Bird News Sunday 20th September 2026

3rd calendar year White-tailed Eagle, American Wigeon and Ring-necked Duck still present, McGraths,Inch, Co Donegal. (Theo Campbell, Robert Vaughan).

A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Lady Bay. (Ed O'Hara).

Fanad Head seawatch, wind WNW Force 4. 7:45 to 9:45: 2 Sabines, 2 Grey Phalarope, 1 Long-tailed Skua, 3 Leaches Petrel, 1 Great Shearwater, 6 Poms, 3 Bonxie, 2 Arctic Skua, 600+ Sooty Shearwater, 30+ Arctic Tern. (Chris Veale, Ethan Veale, Mervyn, Wilton Farrelly) Up to 11 o'clock Sooty Shearwaters continued to pass at 200 per hour, also 2 Pom Skuas, 3 Arctic Skuas and 5 Bonxies. (Chris Veale, Ethan Veale).

A seawatch at Ramore Head this morning 06:45 - 0945 had 3 Sabines Gulls, 2 Arctic Skua, 6 Great Skua, 8 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Arctic Tern, 9 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 4 Brent, 9 Common Scoter. (Dean Jones).

A Glossy Ibis and 2 Pinkfeet were at Malinbeg in Donegal. (Aaron Long).

Groomsport this morning had 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 adults and a 2nd year. (Kerry Leonard).

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper, a Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint were at Myroe. (Mel O'Hagan).

A Marsh Harrier and a Great White Egret were at Lough Beg. (John Cusack).

A ringtail Hen Harrier was on Starbog Road near Larne. (Megan Kelly).

A Lesser Scaup was at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Daniel Newton,  Aaron Long, Ian Young).

A 5 hour seawatch at Melmore Head in Donegal had 3200 Manx Shearwaters, 475 Sooty Shearwaters and 1 Great Shearwater, 23 Great, 6 Pomarine and 7 Arctic Skuas, 5 Leach's Petrel, 2 Grey Phalarope, 3 Great Northern and 22 Red-throated Divers. (Oscar Campbell).

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at the south end of Lough Beg this evening…quite mobile around the area with Lapwings, also at least one Pectoral Sandpiper still about, a flyover calling, not seen on the deck. (David Steele).

A Pintail was at Castle Espie main lake. (James Armour).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, David Steele.

Pintail,  James Armour.

Bird News Saturday 19th September 2026

American Wigeon still at Inch, Donegal (Mark Getty). Also ringtail Hen Harrier (Searlas Anderson, Kevin McLaughlin). Glossy Ibis at McGraths and Ring-necked Duck (Oscar Campbell).

Arctic Skua and Arctic Tern at Belfast Harbour off the D3 car park between Belfast Lough WoW and Kinnegar Shore this morning. Juvenile Common Tern Kinnegar Shore. Sanderling with Greenshank and Knot at RSPB reserve (Stuart Cossey).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper still Myroe and Pectoral Sandpiper (Michael Latham).

Seawatch Fanad Head, Donegal 730-1130 wind SW4: 64 Sooty Shearwater, 14 Great Skuas, 8 Arctic Skuas, 4 Pomarine Skuas, 7 Sandwich Terns, 10 Arctic Terns, Black Tern, 3 Great Northern & 4 Red-throated Divers, Eider, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit (Wilton Farrelly, Chris Ingram, Theo Campbell, Ingrid G & BWI Donegal Group).

A seawatch at Fanad Head from 5:20 to 6:40 pm in a Force 5, Westerly, had: 3 Leach’s Petrels, 1 Pomarine Skua, 4 Arctic Skua, 2 Great Skuas, 70+ Sooty Shearwater and 54 Arctic Tern (Wilton Farrelly).

White Wagtail at St John’s Point (Dermot Hughes).

Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper at Lady Bay,  juvenile Marsh Harrier still at Portmore Lough (Garry Armstrong).

Swift over Donaghadee (Ian Graham).

No sign of the Baird’s Sandpiper on Rathlin today (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

Between Bangor and Whitehead 3 Great and 1 Arctic Skua pursuing gulls, Gannets and Sandwich Terns this afternoon (Philip Watson).

Approximately 15 Purple Sandpipers at the Coastal Zone and Mediterranean Gull East Strand, Portrush (John Clarke).

2 Pectoral Sandpipers on western shoreline of Lough Beg this evening (David Steele).

Eagle species lacking white tail over the M2 between Antrim and Templepatrick (Mark Smyth).

Single Pink-footed Goose flew over Kells (Tom Garner).

2 Lapland Buntings on Rathlin this afternoon. Also Grey Plover and Great Northern Diver (Hazel Watson, Ric Else).

Seawatching from Rossan Point, Donegal 1630-1930: 6 Leach’s Petrels, 3 juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, 9 Pomarine Skuas, 10 Arctic Skuas, 30 Great Skuas, 450 Sooty Shearwaters, 12 Arctic Terns, 2 Great Northern Divers. Also a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the headland (Anthony & Gerrard McGeehan).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Michael Latham:

Pectoral Sandpipers, David Steele:

Bird News Friday 18th September 2026

A Ruff was at Ballykelly (Michael Savage)

The Baird’s Sandpiper was still at Church Bay, Rathlin (Ric Else)

The Inch adult American Golden Plover was at Blanketnook at lunchtime (Derek Brennan)

A Red Kite was seen around the Moira roundabout (Stevie Brennan)

The moulting adult American Golden Plover was still in the ploughed field at Myroe (Dylan Thomas)

A Pectoral Sandpiper flew over at the south end of Lough Beg this evening. Also singles of Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper and Whimbrel plus the Osprey and eclipse male Ring-necked Duck both still present (David Steele)

Baird’s Sandpiper, Rathlin:

Bird News Thursday 17th September 2026

The Semipalmated Sandpiper is still at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Theo Campbell, Martin Deehan). 

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is still at Myroe. (Searlas Anderson). 

The adult American Golden Plover, American Wigeon and male Ring-necked Duck are still at Inch in Donegal. (Theo Campbell, Martin Deehan).

Six Sooty Shearwaters, a Great Skua and an Arctic Tern were off Ramore Head in Portrush this morning. (Stuart McKee).

The juvenile Little Ringed Plover was on the pools at Portmore. (Dermot Hughes, John O’Boyle).

Seawatching at Bloody Foreland in Donegal had 45 Sooty Shearwaters, 89 Cory's Shearwaters, a Leach’s Petrel, 5 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, a juvenile Sabine's Gull and 4 Arctic Terns. (Chris Ingram).

An American Golden Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper were at Myroe. (Dean Jones).

A Baird's Sandpiper was at Mill Bay on Rathlin. (Ric Else).

Baird's Sandpiper, Ric Else.

Bird News Wednesday 16th September 2026

Semipalmated and Baird’s Sandpiper still at Moyle end of Blanketnook (Chris Ingram).

Eclipse male Ring-necked Duck, McGrath's end, Inch (Theo Campbell, Peter McCarron).

In 3 hours off Melmore Head this morning a close Sabine's Gull, 4 Arctic Terns, 1500 Manx Shearwaters, 220 Sooty Shearwaters, 8 Leach's Petrels, 21 Great Skua, 5 Arctic Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua and 2 Puffins (Oscar Campbell).

Lough Beg still had an Osprey, Glossy Ibis, 4 Great White Egrets, 2 Spotted Redshank and 4 Turnstone. 5 pairs of Whooper Swans with young were also present. (Chris Murphy)

1cy Caspian Gull briefly on beach at Newcastle from Dutch ringing scheme with yellow ring H:D on right tibia (Mel O’Hagan).

Caspian Gull, Mel O’Hagan:

Bird News Tuesday 15th September 2026

Lapland Bunting still at Ramore Head (Chris Hamilton).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper still at Myroe (Theo Campbell, Peter McCarron).

Adult American Golden Plover at Myroe in ploughed field beside screen (Theo Campbell, Peter McCarron).

Unringed adult White-tailed Eagle on Rathlin this morning, present since Sunday (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

Male Ring-necked Duck at Inch Lake, Donegal (Chris Ingram).

Juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper still at Blanketnook, Donegal (John Spratt).

Semipalmated Sandpiper this afternoon at Blanketnook (Derek Brennan). Still present this evening at Moyle Roost (John Spottiswood, Paul McSwiggan).

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover at Lady Bay (Davy Hunter).

Leach’s Petrel and 2 Arctic Skuas at Rinagree (John Clarke).

Three juvenile Spotted Redshanks best on Lough Beg western shoreline this evening…Osprey and Black Tern both still present, also eclipse male Ring-necked Duck (David Steele).

Bloody Foreland 13.20-16.35 in North-westerlies: 49 Sooty Shearwaters, 2193+ Manx Shearwaters , 4 sabines gull (3 together), 3 European storm-petrel, 2 Leach’s petrel, 7 great skua, 12 Arctic skua, 1 pale Pomarine skua (plus 3 possible dark phase birds together - may have been great skuas), 1 great northern diver, a flock of ~15 Brent geese, 17 fulmar (Steven Farquhar).

Melmore Head this afternoon produced Grey Phalarope, 60 Sooty, 3700 Manx Shearwater, 800 Gannets, over 1000 auks, 13 Leach's Petrels, 8 Arctic and 24 Great Skua, 17 Arctic Tern, and 20 Brent (Oscar Campbell).

90 mins at Ramore Headlast thing this evening: 5 Leach’s petrel, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skuas, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 whimbrel, 2 Red-throated Divers (Matthew Tickner).

White-tailed Eagle, Ric Else:

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Derek Brennan:

Bird News Monday 14th September 2026

The Lapland Bunting was still at Ramore Head although elusive at times (Richard Donaghey)  The Lapland Bunting was still present late morning along with 17 Twite seen (Mervyn Campbell) The bird was seen throughout the day (Rodney Gillan / James Armour)

2 hrs this morning at Melmore Head had a juvenile Black Tern, 3 Arctic Skua, 15 Sooty Shearwaters and 2 European Storm-Petrels. (Oscar Campbell)

The Baird’s Sandpiper was still at the Grange end of Blanketnook, Donegal (Theo Campbell et al)

An Osprey was at Gibb’s Island, Downpatrick this morning (Paul Megahey)

The best at RSPB WoW this morning was a Ruff (Bob Watts)

A Mediterranean Gull was at East Strand car park (John Clarke)

An adult American Golden Plover was at Inch, Donegal (Derek Brennan)

Groomsport Harbour had 9 Mediterranean Gull and a Whimbrel was at Ballymacormick Point (Anthony McGeehan)

Lapland Bunting, Rod Gillan:

Bird News Sunday 13th September 2026

A Buff Breasted Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper, ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 12 Slavonian Grebes and 4 Common Scoter at Myroe. (Oscar Campbell, David Steele, Stuart McKee, Garry Armstrong). The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still present this afternoon. (Bob Watts).

The Lapland Bunting showed briefly again at Ramore Head in Portrush. Also the flock of Twite still present. (Bob Watts). The Lapland Bunting was still present this afternoon. (Jeff Larkin).

Groomsport harbour had adult Mediterranean Gull and a flyover Wood Sandpiper this morning . (Kerry Leonard).

A Slavonian Grebe and a redhead Goosander were at Glynn in Larne Lough. (Michael Latham).

The Great White Egret was at the yacht club end of the Quoile. (Michael Stevenson).

3 Arctic Skuas west off Gillet Steps Myroe. (John Spottiswood).

Dark phase adult Arctic Skua off Point Bar Magilligan. (John Spottiswood).

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Kilclief GAC. (David Stirling).

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Lough Mourne and two Curlew Sandpipers and twelve Knot were at Woodburn. (Gerard McGeehan).

Two Curlew Sandpipers and twenty two Knot were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Gerard McGeehan).

A Pectoral Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Inch in Donegal, the Baird's Sandpiper and another Curlew Sandpiper were at Blanket Nook. (Oscar Campbell).

Nine Mediterranean Gulls and two Wheatear were at Magheramourne, Larne Lough. (Cameron Moore).

Lapland Bunting, Daniel Newton.

Curlew Sandpiper, Suzanne Belshaw.

Goosander, Michael Latham.

Ruff, Michael Latham.

Mediterranean Gull, Michael Latham.

Bird News Saturday 12th September 2026

Lapland Bunting still at Ramore Head early afternoon (Stephen Dunbar). Still this evening at 5pm also 25 Twite near car park (John Spottiswood, Aaron Long et al).

A Wood Sandpiper and a Knot at Lady Bay this morning (Garry Armstrong).

Single Slavonian Grebe off Glynn. Two Mediterranean Gulls at Ballycarry Bridge (Ivan Quail).

Approximately 12 Common Terns over Belfast Lough near Hazelbank (Tim Davis).

Baird’s Sandpiper still at Blanketnook, Donegal (Aaron Long).

3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers close to the hide at the Bann Estuary, also a Ruff (John Spottiswood).

Marsh Harrier from the Croaghan hide, Oxford Island NNR (Colin Kennedy).

A seawatch from Fanad Head 1230 to 4:15 had 9 Leach’s Petrel, one adult Pomarine Skua , 25 Sooty Shearwater, an Arctic Skua, 110 Brent Geese and 4 Whimbrel.  (Wilton Farrelly, Oscar Campbell, Jamie Bliss).

2 Mediterranean Gulls at East Strand, Portrush (John Clarke).

Red Kite at Ballyboley (Adam McClure).

Osprey at Ardilea (Liam O’Hara)

From Galboly, 1530-1930 in a moderate northwesterly…three Sooty Shearwaters, two European Storm Petrels, four Arctic Skuas, one Great Skua, 60 Sandwich Terns, eight Red-throated Divers and total 520 Brent Geese (David Steele).

Female Wheatear near Gaelic football pitch at Dundrum (Ann-Marie Smyth).

Yesterday a Curlew Sandpiper was at Tyrella. (Suzanne Belshaw).

Osprey, Liam O’Hara:

Mediterranean Gulls, John Clarke:

Marsh Harrier, Colin Kennedy:

Bird News Friday 11th September 2026

A Green Sandpiper and a Ruff were at Blackstaff Creek, Dundrum inner bay this morning. (David Clarke)

3 Arctic Skua, 16 Red-throated Diver, 4 Common Scoter and 4 Brent were at Magilligan (Jonny Rosborough)

The Lapland Bunting was still at Ramore Head (Jonny Rosborough) A Northern Wheatear was also present (Juliet Fleming)

Melmore Head over 4 hrs in light to moderate westerlies; 700 Manx and 50 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Wilson's, 2 European and 6 Leach's Storm Petrel, 1 Long-tailed, 2 Arctic and 5 Great Skua plus a Puffin, 12 Common Scoter, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Great Northern and 5 Red-throated Diver. (Oscar Campbell)

A Ruff and Knot are at RSPB WoW. A first winter Mediterranean Gull is at Kinnegar Shore (Mel O’Hagan)

A White-tailed Eagle was in the Antrim Hills (Kenny Moore)

A juvenile Little Gull was feeding over Lough Beg this evening, also Black Tern (for it’s ninth day), adult Osprey, eight Glossy Ibis and six Great Egrets (David Steele)

Two Wheatears were along the Coastal Path, Green Island, Dundrum Inner Bay and another on Newcastle Beach. Also on the beach we're 168 Kittiwakes and 52 Sandwich Terns. 66 Common Scoters were offshore. (David Nixon)

A Kestrel was over Saintfield (Philip Ferguson)

Lapland Bunting, Juliet Fleming:

Lapland Bunting, Jonny Rosborough:

Bird News Thursday 10th September 2026

 A Lapland Bunting and 3 Wheatear were at Ramore Head in Portrush this morning. (Matthew Tickner).

A juvenile Hobby was at Derrytrasna on the south shore of Lough Neagh yesterday. (Tomasz Dudarewicz). This bird has been reidentified from pictures as a juvenile Peregrine.

Two Curlew Sandpipers, a Peregrine and a late Swift were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW this morning. (Derek Polley).

A White-tailed Eagle was in the Antrim Hills. (Ivan Quail).

The Baird's Sandpiper is still at the Moyle side of Blanket Nook in Donegal this evening. (John Spottiswood).

A Merlin was at Tully Road, Ballykelly this afternoon. (Marian O'Hara).

The 8 Glossy Ibis and 4 Great White Egrets were still at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

A Barn Owl was seen this evening near Fivemiletown. (Naomi Bell).

Bird News Wednesday 9th September 2026

Little Stint at Ballymacormick Point, napping a lot suggesting a recent arrival (Anthony McGeehan).

An Arctic Skua off Grey Point yesterday (Anthony McGeehan).

Osprey flying down river, seen from Portstewart Road at University of Coleraine. Heading in the direction of  the estuary (John Clarke).

At Melmore Head, Donegal this morning 4 Lapland Buntings. On a 2 hour sewatch there were 11 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Leach’s Petrels, 5 Arctic Terns and 3 Common Scoter (Eric Randall, Oscar Campbell).

2 Curlew Sandpipers at Belfast Lough WoW RSPB Reserve (Gerrard McGeehan).

5 Twite and 2 Wheatear at Ramore Head. 4 Wheatear near Portstewart (John Clarke).

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover Lough Beg western shoreline…also juvenile Spotted Redshank. Also 8 Glossy Ibis and a Black Tern (David Steele).

2 Common Sandpipers at Lough Mourne (Stuart McKee).

Adult American Golden Plover still at Myroe towards pallet stack area (John Spottiswood).

An Osprey feeding on the high tide island at Dundrum Inner Bay North this morning (Ron Price).

5 Sooty Shearwaters and a Great Northern Diver off Rathlin yesterday (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

Twite, John Clarke: