Drake Ring-necked Duck and 2 Little Gulls Craigavon South Lake (Ed O’Hara).
Ring Ouzel at Kebble on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
Bird News Friday 4th April 2025
The 3 Little Gulls are still on Craigavon north lake this morning. Increased to 6 Little Gulls on Craigavon south lake. The male Ring-necked Duck was on Craigavon south lake. (Ed O'Hara).
The Little Gull is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. Still present this evening. (Daniel Newton).
A Barn Owl was seen last night on Kilwarlin Road, Hillsborough. (Juliet & Mervyn Fleming).
19 Willow Warblers were at Duburren, Co Armagh. (John Spottiswood).
A single Whimbrel and Great White Egret were at Lough Beg. (David Steele).
A male Ruff and Wheatear were at the Quoile this evening.(Chris Murphy).
5 Wheatears and a White Wagtail were on Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
Osprey & Raven yesterday, Ric Else.
Little Gull, Ed O'Hara.
Wheatear, Ed O'Hara.
Bird News Thursday 3rd April 2025
Osprey over Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
3 Little Gulls (2 adults and 2nd calendar year) on north lake at Craigavon (Ed O’Hara).
Yesterday a Barn Owl on the Downpatrick Road between Ardglass and the hospital at 10pm (Chris Murphy).
2nd calendar year Little Gull still Belfast Lough WoW at 1045 distant from centre, still present 1140 (Bob Watts). Still present 1830 (Michael Latham). Also 8 Sand Martins (Stuart Cossey).
Pair of Stock Doves St John’s Point also 1 Swallow (Chris Murphy).
White Wagtail at Killard with Sand Martins back at colonies (Dermot Hughes).
Hawfinch halfway up Goles Glen flew towards Goles Bridge but no further sign (David Steele).
Adult Drake and female/immature Ring-necked Ducks on Lough Barry, Carrybridge this evening (John O’Boyle).
Little Gull, Ed O’Hara & Comghal McQuillan:
Bird News Wednesday 2nd April 2025
Drake Ring-necked Duck back at Craigavon South Lake this morning with 60 Pochard. (Keith Bates & Julie Hillman)
A 1st winter Little Gull is at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Gerard McGeehan).
Common summer migrants are now being widely reported including Blackcaps and Willow Warblers at Murlough. (Shelagh Henry).
A Green Sandpiper, a rare spring record, was at the south end of Lough Beg and the Cattle Egret also still present. Eight male Ruff at Church Island. (David Steele).
Bird News Tuesday 1st April 2025
Common Sandpiper along River Lagan near Albert Bridge early morning (Stuart Cossey).
4 redhead Goosander on River Maine at Slaght near Ballymena (David Steele).
3 Ring-necked Ducks including drake still at Blanket Nook, Co Donegal (RBA).
Sub adult Golden Eagle, Legavallon Road, 4 miles west of Garvagh, flying to SE (Dennis Weir).
2 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Sandwich Terns at Belfast Lough WoW (Chris Hamilton).
3 Sand Martin over lake 1310 at Billy Neill CP (Bob Watts).
2+ Sandwich Terns at Larne Lough opposite Ballylumford (Kevin Kirkham).
450+ Black-tailed Godwits in Collector’s Bay, Quoile an unusually high count (Chris Murphy).
Hen Harrier and Stock Dove on Rathlin also adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 White Wagtail, 22 Purple Sandpipers (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
Two seats available for Thursday's boat trip to Islay. There is a Pied Crow and a Hoopoe on the island plus Golden Eagle and Chough at the Oa RSPB reserve. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for details.
Golden Plover, Juliet Fleming:
Bird News Monday 31st March 2025
A Willow Warbler was singing in the fenced off cruise ship area next to Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve, 2 Sandwich Terns were on the reserve. (Bob Watts).
A Willow Warbler was singing outside Portrush. (Chris Hamilton).
The female Ring-necked Duck was still at Corbally Reservoir outside Portrush. (John Clarke).
At least 5 Willow Warblers were singing at Duburren, Co. Armagh. (John Spottiswood).
Portmuck this morning had 7 Red-throated Diver with 3 Sandwich Tern and 1 Manx Shearwater, a Blackcap was singing in a garden in Whitehead. (Ian Enlander).
A Barn Owl was near Ballysally outside Portrush. (John Clarke).
Female Ring-necked Duck, John Clarke.
Bird News Sunday 30th March 2025
Late news from yesterday that the Hoopoe remained in private gardens in Bangor in Balloo area (via Stephen Dunbar).
3 Purple Sandpipers Ramore Head (Chris Hamilton).
Willow Warbler singing Lagan Canal near Drumbeg (Juliet Fleming).
6 Sandwich Terns Cockle Island to Ballymacormack Point also Carrion Crow or hybrid (Bob Watts).
First White Wagtail of the spring on Rathlin also adult Mediterranean Gull and a record count of 52 Purple Sandpipers (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
Swallow over garden near Anahilt (Garry Wilkinson).
Glaucous Gull on Wednesday Tory, Co Donegal (Anton Meenan).
6 Long-tailed Ducks from Greenisland Sea Park including a full adult male (Gerard McGeehan).
White-tailed Eagle in the Antrim Hills (Michael Latham).
White-tailed Eagle, Michael Latham:
Rathlin Bird Report 2024
The Rathlin Bird Report 2024 is now available and free to download at Rathlin Bird Report 2024 – our 7th annual review of the island’s birds | Rathlin Stickybeak
Our seventh annual report covers just about everything ornithological that occurred on Rathlin during 2024. Inside you'll find details of all 156 bird species recorded during the year, including one addition to the island’s all-time list. Plus a Raven nest soap opera, some fascinating movements of ringed birds, and more colours of wagtail than ever before!
Ric Else and Hazel Watson
Bird News Saturday 29th March 2025
A Long-tailed Duck was off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island again this morning. A single Pinkfoot was still with the Greylags at Reedy Flats. (Garry Armstrong).
Two Sandwich Terns and a Mediterranean Gull were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Stuart Cossey).
150 Greenland White-fronted Geese quite low south over Bann Estuary hide at 12:00 also 5 Sandwich Terns present. (John Spottiswood).
The Great White Egret and 2 Swallows were at Portmore. (Michael Latham).
Two swallows over the lake at Mount Stewart Co. Down. (James McClung)
Two Pinkfeet were in flight with a flock of Greylags over Sandy Bay in Larne this morning. (Joe Burns)
Great White Egret, Michael Latham.
Bird News Friday 28th March 2025
Manx Shearwaters off Portstewart (Donna Riddell).
Wheatear and Carrion Crow at Donaghadee (Garry Wilkinson).
2 Mediterranean Gulls on Cockle Island, Groomsport (Gilly Irwin).
Cattle Egret still at the south end of Lough Beg, also Great White Egret, a dozen Swallows and 2 House Martins (David Steele).
Cattle Egret, David Steele:
Bird News Thursday 27th March 2025
The Hoopoe was seen again in Bangor this morning, in a different garden but the same area as Monday, the bird was not present in the afternoon. (Carolyn Magowan).
A Whimbrel and 3 Sandwich Terns were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Derek Polley).
5 House Martins were at Derryadd Lough, Peatlands Park today. Yesterday a Blackcap was in song at Loughgall Country Park, Co. Armagh. (Brian Nelson).
Bird News Wednesday 26th March 2025
2 Snow Buntings on Rathlin. Yesterday 2 Sand Martin and adult Mediterranean Gull (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
Wheatear at Ramore Head and Merlin at Amici, Portstewart this morning (Stephen Riddell).
Goosander at Ballycarry this morning (Paula Campbell).
Female Ring-necked Duck still at Corbally Res (Stephen Riddell).
6 Sandwich Terns at Kinnegar Shore (Juliet Fleming). Also a Whimbrel (Stuart Cossey).
Adult summer Mediterranean Gullnon Porcupine Island and 1st summer Little Gull roosting with Black-headed Gulls at Belfast Lough WoW (Stuart McKee). Also 3 Sand Martins (Stuart Cossey).
Green-winged Teal at Inch, Co Donegal (Derek Brennan).
8 Stock Dove in newly-seeded field Ashtree Hill Road, Laurelvale, Co Armagh (Clifford Sharpe).
Manx Shearwater from boat off Ballywalter (Roger Woodward).
Merlin, Stephen Riddell:
BTO NI Spring Birding Support Scheme
Would you like to increase confidence in your birdwatching skills at sites local to you this spring?
BTO NI are running a Spring Birding Support scheme to provide free opportunities for more people across NI to get out birdwatching with others and develop bird identification and survey skills. Whether you are newer to birdwatching or more experienced, you are most welcome to join us.
We’re hosting an online session on Tuesday 1st April 7-8pm to introduce the scheme and meet the friendly faces who are on hand to support you this spring. Please find more information and registration here: bit.ly/NI-spring-birding-25.
**If you are unable to attend the online introduction on 1st April, but you are interested in the Spring Birding Support we have on offer, please still sign up for this online introduction so we can send you more details.**
Bird News Tuesday 25th March 2025
A 1st winter Little Gull was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Daniel Newton).
The adult Ring-billed Gull was at the Round O in Enniskillen again this morning. (Ronan Owens).
There was no sign of the Hoopoe in the garden in Bangor where it was seen yesterday. (David Conn).
A flock of 8 Sandwich Terns was at Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough this morning. (Jonny Clark).
The first Puffins were back on Rathlin this morning, 2 Manx Shearwaters were offshore. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).
About 20 Crossbills and 2 Swallows were at Woodburn Reservoir outside Carrickfergus. (Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)