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 Red breasted Merganser
One of the special birds of Lough Allen often seen with young in the Summer and busy feeding in the shallow waters. A fish eater, its presence is a reflection of the quality and the cleanliness of the water in the Lake.
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 Common Buzzard.
A new species entering the county, now seen in the broader area of Lough Allen Basin. Look out for it circling with wings in a gentle V over trees in the area. Watch out for Buzzards carrying twigs in April in the next couple of years.
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 Common Sandpiper.
Often seen around Lough Allen in the Summer, bobbing up and down on rocks near the shore. An attractive bird, it has a strange flight with rapid beats and then glides. Lovely piping call during most of the Summer.
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 Curlew.
Another wader found in the area but not known whether it is breeding. This is a species which is well known and abundant around Ireland but seems to be showing a marked decline as a breeding species?
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 Jay
A member of the Crow family, the Jay is doing well and is common around Lough Allen, wherever even small patches of woodland exist.
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 Common Gull
Not as common as its name suggests but also quite a Lough Allen bird. More a lake gull than a sea gull, it breeds in small numbers at Lough Allen. Worth looking out for; it is a dainty attractive bird with yellow beak and green legs.
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 Redpoll.
Wherever there are coniferous woods around the Lake this little fellow is to be found. Often in big flocks and producing a whispering sound. A very beautiful bird in Summer if you can get a good look at them through your binoculars.
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 Heron.
A large broad winged slow-flying bird that may jump up in front of you with an almighty squawk if you startle one along a river or stream. Always around in ones and twos, they breed in small colonies along the Shannon including Lough Allen.
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 Blackcap.
A member of the Warbler family which has grown in population in Ireland and now found in both Summer and Winter. Its lovely strong and melodious song can be heard all around the Lake in Spring and early Summer. A common bird but it may hide in the undergrowth and can only be heard... not seen!
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 Crossbill.
A stunningly beautiful bird (though not all as brilliant as this Summer male) that is prone to regular change in populations. Good groups are regularly seen in the area but its exact occurrence is not clear. See Sligo Birding for records for the Leitrim area.
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