nibirds

Bird News Friday 19th April

There were 10 Whimbrel on the Castlerock side of the Barmouth this morning. (Stephen Riddell).

22 Whimbrel were on rocks opposite Dunseverick harbour. (Juliet Fleming).

A Common Sandpiper was on Kinnegar pool. (Stuart Cossey).

A Little Gull was at Ballymacormick Point. (James Andrew).

An Osprey was at Lough Beg this evening, also 150 White Wagtails, seven Whimbrel and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. (David Steele).

A pair of Mediterranean Gulls and 50 Black-tailed Godwits were at the Quoile, 820 Black-tailed Godwits and a summer plumaged Ruff were at Tullyratty Great Dam, Castleward. A Great Northern, 2 Red Throated Divers and 16 Whimbrel passed St John's Point in a short sea watch. 3 Dark-bellied and 2 possible adult Grey-bellied Brent were with 1300 Brent in Killough harbour, 1100 Golden Plover and 2 Whimbrel were also present. (Chris Murphy)

Whimbrel, Stephen Riddell.

White Wagtail, Stephen Riddell.

Bird News Thursday 18th April

A 2nd calendar year Marsh Harrier, a different bird to the one present last week, was on Rathlin this morning. Three Common Sandpipers were also present and yesterday two Whimbrel were on the island. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The Iceland Gull is still at Portballintrae this morning. (Stephen Riddell).

Killough harbour today had three Dark-bellied Brent among fifteen hundred Brent, also present were three Whimbrel and three hundred Golden Plover. (Chris Murphy).

A single Common Sandpiper was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Derek Polley).

There are three seats available for the boat trip to Islay on Saturday 20th April. This trip will visit the Oa RSPB reserve to look for eagles, Chough and Hen Harriers.

Please contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for details.

Iceland Gull, Stephen Riddell.

Bird News Wednesday 17th April

Two Common Sandpipers were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).

A probable hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow was at Dunseverick harbour. (John Spottiswood).

Little Egret, Richard Caves.

Bird News Tuesday 16th April

A few Whimbrel along the North Coast (John Clarke).

Jack Snipe at Dunnaree Hill, near Drumquin, Co Tyrone (Clive Mellon).

Green-winged Teal north of Church Island, Lough Beg at 1740 (Dean Jones).

3 Whimbrels in Dundrum South Inner Bay, also 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese there with 350+ Pale-bellied Brent Geese (David Nixon).

A Cuckoo was singing at Peatlands Park this afternoon (Brian Nelson).

Two Red-throated Divers, one in summer plumage, and a Common Scoter were at Magilligan Point. (Raymond Fulton).

Whimbrel, John Clarke:

Bird News Monday 15th April

Late news from yesterday of 20 Twite at Myroe (John Spratt).

Seawatch in strong NWesterlies off Bloody Foreland produced 2 Leach’s Petrels, single Great and Arctic Skuas and 2 Whimbrel (Stephen Foster).

Twite, John Spratt:

Long-tailed Duck, John Spratt:

Bird News Sunday 14th April

The 2 Long-tailed Ducks remain on the pond at Myroe (Martin Deehan).

2 Grey Plover at the Roe Estuary (Martin Deehan).

2 Great Skuas off Rathlin (Viv Biazzo). 3 high over Keble, Rathlin this,owning (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

5 Puffins and a Whimbrel past St John’s Point this morning (Chris Murphy).

70+ White Wagtails and 2 Pink-footed Geese at Lough Beg this morning (David Steele).

There is one seat available on the boat trip from Ballycastle to Jura on 24th April. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for full details.

Great Skua, Viv Biazzo:

Bird News Saturday 13th April

Grasshopper Warbler in scrub off Heron Road close to airport, also Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper around Belfast Harbour, latter D3 (Stuart Cossey).

Grasshopper Warbler at Portballintrae this morning (Stephen Riddell).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose Killough Harbour (Chris Murphy).

Yesterdays’s Tyrella White-tailed Eagle also seen yesterday at 1030 c3 miles N of Killough (Joanie Stevenson).

Hybrid Ring-billed Gull was still at Millisle Friday (George Gordon).

35 White Wagtail at the Mullagh, Lough Beg this morning (Richard Hunter).

Common Tern from Croaghan hide, Oxford Island NNR (Garry Armstrong).

5 Whimbrel with Black-tailed Godwits at Todd’s Corner, Ardmore (Garry Armstrong).

Black-throated Diver past Shernaghan Point, Co Antrim (Ade Fox).

A White-tailed Eagle between Downhill Demesne and Castlerock at 1230 (Alan Johnston).

Common Whitethroat singing at University of Coleraine (John Clarke).

Whimbrel and 3 White Wagtailat Bann Estuary this evening (Martin Deehan).

Mediterranean Gull at Belfast lough RSPB WoW Reserve (Rachel McIlroy).

3 Mediterranean Gulls on the island at Strangford Ferry (Derek Polley).

Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and 7+ White Wagtails on Rathlin today (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Mediterranean Gull, Rachel McIlroy:

Bird News Friday 12th April

Yesterday a Common Redstart was reported on Rathlin (Jasmin Morgan).

Yesterday 2 Purple Sandpiper were at Groomsport (Paul Hilton).

4 White Wagtails at Ramore Head this morning (Donna Riddell).

Immature White-tailed Eagle possibly with a red tag Tyrella (Jamie M).

Great Spotted Woodpecker in South Belfast garden (David Gotto).

A few House Martins with Sand Martins and Swallows at Belfast RSPB WoW Reserve (Stuart Cossey). Also 2 Mediterranean Gulls (Laura Kerr).

8 Purple Sandpipers with about 40 Turnstone at Murlough Beach (Gayle & Garry Wilkinson).

White-tailed Eagle from the Banbridge Road near Kinallen (Shona McVea).

Spotted Redshank coming into summer plumage at Moneycarragh high water roost, South Inner Bay, Dundrum (Graham McElwaine). 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese South & North inner Bays (David Nixon).

5 White Wagtail Castlerock pier / mole, House Martin promenade (John Spottiswood).

Immature male Marsh Harrier on Rathlin today the first for 4 years (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

2 male Brambling in a Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).

White Wagtails, Donna Riddell:

Great Spotted Woodpecker, David Gotto:

White-tailed Eagle, Jamie M:

Purple Sandpiper, Garry Wilkinson:

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, David Nixon:

Marsh Harrier, Ric Else:

Bird News Thursday 11th April

Yesterday a Tree Pipit was on Rathlin (Ric Else)

Two Dark-bellied Brent are at Killough (Chris Murphy)

A single Med Gull was at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley / Stephen Maxwell). This is believed to be the only bird present this spring at WoW.

Four Red-throated Diver were seen from Pickie Park, Bangor (Derek Polley)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Darvagh Forest, Cookstown. Crossbills were also present (Godfrey McRoberts)

Swallows, Willow Warblers, Sandwich Terns and Wheatear are now widely reported.

Local birders may be interested in this talk by Brian McCloskey at RSPB WoW: https://events.rspb.org.uk/events/66593

Med Gull, RSPB WoW, Paul Hilton:

Bird News Wednesday 10th April

A Common Sandpiper and Mediterranean Gull were at RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan)

7 Purple Sandpipers were at the Long Hole Bangor this afternoon (Nigel Moore)

20 White Wagtails were at Lough Beg this evening (David Steele)

The flock of Waxwings were still at Tesco’s, Portstewart today at lunchtime (Sean Hickey)

Bird News Tuesday 9th April

Brambling again in Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).

Waxwings still at Portstewart (Geoffrey Johnston).

Waxwing, Geoffrey Johnston:

Brambling, Cameron Moore:

BTO Youth

BTO Youth bird camp is back in Northern Ireland for the third year! Running from the 24th-26th May, the camp is a great opportunity to meet like-minded young people and learn more about the nature that surrounds us. Applications open to under 18s
For more information head to www.bto.org/bird-camp"

"BTO Youth is also recruiting a new Youth Representative in Northern Ireland. A fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to engage young people in Northern Ireland with nature. Applications open to anyone aged 16-25.
For more information head to https://www.bto.org/about-bto/bto-youth"

Thank you in advance and if you have any questions or want to know a bit more about either of these opportunities feel free to get in touch!

All the best
Benjamin