NIRBC

Bird Records for 2019

The following records for 2019, with the exception of those in red, have been assessed and accepted. If you notice any omissions or corrections, please let us know. We are particualrly interested in receiving further information about those species in red which are still under assessment. You can email in descriptions or pictures of any of the species below to: NIRBcomm@gmail.com


SPECIES LOCATION DATE OBSERVER(S)
Hawfinch Gosford Forest Park  January 2019 Clifford Sharpe
Lesser Scaup Dargan Bay, Belfast, Antrim 30th January 2019 Tom Ennis
American Wigeon Lough Beg, Antrim 29th Jan 2019 / 21st Feb 2019 David Steele / Jeff Larkin
Golden Eagle Rathlin 2nd February 2019 Ric Else \ Hazel Watson
Glossy Ibis Tully Cut, Portmore, Antrim 18th February 2019 Nigel Ireland
Firecrest Raithlin Island, Antrim 3rd March 2019 Ric Else/Hazel Watson
Chaffinch, African ssp Gilford, Down 31st March 2019 Graham Patterson
White-tailed Eagle (2) Boho Island, Fermanagh 6th March 2019 Hugh Delaney
Rock Pipit - Littoralis Whitehead, Antrim 13th March 2019 Cameron Moore
Lesser Whitethroat (blythi) Gortin, Omagh, Tyrone From 2018 Various
Golden Eagle Rathlin 11th April 2019 Ric Else \ Hazel Watson
Blue-headed Wagtail Portrush 21st April 2019 Colin Guy
Tree Pipit Rathlin 30th April / 13th May Ric Else \ Hazel Watson
Bee-eaters (2) Ballyquintin, Portaferry, Down 15th May 2019 David Thompson
Alpine Swift Templepatrick, Antrim 18th May 2019 Majella Callaghan
Lesser Yellowlegs Castle Espie, Down 30th May 2019 Fiona Waton \ Ross McIlrath
American Golden Plover Rathin, Antrim 3rd June 2019 Ric Else \ Hazel Watson
White-tailed Eagle Knockninny, Co Fermanagh 7th June 2019 Robert Scott
Hobby Antrim Hills 11th June 2019 Ronald Surgenor
Long-billed Dowitcher RSPB WoW Belfast 16th June 2019 Daniel Newton
Golden Eagle Fair Head, Co Antrim 21st June 2019 Dennis O'Sullivan
Woodchat Shrike Donaghadee 23rd June 2019 Billy Miskelly
Hobby Portmore Lough RSPB 25th June 2019 Joe Furphy
Glossy Ibis Portmore Lough RSPB  June 2019 Various
Ruddy Shelduck Bann Estuary 4th July Various
Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail Oxford Island 20th July 2019 Kevin Kirkham
Long-billed Dowitcher Lough Beg 31st July David Steele
Tree Pipit Rathlin Island 10th August 2019 Ric Else \ Hazel Watson
Stilt Sandpiper Rathlin Island 11th August 2019 Ric Else \ Hazel Watson
Cattle Egret RSPB WoW Belfast 22nd August 2019 Derek Polley
White-tailed Eagle Rathlin Island 28th August 2019 Ric Else \ Hazel Watson
American Golden Plover Ballykelly 14th September Neal Warnock
Lesser Whitethroat Portaferry 10th September Dermot Hughes
American Golden Plover Ballykelly 14th September Neal Warnock
Hobby Lough Beg, Antrim 8th September Godfrey McRoberts
Cattle Egret Lough Beg, Antrim 5th September David Steele
Red-eyed Vireo Rathlin, Antrim 29th September Wilton Farrelly
Melodious Warbler Rathlin, Antrim 29th September Dennis Weir \ Stuart McKee
Common Nighthawk Galgorm, Antrim 3rd October Fergus Auld \ Dot Blakely
King Eider Carrickfergus, Antrim 6th October Cameron Moore
American Golden Plover Ballykelly 11th October Theo Campbell
American Golden Plover Galgorm, Antrim 13th October Denis O'Sullivan
Great White Egret Rathlin Island 24th October Tom McDonnell
Pallas's Warbler Kearney, Co Down 27th October Richard Weyl
White-rumped Sandpiper RSPB WoW Belfast 30th October Gerard McGeehan \ Shirley Dunlop
Great White Egret Lower Lough Erne 4th October Andrew Gallagher 
White-rumped Sandpipers (7+) Myroe  November 2019 Various
Great White Egret Lough Beg, Antrim Last 6th November David Steele  
White-rumped Sandpipers (3) Lough Beg, Antrim 4th November David Steele  
American Golden Plover (juv) Myroe October / November Michael Latham et al
Red-necked Grebe Belfast Lough, Co Antrim 16th November Stuart McKee et al

Bird Records for 2018

The following species have been assessed. If the record is in red, it has not yet been accepted and needs to be assessed further or further information is required. If you can assist by providing further information, please feel free to contact us at NIRBcomm@gmail.com


SPECIES LOCATION \ COUNTY DATE OBSERVER(S)
American Black Tern Bann estuary 10th Sept Ian Dickey
Bairds Sandpiper Myroe 27th Sept Stuart McKee
Gyrfalcon Ramore Head, Co Antrim 9th March John Clarke
Hobby Banagher Glen 20th August Christine Cassidy /Lindsay Hodges
Lesser Yellowlegs Myroe 23rd Nov Derek Brennan
White Stork Larne 16th May Colin Guy
American Golden Plover Myroe 22nd Sept Garry Armstrong
American Golden Plover Rathlin Island 7th Sept Ric Else \ Hazel Watson
American Golden Plover Bann Estuary 30th October Birdguides
American Wigeon Lough Beg 18th June David Steele
Buff Breasted Sandpiper Myroe 18th September Brad Robson \ Matthew Tickner
Buff Breasted Sandpiper Myroe 22nd September Garry Armstrong \ Wilton Farrelly
Dotterel Myroe 1st May Mervy Guthrie
Dotterel Antrim Plateau 18th October David Steele
Ferruginous Duck Oxford Island, Co Armagh 1st April Jeff Larkin
Glossy Ibis Strabane 2nd Jan Brian Hegarty
Glossy Ibis Portmore Lough 19th Jan RSPB
Great White Egret Lough Beg 9th April David Steele
Great White Egret Lower Lough Erne 15th Oct Peter Taylor
Hawfinch Glenwherry 15th May Gregory Moorehead
Honey Buzzard Banagher Glen, Co L'Derry 27th July David Steele
Lesser Whitethroat blythi Gortin, Co Tyrone Dec-18 Various
Lesser Yellowlegs Myroe 25th November Derek Brennan
Pacific Golden Plover Myroe 28th October Birdguides
Tree Pipit (4) Rathlin Island April, May, August Ric Else \ Hazel Watson
White-rumped Sandpiper Barmouth 22nd September Theo Campbell
White-rumped Sandpiper (2) Myroe \ Roe Estuary, Co L'Derry 22nd September - 29th October Neal Warnock et al
White-rumped Sandpiper (min 3) Roe Estuary, Co L'Derry 25th November Stuart McKee
White-tailed Eagle Glenariff \ Blackers Rock 29th April Mervyn Campbell et al
White-tailed Eagle Rathlin Island 1st May Ric Else \ Hazel Watson

Bird Records for 2017

Records shown in RED have not yet been accepted by NIBRC. If you have any information on these sightings, we would be pleased to receive further information:

SPECIES	LOCATION/COUNTY	DATE	OBSERVER
Lesser Scaup	Belfast Lough/Down	18th January	Stuart McKee.
Gyrfalcon	Gawleys Gate/Armagh	20th January	Rob Martin
American Wigeon	Dundrum Inn. Bay	4th March	David Nixon
Yellow-browed Warbler	Copeland Bird Obs.	11th March	Chris Acheson
Water Pipit	Millisle	9th April	Richard Weyl
Long-billed Dowitcher	Quoile pondage	24th April	Tony Donaldson
Dotterel	Myroe/L'derry	30th April	Neal Warnock
Little Ringed Plover	Lough Beg.	2nd May	Davy Hunter
Black Stork	Rathlin Island	11th May	Richard Else
White-winged Black Tern	Lough Beg.	11th May	David Steele
Montagu's Harrer	Lough Beg.	16th May	Chris Murphy
Temmincks Stint	Lough Beg.	26th May	Billy Miskelly
Bonapartes Gull	Bar Mouth/L'derry	16th June	Birds Ireland
Little Ringed Plover	Lough Beg.	23rd June	David Steele
Golden Oriole (heard only)	Ballyroney/Down	9th July	Dave Allen
Bonapartes Gull	Whitehead/Antrim	20th July	Cameron Moore
American Golden Plover	Myroe/L'derry	30th August	Hill Dick
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Myroe/L'derry	31st August	Jeff Larkin
Red-necked Grebe	Mullagh	8th September	David Steele
Buff-breasted Sandpiper(2)	Myroe/L'derry	10th September	Michael Latham
Pectoral Sandpiper	Quoile pondage	17th September	Billy Miskelly
American Golden Plover	Myroe/L'derry	3rd October	David Nixon/Trevor Wilkinson
Wryneck	Copeland Bird Obs.	8th October	CBO
Firecrest	Kearney/Down	17th October	Ian Graham
Grey-bellied Brant	Strangford Lough	17th October	Tom Ennis/Tony Dodds
American Golden Plover	Bann Estuary.Derry	22nd October	Stuart McKee.
Red-necked Grebe	Bann Estuary.Derry	23rd October	Colin Guy
White-rumped Sandpiper	Lough Beg/Derry	29th October	David Steele
White-rumped Sandpiper	Lough Beg.	31st October	David Steele

Red-flanked Bluetail - A species new to Northern Ireland

Red-flanked Bluetail was a new and unexpected bird for Northern Ireland in an autumn of rare birds. It was originally found on the evening of Saturday 8th October by Tim Murphy, just reward for the many hours that he has put in birding at St Johns Point and Kellys Wood. The bird was then present first thing the following morning. However it was then prone to disappearing for long periods but over the following days it was seen by most birders who visited Kellys Wood. The last report of the bird was the 13th October.

This bird represented the first record for NI and the sixth for the island of Ireland. The species has enjoyed a westward population expansion in Scandinavia in recent years but it was still an unexpected record.

Gerard Murray:

James O'Neill:

Baird's Sandpipers in 2016

Baird's Sandpiper is an extremely rare wader in NI with only 4 accepted records prior to 2016. However 2016 was marked by a further two records, including one very long staying bird.

The first bird was found on the 3rd September 2016 at Myroe and present until at least the 1st October 2016. The second bird was found by Neal Warnock at RSPB WOW on the 23rd September. Both birds were juveniles and at times showed well. The Belfast bird could however go missing in the vegetation for long periods of time.

Whilst 2016 was a good year in the UK and Ireland for Baird's Sandpiper, this was not the case for other nearctic waders. For example, there was only a single report of a Buff Breasted Sandpiper in 2016 for NI.

Baird's Sandpiper, Myroe, Garry Armstrong:

New Committee Member - Stuart McKee

We are pleased to announce that Stuart McKee has joined the Northern Ireland Rare Bird Committee.

Stuart is an extremely experienced, knowledgeably and familiar birder in Northern Ireland. He has found may rarities in his time and has an active interest in bird recording in bird recording. Indeed he is one of the few birders in the field who still keeps notebooks!

Bird Records for 2016

Records shown in RED have not yet been accepted by NIBRC. If you have any information on these sightings, we would be pleased to receive further information:

Species	Location	County	Date	Reporter/Observer
Glossy Ibis	River Bann	Antrim	17/01/2016	Seamus Burns
Glossy Ibis	Ballinary, Lurgan	Armagh	23/01/2016	Ed O'Hara
Great White Egret	Caledon	Armagh	25/01/2016	per NIBARC
Lesser Scaup	Dargan Bay,Belfast	Antrim	06/02/2016 to 23/02/2016	per NIBARC \ Derek Charles
AmericanWigeon	Dargan Bay	Antrim	26/03/2016	Per NIBARC
Belted Kingfisher	River Bann	L’Derry	22/04/2016	Jonathon Roberts
Glossy Ibis	Portmore Lough	Armagh	01/05/2016	Kate McAlistair/Marta Barberis
Night Heron	Dromantine Lake	Down	18/05/2016	Mary-Ann MacRae
Red-rumped Swallow	Murlough	Down	31/05/2016	Garry Wilkinson
Temminck’s Stint	Myroe	L’Derry	31/07/2016	Phillip West
White-rumped Sandpiper	Belfast	Down	03/08/2016	Gerard McGeehan
Bairds Sandpiper	Myroe	L'Derry	03/09/2016	per NIBARC
White rumped Sandpiper	Myroe	L'Derry	13/09/2016	Jeff Larkin
Tree Pipit	Killough	Down	14/09/2016	Tim Murphy
Common Yellowthroat	Bann Estuary	L'Derry	18/09/2016	Stuart McKee
Buff Breasted Sandpiper	Myroe	L'Derry	21/09/2016	Jeff Larkin
Bairds Sandpiper	RSPB WOW, Belfast	Down	23/09/2016	Neal Warnock
Red Flanked Bluetail	Kellys Wood,St Johns	Down	08/10/2016	Tim Murphy
Red-breasted Flycatcher	Kearney	Down	08/10/2016	Stuart McKee
Common Crane	Lough Macnean	Fermanagh	09/10/2016	Brad Robson
White-winged Black Tern	Portmore Lough	Armagh	18/10/2016	Gavin Ferguson
Great White Egret	Lowery Bay	Fermanagh	20/10/2016	Anmy Burns
Isabelline Shrike	Murlough	Down	04/11/2016	Dan Baillie
Great White Egrets (2)	Lower Lough Erne	Fermanagh	29/11/2016	Brad Robson

New Committee Member - Neal Warnock

Following the sad passing of Martin Garner, we are pleased to advise that Neal Warnock has joined the Records Committee. Neal will be familiar to many birders in Ireland, where he is perhaps best known for finding a Baillon’s Crake on Great Saltee Island in March 2012. Other past finds include the first Woodchat Shrike for Galway and closer to home, Red-backed Shrike, Red-footed Falcon, Bonaparte’s Gull and Fea’s type Petrel in County Antrim.

Neal is an avid seawatcher and patch birder and spends most of his time birding Larne Lough and Rathlin Island. Neal has a wealth of birdwatching experience in parts of Europe, Africa and North and South America. He previously worked for BirdWatch Ireland in County Offaly and currently works as a Conservation Advisor for the RSPB, with a focus on breeding waders in the Glenwherry area of the Antrim Hills.

We welcome Neal and are confident that he will be able to make a valuable contribution.

Ian Graham, Records Secretary

Martin Garner

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Martin Garner.

Martin was familiar to many birders in Ireland during his years spent living in Lisburn and he was one of the most talented birders ever to live on this island. In his time here he not only found many rare and scarce birds but he opened everyone's eyes to common birds. He will be remembered (amongst many things) for his work in gulls (jointly finding Thayers, many Kumliens, American Herring Gull and bringing the vagaries of Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls to those keen to learn), finding the Tyrella Shorelark (or was it a Horned Lark?) during a bird race, Lesser Scaups, enhancing our knowledge of the Brent Geese, Eiders, Scoters, American Wigeon or simply studying continental Robins or Song Thrushes. His birding skills were immense and have been sadly missed from this island in recent years.

However Martin not only possessed brilliant birding skills. He possessed social and communication skills that meant he could communicate with anyone, no matter their level of experience or interests. He was great company to be with and was always imparting knowledge and left you full of enthusiasm. He was humble and encouraged everyone to learn - even if they (or he) made mistakes. In the last few years he has helped guide the NIBARC with many identification challenges and always provided sound advice, even when this was from his hospital bed!

Martin was also a person of considerable faith and his ministry in areas of NI (including prisons) was no doubt challenging but he always went about this with a smile. In the last few years, Martin has fought cancer and yesterday he lost that fight. The world is a lot worse off without Martin and at this time, our thoughts and prayers are with Sharon, Abi and Emily.

The 1931 Donaghadee Ivory Gull

Update, July 2019:
Following the publication of the review of the 1931 Donaghadee Ivory Gull (as below), the Committee were provided with additional information surrounding the record. This included:
1) The Ivory Gull was seen by a number of observers – at least 3 and probably more - not just the author and the lighthouse keeper as suggested indirectly in the BB note – and at least one of those observers was astute to note the call.

2) The description provided in BB was not in itself a text to solely judge the bird.

3) Some credentials of the author and lighthouse keeper were presented.

4) A third party with extensive experience of the species supported the identification

It is recognised by the Committee that historic sightings such as this are challenging for a number of different reasons. However the Committee have reviewed the additional information and reinstated this record which is the first accepted record of the species in Northern Ireland.
We are grateful to everyone who provided feedback and comments on this record.

The basis of the previous reassessment was the information provided below:
Thanks to a contribution from Tom Ennis, the record of the 1931 Donaghadee Ivory Gull has been re-assessed by the committee.

In reviewing this record NIBARC fully agreed with Tom Ennis and the 1931 record of an Ivory Gull at Donaghadee in 1931 has been removed from the NI List. There are two other records; a well-documented first-winter bird at Bangor (Down) during December 1978 and a first winter bird (photographed by one lucky observer) near the River Lagan, Newforge on the 2nd March 1989. Of the high Arctic pair (Ross’s Gull and Ivory Gull), the latter remains by far the most rare in Ireland.

The comments from Tom are below:

I have been interested in this record for some time but I have only recently been successful in finding any documentation to substantiate the record. I have discovered that it was recorded in British Birds Vol. XXIV pp372-373 and I have managed to get a look at what was published in the Notes section of that issue.

My interest in this record stemmed from the fact that the bird appeared to be a long stayer, which is not very usual in this species. More commonly Ivory Gulls are only present for a few days and then “disappear”.

When I read this note I was surprised that there was no description of the plumage at all. I assume therefore that it was taken to be an adult Ivory Gull as had it been immature, the observer would surely have remarked on the black spotting and darkish face. He does go on to make statements about the bird which are not in accord with any of the Ivory Gulls I have seen. He contrasts it with the Black-headed Gulls and he states that “the somewhat greater length and more slender build of the Ivory appear accentuated.” Elsewhere he states that in flight “the Tern-like manner of the Ivory is very noticeable”. In my experience Ivory Gulls are plump and Pigeon-like and I have never come across anything tern-like in their appearance. While an Ivory Gull is bigger and bulkier than a Black-headed Gull “somewhat greater length”, although imprecise, concerns me. In describing its flight he states that its “superior grace and lightness of wing” not only separate it from the Black-headed Gulls but also from the Herring Gulls. Again this sounds more in line with his earlier statement of tern-like. He also mentions that he was struck by the intimacy (he emphasizes this) between it and the Herring Gulls. According to the literature Ivory Gulls are often aggressive to other species and are not renowned for their conviviality. Nevertheless a lost and tired bird may behave very differently from its norm.

Observers in 1931 did not have the field guides and other sources of knowledge which are available to us today. The Handbook of British Birds had not yet been published and it was well into the 1950s before the first practical methods of separating Iceland and Glaucous Gulls in the field were known. Accepting that the observer has used a degree of hyperbole in his note, I think there is nothing he has written that would not equally well apply to a white phase first winter or second winter Iceland Gull. I do not say that this definitely was not an Ivory Gull but I think it is far from proven and I do not see how it can stand as a first Northern Ireland record of Ivory Gull. A copy of the relevant pages from British Birds Vol. XXIV is below: