Wednesday, 30 April 2025

Whitehead/Portmuck

More good weather yesterday took me up to Whitehead in search of Peregrines which normally nest there. Unfortunately, there were no peregrines, however, between Whitehead and Blackhead, and then later in Portmuck, there was no shortage of bird activity. Notably, a Wheatear sat nicely for me on my way out to Blackhead along the coastal path. Stonechats were numerous and also quite showy. There were also a few Whitethroats, however they were much less obliging to the camera. Later, at Portmuck, there were hundreds of Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes on the cliff faces on Muck Island, however too far for photographs. There were more Whitethroats here but they were just as elusive. Other birds included Rock Pipits, Pied and White Wagtails, a single Sandwich Tern, Gannets, Fulmar, Eider, Ringed Plovers, Swallows and a lone Whimbrel at Blackhead. The best photos are below as usual, along with a few record shots. Please excuse the amount I took of the Wheatear, I couldn't narrow it down any further!

Stonechat (Male)



Stonechat (Female)



Whitethroat



Pied Wagtail



Immature Herring Gull

Rock Pipit

What are you looking at?

Robin

Female Goldfinch

Stonechat

Whimbrel

Whitethroat

Wheatear







Great Black-Backed Gull

Common Gull

Whitethroat

Sandwich Tern

Eider (Male and Female)

Eider (Male)

Sandwich Tern

White Wagtail

Fulmar

Gannet

Wheatear











Hooded Crow with deformed bill

Raven

Saturday, 26 April 2025

Victoria Park, Belfast

 The sun was shining nicely today, so I decided to take a walk around Victoria Park to get some much needed practice in with the camera. There were plenty of birds, the most noteworthy being a little egret and a few pairs of tufted ducks. I took so many photographs that I filled up my memory card, I have attached the best below.

Blackbird











Greylag Goose

Alright mate?





Mute Swan





Tufted Duck (Male)

Tufted Duck (Female)







Mallard





Black-Headed Gull





Lesser Black-Backed Gull





Black-Headed Gull



Coot

Goldfinch

Hooded Crow



Feral Pigeon

Little Egret





Chaffinch

Robin



Sleepy Mallard

Mute Swan

Blackbird