Bird News Friday 21st August 2026

A juvenile female Peregrine and 3 Mediterranean Gulls were at Myroe. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Donnybrewer, Lough Foyle. (Theo Campbell, Paul McSwiggin).

Bird News Thursday 20th August 2026

Last night a Ruff was at Myroe (Martin Deehan)

Today Myroe had a Little Stint and two Ruff (Martin Deehan)

Two Whimbrel were at Ballycarry Bridge (Ian Enlander)

A juvenile Little Gull was at Long Point, Lough Beg (David Steele)

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull and two Whimbrel were at the Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood)

A juvenile Cuckoo was at Ballyquinton Point (Hugh Thurgate)

Bird News Wednesday 19th August 2026

Desertas/Feas Petrel from Melmore Head, Co Donegal at 8am and a further sighting at 840 possibly a second bird. Also 20 Sooty Shearwaters in a 5 hour seawatch (Oscar Campbell).

Ringtail Hen Harrier at Portmore Lough (Richard Gray).

Ruff, Common Sandpiper and 43 Dunlin at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Gerard McGeehan).

13 species of wader Bann Estuary this evening included 4 Common Sandpipers, Whimbrel, 9 Knots, 21 Bar-tailed Godwits and Greenshank. 60+ small waders. (John Spottiswood).

Bird News Tuesday 18th August 2026

 A Chough and 2 Twite were at Torr Head. (Derek Brennan).

Melmore Head in Donegal this morning had 2 Cory's Shearwaters, 1 Sooty and 1200 Manx Shearwater, plus Puffin, 2 Arctic and 3 Great Skua and singles of Great Northern and Red-throated Divers. (Oscar Campbell).

A Mediterranean Gull was at the East Strand carpark in Portrush. (John Clarke).

An Osprey was at Portmore this afternoon. (Richard Caves).

The Black-headed or Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail was again off the platform at Inch in Donegal. Distant, so no  calls heard. (Derek Brennan).

A Cory's Shearwater was close in off Fanad Head in Donegal. (Oscar Campbell).

A juvenile Wheatear was near the quarry below Slieve Donard in the Mournes. (Roger Woodward).

A Ruff was at Dargan this morning. (Suzanne Belshaw)

Mediterranean Gull, John Clarke.

Ruff, Suzanne Belshaw.

Golden Plover, Pauline Johnson.

Bird News Monday 17th August 2026

A small fall of warblers including 8 Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat and an unstreaked acro were in the trees leading down the path to the hide at RSPB WoW. A Ruff and Common Sandpiper were also present (Stuart McKee)

A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Portmore RSPB (Shane Brighton / Dermot Hughes)

The immature Marsh Harrier was on the rocks at Oxford Island (Shane Brighton)

Two Common Sandpiper were along the river Lagan this evening (Mel O’Hagan)

First year Herring Gull, Mel O’Hagan:

Bird News Sunday 16th August 2026

An immature Marsh Harrier was on the rocks off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island, presumably the bird from Ardmore and Reedy yesterday. (Garry Armstrong).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Lough Mourne, Co. Antrim. (Ivan Quail et al).

The Osprey is still at the Bann Estuary. (Aaron Long).

A Great White Egret is at Lough Beg. A Wood Sandpiper was also present along the western shoreline south of Church Island. (David Steele).

A Slavonian Grebe was off Glynn in Larne Lough. (Ivan Quail).

Five Whimbrel were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Stuart McKee).

A juvenile Kestrel was over Black Mountain. (Shane Brighton).

The Bann Estuary had 17 Whimbrels, 3 adult Mediterranean Gull and a Kestrel. (John Spottiswood).

Either a Grey-headed or Black-headed Yellow Wagtail was at Inch in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker is visiting a garden in Harmony Hill, Lisburn. (Noeni Bryars).

Spotted Redshank, Ivan Quail.

Bird News Saturday 15th September 2026

An immature Marsh Harrier was at Todd’s Point, Ardmore, Lough Neagh. The bird subsequently moved to Reedy Flats (Garry Armstrong) A Whimbrel was also there (Oscar Campbell)

Melmore Head Donegal in 2 hrs this morning had 14 Cory's, 7 Sooty, c3000 Manx, 1 Bonxie, 1 Arctic Skua, 9 Whimbrel & 2 Great Northern Diver (Eric Randall)

An Osprey was at Carnmore Viewpoint / Kimran Lough, near Fivemiletown this afternoon (Colin Bell)

A Green Sandpiper was at Blanketnook (Derek Brennan)

Yesterday an Osprey was at Lowrys Lake, Armagh (John Anderson)

3 Cory’s Shearwater and a Sabines Gull were seen from Fanad Head today (Michael Latham / Nathan Gilbert)

A Glaucous Gull was on the slipway at Killybeggs (Aaron Long / Stephen Dunbar)

Glaucous Gull, Aaron Long:

Bird News Friday 14th August 2026

 An immature Marsh Harrier was at Starbog Road in the Antrim hills, heading west. (Clive Mellon).

A Chough was at the Bann Estuary. (Tomas Hand).

An Osprey was at Castle Island hide at the Quoile. (Ann-narie Smyth).

A Mediterranean Gull was at McDonald's at Sprucefield outside Lisburn at lunchtime. (Suzanne Belshaw).

A juvenile Wood Sandpiper and six Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay. (Garry Armstrong).

A Whimbrel was at Orlock Point. (Jonathan Fallows).

A pelagic from Teelin in Donegal 8am to 3pm: approximate totals, 30 Cory’s, 4 Sooty, 17 Great Shearwaters, 100+ European Storm Pet8, 3 Wilsons Petrels, 4 Great Skuas, an Arctic Skua. Also 2 Minke Whales, Common Dolphins and 2 Sunfish. (Wilton Farrelly et al).

Osprey, Ann-marie Smyth.

Mediterranean Gull, Suzanne Belshaw.

Bird News Thursday 13th August 2026

Male Wheatear at Penny Burn, Lough Foyle shore, Derry (John Spottiswood).

Spotted Redshank still at north end Lough Mourne with 2 Greenshank, 1 Redshank and 1 Common Sandpiper - a nice Tringa-fest. Also 12 Clouded Yellow (Dermot Hughes / Ian Enlander).

Bird News Wednesday 12th August 2026

An Osprey flew over the Ormeau Road, Belfast this morning (Stuart Cossey)

3 Ruff were at Inch, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram)

The juvenile Spotted Redshank was still at Lough Mourne, Carrickfergus (Ivan Quail)

A juvenile Wood Sandpiper was at Lough Beg (David Steele)

A Green Sandpiper was in Killough Harbour this evening (Chris Murphy)

An Osprey was at the Quoile (Paul Megahey)

The Peregrine breeding season is winding down. It was not an outstanding one but we are aware of 53 pairs fledging 116 young. The Sperrins and Fermanagh did well but it was a poor year in Down and Armagh. The dominance of quarries continued with no fewer than 37 successful nests. That compared to 8 coastal sites with young and another 8 successful natural inland cliffs. Three persecution incidents (all in quarries) were identified. If you have details on any breeding you can forward to Jim Wells at 07856 235144. 

Bird News Tuesday 11th August 2026

 An Osprey was at Lough Muck near Omagh. (Mary Arundell).

Yesterday the Little Ringed Plover was still present on Rathlin. (Ric Else).

A Whimbrel was showing well at the Barmouth hide this morning. The Osprey was not seen. (Rev Rhys Jones).

A Kestrel was at Garry Bog near Ballymoney. (James Armour)

Kestrel, James Armour.

Bird News Monday 10th August 2026

2 calling Quail still at Myroe, one from Carrowclare Road. Also 2 juvenile Wheatears, 7 Mediterranean Gulls and probable Green Sandpiper (Theo Campbell / Paul McSwiggan).

Single distant Osprey at Bann Estuary this morning (Ian Dickey).

Osprey flew over Altnahinch Dam, North Antrim but didn’t appear to hang around (David Steele).

Storm Petrel off St John’s Point this morning (Daniel Bailie).

Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, Mediterranean Gull and winter plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit on the Bann Estuary. Wader numbers still reasonable but much reduced compared to yesterday (John Spottiswood).

Osprey over Islandmagee heading SW over Belfast Lough towards Donaghadee (Kevin Kirkham).

2 Whimbrel at Lady Bay this afternoon (Richard Caves).

Whimbrel, Richard Caves:

Bird News Sunday 9th August 2026

A Balearic Shearwater went west past Fanad Head this morning (Wilton Farrelly)

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was in the harbour at Rathlin. (Ric Else)

Two Osprey are at the Bann Estuary (John Clarke)

The Bann Estuary also had a good passage of waders including 12 Whimbrel (John Spottiswood)

Two Wheatear were at Killard Point (Dermot Hughes)

A juvenile Spotted Redshank and two Green Sandpiper were at Lough Mourne, Co Anyrim (Ivan Quail)

A Wood Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull were at the Bann Estuary this afternoon (Matthew Tickner)

A possible Lesser Yellowlegs was reported from the Quoile (Michael Stevenson)

Little Ringed Plover, Ric Else:

Water Rail, Portmore, Charlie MacFarlane:

Bird News Saturday 8th August 2026

A Ruff was off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

Yesterday evening over 200 Swifts were over Whitehead. (Ian Enlander).

A Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and two Ruff were in the centre of Reedy Flats, another Ruff was at the east end. (Garry Armstrong).

A Spotted Flycatcher was in Larchfield Estate outside Hillsborough. (Garry Wilkinson).

Twelve Mediterranean Gulls were at Cloghy beach. (Dermot Hughes). Yesterday Three adult Mediterranean Gulls were on the beach including a bird which was ringed in Belgium. (Graham McElwaine)

The Pectoral Sandpiper is still at Lough Beg this evening, on the western shoreline south of Church Island. (David Steele).

A single Ruff is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW. (Shane Brighton).

A Ruff, two Common Sandpipers and three Wheatears were at Myroe. (Steven Farquhar).

Swifts, Ian Enlander.

Bird News Friday 7th August 2026

Single Ruff amongst hundreds of Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit at Belfast Lough WoW (Stuart Cossey).

Adult Baird’s Sandpiper, Sheskinmore Lough, Co Donegal.

A Red Kite was over Baileysmill, between Ballynahinch & Lisburn, this morning (Andrew Upton).

Little Stint at Blanketnook, Donegal (Chris Ingram, Theo Campbell).

Single Great White Egret at Glynn with 2 at Magheramorne (Chris Holland, Warren Fowles).

Osprey from the Castle Island hide at the Quoile (Dermot Hughes).

3 Spotted Flycatchers at Kelly’s Wood near St John’s Point (Ann Feltham).

Green Sandpiper, small pond behind Downpatrick golf driving range (Chris Murphy).

Bird News Thursday 6th August 2026

3 Green Sandpiper were at the Blackstaff, Dundrum. St John’s point had a family of Spotted Flycatcher and a singing Stock Dove in Kelly’s Wood. A juvenile Whinchat was towards the old church on the left. (Dermot Hughes)

An Osprey was seen flying southeast past Ballee High School Ballymena at 1630 - possibly following the River Main to Lough Neagh (Richard Gray)

The best at RSPB WoW was a Common Sandpiper (Derek Polley)

The adult Pectoral Sandpiper was again at Lough Beg. Seven Ruff were also present (David Steele)

A Wheatear was at Coney Island, Co Down (Chris Murphy)

A high count of 2200 moulting Eider were off Macedon Point, Belfast Lough (Stuart McKee)

One, possibly two Quail were calling at the north end of Carse Road, Ballykelly (Martin Deehan)

Pectoral Sandpiper, David Steele:

Bird News Wednesday 5th August 2026

 A migrant Wheatear was at the Floodgates at Newtownards. (Bob Watts).

The Pectoral Sandpiper was seen again at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

Bird News Tuesday 4th August 2026

Arctic Skua south past Galboly in misty conditions (David Steele).

2 Common Sandpipers Barton Bay (Richard Caves).

Osprey still at the Barmouth (Jim Wells et al).

Common Sandpiper, Richard Caves:

Bird News Monday 3rd August 2026

The adult Pectoral Sandpiper was still off Church Island, Lough Beg, with Lapwings. There was no sign of the Little Ringed Plover. (David Steeel)

Three Mediterranean Gull were at Groomsport (Bob Watts)

The Osprey has again been reported from the Bann Estuary.

Bird News Sunday 2nd August 2026

A Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Sandpipers were off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

A Whimbrel was at Kearney. (Bob Watts).

A summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit was at Kinnegar shore. A Grasshopper Warbler was at Harbour meadows. (Stuart Cossey).

A Pectoral Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover were on the mudflat at Church Island, Lough Beg, keeping close company with an adult male Common Ringed Plover. (David Steele).

Pectoral Sandpiper, David Steele.

Little Ringed Plover, David Steele.

Bird News Saturday 1st August 2026

Fanad Head, Donegal, 0815-0945: 19 Cory’s Shearwaters, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, single Storm Petrel (Wilton Farrelly).

Great Shearwater from the Tory ferry.

Arctic Skua and juvenile Mediterranean Gull off Garron Point from Galboly (David Steele).

Bloody Foreland, Donegal 0720-1120: 120 Cory’s Shearwaters, 16 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Long-tailed Skuas, 3 Pomarine Skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas, 4 Puffin, 7 Arctic Terns, Red-throated Diver, Manx Shearwaters moving at c2000 per hour (Derek Brennan, Ingrid Drumcoe, Ralph Shepphard, Chris Ingram).

Quail again at a private site in the Sperrins (Robert Vaughan).