Bird News Saturday 18th May

Tawny Owl present this evening 9.30pm, Castle Ward (J. Pemberton)

NIBirding Friday 17th May An Owl Free Zone!

Yes no Owls today, im under strict instructions from Moth Boy. He thinks its a genuine vagrant and thinks the Nobirds are a great bunch of guys. Andrew thinks he judged them too quickly and has £10 spare cash just lying about, how flash is that and he wants to join up with the Fun Loving Criminals again, well goodby Andrew i would like to say its been fun but it aint. Thanks to Ian Dickey for the non owl photo above!

Update on  the Scrawny Owl! It appears there is dissension in the ranks of the Nobirders. Owl features continues to take star billing in the Right Wing Nobirds Blog headed by Joseph Stalin. The left Wing Flapline headed by Georgeous George Galloway doesnt even mention it! They will have to have a strokey beard meeting at Nobirds HQ, we cant be having this.

On a serious note the Nobirds Top Brass have been to listen to Hooter and going on past experiences this bird will be accepted as a wild bird inspite of all the controvertible evidence. This is how they operate, so go and hear it and get yourself an Irish Tick!

Someone in the Nobirds Hierarchy has to be held accountable for the Tawny Owl fiasco. Its not Larry's fault, he never does anything wrong, although its very funny its not Garry's Fault so that leaves Barry and Harry. Barry claims its not his fault as he was away getting a spray tan and its certainly not Harrys fault as he is a clueless gormless idiot! So who gets the blame, yes its Sammy the Sparrowhawk! He was sentenced to death by firing squad by the Nobirds Records Committee. Christine Cassidy photographed Sammy just minutes before his demise. His last wish was that he left all his Nobirds Report to the Sandy Row Bonfire Committee and could they non elect another raritys committee member on maybe this time someone living in America?.

We promised no Owls today but we were sent these photos by a Lisburn Volunteer who wants to remain incognito, these were all taken in Northern Ireland. They have all signed up to the new Pay Per View Nobirds TV Chanell, only £10 a go.The Owls have given us some of there views.

"I think you guys have the McGarrys wrong. They will be posting in the next few days why the bird is wild and giving their reasons.They will show movements of ringed Tawny Owls in the UK, Continent, including birds which have crossed water bodies. They will show how many have been caught at Bird Observatory's in the UK and Ireland.They will show that there is no escapes in the South and that there is no illegal trade of Owls in Northern Ireland. You mark my words, they will just wait and see."

"I love the McGarrys, they are out birdwatching in NI all the time and know whats happening on the streets"

"I wish someone would leave my cage open"

"Larry is my favourite, he is cool"

"I think they are all tossers, can i have a mouse?"

If anyone has any problems finding the Scrawny Owl please contact Stephen Maxwell pictured above!

Thnaks Ian!

Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for these photos from Castleward!

More from Ken Cleggs garden!

Im an escaped Bearded Seal, why is there no McGarrys looking at me? Stephen Maxwell again!

Owl food courstesy of Christine Cassidy

White Tailed Eagle Antrim Hills

The immature White Tailed Eagle has been seen again over the southern park of Slieveanorra Forest Co.Antrim (D.Allen et al)

More bird news: 2 Garden Warblers were at Lower Lough Erne RSPB Reserve, Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

NIBirding Bird News Thursday 16th May

The run of extraordinary birds continues in NI, this time a Sea Monster was photographed off Portrush by Ian Dickey. On the same day Ian also photographed a nice Tunnocks Guillemot and a Crag Martin, photos below!

But the big news is ITS WILD! The Tawny Owl has been upgraded by Flapline to star billing and not even a mention that its origin is unknown, probable escape etc etc its straight in and no kissing! Well done Nobirds, we do like it when you get all manly and decisive! And even funnier on the Nobirds blog they have said that it has now been "recorded" Whoopee!!! Wait a minute what does that mean? It has been recorded? Is that Sound Recorded, Vidoed. Maybe Nobirds are going to run a interview with it, maybe they are going to start a pay per view TV Channel? Only £10 each viewing?
So why has it been upgraded? What new information has come to light? Why are they not sharing this information with us? Presumably they are viewing it as a wild bird? Presumably the mysterious Mr Hallams bird will be treated the same way and become the first record? Presumably any previous claims of Tawny that come to light will be treated the same? Its absolutely brilliant and all courtesy of the Nobirds, dont ever change guys!

Thanks to Ken Clegg for this Wood Warbler photo from his back garden, now that is just showing off!

You can say what you like about gulls but at least they are wild and not escapes!

We interviewed this Glaucous what he thought about the Tawny Owl situation:Its Bollocks!

Nobirds are fun

Has it been recorded?

Im Mr Hallam, honest i am!

Ive just swallowed the Tawny Owl!

Four more from the Iberian Peninsula!

Two Early Purples to finish:

Tawny Owl update

No sign of the Tawny Owl today at Castle Ward so far. It had been calling constantly right throughout the previous days. Perhaps its found its way back home!

Just who is Mr Hallam!

Special thanks to someone who wants to remain anonymous or should that be synonymous! A few words on our special visitor!

Was the Tawny flushed by a springer spaniel to a more photogenic position? Did the photographer have a helmet on with dead mice attached, like Baldrick in Blackadder. Was the Portmore Barn Owl actually a " Mid Ulster" Tawny? Did Mr Hallam, the Hare Number Cruncher see a burrowing owl in the depths of Mid Ulster, rather than an old Hare ensconsed in its form? Does Mr Hallam actually exist - is he part of the Nobirds propaganda machine to give the Castle Ward bird more credence? Remember the English visitor, who heard a Tawny calling in that area a few years back. Was that the mysterious Mr Hallam? Is he scouting for Hares to take to the Coursing at Crebilly? Is Ian Dickey Mr Hallam or is Mr Hallam Ian Dickey? Is that a " Mid Ulster" Hare on your site. Did you know that in Taiwanese, World of Owls is pronounced " Meester Hallam"! Is the Tawny Owl called Martin? Is the Owl a plant to give the NIBRC something to do and therefore some credence in their own minds? Is a Snowy Owl actually an Owl? Why isnt the Owl at Oxford Island? Was Lough Cowey Monty Panesar a first, or second year Male? I'll leave you to ponder all of the above!
                                                                Monty Panesar alias Mr Hallam

NIBirding Wednesday 15th May Twit twit ta woooo!!

Twits, More Twits, No Wit ta woooo!
As it is the stated policy of the Nobirds to "educate us" here is thier big opportunity. The chance they have been waiting for. Just how does a non migratory bird like a Tawny Owl end up here? How do they know its not ringed? Have they checked local Falconers to see if a Tawny Owl has been lost? Why is it calling constantly during the day, perhaps its begging for food, the sign of an escape? Which race is it? What is the NIBRC policy on Non Migratory Birds like this? Is the bird likely to be accepted? Why is it so tame and fearless of man, perhaps it recognises man as its normal food source?Why was it at the end of Flapline and not the start? This is a clear sign they think its an escape. Surely they must know that Birders from ALL round Ireland will come and see it, why get them to waste their time and money on a bird which is 99.9% an escape? We knew about this bird but have been trying to find out its likely owner which we think is a far more responsible way to handle a bird like this. If you go to see the Tawny Owl at Castle Ward and we would encourage you to as its a superb bird, go in the full knowledge that it is a probable escape (Tawny Owls are extremely unlikely Vagrants to Ireland) and that you will not be able to count it on any list unless you keep an escapee list. If you do go bring a mouse and a Falconers Glove you will get much closer views.
And if you love Owls that much go to the World Of Owls, you will see many more species and the views are tremendous!


A couple of class Wheatear photos today, Christine Cassidy above and Ian Dickey below

 Big Daddy! Thanks to Ian for the this Hare photo and the Swallow photos below!

 Peregrine at the Qouile! Thanks Paul Hill for these photos from the Qouile Pondage of a very straggly looking Peregrine!

 Lesser Yellowlegs are great birds about time we had another one in Northern Ireland, this one hit the post as it was in Dundalk a couple of weeks ago.

 Three flowers today, Early Purple above, a Pantymime Daisy below and who doesnt love Bluebells!

Montys update!

The rather fabulous Montagu's Harrier continues its residence at Lough Cowey (Paul Hill et al)

At Achill Island on Mayo a summer plumaged Pied Billed Grebe has been found!!

More Monty Photos (the good ones this time!)

 Many thanks to Roanld Surgenor for these photos from Lough Cowey although we think Helen actually took them!