Northern Ireland Local Patch (1 Viewer)

[s. james]

Osprey at a quarter to 5 today flying over Portmore Lough. It went over north to south first of all and then a few minutes later returned from the south to the north. Looked like it was heading for Lough Neagh. Didn't hover or dive but took a few "half-hovers" and looked down at the Lough surface. A couple of Lesser Black-Backed Gulls mobbed it. Reasonable views but I was at quite a distance (beside the equestrian centre with no scope).

The reserve is very flooded and you'd probably need chest waders to reach the hide. I attempted to get to it but turned back when the water was at the top of my wellies! 8 snipe, 4 redshank, 4 black-tailed godwits, c300 lapwing, 150+ coot, 500+ black headed gulls, a few teal and load of gadwall and mallard on the flooded meadows to the south of the car-park.

Heard a strange "hammering" in the trees near the car-park, sounded like a textbook woodpecker but I've absolutely zero knowledge of any of them so might have been something completely different. Bit too much to ask after the osprey I thought!

 

[Derek Polley]

Hi Everyone

I have a visit shorlty to Ballynahinch for 5 days and intend to visit Strangford Lough. Can anyone advise a good part of the area to spend some time with my Bins + Camera



Thanks in advance
Dave

There is not much about at the minute as the autumn movement has not got going. Suggest you go the the WWT centre at Castle Espie and ask around From there you can access the Montgomery Hide which is adjacent and Islandhill is not far away. The other place worth going to is the Quoile Countryside Centre outside Downpatrick. Check at the centre and walk the riverside paths. Then check the hide near the Yacht Club - there is a map in the centre or ask. Then go to Strangford village and look for terns and auks in the narows and the tern Island. Check Castleward Bay on your way in to Strangford. If you have time on another day Dundrum Inner Bay South is starting to turn up some good stuff at present. Drive South fro Ballynahinch towards Newcastle and the bay is on your left after you go through Dundrum. You can circumnavigate it on foot or scope it from the road. There is also a walk along the North side of the bay from a car park on your left before you reach Dundrum. It follows an old railway line and is a very pleasant walk irrespective of the birding.

 

[Pluvius]

I am afraid Quoile is totally useless at moment highly flooded, especially looking out from hide. I was there this morning and apart from some mallard and mute swans b all. I agree re Strangford Narrows. Possibly a sea watch from St Johns Point a bit further south. Also I agrree with Dundrum inner bay south.

looking forward to Anthony McGeehan's Pelagic off Co. Mayo this sunday. I am in process of making chum pretty smelly!!

 

[s. james]

the autumn movement has not got going. QUOTE]

Has a wee bit, 40 black-tailed godwits today on Closet Meadows at Oxford Island. First for me at the site.

 

[s. james]

Five sparrowhawks (3 males, 2 females) soaring, chasing and diving at eachother today at Reedy Flat.

 

[Derek Polley]

Around Castleward yesterday and it was very quiet. Only bird of note was a late (?) swift about a mile west of Strangford. My last one was at the Broad Meadows on Aug 14th. I don't really expect to see many in August and have never seen one in September. August 25th is probably the latest ever, although I would expect to see them in and around Oxford Island into August. I always make a note of the first birds in Spring but keep forgetting to mote the latest ones. I usually realise in September that I haven't sen a swallow for a week or so and that is usually it!

 

[s. james]

I would expect to see them in and around Oxford Island into August. I always make a note of the first birds in Spring but keep forgetting to mote the latest ones. I usually realise in September that I haven't sen a swallow for a week or so and that is usually it!

Haven't seen one at Oxford Island in a few weeks. (Might not be looking up enough of course!)

I'm exactly the same re: last dates for departing migrants.

 

[Pluvius]

There were 15+ swifts up at Belfast Harbour Reserve on saturday morning.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Cheers for all the info guys.

A bit of a mixed weekend, spent a while at Castlewellan on Saturday hoping to see some of the Kites, alas none made an appearance, although Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk all showed in and around Slieve croob (I think thats the spelling!!). The weather was very poor and just before lunch the cloud came down very low.

Did manage to see my first hooded crows, and plenty of starlings in Newcastle.

Made numerous stops along Strangford (up from portaferry towards Newtonards), witnessed plenty of Oystercatchers, sandpipers etc, but I have to say the highlight was a last minute visit to Castle Epsie (again sorry for spelling mistakes) and although the wetland hides are closed due to reworking the estuary I was fascinated with the array of Ducks and Geese.

A return trip in about 18 months time to see the completed work will be a good idea.

Anyway best wishes to all you Irish Birders

Dave

 

[DEREK CHARLES]

The Red Kites are at the back of Castlewellan Forest Park. Take the Drumbuck Road in the middle of Castlewellan and after 1000metres take the Bannanstown Road on the left. You drive up through the forest to the watchpoint, birds are normally over the forest to your right.

Derek

 

[s. james]

Little egret at Ardmore today. It was on flooded fields immediately east of Emerson's sand extraction works. Mark Killops found it and text me (he'll be reading this here so can't claim it for myself!)

I saw it at around half four but after about 20 minutes it flew off along the shoreline to the east. It might return or somebody could pick it up at Oxford Island.

 

[aegithalos]

There were 15+ swifts up at Belfast Harbour Reserve on saturday morning.

Tens of swifts this evening over the villages of the Outer Ards east coast e.g. Kearney, Cloughey. Yesterday evening, hundreds of swallows and martins in the same areas, but these have mostly gone now.

/Keith

 

[Pluvius]

I was out at Killard last night just across the narrows from Kearney and I saw hundreds and hundreds of swallows and house martins all feeding on the flying ants. They were over the water over the corn fields just everywhere. As well as one Summer plumage Grey Plover.

 

[cidereduck]

Am hoping someone here could help me on the following:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c317/ciderduck/mysteryfish.jpg

I'm sure people here may know their fish as well as birds-i was thinking young trout? it was about 6-7ins long. and found just outside our gate in a housing estate?? maybe one of the neighbours kids dropped it after fishing? Caught up in a rainstorm? dropped by a heron/cormorant (in Killyleagh, no distance from strangford lough)....we'll never know exactly how it got outside our house, but it made me laugh after work! any help appreciated, thanks

 

[johnwray205]

its either salmon parr or young trout, difficult to distinguish between them.
john.

 

[cidereduck]

its either salmon parr or young trout, difficult to distinguish between them.
john.

thanks, i've googled the two there, looks more likely a trout- this website is good for the differences:

http://www.fishingnet.com/parr_recognition.htm

 

[Pluvius]

A little Stint showing well at RSPB Belfast harbour as well as a very secretive Pectoral Sandpiper and even better for me was watching a Kingfisher fishing for about ten minutes on the channels on either side of the far hide.

 

[DEREK CHARLES]

I found a trendy pair of sunglass's in the middle hide of the reserve last night. If anyone owns them contact me and i will return them although questions have to be asked why anyone would need to be wearing them since the middle of July!
Seemingly the Pectoral Sandpiper was still present yesterday but it is very elusive and may be suffering from a little suppression!

Derek

 

[rdspalm]

White Tailed Eagle at Myroe

Spotted one of the Kerry White Tailed Eagles at Myroe today. Super views of him hunting along the bay towards Magilligan.

White tag No 1 and Yellow tag. See www.goldeneagle.ie for identification table

Richard

 

[s. james]

Spotted one of the Kerry White Tailed Eagles at Myroe today. Super views of him hunting along the bay towards Magilligan.

White tag No 1 and Yellow tag. See www.goldeneagle.ie for identification table

Richard

Most likely same one seen at Lough Neagh and Co. Down in June? Got an e-mail from one of the eagle guys sayin it was still hanging around up here.

Reconsidered the location there and realised it's maybe more likely it's the bird that was seen near Limavady. White and yellow wing tags fits the Lough Neagh/Down bird though.