Bird News Saturday 9th May 2026

Yesterday there were at least 4 Corncrake (inc 3 calling males) on Rathlin (Ric Else)

Two Little Auk were on the sea with other auks on the way to Rathlin (Stuart Cossey)

An immature tagged (77) White-tailed Eagle was in the Antrim Hills (Michael Latham)

A male Whinchat was at Keeble, Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A Little Gull and 8 Whimbrel were at Lady’s Bay, Lough Neagh (Mike McLaughlin / David McCreedy)

A Lesser Whitethroat was at the thatched house before Fanad Lighthouse (Michael O’Clery)

The Spoonbill was again at the Quoile. A late Pintail was also present (Mel O’Hagan / Shane Brighton / Nia Potapova)

A Barn Owl was in the Belfast Hills early morning (Ivan Cullen)

3 Whimbrel were at Carnlough (David Gillespie)

White-tailed Eagle, Michael Latham:

Turnstone, Robert Boyle:

Bird News Friday 8th May 2026

Bonaparte’s and Little Gulls, both 2nd calendar year remain at Inch Lake, Co Donegal (Theo Campbell / Martin Deehan).

Single Black-throated, 2 Great Northern and 14 Red-throated Divers from west end of Tyrella, Dundrum Bay all in summer plumage (Chris Murphy).

Pinkfoot still on Rathlin (Hazel Watson /Ric Else).

Bird News Thursday 7th May 2026

 A Fieldfare was near Drumcree outside Portadown.(Hugh Thurgate).

Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning had 5 pairs of Mediterranean Gulls and an Arctic Tern. (Derek Polley).

The Spoonbill is still off the hide at the Quoile. (David Stirling). The Ruff was also still present. (Tim Jess).

The White-tailed Eagle was seen again around Church Bay on Rathlin. (Ric Else).

A Little Ringed Plover was at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, 635 Dunlins, 165 Sanderlings, 95 Ringed Plovers and 60 Whimbrels Bann Estuary this evening. (John Spottiswood). Whimbrels later increased to 106. (John Spottiswood).

Also at Lough Beg a male Garganey western shoreline and four Glossy Ibis in flight (these likely different to flock of eleven seen recently). (David Steele).

Little Ringed Plover, David Steele.

Spoonbill, Tim Jess.

Ruff, Tim Jess.

Bird News Wednesday 6th May 2026

The Spoonbill is still at the Quoile. (Ann Feltham).

The 1st year Bonaparte's Gull is still at Inch in Donegal. (Chris Ingram).

The Mediterranean Gull is still present this evening at Inch Lake on the island by Farland Bank. (Searlas Anderson).

Ailsa Craig Boat Trip

There are 2 seats available for Friday's (May 8th) landing and Gannet feeding boat trip to Ailsa Craig. Great photo opportunities. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for further details. 

Bird News Tuesday 5th May 2026

 The Spoonbill is opposite the hide at the Quoile and the Ruff is at the yacht club end. (David Nixon).

A Little Stint was near the hide at the Barmouth, 200+ Whimbrel also present. (John Clarke).

The 1st year Bonaparte's Gull is still at the causeway at Inch in Donegal, a Little Gull was also present. (Derek Brennan)

The count of Common Terns at RSPB WoW is now up to 24 (Jake Grant)

Spoonbill, David Nixon.

Bonaparte's Gull, Derek Brennan.

Bird News Monday 4th May 2026

2nd calendar year Bonaparte's Gull and 2nd calendar year Little Gull at the causeway at Inch in Donegal. (Theo Campbell,  Chris Ingram).

The Ruddy Shellduck was off Long Point, Lough Beg. (Ivan Quail).

The Spoonbill is still at the Quoile, near the yacht club. A Ruff was also present. (Michael Latham).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Victoria Park about 13.00. (Bernard Parniewicz).

At least 3 Corncrakes are on Rathlin. (Ric Else).

The Cetti’s Warbler is still calling at Lough Cowey. (David Stirling).

Another Wood Sandpiper (a new bird) at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

Two Great Northern Divers, 8 Red-throated Divers at the west end of Tyrella. Also 38 Whimbrel and two Basking Sharks. (Chris Murphy).

A White Wagtail was at Castlerock mole. (John Spottiswood).

Bird News Sunday 3rd May 2026

Spoonbill at Quoile hide, towards yacht club end. Also Ruff (Chris Veale).

Red Kite on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Basking Shark in Coney Island Bay yesterday evening (Barry Curtis).

Drake Ring-necked Duck continuing at Magheredrumman Lough, Fanad Head, Co Donegal (Wilton Farrelly).

49 Whimbrel and 16 Common Terns at Lady Bay (Michael Latham).

Whimbrel at Ballymacormack Point (Bob Watts).

210 Whimbrels,  750 Dunlins, 65 Ringed Plovers and 55 Sanderlings Bann Estuary. Red-throated Diver off the hide earlier (John Spottiswood).

Drake Garganey on East Lake, Tory, Co Donegal just the 2nd island record (Anton Meenan).

Ruff, Chris Veale:

Garganey, Anton Meenan:

Red Kite, Ric Else:

Bird News Saturday 2nd May 2026

A second year Little Gull was at Inch (Chris Ingram)

An adult Spoonbill is at the Quoile (Dan Baillie)  The bird was still present at 5pm (David Stirling)

120 Whimbrel were at Portballintrae (Simon Morton)

Rathlin today had a Golden Eagle, 2 Tree Pipits, circa 40 Whimbrels, 4 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Great Skuas, 1 Corncrake and a Carrion Crow. The Lesser Yellowlegs appears to have finally gone after a 6-month stay (Ric Else / Hazel Watson) It is thought that up to 6 Tree Pipits have been seen in the last few days.

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Magheredrumman Lough, Fanad Head (Wilton Farrelly)

11 Glossy Ibis were at the south end of Lough Beg although mobile (David Steele)

Cuckoo’s are widely reported from usual breeding locations.

Tree Pipit, Ric Else:

Whitethroat, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 1st May 2026

A Tree Pipit and two Crossbills were at Kinramer on Rathlin. A second Tree Pipit was over Kebble. A Corncrake was heard near Church Bay this morning by Nick Richards. Nick also saw the White-tailed Eagle again yesterday evening. A Pinkfoot was also present. (Ric Else).

Drake Ring Necked Duck was still present at Magheredrumman Lough, Fanad, in Donegal early this morning.

A Reed Warbler was at Harbour Meadows this morning. No sign of Spoonbill or Little Gull at WoW. 14 Common Terns at WoW. (Stuart Cossey).

A Mediterranean Gull was on the island by Farland Bank, Inch Lake in Donegal this morning. (Searlas Anderson).

4 Cuckoo were at Altikeeragh this morning. (John Clarke).

The Cetti’s Warbler is still at Lough Cowey. 4 Ruff were on flooded fields north of Kirkiston. (Richard Weyl).

9 Glossy Ibis flew east over Portmore. (Madeleine Mills).

Common Sandpiper, 26 Whimbrels, 365 Dunlins, 85 Sanderlings and 20 Ringed Plovers Bann Estuary this afternoon. (John Spottiswood).

The Little Gull is at the Quoile seen from the hide. A Ruff coming into summer plumage is at the yacht club end. (David Nixon).

1st-summer (2CY) American Golden Plover at Lough Beg this evening, also two Wood Sandpipers. The American Golden Plover dropped in at 19.10 and flew out again calling at 19.40, looked to be on the move. (David Steele).

The Chough was still on Copeland. (Holly McCormack).

A Whimbrel was at Larne Promenade. (David Gillespie).

6 Swifts were over Shaftesbury Square in Belfast this evening. (Jim Bowman).

Bird News Thursday 30th April 2026

Juvenile White-tailed Eagle (no visible tags) in the Antrim Hills (Ian Young).

Common Sandpiper and White Wagtail at Portstewart (Stephen Riddell).

Water Pipit reported at Ballystrudder on Islandmagee on fence post around edge of Oldchurch Bay, Larne Lough at 1052 (BirdGuides).

Juvenile White-tailed Eagle glided over Shantallow, Derry early afternoon heading NW perhaps towards Lough Swilly (Searlas Anderson).

Drake Ring-necked Duck on Magheredrumman Lough, Fanad Head late this evening. Also 40 Long-tailed Duck at Ballyheirnan Bay. 

5 pairs of Mediterranean Gulls at Belfast Lough WoW also adult Little Gull, 6 Common Terns and 30+ Sandwich Terns (Derek Polley).

White-tailed Eagles, Ian Young & Searlas Anderson:

Bird News Wednesday 29th April 2026

An unringed White Stork is at a ploughed field at Newtowncunningham, Donegal. It is viewable from here:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/kB8xvgRpThFHSKcX9?g_st=if (per Derek Brennan)

40 Whimbrel were in front of the Barn Gallery at Rossglass Beach (David Clarke)

An adult Little Gull was at RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan)

A Little Gull, Ruff and 29 Whimbrel were at the Quoile (Chris Murphy)

A White Wagtail and 10 Whimbrel were at Portstewart this morning. A further 50 Whimbrel were at the Bann Estuary (John Clarke)

Rathlin had the Lesser Yellowlegs, the White-tailed Eagle, 5 Purple Sandpiper and 2 Twite (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A Mealy Redpoll was visiting a garden in Co Antrim (Tim Davis)

White Stork, Derek Brennan:

Whimbrel, David Clarke:

Bird News Tuesday 28th April 2026

A Spoonbill is at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Clive Mellon). The Spoonbill was still present this evening. (Wilton Farrelly).

Two Cetti's Warblers, either side of 11, Downpatrick Road. Killough, which seems to be the territorial boundary. Adult summer plumaged Little Gull, Ruff and two Common Sandpipers at the Quoile. (Chris Murphy).

9 adult and a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull were also at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Stuart McKee). A Common Sandpiper was also present. (Dot Blakely).

2 Stock Dove over Newtownards Road south of Newtownards, near the sewage works. (Bob Watts).

The shore between Ballintoy Harbour and White Park Bay had 42 Whimbrel and 3 White Wagtail this afternoon (Ian Enlander)

Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 88 Whimbrel are at the Bann Estuary this evening. (John Spottiswood).

A Wood Warbler was heard but not seen in east Antrim. (Christopher Lamb)

A male Whinchat was seen in the Antrim Hills. (Hugh Thurgate).

Spoonbill, Clive Mellon.