Latham)

2 Chiffchaff were calling in trees surrounding Navan Fort Centre Armagh (Kevin Curran)

Chiffchaff, Donna Riddell:

Drake Lesser Scaup, Garry Armstrong:

Male Brambling, Cameron Moore:

Bird News Saturday 16th March

The Lesser Scaup was in the inner bay at Kinnegoe marina at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

An early Common Tern was off Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough. (Stuart Cossey).

Eleven Velvet Scoters and two Slavonian Grebes were off Macedon Point in Belfast Lough. (Stuart McKee).

An adult Grey-bellied Brent was among 800 Brent in Killough Harbour. (Chris Murphy).

Four Great White Egrets, a 1st winter Little Gull and a single Pinkfoot were at Lough Beg. (Richard Hunter).

A Great White Egret was at Todds Corner, Ardmore, Lough Neagh. (David Clarke).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in a garden in Ballyskeagh, Lisburn. (Pauline McKee).

A Swallow was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Linda Thompson)

A House Martin was heard at Oxford Island this evening. (Nathan Gilbert).

Great White Egret, David Clarke.




Bird News Friday 15th March

10 Waxwings at Victoria Court Nursing Home grounds, Victoria Road, Carrickfergus at 8am (Paul McCulloiugh).

7 Purple Sandpipers with Turnstones on rocks by Donaghadee Community Centre (Steven Farquhar).

Male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers coming to garden feeders in Comber (David Weir).

Drake Lesser Scaup from outer marina Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).

Chiffchaff singing at Traad Point near Ballyronan (Andrew Upton).

Twite and Purple Sandpipers still at Whitehead but no sign of the Black Redstart (Garry Wilkinson).

Green Sandpiper in flooded meadows along the Newry Canal north of Jerrettspass (Joe Devlin).

Iceland Gull at Portballintrae at lunchtime (John Clarke).

11 Waxwings in the Tesco car park at Portstewart at 530pm (Sean Hickey).

Great Spotted Woodpecker, David Weir:


Iceland Gull, John Clarke:



Lesser Scaup, Ed O’Hara:

Bird News Thursday 14th March

The drake Lesser Scaup remains at the outer marina, Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Garry Wilkinson).

2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull Killough (Chris Murphy).

Great White Egret at Portmore Lough RSPB (Chris Hamilton).

2 male and a female Brambling in a Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).

Brambling, Cameron Moore:


Black-tailed Godwit, Alastair McLean:





Bird News Wednesday 13th March

The drake Lesser Scaup remains visible from the outer marina at Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).

Single Jack Snipe flushed on farmland near Mackan, Co Fermanagh (Paul Reed).

2 Pink-footed Geese at Glynn (Paula Campbell).

Bird News Tuesday 12th March

Late news from yesterday of a Chiffchaff at School Road, Crossnamuckley (Kerry Leonard).

Drake Goosander still on the lake at Billy Neill CP at 1030-1130 at least (Derek Polley).

Chiffchaff at St John’s Point (Garry Wilkinson).

Drake Lesser Scaup still from outer marina Kinnegoe Bay (Ed O’Hara).

The overwintering Green Sandpiper still along the River Main at Slaght near Ballymena (David Steele).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Killough (Chris Murphy).

A drake Goosander at the Dromara end of Begney Lough this afternoon (David Nixon).

Spotted Redshank roosting off the main Newcastle Road past Dundrum. Also several Purple Sandpipers at Newcastle swimming pool. Red Kite and 20+ Yellowhammers at East Down Farmers (Garry Wilkinson).

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Bird News Monday 11th March

Waxwings still along Portrush Road (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

Drake Lesser Scaup still from outer marina at Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).

Great White Egret in flight over fields beside the Ards to Donaghadee road at 1120 (Chris Shaw).

Drake Goosander on the lake at Billy Neill CP again from 1550 when it flew in presumably to roost (Chris Shaw).

5+ Waxwings adjacent to the A2 near the George Best Belfast City Airport terminal building (Stephen Foster).

Common Buzzard & Hen Harrier, Bill Guiller:




BTO Spring Training Opportunities

 

https://www.bto.org/about-bto/national-offices/bto-northern-ireland/bto-northern-ireland-events

Bird News Sunday 10th March

Probable Tundra Bean Goose with Pink-footed Goose at Bann Estuary 10am. Both birds were moving along shore to Articlave River (Dean Jones).

Waxwings in garden of No 10 Portrush Road (John Clarke / Donna & Stephen Riddell).

Adult Little Gull at Ballykinler high tide roost (Andrew Crory).

Lesser Scaup from outer marina at Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR at 3pm (Ed O’Hara).

Great White Egret at Portmore Lough RSPB (Ross Thompson).

Male Brambling in a Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).

A Spoonbill in flight between Armagh and Middletown yesterday lunchtime (Joe Burns).

Waxwings, Donna Riddell:



Brambling, Cameron Moore:





Bird News Saturday 9th March

The Lesser Scaup was at Kinnegoe marina, Oxford Island again this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

The Cattle Egret is still at Brankins Island Road near Lady Bay. (Daniel Newton).

An Iceland Gull was at Portballintrae again. (Michael Latham).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Castle Espie. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

Three Pinkfeet were with Whoopers and Greylags at Lady Bay and a Great White Egret was at Portmore. (Wilton Farrelly).

12 or 13 Waxwings were at the University of Ulster at Coleraine. (Richard Donaghey).

A Glaucous Gull was at Portballintrae (John Clarke).

A Glaucous Gull was at the far end of Runkerry strand. (Tom Garner).

The 13 Waxwings in Coleraine were on the Portrush Road near the junction of the Boulevard this afternoon. (John Clarke).

Two Sand Martins were over Roughan Lough near Newmills. (Ernie Hunter).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Castlewellan Forest Park. (Elaine Huey)

Lesser Scaup, Oxford Island.


Iceland Gull, Michael Latham.




Bird News Friday 8th March

A singing Chiffchaff was at RSPB WoW. 5 Mediterranean Gulls were also present (Daniel Newton)

The drake Goosander was back at Billy Neil playing fields at lunchtime (Nigel Moore)

Two male Brambling were with chaffnches at Mourne Park car park, Kilkeel. A Red Kite was over the estate and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight over the car park. (Garry Wilkinson)

The adult Lesser Scaup was back at Kinnego Marina this morning (Ed O’Hara)

An adult Iceland Gull was at Kinnegar Shore this afternoon (Daniel Newton)

Seven Great Egrets and the 1st-winter Little Gull were still at Lough Beg today, also a 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull (David Steele)

Iceland Gull, Daniel Newton:

Stonechat, Julet Fleming:

Until the end of July, we will no longer be putting details of any sightings or pictures of potential breeding raptors on to the Blog.

Bird News Thursday 7th March

**Please Note** There is one seat available on Monday’s boat trip Ballycastle to Islay. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details. 

Drake Goosander again on lake at Billy Neill CP this morning (Dave Weir).

Iceland Gull at Portballintrae this morning (John Clarke).

3 Red Kites; one low over the A26 Moira Road near Glenavy and two over the Dromore Road one mile from Ballynahinch (Gregory Heaney).

2 Great White Egrets at Portmore Lough RSPB and Cattle Egretbstill along Brankins Island Road near the bridge (Robbie Hughes).

Great White Egret, Merlin and 2 Pink-footed Geese at Reedy Flats (Ed O’Hara).

Impressive Starling murmuration between 249D Ballynahinch Road and Lough Aghery, presumed to roost in the conifers near the lough (Liz Wilson).

Iceland Gull, John Clarke:


Goosander, William Smiton:




Starling Murmuration, Liz Wilson: