Bird News Monday 15th April.

The Black-necked Grebe still present at Oxford Island.(E.O'Hara)

1 adult Little Gull this evening at Corbally reservoir outside Portrush.(C.Guy)

At least 6 Waxwing were in the tall trees beside the Centra shop on the Balloo Rd in Bangor.(I.Graham)

A Grasshopper Warbler was nr Derrylin Co Fermanagh today, first one recorded this year. (Kerry Leonard)

First Summer Med Gull at Dundrum South Inner Bay high tide roost, 2 Sandwich Terns there too.(David Nixon)

Great Spotted Woodpecker in Morelands Meadow by Belvoir forest this morning,(Michael McLaughlin)

Out at Killard today the Sand Martins were back at their colony at least 15.
Strong passage of Swallows well over 50 passing through also 1 Whimbrel.(Craig Nash)

At Lough Shark Co.Armagh between 09.00-10.30, the Red-throated Diver was showing well and the following were noted:-
A female Blackcap, a male Bullfinch, 10 Chifchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers, 10 Swallows, 3 Grey Herons, c30 Tree Sparrows and c50 Linnets.(Fulton Somerville)

Spring migrants have arrived in good numbers on Rathlin Island, they included 17 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 6 White Wagtail, 18 Goldcrest, a Redwing, a Twite, 2 Sandwich Tern, 10 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin, 5 Wheatear, 1 Jack Snipe and Brent Goose.(Neal Warnock).

Lots of people have reported Swallows to-day, to many to put on the blog. There seems to a major influx at last a touch of spring about the place, to everyone who reported them many thanks.

Yesterday 20 Waxwing were at Rutherglen Street at Ballygomartin in Belfast (Wallace Gillespie) and on Friday 24 were in Lisburn (George Irwin).8-10 Waxwing were feeding in a hedge in Benson St Lisburn on Sunday.(nr EHA building) (Helena Ralph)






Our thanks (from the top)to Stephen McCandless for the Black-necked Grebe,this photo was taken on Saturday. Alistair Prentice for the Jay in flight. Tom McCreery for the Great Crested Grebe. Craig Nash for the Sand Martin in flight.