What a dismal wet afternoon! Luckily the sun will be shining again tomorrow. Just seen 3 Common Sandpipers right outside the house, wonder what else has arrived? #WindowWildlife

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

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

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

Lesser Celandines must be reaching their peak on Rathlin now, forming beautiful carpets of their sunny yellow stars in places. Primroses also making a lovely display, and a few patches of Common Field-speedwell are starting to appear too #wildflowerhour

Struggled last week to find much worthy of the #wildflowerhour #violetchallenge , but Rathlin's contrary Common Dog-violets chose this week to shine instead

3 Great Skuas flying high over Kebble this morning - a relief to have the species reappearing after an even longer wait than last year, and hopefully we'll see a pair taking up their territory again soon. Nice to see a few Twites back too

Common Gulls are taking up position ready to begin nesting soon, and one eager beaver was stick-gathering with gusto today. Meanwhile numerous White Wagtails also on the coastal rocks were just migrants passing through on their way north

Our first Dunlin of the spring today - just a couple of days later than in the last few years. Also getting stuck into the strandline in Mill Bay were 38 Ruddy Turnstones, a new high score! Other wader highlights included the year's first Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper