Daniel Newton
@precipicenewton.bsky.social
Birding. Cinema. Boxing. Old Bostonian living in Belfast. People say I have an interesting walk… Hell, I’m just trying to hold my gut in!
Down to Wexford yesterday for the Isabelline Shrike and Northern Harrier double bill. The Shrike showed superbly. The male Harrier eluded me, but eventually got fantastic views of the juvenile from the view point at White Hole as it quartered over the reedbed. #Birding #Birds #IrishRareBirds
November 3, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Down to Wexford yesterday for the Isabelline Shrike and Northern Harrier double bill. The Shrike showed superbly. The male Harrier eluded me, but eventually got fantastic views of the juvenile from the view point at White Hole as it quartered over the reedbed. #Birding #Birds #IrishRareBirds
Cracking trip across to Donegal today. The Harlequin Duck was undoubtably the highlight, eventually giving great views sat out on a rock close to shore, with the additional bonus of a flock of Taiga Bean Goose and a White-fronted Goose at Inch Levels.
#DonegalBirding #IrishRareBirds #Birding #Birds
#DonegalBirding #IrishRareBirds #Birding #Birds
October 25, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Cracking trip across to Donegal today. The Harlequin Duck was undoubtably the highlight, eventually giving great views sat out on a rock close to shore, with the additional bonus of a flock of Taiga Bean Goose and a White-fronted Goose at Inch Levels.
#DonegalBirding #IrishRareBirds #Birding #Birds
#DonegalBirding #IrishRareBirds #Birding #Birds
A sharp race over to Portmore Lough yesterday after news of this Wilson’s Phalarope broke.
The bird was showing well in terrific light when I arrived but was quickly flushed (by a Pheasant of all things), and took an hour to return to the back of the pools.
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds #YankWaders
The bird was showing well in terrific light when I arrived but was quickly flushed (by a Pheasant of all things), and took an hour to return to the back of the pools.
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds #YankWaders
September 13, 2025 at 5:22 AM
A sharp race over to Portmore Lough yesterday after news of this Wilson’s Phalarope broke.
The bird was showing well in terrific light when I arrived but was quickly flushed (by a Pheasant of all things), and took an hour to return to the back of the pools.
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds #YankWaders
The bird was showing well in terrific light when I arrived but was quickly flushed (by a Pheasant of all things), and took an hour to return to the back of the pools.
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds #YankWaders
Classic autumn evening at Myroe turf fields yesterday. Baird’s Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 4 Glossy Ibis, 7 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Stint and great views of Peregrine, Merlin and Sparrowhawk. Well worth the mad dash from work!
#IrishScarceBirds #Birds
#IrishScarceBirds #Birds
September 12, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Classic autumn evening at Myroe turf fields yesterday. Baird’s Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 4 Glossy Ibis, 7 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Stint and great views of Peregrine, Merlin and Sparrowhawk. Well worth the mad dash from work!
#IrishScarceBirds #Birds
#IrishScarceBirds #Birds
Picked up these Common Scoters off Kinnegar Shore this morning. A regular winter visitor to Belfast Lough, but it’s rare for them to drift in so close to my little corner. #Birds #Birding #IrishBirds
September 6, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Picked up these Common Scoters off Kinnegar Shore this morning. A regular winter visitor to Belfast Lough, but it’s rare for them to drift in so close to my little corner. #Birds #Birding #IrishBirds
Was super pleased to find this Bonaparte’s Gull on Kinnegar Shore yesterday evening. Always a nice bird to pick up!
Autumn definitely beginning to arrive on patch. Found my first Little Stint of the season this week, and Curlew Sandpipers have arrived on reserve as well.
#IrishScarceBirds #Birds
Autumn definitely beginning to arrive on patch. Found my first Little Stint of the season this week, and Curlew Sandpipers have arrived on reserve as well.
#IrishScarceBirds #Birds
September 4, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Was super pleased to find this Bonaparte’s Gull on Kinnegar Shore yesterday evening. Always a nice bird to pick up!
Autumn definitely beginning to arrive on patch. Found my first Little Stint of the season this week, and Curlew Sandpipers have arrived on reserve as well.
#IrishScarceBirds #Birds
Autumn definitely beginning to arrive on patch. Found my first Little Stint of the season this week, and Curlew Sandpipers have arrived on reserve as well.
#IrishScarceBirds #Birds
Jumping forward again, I’m just back from a great weekend down on the Dingle Peninsula. Had an epic pelagic where we cleaned up on the regular Petrels, Skuas and Shearwaters, as well as an always welcome Sabine’s Gull.
And we found time to twitch a Laughing Gull too!
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
And we found time to twitch a Laughing Gull too!
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
August 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Jumping forward again, I’m just back from a great weekend down on the Dingle Peninsula. Had an epic pelagic where we cleaned up on the regular Petrels, Skuas and Shearwaters, as well as an always welcome Sabine’s Gull.
And we found time to twitch a Laughing Gull too!
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
And we found time to twitch a Laughing Gull too!
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
Today’s Pectoral Sandpiper is actually my second Yank wader of this autumn so far. I had previously tootled up to Myroe on the 15 Aug to have a look at a Buff-breasted Sandpiper.
One of my favourite waders that my photos definitely don’t do justice!
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
One of my favourite waders that my photos definitely don’t do justice!
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
August 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Today’s Pectoral Sandpiper is actually my second Yank wader of this autumn so far. I had previously tootled up to Myroe on the 15 Aug to have a look at a Buff-breasted Sandpiper.
One of my favourite waders that my photos definitely don’t do justice!
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
One of my favourite waders that my photos definitely don’t do justice!
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
Man, been a while since I last posted here. I best do a catch up!
Popped to Lady’s Bay after work this evening to catch up with this Pectoral Sandpiper that’s been present for the last few days. #Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
Popped to Lady’s Bay after work this evening to catch up with this Pectoral Sandpiper that’s been present for the last few days. #Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
August 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Man, been a while since I last posted here. I best do a catch up!
Popped to Lady’s Bay after work this evening to catch up with this Pectoral Sandpiper that’s been present for the last few days. #Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
Popped to Lady’s Bay after work this evening to catch up with this Pectoral Sandpiper that’s been present for the last few days. #Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
My decent start to summer continues. I found this Little Ringed Plover at RSPB Belfast WOW on Thursday evening. Just the 50th record for Northern Ireland. #IrishScarceBirds
Spent an hour up in the Hills this morning and ended up watching a couple of Cuckoos terrorising a pair of Meadow Pipits!
Spent an hour up in the Hills this morning and ended up watching a couple of Cuckoos terrorising a pair of Meadow Pipits!
June 21, 2025 at 11:04 AM
My decent start to summer continues. I found this Little Ringed Plover at RSPB Belfast WOW on Thursday evening. Just the 50th record for Northern Ireland. #IrishScarceBirds
Spent an hour up in the Hills this morning and ended up watching a couple of Cuckoos terrorising a pair of Meadow Pipits!
Spent an hour up in the Hills this morning and ended up watching a couple of Cuckoos terrorising a pair of Meadow Pipits!
My decent run of birds continues. This Spoonbill dropped in on my patch today. Had to wait until after work to pop in and see it, but it did the right thing by both staying put and giving good views, despite the grimly incessant rain.
#Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
#Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
June 12, 2025 at 6:15 PM
My decent run of birds continues. This Spoonbill dropped in on my patch today. Had to wait until after work to pop in and see it, but it did the right thing by both staying put and giving good views, despite the grimly incessant rain.
#Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
#Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
To Portmore Lough after work to twitch this smart Stilt Sandpiper. Another Irish tick for me, although I wasn’t able to stay too long as I had to get home. Nice to see lots of of familiar faces enjoying the bird too. I hope that it sticks around for a few days.
#Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
#Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
June 11, 2025 at 5:46 PM
To Portmore Lough after work to twitch this smart Stilt Sandpiper. Another Irish tick for me, although I wasn’t able to stay too long as I had to get home. Nice to see lots of of familiar faces enjoying the bird too. I hope that it sticks around for a few days.
#Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
#Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
A White-winged Black Tern at Swords Estuary, Dublin meant my second twitch down south this week!
Well worth the trip though, especially when it started dip feeding right in front of us, illuminated by the warm evening light. A very welcome Irish tick for me.
#IrishScareBirds #Birding #Birds
Well worth the trip though, especially when it started dip feeding right in front of us, illuminated by the warm evening light. A very welcome Irish tick for me.
#IrishScareBirds #Birding #Birds
June 6, 2025 at 7:07 AM
A White-winged Black Tern at Swords Estuary, Dublin meant my second twitch down south this week!
Well worth the trip though, especially when it started dip feeding right in front of us, illuminated by the warm evening light. A very welcome Irish tick for me.
#IrishScareBirds #Birding #Birds
Well worth the trip though, especially when it started dip feeding right in front of us, illuminated by the warm evening light. A very welcome Irish tick for me.
#IrishScareBirds #Birding #Birds
Popped down to Ballagan Point, Co. Louth after work last night and added White-rumped Sandpiper to my year list.
It played hide and seek for a while, but eventually dropped in with a small flock of Dunlin and gave some nice close as it foraged on the strand line views.
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
It played hide and seek for a while, but eventually dropped in with a small flock of Dunlin and gave some nice close as it foraged on the strand line views.
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
June 4, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Popped down to Ballagan Point, Co. Louth after work last night and added White-rumped Sandpiper to my year list.
It played hide and seek for a while, but eventually dropped in with a small flock of Dunlin and gave some nice close as it foraged on the strand line views.
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
It played hide and seek for a while, but eventually dropped in with a small flock of Dunlin and gave some nice close as it foraged on the strand line views.
#Birds #IrishScarceBirds
Following our successful Western Sandpiper twitch, we moved to RSPB Wood of Cree in order to stretch our legs and, hopefully, see some birds that are scarcer back in Ireland.
Within an hour we had hit all of our targets… Wood Warbler, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Tree Pipit. Class. #Birds #Birding
Within an hour we had hit all of our targets… Wood Warbler, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Tree Pipit. Class. #Birds #Birding
June 1, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Cracking day on Saturday. A trio of us grabbed an early ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan and made the short drive up the coast to Ayrshire in order to twitch Britain’s 13th Western Sandpiper.
The bird was a little distant at first, but ended up giving superb point-blank views. #Birds #Birding
The bird was a little distant at first, but ended up giving superb point-blank views. #Birds #Birding
June 1, 2025 at 11:29 PM
The big excitement in Belfast was this White Stork that appeared at Annadale Embankment alongside the Lagan for several days. It caused quite a stir and made the local TV news.
Sadly, the ring on its leg suggests that it’s an escapee rather than a wild bird, so it doesn’t make my Irish list! #Birds
Sadly, the ring on its leg suggests that it’s an escapee rather than a wild bird, so it doesn’t make my Irish list! #Birds
May 30, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The big excitement in Belfast was this White Stork that appeared at Annadale Embankment alongside the Lagan for several days. It caused quite a stir and made the local TV news.
Sadly, the ring on its leg suggests that it’s an escapee rather than a wild bird, so it doesn’t make my Irish list! #Birds
Sadly, the ring on its leg suggests that it’s an escapee rather than a wild bird, so it doesn’t make my Irish list! #Birds
Another decent couple of weeks. Found some good stuff on patch, including a smart adult Little Gull and a Little Tern that vanished as quickly as it appeared. Also got caught up with a Red-necked Phalarope. Bonus.
A day trip south also produced Red-footed Falcon and Least Tern. #IrishRareBirds
A day trip south also produced Red-footed Falcon and Least Tern. #IrishRareBirds
May 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Another decent couple of weeks. Found some good stuff on patch, including a smart adult Little Gull and a Little Tern that vanished as quickly as it appeared. Also got caught up with a Red-necked Phalarope. Bonus.
A day trip south also produced Red-footed Falcon and Least Tern. #IrishRareBirds
A day trip south also produced Red-footed Falcon and Least Tern. #IrishRareBirds
Spring continues to tick over nicely here. Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, Garganey, Osprey, Whitethroat and Garden and Grasshopper Warblers amongst the birds that I’ve caught up with.
I also visited the splendid Double-crested Cormorant in Co. Leitrim again.
#Birds #Birding #IrishRareBirds #Ireland
I also visited the splendid Double-crested Cormorant in Co. Leitrim again.
#Birds #Birding #IrishRareBirds #Ireland
May 14, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Spring continues to tick over nicely here. Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, Garganey, Osprey, Whitethroat and Garden and Grasshopper Warblers amongst the birds that I’ve caught up with.
I also visited the splendid Double-crested Cormorant in Co. Leitrim again.
#Birds #Birding #IrishRareBirds #Ireland
I also visited the splendid Double-crested Cormorant in Co. Leitrim again.
#Birds #Birding #IrishRareBirds #Ireland
The bird of Spring so far, however, was a Pacific Diver at Ballyheirnan Bay, Co. Donegal. A lifer for me, and one that definitely didn’t disappoint; showing well to all assembled close in to the shore.
#Birds #Birding #IrishRareBirds
#Birds #Birding #IrishRareBirds
April 26, 2025 at 11:04 AM
The bird of Spring so far, however, was a Pacific Diver at Ballyheirnan Bay, Co. Donegal. A lifer for me, and one that definitely didn’t disappoint; showing well to all assembled close in to the shore.
#Birds #Birding #IrishRareBirds
#Birds #Birding #IrishRareBirds
Since returning from Estonia, my year list has been ticking over nicely as the Spring migrants trickle through.
A day trip to (a windy) Tory Island was particularly productive, picking up Chough, Puffin and Manx Shearwater, as well as getting class views of this elusive Corncrake.
#Birds #Birding
A day trip to (a windy) Tory Island was particularly productive, picking up Chough, Puffin and Manx Shearwater, as well as getting class views of this elusive Corncrake.
#Birds #Birding
April 26, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Cheeky twitch for this Common Crane in County Louth. An Irish tick for me. Also added a bonus Green Sandpiper to my year list too. Sweet as a nut. #Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
March 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Cheeky twitch for this Common Crane in County Louth. An Irish tick for me. Also added a bonus Green Sandpiper to my year list too. Sweet as a nut. #Birds #Birding #IrishScarceBirds
Drew a surprising blank on Little Gull on patch in 2024, so I was super pleased to find this one loafing on the lagoon at RSPB Belfast WOW first thing this morning. #Birds #Birding #IrishScareBirds
March 25, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Drew a surprising blank on Little Gull on patch in 2024, so I was super pleased to find this one loafing on the lagoon at RSPB Belfast WOW first thing this morning. #Birds #Birding #IrishScareBirds
Cracking few hours up in the Antrim Hills yesterday. Dipper, Red Grouse and Hen Harrier all quickly added to my year list. Then, even better, I picked up a Golden Eagle! A stonking, super-satisfying Irish tick for me!
Heard my first singing Chiffchaff of Spring in the AM too.
A top day’s #birding.
Heard my first singing Chiffchaff of Spring in the AM too.
A top day’s #birding.
March 10, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Cracking few hours up in the Antrim Hills yesterday. Dipper, Red Grouse and Hen Harrier all quickly added to my year list. Then, even better, I picked up a Golden Eagle! A stonking, super-satisfying Irish tick for me!
Heard my first singing Chiffchaff of Spring in the AM too.
A top day’s #birding.
Heard my first singing Chiffchaff of Spring in the AM too.
A top day’s #birding.