Bird News Friday 25th September 2026

3 Pectoral Sandpipers are at Church Island, Lough Beg…At least one a new bird. 2 of them flushed at 1520 after a disturbance. Also this evening 9 Glossy Ibis, Wood Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank and 25 Ruff (David Steele).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper this evening at Seaghan Reservoir, Co Armagh (John Cusack).

No sign of Pectoral Sandpiper 0700-0725 at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve nor any small waders but high tide 1113 when ‘peeps’ gather (per Daniel Newton). No sign early afternoon though several calling Chiffchaffs (Aaron Long).

Glossy Ibis is still on the wader marsh at Castle Espie. (Miryam Saraceni). Also a Ruff present (Jonny Clark).

Juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs at McGraths Inch, Donegal. Then from platform also Glossy Ibis and Spotted Redshank (Chris Murphy, Sean O’Hara, Mark Wotham).

Female or juvenile Black Redstart at Ramore Head near the playpark (John Clarke).

24 Bar-tailed Godwits the best at Bann Estuary. 270+ small waders (John Spottiswood).

Adult Red Kite over the old Ballynahinch Road near Pot Hill Lane heading west late afternoon (Paul McIlwaine).

Adult Bonaparte's Gull again at the mouth of the Shimna River (Mel O'Hagan).

Black Tern at Sandy Bay, Larne (Gerrard McGeehan).

4 Grey Phalaropes and 3 Sooty Shearwaters on crossing to Tory (Chris Murphy et al).

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover with 3 Ringed Plover at Lady Bay (Garry Armstrong).

White-tailed Eagle, Ric Else:

Ruff & Glossy Ibis, Jonny Clark:

Bird News Thursday 25th September 2026

A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper is at RSPB WoW (Dermot Hughes / John O’Boyle) The bird was still present mid afternoon (Stuart Cossey) It was not seen this evening, during the low tide  

A Kestrel seen this morning over Knockbracken road, Belfast. (Miryam Saraceni)

The Glossy Ibis is still at Castle Espie wader pool this morning (Dave Weir)  It was still present this evening but also seen of the Brent Hide (Miryam Saraceni)

A Garganey was at Inch off the platform. A Ring-necked Duck and ring necked hybrid were out from Tready hide (Robert Vaughan)  A Greater Scaup was also seen (Chris Murphy et al)

An adult White-tailed Eagle was on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

5 Mediterranean Gull were at East Strand Car Park, Portrush (Dennis Weir)

A notable count of 180+ Pied Wagtails were in birch trees at Coleraine train station (John Spottiswood)

Pectoral Sandpiper, Bob Watts:

Bird News Wednesday 23rd September 2026

 A Glossy Ibis was reported flying south east past Castle Espie this morning. (Birdguides). The Glossy Ibis was on the waders pool at Castle Espie this afternoon. (Dave Weir).

A flock of 20 Lapland Buntings were on the north side of Rathlin, a Hen Harrier and 5 Wheatears were also on the island. (Ric Else).

A juvenile female Goshawk was seen being mobbed by 6 Hooded Crows at Belfast International Airport. Observers have a lot of experience with the species (Sean O'Hara, Mark Wotham).

An adult Bonaparte's Gull was on Newcastle beach at the mouth of the Shimna River. (Mel O'Hagan).

A Fieldfare was at Ballycastle. (Tomas Hand).

A Wood Sandpiper, Great White Egret, 2 Glossy Ibis and 2 Spotted Redshank were at Lough Beg. (Mark Wotham, Sean O'Hara, Chris Murphy). Later 8 Glossy Ibis were present. (David Steele).

An Osprey was off the hide at the Quoile. (Tim Jess).

Glossy Ibis, Dave Weir.

Bonaparte's Gull, Mel O'Hagan.

Lapland Buntings, Ric Else.

Osprey, Tim Jess.

Bird News Tuesday 22nd September 2026

Now 2 Ring-necked Ducks at Inch. One off McGrath's and a second out among the main Tufted flock. One has a much cleaner ‘spur’ than the other. Both eclipse males. (Derek Brennan).

Lapland Bunting, Merlin and Whimbrel on Rathlin (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

Hen Harrier at Portmore Lough this afternoon (Terry Hanna).

Wood Sandpiper and 3 Spotted Redshanks at Lough Beg this evening, also 7 Glossy Ibis…no sign of Buff-breast or Pecs (David Steele).

Late news of Chough on Copeland Sunday (per David Stirling)

A Barn Owl flew across the Dromore Road at Ballynahinch at 2015 (Terry Hanna).

Hen Harrier, Terry Hanna:

Bird News Monday 21st September 2026

A Lapland Bunting was seen again at Ramore Head. (Rod Gillan).

Two adult and a second winter Mediterranean Gull were at East Strand Car Park, Portrush (John Clarke)

A Lapland Bunting was heard over Keeble on Rathlin (Ric Else)

Lough Beg had 3 Great White Egret, 3 Glossy Ibis, a Marsh and Hen Harrier. Portmore Lough had a Little Ringed Plover and a Ruff (Oscar Campbell)

Mediterranean Gull, John Clarke:

Juvenile American Golden Plover, Rossan Point, Donegal, yesterday, Anthony McGeehan:

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Rossan Point yesterday, Anthony McGeehan:

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: