Bird News Tuesday 31st March

Two Carrion Crows were at Groomsport harbour, see picture below. (Michael Latham)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Dunnock and the Little Grebe and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Carrion Crow:

Bird News Monday 30th March

A male Ring Ouzel was feeding on the (McDonalds) roundabout at Sprucefield this evening (Suzanne Belshaw)

The first Great Skua of the year has arrived back on Rathlin today. Good numbers of Redpoll remain (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were in a field at Old Ballygowan Road, Comber (Chris Shaw)

Ring Ouzel, Suzanne Belshaw:

Bird News Sunday 29th March

15 Waxwing flew over the Shore Road, Belfast and headed towards the Waterworks this morning (Stuart McKee)

Today on Rathlin Island, a Mealy Redpoll was amongst a significant influx of Lesser Redpolls. There were also 33 Pink-footed Geese, 25 Whooper Swans and the wintering 15 White-fronted Geese are still here. The first Puffins of the year arrived on 26th March. Also today a Glaucous Gull in poor health was taken in to care. (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Jay, to Mike McLaughlin for the picture of the Buzzard, to Kenny Moore for the picture of the Goldfinch and to Kevin O'Grady for the picture of the Grey Heron:

Bird News Saturday 28th March.

Our thanks for all the photographs sent in to-day.

Blackcap - Michael Latham.

Robin - Kevin O'Grady

Robin - Alastair McLean.

Bird News Friday 27th March

Thanks to everyone who has contributed pictures today.

To Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Pink-footed Goose and Shag, to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Willow Warblers, to John Lambe for the pictures of the Little Egret and the Greylag Geese, to Mike McLaughlin for the picture of the Grey Heron and to Kevin O'Grady for the picture of the Pied Wagtail:

Bird News Thursday 26th March

Common migrants continue to be reported with sightings of singing Willow Warblers and Blackcaps and the first reports of House Martins.

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Blackcap and Chiffchaff, to Cecil Smyth for the picture of the Buzzard and to Kevin O'Grady for the picture of the Goldfinch:

Bird News Wednesday 25th March

Yesterday a Red Kite was over Purdysburn, south Belfast (Chris Acheson)

Three Willow Warbler were at Craigavon Lakes this afternoon (Brian Nelson)

Thanks to Stephen Maxwell for this pic of a female House Sparrow taking advantage of the Terrier clippings:

Breakfast Birdwatch

The RSPB has launched a daily Breakfast Birdwatch, taking place between 8-9am weekdays, starting today, March 24th.

It aims to get people watching birds and nature at a time when they’d normally be working, or on their way to school or work.

Using the tag #BreakfastBirdwatch on social media, it aims to create a friendly, supportive and engaged community who share what they can see in their gardens, on their balconies, rooftops and spaces from their own homes, all the while keeping within government guidelines in relation to Covid-19.

Throughout the coming weeks, Breakfast Birdwatch will focus on different themes and different species, helping to identify what particpants have seen and heard, and answering questions along the way.

• Users asked to include #BreakfastBirdwatch when sharing updates, photos, videos, questions and comments

• The RSPB will have different themes, focussing on different species and helping supporters stay creative with ideas such as drawing and poetry.

Why not join in?

#BreakfastBirdwatch

Starling, Michael Latham

Bird News Tuesday 24th March

Chiffchaff and Sand Martins continue to be reported.

Everyone has had their opportunity to get out birding curtailed but feel free to send in pictures of your garden birds or any that you pick up during your daily walk! Thanks to todays contributors:

David Hill, Skylark:

Fulton Somerville, Long-tailed Tit:

Bird News Monday 23rd March.

A Merlin and a Wheatear where at Reedy Flats.(Comghal McQuillan)

A Barn Owl was seen at the M1 at Portadown (John Qzak)

Yesterday...50 Whooper Swan where at  Creighton's Green reserve. (Derek Polley)


Message from the RSPB....

RSPB NI is closing visitor centres following government advice, but we’re keeping elements of Belfast's Window on Wildlife and Portmore Lough reserves open as long as possible so you can still enjoy these free & amazing places for wildlife. At Belfast’s Window on Wildlife Hide 1 and Hide 2 are accessible, however the visitor centre as well as the members’ area in both hides will be closed until further notice. We encourage those that continue to visit our reserves to do so whilst following the government’s advice on social distancing. Please maintain at least 2m from other people and follow government guidance on personal hygiene. Keep informed via our blog http://bit.ly/reservesupdate or via @RSPBNI Facebook and Twitter accounts. Keep well and stay safe.
 Chris Sturgeon ....Warden

Bird News Sunday 22nd March

Chiffchaff have been widely reported today.

Crossbills were in the Antrim Hills (Michael Latham) and in a garden at Monea, Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

5 Pink-footed Geese were at Anne’s Point and 20+ Slavonian Grebe were showing well at Greyabbey Bay south (Garry Armstrong)

4 Pink-footed Geese were at Reedy Flats (Ed O'Hara)

3 Sand Martin were at Victoria Bridge (Brian Hegarty)

The Ring-billed Gull was again at Carrickfergus.

A Manx Shearwater was at Burial Island, Co Down (Richard Weyl)

At least 13 Wheatear were on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson). A Red Kite was also seen on Rathlin.

Pink-footed Geese with Greylags, Ed O'Hara:

Kestrel feeding on a Lizard, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 21st March.

A Wheatear was at Murlough nature reserve.(Angus Kennedy)

A Long-eared Owl was at Oxford Island.(Rebecca Topliss)

Red breasted Merganser - Brian Redpath.

Long - eared Owl - Rebecca Topliss.

Shag - Thomas Campbell.

Bird News Friday 20th March

4 Chiffchaff were singing along Newry Canal between Poyntzpass and Scarva. (Fulton Somerville)

A Chiffchaff was calling at the back of the centre on the shoreline at Lough Neagh Oxford Island & a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over as well (Karen Elliott)

Yesterday a female Common Scoter was on Corbally Lough, Portrush. (Patrick Barton).

Thanks to Kenny Moore for the picture of the Kingfisher and to Fulton Somerville for the picture of the Song Thrush:

Bird News Thursday 19th March

The Ruff was still at Belfast RSPB WOW reserve, a Red-throated Diver was offshore in Belfast Lough. (Derek Polley).

A Chiffchaff was in a garden in Magheragall this morning. (Tom Trouton).

A Blackcap was singing on the coast near Orlock Point on the Outer Ards. (Ian Graham).

Thanks to Alastair McLean for the pcture of the Long-tailed Tit:

Bird News Wednesday 18th March

At Belfast Waterworks there was a Sand Martin today and a Chiffchaff yesterday (Larry Toal)

A Sedge Warbler was singing along the Newry Canal just south of Scarva. (Fulton Somerville)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen today at the car park, Derrymore House Bessbrook (Frank Carroll)

A Swallow was at Mullagh this afternoon and also 1,200 Black-tailed Godwits. (David Steele)

Buzzard and Raven, Fulton Somerville:

Bird News Tuesday 17th March

The Ring-billed Gull remains in Carrickfergus Harbour car park today. The flock of Twite also remain at Whitehead (David Clarke & John Pyper)

3 Long-tailed Duck were off Emerson's Quay at Ardmore on the south shore of Lough Neagh, 2 Sand Martins were also present. (Ed O'Hara)

The Red-necked Grebe was still at Mountcharles, Co Donegal - viewed from car park  at west end. Also circa 8 Long-tailed Ducks (Brad Robson)

A Black-throated Diver was at Fanad Lighthouse and a Wheatear was at Glassagh Bay, Fanad (Chris Ingram) and a first winter Glaucous Gull at nearby Ballyhiernan Bay (Wilton Farrelly)

The Water Pipit was still at Ballyfrench beach north of Portavogie. (Derek Polley).

3 Waxwing and 10 Crossbill were at Springwell Forest.

Thanks to David Clarke for the pictures of the Ring-billed Gull and the Red Breasted Merganser, to Alastair McLean for the picture of the female Blackcap and to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Long-tailed Ducks:

Bird News Monday 16th March

13 Snow Buntings were at Glassagh Bay, Fanad. A Sandwich Tern and about 30 Long-tailed Ducks were also in the area. (Stephen Dunbar)

Newry Canal from Gambles Bridge to Scarva produced - 5 Sand Martins, 50 Fieldfare, 13 Redwing, 16 Raven (close to a dead sheep) and 2 Tree Sparrow. (Fulton Somerville)

The Ring-billed Gull remains at Belfast Waterworks, it was on the lower lake.(Stuart McKee)

A Chiffchaff was singing at Tullaghoge, Cookstown, this morning. (Kerry Leonard)

The drake Ring-necked Duck and four Scaup were on Lough Fern and 9 Mediterranean Gulls at Kerrykeel, Co Donegal (Wilton Farrelly)

A Snow Bunting was at Keeble, Rathlin Island.(Ric Else/Hazel Watson)

3 Sand Martins on Craigavon North Lake (Brian Nelson)

Our thanks to Stuart McKee for the photo of the Ring-billed Gull and also to Mike McLaughlin for the Yellowhammer and also to Stephen Dunbar for the Long-tailed Duck.

Bird News Sunday 15th March.

The Slavonian Grebe was still at Macedon Point today and the Ring-billed Gull at Carrick marina. A Carrion Crow was at Fisherman’s Pier.(Clive Mellon)

10 Crossbill where at Woodburn Forest, Carrick.(Alastair McLean)

Little Egret - Thomas Campbell.

Twite - Alastair McLean.

Crossbill - Jonny Rosborough.

Bird News Saturday 14th March

A Slavonian Grebe was off Hazelbank and a Long-tailed Duck off Carrickfergus harbour in Belfast Lough. (Michael Latham).

30 Twite and 5 Red-throated Diver were at Whitehead (Gerard McGeehan \ Shirley Dunlop)

A Goosander and a Great Northern Diver were on Lower Lough Erne in Fermanagh.

5 Snow Buntings were at Glassagh Bay, Fanad Bay (Robert Vaughan)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the pictures of the Great Crested Grebes and the Brent Geese:

Bird News Friday 13th March

A Red Kite was over Dromore High School (Chris Rankin)

The Ring-billed Gull still present at Carrickfergus marina.(Paul McCullough)

Three Snipe today at Whiterock Killinchy Co. Down & three single Greenshank within 4 mile (David Clarke)

Oxford Island... 1 Peregrine, Reedy Flats... 1 Merlin and 4 Pink-footed Geese( Ed. O'Hara / Comghal McQuillan)

 Ballyfrench beach (1 Km North of Portavogie) had the Water Pipit a White Wagtail (male in breeding plumage). Portaferry Harbour: had 12 Sandwich Tern. Castle Island Hide, Quoile Pondage had 14 Little Egret (Tom Ennis/Tony Dodds)

A small flock of Snow Bunting where on the top of Bearnagh, Mourne mountains this afternoon(Angus Kennedy)



Our thanks to Ian Jackson for this wonderful photo of a Treecreeper.