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).

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).

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:

Wheatear, Stephen Riddell:

Sandwich Tern, Juliet Fleming:

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).

BTO Youth Camps 2025

 BTO Youth's bird camp is back! If you or anyone you know is aged 11-17 and has an interest in birds, nature and the outdoors, join us for a weekend full of birds!!! This year's camp will be at Magherafelt from the 25-27th of April and best of all the camp is complete FREE!

To apply visit https://www.bto.org/community/events/youth-events/bto-bird-camp 

Deadline to apply is 30th March. For any questions about camp, email youth@bto.org"

Bird News Monday 24th March 2025

Hoopoe this evening in private garden Bangor near Balloo Industrial Estate (David Conn).

2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull on the lake and 3 Sand Martins on passage over Billy Neill CP early afternoon. Stock Dove over fields behind (Bob Watts).

Sand Martins at Bushfoot this afternoon (Juliet Fleming).

Several Wheatears and the first Sand Martin of the year on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Hoopoe, David Conn:

Bird News Sunday 23rd March 2025

The female Lesser Scaup was off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island again, several House Martins were among a flock of Sand Martins. (Garry Armstrong).

A Wheatear was at Bar Hall Bay. A Swallow was at Cloughy. (Bob Watts).

4 Greater Scaup were at the north west corner of Lough neagh viewed from the end of Ballymaguigan Nature Reserve. (Aaron Long,  Mel O'Hagan).

Lough Beg at Church Island had 2 Great White Egret, Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin all in small numbers and min 10 Pintail. The south end had 1 Great White Egret, 1 Cattle Egret and a Merlin (Aaron Long, Mel O'Hagan, Gerard McGeehan & Shirley Dunlop).

A Sandwich Tern was at Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough and a Pinkfoot was at Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh. (Daniel Newton).

The female Ring-necked Duck is still on Corbally Reservoir outside Portrush. (John Spottiswood).

16 Pintail and 2 Swallows were in Collector's Bay at the Quoile. (Chris Murphy).

2 singing Willow Warbler, 1 Sand Martin and 1 Swallow at Broadwater, Moira today. (Andrew Upton)