February 2009 Sightings
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January 2009 <<<   Back to Archive >>> March 2009
Some sightings are repeated on this page - as the new and old formats meet.  This will be resolved in the coming weeks
Date
 		Species
 		Photo Number Site Observer Remarks
February 2009
28th February 2009 Dipper
2 Hyde Bridge,
Garvoge River,
Sligo town centre		 John McEvoy, Paul Slade Still nest-building under Hyde Bridge
28th February 2009  Glaucous Gull 2 Quay St car park,
Sligo Harbour		 John McEvoy, Paul Slade Adult and juvenile
28th February 2009 Golden Plover 50 Bunduff Strand,
Mullaghmore		 Stephen McAvoy, Mícheál Casey
28th February 2009 Grey Plover 51 Ardtermon Strand,
Raghly		 Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy
28th February 2009 Great Northern Diver 4 Mermaid's Cove,
Mullaghmore		 Stephen McAvoy, Mícheál Casey
28th February 2009 Red-throated Diver 1 Mermaid's Cove,
Mullaghmore		 Stephen McAvoy, Mícheál Casey
28th February 2009 Common Scoter 6 Mermaid's Cove,
Mullaghmore		 Stephen McAvoy, Mícheál Casey
28th February 2009 Long-tailed Duck 8 Mermaid's Cove,
Mullaghmore		 Stephen McAvoy, Mícheál Casey
28th February 2009 Pale-bellied Brent 10 Raghly Paul Slade
28th February 2009 Greylag Goose 2 Raghly Paul Slade
28th February 2009 Pink-footed Goose 6 Raghly Paul Slade
28th February 2009 Barnacle Goose 1500 Raghly Paul Slade
28th February 2009 Velvet Scoter 2 Raghly Paul Slade
28th February 2009 Common Scoter 100+
 Raghly Stephen McAvoy, Mícheál Casey
28th February 2009 Common Scoter 50
 Raghly Paul Slade
28th February 2009 Long-tailed Duck 13 Raghly Stephen McAvoy, Mícheál Casey
28th February 2009 Long-tailed Duck 35 Raghly Paul Slade
28th February 2009 King Eider 2 Lissadell Stephen McAvoy, Séamus Feeney, Mícheál Casey,
Paul Slade
28th February 2009 Pale-bellied Brent 170 Drumcliff Bay Paul Slade
28th February 2009 Greenshank 1 Drumcliff Bay Paul Slade
28th February 2009 Long-tailed Duck 2 Lissadell Stephen McAvoy, Séamus Feeney, Mícheál Casey
28th February 2009 Great Northern Diver 1 Lissadell Stephen McAvoy, Séamus Feeney, Mícheál Casey
28th February 2009 Black Guillemot 1 Lissadell Stephen McAvoy, Séamus Feeney, Mícheál Casey In breeding plumage
27th February 2009 Raven 2 Streedagh Kevin Murray
26th February 2009 Waxwings 2 Crozon Downs, Sligo town G. Fitzpatrick via Gerard Scott Flock of about 15 seen at 5 pm
25th February 2009 Scaup sp. 1 Lough Colgagh Mícheál Casey A long-staying but elusive smallish female Scaup, showing some features of Lesser Scaup.  Distant images of this bird are here.
25th February 2009 Jackdaw & Rook 1,000 Collooney Conor McElhinney Spectacular aerial displays by pre-roosting flocks of crows over Collooney village at dusk each eveing in recent weeks
25th February 2009 King Eider 2 Lissadell Mícheál Casey Both immature birds present
24th February 2009 King Eider 2 Lissadell Paul Keogh Both immature birds present
23rd February 2009 Greater Scaup 1 Lough Colgagh Paul Keogh Accompanied by unidentified Scaup sp, seen again at distance.
23rd February 2009 King Eider 2 Lissadell Paul Keogh Both immature birds present
23rd February 2009 Iceland Gull 1 Sligo Harbour Séamus Feeney First-winter bird, seen at a number of locations
22nd February 2009 Long-tailed Duck 20 Raghly Michael Bell & BirdWatch Sligo outing Good numbers of waders and gulls also seen
22nd February 2009 Common Scoter 100 Raghly Michael Bell & BirdWatch Sligo outing
22nd February 2009 Common Buzzard 2 Near Carney village Michael Bell & BirdWatch Sligo outing
22nd February 2009 Dipper 2 Hyde Bridge,
Garvoge River,
Sligo Town		 John McEvoy Preening on rocks by the bridge at Barton Smith's
22nd February 2009 Snow Bunting 2 Lower Rosses,
Drumcliff Bay		 Mícheál Casey .
22nd February 2009 Skylark 18 Lower Rosses,
Drumcliff Bay		 Mícheál Casey
22nd February 2009 Linnet 12 Lower Rosses,
Drumcliff Bay		 Mícheál Casey
22nd February 2009 Long-tailed Duck 2 Tidal Channel,
Lower Rosses,
Drumcliff Bay		 Mícheál Casey King Eiders not seen (tide was very low).
22nd February 2009 Great Northern Diver 1 Tidal Channel,
Lower Rosses,
Drumcliff Bay		 Mícheál Casey
22nd February 2009 Glaucous Gull 1 Sligo Harbour Séamus Feeney  First-winter
21st February 2009 King Eider 2 Lissadell John N. Murphy Both immature birds present
           

Great Northern Diver
 Great Northern Diver
Images  ©  Mícheál Casey 2009
28th February 2009: These pictures were taken about a minute apart at the Lower Rosses today and show the same Great Northern Diver while resting (left) and alert, after a dive (right), and emphasise the dramatic effect that posture and wet plumage have on the bird's entire silhouette and appearance.
28th February 2009
Lissadell		 Six Common Scoter and eight Long-tailed Ducks were at Mermaids Cove  (S. McAvoy, M. Casey).

28th February 2009
Lissadell		 Two Velvet Scoters were with a flock of c.100 Common Scoters off Raghly (Visiting UK birders via D. Cotton) 30 Grey Plovers were on Ardtermon Strand (D. Cotton) and a party of 13 Long-tailed Ducks was seen off Ardtermon Strand (S. McAvoy, M. Casey).

28th February 2009
Lissadell		 Both King Eiders present throughout the day.  A Great Northern Diver, a pair of Long-tailed Ducks, and a Black Guillemot (in breeding plumage) were also seen in the area (P. Slade, S. Feeney, S. McAvoy, M. Casey).

Ravens at Streedagh today
Image  ©  Kevin Murray 2009
27th February 2009: Ravens at Streedagh today
27th February 2009
Collooney		 Two Ravens were seen at Streedagh  (K. Murray).

25th February 2009
Collooney		  Spectacular aerial manouevres by a roosting flock of over 1,000 crows (mainly Rooks and Jackdaws) have been seen over Collooney village in recent weeks at dusk  (C. McElhinney).

25th February 2009
Lissadell		  Both King Eiders were on the Lissadell side of the main channel in Drumcliff Bay (M. Casey).

24th February 2009
Lissadell		  Both King Eiders were seen well in the tidal channel at Lissadell at lunchtime today (P. Keogh).

Dipper
Image  ©  John McEvoy 2009
23rd February 2009: Dipper, Hyde Bridge, Sligo town centre.  With Otters, Kingfishers, and breeding Dippers, the Garvoge river in Sligo town centre appears to be in good health as all three species tend to be found exclusively in unpolluted waterways.
23rd February 2009
Hyde Bridge (beside Barton Smith Sports)		 The Dippers continued nest-building operations at Hyde Bridge (J. McEvoy).

23rd February 2009
Lough Colgagh		 A Greater Scaup and the other female Scaup sp. showing features of Lesser Scaup were again seen on Lough Colgagh but again the bird was too far away (P. Keogh).

23rd February 2009
Lissadell		  Both King Eiders were in the tidal channel at Lissadell at lunchtime today (P. Keogh).

23rd February 2009
Sligo Harbour		  A first-winter Iceland Gull was seen in a number of locations in the harbour (S. Feeney).

Red Squirrel
Treecreeper
Image  ©  Declan Skehan 2009
22nd February 2009: Images of Red Squirrel (top) and Treecreeper (bottom) at Half-Moon Bay in Hazelwood this morning
Snow Buntings
 Skylark
Images  ©  Mícheál Casey 2009
22nd February 2009: Snow Buntings (left) and Skylark (right) pictured in the sand dunes at the Lower Rosses today.
Female Long-tailed Duck Male Long-tailed Duck
Images  ©  Mícheál Casey 2009
22nd February 2009: Female (left) and male (right) Long-tailed Ducks in the channel between Lower Rosses and Lissadell today.
22nd February 2009
Raghly Point		 20 Long-tailed Ducks and about 100 Common Scoter seen from Raghly, also good numbers of common waders and gulls (M. Bell & BirdWatch Sligo outing).

22nd February 2009
Garvoge River
(Hyde Bridge)		 A pair of Dippers were sitting preening on the rocks by the bridge at Barton Smiths at 6pm today (J. McEvoy).

22nd February 2009
Near Carney		  A pair of Common Buzzards seen circling near Carney (M. Bell & BirdWatch Sligo outing).

22nd February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 A first-winter Glaucous Gull was in the harbour (S. Feeney).

22nd February 2009
Lower Rosses		 Two Snow Buntings, about 20 Skylarks and a flock of 12 Linnets were in the dunes, a pair of Long-tailed Ducks and a Great Northern Diver were in the channel.  The King Eiders were not seen (it was low tide and they are most reliable at high/falling tides) (M. Casey).

21st February 2009
Lissadell,
Drumcliff Bay		 The King Eiders were seen again at Lissadell  (J. Murphy).

Dipper Dipper
Images  ©  Declan Skehan 2009
20th February 2009: Dipper carrying nesting material at Hyde Bridge in Sligo town centre - note the white nictitating membrane ("third eyelid") in the right hand photo.
King Eiders
Image  ©  Mícheál Casey 2009
19th February 2009: The male (left) and female (right) immature King Eiders at Lissadell at lunchtime
Buzzard
Image  ©  Conor McElhinney 2009
20th February 2009: Common Buzzard near Coolaney
20th February 2009
near Coolaney,
Ox Mountains		 While surveying a Bird Atlas square near Coolaney, I saw the following:  I saw the following birds: Common Buzzard (2), Wren, Coal Tit, Robin, Treecreeper, Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Hooded Crow, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Greenfinch,  Dunnock, Woodpigeon, female Kestrel and a Peregrine (C. McElhinney).

19th February 2009
Garvoge River
(Hyde Bridge)		 A Dipper was singing & carrying nesting material to a site under the bridge (M. Casey).

19th February 2009
Lissadell,
Drumcliff Bay		 The two King Eiders were seen at lunchtime, feeding in the channel beside the shellfish farm at high tide (M. Casey).

19th February 2009
Streedagh		 A Little Egret was fishing in the estuary of the Grange river (K. Murray).

19th February 2009
Portavaud		 A first-winter Glaucous Gull was on the strand at Portavaud  (S. Feeney).

Little Egret  Woodpigeon
Images  ©  Kevin Murray 2009
19th February 2009: Little Egret fishing in the estuary at Streedagh (left), Woodpigeon on a warehouse roof in Sligo Docks (right)
18th February 2009
Cartron,
Sligo Town		 A single Waxwing was seen very briefly as it flew across the Rosses Point road and dived into a garden hedge  (M.Casey).

18th February 2009
Sligo Town		 A flock of 20 Waxwings flew over the town  (A. Smith via J. Murphy).


Video clip  ©  Séamus Feeney 2009
17th February 2009: Second-winter Glaucous Gull at Ballyconnell
17th February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 A Little Egret has been seen regularly near Strandhill, along the northern shore of Ballysadare Bay at Strandhill was at Ballyconnell Beach (D. Kelly).
17th February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 A second winter Glaucous Gull was at Ballyconnell Beach (S. Feeney).
17th February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 The adult and second winter Glaucous Gulls were roosting along the tidal channel at Connacht Gold and the abnormally dark (melanistic?) Redshank was at Cartron Marsh (M. Casey).
Dark Redshank
Images  ©  Mícheál Casey 2009
17th February 2009: This extremely dark (melanistic?) Redshank was found yesterday by Séamus Feeney and Don Cotton, present again today (feeding on the mud flats behind the bus stop at Cartron Marsh on the rising tide).

 Click on image to see larger version

Further photos are here.

16th February 2009
Inishcrone and Pullaheeny Harbour		 42 ringed Brent read in a flock of 483 Pale-bellied Brent at Inishcrone and 17 rings read in a flock of 111 at Pullaheeny.  A total of 49 out of the 59 read were ringed during the cannon netting at Enniscrone Golf club this time last year (on 14th February 2008), but at least one Canadian-ringed bird was also identified (M. Enright).

16th February 2009
Drumgay Lough,
Enniskillen		 Male Smew still present and showing well (M. Breen).

16th February 2009
Drumcliff  River		 An extremely dark Redshank (melanistic?) gave good views at Cartron.  Also one of the immature Glaucous Gulls was seen at distance in the harbour. (S. Feeney, D. Cotton).
"The bird was behind the Cartron bus stop today. There were a small number of Redshank in the vicinity and on a couple of occasions this bird was harassed but appeared determined to remain in the area. It is quite a striking bird, obvious at a distance, almost Starling-coloured in tone. Structurally it appeared no different to any of the other Redshank present. It showed white secondaries, didn't pick up on rump or back, but from what I can see in reviewing photos it is pale. From the vent back the bird is relatively pale and the whole of the underwing was strikingly pale - this may have been due to the contrast with the rest of the plumage, rather than actually paler than on normal bird. The legs are a shade darker than Redshank."

Opinions welcome!
15th February 2009
Derrylehan,
Ballintrillick		 An all-white bird with a yellow bill, possibly a completely albino Blackbird, has been seen regularly in a private garden near Ballintrillick  (C. McGloin).

15th February 2009
Drumcliff  River		 A Little Egret and a Kingfisher were seen on the Drumcliff river downstream from the bridge over the main road (M. Bell).

15th February 2009
Lissadell,
Drumcliff Bay		 The King Eiders were seen again at Lissadell  (P. Lonergan, T. Fair).

14th February 2009
Mullaghmore Head		 9 Chough feeding on pasture at the head (minimum count - some may have been out of sight over a ridge) (S. Feeney).
14th February 2009
Raghly		 90 Grey Plover seen with approx 150 Knot (S. Feeney).

Image  ©  Mícheál Casey 2009
12th February 2009: First-winter Glaucous Gull, with adult Mediterranean Gull in the background, at Cartron
12th February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 The adult and second winter Glaucous Gulls were at the tip of Cartron , while the first winter Glaucous Gull and a Mediterranean Gull were at the Cartron outfall (M. Casey).

Regular BirdWatch Sligo contributor launches new book
John McEvoy is an ecologist and photographer based in Sligo, and a regular contributor to this website. His time as a field researcher has allowed him to travel to many places but always returning to the river and woodland he calls home. His new book "Wild Life" presents a selection of wildlife and landscape photography from John's home place of Sligo and from around the world. Money raised from the sale of this book will go to fund further field research.  

The first 15 pages of the book book may be previewed (and the book can be purchased!) here.
12th February 2009: Sligobirding.com is five years old today!

It is hard to believe it is five years since the first sighting (a Black Brant and an Iceland Gull at Cartron Marsh) was posted here by Stephen McAvoy, who established the BirdWatch Sligo website on the 12th February 2004.

Sincere thanks to all contributors over the past five years, and looking forward to more of the same for the next five......


Images  ©  Seamus Feeney (left)  Mícheál Casey (right) 2009
11th February 2009: The sharp-eyed Séamus Feeney has contacted the website to point out that the Mediterranean Gull seen at Riverside on the 9th is a diiferent bird to the one seen a few hundred metres upstream at Doorly Park that day.  Seamus spotted that the one at Doorly Park (left image) has been around for a while, the Riverside bird (right image) is a new bird, with more black in its 'mask' and some differences in bill pattern

Not convinced?  Further comparison photos on the February Gull photos page here
11th February 2009
Lough Arrow		 A male Ring-necked Duck was found near the pumphouse at Rinnbaun Bay and a female Lesser Scaup was found at Ballindoon today (S. Feeney).

11th February 2009
Chough Survey Update		 NPWS/BWI Chough Survey News:  A massive flock of 46 Choughs, possibly 48, seen recently feeding on the slopes just west of King's Mountain.....fantastic sight. Only had 1 pair on Knocknarea and single on Coney Island so far (M. Trewby).

11th February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 First winter Glaucous Gull present at lunchtime (D. Skehan).

10th February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 No large white-winged gulls seen in the harbour, for the first time in a few weeks.  Two Siskins were flying high over Quay St this morning (D. Skehan).

Great Crested Grebe Redshank
Long-tailed Tit
Images  ©  Declan Skehan 2009
6th - 10th February 2009: Some common birds photographed around Sligo town in the past few days

Top Left:  Great Crested Grebe, Doorly Park
Top Right: Redshank on Weir Wall beside Barton Smith's/Hyde Bridge, Sligo town centre
Lower Image:  Long-tailed Tit, Doorly Park
Click on image to see larger version

The February Gull photos have been updated here
9th February 2009
Newtownholmes Road, Cornageeha, Sligo Town		 A single male Blackcap was sighted in a private garden on Newtownholmes Road, Cornageeha, Sligo Town about 2 weeks ago (A. Pender).

9th February 2009
Cloonamahon,
Collooney		 A dead Common Buzzard was found near the Dublin Road last Wednesday (J. J. Brennan).

9th February 2009
Doorly Park &
Riverside		 Two adult Mediterranean Gulls present (S. Feeney).

9th February 2009
Deepwater Quay		 First-winter and second-winter Glaucous Gulls present (S. Feeney).

8th February 2009
Cartron,
Sligo Town		 A pair of Blackcaps have been visiting a private garden in Cartron, Sligo (M O'D via M.Enright).

The Blackcaps that winter in small numbers in Ireland are from a different population to those that breed here in winter.  While our Blackcaps move south to winter in southern Iberia and North Africa, some of their Eurpean cousins migrate west from northern Europe to take advantage of our (usually) mild winters, and move back to breed in Germany and the Low Countries.  Thus the two populations never meet.  You can put out some apples cut in half to attract them to your garden - this seems to work best in urban gardens.
8th February 2009
GAA Grounds,
Collooney 		On Sunday afternoon around the Collooney GAA grounds I saw the following in about 1 hour from 2:30pm to 3:30pm: 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Waxwing as well as a lot of the usual species: 10 Redwings, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Stonechat, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Magpie, 5 Coals Tits, 3 Blue Tits and 5 Great Tits, 5 Chaffinches, 6 Robins, 3 Greenfinches, 2 Wrens, 5 Song Thrushes, 12 Woodpigeon, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Collared Doves, 3 House Sparrows,  8 Blackbirds; Starlings, Rooks and Jackdaws (loads)  (C. McElhinney).

8th February 2009
Doorly Park		 A Little Egret has been seen here in recent weeks (A. O'Donnell).

8th February 2009
Crozon area,
Sligo Town 		A Waxwing was seen in a domestic garden a few weeks back (A. O'Donnell).

8th February 2009
Drumcliff Bay		 6 Long-tailed Ducks were seen flying out of Drumcliff Bay today (Sunday) at 16:30 hrs (D. Cotton & J. Dunleavy).

8th February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 The Mediterranean Gull was at Doorly Park (D. Skehan).  At the Deepwater Quay, a Kumliens Gull was seen - also adult, first-winter and second-winter Glaucous Gulls (R. Vaughan via D. Breen).

7th February 2009
Union Wood/
Union Rock,
Collooney		 On Saturday afternoon between 1pm and 4pm I went up to Union wood and Union rock. On the road up to Union Wood B+B I saw the following: 5 Fieldfares, 15 Redwings along with several Song Thrushes and as I was watching them they all took off suddenly and a second later a Sparrowhawk flew over. Not sure it was after them but they didn't hang around to see! There was a Grey Heron along the Unshin River as well as plenty of the common birds: Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Robins, Wrens, Blackbirds, Chaffinches etc....
On my way home around 4pm I saw a Kestrel being driven away by a Rook over the river (C. McElhinney).

7th February 2009
Lissadell,
Drumcliff Bay		 The King Eiders were seen again at Lissadell  (D. Charles, W. Farrelly).

7th February 2009
Mermaid's Cove		 At Mermaids Cove there were six Long-tailed Ducks and Six Purple Sandpipers were close to Mullaghmore harbour (M. Bell).

7th February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 At full tide today there was a flock of approx 100 Lapwing at Cartron Bay, along with about 30 Curlew, 2 Goldeneye and 10 Widgeon. A Kingfisher was also seen on the Rathbraughan stream that runs under the road into the bay. An immature Great Northern Diver was present in  the harbour again (J. McEvoy).   Adult, first-winter, and second-winter Glaucous Gulls and a first-winter Iceland Gull were feeding on the last remains of the fishmeal debris on the Deepwater Quay (K.  Murray, D. Cotton). The adult Mediterranean Gull was in the harbour (D. Breen).

7th February 2009
Streedagh		 The Little Egret was seen again at Streedagh estuary (K.  Murray, D. Cotton).



6th February 2009
Streeamstown		 A Peregrine Falcon struck and killed a Lapwing, but abandoned it after it fell into the stream (D. Cotton).

6th February 2009
Lissadell		 There was one first-winter Glaucous Gull at Lissadel (J. N. Murphy).  The two King Eiders were seen again at the mouth of the channel  (P. Keogh).

6th February 2009
Streedagh		 Little Egret seen at Streedagh (K.  Murray).

6th February 2009
Strandhill		 A single Snow Bunting was seen in the dunes between Strandhill and the airport (D. Feeney).

 First-winter Iceland Gull
Image  ©  John N. Murphy 2009
5th February 2009  The gulls continued to make the most of the fishmeal debris after a cargo was loaded onto a bulk carrier this week

All February Gull photos are here
5th February 2009
Deepwater Quay,
Sligo Harbour		 One first-winter Iceland Gull and two first-winter Glaucous Gulls were at Sligo Dock (J. N. Murphy).

A lot of gull photos have been received, which will be put up on a dedicated page over this weekend
5th February 2009
Knoxpark,
Ballysadare		 A Glaucous Gull was seen in flight at Knoxpark, Ballysadare at 9.00 am (M. Enright).

4th February 2009
Deepwater Quay,
Sligo Harbour.		 It looked as if every gull in Sligo Bay was at the Deepwater Quay this morning, attracted by loose fishmeal on the jetty, spillage from the loading of a bulk carrier earlier this week. A peak count of 1400 gulls included Herring, Common, Black-headed, Great Black-backed, as well as single adult, first-winter and second-winter Glaucous Gulls, adult Mediterranean Gull, Ring-billed and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.  The Lesser Black-backed brings to ten the number of gull species seen in Sligo Harbour this week (D. Skehan, S. Feeney, D. Cotton, M. Casey).

3rd February 2009
Lissadell,
Drumcliff Bay		 The King Eiders were seen again, shadowed by a Herring Gull this time  (D. Cotton).

3rd February 2009
Sheenun,
Rossinver,
Co. Leitrim		 A probable juvenile Golden Eagle was seen well at this location on Saturday 31st January.  No wing-tags were observed during excellent views.  The bird was mobbed by Hooded Crows, which it dwarfed in size (S. Callagy).

3rd February 2009
Drumnasharragh/
Garvanagh area,
near Cavangarden Cross,
Ballyshannon,
Co. Donegal		 There was no sign of the possible Great Grey Shrike despite several careful searches of the area during the course of the day.  Those who made the trip got some consolation from the sight of three Goosanders (a male and two females) on Tullaghevlin Lough at IG 922658   (F. Lunny, S. Feeney, D. Kenna, P. Keogh, M.Casey).

3rd February 2009
Drumgay Lough,
Enniskillen,
Co. Fermanagh		 Male Smew showed well   (S. Feeney, D. Kenna).

3rd February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 The Ring-billed Gull was at Quay St in the morning (M. Casey).  The Little Gull was again at Cartron sewage outfall, together with the second-winter Glaucous Gull, today.  Seven Goldeneye were also in the area, always a fine sight at close range (M. Enright).

2nd February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 A second-winter Iceland Gull was seen at Kilmacannon, Ballinfull  (M. Enright).

Image  ©  Declan Skehan 2009
2nd February 2009:

Long-tailed Tits on a peanut feeder in a private garden in Sligo town.  Although this species has been increasingly reported coming to feeders in recent years, it is still an uncommon sight.
Click on image to see larger version
Image  ©  John McEvoy 2009
30th January 2009:

This Siskin was part of a large flock seen in Doorly Park
2nd February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 The Ring-billed Gull & first-winter Glaucous Gull were at Quay St. (D. Skehan)  A first-winter Little Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull and a second-winter Glaucous Gull were at Cartron sewage outfall  (S. Feeney, M.Casey).

2nd February 2009
Sligo Town		 There was a female Red-breasted Merganser fishing beside two Great-crested Grebes at Doorly Park, as well as the usual Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush and a large flock of Siskins (J. McEvoy).  A flock of Long-tailed Tits were feeding on a garden peanut feeder at Oakfield Park and Redwings were feeding on ornamental shrub berries in Stephen St car park (D. Skehan).

2nd February 2009
Co. Roscommon News		 Today there was a Peregrine Falcon circling overhead near Fairymount in Co. Roscommon (M. Bell).

2nd February 2009
Co. Donegal News		 A possible Great Grey Shrike has been present in the Ballyshannon area of Co. Donegal for the past week.  The bird has been seen fairly regularly on trees and on stone walls in and around the townland of Drumnasharragh (IG925662).  The bird was described as somewhat crow-like, although smaller than a Magpie, with a grey back and black wings with white stripes.  The observer and her husband consulted a field guide and believe that a Great Grey Shrike is the closest match (K. Burns).
Directions:
Travel north from Ballyshannon for 2-3 miles, pass straight through Cavangarden Cross (where there are signs for Connacht Gold Creamery, the Breesy Centre, and Lough Columcille, stay on main road, taking next right towards the Seamless Aluminium Co. On this by-road, keep right at the first fork (by-road swings left), going left when you reach a crossroads - all sightings of the bird have been along these roadsides before and after the crossroads, within a distance of a mile or so.
1st February 2009
Sligo Harbour		 The first-winter Glaucous Gull was at Quay St, and the first-winter Little Gull, the adult Mediterranean Gull and the second-winter Glaucous Gull were at the Cartron sewage outfall (D. Skehan).  Two first-winter Iceland Gulls were on the edge of tthe tidal channel at the Deepwater Quay (M. Casey).

A February 2009 Gulls Page has been posted here, while gull photos received in January are here.

For previous sightings, go to the Archived Sightings page
Note:  
All sightings listed above are as received and are unconfirmed. Birds highlighted in red & bold are of particular interest for County Sligo. For consistency, and to follow long-established convention, where place-names have more than one spelling (e.g. Tobercurry/Tubbercurry, Ballisodare/Ballysadare, Enniscrone/Inishcrone), the form used in the Ordnance Survey maps, underlined in these examples, is the one used here.

Please report any interesting Sligo bird sightings (including early or late migrants, rare or scarce birds, unusual numbers or behaviour etc.) by e-mailing us or by clicking the button below.

Digital photos taken of birds in Co. Sligo are particularly welcome for inclusion in our sightings pages and gallery, please e-mail them to the same address, sightings@sligobirding.com in any size or format.