Bird News Wednesday 10th April

An Osprey was over Carrickfergus at 6pm (Paul McCullogh)

The Black-necked Grebe was at Oxford Island. It it is at the Waterside Hide. This can be found at the carpark which is just after the speed ramps into Oxford Island...it is just a screen really! (Noel Austin)

A Common Sandpiper was in the Newry Estuary this morning (Frank Carroll)

A second summer Med Gull was at Mill Quarter Bay this pm (David Nixon)

A Wheatear was at Kilclief and two Wheatear (male and female) at Ballyhornan beach. At least one Scandinavian Rock Pipit was on Coney Island beach. A Whooper Swan was at Downpatrick marshes and a Swallow at Quoile Pondage. A second-summer male Marsh Harrier was at Quoile Bondage (Tim Murphy)

A Common Tern was at Belfast Harbour Lagoon (Norma Price).

A Chiffchaff was in song just upstream of Shaw's Bridge in Belfast (Des Price)

A chiffchaff was heard calling in Prospect road, Carrickfergus today (Roger Woodward)

Whooper Swans, 3 Buzzard and 6 Little Egret were at Lough Foyle seen from the Derry train. Fulmars were on the cliffs at Downhill (Margaret Adamson).

Two nights ago a Barn Owl was seen at Maghersknock near Ballynahinch - the first reported there in 20 years (Garry Wilkinson)

Many thanks to Alistair Prentice for this pic of a male Stonechat and to Noel Austin for the Black-necked Grebe pic. You can see more pics at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk