The drake Harlequin Duck is still at Magheroarty Pier, Donegal (Chris Ingram)
A Grasshopper Warbler was by the Amelia Aerhart Centre in Ballyarnett Country Park, Derry (Searlas Anderson)
Bird News Tuesday 14th April 2026
A Grasshopper Warbler was along the boardwalk at Portballintrae. (Stephen Riddell).
A Common Sandpiper was by the Sainsbury's store at Pennyburn in Derry. (Searlas Anderson).
Grasshopper Warbler, Stephen Riddell).
Bird News Monday 13th April 2026
Harlequin still showing well early afternoon at Magheraorarty Pier (Bird Information Services).
Whimbrel at Bann Estuary (John Clarke).
Jackdaw showing white collar resembling Nordic race at Antrim ASDA (Mark Smyth).
Bird News Sunday 12th April 2026
The best at Kearney were 15 White Wagtails (Philip West)
The drake Ruddy Shelduck was again with the Shelduck flock at Lough Beg (Daniel Newton)
A Cettis Warbler and Reed Warbler were at Lough Cowey (PW, GA, BW, WF)
3 Ring-necked Duck and a Scaup were at Inishmore Rd, Upper Lough Erne. A Great White Egret was at Kilmore Quay (John Cusack)
20+ White Wagtails were at Lough Beg (David Steele)
A Cuckoo was heard at Crom Estate, Co Fermanagh today (Maria Mulholland and Joel Gurney)
A Common Tern was at RSPB Portmore (K Simpson)
Ruddy Shelduck, Daniel Newton:
Ruddy Skelduck, David Steele:
Bird News Saturday 11th April 2026
The Iceland Gull is still at the Bann Estuary. (John Clarke).
The Harlequin Duck is still at Magheraroarty in Donegal. (Birdguides).
Five Great Northern Divers including two in nearly full summer plumage off the Cushenilt lay-by, Red Bay (opposite salmon cages). (David Steele).
The Lesser Yellowlegs is still on Rathlin today. Also present were a Whimbrel, Greenshank, 20+ Purple Sandpipers, 2 Twite and 10 White Wagtails. (Ric Else, Hazel Watson).
Wheatear, Michael Latham.
Bird News Friday 10th April 2026
Sedge Warbler singing at Castle Espie WWT this morning (Jonathan Clark).
Crossbills at Ballycarton Woods (John Clarke).
A Tundra Bean Goose amongst Pinkfeet at Blanket Nook and 20 White Wagtails at Inch, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram).
Yesterday 2 Great White Egrets at Portmore Lough (John Cusack).
Bird News Thursday 9th April 2026
Yesterday 15 White Wagtail were on Rathlin along with a Pink-Footed Goose and a Crossbill (Ric Else)
15 Purple Sandpiper were on Rathlin today (Ric Else)
The drake Harlequin Duck was still at Magheroarty Pier (BirdGuides)
Bird News Wednesday 8th April 2026
A pair of Garganey are on Craigavon North Lake. (Ed O'Hara).
Yesterday a Common Sandpiper was seen flying north at Ardglass. (Chris Murphy).
The Harlequin Duck is still off Magheraroarty Pier. (Molly Bell).
3 White Wagtails were at Portballintrae. (Stephen Riddell).
A White Wagtail was at Rinigree. (John Clarke).
Two summer plumaged Slavonian Grebes were off Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Theo Campbell, Chris Ingram).
2 or 3 Tundra Bean Geese amongst 180 Pinkfeet at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Chris Ingram, Theo Campbell).
A Common Sandpiper, 6 House Martins and several White Wagtails were on Rathlin yesterday. (Ric Else).
A Russian Whitefronted Goose is still present at Inch in Donegal.(Chris Ingram, Derek Brennan, Theo Campbell).
The Lesser Yellowlegs is still on Rathlin. (Birdguides).
Garganey, Daniel Newton.
Wheatear, Cameron Moore.
Bird News Tuesday 7th April 2026
White-tailed Eagle over Todd’s Corner, Lough Neagh being mobbed by crows flew towards Reedy Flats (David McCreedy).
Same White-tailed Eagle seen at the south end of Lough Beg this evening. Also Ruddy Shelduck still with Common Shelducks on western shore and a single Great Northern Diver (David Steele).
Hirundines at Runkerry Beach included 58 Sand Martins (Garry Wilkinson).
Common Tern at Ballygally Bay (Paula Campbell).
2nd calendar year Iceland and Mediterranean Gulls on the Bann Estuary this evening (John Spottiswood).
Harlequin Duck still from Magheraorarty Pier, Co Donegal also a Great Northern Diver (Stephen Davis).
White-tailed Eagle, David McCreedy:
Bird News Monday 6th April 2026
The drake Harlequin Duck was again off Magheroarty Pier, Donegal this morning (Wayne Gossop)
An immature White-tailed Eagle was off the Croaghan Hide, Oxford Island (Gary Brown)
Four Mediterranean Gull were at RSPB WoW (Bob Watts)
Two Cattle Egret were at the south end of Lough Beg (David Steele)
Blacker’s Rock, Lough Neagh, Co. Tyrone today had an immature/sub adult White-tailed Eagle. (Godfrey McRoberts)
A Whimbrel was just north of Portavogie (Stephen Farquhar) Another was at Mill Bay East, Carlingford ;Graham McIlwaine)
A single Twite was at Tor Head (Garry Wilkinson)
The Ruddy Shelduck was again at Lough Beg on the western shoreline at Annagh (south of Church Island, so rather distant ‘scope views only), associating with an exceptional spring flock of circa 50 Common Shelduck (David Steele)
Willow Warblers are widely reported.
Cattle Egrets, David Steele:
Bird News Sunday 5th April 2026
2 Stock Dove at Bar Hall Bay on the outer Ards. (Bob Watts).
A single White Wagtail at the bottom end of Lough Beg. (David Steele).
The female Greater Scaup was still with the Tufted Duck flock behind the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara).
The Harlequin Duck is still at Magheraroarty Pier, Co. Donegal. (Daniel Newton).
2 White Wagtails were at Kearney. (Bob Watts).
A Ruddy Shelduck was at the south end of Lough Beg. (David Steele).
Ruddy Shelduck, David Steele.
Greater Scaup, Richard Caves.
Bird News Saturday 4th April 2026
Please note that the new 2025 Rathlin Bird Report has now been published by Ric Else & Hazel Watson:
https://rathlinstickybeak.wordpress.com/2026/04/04/rathlin-bird-report-2025/
Male Greater Scaup off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island. (Garry Armstrong).
Chough reported still at Copeland Bird Observatory (per David Stirling).
2 singing male Willow Warblers Camlough Lake Co Armagh. (John Spottiswood). Also reported in Toome (Kevin Rice).
Harlequin is still showing well at Magheraroarty Pier, Co Donegal.
Male Ring-necked Duck at Crom, 5 females at Inishmore Road Lough, male and female at Belle Isle as well as 6 Greater Scaup, female Hen Harrier at Kilmore Quay. All Co. Fermanagh (John Cusack).
Greater Scaup, Garry Armstrong:
Bird News Friday 3rd April 2026
The drake Harlequin Duck was still at Magheroarty Pier, Donegal (Chris Ingram / Anton Meenan) The bird was still present at 12:45.
Two Great Egret were still at Portmore RSPB (Chris Hamilton)
A drake Ring-necked Duck was off the Tready Hide, Inch (Derek Brennan)
The Lesser Yellowlegs was still on Rathlin (Ric Else)
An adult Bonaparte’s Gull off Blackhead path near Port Davey. 3 Common Scoter were also present. (Garry Wilkinson)
The Black Redstart and 2 Purple Sandpiper were at Whitehead (Garry Wilkinson)
27 Ruff were on the meadows at Church Island, Lough Beg (David Steele)
Ruff, Lough Beg, Stephen Farquhar:
Great White Egret, Portmore, Richard Caves:
Bird News Thursday 2nd April 2026
The Iceland Gull was still at Torr Head this morning. (James Crymble).
A possible pair of Common Cranes was seen in flight over Enniskillen heading north east. (Paul Reed).
A Tree Pipit was at Kinramer, Rathlin. Also present were a Hen Harrier, Merlin and a late Woodcock. (Ric Else, Hazel Watson)
In Donegal the Harlequin Duck is still at Magheraroarty. At Dunfanaghy, New Lake the 2 Richardson's Cackling Geese were still with c180 Barnacle Geese in the north east corner, plus the 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 male, in south west corner though mobile. (Toby Carter).
6 female-immature Ring-necked Ducks on a small lake at Inishmore Road, Fermanagh [1 mile from Lough Barry] (Derek Charles).
2 Mediterranean Gulls were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this morning. (Derek Polley).
Bird News April Fools Day 2026
Single Brambling, Twite and Merlin on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
Single Swallow between Drumlough and Dromara (Justin Childs).
2 Swallows over the lake at Billy Neill CP this afternoon (Bob Watts).
Russian Whitefront with Whoopers, Greylags and 167 Pinkfeet opposite Go garage, Bridgend, Donegal. (Chris Murphy).
Harlequin still at Magheraorarty Pier, Co Donegal at 5pm amongst 6 Eider (Shaun Griffin).
A male Brambling has reappeared in a Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).
Male Ring-necked Duck and 2 Great Northern Divers still at Lough Beg this evening (David Steele).
A Common Tern and Mediterranean Gull at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Paul Hill et al).
Swallows have been widely reported over the last week.
Brambling, Cameron Moore:
Bird News Tuesday 31st March 2026
In north Donegal the Harlequin Duck was still off Magheraroarty pier. The male and two female Ring-necked Ducks were at the New Lake, Dunfanaghy as well as the two Richardson's Cackling Geese with c.500 Barnacles. (Chris Murphy)
The first Puffin of the year was on Rathlin today (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)
A Black Redstart has been frequenting a garden in Sunningdale, Bangor (Alastair McLean)
Two Great Egret were at Portmore (Ric Nicholl)
Twenty Twite were at Portmuck a Whimbrel was also heard (Gerard McGeehan)
The Bonaparte's Gull and one Little Gull still at Lough Beg, Co. Londonderry from Long Point (Jeff Larkin)
The Lesser Yellowlegs was again on Rathlin (John Spratt)
The Oriental Turtle Dove has not been seen since Friday.
Black Redstart, Whitehead, yesterday, Cameron Moore:
Black Redstart, Bangor, Alastair McLean:
Bird News Monday 30th March 2026
The adult Ring-billed Gull was still at the Round "O" in Enniskillen. (Maurice McNeely).
A Pink-footed Goose was at Steele’s Point, Larne Lough. A male Brambling was back in a garden in Whitehead. The Black Redstart was seen again at Whitehead Seafront. (Cameron Moore)
A Slavonian Grebe was at Groomsport. (Paul Hunter)
Ring-billed Gull, Maurice McNeely).
Slavonian Grebe, Paul Hunter.
Bird News Sunday 29th March 2026
White Wagtail in field on the way down to Reedy Flats (Garry Armstrong).
Adult Iceland Gull briefly on Kinnegar Pools early afternoon (Daniel Newton).
Single Great White Egret at Portmore Lough also a Swallow (Michael Latham).
Late news from 7th September 2025 of an adult Ring-billed Gull photographed at Magilligan Point (Andy Warwick per John Spottiswood).
Single Swallow at Gores Island, Strangford Lough this evening (Terry Hanna).
Male Garganey, Lough Beg western shoreline, male Ring-necked Duck, Slavonian Grebe (moulting to breeding plumage) and two GN Divers out on the lake (David Steele).
4 Manx Shearwaters off Carrickfergus (Gerard McGeehan).
Great White Egret, Michael Latham:
Bird News Saturday 28th March 2026
Adult Little Gull and Mediterranean Gull in the Closet River at Oxford Island. The female Greater Scaup is still with the Tuftie flock close to the back of the Discovery Centre (Garry Armstrong).
Adult Iceland Gull again at Belfast Lough WoW Reserve (Leia Getty).
Lesser Yellowlegs still at Doon Bay on Rathlin. Also possible Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Great Skua and 25+ Purple Sandpipers (Ric Else / Hazel Watson).
An Iceland Gull also at Doon Bay, Rathlin (Bird Information Services).
The adult Ring-billed Gull remains at the Round O, Enniskillen (Ronan Owens).
An adult Iceland Gull at Torr Head near Ballycastle this evening (Sorrell Lyal).
Black Redstart still at Whitehead, with Greenland Whitefront and a Pinkfoot at Steele’s Point, Islandmagee (Cameron Moore).
Harlequin still at Magheraorarty Pier, Co Donegal also 2 Long-tailed Duck (Michael O’Clery).
Harlequin and Long-tailed Duck, Michael O’Clery:
Iceland Gull, Leia Getty & Sorrel Lyal:
Bird News Friday 27th March 2027
Four Mediterranean Gulls were at RSPB WoW (Jake Grant).
Oriental Turtle Dove was seen flying behind 33 towards 39 Harmony Hill, Lisburn at 1120 (Adrian Allen).
Bird News Thursday 26th March 2026
The Oriental Turtle Dove was seen again at Harmony Hill in Lisburn. (Chris Murphy).
The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead seafront. (NIOC, Jim Wells).
3 Mediterranean Gulls were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW Reserve. (Derek Polley). The first Common Tern of the year was also present. (Maurice McNeely).
The Harlequin Duck is still at Magheraroarty Pier in Donegal. (Molly Bell).
3 Red Throated Divers were off Larne Leisure Centre. 2 Great Northern Divers were off Glenarm, a summer plumaged Red Throated Diver was in Glenarm bay, a Great Northern Diver wad off Carnlough and 2 Sandwich Terns were off Fisherman's Pier in Carrickfergus. (Garry Wilkinson)
A Mediterranean Gull was at Lurgan Park Lake. (Suzanne Belshaw).
Oriental Turtle Dove, Aiden Kelly, (Taken yesterday).
Mediterranean Gull, Suzanne Belshaw.
Bird News Wednesday 26th March 2026
The Oriental Turtle Dove was seen again at Harmony Hill at 4:10 (Aidan Kelly)
Bird News Tuesday 24th March 2026
At Inch in Donegal a Curlew Sandpiper was on the flooded field behind the hide, also 400+ Whoopers. On the levels were one Pinkfoot and a Russian Whitefront. (Chris Ingram).
Three Sandwich Terns were at Carnalea near Bangor. (Derek Polley).
A single Barn Swallow briefly at Church Island, Lough Beg, also two Little Gulls still present. (David Steele).
Bird News Monday 23rd March 2026
A male Ruff was at the Quoile Pondage this morning. (Dan Baillie)
The male Ring-necked Duck was at the south end of Lough Beg this morning, also a skein of c.115 Greenland White-fronted Geese flying north high overhead. Two Little Gull and a House Martin were also present (David Steele).
Single Pinkfoot still with Whoopers and Greylags, Nutgrove, Down. Viewed from Faranfad Rd (Chris Murphy)
Bird News Sunday 22nd March 2026
The Oriental Turtle Dove was seen again at Harmony Hill in Lisburn. (Michael Latham).
The Harlequin Duck and 2 Long-tailed Duck are still present inside Magheroarty Pier, Co. Donegal. (Kevin Cronin).
Nine Twite were at Kearney. (Daniel Newton).
A male Ring-necked Duck was seen distantly at Portmore. (Ivan Quail).
One of the Little Gulls was off Strand Island view point, Lough Beg. (Daniel Newton).
An adult Bonaparte’s Gull is with the Black-headed Gull flock at Church Island, Lough Beg. (David Steele).
A Great White Egret was just off the hide at Portmore. (Aidan Donohoe)
On Wednesday afternoon a Barn Owl was seen on the Shore Road approaching Strangford, it flew from Isle O Valla across the road towards the shore. (Roisin Scullion).
Two Sandwich Terns were at the mouth of Larne Lough. (Dave Craig).
The adult Ring-billed Gull was still at the Round "O" in Enniskillen. (Ronan Owens).
Black Redstart, Cameron Moore.
Bird News Saturday 21st March 2026
A drake Ring-necked Duck is with Pochard at Craigavon North Lake (Conor McCoy)
Four House Martins where at the Leisure Centre at Craigavon Lakes (Aidan Donohoe)
11 Glossy Ibis and a Green Sandpiper were seen on a boat trip at Lough Beg (Michael Latham)
Seven Swallows were seen at Ballycastle (Tomás Hand)
A Great White Egret was in the fields behind Nicholl’s Garage, Toome (Michael Latham)
There again were no sightings of the Oriental Turtle Dove despite extensive searching.
Glossy Ibis, Lough Beg, Michael Latham:
Drake Ring-necked Duck, Ed O’Hara:
Bird News Friday 20th March 2026
A Bittern showed briefly again at Inch in Donegal, 3 Ruff and a Swallow were also present. (Chris Ingram). A 2nd Bittern was subsequentially seen in flight. (Chris Ingram, Theo Campbell).
A Brambling was at Windmill Road in Hillsborough. (Stephen Bingham, Garry Wilkinson).
A sub adult White Tailed Eagle going NNE over Springwell Forest near Coleraine. (Clive Mellon).
A single Pinkfoot was still with Greylags and Whoopers at Annadorn near Seaforde. (Maurice McNeely).
A Slavonian Grebe and a Sandwich Tern were off Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough. (Stuart Cossey).
The Harlequin Duck is still showing well from Magheraroarty Pier, Co. Donegal (Victor Caschera).
Two adult Little Gulls still at Church Island, Lough Beg, also two Great Northern Divers and 144 Pintail. (David Steele).
Flock of eleven Glossy Ibis, Toome-end of Lough Beg at sunset, presumably same as seen on 25th February, restless but eventually settled in dense trees with egrets, so likely roosting there. (David Steele).
The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead seafront, a female Brambling was in a garden in Whitehead, there was no sign of the male Brambling. (Cameron Moore)
The adult Ring-billed Gull was at the Round "O" in Enniskillen again. (Ronan Owens).
The Oriental Turtle Dove was not seen today.
Black Redstart, Cameron Moore.
Female Brambling, Cameron Moore.
Bird News Thursday 19th March 2026
The drake Harlequin Duck was again at Magheroarty Pier this morning.
The Oriental Turtle Dove only put in a brief appearance at 5:35pm (Eric Dempsey)
3 Mediterranean Gull were at RSPB WoW (Derek Polley)
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Castlewellan Forest Park (Shelagh Henry)
Chiffchaff are now widely reported.
Bird News Wednesday 18th March 2026
The Oriental Turtle Dove was seen again at Harmony Hill in Lisburn. (Robert Vaughan, Derek Brennan).
The Harlequin Duck is still at Magheroarty Pier in Donegal. (Peter Phillips).
2 Great White Egrets are at the rear of Nichols garage Toomebridge in a flooded field. (Philip West).
9 Snow Bunting were at Slieve Bearnagh summit, Co, Down. (Darren Ellis).
The Ferruginous Duck is still at Ballysaggart Lough. (Robert Vaughan).
The Brambling was seen again in a garden in Whitehead. The Greenland Whitefront was seen again in Steele's Point, Islandmagee. (Cameron Moore).
The Chough was seen again on Copeland, it has a blue or green ring, 2 Swallows were also present. (Richard Donaghey, James McNair).
Three Red-throated Divers were at Ballyholme Esplanade in Bangor. (Paul Hunter)
The first Wheatear of the year was at Donaghadee. (Stephen Foster).
Ferruginous Duck, Robert Vaughan.
Oriental Turtle Dove, Richard Caves.
Brambling, Cameron Moore.
Red-throated Divers, Paul Hunter.
Wheatear, Stephen Foster.
Bird News Tuesday 17th March 2026
The Oriental Turtle Dove has been seen briefly in flight early this morning at Harmony Hill, Lisburn (Garry Wilkinson / Brian Carruthers). The bird was seen again at its favoured location at 11:45 (Stephen Dunbar) and again early afternoon (Mark Stewart). The bird was still present late afternoon (Niall Mulvenna / Stuart Cossey / Mark Getty). If visiting please park sensibly and do not obstruct drives. The bird favours the tall pines and is best viewed with a scope.
Two Great White Egret are at Portmore (Alan Dickson)
The two Russian White-fronts are still at Reedy Flats (John Coveney)
A juvenile Black-throated Diver was still in Red Bay along with a Sandwich Tern (a presumed migrant). Gaboly had a Great Skua and a Manx Shearwater (David Steele)
The adult Iceland Gull was in the gull roost at RSPB WoW this evening (Daniel Newton)
Oriental Turtle Dove, Mark Stewart:
Oriental Turtle Dove, Michael Latham:
Oriental Turtle Dove, Mark Stewart:
Iceland Gull, Daniel Newton:
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