Bird News Thursday 30th April

40 - 50 Whimbrel flew over and landed at the lagoon at the back of Culmore Country Park in Derry/Londonderry. (Martin Deehan).

Lough Beg today had two male Garganey and 50+ Whimbrel on the western shoreline. On Monday a single male Garganey (possibly a different bird) was in the southwest corner, two Greenland White-fronted Geese on the western shoreline and 35 White Wagtails and 65 Whimbrel were at Mullagh. (David Steele)

9 Manx Shearwater were off Greenisland (Roger Woodward)

5 Whimbrel flew over Ballynacor, Lough Neagh (Ed O’Hara)

There is a report of a possible Corncrake near Larne (per Richard Gray)

Thanks to Paul Megahey for the pictures of the Hawfinch in his  garden yesterday:

Bird News Wednesday 29th April

30 each of Whimbrel and Common Tern were at Derrytrasna on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Ed O'Hara).

26 Whimbrel were on Rathlin today. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A female Hawfinch was seen near Killyleagh in south Down. (Paul Meghahey).

Circa 7 Whimbrel were at Culmore (Marty Deehan)

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Common Tern and the first Whimbrel, to Michael Latham for the picture of the Whitethroat and to Ric Else for the second Whimbrel picture:

Bird News Tuesday 28th April

A White Wagtail was at Orlock Point (Richard Weyl)

Three Long-tailed Duck were on Lower Lough Erne. Also present were 12 Whimbrel, 4 White Wagtails and a Common Tern (Brad Robson)

Three Common Tern were on Cockle Island Groomsport, amongst the Sandwich Terns (Geoff Jones)

A Garden Warbler was in song at the Bush, Dungannon (Mark Elliott)

Over 100 Whimbrel were at Ballyrolly, Millisle (Brian Redpath)

Whimbrel, Brian Redpath:

Bird News Monday 27th April

9 Whimbrel, a Whitethroat and a Common Tern were around Ballymacormick Point, Bangor, this morning. (Shane Wolsey)

A Cuckoo was seen at Oxford Island this morning (Mark McMullan)

Red Kite, Mike McLaughlin:

Stock Dove, Banbridge, Mike McLaughlin:

Bird News Sunday 26th April

A White-tailed Eagle was over Boa Island Fermanagh yesterday. Also an Osprey was reported from Ross Lough Fermanagh (per Brad Robson)

Common Sandpipers are being widely reported now, 2 where at Lough Foyle(Christine Cassidy), 3 at Whitehead.(Ian Enlander) and 2 at Quoile reservoir, Broughshane.(Gillian McKillop)

25 Whimbrel have been present around Millisle for the past week. (Guy Hamilton)

An adult Brent Goose (ringed J L) showing the characters of Grey-bellied and an adult Dark-bellied were among 261 Brent Geese in Killough Harbour (Chris Murphy)

Goldcrest - Julia Moore.

Bird News Saturday 25th April

There are reports of a Fan-tailed Warbler at Derrylaughan, Washing Bay, Lough Neagh. (Declan Coney). This would be the first record for Northern Ireland.

A Whimbrel and 2 Whitethroat were at Groomsport this morning. (Michael Latham).

Four Whimbrel flew SW along the Greenisland coast this afternoon. (Roger Woodward).

A Red Kite was near Banbridge. (Mike McLaughlin).

Highlights from Rathlin today: 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Whinchat, 1 Crossbill, 1 Cuckoo, 10 Whimbrels, 6 Common Sandpipers, 16 White Wagtails, 2 Sandwich Terns. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A Red Kite and a Great-spotted Woodpecker were at Portavoe. Between Groomsport and Orlock there were 2 Common Sandpiper, 12 Whimbrel and 7 Common Scoter. (Richard Weyl).

A Whimbrel was at the Coast Road in Larne. (David Gillespie).

A Cuckoo was heard at Ardmore Lurgan this morning (M Hayes)

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Whitethroat, to Jason Bain for the pictures of the Crossbill and Wheatear, to Mike McLaughlin for the picture of the Red Kite and to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Linnet:

Bird News Friday 24th April

Unusually a Fieldfare was calling at Galwally Park in south Belfast. (Dermot Hughes).

This morning 1 Wheatear and 1 Common Sandpiper were at Luke’s Point, Bangor. Also still 1 Purple Sandpiper at Wilson’s Point. (Shane Wolsey).

21 Golden Plover in full breeding plumage were in a field near Aldergrove at 6.00am this morning (Nigel Moore).

A first year Mediterranean Gull was near the Black Arch outside Larne. (Edwin Simpson).

This afternoon a Cuckoo was seen and was singing beside the Comber Greenway, near Millmount, Dundonald, Co Down. (Ron Price).

There are still 368 Brent Geese and 150 Golden Plover in Killough Harbour; Whimbrels passing through and a pair of Eider at the mouth of the harbour (Chris Murphy).

A sub-adult Golden Eagle was in west Fermanagh today. (Brad Robson).

3 Whimbrel were near the Black Arch near Larne. (David Gillespie)

Summer migrants continue to be reported and Sedge Warblers, Swallows, Willow Warblers and House Martins have all arrived in good numbers.

Thanks to Lara Hunter for the picture of the Grey Heron, to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Chiffchaff and to Richard Caves for the picture of the Reed Bunting:

Bird News Thursday 23rd April

A Black Redstart was on Rathlin this morning, see picture below. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

4 Whimbrel, a Grey Plover and a Whitethroat were all round Ballymacormick Point this morning. (Shane Wolsey).

Yesterday 17 Whimbrel were over Lough Erne (Brad Robson)

Black Redstart, Ric Else / Hazel Watson:

Bird News Wednesday 22nd April

A Tree Pipit, the sixth  of the spring, was on Rathlin this morning, see pictures below. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

A Red Kite was over Whitehead this afternoon. (Ian Enlander).

Thanks to Ric for the picture of the Tree Pipit, top bird, along with a picture of a Meadow Pipit for comparison, also thanks to Daniel Newton for the picture of the Wheatear and to Richard Caves for the picture of the Willow Warbler:

Bird News Tuesday 21st April

A Little Tern was in Ballyholme Bay Bangor at 10.50 this morning (Shane Wolsey)

Cloghfin Port, north of Black Head, Islandmagee, had 17 Whimbrel (Ian Enlander)

Michael Latham, Whitethroat:

Ian Enlander, Whimbrel:

World Curlew Day 21st April

Observe World Curlew Day and report your Curlew sightings 

21st April is World Curlew Day, after St Beuno, their patron saint. Eurasian Curlew has undergone a worrying decline as a breeding bird in the UK and Ireland during recent years, and the species has been identified as the highest conservation priority bird species in the UK. World Curlew Day acts as a timely reminder that more than 80% of the Northern Ireland Eurasian Curlew population disappeared from 1987 to 2013.

 If this trend continues, the species may become extinct as a breeding species in Northern Ireland within the next few decades. Current COVID-19 restrictions on non-essential movement mean that many fieldwork studies of breeding birds for this year are currently on hold and may have to be cancelled. Records will be very welcome for those monitoring the status of their breeding population. Therefore please keep your eyes and ears alert in your local area and enter all records on to BirdTrack (www.bto.org/our-science/projects/birdtrack/about  or use the BirdTrack App). Ronan Owens

Bird News Monday 20th April

Two Common Sandpipers were along the Lagan between the Lyric and the Boat Club (Dermot Hughes). Another Common Sandpiper was at Kinnegar Pool (Daniel Newton)

We have a lot of reports today off Great Spotted Woodpecker, our thanks to all you reported them. They have come in from all over the province, just shows how they have spread in a relatively short space of time.

Thanks to Terry Hanna for this pic of a Buzzard:

Bird News Sunday 19th April

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Portavoe Estate this morning. (Terry Paton).

A Cuckoo was at Murlough this morning (Helen Bradley) Yesterday a Cuckoo was also heard there. (Wallis Jefferson).

Summer migrants continue to be reported including Swifts, House Martins, Grasshopper Warblers and Whitethroats.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Killough. Numbers of Brent Geese are down to 364. Several parties of Whimbrel (largest 10) were over the harbour this evening (Chris Murphy)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at the Lagan Towpath in Belvoir Forest (Maeve Bell)

Many thanks to all for the pics below. You can see more local bird pics at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Grasshopper Warbler, Comghal McQuillan:

Whitethroat, Michael Latham:

Great Spotted Woodepecker, Ian Jackson (this bird is visiting Ian's garden):

Bird News Saturday 18th April

2 Swifts were over Ballynacor on the south shore of Lough Neagh this morning. (Ed O'Hara).

12 Whimbrel at Ballycarry Bridge end of Larne Lough this morning. (Ian Enlander).

A single Whimbrel and two probable hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crows were at Ballymacormick Point near Bangor. (Michael Latham).

A Whooper Swan and 2 Greylag were on Lough Shark this morning. (Fulton Somerville).

In Killough Harbour, a Dark-bellied Brent was a new arrival this evening; 581 Brents and a few hundred Golden Plovers present; Whimbrel heard over the village morning and evening (Chris Murphy)

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Swift, to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Whimbrel and the hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow, to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Chiffchaff and to Kevin Rice for the pictures of the Raven and the Meadow Pipit:

Bird News Friday 17th April

Common Sandpipers continue to migrate around Lough Neagh. (Ed O'Hara).

16 Whimbrel flew over Killough Harbour this evening; there are still 600 Brent Geese present but the Dark-bellied Brent was only present for one day (Chris Murphy)

A Long-eared Owl was seen at Eglinton (Marty Deehan)

Thanks to Ed O'Hara for the pictures of the Common Sandpipers, to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Redpoll and to Kenny Moore for the picture of the female Reed Bunting:

Bird News Thursday 16th April

Four Mediterranean Gulls were seen between Holywood and Kinnegar (Brian Murphy)

50+ Sandwich Terns were at Cockle Island, Groomsport (Michael Latham)

A Common Sandpiper was at Camlough Reservoir (John Spottiswood)

A Whitethroat and 2 Common Sandpiper were on Rathlin Island (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Chiffchaff, Terry Hanna:

David Hill, Blackcap:

Bird News Wednesday 15th April

A Cuckoo and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard in Portavoe Estate near Donaghadee. (Terry Paton)

A Common Sandpiper was at the Roe Bridge, Limavady (Marty Deehan)

A Garden Warbler was in full song in the scrub behind the duck pond on the Ballygowan Road Comber at 1.30 this afternoon.( Chris Shaw)

A dark-bellied Brent was amongst 500 Brent at Killough.(Chris Murphy)

Willow Warbler - Fulton Somerville.

Greenfinch - Alastair McLean.

Bird News Tuesday 14th April

Two Tree Pipit were on Rathlin Island (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Whitehead still had a large number of Red-throated Diver participating in the morning flypast - 6.00 - 7.30am had 82 Red-throated Divers and 1 Great Northern Diver flying into Belfast Lough. )Brian Sutton + Ian Enlander).

Woodburn Forest outside Carrickfergus had singing Grasshopper Warblers and a single Crossbill. (George Stewart).

Kingfishers and Dipper were seen along the Kellswater River in Ballymena. (Julia Moore).

A female Cuckoo was in trees at the bottom of Whinny Hill in Hollywood. (Colin Mayes).

Killough Harbour had 674 Brent Geese at 10am, and 882 at 7pm (Chris Murphy)

Thanks to Michael Latham for the picture of the Reed Bunting. to Lindsay Hodges for the picture of the Wheatear and to Noeni Byrars for the picture of the female Bullfinch:

Bird News Monday 13th April

A Grasshopper Warbler was heard at 6.30am at Ballintoy. (Patrick Barton)

An Osprey was seen along the River Bann at Coleraine on Saturday (John Clarke)

A Red Kite was seen near Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson \ Stephen Bingham)

Buzzard, Wilf Swain:

Bird News Sunday 12th April

A Cuckoo was heard from Mount Stewart on the Outer Ards. (Toby Edwards)

KIllough Harbour Brent Goose count was up to 877 this evening; also c. 600 Golden Plover (Chris Murphy).

Thanks to Mervyn Campbell for the picture of the Dipper, to Raymond Houston for the picture of the ringed Brent Goose from Sandy Bay in Larne, to Fulton Somerville for the picture of the House Martins and to Mike McLaughlin for the picture of the Yellowhammer: