Northern Ireland Local Patch (1 Viewer)

[Pluvius]

Hi Pete
If you can get the chance go to the RSPB Belfast harbour Reserve its well worth a visit. There is also a hide on the Bann Estuary which can be good for waders. Have a look at my blog below and it should give you some ideas. If you can get to Belfast I would be happy to show you around for a few hours.
Craig

 

[Mad_Sunday]

Thanks Craig,

I have had a look at the links on your site which seem just what I needed. I would very much like to take up your offer re. Belfast reserve and will let you know if and when I will be able to visit during our stay.

Regards, Pete.

 

[nepp]

bird sites

Hi
Having never bird watched in the province before I'd like a few tips for the best places to visit. I would prefer hide sitting if the weather is bad. Any suggestions?

Pete.

Hi Pete
The suggestion Craig made is excellent. I also recommend the RSPB hide in Belfast Harbour. There is a also hide at the mouth of the Bann estuary..on the Castlerock side of the river... although you need a key.
There is an excellent new book which would make you a great Christmas present "Finding Birds in Ireland" by Eric Dempsey and Michael O'Clery. ISBN 978-0-7171-3916-3
I purchased mine directly from www.gillmacmillan.ie and it arrived within 3 days.
The maps are clear and accurate.
Norma

 

[rdspalm]

Redpoll and Goldfinch eating Birch seeds in my garden Sunday last.

 

[rdspalm]

More reports please!

Has no one been out birding this weekend? We have slipped to a position well down the second page.

The most exciting thing I saw was a huge flock of starlings. But then that was from the living room window. The weather was not great.

Richard:

 

[cidereduck]

Has no one been out birding this weekend? We have slipped to a position well down the second page.

The most exciting thing I saw was a huge flock of starlings. But then that was from the living room window. The weather was not great.

Richard:

the barrow's goldeneye was back at the yacht club side of the quoile pondage on saturday...we drove round that way on a whim and there it was, rather close to the edge of the water. it appears to be moulting, was very tatty looking and didnt have his full facial markings. it wasnt reported yesterday though-it (presuming its the same one) has been visiting for 2 years now and usually sticks round til march, so it might well still be in the area.

 

[nepp]

Birding in Thailand

Hi Richard
I am in Thailand with one of the best birders in the country. I have seen 30 new species today. Lots of waders including the fabulous endangered spoonbill sandpiper!

Do you want to know any more or is it too far off our thread?

Norma

 

[Chkm8]

destruction of our countryside

Anyone familiar with legislation in N.Ireland ?
As if the dumping in the countryside wasn't enough I was driving home yesterday to come across 2 guys with chainsaws cutting down perfectly healthy trees to make a track into the woods so they couls drive about on their quads.
When I first moved here I regularly saw numerous raptors and a barn owl regularly hunted the field along the lane. Since 2 new houses were built which meant clearing lots of wooded areas the owl hasn't been seen. Other raptors are down in numbers and now trees being felled to make room in peatland full of song birds so these guys can play on their quads. Surely there must be laws against cutting down trees like this ?
Sorry everyone but I needed a rant.

John.

 

[rdspalm]

Sounds a great trip Norma. Wish I could get off like that, kids too young at present. You must post a few pictures when you get home.

Richard

 

[fisi7chella]

Anyone familiar with legislation in N.Ireland ?
As if the dumping in the countryside wasn't enough I was driving home yesterday to come across 2 guys with chainsaws cutting down perfectly healthy trees to make a track into the woods so they couls drive about on their quads.
When I first moved here I regularly saw numerous raptors and a barn owl regularly hunted the field along the lane. Since 2 new houses were built which meant clearing lots of wooded areas the owl hasn't been seen. Other raptors are down in numbers and now trees being felled to make room in peatland full of song birds so these guys can play on their quads. Surely there must be laws against cutting down trees like this ?
Sorry everyone but I needed a rant.

John.

i think i would rant if i witnessed that too!!

 

[jredds21]

i got the barrows goldeneye on sat the 1st showing really close seems to be out of its eclipse now facial marks are visible

 

[Chkm8]

todays bird count

with a rare dry spell I took the chance to get out for a walk on our lane and this is what I saw over about a 20min spell.

Whooper Swans 70 + 15 juveniles
Mute Swans 8
Blackbird 8
Mistlethrush 4
Grey Heron 1
Hooded Crow 8
Robin 2
Tree Sparrow 3
Chaffinch 3
Blue tit 2
Goldfinch 3
Herring Gull 1
Kestrel 1
Buzzard 2
pheasant 4
Magpie 6
Starlings 100 +
Lapwing 50
Curlew 60 +
Plus a flock of around 50 birds on the shorline of the lough that my megre identification skill don't stretch to. For any id experts.
Habitat marshy area along the shore of the lough.
Size : similar to that of a thrush
colour : some distance off but fairly plain light brown
in flight wings come to a sharp point and similar in shape to a plover.

John.

 

[breffni]

Plus a flock of around 50 birds on the shorline of the lough that my megre identification skill don't stretch to. For any id experts.
Habitat marshy area along the shore of the lough.
Size : similar to that of a thrush
colour : some distance off but fairly plain light brown
in flight wings come to a sharp point and similar in shape to a plover.

John.

Redwings?

 

[Chkm8]

redwings

Don't think they are redwings
Went back for a 2nd look today didn't see any but did spot a Bullfinch which was nice and what I think was a Harrier quartering over the marshland.
Apologies for the poor pictures which were taken hand held and the bird some 300m away or more.

John.

 

[Chkm8]

Well the N.Ireland patch is quiet these days.
What has everyone been up to over the holiday period. Anyone treat them selves to new binoculars / scope etc.
I decided to wait a while and get the scope I really want rather than something I will probably want to upgrade after a season.
Went out again this morning spotted
male and female hen harriers though not together.
curlew, mute and whooper swans, snipe, golden eye and numerous other waders.
Met up with the project officer for the tree sparrow project in the Lough Neagh area so went home armed with 10 nest boxes and a 15kg bag of corn. Will let you know how the project progresses. I think the aim is 10,000 boxes around lough neagh.

John.

 

[Derek Polley]

Not out much - too much else to do plus a fair bit of unexpected work. Garden is attracting lots of stuff including 3 blackcaps (2 M & 1F) and a single redwing this am - first in the garden for several years.

Will be entertaining 4 birders from Tyneside in the New Year and am hoping to perm 3 from Strangford Lough, Belfast Lough, Lough Neagh and Lough Beg. Would appreciate any news of good birds plus any help with Lough Beg as I have never been in winter and only know 2 ways to view - from the lane at the Creagh to the Sandpits and the minor Road towards Bellaghy from which I have walked to Church Island in the summer. Is there anywhere else I should be thinking of? I need to get the visitors to Aldergrove around 2.30 on Sunday 6th so a half day at Beg or Neagh would be good. Strangford is a full day and I hope to fit in the RSPB Reserve, Dargan Bay Whitehouse Lagoon Fishermans Quay and Ballycarry/Glynn on another day. All ideas gratefullyconsidered!!

 

[rdspalm]

Out for a walk this afternoon at Inch Island. Not really a birding trip but got great views of Bullfinch, 2-3 males and a female feeding in hedgerows. Good numbers of geese present on the lake also fair numbers of duck. Did not have the scope so could not id the species. Expect Widgeon, Tufted Duck, Mallard etc.

Must get out again this week while I'm off work.

 

[fisi7chella]

Out for a walk this afternoon at Inch Island. Not really a birding trip but got great views of Bullfinch, 2-3 males and a female feeding in hedgerows. Good numbers of geese present on the lake also fair numbers of duck. Did not have the scope so could not id the species. Expect Widgeon, Tufted Duck, Mallard etc.

Must get out again this week while I'm off work.

i notice great numbers of bullfinch this winter,almost see them on a daily basis.
but yet on saturday i watched a dipper for the first time in my life,are they a
common bird in the north of the province??.
happy new year everyone
adrian

 

[Derek Polley]

i notice great numbers of bullfinch this winter,almost see them on a daily basis.
but yet on saturday i watched a dipper for the first time in my life,are they a
common bird in the north of the province??.
happy new year everyone
adrian

Not that common as they mainly occur in upland streams so you need to be looking in Mournes, Sperrins or Antrim. They can be found lower down usually where there is rough water or rapids. The key factor is unpolluted water and not too acid as this kills off the insects they feed on, hence their being found higher up where pollution is less of a feature. I once had the joy of watching one on the Knock/Cherryvalley River in East Belfast for a couple of years but a pollution spill meant it moved on/died.

 

[s. james]

What has everyone been up to over the holiday period. Anyone treat them selves to new binoculars / scope etc.


John.

I got a scope from lidls, bout £100 I think!:king: Think it should be alrite for the Lough but haven't tried it out yet.

Re: Dippers they're on the River Cusher(sp?) at Care Glen near Tandragee and also the river near Antrim town (Six-Mile Water?). Antway both are lowland locations so it seems they're not restricted to uplands like all the books say.