With the beginning of the breeding season we will not be posting any sightings or pictures of our rare and scarce birds of prey at or near breeding sites.
Bird News Sunday 8th March 2026
Whitehead seafront this morning had 57 Red-throated and 4 Great Northern Diver flying into Belfast Lough. Also the Black Redstart still present. (Ian Enlander).
A Chough was at Orlock this morning. (Ewan McKenzie). The bird has 3 rings so may be from the Cornish reintroduction scheme.
The Harlequin Duck, 4 Long-tailed Duck and 7 Great Northern Divers were at Magheraoarty in Donegal. (Stuart Cossey).
The Ferruginous Duck is still at Ballysaggart Lough this morning. (Nathan Gilbert, Tom Saxon).
A male Garganey is with Teal in the flooded area, Lough Beg southern intake…also male Ring-necked Duck.
(David Steele).
The 2 Russian White-fronts and 3 Great White Egrets were at the east end of Reedy Flats. (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara).
The pair of Mediterranean Gulls are still at RSPB Window On Wildlife this morning. (Jonny Clark)
Two ringtail Hen Harriers and two Great White Egrets were at Portmore Lough this morning. (Alan Dickson).
The Lesser Yellowlegs is still on Rathlin, and 40 Purple Sandpipers. (Ric Else).
The Bonaparte's Gull was at Sandy Bay, Larne. (Aaron Long).
Two adult Little Gulls hawking around at Church Island, Lough Beg. (David Steele).
A Carrion Crow was with Hooded Crows on the edge of Castlerock Golf Club. (John Clarke).
The Cattle Egret was near the cow shed on Brankins Island Road near Portmore. (Michael Latham).
The two Tundra Bean Geese still at Dunfanaghy, and 2 Russian White fronts at Inch levels in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).
The Bittern was seen briefly at 18.20 from the viewing platform at Inch in Donegal. (Paul McSwiggan).
A Red-necked Grebe was off the carpark at Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough. (Stuart McKee).
|Black Redstart, Ian Enlander.
Mediterranean Gulls, Jonny Clark.
Ferruginous Duck, Michael Latham.
Bonaparte's Gull, Aaron Long.
Cattle Egret, Michael Latham.
Bird News Saturday 7th March 2026
5 Sand Martin were off the Croghan Hide, Oxford Island. A female Greater Scaup was also present. A Chiffchaff was singing at the Closet River (Garry Armstrong)
The drake Harlequin Duck is at Magheroarty Pier, Donegal (Searlas Anderson / Kevin McLaughlin)
The Ferruginous Duck is again at Ballysaggart Lough this morning, at the northern end (Wayne Greene)
The 2 Russian White-fronts and a Great White Egret are still at the east end of Reedy Flats. (Garry Armstrong)
5 Great White Egret and circa 15 Sand Martin were at The Watermill, Co Fermanagh (John Cusack / Colin Bell)
A Chiffchaff was singing along the Lagan towpath (Eric Randall)
A Drake Ring-necked Duck with a large Tufted flock at Lough Erne Hotel, Fermanagh (Wilton Farrelly)
A drake and female Ring-necked Duck were near Kilmore Jetty, Lisnaskea (Wilton Farrelly)
Lough Beg had over 100 Sand Martin and 2 Great Northern Dicer (David Steele)
A singing Chiffchaff and Grwat Spotted Woodpecker were at Ardress NT (Brian Nelson)
Harlequin Duck, Searlas Anderson:
Bird News Friday 6th March 2026
42 Purple Sandpipers were at the Coastal Zone in Portrush. (Searlas Anderson).
The 2 Russian White-fronts were still at Reedy Flat, but birds very flighty, a Great White Egret was also present. 2 Great White Egrets were at the east end of Ardmore. (Dermot Hughes).
The 11 Russian White-fronts and single Pinkfoot were still at Farranfad Road, Nutgrove, this morning. (David Nixon).
The Ferruginous Duck is still at Ballysaggart Lough, in the north west corner, also a Chiffchaff singing. (Clive Mellon).The Ferruginous duck was still at Ballysaggart Lough behind the island at 5:30pm. (Wilton Farrelly).
An adult Iceland Gull was briefly at the Bann Estuary. (John Spottiswood).
The Harlequin Duck was present again near Magheraroarty pier in Donegal. (Michael Savage).
An adult Iceland Gull and a Carrion Crow were at Belfast Water Works. (Stuart McKee).
The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead seafront. (Cameron Moore).
Bird News Thursday, 5 March 2026
The drake Harlequin Duck was still showing off Magheraroarty Pier (Theo Campbell)
The two Tundra Bean Geese were at Dunfanaghy New Lake along with two Cackling Geese. A pair of Ring-necked Duck were also present (Theo Campbell)
Yesterday 11 Russian Whitefronts and the Pink-footed Goose were at the Annadorn Road, Downpatrick. A high count of 81 Pintail were at the Quoile (Maurice McNeely)
Bird News Wednesday 4th March 2026
2 Mediterranean Gulls still at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Jake Grant).
3 Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Great White Egret, 7 Ruff and singing Chiffchaff at Inch, Donegal (Theo Campbell).
Harlequin still from the end of Magheraorarty pier, Donegal (Pat Pykett).
Pacific Diver still at Trá na gCloch (Pat Pykett / L Feeney).
Bird News Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Single Whooper Swan on the lake at Billy Neill CP (Derek Polley).
Harlequin still present at Magheraroraty Pier, Co Donegal. Pacific Diver present at Tra na gCloch. Black-throated Diver and Little Auk today viewed from Carrigabraghy Castle, Ballyliffin (Pat Lonergan, Killian Mullarney et al).
11 Purple Sandpipers at Ramore Head, Portrush this morning (Edmund Manthorpe).
Goosanders at Glynn (Paula Campbell).
Great Spotted Woodpecker and Woodcock at Davagh Forest, Cookstown, Co Tyrone (Godfrey McRoberts).
There are 2 seats available for the Islay boat trip on Friday 6th March. A great chance to see Chough, White-tailed Sea Eagle and Hen Harrier. Contact Jim Wells on 07856 235144 for details.
Harlequin, Pat Lonergan:
Pacific Diver, Killian Mullarney:
Bird News Monday 2nd March 2026
6 Goosander (including 3 males) River Maine at Slaght nr. Ballymena early doors (David Steele).
Ringtail Hen Harrier hunting at Portmore Lough also 2 Great White Egrets. Also Cattle Egret behind stables (Nigel Moore).
Harlequin Duck and 4 Long-tailed Duck (2 males) east of Magheraroarty Pier, Co Donegal (Pat Pykett / L Feeney).
This afternoon off Cushendun a Great Northern Diver, on Glendun River a female Goosander (Patrick Barton).
A Chiffchaff along the River Inver in Larne near the graffiti murals this afternoon (Tim Davies).
2 Tundra Bean Geese Dunfanaghy New Lake with Barnacle Geese. Male and Female Ring-necked Duck and two pairs of Goosander at Lough Fern (Pat Pykett / L Feeney).
2 Russian White-fronted Geese still at Reedy Flats with the Whooper Swan & Greylag Geese flock (Ken Simpson).
Russian Whitefront, Ken Simpson:
Bird News Sunday 1st March 2026
2 Mediterranean Gulls still at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Leia Getty).
The Ferruginous Duck is still at the north end of Ballysaggart Lough. (Jeff Larkin).
11 Russian White-fronted Geese still at Farranfad Road, Nutgrove, Co. Down. Also 1 Pinkfoot and 40+ Greylag (Daniel Newton).
3 Great White Egrets and a single Cattle Egret still showing well from right of the viewing platform at RSPB Portmore. (Shane Brighton).
7 Twite north of Kearney but no sign of Water Pipit (Aaron Long).
Lesser Yellowlegs still on Rathlin also 20 Twite and 40+ Purple Sandpipers (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
Mediterranean Gull, Leia Getty:
Bird News Saturday 28th February 2026
9 Russian Whitefronts and 2 Pink feet were still present with the Whoopers at the Nutgrove Geese fields off Farranfad road (Aaron Long)
The Harlequin Duck is still at Magheroarty Pier. The Pacific Diver was at Curranport (Searlas Anderson)
Three Great White Egret, a Hen Harrier and the Cattle Egret were seen at Portmore this morning (Michael Latham / Gary Brown)
A pair of Mediterranean Gull were at RSPB WoW. (Daniel Newton)
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Lissue House, Lisburn (Andrew Upton)
An immature White-tailed Eagle was offshore from Galboly, soaring high over the sea in the North Channel. On plumage, a different (younger) bird to the one over Carnlough last week (David Steele)
Two Tundra Bean Geese, were with 40 Greenland Whitefrontss and 100 Barnacles north west of the New Lake, Dunfanaghy (Searlas Anderson / Kevin McLaughlin)
A male Black Redstart was still at The Quays, Portavogie (Derek Polley)
A Water Pipit was north of Kearney at https://maps.app.goo.gl/Xpm9bBmTfoog4G8SA?g_st=ic (Derek Polley)
A Mediterranean Gull was at Movanagher Canal outside Ballymoney (James Armour)
14 Purple Sandpiper and 2 Great Northern Diver were at Portrush (Juliet hen Spottiswood)
4 female type Ring-necked Ducks were on Lough Barry at the junction of Inishmore Road and Whilliter Road, in Co. Fermanagh. (Birdguides).
Hen Harrier, Michael Latham:
Bird News Friday 27th February 2026
A juvenile Black-throated Diver was seen from O’Kane’s lay-by, Red Bay, a new individual, others seen previously this winter were adult-types. (David Steele).
The 2 Russian White-fronts, 1 Pinkfoot and a Ruff were at the east end of Reedy Flats. (Clifford Sharpe, David McCready).
The Ferruginous Duck is still present on Ballysaggart Lough, at the north end of the lake. (Dave Fox).
The Harlequin Duck was at Magheroarty Pier in Donegal today, the bird was distant in the bay but flew in close and was chased by a Great Northern Diver, it flew round and landed on the pier. (John Clarke).
Harlequin Duck, John Clarke.
Boat Trip Talks.
Jim Wells will be giving a talk on the boat trips he organises to the Belfast RSPB group on Monday evening (2nd March). The venue is Cooke Centenary church hall off the Ormeau Road and the talk starts at 7.30pm. Contact the group or Jim on 07856235144 for more details.
Bird News Thursday 26th February 2026
Drake Goosander on the River Strule near Newtownstewart, viewed from main road from first lay-by heading towards Derry (Colin Bell).
Harlequin still in Co Donegal (per Joseph Doolan).
A single Pinkfoot at Annadorn near Seaforde with 40 Whooper, 6 Mute Swans and 21 Greylags but no Whitefronts (Maurice McNeely).
Adult Mediterranean Gull on fields by the A6 at Toome…bird with a full hood, so different to three seen on Sunday…appears to be inland passage of this species just now…(David Steele).
2 Long-tailed Ducks off Lough Shore (Gerard McGeehan).
Ferrugionous Duck still Ballysaggart Lough (David Knight).
Ferruginous Duck, David Knight:
Bird News Wednesday 25th February 2026
Ferruginous Duck showing south end Ballysaggart Lough ( Shane Brighton / Ernie Hunter).
Slavonian Grebe still on Craigavon South Balancing Lake (Shane Brighton).
Great White Egret in flooded fields across the road from the garage where it was first reported from at Toome Bridge (Philip West).
Harlequin Duck still present and showing well at Tra na gCloch, Co Donegal also Pacific Diver present but distant. Also 2 Great Northern Divers (Mervyn Campbell).
Drake Goosander at Sion Mills River Walk at the weir near the CCTV station (Colin Bell).
Male Ring-necked Duck with the Tufted flock, Lough Beg Flock of 11 Glossy Ibis in flight over after sunset…not seen to settle but possibly roosted with Little Egrets; also a big arrival c.1,000 Black-tailed Godwits (David Steele).
Male Brambling back in Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).
Late news from yesterday of a Barn Owl in the outskirts of Antrim (Mark Smyth).
Brambling, Cameron Moore:
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