Rathlin Stickybeak
@_Stickybeak
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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!
Rathlin Island
Joined May 2015
Fifteen species of butterfly were recorded on Rathlin in 2024 - we started with a Small Tortoiseshell on 21st January and finished with a Red Admiral on 12th November. Here they all are, arranged by family 🤓
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Bottlenose Dolphins passing the Rue lighthouse this morning - what a treat to see them! So close we could clearly hear their breath sounds each time they came to the surface. Great to spot a wee calf travelling with them too
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The shore of Ushet Lough produced another quality wader this morning - a GREEN SANDPIPER! Only the 5th record for Rathlin, and the first since 2022. Our best ever views too, watching from the mobile bird hide as it quietly pottered along in the fog
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Also saw at least 32 Peacocks at Kebble yesterday, another high count. Most were busy nectaring on the Devil's-bit Scabious flowers, a magnet to butterflies and bumblebees at this time of year
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A big day for Red Admirals here yesterday - counted at least 39 around Kebble (easily our highest ever single count), with a steady stream of them travelling south along the cliffs, plus others stopping to feed. Also numerous swarms of flying ants making the most of a warm day
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Graylings still showing well yesterday, although many are now looking rather worn. Counted 42 around Kebble, mostly on the cliffs but also a couple inland. Less numerous than we've seen in previous years but perhaps the misty conditions had slowed them down a bit
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Iron Prominent was another exciting find on Monday morning - found clinging to the coastguard station wall, attracted to the outdoor lights. Our first sighting of this moth on Rathlin, but there is a previous record here from 2003
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This Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar is an absolute whopper - 8cm long! Even more impressive are its enormous droppings, like miniature corn cobs about an eight of its body length. The human-sized equivalent would be about the size of a football 😄
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We NEVER find Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars. except yesterday totally by fluke we did 😅 Nearly brushed past it in a dense bit of wet meadow, where it was clinging to a narrow stem of Marsh Willowherb. Actually our first record of this species this year
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Floating Club-rush is pretty inconspicuous but common on Rathlin, seemingly present on almost every waterbody. Nice to notice a patch with its miniscule flowers open this week #WildflowerHour
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The Sea Aster we visited last week was attracting some special #PollinatorPals. These Eristalinus aeneus hoverflies were eagerly visiting the flowers - amazing eyes up close! #WildflowerHour
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Found a brilliant patch of Devil's-bit Scabious today, absolutely alive with #PollinatorPals, especially butterflies. Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral all posed for pics, but Peacock, Meadow Brown and Common Blue were enjoying the nectar feast too #WildflowerHour
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More stuff making it to Rathlin from Newfoundland - the 4A on this plastic creel tag probably corresponds to the Notre Dame Bay West lobster fishing area #WashedUpOnRathlin #2minutebeachclean
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Yet another bait pot on the beach today, this time with crustacean sensations inside and out 🤯 5 Idotea metallica trapped inside, and a few Buoy Barnacles on the outside! We've only found the latter once before #WashedUpOnRathlin
A gift from the recent storm this morning - a bait pot from the other side of the Atlantic! Lid intact too, so we couldn't wait to see inside. and sure enough among the fish bones was the unfortunate pelagic prisoner we were hoping for - Idotea metallica #WashedUpOnRathlin
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Raising a Fulmar chick is a slow business and they are among the last of the seabirds still nesting on Rathlin's cliffs. But this youngster has been steadily growing and now at about 4 weeks old it's reached that awkward scruffy stage #SuperSeabirdSunday
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Another highlight of our return ferry today was this absolutely splendid rainbow, spanning all the way across from Fair Head to the cliffs at Roonivoolin
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Juvenile Black Guillemots seen from the Rathlin Ferry today, on the way to Ballycastle and again on the way back. Very few other auks around now but did spot a Razorbill with its offspring in tow, and also had some great views of Manx Shearwaters
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Juveniles feature prominently among the waders visiting Rathlin at the moment - this morning our first young Red Knot of the autumn was sitting out the high tide with a few equally fresh Ruddy Turnstones
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Seawatching earlier in the week was relatively quiet, with highlights being distant views of 6 Arctic Terns, and a ridiculously close encounter with a young Twite battling strong winds to cling onto the barbed wire fence
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Seawatching action in the North Channel yesterday evening included an unexpected Little Egret heading north, plus a Swift racing by low over the sea. Among hundreds of Manx Shearwaters further out were our first 2 Sooty Shearwaters of the year and a couple of Storm-Petrels
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Seeing mature Black Darters regularly now - quite common on Rathlin around heathland pools. This obliging male was resting for a while in the overcast conditions
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