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Rare discovery as nightjar found behind Belfast bin
BBC ^ | January 10, 2026 | Eimear Flanagan

Posted on 01/11/2026 5:51:57 AM PST by Twotone

An elusive bird which is now considered to be extremely rare in Northern Ireland made an unexpected visit to a Belfast street, where it was found behind a bin.

Office staff who spotted it on the Lisburn Road thought it might be a bird of prey and called wildlife rescuer Debbie Nelson, who works under the name Debbie Doolittle.

She was surprised to find it was in fact a nightjar - a bird she described as "almost extinct" in Northern Ireland, with only a handful of sightings since the 1950s.

"They were about to put some rubbish in the bin and they saw the bird behind it," she told BBC News NI.

Doolittle explained nocturnal birds can sometimes become disorientated by street lights and collide with tall buildings, so it may have bumped into something.

She brought it back to the rescue centre she runs near her home in Antrim so the bird could rest until she felt it was fit and well enough to set free the next day.

"It's very rewarding getting to release something back into the wild and knowing you've given it that second chance," she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: belfast; birds; caprimulgidae; caprimulgiformes; caprimulguseuropaeus; fartyshadesofgreen; ireland; lightpollution; lights; nightjar

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1 posted on 01/11/2026 5:51:57 AM PST by Twotone
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To: Twotone

A bird? I’m expecting a wicked kewl viking sword or something. A bird? Braking news.


2 posted on 01/11/2026 6:02:49 AM PST by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: Twotone

The American cousin is the Whippoorwill bird.


3 posted on 01/11/2026 6:02:50 AM PST by Omnivore-Dan (have to )
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To: Twotone

Nightjar, he’s just resting.

4 posted on 01/11/2026 6:07:21 AM PST by OldHarbor
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To: Twotone

A good story. Thanks for posting.


5 posted on 01/11/2026 6:09:30 AM PST by devane617 (Discipline Is Reliable, Motivation Is Fleeting..)
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To: OldHarbor

It’s good he’s not pining for fjords.


6 posted on 01/11/2026 6:10:50 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Twotone

I thought a “nightjar” might be another name for a medieval chamber pot.


7 posted on 01/11/2026 6:11:29 AM PST by Flag_This (They're lying.)
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To: Twotone

What is happening in Iran?


8 posted on 01/11/2026 6:12:10 AM PST by Kudsman (47 is making things right again. )
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To: Twotone

Holds that last swallow of moonshine before bed.


9 posted on 01/11/2026 6:12:49 AM PST by ComputerGuy (FAFO is known as the Trump Doctrine)
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To: Twotone; SunkenCiv

Pretty Bird Ping!

First thought was that a ‘nightjar’ might have been some ancient chamber pot that someone tossed in the trash bin, LOL!


10 posted on 01/11/2026 6:13:23 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Twotone
The have a big mouth. All the better to eat bugs


11 posted on 01/11/2026 6:13:33 AM PST by OldHarbor
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To: Twotone

Must be male. He did not stop to ask for directions.


12 posted on 01/11/2026 6:14:12 AM PST by Phil
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To: Flag_This

LOL! GMTA. Post #10.


13 posted on 01/11/2026 6:14:17 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: FreedomPoster

You stunned him.


14 posted on 01/11/2026 6:15:26 AM PST by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: Twotone

Is the “Emerald Isle” overrun by feral house-cats too?


15 posted on 01/11/2026 6:18:38 AM PST by normbal (normbal. Non-native Tennessean.)
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To: Twotone

a.k.a. Goatsucker


16 posted on 01/11/2026 6:22:00 AM PST by calico_thompson (Vanity sarcasm)
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To: Flag_This

That was exactly my reaction. If it isn’t, it ought to be.


17 posted on 01/11/2026 6:24:17 AM PST by rightwingcrazy (;-,)
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To: OldHarbor

Nightjar: Not just another bump on a log.


18 posted on 01/11/2026 6:24:54 AM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: OldHarbor

“Bring out yer BUGS!!!”


19 posted on 01/11/2026 6:26:09 AM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: BradyLS

In America we call them Whip or wills


20 posted on 01/11/2026 6:29:06 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Quid Quid Nominatur Fabricatur)
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