Glossy Ibis - 2014 a recording breaking year
One of the highlights of 2014 was the record influx of Glossy Ibis into the province with perhaps up to 6 individuals involved. Before 2010 Glossy Ibis was an extremely rare bird in Northern Ireland with the only 20th century record been one seen in 1944,( there had been previous sightings but all in the 19th century). Then in 2010 one was seen at Mullagh, Lough Beg Co.Londonderry this was the first record in 66 years. None where reported in 2011 but another was seen in 2012 on the Colebrooke River, Co.Fermanagh. There were again no records in 2013.Then in 2014 three birds were recorded in January alone. Sightings continued throughout the winter. A bird at Oxford Island and one at Ballycarry seen on the same day, made this the first multiple record, followed by three birds seen in flight at Oxford Island in April. The last record of the year was this bird in the photo above seen at Portmore Lough in June.
Throughout the 20th century numbers declined in Europe which explains why only one record was seen prior to 2010. Then in the 21st century birds started to thankfully increase in both Spain and France with breeding numbers increasing on a yearly basis. As winters here becomes both wetter and milder, leaving more places flooded (miserable for most of us) but ideal conditions for the Ibises. Therefore dispersing birds are now heading north which explains why so many are now been reported in Britain and Southern Ireland with flocks of up to 25 birds seen, if these trends continue, Glossy Ibis will hopefully be a regular winter sighting.
Accepted bird records for 2015.
Species in red indicate details are not known and a record submission \ further submission is outstanding:
Species | Location | County | Date | Observer \ Reporter |
Black Kite | Limavady | Londonderry | 14/04/2015 | Marc Ruddock |
Great White Egret | Lough Beg | Londonderry | 19/04/2015 | Keith Bennett |
Snowy Owl | Gortalughany | Fermanagh | 07/05/2015 | Brad Robson |
White-rumped Sandpiper | Lough Beg | Londonderry | 28/05/2015 | David Steele |
Red-necked Phalarope | RSPB Belfast WOW | Antrim | 29/05/2015 | Ivan Quail / Gerard McGeehan |
Tundra Bean Goose | Lough Beg | Londonderry | 29/05/2015 | David Steele |
Pectoral Sandpiper | Lough Beg | Londonderry | 30/05/2015 | Godfrey McRoberts |
Little Ringed Plover | Kinnegar Shore | Antrim | 31/05/2015 | Wilton Farrelly / Stephen Maxwell |
Great White Egret | River Bann | Antrim | 05/06/2015 | Willie Wilson/Eddie Manthorpe |
Franklins Gull | Lough Beg | Londonderry | 22/06/2015 | David Steele |
White-rumped Sandpiper | RSPB Belfast WOW | Antrim | 27/06/2015 | Stuart McKee |
American Golden Plover | Myroe | Londonderry | 19/09/2015 | Neal Warnock |
American Golden Plover | Killough Harbour | Down | 30/09/2015 | Tim Murphy |
Yellow-browed Warbler | Portrush | Antrim | 02/10/2015 | Colin Guy \ Stuart McKee |
Yellow-browed Warbler | Portstewart Strand | Londonderry | 11/10/2015 | Richard Donaghey |
Great White Egret - 2 | Lough Beg | Londonderry | 19/10/2015 | Matthew Tickner |
Glossy Ibis | Lough Beg | Londonderry | 19/10/2015 | David Steele |
Great White Egret | Ballycarry Bridge | Antrim | 25/10/2015 | Nicky Lynn / Cameron Moore |
Lesser Yellowlegs | Carlingford Lough | Down | 26/12/2015 | per NIBARC |
Pacific Diver - A species new to Northern Ireland
On
the 19th January 2014, whilst out walking along the shores of Lough
Fea, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, Elaine Warnock
spotted a Diver species swimming and diving on the water. She took some
photos
and passed them to a friend who immediately identified them as a
Pacific Diver. The bird was last seen on the 23rd February 2014 with
rumours that it had subsequently swallowed a fishing hook.
Pacific Diver, Elaine Warnock:
Pacific Diver, John Murphy:
Bird Records accepted 2014
Bird Records accepted 2014:
Species | Number | Age, Sex | Location | County | First date | Last date | Observers |
Glossy Ibis | One | Knockninny, Upper Lough Erne | Fermanagh | 05-Jan-14 | Brad Robson | ||
Pacific Diver | One | Adult | Lough Fea | Tyrone | 16-Jan-14 | 28-Feb-14 | Elaine Warnock |
Glossy Ibis | One | Killough | Down | 22-Jan-14 | Chris Murphy, Tim Murphy | ||
Glossy Ibis | One | Adult | Derrymacash/Oxford Island | Armagh | 24-Jan-14 | 08-Mar-14 | David Clarke et alia. |
Common Crane | One | Garron Point to Whitehead | Antrim | 11-Feb-14 | Ian Dickey, Neal Warnock, Cameron Moore | ||
Common Crane | One | Murlough | Down | 16-Feb-14 | Garry Armstrong, Ian Graham, Wilton Farrelly | ||
Glossy Ibis | One | Lough Cowey | Down | 13-Feb-14 | Adam McClure | ||
Surf Scoter | One | Adult male | Newcastle/Dundrum Bay | Down | 02-Feb-14 | 01-Mar-14 | Ed O'Hara, Chris Murphy, Tim Murphy |
Laughing Gull | One | First-winter | Groomsport | Down | 23-Mar-14 | Anthony McGeehan | |
Hobby | One | Adult | Montiaghs Moss | Antrim | 27-May-14 | 19-Jun-14 | Ron Price |
Rose-coloured Starling | One | Adult | Carrickfergus | Antrim | 14-Jun-14 | 17-Apr-14 | Mrs J Robinson |
Fea's/Zino's Petrel | One | St John's Point | Down | 14-Jul-14 | Warren Fowles | ||
Honey Buzzard | One | Slieveanorra, Antrim Plateau | Antrim | 24-Jul-14 | David Steele | ||
Barred Warbler | One | Juvenile | Copeland Bird Observatory | Down | 13-Sep-14 | Chris Acheson et alia | |
Lesser Whitethroat | One | Juvenile | Portstewart dunes | Londonderry | 20-Nov-14 | Richard Donaghey | |
Siberian Chiffchaff | Two | Oxford Island | Armagh | 26-Dec-14 | 13-Jan-15 | Ed O'Hara, Mark Killops, N Cartmill | |
Red-backed Shrike | One | Adult male | Glenwherry | Antrim | 24-Jun-14 | 26-Apr-14 | Neal Warnock |
Missing Records
If you notice any missing records or any inaccuracies in records, please feel free to email us at nibarc@live.com and we will be happy to make corrections.
Bird Records Accepted - 2013
The following records were accepted for 2013:
Species | Number | Age, Sex | Location | County | First date | Last date | Observers |
Spoonbill | One | Juvenile | Strangford Lough | Down | 11-Nov-13 | Billy Miskelly | |
Golden Oriole | One | Female | Island Hill | Down | 15-Nov-13 | Stephan Grief | |
Surf Scoter | One | First-winter male | South of GarronPoint | Antrim | 29-Dec-13 | 18-Jan-14 | Neal Warnock |
Red-necked Grebe | One | Greyabbey Bay South, Strangford Lough | Down | 14-Oct-13 | 24-Nov-13 | James Robinson | |
Montagu's Harrier | One | First-summer | Star Bog | Antrim | 20-Jun-13 | 21-Jun-13 | Bill Guiller |
Wilson's Phalarope | One | Juvenile moulting to first-winter | Belfast Lough RSPB Reserve | Down | 25-Aug-13 | 30-Aug-13 | Gerard McGeehan |
Crane | One | Adult | Roe Estuary and Myroe | Londonderry | 29-Sep-13 | 01-Nov-13 | Keith Bennett |
Hoopoe | One | Greencastle, Carlingford Lough | Down | 17-Oct-13 | Joe Devlin | ||
American Golden Plover | One | Juvenile | Strangford Lough (Floodgates ) | Down | 27-Oct-13 | 27-Oct-13 | Richard Weyl |
American Golden Plover | One | Juvenile | Kirkistown | Down | 03-Nov-13 | 03-Nov-13 | Richard Weyl |
Montagu's Harrier | One | First-summer male | Lough Cowey and Ballyherly Lough | Down | 12-May-13 | 14-May-13 | Keith Bennett |
Snowy Owl | One | Probably first-year male | Pettigo Plateau | Fermanagh | 10-Feb-13 | 15-Feb-13 | Brad Robson |
Hoopoe | One | Craigantlet | Down | 28-Apr-13 | Mr. Rountree | ||
Lesser Scaup | One | Male | Lough Shark | Down | 01-May-13 | 04-May-13 | Joe Devlin |
Lesser Scaup | One | Male | Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island | Armagh | 03-Feb-13 | 08-Apr-13 | Ed O'Hara |
Cattle Egret | One | Adult | Randalstown | Antrim | 23-Jul-13 | 27-Jul-13 | R Weir |
Hobby | One | Male | Brackagh Moss | Armagh | 25-Jul-13 | 16-Aug-13 | Mark Killops |
Hobby | One | County Armagh | Armagh | 04-Jul-13 | P Allen | ||
Avocet | Three | Considered juvenile | Knockinelder Bay, Outer Ards | Down | 10-Sep-13 | Keith Bennett | |
Wilson's Phalarope | One | Juvenile/first-winter | Lough Beg | Londonderry | 08-Sep-13 | 15-Sep-13 | Cairan Burns |
Subalpine Warbler | One | First-year female | Copeland Bird Observatory | Down | 26-May-13 | Shane Wolsey |
Bird Records Accepted for 2012
Species | Number, Age, Sex | Location | County | First date | Last date | Observers |
Richard's Pipit | First winter | Killard Point | Down | 02-Jan-12 | 07-Feb-12 | Craig Nash |
Ross's Gull | Adult winter | Ardglass Harbour | Down | 18-Jan-12 | 01-Feb-12 | Tom Ennis, Tony Dodds |
Snowy Owl | One | Altikeeragh Nature Reserve | Antrim | 08-Feb-12 | 13-Feb-12 | P Dennison |
European White-fronted Goose | Adult, 3 juveniles | Anne's Point/Greyabbey, Strangford Lough | Down | 04-Feb-12 | 24-Feb-12 | Richard Weyl |
Tundra Bean Goose | One | Reedy Flat, Lough Neagh | Armagh | 18-Feb-12 | Mark Killops | |
Hoopoe | One | Rathlin Island | Antrim | 15-Oct-12 | 16-Oct-12 | Len Murdock |
American Buff-bellied Pipit | Two | Corbett's Beach | Down | 11-Nov-12 | 29-Dec-12 | Dermot Hughes/per NIBARC |
Surf Scoter | First-winter male | Carnlough Harbour | Antrim | 31-Oct-12 | 07-Nov-12 | Gary Brown |
Dotterel | Adult female | Myroe Levels, Lough Foyle | Londonderry | 06-May-12 | 13-May-12 | Per NIBARC |
Little Ringed Plover | Adult | Belfast Harbour RSPB Reserve | Down | 31-May-12 | Jim McKeown | |
Glossy Ibis | Immature | Mouth of Colebrooke River, Upper Lough Erne | Fermanagh | 13-Jun-12 | 21-Jun-12 | Brad Robson |
Red-footed Falcon | First-summer male | Slemish Mountain | Antrim | 12-Jun-12 | 19-Jun-12 | Neal Warnock |
Red-footed Falcon | First-summer male | Montaighs Moss | Antrim | 24-Jun-12 | 27-Jun-12 | Per NIBARC |
White-rumped Sandpiper | Juvenile | Bann Estuary | Londonderry | 18-Aug-12 | 20-Aug-12 | Allen Gillespie |
Common Rosefinch | First-year | Copeland Bird Observatory | Down | 08-Sep-12 | Chris Acheson, David Galbraith | |
American Buff-bellied Pipit | One | Carrickfergus Castle | Antrim | 30-Sep-12 | 05-Oct-12 | Stuart McKee |
Red-necked Grebe | One | Between Herring Bay and Greyabbey Bay, Strangford Lough | Down | 13-Jan-12 | 28-Feb-12 | Richard Weyl |
European White-fronted Goose | 35 | Between Derrytrasna and Ardmore, Lough Neagh | Armagh | 25-Feb-12 | 14-Mar-12 | Ed O'Hara |
Snow Goose | Blue morph adult | Goratole, Lough MacNean | Fermanagh | 09-Nov-12 | 30-Mar-13 | Brad Robson |
American Wigeon | Male | Portmore Lough | Antrim | 07-Apr-12 | 11-Apr-12 | Keith Bennett |
Long-billed Dowicher | One | Lough Beg | Antrim | 03-May-12 | 03-May-12 | Richard Hunter |
Cattle Egret, a species new to Northern Ireland
On the 25th October 2011, Joe Lamont found a Cattle Egret at Kinnegar Shore, Belfast. The bird was seen by many different birders that day. The bird frequented the shoreline as well as the nearby freshwater pool. It was only reported for the one day.
On the 22nd November, a Cattle Egret was found by Jason Starbuck and Drew Middleton on the wooded island at Hillsborough Lake. It is possible that these records could be the same bird.
Picture: Cattle Egret, Kinnegar, Danny Boyd.
Pallid Harrier, a species new to Northern Ireland
On the 26th April 2011, a Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) was photographed at Slemish Mountain, Co Antrim by Bill Guiller and Gavin Ferguson. The bird was initially presumed to be a Hen Harrier. However a number of people, including Owen Foley (the finder of Ireland's first Pallid Harrier) re-identified it.
Pallid Harrier, Slemish, Gavin Ferguson:
Pallid Harrier, Slemish, Gavin Ferguson:
Pacific Golden Plover, a species new to Northern Ireland
Photograph of an Adult Pacific Golden Plover, Myroe, Co Londonderry by Nigel Moore:
Purple Heron, a species new to Northern Ireland
On the 17th May 2011, whilst undertaking survey work, a Purple Heron was found by Dave Allen and Clive Mellon at Boomers Reservoir, Lisburn. The bird was seen until the 19th May by a number of local birders. This species is a long awaited addition to the NI list. It is annual in spring in RoI and now breeds in England.
Purple Heron photograph by Clive Mellon:
Purple Heron photograph by Clive Mellon:
Accepted bird records for 2011
The following records for 2011 were accepted:
Species | Number, Age, sex | Location | County | First date | Last date | Observers |
Bittern | One | Lough Beg | Londonderry | 28-Jan-11 | Phillip McGrath | |
Great Grey Shrike | One | Slievenacloy UWT Reserve | Antrim | 30-Mar-11 | 08-Apr-11 | Dermot Hughes |
Great Grey Shrike | One | Tircevan | Londonderry | 10-Apr-11 | Larry Toal | |
Snow Goose | White morph adult | Portmore | Antrim | 29-Jan-11 | 08-Apr-11 | per NIBARC |
Pallid Harrier | First-calendar year | Slemish Mountain | Antrim | 26-Apr-11 | William Guiller, Gavin Feguson | |
Dotterel | Four | Ballyquintin Point | Down | 30-Apr-11 | 03-May-11 | David Nixon |
Dotterel | One | Loughgarve | Antrim | 04-May-11 | Matthew Tickner, Seamus Burns | |
Purple Heron | Adult | Boomer's Reservoir | Antrim | 17-May-11 | 19-May-11 | Clive Mellon, Dave Allen |
Great White Egret | Adult breeding plumage | Lough Beg | Londonderry | 12-Jun-11 | 13-Sep-11 | David Steele |
Red-breasted Flycatcher | First winter | Ramore Head | Antrim | 01-Oct-11 | 02-Oct-11 | Matthew Tickner |
Rough-legged Buzzard | One | St John's Point | Down | 27-Oct-11 | Warren Voles | |
Bee-eater | One | Killaughey Road, Donaghadee | Down | 23-Jun-11 | Harry Millar | |
Pacific Golden Plover | Adult-summer, 1st summer | Myroe Levels | Londonderry | 03-Jul-11 | 20-Jul-11 | Various |
Hobby | First-summer | Montiaghs Moss | Antrim | 25-Jul-11 | 23-Aug-11 | Kieran Breen |
Bonaparte's Gull | Adult | Antrim coast | Antrim | 10-Oct-11 | 18-Mar-13 | Neal Warnock |
Cattle Egret | Adult | Kinnegar | Down | 28-Oct-11 | Joe Lamont | |
Yellow-browed Warbler | One | Copeland Bird Observatory | Down | 02-Oct-11 | Neville McKee | |
Surf Scoter | Juvenile | Ushet Lough, Rathlin Island | Antrim | 14-Nov-11 | Neal Warnock | |
Pallid Harrier | Juvenile | St John's Point | Down | 12-Oct-11 | Chris Murphy | |
Hobby | First-summer | Capanagh | Antrim | 06-Jul-11 | David Steele | |
Snow Goose | Blue morph | Gortatole, Lower Lough Macnean | Fermanagh | 28-Oct-11 | 21-Mar-12 | Brad Robson |
Alpine Swift | One | Donaghadee | Down | 20-Aug-11 | James Robinson | |
Blue-winged Teal | First-winter male | Derryad Bay, Upper Lough Erne | Fermanagh | 10-Nov-11 | Brad Robson | |
Cattle Egret | One | Hillsborough Park Lake | Down | 26-Nov-11 | 28-Jan-12 | Jason Starbuck |
Rough-legged Buzzard | First-winter | Strangford Lough | Down | 14-Nov-11 | 09-Mar-12 | Hugh Thurgate |
Water Pipit | One | Kearney Point | Down | 17-Apr-11 | Garry Armstrong | |
Thayer's Gull | Juvenile/first-winter | Enniskillen | Fermanagh | 24-Dec-11 | 05-Feb-12 | Brad Robson |
Tundra Bean Goose | Up to 3 birds | Portmore Lough and Kinnego Meadows | Armagh \ Antrim | 18-Dec-11 | 02-Jan-12 | Derek Charles \ Majella Charles |
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