Sligo Bird Images - February 2010

28th February 2010:Tree Sparrows at Aughris village in west Sligo - part of a group of at least 13.

23rd February 2010: Colour-ringed Ringed Plover at Inishcrone Harbour. Ringing details awaited

See John's amazing images of Leitrim and Sligo wildlife on his gallery page here.

21st February 2010: Male Twite at Ragly - note the pink rump

21st February 2010: Video clip of Twite feeding on nyjer seed at Raghly.

21st February 2010: Video clip of male Twite at Raghly.

20th February 2010: Exceptionally dark Coal Tit pictured in a garden at Rahaberna. Although this exceptionally dark bird resembles the darker Continental form of the species, it seems more likely that it may be in abberrant plumage (ie with pale feather tips worn off revealing the darker downy body feathers.)

16th February 2010: Female Goosander at Ballysadare Estuary

16th February 2010: Short video clip of a female Goosander at Ballysadare Estuary

14th February 2010: Kingfisher in Doorly Park

14th February 2010: Dark-bellied Brent at Raghly

13th February 2010: Ruddy Shelduck (left) pictured with Common Shelduck (right) at Gibraltar Point, in Sligo Harbour

13th February 2010: Ruddy Shelduck pictured with Common Shelduck flock at Gibraltar Point, in Sligo Harbour

13th February 2010: Red-breasted Merganser drake (left) and Little Egret (right) in the channels at Standalone Point, in Cartron Bay, Sligo Harbour

13th February 2010: Ruddy Shelduck at Gibraltar

13th February 2010: This pair of Tree Sparrows was in a garden near Ballinfull Cemetery.

13th February 2010: After a protracted chase at the Knocklane end of Yellow Strand, this Rock Pipit managed to evade a hungry Merlin, and retired to review its life insurance arrangements

13th February 2010: The Barnacle Goose flock was severely disturbed by a biplane practising aerobatics over their grazing areas at Ballintemple - an area which Sligo Airport normally designate as an unofficial 'no fly zone' in winter in an arrangement going back for years. The flock of 3,000+ wintering geese was repeatedly flushed by the plane, at one stage flying to Horse Island off Yellow Strand, eventually returning only to be flushed twice more by the plane.

13th February 2010: Reed Bunting at Knocklane

6th February 2010: Twite at Raghly Harbour

6th February 2010: The medium-sized Canada Goose (rear left~) and the small Cackling Goose (rear right) at Ballintemple

3rd February 2010: Male Star' gave great views today at Ballymuldorry, between Ballyconnell and Raghly

3rd February 2010: Male Red-breasted Merganser in Sligo Harbour

2nd February 2010: Light-bellied Brent at Rosses Point

2nd February 2010: Little Egret fishing in the lochán at Ballyweelin Lagoon, Rosses Point today.

2nd February 2010: Twite flock at Raghly

2 February 2010: Greenfinch (top), and two Lesser Redpolls (middle and bottom) pictured in a Sligo garden