nibirds: 2026

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

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:

Lesser Yellowlegs, John Spratt:

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:

Ring-billed Gull, Andy Warwick:

Iceland Gull, Daniel Newton:

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)

The drake Harlequin Duck was again at Magheroarty.

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).

Yesterday the Black Redstart was still at Whitehead seafront. (Cameron Moore).

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.

Oriental Turtle Dove, Michael Latham.

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).

On the east side of Strangford Lough 33 Slavonian Grebe (28 in Greyabbey Bay and 5 north of Newtownards Sailing Club). Also 10 Great-northern Diver off Horse Island. A Ruff was still present in flooded fields north of Kirkiston yesterday. (Richard Weyl).

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:

Bird News Monday 16th March 2026.

The Oriental Turtle Dove was seen briefly in trees on Harmony Hill in Lisburn early this morning but not subsequently. (Seamus Enright). The Turtle Dove was then seen again in the same area early afternoon, in pine trees behind the side road at Harmony Hill. (Dave Fox). The bird was still present this evening. (Wilton Farrelly).

The Harlequin Duck and 2 Long-tailed Ducks were at Magheraroarty in Donegal. (Eric Randall).

The single Pinkfoot was with 50 Greylags in a field off the Buckshead Road at Nutgrove. There was no sign of the Russian Whitefronts. (David Nixon).

A Chough was at Copeland Bird Observatory.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Castle Archdale Country Park in Fermanagh. (Sharon Spratt)

Oriental Turtle Dove, Victor Caschera.

Oriental Turtle Dove, David McCreedy:

Bird News Sunday 15th March 2026

A Oriental Turtle Dove was reported yesterday in Lisburn, in the Harmony Hill / Belsize Road area (per Chris Rankin) The bird has been looked for today but so far, without success. This would be a first record for Ireland.

The Lesser Yellowlegs was still on Rathlin (Ric Else)

A female Greater Scaup was at Oxford Island (Garry Armstrong)

The Harlequin Duck was again at Magheroarty (Robert Vaughan)

A Merlin was hunting pipits around the pier at Portballintrae (Simon Morton)

4 Snow Bunting were seen up Slieve Commedagh, the Mournes yesterday (per Stuart Cossey)

The adult Ring-billed Gull was again at the Round O, Enniskillen (Matthew Dean)

A Purple Sandpiper was at Macedon Point, Belfast Lough (Margaret Woodward)

Two Mediterranean Gulls were at WOW RSPB Belfast (Paul Hunter)

Oriental Turtle Dove (26th February):

Oriental Turtle Dove (12th March):

Bird News Saturday 14th March 2026

The Harlequin Duck was in the harbour at Magheraroarty, just below carpark. (Robert Vaughan).

The two Russian White-fronts and two Great White Egrets were in the centre of Reedy Flats. (Garry Armstrong, Ed O'Hara).

A Tundra Bean Goose is at Inch Levels in Donegal, with Greylags at the top of the lane leading down to the Tready carpark. (Derek Brennan).

The Cattle Egret is still at Brankins Island Road near Portmore. (Birdguides).

An adult Iceland Gull was on Kinnegar shore. (Michael Latham).

Juvenile Black-throated Diver from O’Kane’s lay-by, Red Bay also six Great Northern Divers and twelve Red-throated Divers. Four Great Northern Divers another dozen Red-throated Divers and two pairs of Common Scoter from the Cushenilt lay-by opposite the salmon farm. (David Steele).

A Dark-bellied Brent was in Killough Harbour. (Chris Murphy).

Four Mediterranean Gulls were at Belfast Lough RSPB WoW reserve this evening. (Daniel Newton).

The Greenland White-front is still at Steele's Point in Larne Lough, a Brambling is still visiting a garden in Whitehead. (Cameron Moore).

Great Spotted Woodpeckers Crom estate & Galloon jetty, 2 Great white Egret watermill, 5 female Ring-necked Ducks lake on inishmore road County Fermanagh. 1 Great White Egret Portmore Lough County Antrim. (Gerard Murray, John Cusack).

Tundra Bean Goose, Derek Brennan.