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Bird News Saturday 26th July 2025
Bird News Friday 25th July 2025
Bird News Thursday 24th July 2025
Bird News Wednesday 23rd July 2025
Bird News Tuesday 22nd July 2025
Spoonbill remains at Belfast Lough WoW also 4 Little Gulls (Daniel Newton). Little Ringed Plover still present too (Chris Hamilton).
Dark morph Arctic Skua off the hide at the Bann Estuary (Jeff Larkin / Pat Hull). Osprey seen by fishermen in recent days (per John Clarke).
White-tailed Eagle (untagged) heading towards Ballymena at 1pm (Kenneth Moore).
White Stork (unringed) at 1420 from Lough Road, W of Loughguile, Co Antrim (James Armour). Still present 5pm (Enda McAuley) & 648pm (Jeff Larkin).
Adult Arctic Tern off Bann Estuary this evening (John Spottiswood).
White-tailed Eagle, Kenneth Moore:
Bird News Monday 21st July 2025
Bird News Sunday 20th July 2025
Cattle Egret still at the point at Blanketnook, Co Donegal also adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulks (Chris Ingram).
Spotted Flycatcher at Cloughey (Jim Cunningham).
Whimbrel are on the move with 5+ at Ballymacormack Point today (Bob Watts) and 13 on Rathlin yesterday (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
Subadult Golden Eagle in the Antrim Hills (Aaron Long / Ian Young / Sean Gibson).
For cetacean buffs 2/3 Humpback Whales (reports of up to 7 in the bay in the past week), lots of Minke but no sign by early afternoon of any Orca at Donegal Bay. Probably closer views from the Mulaghmore end (Brian McCloskey / Derek Brennan / Jamie Bliss). 4 Humpbacks from St John’s Point Lighthouse this evening but no sign of Orca (Stephen Dunbar).
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Colin Bell:
Bird News Saturday 19th July 2025
Bird News Friday 18th July 2025
Cattle Egret at Moyle end of Blanket Nook, Co Donegal in field with cattle (Chris Ingram).
Spoonbill actively feeding this morning at Belfast Lough WoW also Little Ringed Plover and Ruff still, also 5+ Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Gulls (Laura Kerr / Jake Grant).
Wader flocks are building up with increased numbers of commoner waders including Dunlin and Greenshank reported.
Arctic Tern, Michael Latham:
Bird News Thursday 17th July 2025
Bird News Wednesday 16th July 2025
Marsh Harrier still Inch, Co Donegal (Theo Campbell).
Spoonbill, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff still at Belfast Lough WoW also 5 Common Sandpipers (Gerard McGeehan). Also a Little Gull (Jake Grant). 3 Little Gulls this evening (Wilton Farrelly).
A White Stork spent most of the Wellington Rec v Crusaders game yesterday in Larne on top of the floodlights (Thomas Fulton). One reported in flight over Whitehead this afternoon (per Adam McClure).
A Red Kite over Annsborough, Co Down at 3pm being chased by gulls (Ann-Marie Smyth).
5 Mediterranean Gulls at the Bann Estuary this evening (adult, 2 2nd cy, 2 juvs) (John Spottiswood).
White Stork, Thomas Fulton:
Bird News Tuesday 15th July 2025
Bird News Monday 14th July 2025
Late news from yesterday of 6 Whimbrel and c50 Swift heading south from Copeland Bird Observatory (David Stirling).
Yellowhammer singing near Bright, Co Down (David Clarke).
Female Great Spotted Woodpecker on feeder in garden near Hillsborough (Juliet Fleming). Another at Silent Valley car park (Ann-Marie Smyth).
Spoonbill, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, 2cy Little Gull, 3 Common Sandpipers still at Belfast Lough WoW (Bob Watts).
Mediterranean Gull with PKPA ring also a Whimbrel in the Bann Estuary (John Clarke).
Juvenile Cuckoo and Great Skua Rathlin (James McDowell).
60+ Swifts at Lough Mourne, Carrickfergus (Ian Enlander).
A Whimbrel at Kearney this afternoon (Graham McElwaine).
Cuckoo, James McDowell:
Great Skua, James McDowell:
Yellowhammer, David Clarke:
Bird News Sunday 13th July 2025
Bird News Saturday 12th July 2025
The White-rumped Sandpiper remains at the Bann Estuary, at the Barmouth on the Castlerock side. The bird is alone. (Richard Donaghey).
Great Spotted Woodpeckers at Murlough House, Dundrum (Conor Mansell) and in garden on peanut feeder Lambeg (Noeni Bryars).
Bird News Friday 11th July 2025
Bird News Thursday 10th July 2025
The Little Ringed Plover, 2 Little Gulls, Ruff and 5 Common Sandpipers were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning, the Spoonbill wasn't seen. (Jake Grant). The Spoonbill reappeared at 12.15. (Derek Polley).
Three Red Grouse were at Jenkin Forest in Co. Fermanagh. (Colin Bell).
A Whooper Swan was at Stoneyford Reservoir this afternoon. (Ivan Cullen).
Dark-bellied Brent, Juliet Fleming.
Bird News Wednesday 9th July 2025
There was no sign of the Green Sandpiper at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning, the Spoonbill, Ruff, Little Ringed Plover and a Little Gull were present, another Little Gull was at Kinnegar shore. (Daniel Newton Sean Gibson). The Green Sandpiper is showing again at 11.45. (Gerard McGeehan). Seven Common Sandpipers were present this afternoon. (Bob Watts).
The WoW reserve this evening had the Spoonbill, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, 3 Little Gulls, and 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 adults and a 2nd year. There was no sign of the Green Sandpiper. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were also at Kinnegar shore. (Philip West).
The Marsh Harrier is still at Inch in Donegal. (Theo Campbell).
Two Great Northern Divers were seen on a boat trip off Portballintrae and a Great Skua off Portrush. (John Clarke).
A 1st year Mediterranean Gull was at Magilligan. (Stephen Riddell).
A Brent Goose was at Bushfoot near Portballintrae. (Juliet Fleming).
Two Red Kites were in the Antrim Hills. (Michael Latham).
Bird News Tuesday 8th July 2025
Spoonbill, Little Ringed Plover and Ruff at Belfast Lough WoW (Adam McClure/Daniel Newton). All still present this evening plus a Common Sandpiper and a Knot (Michael Latham). Green Sandpiper late evening (Daniel Newton).
Osprey seen flying over Bann Estuary with fish 0830 (Stephen Riddell).
Osprey and 5 male Ruff at Lough Beg (David Steele).
A Little Tern from the train near Kinnego (Garry Wilkinson).
Summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver off Briggs Point, Groomsport (Jeff Silver).
Summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver at Glenarm (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop).
2 Adult Mediterranean Gulls Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood).
Great Northern Diver, Jeff Silver:
Ruff, Daniel Newton:
Bird News Monday 7th July 2025
A White-tailed Eagle was seen again in the Antrim Hills. (Kenny Moore, Ian Dickey).
The Spoonbill, a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Common Sandpipers were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Jake Grant). There were also 3 Little Gulls present this evening. (Wilton Farrelly).
A Yellowhammer was singing in fields at the back of Billy Neill Country Park in Belfast. (Bob Watts).
White-tailed Eagle, Sandra McDowell.
Bird News Sunday 6th July 2025
Bird News Saturday 5th July 2025
Roseate Tern and Spoonbill at Belfast Lough WoW (Michael Latham). Also 2 Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper (Martin Deehan). No sign of Roseate Tern at 4pm but additional sightings of Little Gull, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, Arctic Terns and 2 Knot (Michael Latham).
Juvenile Cuckoo at Murlough NNR (Stuart Cossey).
Osprey at the Bann Estuary this evening (Mark McCullough).
Adult Pomarine Skua off Fanad Head this morning (Wilton Farrelly).
Great White Egret from Ballycarry Bridge this evening on western side of mudflats (Steven Fyffe).
Albino Swallow on Ardmore Road outside Lurgan Southern shore of Lough Neagh (Joe O’Hagan).
Roseate Tern & Little Ringed Plover, Michael Latham:
Bird News Friday 4th July 2025
The Little Ringed Plover, Spoonbill, eclipse male Garganey and 4 Common Sandpipers were at Belfast Lough RSPB Wow reserve today. (Bob Watts). A Little Tern was present this afternoon. (Leia Getty, Dot Blakely). The Spoonbill was still present this evening. (Tim Davis).
One of the Little Gulls was at Kinnegar shore. (Stuart Cossey).
Corncrakes were still calling on Rathlin last night, 3 Great Skuas were around the seabird centre this morning. (Derek Polley).
An Osprey and a Whimbrel were at the Bann Estuary. (Matthew Tickner).
Bird News Thursday 3rd July 2025
Bird News Wednesday 2nd July 2025
Spoonbill, 2 Little Gulls and 6+ Common Sandpipers at Belfast Lough WoW this morning (Daniel Newton). Also the eclipse drake Garganey (Richard Gray). Little Ringed Plover also reported early afternoon and 2 seen this evening (Daniel Newton).
A second brood of 3 Long-eared Owlets at Castle Espie (Castle Espie WWT).
Immature female Marsh Harrier and adult Mediterranean Gull still at Inch, Co Donegal (Michael Huggins).
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robert Boyle:
Bird News Tuesday 1st July 2025
Bird News Monday 30th June 2025
The Spoonbill and a Common Sandpiper were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning, the Little Ringed Plover may have been present but the hide windows were too misted up to be sure. A 2nd year Little Gull was at Kinnegar shore. (Richard Gray)
The Cettis Warblers at Killough have not been heard since early May (Chris Murphy)
Bird News Sunday 29th June 2025
Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Belfast Harbour Meadows with small passage of Siskin over Kinnegar (Stuart Cossey).
Spoonbill and 2 Common Sandpipers at Belfast Lough WoW (Chris Veale).
Redhead Goosander with 2 Red-breasted Mergansers Lady Bay (Garry Armstrong).
No sign of the Song Sparrow on Tory, Co Donegal today which is presumed to have moved off overnight in improved weather conditions. The bird stayed for a minimum of 6 days; it was possibly heard the day before its discovery.
4 Common Sandpipers on Comber River behind Tesco/Spar (Chris Murphy).
Spoonbill at Portmore Lough (Niall Mulvenna).
Probable Arctic Skua at Killard this afternoon (Mark Robinson).
2 female Mandarin at Lough Beg this evening (David Steele).
Spoonbill, Niall Mulvenna:
Bird News Saturday 28th June 2025
Bird News Friday 27th June 2025
Bird News Thursday 26th June 2025
Spoonbill and Little Ringed Plover still at Belfast Lough WoW with a second Little Ringed Plover from mid afternoon (Clive Mellon). Also 2 Common Sandpiper (Derek Polley / Dot Blakeley). Near eclipse drake Garganey too (Daniel Newton).
Song Sparrow still on Tory, Co Donegal and present this evening (Joseph Doolan / Fran O’Connell)
Common Sandpiper at Lady Bay (Richard Caves).
White Stork of unknown origin at Knock Golf Club (per Garry Wilkinson).
Common Sandpipers, Stephen Maxwell & Richard Caves:
Spoonbill, Stephen Maxwell:
Garganey, Daniel Newton:
Bird News Wednesday 25th June 2025
The Spoonbill is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve, there is also a report of 3 Little Terns being present.
A Little Tern is on Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough. (Richard Woods).
The 1st summer Little Gull was at Kinnegar shore at 2.00pm. (Tom Ennis).
An Osprey was at Lough Beg before flying towards Toome. (David Steele).
The Little Ringed Plover, Spoonbill and a Little Gull were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve, there was no sign of the Little Terns this evening. (Michael Latham).
A Red Kite was in the Antrim hills this afternoon. (Rhona Bell).
A Great Skua was on Rathlin. (Alan Faulkner)
Little Ringed Plover, Michael Latham.
Little Gull, Michael Latham.
Great Skua, Alan Faulkner.