Wader ringing on the Bann Estuary was tricky last night with the big tide flooding the marsh, but the team of 10 manged a catch of 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Dunlin and 14 Redshank. A Short-eared Owl and Osprey were present while setting up

A belated 1st visit of the year to Lough Neagh failed to show a return of the mega Sedge Warbler numbers for the 3rd consecutive year. Prior to this, catches of 150+ Sedgies was possible & overall morning catches topping 220 (more nets & ringers). A pleasurable morning all the same

More seabirds this morning, this time ringing terns in Co.Donegal. A total of 35 Sandwich Terns were colour ringed, and a dozen Common Terns metal ringed. Keep an eye out for the colour rings on a shore near you in the coming months.

Seabird survey season on the North Coast (NI)

First visit to Copeland Bird Observatory in glorious weather. Small island stuffed with seabirds. Adjacent Mew Island with lighthouse and Obs on Lighthouse Island with former lighthouse! Water from the well…

Ringing in the Sperrin Mountains ystd & Causeway Coast this morning produced ~35 birds inc. the 1st Grasshopper (2) & Sedge Warblers of the year. Willow Warblers made up half the numbers, while a small fall of Blackcaps today produced 6. 1 of 3 Cuckoos present ystd escsped the net

First proper spring migration visit of the year on the Causeway Coast with a modest catch of 17 birds in the easterly winds, included a Blackcap & 5 Willow Warbler. Other migrants around were 7 Wheatear, 3 Sand Martin, 1 White Wagtail & 5+ more WilWa.

Great to be back out on the Causeway Coast and welcoming the first summer migrants of the year. A decent little catch for the time of year with 2 Chiffchaff (1 pollen horn), 1 Treecreeper, 1 Tree Sparrow amongst a catch of 19 birds.

My first Otter of the year enjoying a spot of lunch on the Lower Bann

First outing of 2025 to target Yellowhammers at Lough Foyle, produced a catch of 12 new birds and two recaptures from 2023. A flock of up to 60 is visiting the seed, but rain delayed the start and number of nets used.

Some Christmas Eve farmland bird ringing around Lough Foyle produced 24 new Tree Sparrows and a recapture from last winter, amongst a catch of 51 birds. Nice birds on site included a Green Sandpiper, Long-eared Owl & ~35 Yellowhammers.

A slow start to the winter ringing in the Bann Estuary. The usual millions of Sea Buckthorn berries are in short supply and a fraction of the Fieldfare flock are present, which can hit 800 in good years.