nibirds: January 2026

Bird News Saturday 31st January 2026

The Ferruginous Duck was still at Ballysagggart Lough. (Mark Getty).

The Black-throated Diver was still in Church Bay on Rathlin along with 5 Great Northern Divers and a Red-throated Diver. (Ric Else).

The Harlequin Duck is still at Trá na Gloch in Donegal. (Searlas Anderson).

A female or juvenile Hen Harrier heading north near Charlestown road, north of Portadown at 11am. (Sean Thompson).

Ringtail Hen Harrier, male Pintail and Great Egret at Portmore. (Stuart Cossey).

2 Great White Egrets in flooded fields a mile from Oxford Island. (Michael Latham).

A Merlin was at Reedy Flats. (Michael Latham).

Black Redstart still at Newcastle - on the rocks between the Tropicana and the beach. (Chris Rankin).

A dark-bellied Brent was in Killough Harbour, seen from Station Road. (Chris Murphy).

Ferruginous Duck:

David Knight

David McCreedy

Michael Latham

Merlin, Michael Latham.

Great Northern Diver, Robert Boyle.

Bird News Friday 30th January 2026

A male Lesser Scaup was in Closet Bay at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

A female or immature Black Redstart is at the mouth of the Shimna River in Newcastle. (Andrew Crory).

The Spotted Redshank and Ruff were still present in the field at the south end of Dundrum Inner Bay at high tide this morning. (Maurice McNeely).

The Harlequin Duck was at Tra na Gcloch in Donegal again this morning. (Dermot Hughes).

Bird News Thursday 29th January 2026

There was no sign of the Ferruginous Duck at Ballysaggart Lough this morning (David McCreedy)

A male Brambling was in a garden in Antrim (Mark Smyth)

A Black-throated Diver was off Church Bay, Rathlin, along with 3 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver. (Ric Else)

The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead (Ian Enlander)

Bird News Wednesday 28th January 2026

The Black Redstart is still at Whitehead. (Jonny Rosborough).

The Ferruginous Duck has returned to Ballysaggart Lough outside Dungannon. (David Knight).

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Stormont Estate. (Gilly Irwin).

Eight Stock Doves were at Mount Hill, Katesbridge. (Hugh Thurgate).

The leucistic Great Black Backed Gull is commuting between Killough and Ardglass. (Chris Murphy).

Black Redstart, Jonny Rosborough.

Ferruginous Duck, Aaron Long.

Bird News Tuesday 27th January 2026

3 Great White Egret were at Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh (Stevie Brennan)

A 1st winter Little Gull was close inshore at Carnalea (Richard Weyl)

The Spotted Redshank and a Ruff were feeding with many other waders in a field off the Main Road, at the south end of Dundrum South Inner Bay (David Nixon)

Bird News Monday 26th January 2026

Two Short-eared Owls were at Ballyquintin and the Black Redstart was still near the Quays Restaurant in Portavogie. (Garry Wilkinson).

The Brambling is still visiting a garden in Whitehead, the Black Redstart was still along the seafront. (Cameron Moore).

Brambling, Tree Sparrow & Blackcap, Cameron Moore.

Sparrowhawk, David McCreedy.

Bird News Sunday 25th January 2026

The male Black Redstart was still at Portavogie (Michael Latham)

The leucistic Great Black-backed Gull, which could be mistaken for a Glaucous Gull, has returned to Ardglass Harbour (Chris Murphy)

6 Purple Sandpiper were at Portstewart (Chris Hamilton)

9 Pink-footed Geese were with Greylags, off Torr Road, near Fair Head (Chris Veale)

The Lesser Yellowlegs is still on Rathlin (Ric Else)

A Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Merlin and 6 Sandwich Tern were at the Narrows, Strangford Lough today. (Andrew Upton)

A Slavonian Grebe with Great Crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver were off Kinnegar (Kevin Kirkham)

The Harlequin Duck was still at Curranport, Donegal.

A Little Gull was at Garron Point (Gerard McGeehan/ Shirley Dunlop)

Three Taiga Bean Geese were with Whoopers, near Lough Neagh. (Per X)

Black Redstart, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 24th January 2026

The 2 Lesser Scaup were with a Tufted Duck flock off Croaghan hide at Oxford Island, a hybrid Ring-necked Duck type was also with the flock. (Garry Armstrong).

Harlequin still at Trá na gCloch in Donegal. (Andrew McMillan).

A wing tagged Red Kite is along Broighter Riad at Myroe. (Richard Donaghey).

An adult Little Gull was off Briggs Rocks. (Dermot Hughes).

The Spotted Redshank is still at Dundrum and a Great Northern Diver from the causeway. (Stuart Cossey).

4 Ring-necked Duck, 2male & 2 female, and 7 Scaup at Knockninny. 12 Scaup at Killalalard. Ring-billed Gull at the Round O. Co Fermanagh. (John Cusack).

At least two Bean Geese were amongst a flock of c. 120 Pinkfeet at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Andrew McMillan).

A Little Gull was south of Garron Point on the Antrim coast. (Ivan Quail).

A leucistic Dunlin was at Whiteabbey. (Suzanne Belshaw).

Harlequin Duck, Andrew McMillan.

Harlequin Duck, Michael Latham.

Harlequin Duck, Gerry Bond.

Little Gull, Ivan Quail.

Harlequin Duck, Mervyn Guthrie.

Leucistic Dunlin, Suzanne Belshaw.

Bird News Friday 23rd January 2026

The drake Harlequin Duck remains at Curranport, Co Donegal (Ian Young)

A Great White Egret was seen in the Scarva area, from the train (Ian Enlander)

County Louth had 19 Twite at Gyles Quay. An Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Spotted Redshank & 5 Ruff were at Dundalk Docks (Hugh Delaney)

Harlequin Duck, Ian Young:

Bird News Thursday 22nd January 2026

The two Black-throated Divers were still in Red Bay on the Antrim coast. (Martin Deehan).

The Harlequin Duck is still at Trá na gCloch in Donegal. (Ian Young).

60 Knot were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve at high tide. (Derek Polley).

A Black-throated Diver was off Newcastle Harbour this afternoon. (Maurice McNeely, Andy Carden).

Bird News Wednesday 21st January 2026

Pinkfoot east of Reedy Flats and Great White Egret east of Emerson’s, Lough Neagh (Clifford Sharpe).

2 drake Lesser Scaup and ringtail Hen Harrier at Oxford Island NNR (Ed O’Hara).

1st winter drake Harlequin still at Tra na gCloch, Donegal (Bird Info Svcs).

Bird News Tuesday 20th January 2026

Two Black-throated Diver were at Red Bay, Co Antrim, opposite the Salmon cages (David Steele)

A single Barnacle Goose, of unknown origin, was at the Bann Estuary (John Spottiswood)

The Lesser Yellowlegs was still on Rathlin at the weekend per Jon Biddle.

The Black Redstart was still at Whitehead. A Merlin was at Portmuck (Gerard McGeehan / Shirley Dunlop)

Black-throated Divers, David Steele:

Bird News Monday 19th January 2026

2 Great White Egrets were at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

2 Great White Egrets were at Reedy Flats. (Steven Fyffe).

A Bittern and Ruff were off the viewing platform at Inch in Donegal. (Searlas Anderson).

A Great White Egret was at Lough Beg. (Rachel McConnell).

Bird News Sunday 18th January 2026

Female type Black Redstart still Whitehead favouring Boat Yard and environs (Garry Armstrong et al).

1w Goosander Ballycarry Bridge (Wilton Farrelly et al).

Slavonian Grebe from Glynn (Philip West et al).

Yesterday the Black Redstart again at Newcastle at the white bridge beside Mauds (Adam Middleton).

1st winter drake Harlequin still Tra na gCoch, 2 Long-tailed Duck Magheraorarty (Luke Gerarty).

Possible Green-winged intergrade and Barnacle Goose at the Bann Estuary (Dean Jones).

Black Redstart still showing very well at Portavogie this afternoon (Stephen Dunbar).

2 Black-throated Divers Carnlough, also 3 Great Northern Divers, immature male Common Scoter (Philip West, David Steele et al).

2 Red Kites in the Antrim Hills (Bob Watts et al)

Black-throated Divers, Daniel Newton:

Bird News Saturday 17th January 2026

A Red Kite was on Broighter Road, Ballykelly (Searlas Anderson / Kevin McLaughlin)

The drake Harlequin Duck was still at Curranport, Donegal, this morning (Leia and Mark Getty)

A drake Lesser Scaup was at Todd’s Corner, Lough Neagh, along with a Merlin. Two Great White Egret and a Great Northern Diver were east of Emersons Sandpit (Garry Armstrong)

A drake Goosander was at Corbett Lough, Banbridge this morning (Chris Rankin)

The Black Redstart and Purple Sandpiper were still at Whitehead (Paul Hunter)

A female Ring-necked Duck and 6 Scaup were at Knockninny Refuge, Co Fermanagh (John Cusack / Ronan Owens)

A Peregrine was on the Seven Mile Straight, Antrim (Mark Smyth)

An eagle species was seen at distance in the Antrim Hills (Ian Dickey / Kenny Moore)

20+ Twite were at Gyles Quay car park, Co Louth (Don McCorry)

Four Great White Egret were at Lough Beg, along with 3 Great Northern Diver (David Steele)

Harlequin Duck, Leia Getty:

Red Kite, Searlas Anderson:

Black Redstart, Whitehead, Paul Hunter:

Bird News Friday 16th January 2026

The Harlequin Duck is still at Tra na Goloch, 4 Red Billed Chough at Derrybeg golf club, a Great Northern Diver at Derrybeg harbour, 2 Cackling Geese with Barnacles and a Ring Necked Duck at Dunfanaghy New Lake, 2 Slavonian Grebes at Blanketnook in Donegal. (Garry Wilkinson).

9 Taiga Bean Geese are amongst the Greylags at Blanket Nook in Donegal. (Chris Ingram).

A male Lesser Scaup was at the Maltings in Newtownards. (Dermot Hughes).

An adult Little Gull was in Carnlough Bay this evening. (David Steele).

You can see more bird pictures at https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Harlequin Duck, Garry Wilkinson.

Buzzard, Rod Gillan.

Little Gull, David Steele.

Bird News Thursday 15th January 2026

A Barn Owl at Tullywest Road, Crumlin this morning (Gayle & Garry Wilkinson).

Great Northern Diver at Portrush Harbour (Tim Davis).

Red Kite close to Loughbrickland Lough (Juliet Fleming).

Male Black Redstart still at Portavogie (Ian Young).

3 Slavonian Grebes off Macedon Point in Belfast Lough this morning (Philip McHaffie).

1st winter drake Harlequin still at Tra na gCloch, near Curranport, Co Donegal (Peter Doyle / Hugh Delaney).

Lapland Bunting at Blanket Nook. Donegal (Theo Campbell / Martin Deehan). Also a single Pinkfoot (Garry Wilkinson et al).

Female Black Redstart also continues at Rangers Club Whitehead (David Bowman / Ian Young).

2 Drake Goosander at Glassdrumman Lough, Co Armagh (Joe Devlin).

Bittern at Inch, Donegal from platform (Theo Campbell / Martin Deehan). Also 4 Greenland Whitefronts and a Merlin Garry Wilkinson et al).

A Great White Egret at Inishlught, Upper Lough Erne (Ronan Owens).

Black Redstarts at Portavogie & Whitehead, Ian Young:

Bird News Wednesday 14th January 2026

20 Purple Sandpipers were at Donaghadee. Grey Plover were seen at Ballyhalbert and Portavogie (David Clarke)

A Barn Owl was seen at Ballyblack Road East \ Moss Road, Donaghadee on the 8th January (J Adams)

The Lesser Yellowlegs was still on Rathlin (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

A Sandwich Tern was at Groomsport today (Denis Chambers)

Purple Sandpiper, David Clarke:

Sandwich Tern, Denis Chambers:

You can see more pictures of local birds at: https://nibirdpics.blogspot.com/

Bird News Tuesday 13th January 2026

The male Black Redstart is still at Portavogie. A Grey Plover and a Purple Sandpiper were also present. (Bob Watts).

The hybrid Ring-billed x Common Gull is still at Millisle and 15 Purple Sandpipers are at Donaghadee. (Bob Watts).

A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

Two Ring-necked Ducks reported again at Knockninny, Upper Lough Erne. (Birdguides).

The Black Redstart and Purple Sandpiper are still at Whitehead seafront. (Cameron Moore).

Bird News Monday 12th January 2026

Single Pinkfoot with c30 Greylag at Myroe Levels (Martin Deehan). Also 2 Snow Buntings close to a flock of Oystercatchers (Patrick Barton).

86 Pintail from the Castle Island Hill hide, Quoile this morning (Maurice McNeely).

Adult Iceland Gull still at Glynn (Rhona Bell).

24 Ruff at Church Island, Lough Beg and still 8 Great White Egrets; 5 at Annagh on the west side and 3 at the Toome end (David Steele).

Bird News Sunday 11th January 2026

The Harlequin Duck is still at Trá na gCloch in Donegal. (Daniel Newton).

The Black Redstart is still at Whitehead. (Tom Garner).

A Slavonian Grebe is still at Glynn in Larne Lough. (Gary Brown).

An adult Iceland Gull is at Glynn in Larne Lough. Ivan Quail).

A Glossy Ibis is at Portmore. (Garry Armstrong).

A Great White Egret was at Todd's Corner near Ardmore and a Merlin at Reedy Flats. (Ed O'Hara).

4 Ring-Necked Duck (2 males and 2 new females) and 16 Greater Scaup at Knockninny, Great Northern Diver on Mill Lough, White-tailed Eagle and Great White Egret near Drumguiff. Upper Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh. (John Cusack).

A Great White Egret was at the back of the Discovery Centre at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

At least eight Great White Egrets around the south end of Lough Beg this afternoon, four together and others dotted about, all quite mobile, also two Great Northern Divers remaining out on the lake and five Pinkfeet by the A6 at Toome. (David Steele).

Iceland Gull, Ivan Quail.

Yellowhammer, Robert Boyle.

Bird News Saturday 10th January 2026

The 1st winter drake Harlequin remains at Tra na gCloch, Donegal (Chris Ingram / Harry Hussey).

Carrion Crow at Audleys, Strangford (Stuart Cossey).

Male and 2 female Ring-necked Ducks and the male hybrid still at west end of New Lake Dunfanaghy, Donegal (Chris Ingram).

Black-throated Diver at Carnlough (Michael Latham).

6 Long-tailed Duck (4drake) off from the sea wall at Myroe this morning. 38 Slavonian Grebe present also (Dean Jones).

Adult Mediterranean Gull at People's Park, Ballymena (Nicky Lynn).

Redhead Goosander at Glynn. Also a Slavonian Grebe (Gerard McGeehan / Michael Latham).

2 Bittern still at Inch, Donegal also 2 Russian Whitefronts (Derek Brennan).

Brambling still at Oxford Island NNR (Aaron Long).

Long-tailed Duck and adult Mediterranean Gull from Kinnegar Shore (Jeff Higgott).

Ringtail Hen Harrier at Killard (Stuart Cossey).

Four Common Scoter (male and three females) north past Galboly and adult Little Gull offshore in Red Bay (David Steele).

Juvenile Golden Eagle still present in Antrim hills this afternoon (Stephen Dunbar).

Black Redstart still at Whithead near Rangers supporters club (Michael Latham).

Adult Iceland Gull west of Letterkenny at Anagaire, Co. Donegal (Michael O’Cleary).

Barn Owl, Ardglass Rd, mile south of Downpatrick Hospital, 6.35 this evening (Chris Murphy).

Black Redstart, Michael Latham:

Brambling, Aaron Long:

Goosander with Red-breasted Merganser, Michael Latham:

Bird News Friday 9th January 2026

A juvenile Golden Eagle was in the Antrim hills. (Kenny Moore).

Two Great White Egrets were off Croagh Hide and a Great Northern Diver off Owen Roe's Flat at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

At least 50 Purple Sandpipers were behind the coastal zone in Portrush. A Peregrine was at the Bann Estuary. (Martin Deehan).

A male and a female Common Scoter were off Drains Bay, two Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver were off Ballygally, a Black-throated Diver was in Glenarm Bay before flying towards Carnlough. (Garry & Gayle Wilkinson).

Golden Eagle, Kenny Moore.

Bird News Thursday 8th January 2026

No sign of Waxwing flock at onslip to M2 at Broughshane (Mark Getty).

Green Sandpiper still present Corbet Lough (Martin Deehan / Theo Campbell).

Great White Egret past Croaghan Hide and female Brambling at feeding station Oxford Island (Martin Deehan / Theo Campbell).

A Bittern from the platform at Inch, Donegal at 4pm (Searlas Anderson).

Lesser Yellowlegs still at roost on Rathlin this evening also c30 Purple Sandpipers (Jon Biddle).

Male Brambling still in a Whitehead garden (Cameron Moore).

Off Macedon Point 3 Slavonian Grebe and 1 female/immature Long Tailed Duck looking roughly towards Giants Park and Kinnegar (Stuart McKee).

Brambling and Blackcap, Cameron Moore:

Bird News Wednesday 7th January 2026

A single Twite was at the Long Hole, Bangor (Adam Ringland)

Approximately 15 Waxwings were feeding on berries beside the slip road joining the M2 from the Broughshane exit, at 2pm today (Guy Hamilton). 5 Waxwings flew off East from the on-slip in direction of Ballymena livestock market at 4pm (Mark Getty)

Two Green Sandpiper were still on Corbett Lough (David McCreedy)

First winter Iceland and Glaucous Gulls were at Killybeggs today (Chris Ingram)

A female Black Redstart was at the mouth of the river in Newcastle (Rhona Bell)

The Black Redstart and Purple Sandpiper were still at Whitehead (Sarah McCann)

Three Snow Bunting were on Divis Mountain (John O’Boyle)