Bird News Saturday 4th April.

Our thanks to everyone who are reporting our freshly arrived summer visitors, they include Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Swallow and Sandwich Tern, with winds coming from  the south over the next few days there should be a lot more sightings.

Pied Wagtail - Ed O'Hara.

Fieldfare - Ed O'Hara.

Shelduck - Jeff Silvers.

Blackcap - Michael Latham.

Bird News Friday 3rd April

A Green Sandpiper was at Shaw's Lake, County Armagh. (John Spottiswood)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was visiting a garden at Glenavy (Paul and Niall Mulvenna)

Two Wheatear were below the cliffs at Bienevenagh (Marty Deehan)

Thanks to Mike McLaughlin for these pics of his local birds:

Grey Heron

Red Kite

Bird News Thursday 2nd April

A Carrion Crow is paired with a Hooded Crow in Bankmore Square, Dublin Road, Belfast. (Dermot Hughes).

A Red Kite flew over the Saintfield Road just outside Carryduff this evening. (Garry Armstrong).

Thanks to Dermot Hughes for the picture of the Carrion Crow, to David Miller for the pictures of the female Blackcap and the Jay and to Fulton Somerville for the picture of the Little Egret:

Bird News Wednesday 1st April

The Black-necked Grebe and a drake Garganey were at Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh (James O'Neill)

A male Brambling was on Rathlin (Ric Else \ Hazel Watson)

A 2nd calendar year Iceland Gull flew north up Lower Lough Erne Fermanagh this evening (Brad Robson)

James O'Neill, Garganey and Black-necked Grebe:

Bird News Tuesday 31st March

Two Carrion Crows were at Groomsport harbour, see picture below. (Michael Latham)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Dunnock and the Little Grebe and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Carrion Crow:

Bird News Monday 30th March

A male Ring Ouzel was feeding on the (McDonalds) roundabout at Sprucefield this evening (Suzanne Belshaw)

The first Great Skua of the year has arrived back on Rathlin today. Good numbers of Redpoll remain (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were in a field at Old Ballygowan Road, Comber (Chris Shaw)

Ring Ouzel, Suzanne Belshaw:

Bird News Sunday 29th March

15 Waxwing flew over the Shore Road, Belfast and headed towards the Waterworks this morning (Stuart McKee)

Today on Rathlin Island, a Mealy Redpoll was amongst a significant influx of Lesser Redpolls. There were also 33 Pink-footed Geese, 25 Whooper Swans and the wintering 15 White-fronted Geese are still here. The first Puffins of the year arrived on 26th March. Also today a Glaucous Gull in poor health was taken in to care. (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Jay, to Mike McLaughlin for the picture of the Buzzard, to Kenny Moore for the picture of the Goldfinch and to Kevin O'Grady for the picture of the Grey Heron:

Bird News Saturday 28th March.

Our thanks for all the photographs sent in to-day.

Blackcap - Michael Latham.

Robin - Kevin O'Grady

Robin - Alastair McLean.

Bird News Friday 27th March

Thanks to everyone who has contributed pictures today.

To Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Pink-footed Goose and Shag, to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Willow Warblers, to John Lambe for the pictures of the Little Egret and the Greylag Geese, to Mike McLaughlin for the picture of the Grey Heron and to Kevin O'Grady for the picture of the Pied Wagtail:

Bird News Thursday 26th March

Common migrants continue to be reported with sightings of singing Willow Warblers and Blackcaps and the first reports of House Martins.

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Blackcap and Chiffchaff, to Cecil Smyth for the picture of the Buzzard and to Kevin O'Grady for the picture of the Goldfinch:

Bird News Wednesday 25th March

Yesterday a Red Kite was over Purdysburn, south Belfast (Chris Acheson)

Three Willow Warbler were at Craigavon Lakes this afternoon (Brian Nelson)

Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for this pic of a female House Sparrow taking advantage of the Terrier clippings:

Breakfast Birdwatch

The RSPB has launched a daily Breakfast Birdwatch, taking place between 8-9am weekdays, starting today, March 24th.

It aims to get people watching birds and nature at a time when they’d normally be working, or on their way to school or work.

Using the tag #BreakfastBirdwatch on social media, it aims to create a friendly, supportive and engaged community who share what they can see in their gardens, on their balconies, rooftops and spaces from their own homes, all the while keeping within government guidelines in relation to Covid-19.

Throughout the coming weeks, Breakfast Birdwatch will focus on different themes and different species, helping to identify what particpants have seen and heard, and answering questions along the way.

• Users asked to include #BreakfastBirdwatch when sharing updates, photos, videos, questions and comments

• The RSPB will have different themes, focussing on different species and helping supporters stay creative with ideas such as drawing and poetry.

Why not join in?

#BreakfastBirdwatch

Starling, Michael Latham

Bird News Tuesday 24th March

Chiffchaff and Sand Martins continue to be reported.

Everyone has had their opportunity to get out birding curtailed but feel free to send in pictures of your garden birds or any that you pick up during your daily walk! Thanks to todays contributors:

David Hill, Skylark:

Fulton Somerville, Long-tailed Tit: