Two nature nerds on Rathlin Island. Authors of the annual Rathlin Bird Report and avid recorders of the island's biodiversity - well over 2,100 species so far!
Joined May 2015
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✨ Rathlin Bird Report 2025 ✨
Our 8th annual report, as usual jam-packed with everything you wanted to know about the island's birds in 2025... and no doubt lots more that you never realised you wanted to know! Read it here - rathlinstickybeak.wordpress.…
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Saw the briefest flash of gold in the distance early this morning, almost thought the mind was playing tricks... But later it appeared again, unmistakably a real Golden Hare! Always such a thrill to spot one of these beautiful creatures, unique to Rathlin Island
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This little cutie also seen today - a young Razorbill chick briefly peeping out from the shelter of its protective parents while it gobbled down some fish for breakfast #SuperSeabirdSunday
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Check out this all-brown beauty we spotted today! In all the squillions of Common Guillemots on Rathlin, we've never seen one like this before #SuperSeabirdSunday
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Happy to spot some Pale Butterwort in flower on Rathlin this week, our first of the year. Lovely displays of Lousewort, Heath Bedstraw and Tormentil along the way #WildflowerHour
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If we had to choose our favourite Veronicas of the week it would be these two - the pleasingly named V. beccabunga a.k.a Brooklime, and the pretty pale blue Heath Speedwell #WildflowerHour
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Wildflower delights around the coast of Rathlin this weekend - Crested Hair-grass, Hop Trefoil and Brookweed #WildflowerHour
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Some silly business on the cliffs yesterday. This Fulmar had taken over a Lesser Black-backed Gull nest site, even defending it against its rightful owner! Eventually the Fulmar got bored and flew off to do some other mischief, and the gull settled back onto its eggs
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A wonderfully eye-catching display of Splachnum ampullaceum earlier this week - a fabulous moss that grows on old cowpats. Only the second time we've ever seen it so capsule-tastic
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First sighting of a Common Blue yesterday - she gave a lovely close view then eventually opened her wings to dazzle even more! What a beauty. This is over 3 weeks later than our first sightings last year, but that was a particularly early season
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Our favourite moths from the last few days - Silver Hook is only our third record on Rathlin and Schreckensteinia festaliella is our 5th record. Mother Shipton we've seen many times but always enjoy that remarkable face!
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Painted Ladies have been a frequent sight on Rathlin this last couple of weeks, most numerous around the Red Valerian in the harbour where they were joined by Red Admirals and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth
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After a report of a Chough yesterday, we went back to its favourite spot early this morning and sure enough there it was! It's been hiding well this last couple of weeks. Luckily it showed its ring nicely so we could be sure it is the same 2-year-old bird from the Isle of Man
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Pleased to spot Long-bracted Sedge yesterday - a tricky plant to find on Rathlin, growing only in rather adventurous coastal locations here #WildflowerHour
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Been puzzling for some time over this rogue Cotoneaster growing alone out in the wilds of Rathlin. Round leaves 15mm long, pink flowers in clusters of three, messy branching habit... might this be C. hjelmqvistii? 🧐@CommonByNature #WildflowerHour
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Interesting to find Swine-cress appearing side by side with Lesser Swine-cress on Rathlin this week - the former is the less common of the two here, with relatively more obvious flowers and lacking the pungent smell #WildflowerHour
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A fabulous festival of Fumaria in a Rathlin field this weekend - Dense-flowered Fumitory, Tall Ramping-fumitory and White Ramping-fumitory all ramping merrily away amid a swathe of golden Charlock #WildflowerHour
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Fascinating to be able to compare the flowers of all three species together, plus a single clump of Common Ramping-fumitory growing separately a short distance away #WildflowerHour
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Over 1,200 Common Guillemots just on the flat top of this stack today, and this is only a TINY fraction of the total nesting on the cliffs of Rathlin right now. It's an amazing sight (and smell😉) #SuperSeabirdSunday
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More baby birds on the island this weekend included our first fledged Wheatears and Linnets of the year. Hope to see plenty more of both over the coming weeks. Some Oystercatcher chicks are getting very large now and should be flying soon
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Willow Warbler fledglings are now on the scene - saw two young families at Kebble this morning, not long out of the nest. Their parents arrived here in April, and like them in just a few weeks these babies will be heading to Africa. Amazing how quickly it happens 🤯
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