Print pageSeasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
From mid-April seabirds - guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, puffins, fulmars, shags and gannets. May is by far the best time to visit Rathlin for the freshest of orchid carpets appearing on hill sides and heights. Spring stays a little later on the island and primroses vie with roses along the roadsides into June.
Mid-May is the best time to come and see the birds thronging about the cliffs in anticipation of getting the best nest sites. The next highlight in the season is to spot the first chicks - hatching on bare ledges in full view of our visitors. This starts around mid June, so come for our special weekend of watching the Chicks on the Rocks in June.
The third extra-special time to be at the Seabird Centre is just as the puffins gather up and head off out to sea. Their sojourn in the cliff bank burrows is over by early August, so come towards the end of July to say bye-bye until next year.
Summer
Seabirds - guillemots, razorbills and puffins, until early August. kittiwakes, fulmars, shags and gannets untill the end of August. On some summer Sundays you can enjoy watching islanders racing hand-crafted model sailing boats around Ushet Lough, a traditional sport combining skill and tactics in friendly competition.