Report sightings to: Email nibirds@live.co.uk, Text: 07973 403 146 or 07870 863 782 or Twitter: @nibirds See local bird pics at: www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk
Bird News Wednesday 31st December 2025
Bird News Tuesday 30th December 2025
Bird News Monday 29th December 2025
1+ Velvet Scoter with scattered rafts of Common Scoter off Murlough Beach, also a Black-throated Diver and 49 Sanderling. The Spotted Redshank remains at Dundrum. (Stuart Cossey).
The Purple Sandpiper is still at Whitehead and a Black Redstart at the Rangers Club, Whitehead (Ivan Quail).
1st winter Harlequin still Tra na gCloch, Donegal (Richard Woods).
Male Brambling in a Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).
27 Mediterranean Gulls at Cloghey Beach all adults bar one 1st winter (Chris Shaw)
Black Redstart, Whitehead, Jonny Rosborough:
Bird News Sunday 28th December 2025
The drake Harlequin Duck was still at Curranport, Co Donegal (Chris Veale)
The three Ring-necked Duck were still at the west end of Dunfanaghy New Lake (Neal Warnock)
The Lesser Yellowlegs was still on Rathlin (Jon Biddle)
An immature male Black Redstart was on Newcastle Beach / Islands Park (Mel O’Hagan)
A Bittern was seen in flight this afternoon at Inch, Donegal (Aaron Long / Ian Young)
A Green Sandpiper was on the River Maine at Slaght (David Steele)
A pair of Mandarin were on the Rover Maine (Leia Getty)
A Green Sandpiper was also at Corbet Lough, Banbridge (Nathan Gilbert)
Circa 10 Purple Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel were on Lighthouse Island, Copeland (Brian Sutton)
The Purple Sandpiper remains at Whitehead (Steven Farquhar)
At Horse Island 2 Black-throated Diver and 3 Slavonian Grebe. Another 3 Slavonian Grebe were in Greyabbey Bay (Richard Weyl)
Lesser Yellowlegs, Jon Biddle:
Black Redstart, Mel O’Hagan:
Bird News Saturday 27th December 2025
Bird News Boxing Day 2025
Great Northern Diver still in the harbour at Portrush with another one on the Ramore Head side of the harbour wall on sea (Aaron Long). 2 Great Northern Divers still in Portrush harbour mid afternoon (Tim Davis).
Great Northern Diver in flight over Newcastle bay (Bob Watts).
2 Great White Egrets at Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).
The 1st winter drake Harlequin is still at Tra na gCloch, Curranport, Donegal. Bittern again at Inch, Donegal seen twice in flight. 220 Pinkfeet at Blanket Nook (Garry Armstrong / Wilton Farrelly / Philip West / David Steele).
Lesser Yellowlegs still on Rathlin into its 9th week also Great Northern Diver and two flocks of Purple Sandpipers (Ric Else / Hazel Watson / Leia Getty).
2 Green Sandpipers and 1 Common Sandpiper still at Corbet Lough this morning (David McCreedy).
2 Red Kites (untagged) still in Antrim Hills (Michael Latham).
Great White Egret at the south end of Lough Beg (Steven Fyffe).
Pair of Mandarin Duck along the River Maine, Ballymena (Jonny Rosborough).
Great White Egret still Lough Ross Co Armagh this afternoon (John Spottiswood).
Great Spotted Woodpecker at Cregagh Wood (Ian Enlander).
Great White Egret at Quoile (Liam O’Hara).
5 Pinkfeet in with Whitefronts and geese at Myroe (Dylan Thomas).
Adult Iceland Gull at Enniskillen dump and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull at the Round O (Ronan Owens).
3 Ring-necked Duck (m & 2 fem) also hybrid Ring-necked x Tufted at Dunfanaghy New Lakes (Wilton Farrelly / David Steele / Garry Armstrong / Philip West).
Male and female Goosander at Ballycarry Bridge also Purple Sandpipers at Whtehead (Cameron Moore).
Lesser Yellowlegs, Ric Else.
Red Kite, Michael Latham.
Great Northern Diver, James Armour.
Bird News Christmas Day 2025
Bird News Wednesday 24th December 2025
Bird News Tuesday 23rd December 2025
2 Jack Snipe at Harbour Meadows, Belfast Lough (Stuart Cossey).
4+ Great Northern & several Red-throated Divers in Newcastle Harbour (Michael Latham).
Single Great Northern Diver in Portrush Harbour (Juliet Fleming).
20+ Grey Plovers at Green Island, North Dundrum Bay (Michael Latham).
5 Long-eared Owls and a Woodcock at dusk at the University of Coleraine (John Clarke).
Three Great Northern Divers were at Castle Caldwell on Lower Lough Erne. (Jamie Dillon).
Great Northern Diver, Juliet Fleming.
Red-throated Diver, Michael Latham.
Great Northern Diver, Michael Latham.
Bird News Monday 22nd December 2025
Two red head Goosanders a were on the River Maine at Slaght, near Ballymena (David Steele)
Two Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were at Corbett Lough (Neal Warnock)
A Green Sandpiper was at Loughbrickland Lake on the eastern shore, with the Lapwings (Neal Warnock)
Two Great Northern Diver were in Portrush Harbour this morning (Eddie Manthorpe)
The male Harequin Duck was showing at Tra Na gCloch, Co. Donegal this afternoon. (Victor Caschera)
Video of the impressive looking Harlequin by Victor Caschera:
Bird News Sunday 21st December 2025
Bird News Saturday 20th December 2025
The 1st winter drake Harlequin still at Tra na gCloch near Curranport, Donegal (Chris Ingram / Jim Wells).
Great White Egret at Oxford Island NNR off Owen Roe (Jamie Dillon / Ed O’Hara).
7 Greater Scaup at Inch, Donegal (Leia Getty).
2 Great Northern Divers remain at Lough Beg also 3 Pinkfeet, 2 ringtail Hen Harriers and 3 Great White Egrets (David Steele).
Ringtail Hen Harrier at Culnady (John Spottiswood).
Common Sandpiper along the River Lagan this evening (Mel O’Hagan).
Single Great White Egret at Lough Ross (John Cusack).
Single Twite at Gulladuff, Derry (John Spottiswood).
Common Sandpiper, Mel O'Hagan.
Great White Egret, Ed O'Hara.
Raven, Rod Gillan.
Bird News Friday 19th December 2025
A Cattle Egret was at Diamond Lane, near Portmore RSPb (Jim Wells)
The two Great Northern Divers were still off Oxford Island. Two Great White Egrets and a Hen Harrier were seen on Owen Roe (Ed O’Hara)
A Pink-footed Goose was with the Greylags at Lady Bay (Jim Wells)
The Lesser Yellowlegs was still on Rathlin (Jon Biddle)
Cattle Egret, Wilson Gardiner:
Great Northern Divers, Ed O’Hara:
Pink-footed Goose, Wilson Gardiner:
Bird News Thursday 18th December 2025
Bird News Wednesday 17th December 2025
The Great White Egret is still present at Owen Roe, Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).
2 redhead Goosander still on Begney Lough this afternoon (David Nixon).
Bird News Tuesday 16th December 2025
The first winter drake Harlequin Duck was still present at Trá na gCloch, Curranport, north west Donegal (Derek Brennan)
The Great White Egret remains at Owen Roe Flat, Oxford Island (Ed O’Hara)
The Lesser Yellowlegs remains on Rathlin. (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)
Two female Ring-necked Duck were at Dunfanaghy New Lake. Two Cackling Geese were still with the Barnacles there (Derek Brennan)
Up to 9 Little Gulls were seen of Galboly from 11am to 3pm (David Steele)
The Isle of Muck had 2 Whimbrel and 3 Red-throated Diver (Ian Enlander)
The Taiga Bean Geese were still with Pink-feet at the rear of Blanketnook (Chris Ingram)
The two Bittern seem to have been seen at different times at Inch today. One showed well off the Tooban Hide.
A single Woodcock was at Eshnadara,nr Rosslea Co Fermanagh this afternoon (Colin Bell)
Video footage of the Harlequin Duck, Derek Brennan:
Female Ring-necked Duck, Derek Brennan:
Bird News Monday 15th December 2025
Bird News Sunday 14th December 2025
Long-tailed Duck in Ballycastle harbour (Patrick Barton).
Crossbill heard at Glenarrif Forest Park (Chris Hamilton).
Single Whimbrel At Ballymacormack Point (Simon Morton).
Slavonian Grebe at Glynn (Michael Latham).
Lesser Scaup and ringtail Hen Harrier at Portmore Lough (Daniel Newton / Garry Armstrong).
Bird News Saturday 13th December 2025
The best at Portavogie was a Grey Plover and 6+ Purple Sandpipers but no sign of the Black Redstart in half hour search (Bob Watts)
An adult Little Gull was at Red Bay (David Steele)
A Common Gull showing some features of the hybrid was at Millisle. 6 Purple Sandpiper were at Donaghadee (Bob Watts)
2 Green Sandpiper were in the flooded area adjacent to Newry Canal towpath, 0.9 km north of Madden Bridge (between Tandragee and Gilford), Co. Armagh (David Knight)
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Hillsborough Park Lake this morning (Dougie Gamble)
Two Great White Egret were at Lough Ross on the Monaghan / Armagh border (John Cusack)
Common Gull, Bob Watts:
Bird News Friday 12th December 2025
Bird News Thursday 11th December 2025
Red Kite yesterday on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
Long tailed Duck flew by Portstewart Head this morning (Stephen Riddell).
2 Black-throated Divers Carnlough Bay. Barn Swallow feeding over the coast at Galboly. 3 Black-throated Divers in Red Bay from O’Kanes lay-by (David Steele).
Great Spotted Woodpecker on feeders at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve (Derek Polley).
Merlin at Ramore (Ian Dickey).
Merlin, Ian Dickey:
Bird News Wednesday 10th December 2025
The Green Sandpiper and a drake Goosander were at Corbet Lough, Banbridge (David McCreedy)
A juvenile/ 1st-w White-rumped Sandpiper was with Dunlin at the south end of Lough Beg. A Little Stint was also present. Unusually a Shag was on the lake (presumably blown in by yesterday’s storm) and also three Great Northern Divers. No sign of the Snow Goose (David Steele)
The Lesser Yellowlegs and a Red Kite were on Rathlin today (Jon Biddle)
Bird News Tuesday 9th December 2025
A Bittern was seen again at Inch in Donegal. (Theo Campbell, Chris Ingram).
The Lesser Yellowlegs is still on Rathlin. (Jon Biddle).
Bird News Monday 8th December 2025
1w drake Harlequin still present 8.50am 50m out on surf line with small gull flock @ the Tra na gCloch pin drop, Donegal (Andy Young).
Bittern at 0815 Inch, Donegal (Steve Millar).
2 Great Northern Divers off Owen Roe at the back of the Discovery Centre, Oxford Island NNR. Also adult Peregrine and Great White Egret at Kinnegoe Bay (Ed O’Hara).
Green Sandpiper still at Corbet Lough this morning (David McCreedy).
Red Kite at Rush Hall, near Limavady (John Pudney).
7 Purple Sandpipers and a Merlin at Portrush Coastal Zone (Mel O’Hagan).
Blue phase Snow Goose with 2 Greylags, ringtail Hen Harrier and 2+ Great White Egrets at south end of Lough Beg this morning (Dermot Hughes).
Great White Egret at Reedy Flats this afternoon (John Spratt).
Red Kite, John Pudney:
Bird News Sunday 7th December 2025
One of the Bittern showed this morning off the platform hide at Inch (Jon Biddle)
The first winter drake Harlequin was showing this morning off north west Donegal at: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6Fo5vjRq6uCc4h8e7?g_st=ipc
The Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were at Corbet Lough, Banbridge (John Spottiswood)
At least 9 Taiga Beans were still with the Pinkfoot flock in fields behind Blanket Nook lake near blue containers). Donegal (Jon Biddle)
The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen yesterday on Rathlin by RSPB volunteers.
At Dunfanaghy New Lake, Co. Donegal: 2 Richardson’s Cackling were still with Barnacles. 2 Pink-feet were also present. 2 female Ring-necked Ducks and a male hybrid Ring-necked x Tufted (Aidan Kelly)
A Snow Bunting was on the beach at Warren Road north of Donaghadee this morning (Richard Weyl)
A drake and female Goosander were at Mill Bay, Larne Lough (Cameron Moore)
Bird News Saturday 6th December 2025
Bird News Friday 5th December 2025
1w drake Harlequin feeding just offshore at Curranport, Donegal (Jon Biddle).
Merlin and Great Northern Diver on Rathlin also Chiffchaff still present yesterday (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
10+ Taiga Bean Geese still amongst the Pinkfeet flock at Blanket Nook, Donegal (Chris Ingram).
Adult Little Gull with a feeding flock off Galboly / Garron Point (David Steele).
Bittern again at Inch, Donegal late afternoon after a 6 hour wait (Ian Young).
No sign of the 2 Taiga Bean Geese at New Lake, Dunfanaghy in poor conditions this afternoon, but the 2 Cackling Geese with Barnacles, 2 Pinkfeet with Greylags & just over 100 Greenland WFs including 4 or so juvs (Jon Biddle).
Red Kite still present at Myroe (Rev Rhys Jones).
Bird News Thursday 4th December 2025
A Great White Egret and two Great Northern Diver were off Oxford Island (Ed O’Hara)
A Green Sandpiper and 7 Goosander were on Corbet Lake this morning. A Red Kite was also seen. (David McCreedy)
A Black Redstart was near Fishermans Row, Killough (Ann Feltham)
A Black Redstart was at Newcastle Harbour (Danny Baillie)
The Harlequin Duck was again at Curranport, Co Donegal. At Dunfanaghy New Lake, two Taiga Geese were with Whitefronts and Greylags close to the Anglers Car Park. A Green-winged Teal was at the west end. Two Cackling Geese were with the Barnacles. (Ralph Sheperd)
The Spotted Redshank was still at Dundrum South Inner Bay (David Nixon)
Spotted Redshank, David Nixon:
Bird News Wednesday 3rd December 2025
The wing-tagged Red Kite was still around Myroe this morning. (Rev Rhys Jones).
7 Goosanders are on Corbet Lough outside Banbridge, the birds are at the far end of the lough from the carpark. (David McCreedy).
A Great Northern Diver was in Kinnegoe Bay at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).
A Common Sandpiper was at Penny Burn in Derry. (John Spottiswood).
A Great White Egret was at Inishcreenry, Upper Lough Erne in Fermanagh. (Gavin Thomas).
A Carrion Crow was at Sharman House in Bangor. (James Harte).
Great Northern Diver, Ed O'Hara.
Red-throated Diver, Terry Hanna.


















