nibirds: April 2023

Bird News Sunday 30th April

Russian White-fronted Goose at Glynn (Brian Halligan).

Grasshopper Warbler still reeling Portrush Golf Course. Also Wheatear and Whimbrel in the vicinity (Chris Hamilton).

Reedy Flats this morning yielded 40 Whimbrel, 8 White Wagtails, 3 Wheatear with another 75 Whimbrel at Todd’s Corner (Garry Armstrong / Ed O’Hara).

Kelly’s Wood & St John’s Point produced a female Whinchat, 5+ Wheatear, 4 Whimbrel, 10+ Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warblers. Killard had 30 Whimbrel, 6 Wheatear and a couple of Sedge Warblers (David Stirling).

A male Long-tailed Duck and three Ruff are at Lough Beg (David Steele).

15 Common Tern at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve (Bob Watts).

A Common Sandpiper at Kiltonga Nature Reserve (Dot Blakley).

Russian White-fronted Goose, Linda Thompson:

Wheatear, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 29th April

There was no sign of the Pied Flycatcher in Kelly's Wood but 2 Grasshopper Warblers were present. 2 Wheatear, a Whitethroat, 4 Whimbrel and 2 Red-throated Diver were at St John's Point. (David Stirling).

Lough Beg this morning had 7 Whimbrel, a male Ruff and 12 White Wagtails. (Richard Hunter).

Reedy Flats this morning had a Pinkfoot, 3 Ruff, 65+ Whimbrel, 25+ White Wagtails and 5 Wheatear. (Garry Armstrong).

Another Whinchat was on Rathlin last night. (James Crymble).

A Common Swift was over Brompton Road in Bangor. (John Brehcist).

Locale Way near St. John’s Point had 2 Whitethroat and 6 Wheatear this morning. A Whitethroat was at Rossglass along with 10 Whimbrel, another Whimbrel was at Killough. (David Clarke).

Three male Garganey were at Lough Beg this afternoon - two together on the western shoreline (but elusive in the fringing fen) and another bird in flight over the main lake. Also seen were a Spotted Redshank, male Ruff, 50+ Whimbrel, 100+ White Wagtails and 20+ Greenland Wheatears. (David Steele).

11 Common Terns were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve and 39 Brent were on Kinnegar shore with Whimbrel and Wheatear also present. (Daniel Newton).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Bird Guides).

100 Whimbrel were near Sandy Bay, Lough Neagh. (Joe Burns).

Thanks to David Clarke for the pictures of the Wheatear, Whitethroat and Whimbrel and to James Crymble for the picture of the Whinchat:

Bird News Friday 28th April

Female Pied Flycatcher near St John’s Point; first kink of lane leading to St John’s House (Tim Murphy). No further sign by 1120 (David Sterling).

2 Fieldfare over Somerset Wood (Dean Jones).

2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling at the Barmouth and one at Castlerock Golf Course (Theo Campbell).

3 Common Swift and 2 singing Reed Warblers Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).

Grasshopper and Sedge Warbler at Portballintrae this morning (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

3 Common Swifts over Antrim Castle Gardens (Chris Hamilton).

Common Whitethroat, Grasshopper and Sedge Warbler at Ballycastle Coalfields. Also 12+ Bottlenose Dolphins heading West (Geoff Campbell).

Ring Ouzel from the Starbog Road just North of Capanagh Wood, near Larne (Ian Dickey / Jonny Rossborough).

11 Common Terns at Belfast Lough RSPB Wow Reserve this evening, also Whimbrels and Wheatear in the vicinity (Daniel Newton).

A White-tailed Eagle on Rathlin would appear to be the same bird seen earlier in the week (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Grasshopper & Sedge Warbler - Donna Riddell:

Ring Ouzel, Jonny Rossborough:

Whimbrel and Wheatear, Juliet Fleming.

Turnstone, Terry Hanna.

Bird News Thursday 27th April

Portrush Golf course this morning had a flyover Tree Pipit, 26 Wheatear and 6 reeling Grasshopper Warblers. (Dean Jones).

The White-tailed Eagle seen earlier in the week was on Rathlin again this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

10 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Common Swifts were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. Two Common Terns also showed briefly. (Derek Polley).

A Grasshopper Warbler was at Lisanduff earthworks, Portballintrae this afternoon, a single Brent was on the beach. Dunseverick had 33 Whimbrel and 3 Wheatear. (Juliet Fleming).

Bird News Wednesday 26th April

3 Reed and 1 Sedge Warbler Lake Cowey, Co Down. Also 70+ Whimbrel between Ballyquintin Point & Tara (Dermot Hughes).

Whinchat, Tree Pipit and Siskin on Rathlin this morning (James Crymble).

2 Sedge Warblers singing at the back of Kinnegar Pools, also a House Martin at Belfast Lough WoW RSPB Reserve (Daniel Newton).

Laghtmorris outside Castlederg, Co Tyrone produced singing Cuckoo, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler and a pair of Wheatear (Godfrey McRoberts).

Summer-plumage Spotted Redshank still at Ballycarry Bridge and 2 Whimbrel. Also 2 Whimbrel at Portmuck (Nigel Moore / Michael Latham).

A Cuckoo calling at Denalis Reservoir, Coleraine (Edmund Manthorpe).

Late news of a Whimbrel at Tyrella yesterday (Terry Hanna).

Whinchat, James Crymble:

Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Stephen Maxwell:

Sandwich Tern, Stephen Maxwell:

Spotted Redshank, Nigel Moore:

Whimbrel, Nigel Moore:

Spotted Redshank & Whimbrel, Michael Latham:

Bird News Tuesday 25th April

An immature White-tailed Eagle was on Rathlin today it was possibly the seventh bird this year. (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

50+ Whimbrel flew over Kinnegoe Bay at Oxford Island this morning. (Ed O'Hara)

The now summer plumaged Spotted Redshank was still at Ballycarry Bridge this afternoon (Mervyn Guthrie / Cameron Moore)

Garrison, Co Fermanagh had a Cuckoo, Grasshopper Warbler and Wheatear (Godfrey McRoberts)

Common Tern at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve, also 2 Common sandpipers at Kinnegar and 6+ Wheatear at D3 (Daniel Newton)

A set of prescription sunglasses with case we're found at Castle Island hide yesterday. If the owner wished to recover them, please contact us at nibirds@live.co.uk

Common Sandpiper, Stephen Maxwell:

Spotted Redshank, Cameron Moore:

Spotted Redshank, Mervyn Guthrie:

Bird News Monday 24th April

The Spotted Redshank is still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore, Ian Enlander).

10 Mediterranean Gulls and 5 Whimbrel were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Bob Watts).

Yesterday evening a Cuckoo was calling at Davagh Forest in Co. Tyrone, a Red Grouse was also heard. (Godfrey McRoberts).

A Redstart was on Rathlin. (James Crymble).

2 Common Sandpipers were at Kinnegar this evening with another at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Daniel Newton).

Thanks to Ian Enlander for the pictures of the Spotted Redshank and to James Crymble for the picture of the Redstart:

Bird News Sunday 23rd April

Tree Pipit, Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler new for the year on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

2 Whimbrel, 2 Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, Dark-bellied Brent Goose with 6 Pale-bellied at Kinnegar with 2 Swift over D3 (Dermot Hughes).

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull at the mouth of the Roe Estuary. 4 Wheatear at Altikeeragh. (Theo Campbell / Richard Smith).

Adult Little Gull at Portmore Lough RSPB (Ivan Quail / Nicky Lynn).

A Cuckoo at Murlough NNR this morning (Daniel Newton). Another Cuckoo calling this morning at Banagher Forest (Marian O’Hara).

4 Whimbrel, 6 White Wagtails and 2 Wheatear at Portballintrae/Magheracross (Donna & Stephen Riddell).

4+ Whimbrel, 2 Wheatear, 6+ White Wagtail, 2+ Common Sandpiper between Ballintoy & Whitepark Bay (Tom Garner).

2 Common Sandpipers & male Ruff Qouile, 8 Whimbrel Kilclief GAA, 30+ Whimbrel Killard (David Sterling).

Whimbrel on Ballywhiskin Beach, Co Down this evening (Nathan Gilbert).

Little Gull, Michael Latham:

Whimbrel, Donna Riddell:

Egyptian Goose, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 22nd April

7 Common Sandpipers between Dominican and Ramore Heads (Richard Donaghey).

2 Common Sandpipers at Portstewart Head (Stephen Riddell).

An exceptional spring count of 23 Common Sandpipers at Lough Beg. Also Spotted Redshank, 10 Ruff (9m & f), 75 White Wagtail, Turnstone, 10 Whimbrel (David Steele).

Sedge Warbler singing at the Bann Estuary also a Common Sandpiper (Dean Jones).

3 Whimbrel on Rossglass beach, Co Down (Daniel Newton).

12+ Swift and a Common Tern present this morning at Oxford Island NNR (Ian Enlander).

3 Swifts over Coleraine (John Clarke).

Just outside the region a Black-winged Stilt at Cooley Point, Co Louth (Eamon).

An Osprey yesterday at Craigantlet.

Two Twite were at Kinbane Head, Co Antrim (Nathan Gilbert)

Bird News Friday 21st April

A male Goosander was above the bridge in Glenarm, near the entrance to the forest (Garry Wilkinson)

Whimbrel are widely reported. Last night 3 were at Kinnegar (Aaron Long) and this morning 2 were at Marconis Cottage, Ballycastle (Garry Wilkinson)

An Osprey was seen at Lower Lough Erne, this morning.

150 Manx Shearwaters were feeding close inshore at Castlerock this evening. (Richard Grey)

A Marsh Harrier was at Lough Beg this evening, also two breeding-plumage male Turnstones, ten male Ruff and 50+ White Wagtails. (David Steele).

Whimbrel, Aaron Long:

Bird News Thursday 20th April

The Black-crowned Night Heron was again on the north side of the island at Loughbrickland. (Mike McLaughlin, Kevin Maguire).

A Cuckoo was calling at Murlough Nature Reserve this morning. (Daniel Newton).

A Grey Plover and 10 Mediterranean Gulls are at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Derek Polley).

5 Whimbrel are at Portstewart and 4+ White Wagtails and 6+ Wheatears at Ringagree. (Stephen Riddell).

At least 15 Whimbrel were at Dunseverick this afternoon. (Juliet Fleming).

12 Whimbrel and 3 White Wagtails were seen in flight at Killard this morning. (Dougie Gamble).

A Common Sandpiper was at the Croaghan hide at Oxford Island. (William Smiton).

25 Whimbrel were at Portstewart. (James McDowell).

A Common Swift was at Stoneyford. (Seamus O'Hara).

A Corncrake was calling on Rathlin today, 3 Twite were also present this morning. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Kevin Maguire for the picture of the Black-crowned Night Heron and to William Smiton for the picture of the Common Sandpiper:

Bird News Wednesday 19th April

The Black-crowned Night Heron is still at Loughbrickland this morning, in shrubs opn the east side of the island. (Ian Young).

A Grey Plover was at Kinnegar shore. (Shelagh Henry).

Wheatears are now widely reported including one on Black Mountain above Belfast. (Paula Campbell)

3 Common Terns were off Castlerock, 15 White Wagtails were present and 2 Whimbrel were heard. (John Spottiswood).

The first Reed Warbler of the year was ringed on Copeland today. (Chris Acheson).

Thanks to David McCreedy for the picture of the Black-crowned Night Heron and to Shelagh Henry for the picture of the Grey Plover:

Bird News Tuesday 18th April

The Black-crowned Night Heron is back on the island at Loughbrickland (Mike McLaughlin). The bird was still showing at 9 pm (Clifford Sharpe / John Spottiswood)

A Cuckoo was calling in Drumkeeragh Forest earlier this morning. (Terry Hanna). Another Cuckoo was calling this afternoon at Glenbane Road, Drumquin. (Clive Mellon). Another Cuckoo was at Finvoy, Co Antrim (Derek McClean)

Two Whimbrel were at Whitehead seafront (Ian Enlander)

At least 8 Wheatear were at D3 again this morning, with 4 also seen at Kinnegar Pools (Aaron Long). 12 were counted at D3 this afternoon (Michael McCandless)

2 Whimbrel and at least 6 Wheatear were at the plover roost at Portstewart. 3 Wheatear were at Ramore Head (John Clarke)

The juvenile Dark-bellied Brent was in Dundrum South Inner Bay today (David Nixon)

14 Whimbrel and 2 Common Sandpiper were on Lough Erne (Michael Stinson)

5 Whimbrel and 6 Wheatear were at Ballymacormick Point. (James Andrew).

There was no sign of the Black-crowned Night Heron yesterday despite extensive searching.

Wheatear, Aaron Long:

Whimbrel, Ian Enlander:

Grasshopper Warbler, Portballintrae, Donna Riddell:

Further pictures of local birds can be seen at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Monday 17th April

A Long-eared Owl was again in Dunvale, Ballymena last night. (Gareth Platt).

Thanks to Terry Hanna for the pictures of the Red-breasted Mergansers and Guillemot:

Bird News Sunday 16th April

A Black-crowned Night Heron is at the north end of Loughbrickland Lake. It is roosting on the island at the north end. (Mike McLaughlin). The bird was seen to fly out from the island at 19:44 (Stephen Dunbar).

A single Black-necked Grebe was in the middle of Reedy Flats. A Whimbrel and 10 White Wagtails were also present. (Garry Armstrong)

The Spotted Redshank is still at Ballycarry (Shirley Dunlop / Gerard McGeehan)

Three Egyptian Geese are at Portmore RSPB Reserve (Alan Dickson)

Lough Beg this morning had 12 male Ruff in various stages of breeding plumage, four Whimbrel, two Greenshank, a Turnstone and 100+ White Wagtails (David Steele)

A Long-eared Owl was at Dunvale, Ballymena (Gareth Platt)

Six Wheatear are at the D3 area next to RSPB WoW (Daniel Newton). Another Wheatear was at Sandy Bay, Larne (Linda Thompson).

Three Common Tern were at Portmore Lough RSPB this afternoon (Ade Fox)

The first Corncrake on Tory Island was heard today (Anton Meenan)

A Cuckoo was heard at Lough Navar Forest, Co Fermanagh (Annette Elkin)

A Common Sandpiper was at Mill Bay, Rathlin (Patrick Barton)

Black-crowned Night Heron, Loughbrickland:

Philip West:

Wilton Farrelly:

Wheatear, Linda Thompson:

Bird News Saturday 15th April

A Grasshopper Warbler was at Runkerry. (Richard Donaghey).

A Common Tern is at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

A Merlin, 4 Whimbrel and 6 White Wagtails were at Reedy Flats. (Chris Rankin).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Michael Latham).

The Ruddy Shelduck is still at the Ecos Park in Ballymena. (Eilish Smyth, Matthew Flood, Emma Mulholland).

A Mediterranean Gull was with 10 Sandwich Terns at Ballymacormick Point. (Ian Proctor).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Spotted Redshank and the Ruddy Shelduck, to Andrew Millar for his picture of the Ruddy Shelduck and to Terry Hanna for the picture of the Sanderling:

Michael Latham

Andrew Millar

BTO Youth Summer Camp

BTO Youth's Bird Camp is back! Join for a weekend of birdwatching, art sessions and citizen science! This year's camp will be in Co. Tyrone from the 21st-23rd July and best of all is completely FREE!!!

To sign up and find out more head to bto.org/bird-camp

Bird News Friday 14th April

An adult Iceland Gull was at the Bann Estuary this morning (Stephen Riddell)

The Tundra Bean Goose is still at Inch Levels, Donegal with 6 Pink-feet (Chris Ingram)

A probable White-tailed Eagle was seen in the Antrim Hills (Mervyn Campbell)

50 White Wagtails were at the south end of Lough Beg this evening. Also a fresh arrival of Black-tailed Godwits - it has been a record spring for this species at Lough Beg with 4,000+ migrating through so far. (David Steele).