Bird News Friday 4th September 2026

9 Ruff were on Ardglass golf course this morning. (Chris Murphy).

Rocky Point in Donegal this morning, 3 hours from 9am. Wind initially F5-6, gusting stronger. Cory's Shearwaters 38, Great Shearwater 17, Sooty Shearwaters 175, Storm Petrel 1, Bonxie 19, Pomarine Skuas 2, Kittiwake 2, Whimbrel 1. (John O’Boyle). 

A Wood Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Lady Bay this afternoon. (Garry Armstrong).

A Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 4 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin were at Seaghan Dam in Co. Armagh. (Joe Devlin).

A Ruff was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve and a Wheatear was at Kinnegar shore. (Mel O'Hagan).

The Black Tern, Osprey and 4 Glossy Ibis were all at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

A 90 minute seawatch this evening from Fanad Head in Donegal had 5 Great Shearwater, minimum of 400 Sooty Shearwater, 3 Great Skua. (Wilton Farrelly).

Bird News Thursday 3rd September 2026

The Osprey was at the Quoile this morning (David Stirling / Dylan Feore)

A Black Tern was at Lough Beg. Also at Lough Beg, female or juvenile Garganey, four Glossy Ibis, five Great Egrets and the Osprey. (David Steele)

The Wood Warbler was still at Malin Beg, Donegal (Dermot Hughes)

A Whimbrel and Red-theoated Diver were best at Magilligan. Eight Barnacle Geese and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Myroe (Jonny Rosborough)

Two Med Gulls were at the East Strand car park, Portrush (John Clarke)

3 Ruff and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits were at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)

An Osprey is at the far end of Hillsborough lake high up in the pine trees preening. (Gayle and Garry Wilkinson)

Curlew Sandpiper, Jonny Rosborough:

Bird News Wednesday 2nd September 2026

A Wood Sandpiper is at Longfield Point, Lough Foyle, in the channel beside the airport. (Richard Donaghey).

A Marsh Harrier was at Lough Beg. (Dylan Feore). The Marsh Harrier was still at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

One of the Ospreys is still at the Quoile. (David Stirling, Tim Jess).

A pelagic today from Teelin in Donegal between 08:00-15:00 had a minimum of 4 Wilson’s Storm Petrels, 50+ Storm Petrels, 2 Cory’s Shearwaters, 20 Sooty Shearwaters and 1 Arctic Skua. 

5 Glossy Ibis were on the shore of Lough Neagh near Toomebridge. (Joshua Atkins).

Marsh Harrier, Dylan Feore.

Bird News Tuesday 1st September 2026

Barn Owl hunting in lowland field near Eglinton airport close to railway at 0810 (Peter Elliott).

Green Sandpiper on pond at private land near Carryduff (Clive Mellon).

2 Ospreys at Quoile Pondage this morning (Daniel Bailie). The 2 Ospreys were near the Castle Island hide this afternoon. (Harvey Hughes).

Last night a Wood Sandpiper was at Lady Bay. (John Cusack).

A male Blue-winged Teal was shot on the south shore of Lough Neagh this morning.

A Ruff was at the Bann Estuary, there was no sign of the Osprey. (James McDowell).

There was no sign of the Wood Sandpiper at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this evening but a Curlew Sandpiper was seen briefly. (Daniel Newton).

Green Sandpiper, Clive Mellon:

Bird News Monday 31st August 2026

3 Curlew Sandpiper were off the Tready Hide at Inch. Another was off the viewing platform (Searlas Anderson)

The Osprey still at Lough Beg, opposite side of Longpoint (Jonny Rosborough)

A seawatch from Bloody Foreland, 630 to 1030 had 25 Corys Shearwater, 10 Great Skua, 1216 Manx Shearwater, 2 Pomarine Skua and 7 Sooty Shearwater. (Michael Thornton)

Lough Beg / The Bann today had an Osprey, 6 Glossy Ibis, 3 Green Sandpiper, 5 Great White Egret and Whooper Swans (Jim Wells et al)

Fanad Head this morning from 6:45 to 10am had circa 25 Corys Shearwater, 6 Great Shearwater, 5Sooty Shearwater, a Storm Petrel, a Pomarine Skua, 3 Arctic Skua and 4 Bonxie (WF, SD, AL, JB)

The Wood Sandpiper and three Ruff were still at RSPB WoW (Alan Fitzsimmons)

Rocky Point, Donegal this morning had 9 Cory’s, 7 Sooty  and 1 Bonxie.  Malin beg “magic” garden, had a Wood Warbler, although elusive (Dermot Hughes / John O'Boyle)

An adult Iceland Gull was at Loughshore, Shore Road, Whiteabbey (Tony Dodds)

A Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier were in the Antrim Hills (Ewan McKenzie)

Galboly this evening up to 20:15 had 152+ European Storm Petrels, all after 18:00 when the northwest breeze dropped out…most flying quickly north but a few groups pausing to feed quite close in with Manx Shearwaters; also seen, singles of Sooty Shearwater, Great Skua and Arctic Skua (David Steele)

Myroe had several Curlew sandpiper and at least 2 Little Stints (Ivan Quail / Nicky Lynn /  John Clarke / Michael Latham)

Wood Sandpiper, Alan Fitzsimmons:

This interesting corvid has been around House of Vic-ryn, Moira Road, Lisburn  it possibly shows some characteristics of House Crow:

Bird News Sunday 30th August 2026.

2 Curlew Sandpipers and 2 Ruff at Inch. and 2 Curlew Sadpipers and 3 Ruff at Blanket Nook. (Searlas Anderson).

The Osprey is still at north end of Lough Beg. (David Steele).

6 Brent Geese went past Glassagh Bay, Fanad Head in Donegal. (Wilton Farrelly).

 A Wood Sandpiper was in front of the observation room at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve, 2 Ruff were also present. (Stuart Cossey). The Wood Sandpiper and 3 Ruff were still present this afternoon. (Bob Watts).

2 Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Myroe. (Daniel Newton).

25 Brent were at island Hill in Strangford, also 2 Knot. (Gerard McGeehan).

The Osprey is still at the Quoile Hide. (Ethan McMillan, Michael Latham).

A Ruff was at the Bann Estuary. (John Spottiswood).

2 Curlew Sandpipers and a Ruff were at Inch in Donegal. (Kyle Martin)

Swifts were heard at Moseley Mill this morning. (Isaiah Davis).

Osprey, Michael Latham.

Bird News Saturday 29th August 2026

21 Ruff, single Curlew Sandpiper and Great White Egret off Long Point, Lough Beg (Ivan Quail).

Osprey at north end of Lough Beg this evening and 6 Great White Egrets (David Steele).

Adult and 2 juvenile Ruff at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Stuart McKee, Gerrard McGeehan).

Osprey still from Castle Island hide, Quoile (Ewan McKenzie).

Bird News Friday 28th August 2026

Two Ruff were at RSPB WoW this morning (Daniel Newton)  Three Ruff (two juvenile and an adult) were present at lunchtime (Stuart McKee)

Four Spotted Flycatcher were at Augher River walk this morning (Colin Bell)

A Ruff was at Ladys Bay, Lough Neagh (Richard Caves)

An Osprey was seen flying down river over Steamboat Quay to Castle Island Hide, the Quoile at 2pm (Tim Davis)  The bird was still present at 5:30pm (Laura Millar)

Juvenile Ruff, Richard Caves:

Bird News Thursday 27th August 2026

 An Osprey was at Kilmore Quay Lower Lough Erne this morning, it flew south west behind Inishcorkish Island out of view. The Osprey returned to the area before flying off eastwards. (Colin Bell).

Two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, a Stock Dove, two Wheatear, two Mediterranean Gulls and juvenile Peregrine were at Myroe. (Theo Campbell, Paul McSwiggin). One of the juvenile Curlew Sandpipers was still at Myroe this evening. (John Spottiswood).

On Arranmore in Donegal a juvenile Citrine Wagtail was at Poolawaddy ( NE corner ), flew towards Leabgarrow. (3rd Island record). (Andrew McMillan).

An Osprey and a Common Sandpiper are at the Barmouth hide. (Searlas Anderson).

Two Spotted Flycatchers were near the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

A Whimbrel and a Greenshank were the best at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Derek Polley).

The Osprey and at least five Great Egrets still at Lough Beg however no sign of the Black Tern. There are also a few small waders about including four juvenile Sanderling. (David Steele).

The Chough is still at Torr Head. (Ivan Cullen).

A male Hen Harrier flew over Dungannon park being harassed by gulls. (David Shilliday).

A single Sooty Shearwater and 800 Manx Shearwaters past Galboly in a couple of hours this evening in nearly calm conditions. (David Steele).

A Swift was at Woodcroft, Ballymena this evening. (Richard Gray).

An Osprey was seen circling over Killyleagh road close to the bridge on the Quoile river today at 12:30.

Spotted Flycatcher, Ed O'Hara.

Osprey, Searlas Anderson.

Common Sandpiper, Searlas Anderson.

Bird News Wednesday 26th August 2026

Late news from yesterday of a single Swift over Hillsborough Lake (Garry Wilkinson).

Juvenile Black Tern, Lough Beg…covering a wide circuit over the main lake and a dozen juvenile Common Terns also present (David Steele).

Osprey still at the northern end of Lough Beg, perching in the same big willow tree (distant scope views from Long Point Wood). 6 Great White Egrets, one at Long Point, roosting with Little Egrets on the small wooded island, 4 south of Church Island and one at south end (David Steele).

Juvenile Grey Plover in the Bann Estuary (John Clarke).

Chough still at Torr Head; the same Manx bird which was on Rathlin in the spring (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

Arctic Skua amongst large numbers of feeding Razorbill, Terns and Gannets close inshore at Carnalea (Richard Weyl).

Peregrine, Laura Rose:

Great White Egrets, David Steele:

Bird News Tuesday 25th August 2026

A ring-tail Hen Harrier was off the viewing platform at Inch, Donegal (Theo Campbell)

The Osprey was still at the Quoile this morning (David Stirling)

Two Green Sandpipers were at Blackstaff River and a Stock Dove at Ardilea, Dundrum Bay, this morning. The Osprey was in flight, at the Yacht club end of Quoile Pondage at lunchtime. (David Nixon / Philip McHaffie)

Bird News Monday 24th August 2026

An immature Marsh Harrier was at Starbog Road in the Antrim Hills moving north west. Same area as one seen 10 days ago. (Clive Mellon).

An Osprey was at the Quoile. (David Stirling). The Osprey is still present in front of the hide at the Quoile, it has a blue ring on its left leg. (Chris Murphy).

Bird News Sunday 23rd August 2026

Common Sandpiper at Traad Point. 12 adult Whooper Swan with one young south of Traad Point (Mark Smyth).

Marsh Harrier at Todd’s Corner, Ardmore. Single Ruff at the east end of Reedy Flats and 4 more Ruff at the west end (Garry Armstrong, Oscar Campbell).

3 Ruff at Lady Bay (David Clarke, John Pyper).

3 dark and a single phase Arctic Skuas chasing Sandwich Terns and at least 2 Little Gulls of which one an adult at Magilligan Point. Also porpoises and bottle nose dolphins (Michael Latham, Nathan Gilbert).

Osprey at Lough Beg 1220 perched up on a big willow tree at the north end, also Great White Egret (David Steele). Still at north end of Lough Beg this evening. Very distant but still viewable from Long Wood (Aaron Long, Daniel Newton, Ian Young).

Wheatear at Ramore Head (Chris Hamilton).

At least one Green Sandpiper still at Seagahan Dam Co Armagh still with Common Sandpiper (John Spottiswood).

Ruff, David Clarke:

Arctic Skua, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 22nd August 2026

Magilligan had 2 adult Little Gulls, an Arctic Skua, Kestrel and 3 Common Scoter. The best at the Barmouth was a single Ruff and Whimbrel and an adult Med Gull.(Garry Armstrong / David Steele)

An Arctic Skua was at Briggs Rocks, Co Down this morning (Richard Weyl)

Two Red Kites were in the Antrim Hills. Also seen were a Hen Harrier, Kestrel, Wheatear and a high count of 48 Raven (Stephen Farquhar)

Kinnegar Shore had an adult Mediterranean Gull (Daniel Newton)

2 Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were at Seagahan Resevoir, south of Markethill (Clifford Sharpe)

A Ruff was at Lady’s Bay, and a Common Sandpiper at Bartins Bay, Lough Neagh (Richard Caves)

Two Osprey were seen east of Emerson’s Sand-pit. A Garganey was at Reedy Flats (Oscar Campbell)

Ruff, Lady’s Bay, unfortunately with extensive blue green algae (Richard Caves)

Bird News Friday 21st August 2026

A juvenile female Peregrine and 3 Mediterranean Gulls were at Myroe. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Donnybrewer, Lough Foyle. (Theo Campbell, Paul McSwiggin).

8 Ruff were at Myroe this morning. (James McDowell et al).

4 Mediterranean Gulls were at Ballykelly marsh, 2 adults, 1 juvenile and 1 sub adult, also a juvenile Peregrine. (David McCreedy, Clifford Sharpe,  Mike McLaughlin).

A juvenile Ruff was at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Stuart Cossey).

A blue Fulmar was off Melmore Head in Donegal this morning. (Oscar Campbell).

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at Lady Bay this evening. (Garry Armstrong).

A dark juvenile Arctic Skua was off Shell Pool, Castlerock this evening heading west. 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Whimbrels the best at Bann Estuary this evening.  (John Spottiswood).

A couple of hours from Galboly this evening had a single juvenile Great Skua, juvenile Arctic Skua and two Arctic Terns. (David Steele).

15 Mediterranean Gull were at Ratallagh shore between Portavogie and Cloughey. One was a Belgian ringed bird previously seen at Cloughey beach, another was a German ringed bird. (Graham McElwaine).

Three Mediterranean Gulls were at Carlingford Lough. A 3rd calendar bird feeding at Ballagan, 2nd calendar bird and 3rd calendar bird roosting at Mill Bay. (Stephen Foster).

2 Whimbrel and a Wheatear were at Killard Point. (Richard Caves).

Ruff, John Clarke.

Wheatear, Richard Caves.

 

Bird News Thursday 20th August 2026

Last night a Ruff was at Myroe (Martin Deehan)

Today Myroe had a Little Stint and two Ruff (Martin Deehan)

Two Whimbrel were at Ballycarry Bridge (Ian Enlander)

A juvenile Little Gull was at Long Point, Lough Beg (David Steele)

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull and two Whimbrel were at the Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood)

A juvenile Cuckoo was at Ballyquinton Point (Hugh Thurgate)

Bird News Wednesday 19th August 2026

Desertas/Feas Petrel from Melmore Head, Co Donegal at 8am and a further sighting at 840 possibly a second bird. Also 20 Sooty Shearwaters in a 5 hour seawatch (Oscar Campbell).

Ringtail Hen Harrier at Portmore Lough (Richard Gray).

Ruff, Common Sandpiper and 43 Dunlin at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Gerard McGeehan).

13 species of wader Bann Estuary this evening included 4 Common Sandpipers, Whimbrel, 9 Knots, 21 Bar-tailed Godwits and Greenshank. 60+ small waders. (John Spottiswood).

Bird News Tuesday 18th August 2026

 A Chough and 2 Twite were at Torr Head. (Derek Brennan).

Melmore Head in Donegal this morning had 2 Cory's Shearwaters, 1 Sooty and 1200 Manx Shearwater, plus Puffin, 2 Arctic and 3 Great Skua and singles of Great Northern and Red-throated Divers. (Oscar Campbell).

A Mediterranean Gull was at the East Strand carpark in Portrush. (John Clarke).

An Osprey was at Portmore this afternoon. (Richard Caves).

The Black-headed or Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail was again off the platform at Inch in Donegal. Distant, so no  calls heard. (Derek Brennan).

A Cory's Shearwater was close in off Fanad Head in Donegal. (Oscar Campbell).

A juvenile Wheatear was near the quarry below Slieve Donard in the Mournes. (Roger Woodward).

A Ruff was at Dargan this morning. (Suzanne Belshaw)

Mediterranean Gull, John Clarke.

Ruff, Suzanne Belshaw.

Golden Plover, Pauline Johnson.

Bird News Monday 17th August 2026

A small fall of warblers including 8 Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat and an unstreaked acro were in the trees leading down the path to the hide at RSPB WoW. A Ruff and Common Sandpiper were also present (Stuart McKee)

A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Portmore RSPB (Shane Brighton / Dermot Hughes)

The immature Marsh Harrier was on the rocks at Oxford Island (Shane Brighton)

Two Common Sandpiper were along the river Lagan this evening (Mel O’Hagan)

First year Herring Gull, Mel O’Hagan:

Bird News Sunday 16th August 2026

An immature Marsh Harrier was on the rocks off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island, presumably the bird from Ardmore and Reedy yesterday. (Garry Armstrong).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Lough Mourne, Co. Antrim. (Ivan Quail et al).

The Osprey is still at the Bann Estuary. (Aaron Long).

A Great White Egret is at Lough Beg. A Wood Sandpiper was also present along the western shoreline south of Church Island. (David Steele).

A Slavonian Grebe was off Glynn in Larne Lough. (Ivan Quail).

Five Whimbrel were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve. (Stuart McKee).

A juvenile Kestrel was over Black Mountain. (Shane Brighton).

The Bann Estuary had 17 Whimbrels, 3 adult Mediterranean Gull and a Kestrel. (John Spottiswood).

Either a Grey-headed or Black-headed Yellow Wagtail was at Inch in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker is visiting a garden in Harmony Hill, Lisburn. (Noeni Bryars).

Spotted Redshank, Ivan Quail.

Bird News Saturday 15th September 2026

An immature Marsh Harrier was at Todd’s Point, Ardmore, Lough Neagh. The bird subsequently moved to Reedy Flats (Garry Armstrong) A Whimbrel was also there (Oscar Campbell)

Melmore Head Donegal in 2 hrs this morning had 14 Cory's, 7 Sooty, c3000 Manx, 1 Bonxie, 1 Arctic Skua, 9 Whimbrel & 2 Great Northern Diver (Eric Randall)

An Osprey was at Carnmore Viewpoint / Kimran Lough, near Fivemiletown this afternoon (Colin Bell)

A Green Sandpiper was at Blanketnook (Derek Brennan)

Yesterday an Osprey was at Lowrys Lake, Armagh (John Anderson)

3 Cory’s Shearwater and a Sabines Gull were seen from Fanad Head today (Michael Latham / Nathan Gilbert)

A Glaucous Gull was on the slipway at Killybeggs (Aaron Long / Stephen Dunbar)

Glaucous Gull, Aaron Long:

Bird News Friday 14th August 2026

 An immature Marsh Harrier was at Starbog Road in the Antrim hills, heading west. (Clive Mellon).

A Chough was at the Bann Estuary. (Tomas Hand).

An Osprey was at Castle Island hide at the Quoile. (Ann-narie Smyth).

A Mediterranean Gull was at McDonald's at Sprucefield outside Lisburn at lunchtime. (Suzanne Belshaw).

A juvenile Wood Sandpiper and six Common Sandpipers were at Lady Bay. (Garry Armstrong).

A Whimbrel was at Orlock Point. (Jonathan Fallows).

A pelagic from Teelin in Donegal 8am to 3pm: approximate totals, 30 Cory’s, 4 Sooty, 17 Great Shearwaters, 100+ European Storm Pet8, 3 Wilsons Petrels, 4 Great Skuas, an Arctic Skua. Also 2 Minke Whales, Common Dolphins and 2 Sunfish. (Wilton Farrelly et al).

Osprey, Ann-marie Smyth.

Mediterranean Gull, Suzanne Belshaw.

Bird News Thursday 13th August 2026

Male Wheatear at Penny Burn, Lough Foyle shore, Derry (John Spottiswood).

Spotted Redshank still at north end Lough Mourne with 2 Greenshank, 1 Redshank and 1 Common Sandpiper - a nice Tringa-fest. Also 12 Clouded Yellow (Dermot Hughes / Ian Enlander).

Bird News Wednesday 12th August 2026

An Osprey flew over the Ormeau Road, Belfast this morning (Stuart Cossey)

3 Ruff were at Inch, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram)

The juvenile Spotted Redshank was still at Lough Mourne, Carrickfergus (Ivan Quail)

A juvenile Wood Sandpiper was at Lough Beg (David Steele)

A Green Sandpiper was in Killough Harbour this evening (Chris Murphy)

An Osprey was at the Quoile (Paul Megahey)

The Peregrine breeding season is winding down. It was not an outstanding one but we are aware of 53 pairs fledging 116 young. The Sperrins and Fermanagh did well but it was a poor year in Down and Armagh. The dominance of quarries continued with no fewer than 37 successful nests. That compared to 8 coastal sites with young and another 8 successful natural inland cliffs. Three persecution incidents (all in quarries) were identified. If you have details on any breeding you can forward to Jim Wells at 07856 235144. 

Bird News Tuesday 11th August 2026

 An Osprey was at Lough Muck near Omagh. (Mary Arundell).

Yesterday the Little Ringed Plover was still present on Rathlin. (Ric Else).

A Whimbrel was showing well at the Barmouth hide this morning. The Osprey was not seen. (Rev Rhys Jones).

A Kestrel was at Garry Bog near Ballymoney. (James Armour)

Kestrel, James Armour.

Bird News Monday 10th August 2026

2 calling Quail still at Myroe, one from Carrowclare Road. Also 2 juvenile Wheatears, 7 Mediterranean Gulls and probable Green Sandpiper (Theo Campbell / Paul McSwiggan).

Single distant Osprey at Bann Estuary this morning (Ian Dickey).

Osprey flew over Altnahinch Dam, North Antrim but didn’t appear to hang around (David Steele).

Storm Petrel off St John’s Point this morning (Daniel Bailie).

Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, Mediterranean Gull and winter plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit on the Bann Estuary. Wader numbers still reasonable but much reduced compared to yesterday (John Spottiswood).

Osprey over Islandmagee heading SW over Belfast Lough towards Donaghadee (Kevin Kirkham).

2 Whimbrel at Lady Bay this afternoon (Richard Caves).

Whimbrel, Richard Caves:

Bird News Sunday 9th August 2026

A Balearic Shearwater went west past Fanad Head this morning (Wilton Farrelly)

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was in the harbour at Rathlin. (Ric Else)

Two Osprey are at the Bann Estuary (John Clarke)

The Bann Estuary also had a good passage of waders including 12 Whimbrel (John Spottiswood)

Two Wheatear were at Killard Point (Dermot Hughes)

A juvenile Spotted Redshank and two Green Sandpiper were at Lough Mourne, Co Anyrim (Ivan Quail)

A Wood Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull were at the Bann Estuary this afternoon (Matthew Tickner)

A possible Lesser Yellowlegs was reported from the Quoile (Michael Stevenson)

Little Ringed Plover, Ric Else:

Water Rail, Portmore, Charlie MacFarlane:

Bird News Saturday 8th August 2026

A Ruff was off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

Yesterday evening over 200 Swifts were over Whitehead. (Ian Enlander).

A Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and two Ruff were in the centre of Reedy Flats, another Ruff was at the east end. (Garry Armstrong).

A Spotted Flycatcher was in Larchfield Estate outside Hillsborough. (Garry Wilkinson).

Twelve Mediterranean Gulls were at Cloghy beach. (Dermot Hughes). Yesterday Three adult Mediterranean Gulls were on the beach including a bird which was ringed in Belgium. (Graham McElwaine)

The Pectoral Sandpiper is still at Lough Beg this evening, on the western shoreline south of Church Island. (David Steele).

A single Ruff is still at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW. (Shane Brighton).

A Ruff, two Common Sandpipers and three Wheatears were at Myroe. (Steven Farquhar).

Swifts, Ian Enlander.

Bird News Friday 7th August 2026

Single Ruff amongst hundreds of Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit at Belfast Lough WoW (Stuart Cossey).

Adult Baird’s Sandpiper, Sheskinmore Lough, Co Donegal.

A Red Kite was over Baileysmill, between Ballynahinch & Lisburn, this morning (Andrew Upton).

Little Stint at Blanketnook, Donegal (Chris Ingram, Theo Campbell).

Single Great White Egret at Glynn with 2 at Magheramorne (Chris Holland, Warren Fowles).

Osprey from the Castle Island hide at the Quoile (Dermot Hughes).

3 Spotted Flycatchers at Kelly’s Wood near St John’s Point (Ann Feltham).

Green Sandpiper, small pond behind Downpatrick golf driving range (Chris Murphy).

Bird News Thursday 6th August 2026

3 Green Sandpiper were at the Blackstaff, Dundrum. St John’s point had a family of Spotted Flycatcher and a singing Stock Dove in Kelly’s Wood. A juvenile Whinchat was towards the old church on the left. (Dermot Hughes)

An Osprey was seen flying southeast past Ballee High School Ballymena at 1630 - possibly following the River Main to Lough Neagh (Richard Gray)

The best at RSPB WoW was a Common Sandpiper (Derek Polley)

The adult Pectoral Sandpiper was again at Lough Beg. Seven Ruff were also present (David Steele)

A Wheatear was at Coney Island, Co Down (Chris Murphy)

A high count of 2200 moulting Eider were off Macedon Point, Belfast Lough (Stuart McKee)

One, possibly two Quail were calling at the north end of Carse Road, Ballykelly (Martin Deehan)

Pectoral Sandpiper, David Steele:

Bird News Wednesday 5th August 2026

 A migrant Wheatear was at the Floodgates at Newtownards. (Bob Watts).

The Pectoral Sandpiper was seen again at Lough Beg this evening. (David Steele).

Bird News Tuesday 4th August 2026

Arctic Skua south past Galboly in misty conditions (David Steele).

2 Common Sandpipers Barton Bay (Richard Caves).

Osprey still at the Barmouth (Jim Wells et al).

Common Sandpiper, Richard Caves:

Bird News Monday 3rd August 2026

The adult Pectoral Sandpiper was still off Church Island, Lough Beg, with Lapwings. There was no sign of the Little Ringed Plover. (David Steeel)

Three Mediterranean Gull were at Groomsport (Bob Watts)

The Osprey has again been reported from the Bann Estuary.

Bird News Sunday 2nd August 2026

A Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Sandpipers were off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).

A Whimbrel was at Kearney. (Bob Watts).

A summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit was at Kinnegar shore. A Grasshopper Warbler was at Harbour meadows. (Stuart Cossey).

A Pectoral Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover were on the mudflat at Church Island, Lough Beg, keeping close company with an adult male Common Ringed Plover. (David Steele).

Pectoral Sandpiper, David Steele.

Little Ringed Plover, David Steele.

Bird News Saturday 1st August 2026

Fanad Head, Donegal, 0815-0945: 19 Cory’s Shearwaters, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, single Storm Petrel (Wilton Farrelly).

Great Shearwater from the Tory ferry.

Arctic Skua and juvenile Mediterranean Gull off Garron Point from Galboly (David Steele).

Bloody Foreland, Donegal 0720-1120: 120 Cory’s Shearwaters, 16 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Long-tailed Skuas, 3 Pomarine Skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas, 4 Puffin, 7 Arctic Terns, Red-throated Diver, Manx Shearwaters moving at c2000 per hour (Derek Brennan, Ingrid Drumcoe, Ralph Shepphard, Chris Ingram).

Quail again at a private site in the Sperrins (Robert Vaughan).

Bird News Friday 31st July 2026

A first summer Hobby was seen in the Sperrins, close to the Glenroan Portal Tomb (Robert Vaughan)

Two Mediterranean Gulls were at Portrush East Strand car park (Stephen Riddell)

A Common Sandpiper was on the main lake at Castle Espie (Jonathan Clark)

An adult Ruff and 3 Common Sandpiper were at RSPB WoW (Gerard McGeehan)

A Kestrel was at Ballynoe, Downpatrick (Garry Wilkinson)

A Chough and two Rock Doves were at store Head (Thomas Cullen)

18 European Storm Petrel were seen from the Cairnryan to Larne ferry this evening (Steven Farquhar)

A juvenile Ruff was at Lough Beg this evening (David Steele)

Common Sandpiper, Jonathan Clark:

Bird News Thursday 30th July 2026

 The Osprey was still at the Bann Estuary this morning. (James McDowell, Searlas Anderson).

Last night a Quail was singing in fields behind Burnfoot near Inch in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).

A Red Kite flew over the A8 outside Ballyclare this morning. (Jemma Davies).

A Red Kite was on Colin Mountain (Belfast hills) at 10 15 this morning (Ivan Cullen).

A seawatch from Rocky Point in Donegal this morning, 8.20-10.50am, wind West F3-4, had 126 Cory's Shearwaters, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 pale phase Pomarine Skua. Manx Shearwaters passing at roughly 1200/ hour. (John O'Boyle).

Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve had 4 Common Sandpipers, 3 Knot and 640+ Black-tailed Godwits. (Derek Polley).

A male Harrier species flew from the Saintfield direction over Carryduff this morning. (Philip West).

Osprey, Searlas Anderson.

Bird News Wednesday 29th July 2026

 Long-eared Owl in Larne garden (Peter McCausland).

Long-eared Owl, Peter McCausland:

Osprey, James McDowell:

Bird News Tuesday 28th July 2026

An Osprey was at the Bann Estuary this morning (Stephen Riddell)

A Common Sandpiper was at RSPB WoW (Bob Watts)

A Little Stint was at the Bann Estuary this afternoon (Gerard McGeehan)

A Spotted Flycatcher was at Ballypatrick Forest (Tomás Hand)

Twelve Ruff and five juvenile Greenshank were at Church Island, Lough Beg. Earlier at Banagher Forest West Gate, eight Crossbills and a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen (David Steele)

Osprey, James McDowell:

Bird News Monday 27th July 2026

 Yesterday evening an Osprey was at the Bann Estuary. (James McDowell).

An Osprey flew south over Castle Espie this morning. (Jonny Clarke).

A Sooty Shearwater flew north west off Rathlin this morning. (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).

The Osprey was seen again at the Bann Estuary today. (Pat Hull, John Spottiswood).

The Quail is still calling from the wheat field opposite the big house on the road out to Ballyquintin Point. (Bob Watts).

Stock Doves were at Ringdufferin, Islandmore on Strangford Lough and Clea Lough. (Hugh Thurgate).

A single female Mandarin Duck was at Lough Beg this evening, thefirst observation of the species since last August which suggests arriving to complete post-breeding moulting. (David Steele).

Osprey, Jonny Clarke.