Bird News Monday 15th September 2025

Melmore Head, Donegal this morning had 1 Great Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Black Tern, 1 Arctic Tern, 3 Bonxies, a Common Scoter and 2 Whimbrel (Eric Randall)

3 Black Tern were off the Croghan Hide, Oxford Island. A Marsh Harrier also flew through. (Stevie Brennan)  A Manx Shearwater and Common Tern were also present this afternoon (Stuart McKee)

A Hen Harrier and Black Tern were at Kinnego Marina (Ed O’Hara)

17 Curlew Sandpiper are reported from Myroe (BirdGuides)

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Kinnegar Sewage Works (Bob Watts)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Ulster Folk Museum (Richard Woods)

The adult American Golden Plover was still at Myroe today. Also present were 18 curlew sandpipers and a little stint (Dean Jones).

Juvenile Black Tern, Stevie Brennan:

Bird News Sunday 14th September 2025

17 Glossy Ibis Lough Beg to left of Church Island (Philip Blair).

3 Black Terns at Oxford Island NNR (Garry Armstrong). Also a Hen Harrier (Les Arkless).

Wilson’s Phalarope still at Portmore Lough (Mel O’Hagan). Also juvenile Hen Harrier through at 1434 flushing all waders including Wilson’s and 10 Ruff (Philip West / Bob Watts / Jim Dowdall / Aidan Kelly). Wilson’s Phalarope returned to Portmore Lough by 6pm (John Cusack).

Bairds Sandpiper still at Myroe, also 20+ Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stint, Glossy Ibis Roe end (Philip West / Bob Watts). Also Grey Plover, 4 Little Stints (John Cusack / Ronald Surgenor).

Black Tern from St John’s Point (Chris Murphy).

4 Ruff still at Lady Bay (Garry Armstrong). Joined by the Wilson’s Phalarope and 10 additional Ruff from Portmore Lough mid afternoon (Stuart Cossey).

Adult Black Tern sheltering on grass beside war memorial past Sandy Bay, Larne. 2 additional Black Terns around outfall and dark juvenile Arctic Skua at entrance to Larne Lough (Ivan Quail / Nicky Lynn).

3 Curlew Sandpipers at Carnlough. 30 mins at Garron Point from noon included single Great Northern Diver and Storm Petrel (Ivan Quail / Nicky Lynn).

Flock of 55 Mediterranean Gulls just south of Cloughey (Anthony McGeehan).

Single Black Tern at Reedy Flats, 7 Ruff in stubble field on the way down to the Flats (Garry Armstrong).

At Ballyquintin Point an Arctic Skua, 10 Red-throated Diver and 70 Common Scoter (Richard Weyl).

Mediterranean Gull, Anthony McGeehan:

Glossy Ibis, Gerald Bond:

Glossy Ibis, David Steele:

Bird News Saturday 13th September 2025

The Wilson’s Phalarope and a Glossy Ibis are at RSPB Portmore this morning (Dean Jones) The Wilson’s Phalarope was still present up to 5 o'clock. (Ed O'Hara).

A Curlew Sandpiper, Wheatear and 20 Mediterranean Gulls were at Ballykelly. (Garry Armstrong, David Steele, Stuart McKee).

A Glossy Ibis was in the drainage ditch at Myroe, at the Roe Estuary end (Michael Latham)

3 Ruff are at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Chris Murphy).

An adult American Golden Plover is at Myroe along with the Baird's Sandpiper,  2 Little Stint, 20+ Curlew Sandpipers,  7 Ruff, a juvenile Grey Plover and 2 Mediterranean Gulls. (Garry Armstrong, David Steele, Stuart McKee).

2 Spotted Flycatchers were at Oxford Island. (Warren Fowles, Royal School Armagh Wildlife Club).

Group of 6 Black Tern passed west from Ramore Head, also a Sabines Gull past. A single Black Tern was at the Barmouth. (Dennis Weir).

Short-eared Owl showed briefly at 6pm at distance from Barmouth hide. (Searlas Anderson/Kevin McLaughlin).

9 Black Terns, a Little Stint, Marsh Harrier, 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 31 Ruff were at Inch, Co Donegal. (Matthew Tickner).

1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper showed well on muddy shore of drainage lagoon north east of the bottom of Shore Avenue, Myroe this morning. (Stephen Davis)

Sea watching at Fanad in Donegal had 1 Cory's Shearwater, 7 Great Skua, 15 Sooty Shearwater and 1 Storm Petrel. (Wilton Farrelly).

A Great Spotted woodpecker was at Rowallane in Saintfield. (Dave Playle).

3 Ruff and 2 Mediterranean Gulls were with 2,500 Common Gulls at the mouth of the Roe. (Chris Murphy).

Wilson's Phalarope, Michael Latham.

Wilson's Phalarope, Nigel Moore.

Glossy Ibis, Michael Latham.

Bird News Friday 12th September 2025

A Wilson’s Phalarope has been found at Portmore RSPB this evening (Garry Armstrong)

The Baird’s Sandpiper is still at Myroe this morning (Theo Campbell / Michael Latham) The bird was not seen after 2:30pm when the field was drained (David McCreedy)

Inch, Co Donegal this morning has 8 Black Tern, 26 Ruff and a Little Stint (Chris Ingram)

At least 20 Glossy Ibis were at Lough Beg this morning. Also present were a Great White Egret and a Black Tern. Two Spotted Redshank were at Church Island (David Steele)

At least 120 Mediterranean Gulls were between Cloughey and Portavogie (Dermot Hughes)

2 late Swifts were over the Ormeau Road, Belfast (Stuart Cossey)

A single Glossy Ibis was in the drainage ditch at the Roe Estuary end of Myroe (Theo Campbell)

16 Curlew Sandpiper were at Blanketnook (Chris Ingram)

A Red Kite was at Kilmegan Road, Castlewellan (Anne-Marie Smyth)

A Short-eared Owl was at the Bann Estuary (Matthew Tickner)

A Little Ringed Plover was at RSPB WOW (Mel O’Hagan)

Wilsons Phalarope, Garry Armstrong:

Baird’s Sandpiper, Michael Latham:

Glossy Ibis, Lough Beg, David Steele:

Glossy Ibis, Michael Latham:

Bird News Thursday 11th September 2025

Juvenile Bairds Sandpiper still present at flooded field Myroe also 14 Curlew Sandpipers and a Glossy Ibis flew over (Martin Deehan / Pat Hull). Also 2 Little Stints (Tony Dodds). No sign of the Bairds Sandpiper in the afternoon (Richard Donaghey). Bairds Sandpiper again this evening also a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and 4 Glossy Ibis (Daniel Newton et al).

17 Glossy Ibis at Lough Beg this morning, flew off in direction of Church Island about 820am (Mark Getty).

Fly-over of 7 Glossy Ibis 2 miles East of Banbridge earlier this morning heading South West(ish) Towards Loughbrickland /Poyntzpass direction. Checked Loughbrickland lake but no sign (Mike McLaughlin).

6 Curlew Sandpiper at Dundrum Inner Bay (David Clarke).

Swift at Aghanloo, Limavady (Paula Campbell).

At least 27 Glossy Ibis at Lough Beg this morning, also 2 Black Terns, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank and Garganey (David Steele).

A Balearic Shearwater was seen from the ferry half way between Belfast and Cairnryan. (John Spottiswood).

A pale Arctic Skua and immature Black Tern were off Swinely Point, Carnalea this afternoon. (Philip Watson).

Osprey this afternoon just north of Ballyhenry Bay / Portaferry (Jonny Andrews).

Little Stint at Kinnegar Shore (Jim Wells). Also a juvenile Black Tern and Bonaparte's Gull this evening (Stuart Cossey).

Adult Roseate Tern Portaferry, Strangford Lough (Hugh Thurgate).

8 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper 2 Black Tailed Godwit and 12 Dunlin were at Lough Mourne near Carrickfergus (Stuart McKee).

Short-eared Owl still at the Bann Estuary (Stephen Riddell).

Osprey, Jonny Andrews:

Curlew Sandpipers, David Clarke & Stuart McKee:

Short-eared Owl, Stephen Riddell:

Bird News Wednesday 10th September 2025

 A juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was at Myroe this evening. (Dean Jones). The count of Curlew Sandpipers was up to 24 this afternoon along with the 2 Little Stints and 3 Glossy Ibis, a Little Ringed Plover was at Ballykelly and 15 Mediterranean Gulls between the 2 sites. (Matthew Tickner).

A Hoopoe has been in a garden in Portaferry for two days. (Facebook per Dave Weir).

A Curlew Sandpiper and 6 Ruff were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Daniel Newton). A Little Stint was also present. (Gerard McGeehan).

The 3 Glossy Ibis, at least 4 Curlew Sandpipers and a Peregrine were at Myroe this morning. (Stephen Riddell).

An adult winter plumaged Mediterranean Gull was at Penny Burn in L'Derry. (John Spottiswood).

An Osprey was over the east end of Myroe this afternoon. 19 Curlew Sandpipers and 2 Little Stints were with the Ringed Plover and Dunlin flock. (Dean Jones).

19 Glossy Ibis and a juvenile Marsh Harrier were at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

An Osprey flew over the Bann Estuary heading towards Articlave. (John Clarke).

An Osprey was at Clea Lake this evening. (Hugh Thurgate).

A Mediterranean Gull was on the River Lagan in Belfast. (Mel O'Hagan).

The Short-eared Owl was seen again at the Barmouth this evening. (John Spottiswood).

4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were on Carnlough beach this evening. (Jeff Larkin).

A Sabines Gull and a Black Tern were seen off Rathlin. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Glossy Ibis, John Spratt.

Curlew Sandpiper, Stephen Riddell.

Glossy Ibis, Stephen Riddell.

Mediterranean Gull, Mel O'Hagan.

Bird News Tuesday 9th September 2025

A Glossy Ibis is at Myroe (Stephen Riddell)  There could possibly be two birds as singles were seen at the east and west ends of Myroe (Philip McHaffie / David Nixon)  Three Glossy Ibis were seen together at the east end of Myroe late afternoon, a Whimbrel was in the stubble fields. (John Spratt)

A Curlew Sandpiper is in front of the hide at the Bann Estuary (Martin Deehan)

3 Black Tern and a Little Stint are off the platform at Inch, Co Donegal (Derek Brennan)

An Osprey was on the mudflats at the Bann Estuary (John Clarke / Philip McHaffie / David Nixon)

5 Arctic Skua were off Garron Point this evening (David Steele)

The best at RSPB WoW this evening were 7 Ruff (Michael Latham)

2 Black Terns were seen off Myroe this evening (John Spottiswood / Martin Deehan)

A dark phase Arctic Skua was at Magilligan (Philip McHaffie / David Nixon)

4 Curlew Sandpiper were at Myroe (Philip McHaffie / David Nixon / John Spottiswood)

A Barn Owl was seen last night near Coleraine (Mark Smyth)

A Green Sandpiper was at Clea Lake, Co Down (Hugh Thurgate)

A Grey Phalarope was in Tory Island harbour  a Corys Shearwater was also seen (Michael O’Clery)

Glossy Ibis, Stephen Riddell:

Osprey, Bann Estuary, John Clarke:

Bird News Monday 8th September 2025

25 Twite at Portballintrae, 2 at Ramore Head (John Clarke).

Swift over Galgorm garden this morning (Richard Gray). 

4+ Sooty Shearwaters and 2 Arctic Skuas from Rathlin yesterday (Ric Else / Hazel Watson). Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper today (Neal Warnock).

4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and Merlin at Myroe (David Hill). 

15 Ruff and a Whimbrel at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve this evening (Wilton Farrelly).

2 White Wagtails at Lough Beg for their 4th day (David Steele).

2 Ospreys at the Barmouth this evening (Enda McAuley / Patrick McCullough). Also Short-eared Owl and 2 Curlew Sandpipers (Richard Donaghey).

Curlew Sandpipers, Merlin, Peregrine, David Hill:

White Wagtails, David Steele:

Bird News Sunday 7th September 2025

The Curlew Sandpiper was still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Daniel Newton).

Yesterday a Barn Owl was seen near Ardress West in Co. Armagh. (Julie Hillman)

The Osprey was still at the Barmouth this morning, there was no sign of the Glossy Ibis. (Brian Hegarty).

Garron Point. 08:00 - 10:00. had 1 Leach's Petrel, 1 Sooty Shearwater, an Arctic Skua (dark phase),1 adult Sabines Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, lots of Kittewake, not too many Manx Shearwaters. (Chris Veale).

A Swift was over Carmean, Moneymore yesterday. (Godfrey McRoberts).

18 Ruff and a Whooper Swan were at the east end of Reedy Flats. (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara).

6 Curlew Sandpipers and 5 Ruff were at Lady Bay. (Garry Armstrong).

A Short-eared Owl was off the hide at the Barmouth. (John Clarke).

7 Curlew Sandpipers, including an adult in partial summer plumage, 2 Little Stints and a single Ruff at Myroe. (Jeff Larkin).

3 Little Gulls, an adult and 2 juveniles and a pale morph Arctic Skua were off Magilligan Point this evening. (Jeff Larkin).

Short-eared Owl, John Clarke.

Bird News Saturday 6th September 2025

Seawatch at Ballyquintin point 0820-0950: Dark phase Arctic Skua, 450+ Sandwich Terns, 3 Common Scoter (Wilton Farrelly / Bob Watts).

Curlew Sandpiper at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve, also 2 Common Scoter off Concentrix cap park (Daniel Newton).

4 Curlew Sandpiper Myroe (Michael Latham).

14 Ruff at Lady Bay (Garry Armstrong).

Wood Sandpiper roosting with Redshank Kinnegar Pools (Stuart Cossey). Moved to Kinnegar Shore early afternoon (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop et al).

2 Arctic Skuas off Portstewart Strand (Stephen Dunbar).

A few Arctic Skuas chasing Sandwich Terns Magilligan Point (Michael Latham).

Glossy Ibis in front of the hide Bann Estuary (John Clarke). It is worth noting that today there has been a large influx of Glossy Ibis into Ireland.

4 Arctic Skua were off Grey Point (Richard Weyl)

Garron Point this afternoon up until 7pm had an adult Sabine’s Gull (with a feeding flock offshore), two Leach’s Petrels (both after 6pm), 100+ Storm Petrels, 17 Sooties, 6,000+ Manx Shearwaters, five Arctic Skuas, one Great Skua, 15 Arctic Terns, five Red-throated Divers and three Common Scoter (David Steele)

Common Scoter, William Smiton:

Glossy Ibis, John Clarke:

Curlew Sandpipers, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 5th September 2025

Female Nightjar found at Fintona, Co Tyrone was taken into care at Doolittles Wildlife Rescue near Ballymena and presumed released back into the wild yesterday.

7 Ruff at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Chris Hamilton).

Ruff, Whimbrel and 2 Mediterranean Gulls on the Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood / Dennis Weir).

Portstewart pelagic produced Leach’s Petrel, dark phase Arctic Skua and 15 Storm Petrels (Jim Wells et al).

Bloody Foreland, Co Donegal 0745-1045 produced 72 Cory’s Shearwaters, 10 Sooty Shearwaters, 514 Manx Shearwaters , 3 Storm Petrels, Great Skua, 4 Great Northerns Divers (Ralph Shepard).

Wheatear at Dunseverick Harbour (Patrick Barton). 

Nightjar, RFCA NI:

Bird News Thursday 4th September 2025

 Yesterday 2 Ruff were on the west shore of Lough Neagh in Co. Tyrone. (Joe Proudfoot, Joe Doolan).

A Green Sandpiper and a Hen Harrier were at Kebble on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

A Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint were on the turf fields at Myroe. (Martin Deehan).

3 Curlew Sandpipers, 9 Ruff, the adult Little Ringed Plover and a Kingfisher were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Derek Polley, Bob Watts, Tony Dodds).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Kinnegar sewage works. (Bob Watts).

2 Great Skua and an Arctic Skua were chasing terns at Magilligan Point. (Martin Deehan).

An Osprey was seen again at the Barmouth. (Alwyn Spence, Noel Daly).

The Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Little Stints and 7 Curlew Sandpipers were at Myroe this evening. (John Spottiswood, Stephen & Donna Riddell).

A dark phase Arctic Skua was off Kinnegar shore and 2 Ruff at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this evening. (Wilton Farrelly)