Bird News Tuesday 16th April

2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Whitehead seafront this afternoon. (Ian Enlander).

A Grasshopper Warbler was at Ballymacormick Point (George Henderson).

There was an arrival of Common Sandpipers today including 4 at Kinnegar Pools (Daniel Newton), 2 on the River Lagan (Richard Gray & Angus Kennedy) and one at Lower Lough Erne Islands RSPB Reserve. (Brad Robson)

An elusive Green Sandpiper was at Marlacoo Lake between Tandragee and Markethill late afternoon (Clifford Sharpe)

Rathlin also had an arrival of Common Sandpipers with five birds present, a 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull was also on the island, see picture below. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

Thanks to Frank Murphy for the picture of the Red Kite, to Angus Kennedy for the picture of the Common Sandpiper, to Ian Enlander for the picture of the juvenile Grey Heron and to Ric Else for the pictures of the Black-tailed Godwit and the Mediterranean Gull:

Bird News Monday 15th April

The female Marsh Harrier was still showing near Whitehead this morning. It was viewable from the Islandmagee side, looking towards Jubilee Wood (Cameron Moore)

An Iceland Gull was on Rathlin as was the Snow Bunting (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A White phase Gyr Falcon was reported from Glassagh Bay, Fanad Head today.

Marsh Harrier, Cameron Moore:

Cecil Smyth, Little Grebe:

Bird News Sunday 14th April

A female Marsh Harrier (wing tagged - probably in Norfolk) was quartering between Jubilee Wood and Whitehead Golf Course (Cameron Moore)

The first two Common Terns of the year were back at Oxford Island this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

The Snow Bunting was still on Rathlin, two Twite were also present. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Six White Wagtail were at Ardmore, Lough Neagh (Ed O’Hara)

7 Mediterranean Gull were at RSPB WoW this afternoon.

The Lough Neagh shoreline between Reedy Flat and Bannfoot had 16 Golden Plover, 11 Ruff, a pair of Pintail and a fly-past adult Mediterranean Gull.(Clive Mellon)

White Wagtail, Ed O'Hara:

John Spratt, Great Spotted Woodpecker:

Bird News Saturday 13th April

Four White Wagtails were in a ploughed field on the road to Ardmore on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Garry Armstrong).

The Snow Bunting was still on Rathlin, see picture below. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

2 Mandarin ducks were at Silent Valley today, see picture below. (Mark Elliott)

Thanks to Ric Else for the picture of the Snow Bunting and to Mark Elliott for the picture of the Mandarin Duck:

Bird News Friday 12th April

A Ring Ouzel was at the West Light, Rathlin, this morning (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Our thanks to Angus Kennedy for his pic of the Kingfisher and to Wilfred Swain for his Brent Geese in flight.

Bird News Thursday 11th April

A Golden Eagle was over Rathlin this morning before drifting off south. Also on the island today, there were a Hen Harrier, the Snow Bunting still, at least 7 White Wagtails and a large arrival of Willow Warblers.  (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Two Pintail remain at the Quoile (Shaun Cleland, Alan Ferguson and Bert Montgomery).

The Bann Estuary had a significant gathering of c700 Black-tailed Godwits; also c600 Golden Plovers, 43 Sanderling, 42 Ringed Plover and 2 White Wagtails (Hill Dick)

Willow Warblers, Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins are now widely reported. Many thanks for the sightings.

Thanks to Ric for the picture of the Golden Eagle and to Dick Glasgow for the picture of the Hen Harrier:

Bird News Wednesday 10th April

Yesterday a Stock Dove was on Rathlin, this is only the second record for the island, a female Snow Bunting was also present. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The Snow Bunting was still on Ratlin today, a White Wagtail and a flyover Crossbill were also seen.
(Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

Lough Beg this evening had three Sandwich Terns, a local rarity, over the ponds at Mullagh, also four White Wagtails, a Whimbrel and 1,000+ Black-tailed Godwits. (David Steele).

Thanks to Ric and Hazel for the pictures of the Snow Bunting and the Stock Dove, to Wilf Swain for the pictures of the Bullfinch and Wheatear and to Thomas Campbell for the picture of the Gadwall:

Bird News Tuesday 9th April

A Cuckoo was calling on the Black Mountain above Belfast. (Stephen Corr)

A House Martin was seen at 6 Road ends, Bangor (Viv Stevenson)

A flock of c250 Brent Geese flew north over the west shore of Lough Neagh near Moyola, Waterfoot. Also 4 Fieldfare were near Ballyronan. (Dermot Hughes)

Wheatear - Wilfred Swain.

Bird News Monday 8th April

A Snow Bunting and a Brambling were both present on Rathlin this morning (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

The Black-necked Grebe was showing at Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh (Daniel Newton)

6 Raven flew over the Bangor Road, Newtownards (Ian McKee)

Copeland Bird Observatory - Weekend Visits

Copeland Bird Observatory is open and currently taking bookings for Spring 2019 weekend stays. 

The observatory is open to all visitors whether your interests are in birds, ringing, moths, marine life, wildflowers, practical conservation, photography or perhaps you just want to kick back and enjoy island life.CBO have some weekend specials this year which include a photographers weekend and island breeding bird survey weekend this spring and moth and Manx Shearwater specials to come later in the year.  

Weekend trips begin with a Friday 6pm boat departure from Donaghadee Harbour, returning to Donaghadee around 16.45 on Sunday afternoon.
There is more information on the facilities, what to bring and the island & observatory itself on the website - http://www.thecbo.org.uk

Current weekends include:

12-14 April
19-21 April

26-28 April – Photographers weekend
3-5 May

10-12 May – Fully booked
17-19 May - Island breeding bird survey weekend

24-26 May -  Fully booked
31 May- 2 June

Spaces are filling fast, so please book now to avoid disappointment. Summer and autumn weekends to be advertised at a later date. For more information and to book, please emaildavidgalbraith903@btinternet.com

If you are unable to visit but would like to support the Observatory, why not become a member!

Bird News Sunday 7th April

The Black-necked Grebe was again showing well at 11:30 in the corner at the east end of Reedy Flats, six Pink-footed Geese were also present. (Joe Devlin)

The Water Pipit was showing again at Glassagh Bay, Fanad, Donegal (Robert Vaughan)

A Common Sandpiper was at Oxford Island (Ed O'Hara)

Greyabbey Bay has 35 Slavonian Grebe and a White Wagtail was north of Kearney (Richard Weyl)

A House Martin was at Magherahoney today (Sean Hickey)

Wheatear, Swallow, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler are all now widely reported. Thanks to everyone for their sightings.

Wheatear, Michael Latham:

Common Sandpiper, Ed O'Hara:

Bird News Saturday 6th April

The unusual Chaffinch was still in Gilford and access for anyone interested is available on Sunday - see previous posts (Graham Patterson)

A Wheatear was beside Belfast WOW reserve. (Daniel Newton).

Seven Buzzards were calling over house in Ardarawood Comber at 15.00. Appeared to be 3 breeding pairs and one single bird. (Chris Shaw).

Two House Martins have returned to the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

A Water Pipit was at Glassagh Bay, Fanad (Robert Vaughan)

Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Swallows have now been widely reported and we would like to thank everyone who has forwarded sightings.

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the picture of the Whooper Swans and Golden Plovers, to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Wheatear, to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Meadow Pipit, to Ed O'Hara for the second Wheatear picture and to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Blackcap:

Bird News Friday 5th April

A Willow Warbler was at Lower Lough Erne Islands RSPB Reserve, Co Fermanagh (Brad Robson).

Yesterday a Willow Warbler was at Carrickyheenan near Brookeborough, County Fermanagh. (Clive Mellon).

On Rathlin a male Ring Ouzel was at Kebble this morning.(Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Slieve Gullion Park outside Newry, this morning. (Sharon Carroll).

Two Willow Warblers were at Oxford Island this afternoon, see picture below. (Ed O'Hara).

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Willow Warbler:

Bird News Thursday 4th April

The unusually plumaged Chaffinch, originally identified as a possible African Chaffinch, remains at a private garden in Gilford (see previous posts about this bird). (Graham Patterson)

The Bann Estuary today had a 3rd winter Glaucous Gull and c150 Black-tailed Godwits (Hill Dick)

Glaucous Gull, Hill Dick:

Chaffinch, Graham Patterson:

Bird News Wednesday 3rd April

No news so far today.

Thanks to Michael Norton for the picture of the Goldcrest:

'African' Chaffinch - Access Arrangements

UPDATE 3/4: It is now thought that the bird in question could be a Chaffinch with a pigment mutation.

The householder of the garden with the possible African Chaffinch has granted access this weekend. Birders are welcome at Graham's house between Saturday and Sunday this weekend (6th and 7th April), from 8:45 am to 5:00 pm only.

The house is at 3 Vicarage Close, Gilford, Co Down, BT63 6PA. Parking is limited so please park close to the field, opposite the demolished house. The house location is shown below.

Please also respect the privacy of Graham and the neighbours.

The bird was seen today.

Bird News Tuesday 2nd April

The Ring-billed Gull was showing well at Carrickfergus harbour this evening (Paul McCullough)

The possible African Chaffinch was seen again today. See the separate post on access (Graham Patterson)

A pair of Raven were seen displaying over Comber (Chris Shaw)

A House Martin was with lots of Sand Martins at Lough Beg this morning (Brad Robson)

Ring-billed Gull, Paul McCullough:

Bird News Monday 1st April

A red head Smew was at Reedy Flat, Lough Neagh (David Knight)

A White Wagtail was on the shores of lower Lough Erne this evening (Brad Robson).

An adult Kittiwake was well inland at Lough Beg this afternoon.(David Steele).

Thanks to Peter Sutton for the picture of the Meadow Pipit:

African Chaffinch

This presumed African Chaffinch has been visiting a garden in Gilford, Co Down for the past month (Graham Patterson)

Bird News Sunday 31st March

A Black-necked Grebe was at Reedy Flats \ Ardmore shore Lough Neagh. (Ed O'Hara and Joe Devlin)

A summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe was off the sea wall at Blanketnook, Donegal (Brad Robson)

Reedy Flats has 4 Med Gull and 2 Ruff (Ed O’Hara)

A male 'African' Chaffinch has been reported from a private garden in Gilford, Co Down.

A summer plumage Black-throated Diver was south of Gransha Point, Strangford Lough (Richard Weyl)

The Ring-billed Gull was still at Carrickfergus Harbour. A male Long-tailed Duck was also offshore. (Paul McCullough)

Around Lough Swilly today were 5 Ruff, 19 Sandwich Terns and an adult Med Gull. Murvagh Beach Co Donegal had 47 Red-throated Diver, 35 Great Northern Diver and a Black-throated Diver (Brad Robson)

A Swallow was at Benraw, Co Down. (Shelagh Henry)

Sandwich Terns are now widely reported. Many thanks for all the sightings.

Record shot of Black-necked Grebe at Lough Neagh, Ed O'Hara:

Skylark, Linda Thompson: