Bird News Sunday 18th October 2026

The Bonapartes Gull was again in Groomsport Harbour this morning (Billy Miskelly)

The Cattle Egret was still at Castle Espie. There was no sign of the Glossy Ibis this morning (Stuart Cossey)

The Bairds Sandpiper and a Little Stint were seen again at Myroe (Michael Latham / Daniel Newton)

A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the ‘Swainsons’ garden, Malinmore (Chris Ingram)

Redwing were heard overnight at Templepatrick (Paul Lynas)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard in Ormeau Park (Jonny Clark)

A juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs was with Ruff and Redshank in the south west corner of Lough Beg, (David Steele)

The Bonapartes Gull was at Ballymacormick Point, Groomsport this afternoon. The Curlew Sandpiper was also there (James Rooney)

There was no sign of the Buff-bellied Pipit today on Rathlin Island. 18 Twite, a Whimbrel and 35 Fieldfares (over) at the Harbour Beach (John Spottiswood et al)

A Greater Yellowlegs was at Mullaghmore: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ajqx8UDCCc6yApbh8?g_st=ic (Molly and Michael Bell)

Ten Glossy Ibis were at Lough Beg. Also unusually, two Rock Pipit were seen (David Steele)

Whooper Swans are now widely reported. 500+ were at Broighter Road and 400+ at Lough Beg.

Baird’s Sandpiper, Michael Latham:

Lesser Yellowlegs, David Steele:

Bird News Saturday 17th October 2026

Baird’s Sandpiper at Myroe, also a juvenile Little Stint (Garry Armstrong / David Steele).

American Buff-bellied Pipit still on Rathlin 1530 along shoreline near harbour toilets (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Sunlop).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Snow Bunting, immature White-tailed Eagle and Hen Harrier on Rathlin (Hazel Watson). Yesterday Grey Plover still on Rathlin also small numbers of Redwing including a flock of 30 (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

2 Black-throated Divers at Carnlough, at least one in summer plumage. Also a possible White-billed Diver but too distant to photograph before it flew off north (Michael Latham).

Large flock of Redwing near Dunluce Castle (John Clarke).

Approximately 10 Purple Sandpipers near the Coastal Zone, Portrush (Juliet Fleming).

From Ballykelly in flat calm… 211 Red-throated Divers, 10+ Slavonian Grebes and a Merlin (David Steele / Garry Armstrong).

Pair of Snow Bunting over Antrim hills between Black Hill and Scawt Hill flying off the plateau down to the coast (Tom Garner).

Curlew Sandpiper at Groomsport (Dermot Hughes).

Glossy Ibis still in front of the Brent hide at Castle Espie at 140pm (Colin Bell).

Female type Long-tailed Duck off Glynn (Michael Latham).

A small number of Crossbills feeding in Drumkeeragh Forest along side a number of Siskin and Goldfinch on the spruce cones ( Justin Childs).

Great White Egret, Merlin, c40 Ruff and Grey Plover at Lough Beg (John Cusack).

A probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat in the sycamore directly opposite the Lighthouse Tavern, Fanad Head, Donegal (Wilton Farrelly).

3 Goosanders with 10 Red-breasted Mergansers on the Islandmagee side of Larne Lough this evening (Cameron Moore).

Carrion Crow at Crawfordsburn (David Gillespie).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Ric Else:

Baird’s Sandpiper, Garry Armstrong:

Grey Plover, Ric Else:

Carrion Crow, David Gillespie:

Bird News Friday 16th October 2026

 The Glossy Ibis was still on the shore of Strangford Lough near Castle Espie. (Jonny Clarke).

The American Buff-bellied Pipit is still on Rathlin this morning. (Theo Campbell et al).

8 Goosander were still off Ballycarry Bridge in Larne Lough. (Mel O'Hagan).

A Cattle Egret was on the main lagoon at Castle Espie. (Clive Mellon).

3 juvenile Little Gulls were at Magilligan. (Jeff Larkin).

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Groomsport this afternoon. (Philip Watson).

Lough Beg this  afternoon had three Glossy Ibis, Arctic Tern, Slavonian Grebe and an immature White-tailed Eagle (tagged bird green/red). (David Steele).

A Grey Phalarope was at Long Point at Lough Beg. The Grey Phalarope was still present at sunset, by which time it had moved further out onto the lake and appeared to be feeding. Also at Long Point, Wood Sandpiper, two Pinkfeet, single Barnacle Goose and Common Tern.(David Steele).

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still at Myroe. (Theo Campbell et al).

A ringtail Hen Harrier was at The Battery, Lough Neagh. (Hugh Thurgate).

Glossy Ibis, Jonny Clark.

Cattle Egret, Clive Mellon.

Grey Phalarope, David Steele.

American Buff-bellied Pipit, John Clarke.

Cattle Egret, Paul Hunter.

Glossy Ibis, Paul Hunter.

Bird News 15th October 2026

The Lesser Yellowlegs was viewable from the viewing platform at Inch, Donegal (Searlas Anderson)

The Buff-bellied Pipit was still in the harbour beach Rathlin (Ric Else)

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was with Golden Plover, Myroe (Daniel Newton)

Three Chiffchaff were the best at Barr Hall Bay, Outer Ards. 6 Mediterranean Gulls Millin Bay (Bob Watts)

A Kestrel was the best at RSPB WoW this morning (Derek Polley)

52 juvenile Ruff were at Lough Beg. An Arctic Tern was also present (David Steele)

Myroe had a Great White Egret flying towards Ballykelly Martin Deehan). A Merlin and Carrion Crow were also present (Derek Brennan).

Purple Sandpipers were at Ramore (John Clarke)

At least 3 Purple Sandpipers were at Dunseverick Harbour this morning (Patrick Barton)

Buff-bellied Pipit, Derek Brennan:

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Daniel Newton:

Bird News Wednesday 14th October 2026

American Pipit still on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Merlin and 3 Barnacle Geese at Myroe (Ian Dickey).

2 Mediterranean Gulls on the Crescent football pitches, Coleraine (John Clarke).

Adult Bonaparte’s Gull at Ballymacormick Point (James Andrew).

Male Hen Harrier beside Ladyhill quarry, Tardree, Antrim (Glenn McDermott).

Adult Mediterranean Gull at Whitehead promenade and 7 Goosander at Ballycarry Bridge (Cameron Moore).

Barn Owl flew over the road on the outskirts of Coleraine towards Ballymoney (Tom Garner).

American Pipit, Ric Else:

Mediterranean Gull, Cameron Moore:

Bird News Tuesday 13th October 2026

 The American Buff-bellied Pipit is still present on Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else).

The Glossy Ibis was seen again in flight at Castle Espie. (Birdguides).

An adult winter Bonapartes Gull was at Groomsport. (Hal McCullough).

8 Goosanders were at Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

A Great Skua was at Magilligan. (John Clarke).

A Twite was with a group of Linnets at Sandy Bay, Larne. At Glynn one Slavonian Grebe on the Lough and 2 Dippers showing well on the river. (Aaron Long et al).

A Great White Egret was west of Derrywarragh Island on Lough Neagh. (Ronan Owens).

American Buff-bellied Pipit, Daniel Newton.

Goosander, Cameron Moore.

Great Skua, John Clarke.

BTO Conference Programme

The BTO NI conference programme for the 7th November is below:

 

Bird News Monday 12th October 2026

An American Buff-bellied Pipit is on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson). The bird was seen again this evening on the harbour beach. This is the fifth NI record.

Six Twite and a Grey Plover were also around Rathlin Harbour ;Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

The Great White Egret was just west of Emerson’s Sandpit, Lough Neagh (Mike McLaughlin / Clifford Sharp)

2 Goosander and a Slavonian Grebe were at Glynn. A total of 13 Goosander were at Ballycarry Bridge, 6 close in and fishing near the bridge and a further 7 inc a male were further out. (Garry Wilkinson)

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Fisherman’s Pier, Carrickfergus and a Common Scoter was off Carrickfergus marina (Garry Wilkinson)

A Pectoral Sandpiper and Slavonian Grebe were at the south end of Lough Beg this morning along with 2 Great White Egrets.  (Dermot Hughes and John O'Boyle)

Two Slavonian Grebe were off Loughshore, Belfast Lough (Gerard McGeehan)

There was no sign of any White-rumped Sandpipers at Church Island, Lough Beg this afternoon but Little Stint, two Grey Plovers and a juvenile Brent Goose were all new (David Steele)

A Spotted Redshank was at the Castle Espie saltmarsh (Brent Hide). Outside the reserve the Glossy Ibis flew into the high tide roost c. 4.30pm (Suzanne Belshaw, Geoff Newell)

The annual BTO NI conference is on the 7th November at Oxford Island. Details here: https://www.bto.org/our-work/events/bto-northern-ireland-birdwatchers-conference-2026

Buff-bellied Pipit, Ric Else / Hazel Watson:

Spotted Redshank, Suzanne Belshaw:

Bird News Sunday 11th October 2026

Buff-breasted Sandpiper in arable field immediately north of Kearney (Richard Weyl).

Black-necked Grebe and Great White Egret east of Emersons sand quay, Ardmore (Garry Armstrong).

Summer plumaged Black-throated Diver at Carnlough (Michael Latham).

Slavonian Grebe off Glynn (Michael Latham).

A Snow Bunting was on the beach at Magilligan Point and an adult Little Gull offshore (Jeff Larkin).

2 Goosanders from Ballycarry Bridge (Cameron Moore).

Hen Harrier at Reedy Flats (Stevie Brennan).

6 Lapland Buntings on Rathlin (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

Black-throated Diver & Red-throated Diver, Michael Latham:

Goosanders, Cameron Moore:

Hen Harrier, Stevie Brennan:

Bird News Saturday 10th October 2026

The Lesser Yellowlegs is still present from platform at Inch in Donegal (Martin Deehan/Theo Campbell). A Cattle Egret was also present. (John Cusack).

Two juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers are at Myroe on the muddy turf pools at north end. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was also present, with the  Golden Plover flock but flighty. (David Steele).

Five Goosanders were with 12 Whoopers at Ballycarry. (Gerard McGeehan).

Two Common Sandpipers were on the bank at the end of the runway opposite Victoria Park in Belfast Harbour Estate. (Dermot Hughes).

An Arctic Skua and a Black Tern were off Kinnegar shore. (Stuart Cossey).

At Magilligan Point two juvenile Sabine’s Gulls, two juvenile Little Gulls, two Black Terns, three Arctic Skuas and one Great Skua. (David Steele).

The Dark-bellied Brent with its Pale-bellied partner and three young are still near Green Island in Dundrum Inner Bay. (David Nixon).

The Glossy Ibis was still at Castle Espie, showing along the shore from the Brent hide. (Alan Fitzsimmons)

Bloody Foreland in Donegal between 8.15 and 12.15 had 187 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Leach’s Petrel, 12 Great Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 9 Arctic Skua, 1 juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 15 Arctic Tern, 3 Little Auk, 3 Puffin,  13 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 307 Barnacles and 1 American Golden Plover. (Chris Ingram et al).

Two White-rumped Sandpipers were at Church Island, Lough Beg. (David Steele).

Melmore Head in Donegal between 11am to 6pm had 1220 Barnacle Geese, 38 Grey Phalarope, 4 Leach’s Petrel, 2 juvenile Sabine's Gulls, 1 Little Gull, 89 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Long-tailed Skua (2 adult), 4 adult Pomarine Skuas, 15 Arctic Skuas, 9 GreatSkuas, 57 Arctic Terns. c2000 Kittiwake with an estimated 30 -40% juvenile. (Eric Randall).

Several Red-throated Divers were between Murlough and Newcastle. (Liam O'Hara)

White-rumped Sandpiper, David Steele.

Lesser Yellowlegs, Michael Latham.

Glossy Ibis, Alan Fitzsimmons.

Red-throated Diver, Liam O'Hara.

Bird News Friday 9th October 2026

The Lesser Yellowlegs was still present in front of the Viewing platform Inch Donegal (Theo Campbell / Chris Ingram)

A Great White Egret was at Rabbit Island, Upper Lough Erne (Colin Bell)

A Merlin was at Myroe (John Clarke, C Stewart, J McDowell)

A Peregrine was seen over Botanic Gardens, Belfast this morning (Shane Brighton)

The Chough (with the green ring) was seen again, this time at Tor Head (David Steele)

Seven Goosander were at Ballycarry (Cameron Moore)

A Grey Phalarope and two Twite at Ramore Head (David Steele)

A ring tail Hen Harrier was at Reedy Flat (John Lambe)

Merlin, John Clarke:

Goosanders, Cameron Moore:

Bird News Thursday 8th October 2026

Lesser Yellowlegs again from view point at Inch, Donegal (Searlas Anderson).

 Lapland Bunting again on track to Rocky Point, Malinmore (John O’Boyle).

Marsh Harrier at Portmore Lough (Stevie Brennan).

Flock of 7+ Lapland Buntings at East Light, Rathlin (Rice Else, Hazel Watson).

Turtle Dove at Ballquintin Farm. Also a Jack Snipe flew from hedge near car park (Ian Young). No further sign of dove mid afternoon in increasingly heavy rain though cattle in field so shoreline not searched thoroughly (David Stirling).

Pink-footed Goose at Quoile (Chris Murphy).

2 Orcas off Annalong this morning (Andrew Kearney on FB).

Turtle Dove, Ian Young:

Dark-bellied Brent Paired With Pale-bellied Brent

 David Nixon had a Dark-bellied Brent which was paired with a Pale-bellied Brent near Green Island in Dundrum Inner Bay. The pair were accompanied by three juveniles. This appears to be the first record of this pairing in Northern Ireland.

Bird News Wednesday 7th October 2026

 A Carrion Crow way at Ballycastle. (Tomás Hand).

Sea watching at Bloody Foreland in Donegal between 8.15 and 10.50 in a north west wind had 163 Manx Shearwaters, 59 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Petrel species, 6 Great Skuas, 9 Arctic Skuas, 2 Pomarine Skuas, 1 adult Long-tailed Skua, 1 Sabines Gull, 33 Arctic Terns, 6 Great Northern Divers and 109 Barnacle Geese. (Chris Ingram).

A Merlin was at Portmore this morning. (Lucy Shilliday).

Whooper Swans were at Whitehouse Lagoon. (Gerard McGeehan).

A dark-bellied Brent was near Green Island in Dundrum Inner Bay, and was paired with a pale-bellied Brent and accompanied by 3 young. (David Nixon).

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Ballymacormack Point. (Ewan McKenzie).

A Lapland Bunting was at Malin More in Donegal. 

The Glossy Ibis was still at Castle Espie also a Common Sandpiper. (Derek Polley).

Merlin, Lucy Shilliday.

Dark-bellied Brent, David Nixon.