BirdWatch Ireland

29/05/2026

Do you know the differences between a Whimbrel and a Curlew? 🧐 If not, that's okay. Here's a couple of quick ID tips to help you figure out which is which.

Extra fun fact for your Friday—the Whimbrel is known as the May Bird, as that is the month they arrive there from their African wintering grounds. In Ireland, Whimbrels are purely passage migrants, using our island as a convenient stepping stone to rest up and refuel en route north in spring and then again in August/September on their return journey south.

Their relatively short stopovers here are typically in farmland, coastal fields, beaches and wetlands and also often in dune systems, where the short sward between clumps of marram grass provide perfect foraging habitat.

28/05/2026

Are you going to the Bord Bia Bloom Festival in Phoenix Park? Come visit our table in the Indoor Shopping Pavilion at Stand G10! 🌸🌷

24/05/2026

Kittiwakes 🙂, Kittisleeps😴

Slightly larger than a black-headed gulls, Kittiwakes are small gulls that visit the steep coastal cliffs along the Irish coast in the summer. Their most notable feature is the black tips of their wings showing no 'mirrors' (white at the wing tip), and two toned grey upperwing.

Do you have a favorite gull species?

📸Colum Clarke
📸Richard T Mills

21/05/2026

"The statistics about the state of Ireland’s natural habitats – and our native birds – are alarming. Ninety per cent of our internationally important habitats are in poor condition. Sixty-three per cent of our 212 wild bird species are in danger. Successive governments have let nature wither by allowing sectoral interests to run roughshod over it," says Oonagh Duggan, BirdWatch Ireland's Head of Policy and Advocacy.

"But it’s not all bad news. Some vital restoration projects have had encouraging results...These hopeful stories show what funding, science, building good relations and nature protection ambitions can achieve. But critically the habitats are there in the first place to allow restoration to take place. In Ireland, we still have something to work with."

Read the full article published in The Irish Times:

Nature directives protecting the habitats of species such as the ‘fairy bird’ of Belmullet are being threatened in the name of progress

20/05/2026

In Ireland, 63% of our bird species are in danger and need our help, yet EU laws protecting wildlife, clean air and water are being weakened. My nature and health before short-term profit of a few.

Your voice matters. Sign and tell the EU now: www.birdwatchireland.ie/handsoffnature

19/05/2026

To scope or not to scope, that is the question.

Whether you’re a birder, nature lover, hiker, or someone who just likes to take a stroll on the beach, binoculars or scopes are handy tools to enhance any adventure. But, if you’re new to the optic world, it can be challenging to navigate which product is best for you, and how they work—spoiler alert; it’s not always as easy as just looking through the lens.

At BirdWatch Ireland, we have a range of optics for you to choose from and experts to help answer any of your questions. To get started on the right foot, we put together a few tips and tricks to get you started: https://birdwatchireland.ie/binoculars-and-scopes-one-stop-shop/

18/05/2026

Happy National Volunteer Week ♥

A big thank you to all our volunteers who help us throughout the year who help with running our network of Branches, surveying, habitat maintenance, community outreach and so much more. We wouldn't be able to do this work without you!

15/05/2026

This fun fact Friday is totally not aukward...

Ireland has four species from the Auk family: Common Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Razorbills, and of course, Puffins. Occasionally, a Little Auk will appear in the autumn or winter, but for the most part, these are the four types of Auks you can see in Ireland.

Something unique about the Auk family is that they can only be found in the northern hemisphere! Have you seen an Auk before?

14/05/2026

We're making a splash with Fair Seas 🌊

In the next couple of weeks, we have three actions you can take to help advocate for the State to publish essential legislation and achieve the minimum target of 30% protected waters by 2030.

1️⃣ Join the Rally 4 The Seas
2️⃣ Sign our petition, or write a letter to the Government
3️⃣ Attend online or in person for the second Fair Seas World Oceans Day Conference

For more information, visit the Fair Seas website: https://fairseas.ie/

11/05/2026

This weekend, we had hundreds of early birds attend our Dawn Chorus Walks, but this one goes out to our night owls 🦉

Join us on Wednesday, May 20th at our East Coast Nature Reserve for a special Dusk Chorus Walk. Hear different species defending territories and wooing partners, all while learning why we participate in project like the Countryside Bird Survey. Learn more: https://birdwatchireland.ie/event/dusk-corus-walk/

The Countryside Bird Survey coordinated by BirdWatch Ireland under contract to the National Parks and Wildlife Service.