Birdwatching in Ireland

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Featured birds found in Ireland

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Grebes

Eared Grebe

Eared grebes are North America’s most widespread member of the grebe family, and have a distinctive appearance, with golden tufts on the sides of their face. In the UK, where the species is much rarer, it is known as the black-necked grebe.

Chats

Black Redstart

First recorded as a breeding bird in the UK in 1926, black redstarts have gradually become more established although they remain a rare British bird species. Numbers increase in winter with the arrival of migrants from north-eastern Europe, and passage sightings are regularly reported in spring and autumn across eastern England.

Herons, storks and ibises

Bittern

A bird of mystery, the Bittern stalks through reedbeds and rarely breaks cover. Once pushed to local extinction, their numbers are increasing, although you are still far more likely to hear one of these unusual birds than see it.

Ducks, geese and swans

Bewick's Swan

A subspecies of the North American tundra swan, Bewick’s swans breed in Siberia and arrive in the UK each autumn. Worrying declines have been observed in the European population in recent years, and today only around 4,350 individuals migrate to the UK each winter.

Tits

Bearded Tit

Known in some countries as the Bearded Reedling, the bearded tit is a distinctive-looking resident of wetlands, reedbeds and marshes, with a small but well-established population dotted around parts of the UK’s coastline. Contrary to its name, a distinguishing feature is a prominent black moustache rather than a beard!

Owls

Barn Owl

The most widespread owl species, Barn Owls occur as 32 subspecies on every continent except Antarctica.

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