Bird News Saturday 12th September 2026

Lapland Bunting still at Ramore Head early afternoon (Stephen Dunbar). Still this evening at 5pm also 25 Twite near car park (John Spottiswood, Aaron Long et al).

A Wood Sandpiper and a Knot at Lady Bay this morning (Garry Armstrong).

Single Slavonian Grebe off Glynn. Two Mediterranean Gulls at Ballycarry Bridge (Ivan Quail).

Approximately 12 Common Terns over Belfast Lough near Hazelbank (Tim Davis).

Baird’s Sandpiper still at Blanketnook, Donegal (Aaron Long).

3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers close to the hide at the Bann Estuary, also a Ruff (John Spottiswood).

Marsh Harrier from the Croaghan hide, Oxford Island NNR (Colin Kennedy).

A seawatch from Fanad Head 1230 to 4:15 had 9 Leach’s Petrel, one adult Pomarine Skua , 25 Sooty Shearwater, an Arctic Skua, 110 Brent Geese and 4 Whimbrel.  (Wilton Farrelly, Oscar Campbell, Jamie Bliss).

2 Mediterranean Gulls at East Strand, Portrush (John Clarke).

Red Kite at Ballyboley (Adam McClure).

Osprey at Ardilea (Liam O’Hara)

From Galboly, 1530-1930 in a moderate northwesterly…three Sooty Shearwaters, two European Storm Petrels, four Arctic Skuas, one Great Skua, 60 Sandwich Terns, eight Red-throated Divers and total 520 Brent Geese (David Steele).

Female Wheatear near Gaelic football pitch at Dundrum (Ann-Marie Smyth).

Osprey, Liam O’Hara:

Mediterranean Gulls, John Clarke:

Marsh Harrier, Colin Kennedy:

Bird News Friday 11th September 2026

A Green Sandpiper and a Ruff were at Blackstaff Creek, Dundrum inner bay this morning. (David Clarke)

3 Arctic Skua, 16 Red-throated Diver, 4 Common Scoter and 4 Brent were at Magilligan (Jonny Rosborough)

The Lapland Bunting was still at Ramore Head (Jonny Rosborough) A Northern Wheatear was also present (Juliet Fleming)

Melmore Head over 4 hrs in light to moderate westerlies; 700 Manx and 50 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Wilson's, 2 European and 6 Leach's Storm Petrel, 1 Long-tailed, 2 Arctic and 5 Great Skua plus a Puffin, 12 Common Scoter, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Great Northern and 5 Red-throated Diver. (Oscar Campbell)

A Ruff and Knot are at RSPB WoW. A first winter Mediterranean Gull is at Kinnegar Shore (Mel O’Hagan)

A White-tailed Eagle was in the Antrim Hills (Kenny Moore)

A juvenile Little Gull was feeding over Lough Beg this evening, also Black Tern (for it’s ninth day), adult Osprey, eight Glossy Ibis and six Great Egrets (David Steele)

Two Wheatears were along the Coastal Path, Green Island, Dundrum Inner Bay and another on Newcastle Beach. Also on the beach we're 168 Kittiwakes and 52 Sandwich Terns. 66 Common Scoters were offshore. (David Nixon)

A Kestrel was over Saintfield (Philip Ferguson)

Lapland Bunting, Juliet Fleming:

Lapland Bunting, Jonny Rosborough:

Bird News Thursday 10th September 2026

 A Lapland Bunting and 3 Wheatear were at Ramore Head in Portrush this morning. (Matthew Tickner).

A juvenile Hobby was at Derrytrasna on the south shore of Lough Neagh yesterday. (Tomasz Dudarewicz). This bird has been reidentified from pictures as a juvenile Peregrine.

Two Curlew Sandpipers, a Peregrine and a late Swift were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW this morning. (Derek Polley).

A White-tailed Eagle was in the Antrim Hills. (Ivan Quail).

The Baird's Sandpiper is still at the Moyle side of Blanket Nook in Donegal this evening. (John Spottiswood).

A Merlin was at Tully Road, Ballykelly this afternoon. (Marian O'Hara).

The 8 Glossy Ibis and 4 Great White Egrets were still at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

A Barn Owl was seen this evening near Fivemiletown. (Naomi Bell).

Bird News Wednesday 9th September 2026

Little Stint at Ballymacormick Point, napping a lot suggesting a recent arrival (Anthony McGeehan).

An Arctic Skua off Grey Point yesterday (Anthony McGeehan).

Osprey flying down river, seen from Portstewart Road at University of Coleraine. Heading in the direction of  the estuary (John Clarke).

At Melmore Head, Donegal this morning 4 Lapland Buntings. On a 2 hour sewatch there were 11 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Leach’s Petrels, 5 Arctic Terns and 3 Common Scoter (Eric Randall, Oscar Campbell).

2 Curlew Sandpipers at Belfast Lough WoW RSPB Reserve (Gerrard McGeehan).

5 Twite and 2 Wheatear at Ramore Head. 4 Wheatear near Portstewart (John Clarke).

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover Lough Beg western shoreline…also juvenile Spotted Redshank. Also 8 Glossy Ibis and a Black Tern (David Steele).

2 Common Sandpipers at Lough Mourne (Stuart McKee).

Adult American Golden Plover still at Myroe towards pallet stack area (John Spottiswood).

An Osprey feeding on the high tide island at Dundrum Inner Bay North this morning (Ron Price).

5 Sooty Shearwaters and a Great Northern Diver off Rathlin yesterday (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

Twite, John Clarke:

Bird News Tuesday 8th September 2026

A Pectoral Sandpiper was on the turf field at Myroe last night (Richard Donaghey) Two birds were subsequently seen in the late afternoon (Theo Campbell / Martin Deehan / Paul McSwiggan)

A juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at the Roe Estuary end of Myroe. Also two Curlew Sandpipers and Whimbrel (Stuart McKee / Hal McCullough)

A White-tailed Eagle was in the Antrim Hills (Kenny Moore)

Nearly 6 hours at Melmore this morning had c2000 sooties, 8000 manxies, 3 great Shearwaters, 6 leaches, 7 Sabine's, 1 long tailed skua, 3 pomerine, 23 arctic skua, 37 bonxies, 31 arctic tern, 5 RT diver, 4 common scoter. (Eric Randall). Another 4 hrs at Melmore Head this afternoon produced an additional 7 arctic skua, 18 bonxies, 4 long tailed skua (2 adults), 12 Sabine's (incl a flock of 7), 1 little gull, 19 leaches petrel, 64 arctic terms, 250 sooties and 2000 Manx. (Eric Randall / Oscar Campbell)

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Myroe early afternoon, found in rough area  adjacent to stack of pallets (Ian Dickey / Mervyn Campbell)

Magilligan had an Arctic Tern, 4 Bonxies, 4 Arctic Skuas (Hal McCullough / Stuart McKee)

Another Lapland Bunting was near the East Light on Rathlin. Two Sooty Shearwater and 4 Storm Petrels were also seen (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

3 hours seawatch from Ramore Head this afternoon had 5 Leach's, 3 Sabines ( all juvs) and 2 Bonxie. (Dennis Weir)

Brief seawatches at lunchtime and evening, at Ramore Head, Portrush had 24 Leach’s petrel, 7 arctic skua, 4 bonxie, 4 arctic tern, a single sooty shearwater, great northern and red- throated diver. Also 3 Med gulls, east strand car park. (Matthew Tickner)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Colin Glen Park, Belfast (Ivan Cullen)

A seawatch from Malin Head 0830- 1030, WNW F7 had, Manx - 1900, Sooty - 360, Cory’s - 2, Storm Petrel - 3, Wilson’s Petrel - 1, Sabine’s- 1, Bonxie - 4 and Arctic Skua 2 (Mark Davenport & Daniel Moloney)

Pectoral Sandpiper, Mervyn Campbell:

Use of Merlin for Bird Identification:

We have been getting an increasing number of unusual / scarce bird sightings with people using Merlin as the means of identification. Merlin should not be relied upon as the sole means of identification as it known to not be 100% accurate and mis-identification is common, particularly when relying upon calls only. 

Bird News Monday 7th September 2026

The Baird’s Sandpiper is still at Blanket Nook, Donegal. A new Baird’s Sandpiper is in front of the Tready hide at Inch, and a Garganey off the platform, also Inch. (Rob Vaughan, Derek Brennan).

There is no sign of the Osprey at Hillsborough Lake this morning. (Garry Wilkinson).

Two Lapland Buntings were on Rathlin today. (Ric Else).

3 Green Sandpipers and 5 Ruff were at  Blackstaff Creek, Dundrum. (Dermot Hughes).

An Immature Curlew Sandpiper was at Tully Hill near Strangford. (Dermot Hughes).

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at Kinnegar shore and 4 Ruff at WoW. (Stuart Cossey).

A 2 hour seawatch at Melmore in Donegal this evening in a south westerly had 24 Sooty Shearwaters, a close Cory's Shearwater, 2 Leaches Petrels, an Arctic Tern, an Arctic Skua and  a Bonxie. (Eric Randall).

Baird's Sandpiper, Rob Vaughan.

Common Sandpiper, Rod Gillan.

Bird News Sunday 6th September 2026

The Baird’s Sandpiper was still at the east side of Blanketnook near the pump house. 2 Little Stint were also present (Derek Brennan)

A Great White Egret is at The Quoile (John Mason)

The Osprey was still at the north end of Lough Beg. 11 Ruff best at Long Point. (Richard Gray)

6 Ruff were on Ardglass Golf Course (Chris Murphy)

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Drains Bay (Linda Thompson)

The juvenile Black Tern was still at Lough Beg this afternoon, also at least 2 Glossy Ibis and 20 Ruff (eight juveniles) (David Steele)

An Arctic Skua chasing Terns off Helen's Bay.  2 Ruff at Belfast WoW. (Shane Brighton)

This morning St John’s Point had a Pomarine Skua, a Red-throated Diver and a good passage of Manx Shearwater (Warren Fowles)

Great White Egret, John Mason:

Curlew Sandpiper, Linda Thompson:

 

Baird’s Sandpiper, Derek Brennan:

Osprey, the Quoile, Chris Murphy:

Black Tern, David Steele:

You can see further pictures of local birds at: http://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/?m=1

Bird News Saturday 5th September 2026

Adult summer plumaged Sabine’s Gull this morning from Stena ferry off Whiteabbey. Following ferry briefly after flying in from Carrickfergus direction (Geoff Campbell).

Late news from yesterday on Rathlin of a Leach’s Petrel which flew into a hotel! (Katy Bell).

Seawatch from Fanad Head, 7:15 to 9 am, 350+ Sooty Shearwater, 6 Bonxie, 5 Arctic Skua (Wilton Farrelly).

Baird’s Sandpiper at Blanketnook, Donegal at the Grange end (Derek Brennan).

Singles of Great and Arctic Skua, Little Gull and Whimbrel at Magilligan Point (Garry Armstrong, David Steele, Stuart McKee, Hal McCullough).

Possible Hobby at Portmore Lough (Gary Brown). Great White Egret and Merlin also present (John Cusack).

Brent Geese seen at several sites today and yesterday eg flock of 37 at Whitehead (Gerrard McGeehan).

Adult American Golden Plover still present 5pm also 5 Curlew Sandpipers and 3 Little Stints (Garry Armstrong, David Steele, Hal McCullough & Stuart McKee).

Marsh Harrier at the Starbog Road (Ivan Quail).

Deceased Barn Owl on the M1 hard shoulder between Lurgan and Moira (Alan Dickson).

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull as Dundrum (David Nixon).

Osprey at Quoile Pondage (Utkarsh Sakshena).

Sabine’s Gull, Geoff Campbell:

Leach’s Petrel, Katy Bell:

American Golden Plover, David Steele:

Baird’s Sandpiper, Derek Brennan:

Bird News Friday 4th September 2026

9 Ruff were on Ardglass golf course this morning. (Chris Murphy).

Rocky Point in Donegal this morning, 3 hours from 9am. Wind initially F5-6, gusting stronger. Cory's Shearwaters 38, Great Shearwater 17, Sooty Shearwaters 175, Storm Petrel 1, Bonxie 19, Pomarine Skuas 2, Kittiwake 2, Whimbrel 1. (John O’Boyle). 

A Wood Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Lady Bay this afternoon. (Garry Armstrong).

A Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 4 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin were at Seaghan Dam in Co. Armagh. (Joe Devlin).

A Ruff was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve and a Wheatear was at Kinnegar shore. (Mel O'Hagan).

The Black Tern, Osprey and 4 Glossy Ibis were all at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

A 90 minute seawatch this evening from Fanad Head in Donegal had 5 Great Shearwater, minimum of 400 Sooty Shearwater, 3 Great Skua. (Wilton Farrelly).

A flock of over 200 Pinkfeet  flew south east over Ballyclare this evening. (Emma Rafferty-Tally).

Brief seawatches this morning and afternoon from Portrush had 21 Sooty Shearwater, 4 Bonxie, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Arctic Tern, and approximately 130 Brents . (Matthew Tickner).

Glossy Ibis, David Steele.

Black Tern, David Steele.

Wood Sandpiper, Richard Caves.

Curlew Sandpiper, Richard Caves.

Bird News Thursday 3rd September 2026

The Osprey was at the Quoile this morning (David Stirling / Dylan Feore)

A Black Tern was at Lough Beg. Also at Lough Beg, female or juvenile Garganey, four Glossy Ibis, five Great Egrets and the Osprey. (David Steele)

The Wood Warbler was still at Malin Beg, Donegal (Dermot Hughes)

A Whimbrel and Red-theoated Diver were best at Magilligan. Eight Barnacle Geese and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Myroe (Jonny Rosborough)

Two Med Gulls were at the East Strand car park, Portrush (John Clarke)

3 Ruff and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits were at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

An Osprey is at the far end of Hillsborough lake high up in the pine trees preening. (Gayle and Garry Wilkinson)

Curlew Sandpiper, Jonny Rosborough:

Bird News Wednesday 2nd September 2026

A Wood Sandpiper is at Longfield Point, Lough Foyle, in the channel beside the airport. (Richard Donaghey).

A Marsh Harrier was at Lough Beg. (Dylan Feore). The Marsh Harrier was still at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

One of the Ospreys is still at the Quoile. (David Stirling, Tim Jess).

A pelagic today from Teelin in Donegal between 08:00-15:00 had a minimum of 4 Wilson’s Storm Petrels, 50+ Storm Petrels, 2 Cory’s Shearwaters, 20 Sooty Shearwaters and 1 Arctic Skua. 

5 Glossy Ibis were on the shore of Lough Neagh near Toomebridge. (Joshua Atkins).

Marsh Harrier, Dylan Feore.

Bird News Tuesday 1st September 2026

Barn Owl hunting in lowland field near Eglinton airport close to railway at 0810 (Peter Elliott).

Green Sandpiper on pond at private land near Carryduff (Clive Mellon).

2 Ospreys at Quoile Pondage this morning (Daniel Bailie). The 2 Ospreys were near the Castle Island hide this afternoon. (Harvey Hughes).

Last night a Wood Sandpiper was at Lady Bay. (John Cusack).

A male Blue-winged Teal was shot on the south shore of Lough Neagh this morning.

A Ruff was at the Bann Estuary, there was no sign of the Osprey. (James McDowell).

There was no sign of the Wood Sandpiper at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this evening but a Curlew Sandpiper was seen briefly. (Daniel Newton).

Green Sandpiper, Clive Mellon: