Bird News Thursday 18th April

A White-tailed Sea Eagle was at Lough Beg this morning (Paul Lynas)

A 2nd summer Ring-billed Gull, 1 ad. Little Gull and 1 ad. Yellow-legged Gull were at RSPB Belfast Harbour Estate.(Birdguides)

A male Common Redstart was 800 m west of the lighthouse at St John's Point. Also noted at the Point were 10 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, a White Wagtail, Wheatear, 2 Blackcap and 3 Goldcrest. A Blackcap and Chiffchaff were at Kelly's Wood and 3 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler and Goldcrest at Killough (Tim Murphy).

9 Waxwing were at Westbury in Cookstown (Tony McCormick).

19-20 Waxwing were visiting a garden in Knockbracken Park, east Belfast around 6pm, stayed for 15 mins before leaving.(Colum McCavana)

A first-winter Little Gull and Common Sandpiper were at Whitehead. At Island Magee a Common Sandpiper and 3 Purple Sandpiper were at Ballylumford and 9 Pale-bellied Brent and a Whimbrel at Brown's Bay.

A second-summer Mediterranean Gull and Arctic Tern were on Cockle Island.

Poyntzpass to Scarva canal walk from 8:30 - 10:30 today had...
3 Blackcap, 5 Bullfinch, c10 Buzzards, 16 Chiffchaff, 10  Goldcrest, 1 male Sparrowhawk, 1 House Martin, 4 Lesser Redpole, c50 Swallow, 33 Tree Sparrow, 35 Willow Warbler, 1 Linnet and 1 Treecreeper.(Fulton Somerville).

11 Whimbrel were seen in flight at Dundrum south Inner bay this evening, 500 Brent Geese were also present.(David Nixon)

The Bann Estuary had 600 Black tailed Godwit, 800 Redshank, 12 Dunlin, 1 Bar tailed Godwit, 50 cCurlew, 8 Golden Plover.  6 Goldeneye, 8 Sandwich Tern, 2 Tufted Duck, Teal, 4 ed breasted Merganser,  a Red throated Diver, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Goldcrest,1 Buzzard. (Norma Percival-Price)

3 White Wagtails were at Sandy Bay and a Whimbrel and the Pink-footed Goose at Glynn this evening (Neal Warnock)

Our thanks to Ed O'Hara for this assortment of hirundines at Oxford Island.
Christine Cassidy for the Wheatear. . Alex Coroliu for this pic of a Common Tern. Mervyn Campbell for the Shelduck  Noel Austin who captured this minx raiding a Mallard's nest and taking the goods.

Bird News Wednesday 17th April

An Alpine Swift was reported at Mussendun Temple, Castlerock, this evening.

The Black-neck Grebe was still at Oxford Island this morning. It is best viewed from The Waterside Hide (Frank Carroll)

3/4 Waxwing were still at Sainsbury's at Forestside in Belfast (David Clarke).

A Little Gull and Swift were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Gerard McGeehan). Yesterday 400 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Knot, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Willow Warbler were there (Andy Elliott)

3 Waxwing in Birch Park, Bangor this afternoon (Kerry Leonard)

Thanks to Noel Austin for this pic of a Great Crested Grebe at Oxford Island.

Bird News Tuesday 16th April

The Black-necked Grebe was still showing at Oxford Island, it was calling regularly, a Common Tern, a Swift, 3 House Martins and good numbers of other hirundines were also present. (Brad Robson).

The Cattle Egret was back at Hillsborough Park Lake. It was on the left hand side of the island coming up from the main car park. In a garden at Agnaleck outside Hillsborough this morning were 1 male Blackcap, 1 female Brambling, 31 Sisken, 38 Lesser Redpoll and 17 Tree Sparrows. Everything bar the Blackcap have been present all winter and now three pairs of Tree Sparrows are investigating nest boxes .This is the the first time in nearly twenty years. (Garry Wilkinson).      

Three Waxwings were sitting in trees at Forestside Shopping Centre in Belfast at 7.45 this morning. (Chris Shaw).

A Cuckoo was at Leeke Valley near Bushmills this morning. (Kerry Leonard).

2 male and a female Blackcap were present at Oxford Island. (Jim Crozier).

20 - 30 Swallows were along the river path at Cullybackey today. (Mervyn Campbell).

2 Longtail Tits and a male Blackcap were in a garden in Gilnahirk, Belfast this lunch time. (Fulton Somerville).

At Killard today were seven Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Tern, 6 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Goldcrest, good numbers of Redshank, Turnstones, Brent Geese, Sand Martins and one Otter At Castle Island Hide at the Quoile were 2 House Martins and 20+ Swallows. (Craig Nash).

 There were about 200 Golden Plover at Ringnaree Point, just west of Portrush. (Robert Scott).

 Along the Londonderry shore of Lough Neagh a Greenshank was on the beach at Ballyronan before flying off south (David Morrow).   

A Wheatear was in flight over waste ground at Lidl's in Craigavon (Stephen Foster).

Thanks to todays photographers, to James Crozier for the first Willow Warbler picture, to Stephen Maxwell for the second Willow Warbler picture and the Kestrel picture, to Noel Autin for the third Willow Warbler picture of the day, to Adam Middleton for the Swallow picture and to Craig Nash for the picture of the Otter from Killard. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

Bird News Monday 15th April.

The Black-necked Grebe still present at Oxford Island.(E.O'Hara)

1 adult Little Gull this evening at Corbally reservoir outside Portrush.(C.Guy)

At least 6 Waxwing were in the tall trees beside the Centra shop on the Balloo Rd in Bangor.(I.Graham)

A Grasshopper Warbler was nr Derrylin Co Fermanagh today, first one recorded this year. (Kerry Leonard)

First Summer Med Gull at Dundrum South Inner Bay high tide roost, 2 Sandwich Terns there too.(David Nixon)

Great Spotted Woodpecker in Morelands Meadow by Belvoir forest this morning,(Michael McLaughlin)

Out at Killard today the Sand Martins were back at their colony at least 15.

Strong passage of Swallows well over 50 passing through also 1 Whimbrel.(Craig Nash)

At Lough Shark Co.Armagh between 09.00-10.30, the Red-throated Diver was showing well and the following were noted:-
A female Blackcap, a male Bullfinch, 10 Chifchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers, 10 Swallows, 3 Grey Herons, c30 Tree Sparrows and c50 Linnets.(Fulton Somerville)

Spring migrants have arrived in good numbers on Rathlin Island, they included 17 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 6 White Wagtail, 18 Goldcrest, a Redwing, a Twite, 2 Sandwich Tern, 10 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin, 5 Wheatear, 1 Jack Snipe and Brent Goose.(Neal Warnock).

Lots of people have reported Swallows to-day, to many to put on the blog. There seems to a major influx at last a touch of spring about the place, to everyone who reported them many thanks.

Yesterday 20 Waxwing were at Rutherglen Street at Ballygomartin in Belfast (Wallace Gillespie) and on Friday 24 were in Lisburn (George Irwin).8-10 Waxwing were feeding in a hedge in Benson St Lisburn on Sunday.(nr EHA building) (Helena Ralph)

Our thanks (from the top)to Stephen McCandless for the Black-necked Grebe,this photo was taken on Saturday. Alistair Prentice for the Jay in flight. Tom McCreery for the Great Crested Grebe. Craig Nash for the Sand Martin in flight.

Bird News Sunday 14th April

The Black-necked Grebe was still off the Waterside Hide, Oxford Island (Wilton Farrelly)

An early sighting of a Swift today over Woodlawn Heights in Richhill this evening at 6.45pm. (Andrew Poots)

At the Quoile was the Marsh Harrier, a 2nd year male, 200 Teal, a pair of Great-crested Grebe, 2 Swallow 2 Sandmartin, 4 Pintail and 10 Wigeon. (Norma Price)

Two male Brambling were visiting a garden in Co Armagh (Kevin Kirkham-Brown)

A female Hen Harrier was at the Brickworks at WWT Castle Espie.

Lough Shark had 7 Chifchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, 13 Swallows, 5 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins and 8 Great Crested Grebes (Fulton Sommerville)

A Green Sandpiper was still at Creightons Reservoir, Holywood (Wilton Farrelly)

Visible migration was reduced at Copeland Bird Observatory but a male Common Redstart, male Blackcap, 30 Goldcrest and 2 Fieldfare were present (David Galbraith)

20 Waxwing were off Rosemary Park in Bangor and 10 Swallow at the Comber Estuary seen from the service station along Downpatrick Road (Dot Blakely)

Several Waxwing were in Lisburn (John Scott)

Good numbers of House and Sand Martin were at The Battery along the Tyrone shore of Lough Neagh and good numbers of Swallow at Ballyronan (Brendan Corr)

A Little Egret was at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough (Stephen Foster)

5 Sand Martin and 2 Swallow, in Sionmills Co Tyrone (Brian Hegarty)

Circa 100 hurindines were seen flying over the road North of Ballyronan, inc 6 House Martins. Also, 54 Whooper Swans were still at South Lough Beg (Ciaran Burns)

A Crossbill was at Crocknagrally area of Mullaphad Forest nr Fivemiletown Co Tyrone today (Colin Bell)

Swallows, Sand Martins, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs have been reported today from numerous sites throughout NI.

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for this Black Guillemot pic.

Bird News Saturday 13th April

The Black-necked Grebe was still off the Waterside viewing platform at Oxford Island, an Osprey was fishing in Kinnegoe Bay in the early afternoon, a Common Sandpiper was on the shore behind the Discovery Centre, good numbers of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Swallow were present and 3 House Martin were also seen. (Ed O'Hara)

Another Osprey was on the shore of Lough Neagh, seen from the hide at Randalstown Forest. An inland Kittiwake was also seen on the Lough. (Jeff Larkin / Michael Jackson)

A Goshawk spent most of the day at Copeland Bird Observatory. Also noted over the day were 80 Goldcrest, 3 Wheatear, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 40 Blackbird, 30 Robin, 18 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 30 Skylark moving west in 2/3s, 3 Swallow, a House Martin, 2 Sandwich Tern and 6 Chaffinch (David Galbraith)

Along the Tyrone shore of Lough Neagh 5 Swallow, 200 Golden Plover and 8 Gadwall were at Blackers Rock (Godfrey McRoberts)

2 Common Tern, a Peregrine, 2 Willow Warbler and a Swallow were at the RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve (Adam Middleton/Margaret Adamson). A Common Sandpiper and Jay were also seen there (Gerard McGeehan)

5/6 Waxwing were feeding on berries in a garden along Holywood Road in Belfast and 4 Buzzard were over the Four Winds in Newtownbreda (David Clarke)

2 Sand Martins, 4 Chiffchaff, 9 Swallow, 3 Blackcap and 400 Scaup were between Ballyronan Marina and Traad Point Lough Neagh this morning between 10-11am.
(Ciaran Burns).

6+ Sand Martin's and 3 Swallow's feeding over the Lower Bann at the Loughan, Coleraine. (Richard Donaghey)

A Little Egret was along the Comber Greenway at Dundonald this morning. (Jenny Pyper)

A Short-eared Owl and a Whimbrel were at Ballyquintin Point (Richard Weyl)

2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Purple Sandpiper and a Sanderling were along the shore at Ballycastle. (Neal Warnock)

The Common Tern and two Willow Warblers were at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve (Adam Middleton)

2 Swallow were on the Comber Greenway (Stephen Maxwell)

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for these pictures from Oxford Island of the fishing Osprey, the Black-necked Grebe and the Common Sandpiper. The bottom photograph is from Michael Jackson of the Osprey at Randalstown Forest.

Bird News Friday 12th April

The Black-necked Grebe was still showing well at Oxford Island this morning, 2 Swallow and a Willow Warbler were also seen. (Frank Carroll).

About 20 Waxwings were at a garden off the Ormeau Road, Belfast this morning. (Robert Scott).

A Red-throated Diver was at Lough Shark, Co Down. (Joe Devlin).

Two Waxwings were in Birch Drive, Bangor, this afternoon. (Kerry Leonard/Joan Leonard).

Killard this evening had 2 Swallow, 5 Wheatear, a Common Sandpiper, a Jack Snipe, 10 Goldcrest in the gorse, a Curlew and a Grey Plover. (Craig Nash).

12 Crossbill were feeding on larch cones near the Priest's Bridge in Tollymore Forest Park (Ann McComb).    

A Swallow was at Lower Lough Erne Islands RSPB Reserve (Brad Robson).    

On Tuesday 12 Waxwing were at Ardglanagh near Ballysaggart Lough in Tyrone (Darryl McConnell).

2 male Wheatear were in the snow at Slieve Croob in Co. Down this afternoon. (Adam McClure).

Rathlin Island had 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Greenshank, a Jack Snipe, 15 Goldcrest, 2 Merlin, 14 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing including 1 in song, 22 Wheatear and a Sand Martin. (Neal Warnock).

A Chiffchaff was at Ardglass golf course, 2 Wheatear (male and female) at Killough coastguard, a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest at Kelly's Wood, 18 Fieldfare and a Redwing in the fields beside the wood and 3 Goldcrest, 4 migrant Song Thrush and a Chiffchaff at St John's Point (Tim Murphy).   

At Island Magee a Sandwich Tern, Red-throated Diver, adult Mediterranean Gull, 7 Wheatear and Common Sandpiper were at Brown's Bay (Cameron Moore).

Thanks to today's photographers, to Alistair Prentice for the picture of the Mistle Thrush, to Stuart McKee for the picture of the Common Tern at the Belfast Lough RSPB reserve, to Mervyn Campbell for the picture of the Goldcrest, to Noel Austin for the picture of the Coot,to Wilbert Hollinger for the picture of the Long-tailed Tits, to David Hill for the picture of twoBlackcaps, to Stephen Maxwell for the picture of the Treecreeper and to Alex Coroliu for the picture of the partial albino Oystercatcher. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The New Bird Atlas

The new Bird Atlas 2007-11 is available as a pre-publication book offer which you can order now at a special pre-publication price of €54 and save a third off the retail price!

Be one of the first to receive Bird Atlas 2007–11, the most important British and Irish bird book for decades. The most complete and comprehensive overview of bird distribution and change in Britain and Ireland. Over 1,300 maps describe patterns of distribution, abundance and change for nearly 300 species.

Discover the changing fortunes of the birds of Ireland (and Britain), with the help of authors Dawn Balmer, Simon Gillings, Brian Caffrey, Bob Swann, Iain Downie and Rob Fuller. Have the latest scientific findings about distribution and change at your fingertips, including chapters telling the atlas story and highlighting the factors influencing our changing bird fauna... all to be revealed when the book is published in autumn 2013.

 

How to order:

1) Online at http://shop.birdwatchireland.ie/birdwatchireland/product_info.php?cPath=35_37&products_id=929

2) By post send the order form (attached) to BirdWatch Ireland, Unit 20, Block D, Bullford Business Campus, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow

3) By Post: send the attached order form to: BirdWatch Ireland, Unit 20, Block D, Bullford Business Campus, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow

4) By Phone: on 00353 (1) 2819878

 

This offer ends 31^st July 2013

 

Bird News Thursday 11th April

The Black - necked Grebe was still on show at Oxford Island.(Tom McCreery) 

The  male Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen and photographed at Belvoir forest park,Belfast.(Alan Gallagher)  

A Swallow was at Brown's Bay, Islandmagee this morning (Adam McClure)

A Swallow was also seen over Belvoir Drive (Ciara Friers)

A Swallow, Common & Sandwich Terns present at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve this morning. (Jim McKeown / Chris Sturgeon)

Chiffchaffs were at Prehen (Christine Cassidy), Lower Lough Erne (Brad Robson), Strandmillis tow path.(Michael McLaughlin)

A few each of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin, were at McAuley's Loch near Spa. (in the rain.....) (David Nixon)

11 Waxwings were briefly this morning at Richmond Drive, Tandragee, Co. Armagh. (David Knight)

The Glaucous Gull still at Ballycastle Harbour and 11 Manx Shearwater were seen from the Rathlin Ferry.(James Robinson)

6 Waxwing were in a garden along Knockeen Road in Ballymena (Jeff Larkin).

2 Swallow and a singing Chiffchaff were at Antrim Road Waterworks in Belfast (Larry Toal).



Our thanks to Alan Gallagher for the photo of the Great Spotted Woodpecker.Also to Alistair Prentice for the Dipper,great use of the morning light on the water.Tom McCreery  for the Black-necked Grebe being accompanied by a male and female Tufted Duck.

 

 

 

 

Bird News Wednesday 10th April

An Osprey was over Carrickfergus at 6pm (Paul McCullogh)

The Black-necked Grebe was at Oxford Island. It it is at the Waterside Hide. This can be found at the carpark which is just after the speed ramps into Oxford Island...it is just a screen really! (Noel Austin)

A Common Sandpiper was in the Newry Estuary this morning (Frank Carroll)

A second summer Med Gull was at Mill Quarter Bay this pm (David Nixon)

A Wheatear was at Kilclief and two Wheatear (male and female) at Ballyhornan beach. At least one Scandinavian Rock Pipit was on Coney Island beach. A Whooper Swan was at Downpatrick marshes and a Swallow at Quoile Pondage. A second-summer male Marsh Harrier was at Quoile Bondage (Tim Murphy)

A Common Tern was at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Norma Price).

A Chiffchaff was in song just upstream of Shaw's Bridge in Belfast (Des Price)

A chiffchaff was heard calling in Prospect road, Carrickfergus today (Roger Woodward)

Whooper Swans, 3 Buzzard and 6 Little Egret were at Lough Foyle seen from the Derry train. Fulmars were on the cliffs at Downhill (Margaret Adamson).

Two nights ago a Barn Owl was seen at Maghersknock near Ballynahinch - the first reported there in 20 years (Garry Wilkinson)

Many thanks to Alistair Prentice for this pic of a male Stonechat and to Noel Austin for the Black-necked Grebe pic. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

Bird News Tuesday 9th April

The Black Necked Grebe was showing well from the Waterside viewing platform at Oxford Island. (David Nixon).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was flying between trees & drumming close to the Lagan footbridge at Belvoir Forest, Belfast, this morning. (Ron Price).

A Chiffchaff was in the Loughan, Coleraine this morning and a number of Terns were dotted along the Causeway Coastal Route this afternoon. (Richard Donaghey).

8 Waxwings were in the Carolhill area of Ballyholme, Bangor,  1 Wheatear and 20 Teal were at Briggs Rocks. (Colin Guy).

2 Chiffchaff were in Ballyronan Wood on the west shore of Lough Neagh, 80 Scaup were off shore. (Ed O'Hara).

5 Waxwing were along Sand Road in the Galgorm area of Ballymena. They were opposite Raphael Park (Richard Gray).

2 male Brambling, 2 Jay and 3 Blackcap were in a garden in Pirrie Road off the Belmont Road in Belfast. On Sunday the Spotted Redshank was still at Creighton's Green Dam. (Philip West).

A male Wheatear was on the Causeway path, west of the visitors' centre. Many Gannets were offshore. ( Roger Woodward).

Thanks to Danny Boyd for this picture of a newly arrived Common Tern taken at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve, to Alistair Prentice for the Jay in flight, to Ed O'Hara for the Chiffchaff from Ballyronan Wood, to Adam Middleton for the Jay taken at RSPB headquarters at Belvoir and to Mark McConnell for the picture of the Rock pipit. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Bird News Monday 8th April.

The Black-necked Grebe was still on show at Oxford Island.(Joe Devlin)

The Lesser Scaup was also seen at Oxford Island best viewed from the Discovery centre.(Birdguides)

A Little Egret, 2 Greenshank and 35 Knot were at the Floodgates in Strangford Lough (Margaret Adamson).



To-days photographs have been kindly sent in by Stuart McKee for this shot of the Pink-footed Goose at Glynn Co.Antrim. Christine Cassidy showing a feeding courtship display between two Rooks. Alistair Prentice  for the Dipper. Tom McCreery for the Wren ( not an easy bird to photograph) and,we hope you agree this wonderful shot of an Otter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ringing Yellowhammers.

Over the past year John Clarke assisted by Ken Perry have been looking at an established cluster of Yellowhammers found near Craigahulliar on the eastern outskirts of Portrush where in recent years a small stable population have been found on farmland with a good spread of gorze habitat. In the past weeks Ken and James McDowell have been studying another cluster of Yellowhammers on the western outskirts of Bushmills where again the gorze habitats appear to support at least six breeding pairs in farmland where local residents put food out for the birds. Four birds were caught in the past few days and other Yellowhammers were heard in song. Our thanks to Ken Perry for supplying the information and the photos below.

 

 

Bird News Sunday 7th April

A Black-necked Grebe was at Oxford Island, Lough Neagh (Comghal McQuillan and Ed O'Hara)

An ad. Med. Gull was at Sandy Bay, Larne Lough.(Adam McClure)

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Belvoir Park Forest in Belfast - seen from the car park overlooking the meadows (Jeff Larkin).
The first Common Tern arrived back at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve today and was catching fish in the lagoon (Chris Sturgeon)

At Grangmore along the Bann Estuary this morning - 1 Swallow, 41 Black-tailed Godwit (most in breeding plumage), 9 Stonechat, 9 Snipe, 2 Tree Sparrow and also a possible movement of Skylark with 50/60 birds,another Swallow flew over Loughan, Coleraine this evening. (Richard Donaghey)

50 Redwing were at Monea in Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

A Woodcock was in a garden in Bangor this morning. It flew out of shrubbery, hit the kitchen window and flew off towards Balyholme! (James Hendry)

Along the Tyrone shore of Lough Neagh a female Long-tailed Duck was at Blackers Rock. A Chiffchaff was also in song (Godfrey McRoberts

Passing through CBO today were 1 Brambling, 1 Yellowhammer, 1Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatear, 8 Redwing, 60 Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch, 2 Redpoll, 1 Siskin and 12 Goldcrest (Kerry Leonard)

A garden feeding station with 14 feeders (sunflower-hearts, peanuts and nyjer) in Ken Perry’s back garden on the Portstewart Road in Coleraine adjoining the university campus has been attracting Brambling in addition to Siskin, Blackcap, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch and Goldfinch daily since December. One female Brambling was caught in January and yesterday there were four males, one of which was caught in a mist-net and ringed under licence. A handsome bird although another stunning more elegant male with a completely black head sadly evaded capture.( You can see a picture of one of the Bramblings below)




Our thanks to Comghal McQuillan (top) and  Ed O'Hara   for the pictures of the Black-necked Grebe. Also to  Fulton Sommerville for a pic of a Chiffchaff from the Newry Canal.    Stephen Maxwell of the hovering Kestrel. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk