Bird News Friday 20th February 2026

 The Slavonian Grebe is still on the south Balancing Lake at Craigavon. (Steven Fyffe).

One of the male Black Redstarts is still at Portavogie. (Michael Latham).

13 Greenland-whitefronted Geese and a single Pinkfoot are with Whoopers and Greylags at Nutgrove (from Farranfad Road) near Seaforde. (David Nixon).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Dundrum Inner Bay south. (David Nixon).

The Harlequin Duck is showing again off Trá na gCloch, Co. Donegal. (Birdguides).

The two Russian White-fronts were still in fields opposite Burt GAA club near Inch in Donegal. (Michael Savage).

The Spotted Redshank was showing well at Castle Espie this morning. (Jonny Clark).

A Ruff is still in flooded fields north of Kirkistown. (Richard Weyl).

Russian White-fronts, Michael Savage.

Spotted Redshank, Jonny Clark.




Bird News Thursday 19th February 2026

The drake Harlequin Duck and the Pacific Diver were showing off Trá na gCloch, Co. Donegal (Alan O'Brien)

A drake and two female Ring Necked Ducks were at the west end of Dunfanaghy New Lake (Chris Ingram)

The Slavonian Grebe is still at the south Balancing Lake, Craigavon (Ed O’Hara)

A Slavonian Grebe was still at Groomsport (Dermott Hughes)

Two Red Kite were at Kilcoo, Co Down (Ewan McKenzie)

The Ferruginous Duck was still at Ballysaggart Lough, Dungannon (Michael Stinson)

Three Slavonian Grebes and a Greater Scaup were off the Limekiln hide at Castle Espie. (Peter Knight).

Ferruginous Duck, Michael Stinson:

Ring-billed Gull, Round O, Enniskillen from Monday, John Archer:



Bird News Wednesday 18th February 2026

Great White Egret near Ardkeen this morning (Jasmijn Hofman).

Ferruginous Duck still at Ballysaggart Lough, Co Tyrone (Sean Cronin).

18 Whooper Swans at Ballylough Lough Castlewellan at 3pm (Ann-Marie Smyth).

Ferruginous Duck, Sean Cronin:



Bird News Tuesday 17th February 2026

 A male and three redhead Goosanders were at Lough Island Reevey this morning. (Mike McLaughlin, Tom Gilsenan).

A male Lesser Scaup is off Croaghan Hide at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Castle Espie. (Rhona Bell, Paul Hunter).

The Harlequin Duck is still at Trá Na gCloch in Donegal. (Sean Cronin). The Pacific Diver was also seen in the bay. (Michael Huggins).

Twenty Two Yellowhammer and a Jack Snipe were at Ballynafoy, Katesbridge. (Hugh Thurgate).

The first winter Ring-billed Gull was still at the Round "O" in Enniskillen. (Ronan Owens).

The Slavonian Grebe was still at the south Balancing Lake in Craigavon. (Birdguides).

Spotted Redshank, Paul Hunter.




Bird News Monday 16th February 2026

The Common Sandpiper was still present mid morning east of Todd’s Corner, Ardmore (David Clarke)

The Slavonian Grebe was still showing well at the south lake, Craigavon Balancing Lakes (Stevie Brennan)

The adult Ring-billed Gull has again been reported from the Round O, Enniskillen. Also present was an adult Herring x Lesser Black-Backed Gull that could be mistaken for a Yellow Legged Gull (John Archer / Rich Bonser)

Five Mediterranean Gull were off Groomsport Harbour (Nathan Gilbert)

The Black-throated Diver was still in Church Bay, Rathlin (Ric Else)

Bird News Sunday 15th February 2026

Slavonian Grebe still on the south Balancing Lake, Craigavon (Garry Armstrong).

Common Sandpiper just east of Todd's Corner at Ardmore. (Garry Armstrong).

Great White Egret still off the Inch platform and the 2 Russian White-fronts in the field by the GAA pitch, Co Donegal (Searlas Anderson).

2 male Black Redstarts at Portavogie from New Quays PH car park (Daniel Newton / Aaron Long / Chris Veale et al).

White-tailed Eagle on Big Copeland (Richard Weyl).

Adult male Merlin at St John’s Point (Chris Murphy).

Garganey showing on the main lake at Portmore Lough (Garry Armstrong).

Harlequin still at Tra Na gCloch, Co Donegal (Michael O’Clery).

Approximately 30 Twite at Magilligan Point (John Clarke).

The adult Bonaparte’s Gull at the outfall at Larne (Nicky Lynn / Ivan Quail).

Merlin at Ballyquintin Point (Aaron Long / Daniel Newton).

Merlin at Reedy Flats thus afternoon (Michael Latham).

4 Great Northern Divers out on Lough Beg this afternoon…also Slavonian Grebe seen again (David Steele).

Black Redstart still at the mouth of the Shimna River, Newcastle (Liam O’Hara).

Slavonian Grebe, Steve Brennan:


Bonaparte’s Gull, Ivan Quail:



Black Redstart, Liam O’Hara:


Black Redstarts, Daniel Newton:





Bird News Saturday 14th February 2026

The Harlequin Duck was at Trá na gCloch in  Donegal again this morning. (Caleb Knight). The Pacific Diver was also present. (Aaron Long).

The Spotted Redshank is on the tidal pools at Castle Espie. (Dave Weir).

A White-tailed Eagle was seen over Down Yacht Club near Killyleagh. (Sorrel Lyall).

Two Russian White-fronts were with Greylags at the east end of Reedy Flats, a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Merlin were also seen. (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara).

Two male Ring-necked Ducks were at Dunfanaghy New Lake in Donegal. (Michael O'Clery).

The adult Iceland Gull was at the outflow on Airport Road Shell Beach. (Tom Garner). The Iceland Gull was still at Kinnegar shore this afternoon. (Nathan Gilbert).

The male Black Redstart is still at Portavogie. (Tim Davis).

The Great White Egrets were off the platform at Inch in Donegal briefly and the 2 Russian White fronts are in the field below the GAA pitch, opposite Callaghan Tyres. (Derek Brennan).

A Great White Egret was at Portmore. (Leia Getty).

An immature White-tailed Eagle flew high north over Carnlough Bay. (David Steele).

A male Brambling was in a private garden in Keady. (H.Murpgy).

Lesser Yellowlegs and Black-throated Diver both still on Rathlin. (Ric Else).

Two Black-throated Divers offshore in Red Bay, distant today. (David Steele).

Male Brambling in a garden in Antrim. (Mark Smyth).

A female Ring-necked Duck was near Belle Isle on Upper Lough Erne. (John Cusack).

The Slavonian Grebe was still on the south Balancing Lake in Craigavon this afternoon. (Conor Roddy, Ed O'Hara).

Russian Whitefront, Garry Armstrong.


Slavonian Grebe, Conor Roddy.




Slavonian Grebe, Ed O'Hara.



Bird News Friday 13th February 2026

A Russian White-fronted Goose was with Greylags at Myroe (Ian Dickey)

A Common Crane has been reported in flight near Mount Stewart (Jasmijn Hofman, per eBird) Possibly the same bird, a Common Crane was seen circling over the north end of Ballylough, Castlewellan, Co Down at 3:25 (Chris Murphy) 

The Ferruginous Duck was back again at Ballysaggart Lough today. (James Organ)

The male Black Redstart was again at the Harbourside restaurant at Portavogie (Mike McLaughlin / David McCreedy)

The Harlequin Duck was again at the river outflow, Curranport, Donegal.

This evening the adult Iceland Gull came in to roost at RSPB WoW (Daniel Newton)

The Black Redstart is still at Whitehead Seafront near the slipway and the Greenland Whitefront is back at Steele’s Point, Islandmagee. (Cameron Moore)

A Purple Sandpiper was on Whitehead seafront (David Gillespie)

Russian White-fronted Goose, Ian Dickey:


Black Redstart, David McCreedy:





Bird News Thursday 12th February 2026

The Pacific Diver and Harlequin still present at Tra na gCloch, Co Donegal (Joseph Doolan).

Adult Iceland Gull at Belfast Lough RSPB this morning (Ronnie Doggart).

Slavonian Grebe still on Craigavon South Lake. Bird is in small bay opposite the entrance to the leisure centre. Also Great White Egret in flooded field close to the road at Closet Meadows (David McCreedy / Mike McLaughlin).

Black-throated Diver again off Rathlin with 3 Great Northern (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Great Northern Diver off Browns Bay, Islandmagee (Roger Woodward).

Iceland Gull, Ronnie Doggart:


Slavonian Grebe & Great White Egret, David McCreedy:








Bird News Wednesday 11th February 2026

The Harlequin Duck is still at Trá na gCloch in Donegal. (Gerry Bond).

Ten Slavonian Grebes were on Lough Foyle, seen from Myroe. (Martin Deehan).

A male Brambling was seen again in a garden in Antrim. (Mark Smyth).

A Great White Egret was still at Inch in Donegal. (Gerry Bond).

Harlequin Duck, Gerry Bond.



Great White Egret, Gerry Bond.





Bird News Tuesday 10th February 2026

The drake Harlequin duck was off the outflow and the Pacific Diver distantly to the west from Trà na gCloch, Donegal this morning (Robert Vaughan / Richard Caves)

The Slavonian Grebe was still at Craigavon South Lake (Ed O’Hara)

Inch, Donegal had a Great White Egret and two Russian White-fronts this morning (Ciaran Cronin)

A Long-tailed Duck was at Glynn (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

A male Brambling was in a garden in Antrim (Mark Smyth)

Harlequin Duck, Richard Caves:





Bird News Monday 9th February 2026

Pacific Diver from west side of bay and Harlequin from beach still off Tra na gCloch, Donegal (Mike Hoit).

Black Redstart still at mouth of Shimna River, Newcastle on rocks to right of pedestrian bridge (Steve Brennan).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker yesterday in Stormont Park near the Boardwalk (Donna Darlington).

Drake Ferruginous Duck still at Ballysaggart Lough this evening (Ciarin Cronin).

Harlequin, Richard Caves:




Black Redstart, Steve Brennan: