Bird News Friday 30th April

The Great White Egret was feeding this morning on the northern shore of the Mullagh, Lough Beg. The bird was observed at distance for over an hour before flying south east towards Toome. (Paul Lynas)

This morning a Cuckoo was calling at the Ballyholme beach end of Ballymacormick Point but it didn't stay (Greorge Henderson). Interestingly, there was a Cuckoo in Castle Park, Bangor this afternoon (Richard Weyl)

Swift, Common Terns and Grasshopper Warblers are widely reported at the moment. Whimbrel are also still moving through in good numbers particularly at the Bann Estuary, Lough Neagh, Killard and Belfast Lough. Thanks to everyone who sent in sightings. 

One of the Garganey was still at Portmore Lough RSPB this evening. (Ed O'Hara).

A Red Kite was on the Hillsborough to Annahilt road at 6pm this evening. (Paul, Niall and Cara Mulvenna)

The adult and juvenile Dark-bellied Brents were with 110 Light- bellied in Killough Harbour today (Chris Murphy)

A Cuckoo was at Murlough, Co Down (Wilf Swain)

Ed O'Hara, Garganey:

Wheatear, Wilf Swain:

Bird News Thursday 29th April

Two Dark-bellied Brents (ad and juv) with 90 Light-bellied in Killough Hbr today.(Chris Murphy)

2 male Garganey where at RSPB Portmore Lough reserve.(Guy Hamilton/Tom Ennis) see below

A White - tailed Eagle was seen on Rathlin.

Boat trip to Ailsa Craig...

There will be a boat trip from Cushendall to Ailsa Craig on Monday (3rd May). Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details.

Our thanks to Robert Plant for  the photo of the Willow Warbler. Also to Tom Ennis for the Garganey

 

Bird News Wednesday 28th April

 Whimbrels continue to pass through with birds today at Rossglass, (Mark Elliott), and yesterday and today at Drumfad Bay, Millisle. (Guy Hamilton).

Two Garganey were at Portmore RSPB reserve. (Brad Robson).

A single Dark-bellied Brent was with 72 Pale-bellied Brent in Killough harbour. (Chris Murphy).

Three Stock Doves were at Ballinacor outside Lurgan. (Ed O'Hara).

A Marsh Harrier was at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Chris Rankin).

At Lough Beg this evening four Ruff (a male and three females) were with Godwits on the western shoreline and 24 White Wagtails and 18 Wheatears were at Mullagh. (David Steele).

There was a single dark-bellied brent this afternoon with 112 pale-bellied brent at the Shimna River outfall on Newcastle beach. (Graham McElwaine)

Swifts have been seen in good numbers over the last week and we would like to thank everyone who has sent in reports.

Thanks to Mark Elliott for the picture of the Golden Plover, to Guy Hamilton for the pictures of the Whimbrel and the Common Gull, to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Stock Dove and to Juliet Fleming for the picture of the Wheatear:

Bird News Tuesday 27th April

135 Whimbrel, 6 white Wagtails and a Wheatear were at Lough Erne Golf Resort, Co Fermanagh this morning (Brad Robson)

The Spotted Redshank was still at Dundrum Inner Bay this morning (David Stirling)

An immature Iceland Gull was at Kinnegar Shore (Daniel Newton)

Whimbrel continue to be seen widely. Another high count was 90 at the Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood)

A Cuckoo was heard at Bannagher Forest on Sunday (Margaret Quinn)

Black-tailed Godwit, Alastair McLean:

Bird News Monday 26th April.

 The Spotted Redshank at Dundrum South Inner  bay, it has almost transformed into summer plumage, making it a lot easier to pick out, one of the dark-bellied Brent and 20 Whimbrel where also present.(David Nixon/Philip McHaffie)

Our thanks to David for the photo of the Spotted Redshank

Bird News Sunday 25th April

A male Hen Harrier was over Oxford Island this morning. (Garry Armstrong).

The Black-necked Grebe was seen again at Reedy Flats on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Ed O'Hara).

Whimbrel around Lough Neagh today included 5 at Corkey Point, 17 at Reedy Flats,  2 at Portmore and 22 at Lady Bay. (Garry Armstrong,  Ed O’Hara,  Comghal McQuillan).

Two swift were at Chapel street Cookstown (Tony McCormick). Swift’s were also back in Ballymena today (Richard Gray). Two Swift were also at Belvoir Park (Keith Savage)

A Reed Warbler was at Lough Cowey (Richard Weyl)

An immature White-tailed Eagle was seen over the East Light, Rathlin, this morning.

Spring Migrants such as Cuckoo, Grsshopper Warbler, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and Whitethroats are widely reported. Thanks to everyone who has sent sightings in. 

Red Grouse, Michael Latham:

Wheatear, Cecil Smyth:

Bird News Saturday 24th April

A Corncrake has been calling in Church Bay, Rathlin. 

A Red Kite was over the Dromara Road outside Dundrum. (Wilf Swain).

Good numbers of Whimbrel continue to be seen along the south shore of Lough Neagh including several hundred at Ardmore (Ed O'Hara) and 12 at Reedy Flat. (David Clarke).

Two Red Grouse were in the Antrim hills. (Michael Latham)

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Red Kite, to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Willow Warbler, to Thomas Campbell for the picture of the Stock Dove and to Michael Latham for the picture of the Wheatear:

Bird News Friday 23rd April

A Cuckoo was above Lough Fea. (Shane McGarvey).

Two Ring Ouzel were at Slieve Gullion in Co. Armagh this morning. (Joe Devlin).

6 Bar-tailed Godwit were on Padian Island in the south east corner of Lough Neagh at mid-day. (Ciara Laverty)

3 Whitethroat and two Cuckoo were at Peatlands Park. 2 Reed Warbler were at Oxford Island (Ed O’Hara)

3 Swift were between the north and south lakes at Craigavon Lakes this evening. (Paul, Niall and Cara Mulvenna)

Another Swift was seen over Craigantlet (Zoe Anderson)

Bar-tailed Godwits, Ciara Laverty:

Whitethroat, Ed O'Hara:

Reed Warbler, Ed O'Hara:

Bird News Thursday 22nd April

A Swift was over the Balancing Lakes in Craigavon. (Ed O'Hara).

35 Whimbrel 2 Common Terns, 18 White Wagtails and a Wheatear were at the Lough Erne Golf Resort. There was no sign of the Lesser Scaup (Brad Robson)

A Spotted Redshank and a Whitethroat were at Ardilea (Tony Dodds / Billy Miskelly).

Yesterday evening a possible Water Pipit was at Kinnegar Lagoon. (Ronnie Doggart).

A Cuckoo was at Altikeeragh/Ballyhacket this morning and a Whitethroat was at the University in Coleraine. (John Clarke).

An adult Dark-bellied Brent was with Brent on Newcastle beach this afternoon, before flying off towards Murlough with a group of Brent, after being disturbed. Two adults, loosely associating, were later seen with the Brent in Dundrum South Inner Bay. (David Nixon).

Two Grasshopper Warbler were singing at Islandmagee (Ken Brewster)

Thanks to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Jay, to Brad Robson for the picture of the Wheatear, to David Clarke for the picture of the Golden Plover, to Ed O'Hara for the picture of the Swift and to David Nixon for the picture of the Dark-bellied Brent:

Bird News Wednesday 21st April.

 Our thanks to everyone who have reported Whimbrel flocks, seems to be a big movement along  our coastlines at present.

Our thanks to Jonathan Clark for this image of a Purple Sandpiper. Also to Richard Caves for the photo of a Whimbrel.

  

Bird News Tuesday 20th April

A White-tailed Eagle was seen along the south shore of Lough Neagh. (John Lambe). (It is a satellite tagged Shannon Estuary 2020 released juvenile, which travelled up from south Tipperary over a couple of days and spent most of yesterday at Reedy Flat- per James O’Neill)

The Lesser Scaup was still at Lough Erne Golf Resort, Co Fermanagh. 46 White Wagtails and 5 Wheatears were also present (Brad Robson)

30 Whimbrel and 35+ White Wagtail were at the Bann Estuary (Bob Watts)

At least 7 Crossbills were feeding in trees at Murlough in Co Down, at the Keele Point end of the nature reserve. (Paul and Christine Megahey)

11 Red-throated Diver were off Newtownabbey (Dakota Reid)

Thanks to John Lambe for the picture of the White-tailed Eagle:

Bird News Monday 19th April

 A Red Kite was seen drifting high over Antrim Marina. (Gareth Platt).

2 Whimbrel were at Barton's Bay on the south shore of Lough Neagh this morning. (Richard Caves).

A Cuckoo was at Murlough. (Mike McLaughlin)

3 Whimbrel were at the north coast. (Juliet Fleming).

Thanks to Mike McLaughlin for the pictures of the Cuckoo and the Golden Plover and to Richard Caves and Juliet Fleming for the pictures of the Whimbrels:

  Richard Caves

Juliet Fleming

Bird News Sunday 18th April

60 Whimbrel were at Ballyquinton Point, near Portaferry (Richard Weyl)

A Cuckoo was at Murlough, Co Down (Haire family)

30 Manx Shearwater flew past St Johns Point over a period of about half an hour today. Two Whimbrel were also at Rolly Island, Strangford (Michael Latham)

A Grasshopper Warbler and 8 Crossbill were at Woodburn above Carrickfergus (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Portmore Lough had the Great White Egret and a Whimbrel was at Lady’s Bay (Ed O’Hara)

Great White Egret, Ed O'Hara:

Manx Shearwater. Michael Latham:

Whimbrel, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 17th April

Lough Beg this morning had the Green-winged Teal, Great White Egret, 10 Ruff, 3 Whimbrel, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, 50+ White Wagtails and 3 Wheatear. (Garry Armstrong).

The first winter Glaucous Gull was at Portstewart Promenade. Three Whimbrel were at west strand. (Bob Watts)

The Lesser Scaup was still at the Lough Erne Resort, close to the Boardwalk (Wilton Farrelly)

2 Pink-footed Geese were at Lough Cowey and 24 Whimbrel and 15 White Wagtail at Kearney. (Richard Weyl)

Our thanks to Ed O'Hara for the photo of a Sedge Warbler taken at Oxford Island. Also to Wilton Farrelly for the image of the Lesser Scaup. 

Bird News Friday 16th April

The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was still in Enniskillen (Brad Robson)

The drake Lesser Scaup is still at Lough Erne Golf Resort (Brad Robson)

2 Red-throated Divers were at Magilligan Point and 2 Whimbrel flew over. (Martin Deehan)

The Green-winged Teal, Spotted Redshank and 4 Ruff were at Lough Beg (Gerard McGeehan / Nigel Moore).

A Cuckoo was calling at Binevenagh and a 1st year Glaucous Gull and 20+ White Wagtails were at Portstewart. (John Clarke).

A flock of 30 Whimbrel were at Barton's Bay on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Richard Caves).

13 Ruff (mostly males), 2 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Knot and 150+ White Wagtails were on the western shoreline of Lough Beg this evening. The male Ring-necked Duck and the Great White Egret were at Mullagh. (David Steele).

Thanks to John Clarke for the picture of the Glaucous Gull and to Alastair McLean and Richard Caves for the pictures of the Whimbrel:

  Alastair McLean

 Richard Caves

Bird News Thursday 15th April

The drake Lessser Scaup was again at the Lough Erne Resort, Co Fermanagh (Brad Robson)

A Golden Eagle was on Rathlin today (Michael Cecil)

A Spoonbill (an adult in breeding plumage) was in the southwestern corner of Lough Beg this evening, flew in at 20.00 hours then feeding up till dusk. The Great White Egret was also present. (David Steele)

4 late Fieldfare were in the Sperrins this morning (Adam McClure)

Two Grasshopper Warblers were near Armoy in the Antrim Hills today. (Clive Mellon)

15 Whimbrel were at the Bann Estuary from the hide. (John Spottiswood)

A Red Kite and a Merlin were seen in the Antrim Hills (Davy Hunter)

4 Whimbrel and a Red-throated Diver were seen from Magilligan Point (Bob Watts)

3 Common Sandpipers were at Stoneyford Reservoir this evening (John O’Boyle)

Spoonbill, Great White Egret and Little Egret, David Steele:

Lesser Scaup, Brad Robson:

White Wagtail, Ballywhiskin, Guy Hamilton:

Kestrel, Chris Craig:

Merlin, Michael Latham:

You can see more pics of local birds at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Wednesday 14th April

A Great Northern Diver was still at the west end of Lower Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh having wintered on the Lough (Brad Robson)

55 White Wagtail and a Common Sandpiper were at Ballywhiskin. (Richard Weyl)

A male Snow Bunting was at Ramore Head yesterday, (Matthew Tickner / Colin Guy)

A Barn Owl was seen in Hillsborough last night (Garry Wilkinson)

A Yellow Wagtail was at Paddy's Dub, the Little Ringed Plover was on the shore of Lough Beg, the Green-winged Teal, Great White Egret, 5 Whimbrel and 100+ White Wagtail were also present. (Billy Miskelly).

6 Whimbrel where at Killard.(Alastair Rae)

Two White Wagtails were at Ballymacormack Point this afternoon. (James Andrew).

A drake Lesser Scaup was at the Lough Erne Golf Resort in Fermanagh this evening. (Brad Robson).

A single Brent Goose was inland on Lower Lough Erne today. (Amy Burns).

Our thanks to Alastair McLean for the photo of a Pied Wagtail. Also to Ed O'Hara for the Common Tern seen at Reedy Flats.

 

Bird News Tuesday 13th April

4 Long-tailed Duck were off the barmouth, Dundrum. Also seen were 7 Great Northern and 2 Red-throated Diver and a Manx Shearwater. (Andrew Crory).

7+ White Wagtail were on the pier on the Portstewart side of the Barmouth viewed from Castlerock side. (Bob Watts).

A Red Kite flew over the Lisburn - Glenavy road this evening. (TomTrouton).

A Little Ringed Plover was at Paddy's Dub, a Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Green-winged Teal and 100+ White Wagtails were also present. Another 200+ White Wagtails were on the western shore of Lough Beg and the Great White Egret was in the south west corner. (David Steele).

Ballykelly this evening had 71 Whoopers, 2 Whimbrel and 2 Common Sandpipers. (Martin Deehan).

With migrants arriving in good numbers and the breeding season now under way we would like to remind everyone that it is an offence to disturb any breeding birds. We understand that contributors to, or readers of, this site would not deliberately disturb any wildlife. We would remind contributors that, during the breeding season, we will not post any pictures of birds that appear to be at or near a breeding site, we also will not post pictures of birds that appear to be displaying or birds carrying nesting material or food. This policy is designed to help protect all of our birds during what is a stressful and difficult time for them. 

Thanks to Seamus McStravick for the picture of the Wheatear and to David Steele for the pictures of the Little Ringed Plover and Great White Egret: