A summer of seabirds with RSPB NI

These seabird cities make Belfast International look peaceful, the sky jammed with incoming and outgoing parents, criss-crossing flightpaths as they travel to and from their nests. It’s the best time of year to see many of the species who spend most of their time soaring over high seas and diving into the deep blue, far from land.

The best place to see many of our seabirds is of course Rathlin Island and now is the perfect time for visiting and spotting some of our favourites. The seasonal regulars which cram onto the cliffs include dapper Razorbills in their black and white suits and the equally smart Guillemot. It’s easy to get them confused, but the best way to tell them apart is the slender beak of the Guillemot. Elsewhere you might hear Kittiwakes calling their own name “Kitti-wake, Kitti-wake” and the cries of the larger Herring Gull.

No visit to Rathlin Island is complete without a glimpse of the Puffin, who will be nestled in their burrows as they prepare for nesting season. On a recent visit earlier this month, it was wonderful to see them bobbing alongside the boat on the way over to the island. However, as we get into the summer months, the best opportunity to see them will be at the Seabird Centre. Make sure to ask for a pair of binoculars or use the telescopes on hand to get that all important view of the seabirds gliding around the island.

I always recommend a visit to Belfast’s Window on Wildlife, and there’s been some exciting visitors over the last few weeks, with some lucky members spotting an Avocet stopping in for a snack at the lough. The tern rafts have been put out again this year and are bustling with life as they get ready for a busy breeding season ahead. Nothing fills my heart with more joy that the sight of baby ducklings wandering across the front of the window, dipping in and out of the water.

Make sure to plan a visit to an RSPB NI nature reserve this season and spend time in nature. See www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves