Distinctive call of the Corncrake heard yet again on its seasonal home of Rathlin Island farminglife.com/country-and-fa…

Distinctive call of the Corncrake heard yet again on its seasonal home of Rathlin Island farminglife.com/country-and-fa…

Found a clump of golden eggs earlier this week, attached by threads to a tangle of Wireweed and Bonnemaison's Hook Weed - can anyone tell us what fish they might belong to? #WashedUpOnRathlin

Online today: RSPB NI reveals red-listed species back again on Rathlin

And you can read more here: planetradio.co.uk/downtown/local…

planetradio.co.uk/downtown/local…

Online today: RSPB NI reveals red-listed species back again on Rathlin

And you can read more here: planetradio.co.uk/cool-fm/local/…

planetradio.co.uk/cool-fm/local/…

Corncrakes are back!

#Rathlin is the only place they breed in Northern Ireland (in large part thanks to the efforts of #volunteers creating habitat).

For decades they have faced the twin threat of ferrets and rats - if all goes well, this will be the last year #InvasiveSpecies

The first Corncrake call has been heard on Rathlin Island RSPB NI 😍

Brent Geese are quite a scarce sight on Rathlin, especially in spring. Our last sighting was on 31st December, so these two in Church Bay yesterday were our first of 2024. Two Whimbrels were also on the shore yesterday, and two Common Sandpipers had dropped in by this morning

Excited to hear news of the first Corncrake back on Rathlin yesterday! We tried our luck listening in the late afternoon sunshine, and sadly it didn't perform for us. But got to see two broods of tiny Coot chicks being fed by their parents instead, the first we've seen this year

Traonach . crex crex (corncrake) Rathlin Island. Co Antrim. NI Birds Ulster Wildlife Irish Wildlife Trust David Tosh David Ford ex-MLA Visit Ballycastle Visit Causeway Coast & Glens Jakki Moores 📸 Belfast Live

We are delighted to hear the call of the #Corncrake back on Rathlin Island!

Listen carefully when on Rathlin, and you might be able to hear them. This secretive bird isn’t easy to spot, but their call is a distinctive feature of summer evenings on the island.

Coming up: 'Island Insights', a series of #communityengagement days on #Rathlin to collaborate and co-create with residents.
From workshops to focus groups, we'll be delving into topics where locals add their perspectives as co-designers for Rathlin’s #greentransition .

Inspired by Martine🦋Brennan🍄, we thought we'd show off an oddly plumaged garden bird of our own - this distinctive white-collared Chaffinch has been present all through the winter. Also recently enjoyed an impressively spherical male, and an unusually close one

Caught a bit of shameless exhibitionism going on yesterday morning, right in the middle of the pontoons. The poor Eiders hardly knew which way to look

Rathlin has joined the international Island-Ocean Connection Challenge! Proud to stand with islands doing amazing work for people and wildlife buff.ly/445oQEf

@Islandconservation Re:wild @scripps_ocean LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Michael Cecil OBE DAERA RSPB NI

Saw numerous Buffish Mining Bees (Andrena nigroaenea) this morning, busy working away at a patch of Daisies. Several other solitary bee species showed themselves today too, but these are easily the most conspicuous at the moment

Second view of a Green-veined White today - saw our first of the year 5 days ago but it skipped away all too quickly. A few Peacocks on the wing today too, including one remarkable survivor with incredibly ragged wings. Looking forward to Orange-tips appearing any day now

Saw our first Early-purple Orchids today - a couple of sheltered south-facing spots already have lots on show, and they'll soon to be bursting out all over the island #wildflowerhour

Pyramidal Bugle season is in full swing on Rathlin, and this week we've found some absolute whoppers! We don't normally see them much above 6cm in height, but the biggest spike in this exceptionally vigorous clump is a stonking 6 and a bit inches 💪😲 #WildflowerHour

Meanwhile much of Rathlin's landscape still has rather a bare, wintry feel. Last summer's Bog Asphodel seed heads are remarkably persistent, still standing strong after raging winds and rain. But new growth is appearing now, like these lime green leaves of Common Butterwort