Rare corncrake calls return to Rathlin as visitors invited to unique island picnic
- Love Ballymena
- May 15
- 2 min read
The haunting rasping call of one of Northern Ireland’s rarest birds is set to become the soundtrack to a unique summer outing on Rathlin Island next month, as visitors are invited to experience the elusive corncrake in its natural habitat during a guided picnic event hosted by the RSPB Northern Ireland.
Taking place on Thursday, June 11, the ‘Rathlin Island Corncrake Picnic’ will give attendees the chance to explore the island’s spectacular landscape alongside the RSPB’s Rathlin Warden while learning about one of the UK’s most threatened birds.
The event offers a rare opportunity for people from across County Antrim and beyond to hear the distinctive rasping call of the corncrake — a bird once common across Ireland but now rarely seen or heard due to decades of habitat loss.
Guided wildlife experience on Rathlin Island
Visitors arriving into Church Bay will be met by the RSPB’s Rathlin Warden before being guided to a scenic vantage point overlooking the island’s rugged coastline and wildflower-rich landscape.
Along the way, attendees will hear stories about Rathlin’s past corncrake populations while listening out for the bird’s unmistakable call among the island’s wider birdlife.
Depending on weather conditions, guests will either enjoy lunch inside a prepared barn at Ouig or walk up Craigmcagan Lane to a panoramic picnic spot surrounded by wildflowers.
After the picnic, attendees will return towards Church Bay where there will be time to explore Rathlin’s boathouse museum and local craft shops before boarding the return ferry.
Visitors must arrange their own ferry travel
Organisers have stressed that attendees must arrange and book their own ferry transport to and from Rathlin Island in advance.
The RSPB advises visitors to travel on the 10am ferry — or an earlier sailing — departing from Ballycastle to ensure arrival in time for the 11am event start.
The most suitable return sailing from Rathlin Island is expected to be the 3pm ferry or later, depending on visitors’ schedules. The final ferry leaves Rathlin at 5pm.
Full ferry timetables, ticket prices and booking information are available at:
Outdoor clothing and picnic required
The event will involve uphill walking and uneven terrain, with organisers encouraging visitors to wear suitable outdoor footwear and weather-appropriate clothing.
Attendees are also required to bring their own picnic lunch for the day.
The event is scheduled to run from 11am until 2pm on Thursday, June 11, at Rathlin Island Children’s Playground.
Tickets can be booked online at:
A Facebook event page with additional information is also available here:
A rare chance to hear one of Ireland’s most endangered birds
Corncrakes were once a familiar sound across rural Ireland, particularly in hay meadows and traditional farmland, but numbers collapsed dramatically during the 20th century.
Today, Rathlin Island remains one of the few places in Northern Ireland where the species can still reliably be heard during the breeding season, making the event a rare wildlife experience for birdwatchers, families, and nature enthusiasts alike.
For many visitors, the trip will offer not just a chance to hear the elusive bird, but also to experience Rathlin’s unique scenery, biodiversity, and slower pace of island life at the height of early summer.
