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 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

At least one Little Ringed Plover and a Little Gull were at RSPB WoW this morning (Daniel Newton) The Spoonbill was present late morning as well. Waders hare continuing to migrate with eg four Common Sandpiper and 2 Knot also present at WoW (Derek Polley)

This evening, 2 Little Tern and 3 Little Gulls were at RSPB WoW (Aaron Long)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was visiting a garden in Coleraine (Shaun Hartin)

This evening, a drake Garganey and 2 Ruff were at Lough Beg (David Steele)

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

The Little Ringed Plover, Spoonbill and eclipse male Garganey were all still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. The two Little Gulls were at WoW this evening. (Daniel Newton).

A fisherman has reported an Osprey at the Bann Estuary. (John Clarke).

A Water Rail was calling from the reedbed at Billy Neill Park and a Yellowhammer was singing in the fields behind. (Karl Martin).

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

The unringed White Stork is still present on embankment opposite Kings bridge in Belfast. (Stuart Cossey).

The Spoonbill is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. Two Little Gulls were on Kinnegar shore. (Daniel Newton). The eclipse male Garganey, one of the Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper were also at WoW. (Kevin Kirkham).

The Song Sparrow is still on Tory today. (Anton Meenan).

A Golden Eagle and a Red Kite were in the Antrim Hills. (Leia Getty).

White Stork, Daniel Henderson.

White Stork, Kevin Kirkham.

Bird News Friday 27th June 2025

The Song Sparrow remains at the east end of Tory Island and has been present throughout the day (Fran O’Connell / John Spottiswood / Bob Watts). It is worth noting that the Ferry to \ from Tory has been cancelled on Saturday.

An unringed White Stork was at Annadale Embankment, Belfast (David Stirling). The bird was still there this evening to 9:30 at least. (Michael Latham, Mel O’Hagan et al). The previously ringed bird that frequented this same area is currently in England.

The Spoonbill, two Little Ringed Plover and two Common Sandpiper were at RSPB WoW (Laura Kerr). The Garganey was also present late afternoon (Daniel Newton)

The Marsh Harrier remains at Inch, Co Donegal (Michael Huggins)

A Golden Eagle and Red Kite were in the Antrim Hills (Mervyn Campbell)

White Stork, Annadale, Stuart McKee:

Song Sparrow, Tory Island, Garry Wilkinson:

White Stork, Annadale Embankment, Belfast, Michael Latham:

 

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.

Bird News Tuesday 24th June 2025

The Song Sparrow remains on Tory Island at the east end garden. On no account enter the garden (Derek Brennan / Mark Stewart)

A boat trip for the Song Sparrow is hopefully planned for this Friday, also landing on Inishbofin. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for further details.

The Spoonbill and two 2cy Little Gulls were at RSPB WoW his morning (Daniel Newton \ Juliet Fleming) A 2cy Little Gull was at Kinnegar (Juliet Fleming)

75+ Crossbill and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Temple Road, Garvagh (Dennis Weir)

5 Crossbill and a Spotted Flycatcher were at Brown Hill, Fivemiletown (Colin Bell)

2 Reed Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Long-eared Owl were at Castle Espie (Karl Martin)

The White-rumped Sandpiper was still at the Bann Esrtuary this evening (John Spottiswood)

Song Sparrow, Tory Island, Derek Brennan:

Little Gull, Juliet Fleming:

You can see further pictures of local birds at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/