Northern Ireland Local Patch (1 Viewer)

[Chkm8]

Stephen,let me know how the scope is. I could do with one. The binoculars don't give enough reach for the birds on the shoreline here and would love a better view of the hen harriers.

 

[dieselglider]

Will be entertaining 4 birders from Tyneside in the New Year ....and I hope to fit in the RSPB Reserve, Dargan Bay Whitehouse Lagoon Fishermans Quay and Ballycarry/Glynn on another day. All ideas gratefullyconsidered!!

My 1st post, but I just wanted to say I spotted a Kingfisher at Ballycarry on Sun 30th Dec, while out for a dander. First time I have seen one in the flesh, so to speak.

I was just trying to get a pic on my camera phone of the local Little Egret as I was walking past, and the 'Fisher flew up onto a twig right in front of me, for a second, before disappearing down again. This was on the south side of the wall, at the Islandmagee end of the lough.

As a matter of interest, do Kingfishers tend to hunt around the same small area? ie, am I likely to see it again? I'm not really a birder as such, just a casual interest. |=)|

 

[fisi7chella]

Stephen,let me know how the scope is. I could do with one. The binoculars don't give enough reach for the birds on the shoreline here and would love a better view of the hen harriers.

i bought a kowa tsn-823 a couple of years ago and it cost me a grand with
zoom and tripod
its second hand value has held up well considering how much kowa's most expensive scope is now.I dont intend to buy another one so i suppose its a lifetime investment unless it gets broke!But i know on the coast i find
binoculars not that beneficial on the distances often involved.And remember
a good heavy tripod like a manfrotto is vital for those windy days!

 

[Derek Polley]

I remember someone in England last year waxing lyrical about a scope they got in LIDL. Said it was really good as a starter scope and very good value for money. What is the make and magnification?

I have never seen a kingfisher at Ballycarry before but if there is one in the area there is a chance of seeing it again. Having said that if I go to somewhere there are kingfishers I would normally see one only 1 in 3 or thereabouts so they are a bit hit and miss. Best time is late summer when there are young around and they move away to look for an unoccupied territory.

 

[Derek Polley]

A trip to the Long Hole in Bangor, RSPB reserve and shipping channel, Dargan Bay and Whitehouse Lagoon before the rain/sleet/ snow set in produced between 45 - 50 species depending on who saw them - there were 6 of us!! Highlights were siskin, purple sandpiper, black guillemot, 200 Scaup and a ring billed gull. Also had mergansers, goldeneye, grebes, ringed plover and most of the usual. Lacking in passerines but conditions and habitat not good. Out tomorrow to Strangford Lough and the Quoile (weather and snow permitting)

 

[Derek Polley]

Round the Lough for the New Year

Suoer day around Strangford Lough with 67 species for me including 2 Little egret, 300 linnet flock, Barrow's Goldeneye, 2 greenshank, 2 Sparrowhawks putting up wader flocks at Castle Espie and the Flood Gates at Ards plus a host of the usual suspects. Managed not to get Whooper, moorhen house Sparrow and little grebe:C;

 

[Derek Polley]

Oxford Island today produced lots of goodies including 3 Bewick's swans, 30 ruddy duck, 6 redpoll, siskin, bullfinch, treecreeper and jay. A good day in cold clear conditions. Had an hour at Portmore and managed not to see the smew reported on Flightline tonight, this despite 4 of us scoping it. Would value more detals of when and where it was seen?

 

[Brosnabirder]

Hello Derek.
The scope Lidl were selling is Bresser. Don't know magnification or anything else about it. Bresser have a website however. Also a search on BF should yield some info.

 

[Game Bird]

Checked out Annaghroe and Anacramp (Nr Caledon, Armagh) for GWF Geese on Saturday. None to be found. (The peak last year was only 9). Annaghroe flooded and had greylag (1), Mallard, wigeon and lapwing flocks. Anacramp had 48 greylags along with 42 whoopers (one with a leg ring but too dark to read).

 

[brianfm]

I'd just like to post a thank you to Derek Polley (and his friend John) for hosting what turned out to be a fantastic 3 days birding in N Ireland, snow and all. I see Derek has put on some highlights already and I shall be writing up a full report later in the week. Thanks for the great Irish hospitality, from Newcastle upon Tyne (Brian, Graham (Level Seven), Derek (another!) and Mark). The years list is off to a flying start and that includes a couple of lifers in Ring Billed Gull and Barrows Goldeneye.

Cheers.

 

[Derek Polley]

Bewick's swan

I'd just like to post a thank you to Derek Polley (and his friend John) for hosting what turned out to be a fantastic 3 days birding in N Ireland, snow and all. I see Derek has put on some highlights already and I shall be writing up a full report later in the week. Thanks for the great Irish hospitality, from Newcastle upon Tyne (Brian, Graham (Level Seven), Derek (another!) and Mark). The years list is off to a flying start and that includes a couple of lifers in Ring Billed Gull and Barrows Goldeneye.

Cheers.

Had a look at my records and the last bewicks I saw in NI was in 1987 at Oxford Island, prior to that I had one in 1986 there as well, and some at the Quoile in 1980. A pretty rare bird and it was great to see 3 side by side with 14 whoopers for comparison. Was at Sixmilewater today on a walk and got kingfisher. It passed the two birders in the group who were looking out for it and was spotted by the non birders behind. They are still revelling in the telling of the story! Aldergrove Airport Car Park has redwings and fieldfares.

 

[Chkm8]

spotted a kingfisher at oxford island today which is a first for me at this location. Anyone else seen them here ?.

John.

 

[Derek Polley]

spotted a kingfisher at oxford island today which is a first for me at this location. Anyone else seen them here ?.

John.

Kingfisher is one bird that is not on my Oxford Island list - yet! Always thought that there must be some on the rivers flowing in like the Closet. Where did you see it?

 

[Chkm8]

Hi Derek,
I have a small boat down at the marina at the berth farthest from the childrens play area. I had just started down towards the boat and it flew out from about the 3rd berth down. I asked about and they have been seen there several times though this was a first for me.

John.

 

[brianfm]

Hi Derek and anyone else who is interested ;-)

You will find my N Ireland trip report in my blog (Tales of a Botanical Birder. Starting here I think http://www.birdforum.net/blog.php?b=333

 

[Derek Polley]

Enjoyed the report and have posted a comment. Got locked out of the photoes?!?!?!?!

 

[nepp]

report

Enjoyed the report and have posted a comment. Got locked out of the photoes?!?!?!?!

Me too the report was interesting-- glad someone was out and had such a successfull time during bad weather. I couldn't access the photos either.

 

[fisi7chella]

bullfinches

Has anyone else noticed a surge in bullfinch sightings.I am in the clogher
fivemiletown,fintona area and i used to see a few every year.Now i see them
practically every day,they are a remarkably attractive bird viewed as a pest
by some growers but why have numbers increased so much?

 

[brianfm]

Enjoyed the report and have posted a comment. Got locked out of the photoes?!?!?!?!

No idea what is happening with the photos. I have just looked in an accessed them ok. Graham posted them as a comment and is going to speak with admin I think.

 

[Chkm8]

Finall spotted the perigrinne. I had heard reports there was one in the area and after the RSPB member who got me involved in the Tree Sparrow Project pointed out its favourite scouting post I eventually found it. Well it found me by flying across the road about 6-8 feet in front of me. It then came to rest on a fence post at the bottom of the field. 1 more raptor for the derrytrasna area. With that and last years corncrakes we are doing well.

John.