RSPB Belfast

Hooded Crow Corvus cornix

Sunday 14 September

In Belfast by 8am and a full day ashore.  However, with rain promised by noon I decided to pay a visit to RSPB Belfast situated right next to the cruise terminal.  Dull and cloudy but at least dry as I approached the reserve to discover that the site is closed at week-end but, fortunately for me, both hides were open to public access.  That said, with plastic sheeting rather than glass at the hides and especially in need of cleaning on the outer side, viewing was somewhat restricted in terms of clarity.

RSPB Belfast seen from the second hide

So, an initial stop at the closed Visitors Centre but both Great and Coal Tits long with a Robin visiting the feeders and a handful of Black-tailed Godwit seen on the lake through the window of the closed front door, I carried on towards the first hide. Approaching I recorded both Woodpigeon and Black-headed Gull and then the sight of a few Teal plus Shelduck, Shoveler and Mallard.  No less than 17 Grey Herons on the water and scores of House Martins and a handful of Barn Swallows feeding over the water and nearby reeds.

Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus

Moving on round the side of the reserve to the second hide recording a Wren I could more clearly see the many House Martins and Herons. In addition to the species already seen I now saw a couple of Cormorant and a single Moorhen on the far side of the water.

A few of the 17 Grey Herons Ardea cinerea on site

Time to make my way back and a revisit to the feeding station at the Visitor Centre entrance I noted at least 15 Goldfinch, many of which came to sample the food on offer. 

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

And so, forty-five minutes later I was making my way back to the ship and a stop in the vacant plot at the approach produced not only both Herring and Black-headed but also a few Lesser Black-backed Gull and a couple of Hooded Crows. Even a Pied Wagtail came to visit the site.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrelli

 Birds seen:

Shelduck, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Cormorant, Heron, Moorhen, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Coal Tit. Great Tit, Hooded Crow, Goldfinch.

Record shot of Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa seen through three separate windows!

Herons Ardea cinerea in front of the First Hide

Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

RSPB Belfast from the 2nd Hide showing the ship in the neighbouring cruise port

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