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.