Bird News Monday 13th July 2026

A Wood Sandpiper was atLough Beg, at 08.30 feeding in a wet muddy area but 08.45 started calling then flew high south (David Steele)

Two Common Sandpiper were at Lady Bay (Michael Latham)

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at RSPB WoW. A second year was at Macedonian Point (Stuart McKee)

A Great Northern Diver was calling this afternoon, offshore from the Police Station at Newcastle (Ann-Marie Smyth)

A Quail was heard singing at a sensitive site in the Sperrins (Robert Vaughan)

A sub-adult Golden Eagle was seen from the Lagan tow-path today (Kez Armstrong)

Quail, Sperrins, Robert Vaughan:

Bird News Sunday 12th July 2026

A Pectoral Sandpiper is at the Bann Estuary by old wooden pier, also 2 Mediterranean Gulls and a juvenile Greenshank. The Pectoral Sandpiper is still present at 2.30. (John Spottiswood).

Yellowhammer, Michael Latham.

Bird News Saturday 11th July 2026

Common Sandpiper at Lady Bay (Garry Armstrong).

Best off Magilligan Point this afternoon a single Red-throated Diver (Aaron Long).

2 Red Kites over Bryansford (Joanne Mansell).

Group of 3 Mediterranean Gulls (juvenile, adult winter and second summer) flew north past Garron Point (from Galboly). Manx Shearwaters passing north at c. 1,000 per hour (David Steele).

2 Great Northern Divers off Newcastle this evening one in breeding plumage (Mel O’Hagan).

Mull Trip

There are 3 seats available for the boat trip from Ballycastle to Mull on Friday 17th July. Great opportunity to watch Sea Eagles being fed close to the boat. Contact Jim Wells on -07856235144 for full details.

Bird News Friday 10th July 2026

A Green Sandpiper and two Common Sandpiper were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh (Garry Armstrong)

Two Reed Warbler were at the Quoile (Ann-Marie Smyth)

2 Mediterranean Gulls (Ad & 3rd cal yr) were at the mouth of the Dundrum Channel and a high count of around 300 Sandwich Terns (Stephen Foster)

A Ring-necked Parakeet was in a garden in Lurgan (David Cassells)

It may interest observers to know that there have been sightings of two migrant dragonfly species at Craigavon Lakes in recent days - Lesser Emperor and today Red-veined Darter. (Brian Nelson)

Reed Warbler, Ann-Marie Smyth:

Ring-necked Parakeet, David Cassells:

Bird News Thursday 9th July 2026

 A Spotted Flycatcher was at Greyabbey ruins. (Nathan Gilbert).

Bird News Wednesday 8th July 2026

Whooper Swans at Traad Point, Ballyronan (Mark Smyth). A minimum of 6 successful broods at Lough Beg (Dermot Hughes).

Yellowhammer in Waringstown (Clive Higginson).

Bird News Tuesday 7th July 2026

Rathlin this year has had four calling Corncrake (per RSPB)

A Red Kite was in the Antrim Hills (Chris Hamilton)

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers were close to Antrim town centre (Mark Smyth)

Bird News Monday 6th July 2026

 The Temminck's Stint was not seen today, previous report was an error. 

Red Kites were seen over the A1 at both Banbridge and Dromore this afternoon. 

The Quoile had the Spoonbill, 2 Common Sandpipers, and a Reed Warbler. (Dermot Hughes).

Bird News Sunday 5th July 2026

The drake Ring-necked Duck is still in Kinnegoe Bay at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong) The bird was still present at 11:15 (Shane Brighton)

A  Temmincks Stint was at Portmore. (Shane Brighton).

Temminck's Stint, Shane Brighton.

Bird News Saturday 4th July 2026

Drake Ring-necked Duck at Kinnegoe Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Garry Armstrong).

4 fledged Mediterranean Gulls at Belfast Lough WoW (Stuart McKee).

19 Mediterranean Gulls at Kerrykeel, Co Donegal (Wilton Farrelly).

Ring-necked Duck, Daniel Newton:

Mediterranean Gull, Stuart McKee:

Bird News Friday 3rd July 2026

A Turtle Dove has been reported from a garden in Ballyclare. 

At Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve two adult Mediterranean Gulls with a juvenile at roadside hide, on the far shore another 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls also 3 1st summer and 3 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls and an unaccompanied juvenile Mediterranean Gull. Two Common Sandpipers at least one summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit also present. (Stuart McKee).

Bird News Thursday 2nd July 2026

Yesterday a 2nd year Mediterranean Gull was at Church Bay, Rathlin (Ric Else)

Two Great Skua and the 2y Mediterranean Gull were on Rathlin today (Ric Else)

Three Stock Doves, 2 adults and a young bird, were feeding with Wood Pigeons, in a field off Ardilea Road, near Clough (David Nixon)