Bird News Thursday 9th October 2025

The Grey-cheeked Thrush is still present at the east end garden, Tory Island (Aaron Long / Ian Young)

A Black Tern was at Oxford Island this morning (Ed O’Hara)

Two Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Ruff were next to the Kilclief GAA pitch (David Stirling)

A Red-eyed Vireo has been found in Graces Garden, Tory Island (first garden in East Town) (Aaron Long / Ian Young)

A Black Tern is at Kinnego Marina, Oxford Island (Richard Gray)

A second and third Red-eyed Vireo have been now found at Anton’s West Town Garden, Tory Island. (Robert Vaughan)

A White-tailed Eagle was seen over Carnlough, Co Antrim this morning (Keith Glasgow)

Two Harlequin Duck are at Magheroarty, Co Donegal (Aaron Long, Robert Vaughan, Ian Young)

Red-eyed Vireo, Aaron Long:

Harlequin Ducks, Aaron Long:

White-tailed Eagle, Keith Glasgow:

Bird News Wednesday 8th October 2025

Grey-cheeked Thrush showing well on Tory, Co Donegal at east end of island also 1w Red-backed Shrike still present in Grace’s garden (Anton Meenan).

Blackpoll Warbler still present same area on Arranmore, Donegal 1pm (Matthew Tickner)

No sign yesterday 0745-noon of Swainson’s Theush at Malinmore More, Co Donegal.

Redwing over David Lloyd gym Dundonald at 1025 (Bob Watts).

Juvenile Sabine’s Gull past St John’s Point, also flock of 30+ Swallows through (David Stirling).

Green Sandpiper from the Blackstaff Road near Dundrum (David Stirling).

Pinkfoot of unknown origin with feral Greylags at the feeding station on Hillsborough Lake (David Nixon).

New Little Stint at Church Island, Lough Beg (David Steele).

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull Antrim Marina (Gareth Platt).

Great White Egret at Ardmore, Lough Neagh (David Knight).

Male Merlin mobbed by finches and crows at Ballygally Castle (Paula Campbell).

Great White Egret at Lady Dixon Park along the River Lagan (Tim Jess).

2 Red Kite in the Antrim Hills (Ivan Cullen).

Blackpoll Warbler, Matthew Tickner:

Pink-footed Goose, David Nixon:

Kittiwake, Gareth Platt:

Great White Egret, Tim Jess:

Islay Boat Trip

 There is one seat available for the boat trip to Islay on Saturday 11th October. If interested you can contact Jim Wells on 07856 235144 for full details.

Bird News Tuesday 7th October 2025

The Grey-cheeked Thrush is still on Tory this morning. (Chris Ingram). A Red-backed Shrike is present this afternoon. (Derek Brennan).

A ringtail Hen Harrier and a Great White Egret were at Oxford Island this morning. (Ed O'Hara).

The Blackpoll Warbler was present again in the same area on Arranmore in Donegal. At least 350 Barnacles were seen passing the island.  (Matthew Tickner).

A Long-tailed Skua was seen from the Belfast to Cairnryan ferry. (Birdguides).

Two Little Gulls were at Magilligan. (Stephen Riddell).

50 Whoopers, Strand Lough, Killough (John Scovell)

3 Little Stints together Myroe Levels in drainage channel this evening with 4 Dunlins. Towards north (Roe Estuary) end of the site favouring a small rocky area of the near bank by the netted turf lawn. (John Spottiswood).

16 Pink Footed Geese and 1 Grey Plover were at Ballycarry bridge, Larne lough. (Cameron Moore).

Blackpoll Warbler, Matthew Tickner.

Little Gull, Stephen Riddell.

Wheatear, David Hill.

Purple Sandpipers, Juliet Fleming.

Whooper Swans, Juliet Fleming.

Bird News Monday 6th October 2025

Blackpoll Warbler on west side of Arranmore, Co Donegal in short turf and ditch sides around ruined buildings 200m to the south of Lighthouse on Arranmore, 1530 -1545. Also c 100 Barnacle Geese  in several parties this morning over the island. (Matthew Tickner).

Grey-cheeked Thrush on Tory, Co Donegal for 2nd day (Anton Meenan).

Swainson’s Thrush still present at Glencomcille, Malin More, Co Donegal (per Joseph Doolan).

A Corncrake on Rathlin this morning. First Merlin of the autumn yesterday also a small flock of Twite (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Great White Egret and ringtail Hen Harrier at Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).

Ringtail Hen Harrier at Portmore Lough (Richard Caves).

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

4 Common Terns Kinnegar Shore (Mel O’Hagan).

Grey-cheeked Thrush, Anton Meenan:

Bird News Sunday 5th October 2025

Whoopers are arriving now in good numbers, including in the fields near the stables at Myroe, (Stephen Riddell),15 over Cliftonville heading south, (Ricky McQuillan), 6 over Derrytrasna on the south shore of Lough Neagh, (Pat Flowerday), 20 at Portmore, (Ed O'Hara), and 20+ over Cloughmills, (Derek McClean).

Siberian Chiffchaff Bar Hall Bay along path to Ballquintin Farm near crest of hill in garden edge,  the bird was calling frequently. 32 Mediterranean Gulls were at the south end of Cloughey beach. (Bob Watts).

Ballyquintin Farm on the outer Ards  had a Stock Dove and 16 Whoopers. A single Pinkfoot flew into Bar Hall Bay. 2 Chiffchaff, male Blackcap, 8+ Goldcrest, 2 Wheatear and a calling Whimbrel were along the path to the farm from Bar Hall Bay. (Bob Watts,  Richard Weyl).

A Chiffchaff was at Templecowey. (Richard Weyl).

31 Barnacles and 3 Whitefronts were over Magilligan. (Stephen Riddell).

Ramore Head 07:30 - 10:30. 2 Adult Pomarine Skua, 4 Arctic and 8 Great Skua, 2 Sooty Shearwater, 8 Leach’s Petrel, 3 European Storm Petrel, 3 Arctic Tern, 41 Great Northern Diver, 11 Red-throated Diver, 24 Whooper Swan, 163 Barnacle Geese, 5 Whitefronts, 10 Brent, 3 Pintail, 3 Common Scoter, 174 Tufted Duck, 48 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 11 Red-Breasted Merganser and 4 Purple Sandpiper. (Dean Jones, ChrisVeale).

58 Whoopers, a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Ballycarry Bridge. There was no sign of the Glossy Ibis. (Cameron Moore  Dave Craig).

A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Church Island, Lough Beg. (David Steele).

Rathlin today had 87 Barnacles, 37 Whoopers and 11 Storm Petrels. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Bird News Saturday 4th October 2025

Swainson’s Thrush still showing very well on garden at Malin More, Co Donegal (Ian Stevenson et al).

A Common Tern at Kinnegar (Stuart Cossey).

Glossy Ibis seen in flight at Kilclief (David Stirling).

Great Spotted Woodpecker in a Lambeg garden yesterday (Noeni Bryars).

Numerous flocks of Barnacle Geese, 100 birds in total, heading north over Rathlin this morning. Sooty Shearwater, Arctic Skua and Great Skua offshore (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Ramore Head 07:30 - 12:45. Personal tallies: Adult Pom Skua, 5 Arctic and 3 Great Skua, 1 juv Sabine’s, 11 Sooty Shearwater, 55 Manx, 1 Leach’s Petrel, 1 adult Little Gull, 7 Arctic Tern (plus 4 Common/Arctic), 1 Sandwich Tern, 28 Great Northern Diver, 8 RT Diver, 5 Whooper Swan, 104 Barnacle Geese, 40 Brent, 30 Pink Feet, 4 Greylag, 3 Pintail, 5 Common Scoter, 84 Tufted Duck, 62 Wigeon, 14 RBMerganser (Dean Jones / Richard Donaghey / Aaron Long). Additional to 1430: 1 Leach’s Petrel, 2 Storm Petrel, 1 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, decent numbers of divers and geese (Aaron Long).

At Lough Beg this morning 13 Glossy Ibis and 40 Ruff at West Shore/Church Island and 2 Great White Egret in flooded fields along the Ballydermot Road with Grey Herons and Little Egrets (Godfrey McRoberts). Late evening 1+ Pectoral Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper at the south end (David Steele).

Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Whooper Swans at Ballycarry (Gerard McGeehan). Glossy Ibis on the north side of Ballycarry Bridge at 4pm (Cameron Moore).

In an hour this morning at Melmore Head, Co Donegal Sooty Shearwaters passing at 5-10 per minute, single Arctic and Great Skuas, large movement of Barnacle Geese including a flock of 300 and 30 Whooper Swans in off the sea (Eric Randall).

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Noeni Bryars:

Bird News Friday 3rd October 2025

 4 Curlew Sandpipers were off the hide at the Barmouth. (John Spottiswood).

The Swainson's Thrush was seen again this morning in poor weather conditions at Glencolumcille in Donegal. (Dean Jones)

A Marsh Harrier was off the platform hide at Inch in Donegal, a Water Rail was calling below the hide. (Michael Savage).

Bird News Thursday 2nd October 2025

The Swainson’s Thrush is still present at Malinmore, Co Donegal for its 4th day near the Glencomcille Hotel in garden at crossroads and showing well (Ian You g).

Great White Egret again off Croaghan Island, Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).

Little Stint yesterday at Myroe (Mervyn Guthrie).

Marsh Harrier and 2 House Martin at Inch, Co Donegal (Martin Deehan / Theo Campbell).

Swainson’s Thrush, Anthony McGeehan:

Little Stint, Mervyn Guthrie:

Bird News Wednesday 1st October 2025

The Swainson's Thrush was still present at Malinmore, Donegal (Sean Gibson / Aaron Long / Billy Miskelly)

A Great White Egret was off the Croaghan Hide, Oxford Island (Ed O’Hara)

A Great White Egret and Curlew Sandpiper were in the channel at Myroe (Stephen Riddell)

Black Tern still present at Lough Beg. Also 2 Great White Egret (Dev & Helen)

A Common Sandpiper is at Camlough Lake (David Stirling)

A Little Gull was at Magilligan (Stephen Riddell)

Three Pectoral Sandpipers were at Lough Beg this evening, mobile around the south end with other waders. Also three Spotted Redshanks together in the southwest corner and a total of five Great White Egret around the lake - but no Glossy Ibis seen (David Steele)

A leucistic Brent Goose, like one at Ballykelly on the 25th September, was at Islandhill, Strangford Lough this morning (Graham McElwaine)

6 Glossy Ibis and 14 Ruff were at Lurgangreen, Co Louth (Neal Warnock)

Great White Egret, Myroe, Stephen Riddell:

Little Gull, Stephen Riddell:

Bird News Tuesday 30th September 2025

 A juvenile Sabine's Gull was off the Rue on Rathlin this morning and a female or juvenile Pintail in Church Bay. Also present were 2 Arctic Skuas and 9 White Wagtails. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

The Swainson's Thrush is still at Malinmore in Donegal, in the garden at the crossroads. (Chris Ingram). The bird was present into the afternoon. The bird stayed in the same garden (just before crossroads in Malinmore valley) all day. It has a circuit around the grass/leaves and should be looked for from a parking area that overlooks the garden (with a small yellow gate). Do not enter garden. Bird easily seen from car park. One circuit takes about twenty minutes. So if not on view, be patient. Occasionally hops up on to roadside wall too. (Anthony McGeehan).

A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was on Runkerry beach this morning. (Stephen Riddell)

3 Common Terns were at Kinnegar shore. (Bob Watts).

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Myroe this morning, there was no sign of the Glossy Ibis. (David Hill).

A Great White Egret was on Lower lough Erne. (Irishbirding).

Mediterranean Gull, Stephen Riddell.

Curlew Sandpiper, David Hill.

Bird News Monday 29th September 2025

Swainsons Thrush seen flying into the the plantation at the back of the Malinmore Hotel, Co Donegal (Anthony McGeehan).

Red-breasted Goose of unknown origin but presumed escape with 5 Barnacle Geese on Tory, Co Donegal (Anton Meenan). Note there has recently been a bird at Dunfanaghy New Lakes, Co Donegal. 

Ringtail Hen Harrier at Portmore Lough early afternoon (Colin Bell).

Great White Egret at the Roe Eatuary (Steven Fyffe).

Juvenile Little Stint at Lough Beg this evening, also now three Great White Egret present but only two Glossy Ibis clocked (David Steele).

Ringtail Hen Harrier, Kestrel and 3 Wheatear on Divis this afternoon (John O’Boyle).

4+ Curlew Sandpipers at the mouth of the River Blackstaff, Dundrum Inner Bay (David Nixon).

Moulting 2nd year female Hen Harrier on Rathlin this evening (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Swainson’s Thrush, Anthony McGeehan:

Little Stint, David Steele:

Red-breasted Goose, Anton Meenan:

Hen Harrier, Ric Else / Hazel Watson:

Bird News Sunday 28th September 2025

Ballykelly had 16 Slavonian Grebes, 30 Med Gulls, a Curlew Sandpiper (David Steele / Garry Armstrong)

7 Pink-feet and a Black Tern are at Portmore RSPB (Ed O’Hara)

A Glossy Ibis and 3 Curlew Sandpipers are at Myroe (Garry Armstrong/ David Steele)

Yesterday a drake Common Scoter was showing very well at Lough Fea, Cookstown. (Andy Warwick)

A single Black Tern was north of Long Point and two Great Egrets in the bay south of Church Island, Lough Beg (Richard Gray)

A Spotted Redshank and two Curlew Sandpipers were at Dundalk Docks (John Spottiswood)

A juvenile Arctic Skua, 3 Black Terns, juvenile Little Gull, 3 Common Terns and 2 Arctic Terns were at Magilligan (Garry Armstrong / David Steele)

A single Glossy Ibis was at The Creagh, Toomebridge (Richard Gray)

Two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were at Antrim Marina (Gareth Platt)

13 Redwing were on Rathlin today (Dakota Reid / Martin Clift)

The best at Glencolmcille, Co Donegal were a Lapland Bunting, 4 Redwing and 3 Chiffchaff (Anthony McGeehan)

A Hen Harrier was on Divis Mountain (Alan Fitzsimmons)

Mediterranean Gull, Gareth Platt:

Bird News Saturday 27th September 2025

A Great White Egret was at the carpark east of Todd's Corner, Ardmore on the south shore of Lough Neagh. (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara).

The Marsh Harrier was still at Inch in Donegal. (Leia Getty).

A Mediterranean Gull and 9 Ruff were in the field opposite Lady Bay. (Garry Armstrong).

Lough Beg had 7 Glossy Ibis, a Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier at the south end, 29 Ruff were off Long Point. (Dermot Hughes)

A White Wagtail was at Bar Hall Bay, 6 Greenland Wheatear and a Chiffchaff were at Kearney on the outer Ards. (Bob Watts).

An Arctic Skua was at the Barmouth. (Mark McCullough).

Tory Island had 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 1 White Wagtail, 30+ Wheatear, 5 Barnacle Geese, 2 Pink-footed Geese, immature Hen Harrier, Kestrel and Buzzard. (Wilton Farrelly).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper again with the plover flock south end of Lough Beg this evening, also Curlew Sandpiper, two Great White Egrets, at least 22 Glossy Ibis and a fly-through Osprey…also two Black Terns distant north end of the lake…the Osprey was a juvenile.  (David Steele).

The Bonaparte's Gull was on Kinnegar shore. (Steven Farquar).

Bird News Friday 26th September 2025

Crossbill calling over Belvoir Park with some Chaffinch (Stuart Cossey).

Common Scoter off Marina at Manor House hotel, Killadeas also a male Great Spotted Woodpecker (Garry Wilkinson).

2 Black Tern off Croaghan Island Oxford Island Lough Neagh (Ed O’Hara).  Great White Egret this afternoon (Daniel Newton).

Glossy Ibis still at Myroe (BirdGuides).

Lapland Bunting on Tory, Co Donegal (Robert Vaughan).

A Whimbrel at Ballycarry (Paula Campbell).

Great White Egret at Ballykelly (U3A Foyle Group per Michael Savage).

4 Crossbill Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

7 Pinkfeet and a Dark-bellied Brent Goose Dundrum Inner Bay (David Nixon).

35 Glossy Ibis in a single flock mobile around the south end of Lough Beg this afternoon but no sign of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper in windy conditions but Spotted Redshank, 2 Great White Egrets and 2 Pinkfeet also seen (David Steele).

2 Red Kites above Poyntzpass from canal path (Mark Killops).

Great White Egret on the rocks at Portballintrae (Gillian Kyle).

Lapland Bunting, Robert Vaughan:

Glossy Ibis, David Steele:

Pink-footed Goose, David Nixon:

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, David Nixon:

Great White Egret, Michael Savage & Daniel Newton:

Bird News Thursday 25th September 2025

A Whimbrel was at Ballyquintin Point, a Greenland Wheatear at Kearney and a Mediterranean Gull at Cloughy. (Bob Watts). 

An immature female Peregrine was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Derek Polley).

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Lough Beg this evening, mobile with the Golden Plover flock. Also 30 Glossy Ibis, a flock of 21 and a separate group of nine. (David Steele).

A moulting adult Grey Plover, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints and a Great Egret were at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).

A leucistic Brent Goose was at Ballykelly this afternoon. (Graham McElwaine).

A ringtail Hen Harrier on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).

Bird News Wednesday 24th September 2025

17 Ruff, 4 Curlew Sandpiper and the Marsh Harrier were at Inch, Co Donegal (Ralph Sheperd)

A single Glossy Ibis was seen briefly at Reedy Flats (David McCready)

A Marsh Harrier was at Reedy Flat (David Clarke)

A female Pintail was in Church Bay, Rathlin Island (David Morrow / Jonathan Mann)

A sub-adult male Marsh Harrier was at the Bann Estuary. A Curlew Sandpiper was also present. (Matthew Tickner)

The Red-breasted Goose of unknown origin is still in the goose fields at Dunfanaghy. A Garganey was at the west end of New Lake (Robert Vaughan)

3 Barnacles Geese, presumed feral, were at Lady Bay, Lough Neagh (David Clarke)

Marsh Harrier, David Clarke:

Glossy Ibis, Myroe (yesterday), Juliet Fleming:

Rare Breeding Bird Panel

We have been asked by RBBP to pass on any potential breeding records for 2024 and 2025 of the species below. It would be appreciated if you could forward any potential records to us at nibirds@live.co.uk  Alternatively, you can also send records direct to the RBBP at: secretary@rbbp.org.uk

Species: Whooper Swan, Garganey, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pochard, Red-breasted Merganser, Quail, Corncrake, Med Gull.

Bird News Tuesday 23rd September 2025

Great White Egret at Ballykelly flew towards Myroe (Stephen Riddell).

Glossy Ibis still in drainage ditch at Myroe (Juliet Fleming).

Flock of 8 Pinkfeet over Rathlin (Hazel Watson / Ric Else).

5 Whooper Swans in Kinnego Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Robert Hughes).

22+ Glossy Ibis at Lough Beg this evening (David Hunter).

Great White Egret, Stephen Riddell:

Bird News Monday 22nd September 2025

 Nine Glossy Ibis were at Todd's Corner, Ardmore, Lough Neagh this morning before moving towards Reedy Flats. (David McCreedy).

The male Lesser Scaup was showing well off the causeway at Inch in Donegal. (Theo Campbell, Martin Deehan).

A Glossy Ibis and a Great White Egret were at Myroe. (Jonny Rosborough, Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).

A dark bellied Brent Goose and a Pinkfoot were at the Bann Estuary. (John Spottiswood).

An Arctic Skua, Red-throated Diver and several distant Black Terns were at Magilligan. (Jonny Rosborough).

A 1st winter Sabine’s Gull and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull were with 5 1st winter  Kittiwakes and a mixed group of Black-headed Gulls off Port Muck in a sea watch between 12:30 & 16:30. There were also good numbers of Common Dolphins also showing. (Kevin Kirkham).

26 Glossy Ibis at the south end of Lough Beg this evening, also single Brent Goose (presumably blown in on yesterday’s northerly) and four White Wagtails. (David Steele).

A flock of Pinkfeet east along the Lagan by Annadale in Belfast. (Stuart Cossey).

Glossy Ibis, David McCreedy.

Great White Egret, Jonny  Rosborough.

Arctic Skua, Jonny Rosborough.

Bird News Sunday 21st September 2025

3 Black Terns were at Kinnego Bay, Lough Neagh, this morning (Garry Armstrong)

A Long-tailed Duck is on Lough Beg (David Steele)

3 Glossy Ibis are at Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh (Garry Armstrong)

A seawatch at St John Point betelween 06:45 - 11:00 had 50 Red-throated Divers, 1 Great Northern, 6 Whoopers Swans, 15 White-fronted Geese and 250 Brent Geese.  No Manx Shearwaters were seen (Chris and Nicholas Veale)

A Merlin was at Killard (Stuart Cossey)

Two Curlew Sandpiper and two Brent were at Carnlough (Jonny Rosborough)

A flock of 19 Glossy Ibis are at Lough Beg (David Steele)

A seawatch at Ramore Head from 07:00- 11:30 had 4 Sabine’s (all juvs), 3 Leach’s Petrels, 3 Arctic Skua, 1 Arctic Tern, 6 Sandwich Tern, 6 Red-throated Diver, 21 Manx, 8 Brent, 3 Common Scoter and 156 Tufted Duck. Steady movement of Kittiwakes and Gannet throughout (Dean Jones)

Kearney had a White Wagtail and 3 Greenland Wheatear (Bob Watts)

The best at Ballyquinton were a White Wagtail (Richard Weyl) and a Stock Dove (Bob Watts)

A probable drake Lesser Scaup was off the Tready Hide, Inch, Co Donegal (Davy Hunter)

6 Ruff were in a partly flooded field at Kirkiston (Richard Weyl)

Two Glossy Ibis were north of Church Island (Tom Garner)

17 Glossy Ibis were at Ardmore, Lough Neagh, Co Armagh (Chris Rankin)

Curlew Sandpiper, Jonny Rosborough:

Glossy Ibis, Lough Beg, David Steele:

Bird News Saturday 20th September 2025

Adult American Golden Plover and 10 Curlew Sandpipers at Myroe (Jamie Bliss).

2 Black Terns off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island, also 24 Ruff (Garry Armstrong / Roger Woodward). Black Terns still early afternoon (Mel O’Hagan).

Female Scaup and a Whooper Swan on the Quoile Pondage (Daniel Bailie).

2 Ruff Dundrum Inner Bay (Bob Watts).

14 Ruff at Lady Bay (Garry Armstrong).

Wheatear at Harbour Meadows, Belfast Lough (Stuart Cossey).

2 adult Mediterranean Gulls and juvenile Common Tern Barmouth (Theo Campbell / Richard Smith).

Adult Mediterranean Gull at Killough (Chris Murphy).

Black Tern and 2 Whooper Swans in the Bann Estuary (John Clarke).

Lots of Great Northern and Red-throated Divers flying into Lough Foyle at lunchtime a few Arctic Skuas further out (John Clarke).

Ramore Head seawatch 12-6pm produced a Sabine’s Gull, 10 Arctic Skuas, 4 Red-throated and 3 Great Northern Divers, just 11 Manx Shearwaters and 4 Sandwich Terns (Aaron Long / Michael Latham).

Arranmore, Co Donegal produced 3 Sabine’s Gulls, Great Shearwater, 25+ Arctic Skua, 6 Bonxie, 4 Manx, 36 Pink Feet, 3 Red-throated Diver.3 White Wags. 12+ Wheatear. (Andrew MacMillan / Brennan / Sean Gibson / Robert Vaughan / Wilton Farrelly).

Black Tern feeding very close offshore at St John’s Point lighthouse with Sandwich Terns (David Stirling).

10 Curlew Sandpipers at mouth of Blackstaff River, Dundrum also a Pinkfoot with the Brents (David Nixon).

Female Scaup on Kinnegar Sewage Works. Also a Black Tern on Kinnegar Shore with c20 Sandwich  and 4 Common Terns (Stuart Cossey).

Probable White-tailed Eagle over Carnalea at 1720 (David Miller).

An arrival of Pinkfeet over a Bangor garden and then c50 over Helens Bay at 1830 heading towards Ards (Anthony McGeehan). Two additional flocks of c100 over Helens Bay mid afternoon (John McClean).

Castlerock off Shell Pool this evening - Sabine's Gull, 13 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Arctic Skuas, 10 Sandwich Terns, 2 Red-throated Divers and 60 Pale-bellied Brent Geese east in 2 groups (John Spottiswood).

Ringtail Hen Harrier at Portmore Lough (Alan Dickson).

Curlew Sandpipers, David Nixon:

Bird News Friday 19th September 2025

 There are still 15 Black Terns at Inch in Donegal. (Chris Ingram).

At least 1 Glossy Ibis is still at Lough Beg. (James Armour).

A Black Tern was at Magilligan this morning. (Donna Riddell).

One or possibly two Little Gulls were at Magilligan. (Tom Garner).

A Red-breasted Goose of unknown origin, is with Greylags at Dunfanaghy New Lake, Donegal (Tony Berry).

10 Ruff were at Lady Bay this evening. (Garry Armstrong).

A Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Myroe this morning. (John Clarke).

Black Tern, Donna Riddell.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Juliet Fleming.

Bird News Thursday 18th September 2025

The Wilson’s Phalarope was still present at Lough Mourne, at the north western end (Mike McLaughlin)  The bird was still present this evening along with two Curlew Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper (Nathan Gilbert)

A Black Tern was with Sandwich Terns, moving through Killough (Chris Murphy)

Yesterday 3 Glossy Ibis were at Lough Beg, along with 5 Ruff (Godfrey McRoberts)

Four Black Terns and a Little Gull are at Magilligan (Richard Donaghey)

16 Pink-footed Geese are at the mouth of the Roe Estuary, viewed from Myroe, also one Curlew Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull. 2 Slavonian Grebe were found ff the sea wall. (Jeff Larkin)

19 Glossy Ibis were still at Lough Beg this evening. 18 at the south end and a single at Church Island, also four Pinkfeet, 40 Ruff and a Green Sandpiper (David Steele)

A pelagic today from Portstewart had 10 European Storm Petrels, a Black Tern near Rathlin, 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skuas and one Red/throated diver (Jim Wells).

9 Pink-footed Geese were seen flying over Limavady.

A Curlew Sandpiper was in Dunfanaghy (Liz McKenna)

A Great Skua was seen from the Larne to Cairnryan ferry this morning.

There are three seats available for a Pelagic boat trip on Saturday (20th September). The boat leaves Ballycastle at 12.30pm and returns at 4.30pm. Contact Jim Wells on 07856235144 for more details.

Storm Petrel, Nigel Moore: