Bird News Thursday 8th January 2026

No sign of Waxwing flock at onslip to M2 at Broughshane (Mark Getty).

Green Sandpiper still present Corbet Lough  (Martin Deehan / Theo Campbell).

Great White Egret past Croaghan Hide and female Brambling at feeding station Oxford Island (Martin Deehan / Theo Campbell).

A Bittern from the platform at Inch, Donegal at 4pm (Searlas Anderson).

Lesser Yellowlegs still at roost on Rathlin this evening also c30 Purple Sandpipers (Jon Biddle).

Male Brambling still in a Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).

Off Macedon Point 3 Slavonian Grebe and 1 female/immature Long Tailed Duck looking roughly towards Giants Park and Kinnegar (Stuart McKee). 

Brambling and Blackcap, Cameron Moore:

Bird News Wednesday 7th January 2026

A single Twite was at the Long Hole, Bangor (Adam Ringland)

Approximately 15 Waxwings were feeding on berries beside the slip road joining the M2 from the Broughshane exit, at 2pm today (Guy Hamilton). 5 Waxwings flew off East from the on-slip in direction of Ballymena livestock market at 4pm (Mark Getty)

Two Green Sandpiper were still on Corbett Lough (David McCreedy)

First winter Iceland and Glaucous Gulls were at Killybeggs today (Chris Ingram)

A female Black Redstart was at the mouth of the river in Newcastle (Rhona Bell)

The Black Redstart and Purple Sandpiper were still at Whitehead (Sarah McCann)

Three Snow Bunting were on Divis Mountain (John O’Boyle)

Bird News Tuesday 6th January 2026

3 Mediterranean Gull were at Kinnegar Shore this morning (Jeff Higgot)

The Harlequin Duck was again at Curranport, Donegal this morning (Chris Ingram)

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Sandy Bay, Larne (Tom Garner)

65 Purple Sandpiper were at the Coastal Zone, Portrush (Juliet Fleming)

Med Gull, Tom Garner:

Bird News Monday 5th January 2026

2 Purple Sandpipers were on rocks below the war memorial at Portstewart promenade at high tide. (John Spottiswood).

The Iceland Gull was reported again around the Stena ferry terminal. (Birdguides).

The Black Redstart was still on the beach at Killough, south of the church, later seen at the back of Quay Lane.(David Clarke/Ann Feltham).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Lagan Meadows in Belfast. (Mel O'Hagan).

Two Snow Buntings were on Divis this morning. (Joe Doone).

A Cattle Egret has been reported in Glenwherry on Facebook. (Sam O'Hara)

Black Redstart, David Clarke.

Bird News Sunday 4th January 2026

Male Black Redstart showing well at Portavogie (Michael Latham).

8+ Mandarins still on the River Maine (Jonny Rosborough).

Male Brambling still in Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).

4 Mandarin (2 prs together) on River Braid at Galgorm Golf Course - flushed by an otter (Richard Gray).

Black Redstart, Michael Latham:

Brambling, Cameron Moore:

Bird News Saturday 3rd January 2026

The Black Redstart and Purple Sandpiper were still at Whitehead (Michael Latham)

The Great White Egret and two Great Northern Diver were still at Owen Roes Flat, Oxford Island (Garry Armstrong)

A Chiffchaff was along the Lagan towpath, Moores Bridge, Lisburn (Eric Randall)

The Bonapartes Gull was still at Sandy Bay, Larne (Jon Biddle)

The male Brambling was back visiting a garden in Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

Purple Sandpiper, Michael Latham:

Brambling, Cameron Moore:

Bird News Friday 2nd January 2026

Seven redhead Goosanders were on the River Maine at Slaght. (David Steele)

The male Black Redstart is still at Portavogie. (Richard Weyl).

The Harlequin Duck is still at Trá na gCloch, Donegal. (Shawn Dowdall).

A Greater Scaup was at Portmore. (Daniel Newton).

Seven Pinkfeet were at Myroe. (Martin Deehan).

A Bonaparts Gull wad at Sandy Bay in Larne (Gerard McGeehan).

Winter plumaged Curlew Sandpiper in the channel at Myroe. (Martin Deehan).

Two male Ring-necked Duck and 3 Scaup at Knockninny refuge, as well as the single Great White Egret again near the Kilmore Lodge, Upper Lough Erne Co. Fermanagh. (John Cusack).

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Ballyholme beach. (Jeff Higgott).

The Iceland Gull was seen flying around behind the Stena line ferry at 15.30. (Stuart Cossey).

The Black Redstart was still around the beach at Killough this afternoon. 

(David Nixon/Philip McHaffie).

2 Richardson's Cackling Geese still with big Barnacle Goose flock Dunfanaghy New Lake Co Donegal. (John Spottiswood).

The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).

Four Ruff were off the platform at Inch in Donegal around 4pm. (Steven Farquhar).

Bird News New Years Day 2026

Approximately 70 Whooper Swans from Castle Island hide, Quoile and good numbers of Pintail (Kevin Kirkham).

The Lesser Yellowlegs remains on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Great White Egret along River Quoile at Inch Abbey. Ruff at Kilclief, Strangford. (Clive Mellon).

1st winter Mediterranean Gull Kinnegar Shore this morning (Jeff Higgott). Adult Iceland Gull again at 2pm (Stephen Farquhar). 2 Mediterranean Gulls Kinnegar Shore in afternoon, Iceland Gull flew off 3pm (Jeff Higgott).

A Short-eared Owl at the southern tip of Ballyquintin Point. Ruff in flooded fields north of Kirkiston (Richard Weyl).

Pair of Goosanders at the river mouth at Waterfoot and the long-staying Pinkfoot still with the feral geese at the car park there (David Steele).

Adult Mediterranean Gull with red ring and Purple Sandpiper at Whitehead (Ian Enlander / Cameron Moore). Black Redstart close to dusk near Rangers Club (Aaron Long / Kevin Rice).

Brambling in a Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).

Harlequin still present at Trà na gCloch Co Donegal. 30+ Whitefronts with Barnacle Geese and drake Ring-necked Duck at Dunfanaghy New Lakes (Stephen Dunbar / Michael Latham).

Red Kite near Castlewellan (Mel O’Hagan).

A single Ruddy Shelduck of unknown origin still at Kiltonga (Kevin Kirkham).

Ring-billed x Common Gull hybrid still at Millisle (Jeff Higgott).

Male and female Goosanders at Ballycarry Bridge and a Barnacle Goose with 98 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Steele’s Point, Larne Lough (Cameron Moore).

Jack Snipe and Woodcock at Harbour Meadows, Belfast Lough (Stuart Cossey).

Bittern still at Inch, Donegal (Theo Campbell).

2 Black-throated Divers at Carnlough Bay (David Steele).

Purple Sandpiper at Ballintoy Harbour (Dakota Reid / Martin Clift).

2 Green Sandpiper at Corbet Lough, 3 Red Kites Loughbrickland area (Neal Warnock).

Purple Sandpiper & Mediterranean Gull, Ian Enlander:

Bramblings and Purple Sandpiper with Turnstones, Cameron Moore:

Iceland Gull, Bob Watts:

Lesser Yellowlegs, Ric Else:

Bird News Wednesday 31st December 2025

An adult Ring-billed Gull was at Lurgan Park Lake (Garry Armstrong)

The drake Harlequin Duck was still at the outflow at Trà na gCloch, Curranport, Co Donegal (Robert Vaughan)

An adult Iceland Gull is on Kinnegar Shore (Daniel Newton)

10 Mandarin and a Goosander were on the River Maine, Ballymena (Jonny Rosborough)

One of the Bittern’s showed this afternoon at Inch, Donegal (Ralph Sheppard / John Spottiswood)

A high count of 189 Hooded Crows were at Mary Peter’s Track tonight (John O’Boyle)

A happy New Year to all users of the Blog. In particular a big thank you to all who have sent news and pictures in during 2025!

Harlequin Duck, Robert Vaughan:

Iceland Gull, Daniel Newton:

Bird News Tuesday 30th December 2025

The Black Redstart is still at Whitehead. (Michael Latham).

Three Great White Egrets and a Marsh Harrier are at Owen Roes Flat at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara, Chris Veale).

Green and Common Sandpipers remain at Corbet Lough. There is possibly a 3rd Green Sandpiper now. (David McCreedy).

6 Red-throated Divers off Castlerock between piers / moles and The Moors. (John Spottiswood).

A Merlin was at Dunseverick Castle. (Patrick Barton).

One of the Bitterns was seen again in flight at Inch in Donegal. (Theo Campbell).

A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Rathmullan Church, near Tyrella, Co.Down per Edward Carson. (Chris Murphy).

1st winter Little Gull and Black-throated Diver in a couple of hours from Galboly, plus for those interested a small group of Common Dolphins also seen. (David Steele).

A metal-rung Finnish Common Gull has returned to Antrim Marina.

ST177.028 was ringed as a juvenile on the 6th August 1995, which is 30 years, 4 months and 24days to date.  Maaninka to Antrim Marina is 2,124 kms / 1,319 miles (WSW). (Gareth Platt).

127 Sanderling were at Murlough Beach. (Andrew Upton).

The Harlequin Duck was seen again as Curranport. (Chris Rankin).

Black Redstart, Michael Latham.

Black Redstart, Cameron Moore.

Ringed Common Gull, Gareth Platt.

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: