Red Kite Tours NI

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Red Kite Tours NI Guided birdwatching tours in the beautiful County Down countryside. Watch Red Kites soaring against the stunning backdrop of the Mourne Mountains.

Join me, Shelagh, for some birdwatching in the beautiful South Down area. Watch the rare Northern Ireland Red Kites around "Red Kite country" or stroll along the shores of Dundrum Bay and Murlough National Nature Reserve for some special wildlife rarities. Such as otters, Kingfishers, Little Egrets, Brent geese and many, many more. Tours will vary of course depending on the season and can be tailo

r-made to suit individual's specific interests. Since 2006, I have been working as an Education Guide for Ulster Wildlife and laterally, I work in Visitor Services for the National Trust at Murlough NNR. This work involves leading guided wildlife walks as varied as the Dawn Chorus, From Seals to Seabirds and Nuts About Squirrels. I am also involved in Bird Surveying for the BTO and since 2008 have been a volunteer for the Northern Ireland Red Kite Project. Red Kites were reintroduced into Northern Ireland in 2008. I had the honour and privilege to be involved in this project from the very beginning. I was employed as Red Kite Project Information Officer. One of the most exciting days of my life was to be present at the release of the young Red Kites into the South Down countryside. Since then I have worked closely with the Red Kite project team monitoring, recording and assisting with the wing tagging of the Red Kite chicks. For more information please contact Shelagh at [email protected] or by mobile on +447763821925

07/08/2024

Just wonderful!

Coming SOON!Red Kite Tours new Autumn/Winter season beginning in September 2024.Special offers are available for the wee...
02/08/2024

Coming SOON!
Red Kite Tours new Autumn/Winter season beginning in September 2024.
Special offers are available for the week of the Irish Open Golf tournament at Royal County Down. (13th, 14th and 15th September.)
10% discount if you book any of these 3 dates before 1st September.
Visit our website www.redkitetoursni.com for more information and how to book your spot.
Group bookings welcome (min 4, max 10 people) Times for tours are approx 2pm-5pm.
See you soon for some spectacular Wildlife watching!!










23/07/2024
A wonderful day at Castlewellan Show. Red Kite Tours NI along with the newly formed South Down Red Kite Support Network...
13/07/2024

A wonderful day at Castlewellan Show.
Red Kite Tours NI along with the newly formed South Down Red Kite Support Network had a stand in the Eco village.
Our ethos is to enthuse, educate, engage and inform our local community about everything to do with Red Kites.
Despite Red Kites having now been well established in our area, they are still suffering serious persecution.

Anyone love the Mournes more than Robbie?Look at these amazing photographs though!!😱
12/07/2024

Anyone love the Mournes more than Robbie?
Look at these amazing photographs though!!😱

12/07/2024

1 day to go! 🐮🐷🐑🐎🐓🎪🍦

Castlewellan Show
Saturday 13th July
9am-5pm
Castlewellan Forest Park
Tickets available online or at the gate!
https://www.castlewellanshow.com

See you tomorrow!

10/07/2024

We are so pleased to say that the injured red kite was successfully released back into the wild today, details and photos will follow

A wonderful wildlife story. Aren’t birds brilliant!
06/07/2024

A wonderful wildlife story.
Aren’t birds brilliant!

A white-tailed eagle that broke its wing has taken to the skies after its parents nursed it back to health.

01/07/2024

Our final bird in our ground nesting series is the Wheatear, who migrates to the UK and Ireland for the summer months, making the long journey back to Africa in September !

Help us protect these precious birds by staying on the paths and keeping dogs on a short lead. Together, we can keep them safe!



Northern Ireland Water Murlough National Nature Reserve and The Mournes - National Trust WalkNI Mourne Nature Watch

26/06/2024

Join Our Team: Adventure Sports Enthusiast Wanted!

Are you passionate about outdoor adventure sports? We have the perfect opportunity for you! Our Instructor Development Programme 24/25 offers an exciting path to gain NGB qualifications in outdoor adventure sports.

Programme Duration: 12 months
Location: Tollymore National Outdoor Centre (residential, catered accommodation provided)
Closing Date: noon on Monday 1st July

Don't miss this chance to turn your passion into a career. Apply now! 🔗 www.sportni.net/careers/

Read about Conor's expericnce and what he gained from the Instructor Development Programme ⬇️

23/06/2024

Our next ground nesting bird is the Ring Ouzel, the blackbird of the mountains. ⛰

Help us protect these precious birds by staying on the paths and keeping dogs on a short lead. Together, we can ensure their safety! 🐾



Northern Ireland Water Murlough National Nature Reserve and The Mournes - National Trust WalkNI Mourne Nature Watch

17/06/2024

Next up in our ground nesting birds series is the Merlin, the smallest European Falcon.

Help us protect these precious birds by staying on the paths and keeping dogs on a short lead. Together, we can ensure their safety! 🐾



Northern Ireland Water Murlough National Nature Reserve and The Mournes - National Trust Mourne Nature Watch WalkNI

Marsh Fritillary
14/06/2024

Marsh Fritillary

13/06/2024

Embark on an Extraordinary Adventure in the Mournes!

Discover the breath taking beauty of the Annalong Valley and its hidden treasures on an unforgettable journey through the Devil's Coach Road ⛰️

📅 Sunday 23 June
⌚ 10am

Join Mourne Mountain Adventures for an awe-inspiring adventure that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

Book now and unlock the extraordinary wonders 👇🏻
https://www.visitmournemountains.co.uk/whats-on/the-devils-coach-road-and-smugglers-caves-p906771

A wonderful casual summer job with a great local conservation charity, working in beautiful wild landscapes.Please share...
13/06/2024

A wonderful casual summer job with a great local conservation charity, working in beautiful wild landscapes.
Please share.

We're hiring!

Due to seasonal peaks in our on-ground practical work, we have opportunities available for casual field workers to help us make a difference for nature conservation here in NI.

Find out more about our available roles and apply here: https://loom.ly/NcvrJGM

Look at this!The Cuckoos are on the move already, back to Africa. They’re only here from April to June as they leave the...
11/06/2024

Look at this!
The Cuckoos are on the move already, back to Africa.
They’re only here from April to June as they leave their host parent, usually a Meadow pipit to raise their Young after they’ve laid the egg in its nest. They’ll be seeking out a bit of warm sunshine.

And they’re off! 🎉 Cuckoo Cuach Cores left Ireland and landed on the Brittany coast after a flight of 335 miles. He was the last of our tagged Cuckoos to arrive back in his breeding grounds, and is also the first to start heading back to Africa after spending just 28 days in Ireland! 🌍

We’ve got some exciting Cuckoo updates coming up too, so keep checking our social media channels for the news. 🙌

Follow BTO Cuckoos' migrations on our website ➡️ www.bto.org/cuckoos

I’m VERY excited this morning! No, not Red Kites…but I’ve just spotted a Spotted Flycatcher in my garden!!We haven’t had...
11/06/2024

I’m VERY excited this morning!
No, not Red Kites…but I’ve just spotted a Spotted Flycatcher in my garden!!
We haven’t had them here for several years so imagine my delight when this little beauty showed up!!
Beyond delighted.

11/06/2024

Hey lovely People who joined me on the Dawn Chorus walk on Sunday…listen to this.
We were pondering about native water-lilies…

Dawn Chorus Walk - happy to hear the Cuckoo
10/06/2024

Dawn Chorus Walk - happy to hear the Cuckoo

Some happy smiling faces despite the early Dawn Chorus start this morning from 5.30am. A Iovely dander from the Bothy ya...
09/06/2024

Some happy smiling faces despite the early Dawn Chorus start this morning from 5.30am.
A Iovely dander from the Bothy yard to the Cypress Pond and back.
Here is the list of species spotted and/or heard:
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Blackbird
Robin
Wren
Raven
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Coal Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Treecreeper
Goldcrest
Chaffinch
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Little Grebe
Cormorant
And CUCKOO!!

08/06/2024

🦅 The majestic hen harrier is the second of our ground-nesting birds.

Please help protect these precious birds by staying on the paths and keeping dogs on a short lead. Together, we can ensure


Northern Ireland Water Murlough National Nature Reserve and The Mournes - National Trust WalkNI Mourne Nature Watch

A wonderfully positive conservation story.
06/06/2024

A wonderfully positive conservation story.

A farmer in Co Down is celebrating after a pair of barn owls returned to his land to raise their brood.

Devastating for those of us who have been working on the Red Kite re-introduction project since 2008 and on a personal l...
01/06/2024

Devastating for those of us who have been working on the Red Kite re-introduction project since 2008 and on a personal level for me, who started up Red Kite Tours NI back in 2016 for the sole purpose of showcasing these magnificent creatures while spreading the word about how we should embrace them.
They are NO threat, rather, they are an asset to the countryside and our beautiful landscape.

A red kite, named Vivienne, was found injured in County Down and had to be euthanised by a vet.

I’ve had to maintain ‘radio silence’ since 20th April while the PSNI investigated this Wildlife crime. This very rare le...
01/06/2024

I’ve had to maintain ‘radio silence’ since 20th April while the PSNI investigated this Wildlife crime.
This very rare leucistic Red Kite, Pink 6V, aka Vivienne (named after my friend Vivienne who was present at its tagging as a chick) was brought to us by a caring farmer neighbour who’d found the injured bird in his field. I recognised it immediately as he carried the injured bird towards me.
When Kenny, my husband, examined it, he found that it had a very badly broken wing, so unfortunately it had to be put to sleep.
I was devastated!
After being X Rayed at Kenny’s practice, Rathfriland Veterinary Clinic, it was then discovered that the bird had been shot!
This very rare bird was seen regularly in our area and enjoyed by so many people.
It’s unimaginable to me and difficult to understand what makes people want to shoot these magnificent creatures.
I’d love to know what they think. I’d like to talk to them to explain how Red Kites are our friends. They clear up ‘dead stuff’. They prefer carrion to catching live prey. They are the ‘farmer’s friend’.

Early bird birders! Whether you’re brand new to birding or perhaps fancy a refresher. Or just come for a dander with us ...
16/05/2024

Early bird birders!
Whether you’re brand new to birding or perhaps fancy a refresher.
Or just come for a dander with us and wonder at the beauty of the forest and it’s wildlife.
This one’s for you.
So come and join us!




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A wonderful day at Castlewellan Show. Red Kite Tours NI along with the newly formed South Down Red Kite Support Network had a stand in the Eco village. Our ethos is to enthuse, educate, engage and inform our local community about everything to do with Red Kites. Despite Red Kites having now been well establish in our area, they are still suffering serious persecution.

I’m VERY excited this morning! No, not Red Kites…but I’ve just spotted a Spotted Flycatcher in my garden!! We haven’t had them here for several years so imagine my delight when this little beauty showed up!! Beyond delighted.

Some happy smiling faces despite the early Dawn Chorus start this morning from 5.30am. A Iovely dander from the Bothy yard to the Cypress Pond and back. Here is the list of species spotted and/or heard: Wood Pigeon Collared Dove Song Thrush Mistle Thrush Blackbird Robin Wren Raven Hooded Crow Great Tit Blue Tit Coal Tit Long Tailed Tit Treecreeper Goldcrest Chaffinch Blackcap Chiffchaff Little Grebe Cormorant And CUCKOO!!

Some happy smiling faces despite the early Dawn Chorus start this morning from 5.30am. A Iovely dander from the Bothy yard to the Cypress Pond and back. Here is the list of species spotted and/or heard: Wood Pigeon Collared Dove Song Thrush Mistle Thrush Blackbird Robin Wren Raven Hooded Crow Great Tit Blue Tit Coal Tit Long Tailed Tit Treecreeper Goldcrest Chaffinch Blackcap Chiffchaff Little Grebe Cormorant

I’ve had to maintain ‘radio silence’ since 20th April while the PSNI investigated this Wildlife crime. This very rare leucistic Red Kite, Pink 6V, aka Vivienne (named after my friend Vivienne who was present at its tagging as a chick) was brought to us by a caring farmer neighbour who’d found the injured bird in his field. I recognised it immediately as he carried the injured bird towards me. When Kenny, my husband, examined it, he found that it had a very badly broken wing, so unfortunately it had to be put to sleep. I was devastated! After being X Rayed at the Rathfriland Veterinary Clinic, it was then discovered that the bird had been shot! This very rare bird was seen regularly in our area and enjoyed by so many people. It’s unimaginable to me and difficult to understand what makes people want to shoot these magnificent creatures. I’d love to know what they think. I’d like to talk to them to explain how Red Kites are our friends. They clear up ‘dead stuff’. They prefer carrion to catching live prey. They are the ‘farmer’s friend’.

Our destination was in the spotlight today as the Mourne Gullion & Strangford Spring festival unveiled 15 exciting new experiences. Beyond the breathtaking landscapes, it's the people who truly captivate visitors. Their warm hospitality and genuine charm create an unforgettable experience. Come and discover the magic of our destination for yourself🙌💯❤️ Visit Mourne #EmbraceAGiantSpirit

Embracing extreme wilderness at the Windy Gap today to tell you about my event coming up on 20th April, check the link below to get your tickets! https://shorturl.at/kMRT3

The first Chiffchaff of Spring. Have you heard one yet? Murlough National Nature Reserve and The Mournes - National Trust

Spring raptors
Spring raptors

Red Kites and Buzzards rub along together quite nicely

It’s always ALL smiles 😄 on our Red Kite Winter Roost tours each week. Just 3 dates remaining for this season: Sunday 18th February Saturday 24th February Sunday 25th February To book a place go to redkitetoursni.com

Lots of local families joined Sharon from Enspire and myself for a Wild about Nature session all about Birds of Prey and, in particular, Red Kites, of course! Everyone heard about the Red Kite Re-introduction project, listened to a story about ‘Granny Sarah and the Last Red Kite’ then enjoyed a bird of prey themed treasure hunt in the forest park and afterwards, all the kids made some Red Kite masks to take home Supported by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

We have spaces on our Red Kite Winter Roost tour tomorrow, Sunday 7th January 2024. 2pm-4.30pm. To book a spot to enjoy this Winter wonder, go to our website www.redkitetoursni.com

Cecilia says it’s gonna be cold and sunny this weekend!! So, what are you waiting for? It’s going to be perfect weather for Red Kite winter watching. So, why don’t you join me on one of our spectacular Red Kite winter roost tours this weekend. Just go to our website www.redkitetoursni.com to book a place.

A very Happy and Peaceful New year to all our followers! The first Red Kite Winter Roost guided tours of 2024 are happening this weekend, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th January. 2pm-4.30pm. To book a place on a tour go to our website redkitetoursni.com If you have a gift voucher to redeem, email [email protected] to arrange. #EmbraceAGiantSpirit #VisitMourne

Some of the wonderful views and landscapes to immerse yourselves in while you watch Red Kites gather, on our Red Kite Winter Roost tours. Next tours are next weekend, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December. 1.30pm-4.30pm. Last tours before Christmas. To book a tour go to www.redkitetoursni.com

Congrats to Michael and Kathy Stevenson! You've won a voucher for 2 people for our Red Kite Winter Roost Tour! Message us to claim. Thank you to all who entered, it means a lot to support a local, small business.

It’s great to be back! Some lovely shots of our happy customers yesterday and today. What great visibility with unseasonably warm weather we had and everyone had a blast! #EmbraceAGiantSpirit #VisitMourne #tourismni #tourismireland

Our Red Kite Winter Roost tours begin next weekend from Sunday 8th October. To book a tour go to our website www.redkitetoursni.com and click 'book now'. Most Saturdays and Sundays available until 10th December 2023. (More in the New Year). Come and hear all about their ecology, history and the successful Re-introduction projects around the UK and Ireland. Watch with us and marvel at these magnificent Raptors, watching them wheel and soar in their natural habitat against the stunning backdrop of the Mourne Mountains. If you have any questions regarding the tours please email [email protected] We are looking forward to seeing you. #EmbraceAGiantSpirit #VisitMourne #tourismni #tourismireland

All things Red Kite.

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