December 2007 Sightings
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| November 2007 <<< | Back to Archive | >>> January 2008 |
| 31st December 2007 Near Coolaney |
Two Jays were seen in forestry at Seevness, to the west of Coolaney village, and Jays were also heard in forestry on Doomore Hill, to the north of Coolaney (S. Feeney). | |||||||||||||||||
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| 31st December 2007 Lissadell |
There was a Pink-footed Goose with approximately 600-700 Barnacle Geese in the Goose Fiald (P. Kelly). In the "Linnet Plot" at the eastern end of the field there were small numbers of Linnets, Goldfinches, Chaffinches and Greenfinches (M. Davis). | |||||||||||||||||
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| 31st December 2007 Quay St Car Park, Sligo Harbour |
The first winter Iceland Gull was seen again, on the roof of the apartment block at Quay Street Car Park. One argenteus Herring Gull on a nearby roof had yellow legs but showed no other plumage or structural features suggestive of Yellow-legged Gull (M. Davis). | |||||||||||||||||
| 31st December 2007 Yellow Strand |
Two Eider and seven Great Northern Divers seen off the Knocklane end of beach (M. Davis, J. McEvoy, M. Casey). A first-winter Black-throated Diver was seen off the beach, to the left, looking from Knocklane (P. Kelly). | |||||||||||||||||
| 31st December 2007 Ballyconnell |
Approx 1,000 Barnacle Geese were spread over perhaps 15-20 large fields in the Ballyconnell area. One Richardson's Cackling Goose (pale individual) was with the flock in the morning and a single Greenland White-fronted Goose was in a field nearby (M. Davis, J. McEvoy, M. Casey). In the afternoon, both Richardson's Cackling Geese were seen in the same area. The flock were flushed twice by an RNLI rescue helicopter (P. Kelly). | |||||||||||||||||
| 30th December 2007 Dunmoran Strand |
There were a lot of waders on the beach, many Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Turnstone,Bar-tailed Godwit and two Purple Sandpipers. A white aeroplane flew very low along the beach (flying approx 100ft above ground along the public beach) at about 1 pm, causing a lot of disturbance, in what appeared to be a risky manoeuvre (M. Bell) | |||||||||||||||||
| 30th December 2007 Ballyconnell |
One of the Richardson's Cackling Geese was with an estimated 2,000 Barnacle Geese in the fields around Ballyconnell (in addition to the 800-900 Barnacles at Lissadell mentioned below). The flock were disturbed on at least one occasion by an overflying light aircraft (M. Enright). | |||||||||||||||||
| 30th December 2007 Lissadell |
In the Goose Field there were 800-900 Barnacle Geese, a Pink-footed Goose and one of the two Richardson's Cackling Geese. There were 10 Shoveler drakes and at least two females on the pond at Lissadell, as well as two Pintails and good numbers of Wigeon and Teal (S. Feeney, M. Enright). | |||||||||||||||||
| 29th December 2007 Half-Moon Bay, Hazelwood |
At least two Bramblings were seen in the area along by the lake shore (with possibly an additional two females). These appeared to be different individuals to two seen earlier in the week (N. Raftery via M. Enright). | |||||||||||||||||
| 29th December 2007 Mullaghmore |
There were five Long-tailed Duck and about 40 Common Scoter at Mermaid's Cove, while there were about 10 Purple Sandpiper near Mullaghmore harbour. At the headland there were good numbers of Fulmars close to shore, an adult Iceland gull and two distant shearwaters that looked like Manx Shearwaters (M. Bell). | |||||||||||||||||
| 29th December 2007 Lissadell |
In the "Linnet Plot" at Lissadell there was one Brambling, with good numbers of Linnet along with a few Greenfinches and Chaffinches (M. Bell). | |||||||||||||||||
| 28th December 2007 Sligo Harbour |
At full tide, there were two unidentified grebes in the harbour (too far out for definitive identification), possibly Slavonian or Black-necked Grebes, described as: "about the size of little Grebes but with black on top of the head, and white on the front of the neck, actively diving". Also present were one juvenile Red-Throated Diver, about 30 Lapwing and 2 Wigeon (J. McEvoy). | |||||||||||||||||
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FERMANAGH NEWS 27th December 2007 |
The red-head Smew was still on Drumgay Lough near Enniskillen, there is also a Gadwall on Drumgay Lough and a female Ring-necked Duck on Racecourse Lough which is in centre of Enniskillen near the cinema (B.Robson) | |||||||||||||||||
| 27th December 2007 Half-moon Bay, Hazelwood |
A large flock of Chaffinches was present (> 200 birds) with at least 2 Brambling. It appears that this is a good year for beech mast (D. Cotton, J. Dunleavy). |
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| 27th December 2007 Goose Field, Lissadell. |
With the main Barnacle Goose flock was a Pink-footed Goose, and the pale Richardson's Cackling Goose (the one with the throat stripe). On the pond there was 300+ ducks, mostly Wigeon,Teal, Mallard also three Pintail (two males, one female) and 8 male Shovelers and a few females (S. Feeney)
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| 26th December 2007 Drumcliff |
A Peregrine Falcon flew across the main Bundoran Road from Drumcliff Churchyard in direction of Drumcliff Bay (S. Feeney). | |||||||||||||||||
| 26th December 2007 Quay St Car Park, Sligo Town |
The first winter Iceland Gull is still present (S. Feeney). | |||||||||||||||||
| 26th December 2007 Goose Field, Lissadell |
A Richardson's Cackling Goose, possibly the paler bird, was with a large flock of 900 - 1100 Barnacle Geese, which flew into the Goose Field, but flew out again after 15 mins, possibly towards Inishmurray (J. Doolan). | |||||||||||||||||
| 24th December 2007 Streedagh |
Three Snow Buntings (probably a female and two juveniles) were observed along the estuary shore (J. Dunleavy, D. Cotton). | |||||||||||||||||
| 24th December 2007 Ladies Brae, Coolaney |
There were two Common Crossbills in the forestry near the top of Ladies' Brae today. They stopped briefly to feed on some cones before flying on (M. Bell). |
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| 24th December 2007 Kilmacowen, Ballisodare |
One Blackcap (juvenile) was seen amongst trees/shrubs in a hedge (M. Enright). | |||||||||||||||||
| 24th December 2007 Lough Colgagh, Calry |
Lough Colgagh held 30 Tufted Duck, 25 Pochard and 10 Whooper Swans (7 adults and 3 immature) on the lake, while on the shore, there was a partial-albino Moorhen - this bird was about 60-70% white. Head, back and coverts were white, flanks mostly white flecked with black feathers, the rest a mix of black and white. The legs looked pale, but the biurd was only viewed at distance (S. Feeney). A complete albino was seen at this site several times in the past, e.g. 8th November 2005, and it seems likely the birds are related. | |||||||||||||||||
| 24th December 2007 Lough Skean, near Ballyfarnon |
Lough
Skean is on the Sligo/Roscommon border, with about 60% in Sligo, and
the remainder in Co. Roscommon. Today it held a total of 400+
ducks, comprising 300 Tufted Ducks, 50 Pochard, and the remainder were Wigeon, Goldeneye. there were also 6 Great Crested Grebes (S. Feeney). |
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| 23rd December 2007 Lissadell Strand (Carney end) |
One Dark-bellied Brent was seen (S. Feeney). | |||||||||||||||||
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| 23rd December 2007 Sligo Harbour |
A Peregrine Falcon was seen feeding on a kill (probably a Lapwing) from the new promenade on the site of the old swimming pool near Hughes Bridge (M. Keane, K. Craig). It flew off carrying its prey, and was later seen near Gibraltar, still feeding on the carcass (D. Cotton, J. Dunleavy). Three Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver came up the channel by the Deepwater Quay, feeding constantly, on the rising tide (G. Scott). | |||||||||||||||||
| 23rd December 2007 Raghly |
A "grey goose" probably a Pink-footed Goose, flew over Raghly (D. Cotton) | |||||||||||||||||
| 23rd December 2007 Quay St Car Park |
A first-winter Iceland Gull was on the shore along Markievicz Road, opposite Quay St car park (M. Bell) | |||||||||||||||||
| 22nd December 2007 Aughris Head |
A first-winter Glaucous Gull flew over Aughris Head (D. Cotton, J. Dunleavy) | |||||||||||||||||
| 18th December 2007 Sligo Cathedral |
A Peregrine Falcon was seen on the belfry of the Cathedral (B. Dobson via M. Keane) | |||||||||||||||||
| 16th December 2007 Lough Colgagh |
One male Ring-necked x Tufted Duck hybrid at Lough Colgagh, probably same bird as seen in Glencar Lake earlier in the month (S. Feeney). | |||||||||||||||||
| 16th December 2007 Lissananny, Ballymote |
25 Whooper Swans at G659131 (M. Creegan). | |||||||||||||||||
| 16th December 2007 Knockawhishoge, Ballymote |
20 Whooper Swans at G697134 (M. Creegan). | |||||||||||||||||
| 16th December 2007 Lissadell |
22 Light-bellied Brent were with the Barnacle goose flock at Lissadell (M. Enright). |
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| FERMANAGH NEWS: 15th December 2007 at Drumgay Lough, Enniskillen |
A red-headed Smew was seen at Drumgay Lough, Enniskillen (B. Robson) | |||||||||||||||||
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| 14th December 2007 Sligo Cathedral |
A Peregrine Falcon was seen on the parapet of the bell-tower of the Cathedral (M. Keane) | |||||||||||||||||
| 14th
December 2007 Ballyconnell |
There was a flock of around 700 Barnacle Geese along with one Richardson's Cackling Goose and one Pink-footed Goose (M. Bell). | |||||||||||||||||
| 14th
December 2007 Lissadell |
Today the Grey Phalarope was again seen at the goose field, feeding actively along the edge of the pond, and occasionally crossing from one side to the other. There was also a Peregrine Falcon resting on the ground near the main pond (M. Bell, S. Feeney). | |||||||||||||||||
| 14th
December 2007 Raghly |
An adult Dark-bellied Brent was seen with a small group of Light-bellied Brent on Ardtermon Strand beside the Y junction (S. Feeney) | |||||||||||||||||
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| 13th December 2007 Sligo Harbour |
There are
now at least two first winter Iceland
gulls present in the harbour - two were seen at the boat
slip in Quay St this morning (D.
Skehan), and two (presumably the same two) were also seen
along the quays (J.
McEvoy) |
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| 13th December 2007 Lissadell |
The Grey
Phalarope and the Black-tailed
Godwit were again present. in the pond in the goose field,
along with a large number of Wigeon and Teal, and lower
numbers of Mallard
and Shovelers
(S. Feeney).
A female Brambling
was found in the seed crop plot at the east end of the goosefield which
is atttracting a great mix of Chaffinches,
Greenfinches, Linnets and Reed Buntings this
year (M. Casey). |
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| 12th December 2007 Lissadell |
A juvenile Black-tailed Godwit was on the pond at Lissadell today (S. Feeney). | |||||||||||||||||
| 12th December 2007 Quay St Car Park |
There was a first winter Iceland Gull on the Boat Slip by the apartment block (D. Skehan). | |||||||||||||||||
| 11th December 2007 Lissadell |
A female Brambling was seen with a small flock of finches, mainly Chaffinches and Greenfinches, in the hedge along the laneway at the east end of the Goose Field (M. Casey). | |||||||||||||||||
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| 11th December 2007 Ballintemple/ Ballyconnell |
At least one of the Richardsons Cackling Geese was with the main Barnacle flock in the Ballintemple/Ballyconnell area (M. Casey). | |||||||||||||||||
| 11th December 2007 Raghly |
Six Long-tailed Ducks, 48 Great Northern Divers, and 18 Red-throated Divers seen off Raghly today (N. Mugan) | |||||||||||||||||
| 11th December 2007 Cloonagh |
Three Twite seen in the area of peat bog behind the lake (N. Mugan) | |||||||||||||||||
| 11th December 2007 Streamstown |
Twenty-plus Twite were seen at Streamstown, feeding on the salt-marsh west of the carpark, and in the fields across the road (S. Feeney). | |||||||||||||||||
| 9th December 2007 Raghly |
An
argentatus-type Herring
Gull (i.e. the Scandinavian race) was seen
feeding on pipefish at the water's edge at Raghly today, with about
twenty argenteus-type
Herring Gulls (i.e. western European race) (S. Feeney). The negative impacts of indiscriminate overfishing and climate change on sand-eel populations in the north Atlantic is well known, with inevitable implications for the whole food chain, including seabirds. Recently, there appears to be increased anecdotal evidence of pipefish as a major and highly visible prey item in the diet of seabirds around our coast. Shags, cormorants, mergansers, gulls and divers can be seen to feed regularly on these long, thin eel-like fish, which they appear to catch quite readily. However, pipefish do not give up the fight easily - at times when the pipefish wrap themselves python-like around a bird's neck or head it can appear as though they are winning, and even when swallowed, they often make a dash for freedom when the bird next opens its bill. The birds' valiant efforts to subdue and swallow these tough and resilient creatures can be fascinating to watch. However, the scarcity of sand-eels in some areas has led to seabirds desperately trying to feed pipefish to young chicks in the breeding season, which are unable to cope with prey of this size and vigour, with negative effects on chick survival. The exceptional abundance of snake pipefish (Entelurus aequoreus) in the north-eastern Atlantic has been attributed to climate change - see paper here. The authors suggest that a likely explanation for the increase in abundance of the species is that recent climate change has had beneficial impacts on the reproduction of adults and the survival of larvae and juveniles. Further reading on this subject is available on the web here and here. |
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| 9th December 2007 Lissadell |
The Grey Phalarope was still present on the pond, and a Green-winged Teal was also found at the same site (S. Feeney). | |||||||||||||||||
| 8th December 2007 Cloonagh, Ballyconnell |
Nine Twite seen in atrocious weather conditions (N. Mugan). | |||||||||||||||||
| 8th December 2007 Lissadell |
Grey Phalarope still present at 12.40 pm (T. Hunter). | |||||||||||||||||
| 8th December 2007 Lissadell |
Grey Phalarope still present at 11 am (M. Bell). | |||||||||||||||||
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| 7th December 2007 Lissadell |
A Grey Phalarope and a juvenile Kittiwake were found on the pond at Lissadell today (S. Feeney). | |||||||||||||||||
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| 7th December 2007 Glencar Lake |
A pair of Scaup were seen with a small group of Tufted Ducks - a first-winter male and a female (S. Feeney) | |||||||||||||||||
| 7th December 2007 Sligo Town |
An immature Iceland Gull and adult Ring-billed Gull were see along the river (M. Bell). | |||||||||||||||||
| 6th December 2007 Ballintemple/Ardtermon |
Both Richardson's Cackling Geese were with the main Barnacle Goose flock today, which was spread out over several fields between Ballintemple and Ardtermon. A very large number of geese were present, probably the full flock (S. Feeney) | |||||||||||||||||
| 5th December 2007 Raghly |
Nine Long-tailed Ducks were seen off Raghly today (N. Mugan) | |||||||||||||||||
| 5th December 2007 Union Wood |
A Common Buzzard was seen at Union Wood (N. Mugan) | |||||||||||||||||
| 4th December 2007 Glencar Lake |
There was no sign of the hybrid Ring-necked Duck, but a flock of up to 20 Siskins were seen feeding in Alders along the northern shore, while a male Greater Scaup was seen along the reeds on the southern shore at the Sligo end (S. Feeney) | |||||||||||||||||
| 4th December 2007 Sligo Institute of Technology |
There was a second-winter Iceland Gull flying around over the college car park this morning (P. Keogh). | |||||||||||||||||
| 3rd December 2007 Lough Arrow |
353 Tufted Duck, 10 Goldeneye and 31 Little Grebes - even though this count was conducted from six points around the lake, it is likely to be a significant underestimate (S. Feeney) | |||||||||||||||||
| 3rd December 2007 Lough Skean, Ballyfarnon (on the Sligo-Leitrim border) |
Good numbers of duck seen - the count today was: 275 Tufted Duck, 41 Pochard and 7 Goldeneye (S. Feeney) | |||||||||||||||||
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| 1st December 2007 Mullaghmore |
Good numbers of Purple Sandpipers seen around the harbour (D. Cotton). | |||||||||||||||||
