Bird News for Friday 13th April.

A Green-winged Teal was at Lough Beg south of Church Island. As well as the Green-winged Teal a pair of Pintail and a male Red-breasted Merganser were at Lough Beg (Jeff Larkin).

Along the Antrim coast an adult Glaucous Gull was at Corbally Dam near Portrush and a Common Sandpiper at Cushendun (Colin Guy).

A female Crossbill and a male Kestrel were at Ballyboley Reservoir (William Smyton).

In south Down a Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 3 Goldcrest and a Wheatear were at St John's Point. 5 Greylag were seen in flight - they landed on the sea 1km offshore (Tim Murphy).

The second-summer Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport (George Gordon).

A Red Kite flew across the A1 at Banbridge.(F.Carroll)

A Dipper was on the Tempo river at Tempo village Co.Fermanagh.(C.Bell)

Thanks to Mark Killops for the photo of the Willow Warbler(top) Stuart McKee for the Golden Plover this is one of 46 on the land right of RSPB Belfast Harbour Estate reserve and to Stephen Maxwell for this photo of a Sand Martin.(bottom)

Bird News for Thurs. 12th April.

A third winter Iceland Gull was at Murlough Bay this afternoon.(C.Mellon)

2 Whitethroat, 6 Willow Warblers and 6 Swallows just north of Irvinestown today(D.Allen)

An adult Little Gull and 7 Whooper Swan were at Quoile Pondage (Stuart McKee).





Our thanks to everyone who kindly sent in photograph's, they are from the top Alistair Prentice, Coal Tit and Grey Heron, Stephen Maxwell the Mallard in flight, Zach McCreery for the Blackcap and to Tom McKeown for the Black headed Gulls.

Bird News Wednesday 11th April

The American Wigeon was still at Portmore Lough this morning (Paul Scott)

Oxford Island had 30 Greater Scaup, 2 Ruddy Duck and 10+ Blackcaps singing (Ed O'Hara)

The Bonapartes Gull was seen again this evening at the Princess Victoria memorial, Larne (Irish Birding)

On the Antrim side of Belfast Lough an adult Iceland Gull was just north of Black Head (David Galbraith).
At Strangford Lough at least one Black Redstart was still at Holm Bay (Spencer and Joan Marshall).
The second-year Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport and a second-winter Iceland Gull on Cockle Island (George Gordon)

Six drake Eider duck plus a flock of Brent geese were at Drains Bay (Larne) yesterday (David Ledsham)

A Swallow was at Bushmills yestrerday (Charles Stewart) 

Yesterday in Belfast Lough from the ferry were 2 Common Scoter, 3 Common Tern  -- both off Carrick. 8 Black Guillemot 2 Gannet and 4 Eider (Chris Harper)
2 Swallow were at the Billy Neill playing fields between Dundonald and Comber (Stephen Maxwell) 

Little Grebe - Zach McCreery

Great Crested Grebes - Zach McCreery

Scaup - Ed O'Hara

Blackcap - Ed O'Hara

Bird News Tuesday 10th April

The American Wigeon was still at Portmore Lough (Stuart McKee)

The Green-winged Teal was still at the Quoile Pondage, along with the adult Little Gull. Two Lesser Redpoll were at RSPB Belfast (Stephen Maxwell)

Along the west shore of Lough Neagh a White-tailed Eagle flew north-east at Ardboe. 2 Swallow and 100 Sand Martin were at Ballyronan and a Swallow at Salterstown (Seamus Burns).

Along the north coast a first-winter Iceland Gull and 254 Black-tailed Godwit were at Bann Estuary. A first-winter Glaucous Gull and 2 Iceland (adult and first-winter) were at Corbally Dam near Portrush (Hill Dick).

As well as the adult an immature Little Gull was at Quoile Pondage (Spencer and Joan Marshall).

The second-year Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport (George Gordon).
An Iceland Gull was at Portballantrae (Birdguides)

The adult Iceland Gull was at Whitehouse Lagoon (Stuart McKee)
A 1st year Iceland Gull and a Merlin at Ballyquintin Point (Richard Weyl)
A Raven was at Killyneather Wood, Newtownards (David McCormick)
This evening there were 20 Sand Martin, 2 Yellowhammer, 1 Swallow and a Buzzard at Sion Mills Co Tyrone (Brian Hegarty)

American Wigeon (left bird) and Eurasian Wigeon, Portmore - Stuart McKee

Yellowhammer - Brian Hegarty

Eider, Millisle - Jeff Silvers

Lesser Redpoll - Stephen Maxwell

Little Gull - Stephen Maxwell

Little Gull - Stephen Maxwell

Iceland Gull - Stuart McKee

Bird News Monday 9th April

The American Wigeon was still at Portmore today. Also present were a large flock of Golden Plover and a Pink foot . A pair of Gadwall were at Lady Bay. (Nigel Moore/Chris Harper)

1st year Iceland and Mediterranean Gulls were at Black Arch, Drains Bay, Co Antrim. A 2nd year Iceland Gull was at Portmuck, Islandmagee. A White Wagtail was at Sandy Bay (Neal Warnock)

Ballyquintin (Down) today had 1 Short-eared Owl still present; 1 Peregrine; ca 5 Purple Sandpipers with turnstones (Keith Bennett). Later 3 Short-eared Owl and 7 Whimbrel were seen (Richard Weyl)

2 Sandwich Tern, 200+ Black Tailed Godwit and 8 Golden Plover were at Belfast RSPB reserve. (Chris Harper).

A singing Blackcap and a calling Chiffchaff were at Comber Greenway, 4 Gadwall and 4 Little Grebe were on the lake at Billy Neill Playing Fields between Dundonald and Comber. (Stephen Maxwell).

The first-year Glaucous Gull was still at Groomsport. Three Iceland Gulls (2 adults and a second-year) were at Corbally Dam in Portrush (Colin Guy).

An adult Iceland Gull and a Little Egret were at Whitehouse Lagoon in Belfast (Stuart McKee).

A Buzzard was in a field beside Redburn Country Park in Holywood (Ricky McQuillan).

Thanks to Christine Cassidy,Cecil Smyth and Stephen Maxwell for todays pictures.

Eider - Cecil Smyth

Buzzard - Cecil Smyth

Blackcap - Stephen Maxwell

Gadwall - Stephen Maxwell

Kestrel - Christine Cassidy

Meadow Pipit - Christine Cassidy

Little Grebe - Stephen Maxwell

Bird News Sunday 8th April

The American Wigeon is still at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve this morning along with a Pink-footed Goose (Garry Armstrong / Neal Warnock)

A Green winged Teal was seen at the Quoile pondage off the Castle Island hide. There was also an ad. Little Gull and a 1st winter Iceland Gull (Keith Bennett)

A Green-winged Teal was with the Teal at Lough Beg (perhaps a new bird). A male hybrid Pochard x Tufted Duck and an immature Peregrine were also seen (David Steele).

A first-year Glaucous Gull was at Groomsport Harbour (Colin Guy).

At Strangford Lough a Black Redstart was along the road on the way down to Holm Bay. A Mediterranean Gull was at Holm Bay and 2/3 Swallow at Killyleagh (Spencer and Joan Marshall).

2 first-year Mediterranean Gull were at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Stuart McKee).

A Jack Snipe was seen at Sheep Point nr. Groomsport.(R.Weyl)

A juv Iceland Gull was at Killough harbour.

A Common Sandpiper and a White Wagtail were at Whitehead.(I.Enlander)

Our summer visitor's are arriving in good numbers now Oxford Island had at least 10 Blackcap and 6 Willow Warbler(E.O'Hara) 3 House Martin were reported from Doagh village(C.Harper) and a single bird from Begny Lake, Dromara.(A.McClure) 2 Blackcap and a Buzzard were seen at Carnmoney Hill.(J.McKeown)

Tree Sparrow-Mark Elliott.

Willow Warbler-E O'Hara

Black-headed Gull - Alistair Prentice

Black-headed Gull - Stephen Maxwell

Bird News Saturday 7th April

An American Wigeon is at Portmore Lough RSPB. It is on the grass and pools to The right from viewing the platform with Eurasian Wigeon. It is a male, prob subadult. (Keith Bennett)

Church Island at Lough Beg (Derry) had 20 Fieldfare, 1 female Merlin, 6 Pintail. Portmore RSPB had 1 Kingfisher (in front of hide) and 1 Swallow. (Keith Bennett)

9 Sandwich Tern were at Whitehead this morning (Ian Enlander)
There were 6 Sand Martins 2 miles from Moneyslane heading towards Dromara at the quarry on the right of the road (Mark Elliott)
A Great Skua and 30 Manx Shearwater were at Burial Island, Co Down (Richard Weyl)
A Wheatear was at the Coastguard Building near Killough, and 2 Sandwich Terns were just outside Killough Harbour this morning (Ron Price)
A Woodcock was in flight at Craigantlet crossroads, Co Down tonight at dusk.
A Black-throated, 6 Red-throated, a Great Northern and 30 Manx Shearwater were at Briggs Rocks near Groomsport (Colin Guy).
At Oxford Island this morning were Blackcap,4+ singing males; Willow Warbler, 3 singing males and Chiffchaff, 2 singing males (Ed O'Hara)

Black Guillemot - Zach McCreery

Wren - Zach McCreery

Possible Grey-bellied Brent, Killough - Stewart McKee

Black Swan, Inch Co. Donegal - Martina Boyle

Blackcap - Ed O'Hara

Bird News Friday 6th April

At Ballyquintin this morning the Short-eared Owl was still present along with 2 Whimbrel (Keith Bennett)
1st w Iceland Gulls were at Myroe and the Bann estuary. A 1st w Kumlien's and 6 Iceland Gull were at Corbally Resevoir. 3 Manx and a Sandwich Tern were off Ramore Head and the ad Ring-billed Gull, East Strand car park Portrush. A Puffin was on the sea off Portballintrae (Neal Warnock)
An Iceland Gull was at Larne Lough off Larne Boat Club, 2 Sandwich Tern & 64 Black-tailed Godwit at Glynn & a Purple Sandpiper at Sandy Bay this afternoon. (Adam McClure)

A walk around Portstewart cliffs, then to Portstewart Strand had a Peregrine, 8 Black Guillemot a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and at Portrush East Strand a Sandwich Tern (Chris Harper)
A Black-throated Diver was in Greyabbey Bay South (David McCormick)

A male Crossbill was at Killylane Reservoir and 22 Golden Plover were seen in flight there (Jeff Larkin)

The 3rd w Iceland Gull was still at Newcastle outfall. (Birdguides)

Thanks to Alistair Prentice for the pics below:

Bird News Thursday 5th April

An adult Little Gull was at the Quoile (viewable from Castle Island). (Keith Bennett)
Six Black-throated Divers, some in summer plumage, were south of Gransha Point, Strangford Lough, at mid-day today. (Michael Taylor & Ron Price)
200 Scaup were still in Washing Bay, Lough Neagh and 50 Sand Martin were at Coalisland (Irish Burding)

70 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing and 2 Swallow were at Lough Beg. Along the Londonderry shore of Lough Neagh 2 Kingfisher, a Treecreeper, 2 Blackcap and Willow Warblers were at Ballyronan (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).
4 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver and 6 Common Scoter were at Briggs Rocks near Groomsport (Colin Guy).

A Caspian Tern was at the Hermitage Co Louth. It was offshore, but distant and flew south towards Clogher Head, associating with Gannets mid-afternoon (14:30).

Bird News Wednesday 4th April

The 2nd Winter Iceland Gull was at McConnells Weir, Ormeau Embankment, Belfast (Paul Scott)
At Miller's Corner near Ards Yacht Club this afternoon there was 337 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Knot & 5 Dunlin. A Swallow was at Ballylough near Castlewellan this morning.(Adam McClure)
A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Port Ballintrae (Birdguides)

The drake Falcated Duck was still with the Wigeon flock at Cross Lough, Co. Mayo (Seamus Enright)

Black Guillemot - Mark Killops

Tree Sparrows - Andrew Poots

Bird News for Tues.3rd April.

Not surprisingly, given to-days horrendous weather there isn't a lot to report, only news is of the Ring-billed Gull still at Groomsport(G.Gordon)

Our thanks to Tom McCreery who sent in this wonderful picture of a Dipper.

Bird News Monday 2nd April

In south Down 2 second-year Iceland Gulls were at Ardglass Harbour. The probable Grey-bellied Brant and a first-winter Glaucous Gull were at Killough Harbour and 43 Red-throated Divers off Murlough (Stuart McKee).
Thanks to Mark Killops, Cecil Smyth, Christine Cassidy, Danny Boyd and Andrew Poots for todays selection of pictures. You can see more of Danny's pictures on his blog: danny-boyd.blogspot.com

Dipper - Mark Killops

Red Grouse - Cecil Smyth

Kestrel - Christine Cassidy

Wheatear - Christine Cassidy

Sandwich Tern - Danny Boyd

Tree Sparrows - Andrew Poots

Bird News for Sunday 1st April.

A Green Sandpiper was at Saltwater Brig Co.Down, there was also a Little Egret present.Mountstewart had a singing Chiffchaff, Ann's point had 3 Little Egrets and 2 Greenshank
Herring bay had 1 Red Kite in flight (not possible to tell whether tagged) Kircubbin had 1 Tree Sparrow at garden feeder along with 2 Yellowhammer,

Monaghan bank (Kircubbin) had a singing Willow Warbler, Marlfield had 2 Yellowhammer and an inland, great northern diver offshore,Ballyquintin: 1 Red-throated Diver flew past

Kearney had a Whimbrel and 2 Red-throated Diver (K.Bennett)

In Greyabbey Bay 17 Slavonian Grebe (all in full summer plumage). South of Gransha Point 6 Black-throated diver (3 in full summer plumage). At Ballyquintin Point a Merlin and a Chiffchaff. A singing Willow Warbler at Lough Cowey. (R.Weyl)

3 Little Egret were at Millbay along with 2 Red-throated Diver(F.Carroll)

A Wheatear was at Portmuch (I.Enlander)

A Chiffchaff was in Whiteabbey Hospital grounds. (Jim McKeown).

3 Buzzards were flying over a boggy area on the Hogstown Road about 2 miles from Donaghadee. (David McCormick).

17 Whooper Swan, 2 Dippers, 2 Tree Sparrow and a Chiffchaff were at Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone. (Brian Hegarty).

3 Little Egret and 2 summer plumaged Red Throated Diver were in Millbay. (Frank Carroll).

A Wheatear was ay Portmuck on Islandmagee. (Ian Enlander).

70 Tree Sparrows were in a garden in Richhill, Co. Armagh. (Andrew Poots).

7 Ruff, 500 Black Tailed Godwit, 4 Willow Warbler and a pair of Red Breasted Merganser, rare there, were at Lough Beg. (David Steele).

A Barn Owl was at Tullyhogue Fort near Cookstown at 12.20a.m. (Tony McCormick).

A Buzzard and a Swallow were at Gilnahirk in Belfast. (Robert McQuillan).

Yesterday Cappanagh had a Merlin, 10 Crossbill, a Red Grouse, 4 Raven, 2 Buzzard and 2 Curlew. (Ethan & Chris Veale).

Our kind thanks to Ian Jackson for his photo of a Teal(top), Brian Hegarty for the Dipper and to Danny Boyd of the Shelduck.(bottom)