December 2005 Sightings
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| November 2005 <<< | Back to Archive | >>> January 2006 |
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| Images © Mícheál Casey 2005 | ||
| 2nd December 2005: Not photographed in Sligo, but at Inch levels in Donegal, this exotic-looking Black Swan is an escapee from a zoo or collection, and this species is actually native to Australia. | ||
23.12.05 Cartron Marsh
1 Glaucous Gull (first winter)
Seen briefly on the 20.12.
20.12.05 Raghly
2 Tree Sparrows
15.12.05 Raghly
1 Merlin
13.12.05 Lough Colgagh
5 Whooper Swans
1 Peregrine
11.12.05 Portavaud, Ballysadare Estuary
1 Little Egret
This bird, or another, was seen at Streamstown in the same estuary in October 2004.
11.12.05 Cartron Marsh
1 possible Dark-bellied Brent Goose
1 Buzzard
2 Greenshanks
1 Ring-billed Gull (2nd winter)
The possible Dark-bellied Brent Goose was seen very briefly feeding with other Brent Geese at Standalone Point. This would be only the second or third record for County Sligo.
The Buzzard was seen resting on Standalone Point. There have been several records of this raptor in County Sligo, especially in the area around Beltra.
11.12.05 Coney Island
1 Glaucous Gull
The first "white-winged" gull of the winter.
11.12.05 Ballytivnan, Sligo Town
1 Waxwing
One seen briefly in grounds of the St. John's Hospital/NWHB. In December 2004, a flock of around 15 Waxwings were seen at the same site.
10.12.05 Cartron Marsh
1 Red-throated Diver
4 Greenshanks
10.12.05 Cartron Inner Bay
1 Red-throated Diver
09.12.05 Lough Colgagh
5 Whooper Swans
09.12.05 Manorhamilton, County Leitrim
1 Green Sandpiper
Seen at the start of December.
08.12.05 Cartron Marsh
1 Ring-billed Gull (adult winter)
08.12.05 Cartron Inner Bay
1 Red-throated Diver
07.12.05 County Leitrim
Late news was recieved of a Black Redstart in November. The first record for the County?
05.12.05 Cartron Marsh
1 Ring-billed Gull (adult winter)
3 Greenshanks
05.12.05 Cartron Inner Bay
1 Red-throated Diver
05.12.05 Raghly
The Tree Sparrows were still present on the 02.12.05. The Black Redstart seen on the 01.12 was most likely a female or first winter male.
05.12.05 Glencar
Late news was received of a Golden Eagle seen in Glencar in mid-November. The bird was most likely from the Donegal reintroduction programme.
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| Image © Mícheál Casey 2005 | ||
| 1st December 2005: This young Kestrel was hunting in the open fields at Raghly, making use of the fence posts to search the margins for prey. | ||
02.12.05 Raghly
1 Kestrel
01.12.05 Raghly
1 Black Redstart
6 Tree Sparrows
Black Redstarts were occasionally seen in winter around Cartron in the past, but none have been seen at that site recently.