January 2006 Sightings
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| December 2005 <<< | Back to Archive | >>> February 2006 |
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| Images © Mícheál Casey 2006 | ||
| 29th January 2006: Twite
are infrequently seen in Sligo. They breed in small numbers in
some of the upland/mountain regions, and small flocks are occasionally
seen along the coast in winter. The stronghold of the species in
Ireland is in the Mullet Paninsula, in Co. Mayo, where a fairly stable
but vulnerable population of 300+ birds winters. This population
seems to have survived, at least in part, because of the survival of
traditional small-scale farming in the area. A colour-ringing
study of these birds has been commenced by Derek McLoughlin, to whom
any sightings of colour ringed Twite should be referred to Derek at:
twitestudy@yahoo.ie Further information on this project is here. |
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29.01.06 Cartron Marsh
2 Ring-billed Gulls (adult winter)
Another second-year Ring-billed Gull was seen nearby, bringing the wintering population in Sligo Harbour to three.
29.01.06 Cartron Inner Bay
1 Ring-billed Gull (adult winter)
29.01.06 Gibraltar
156 Ringed Plovers
600 Dunlins
700 Knots
500 Bar-tailed Godwits
29.01.06 Lissadell
2 Grey Plovers
23 Shovelers
Usually only 1 to 2 Shovelers are present at this site.
29.01.06 Ballyconnell
1730 Barnacle Geese
29.01.06 Rosses Point
19 Long-tailed Ducks
A large flock for County Sligo.
28.01.06 Mullaghmore
1 Goosander (male eclipse/female type)
The Goosander is now preferring the smallest lake (Lake 1).
27.01.06 Mullaghmore
12 Great Northern Divers
7 Red-throated Divers
17 Fulmars
2 Whooper Swans (ringed)
1 Goosander (male eclipse/female type)
The Goosander is still present on the lakes, but appears to be very elusive at times.
26.01.06 IT Sligo
136 Pied Wagtails
1 Lesser Redpoll
The Pied Wagtails were seen roosting in a cherry tree on the grounds of the IT.
24.01.06 Dargan Lake
6 Whooper Swans
Close to Ballygawley Lake
24.01.06 Ballygawley Lake
33 Whooper Swans
14 Goldeneye
24.01.06 IT Sligo
40 Oystercatchers
1 Redpoll
22.01.06 Cartron Marsh
2 Greenshanks
1 Ring-billed Gull (adult winter)
1 Redpoll
22.01.06 Cartron Inner Bay
65 Herring Gulls
2 Iceland Gulls (first winters)
A high count for Herring Gulls in Sligo Harbour.
19.01.06 Cartron Marsh
1 Peregrine
1 Greenshank
1 Iceland Gull (first winter)
15.01.06 IT Sligo
1 Kingfisher
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| Images © Mícheál Casey 2006 | ||
| 13th January 2006: Goosander, Bunduff | ||
13.01.06 Mullaghmore
1 Goosander (adult female/eclipse male)
12.01.06 Mullaghmore
1 Goosander (adult female/eclipse male)
The bird has been seen on all three lakes at Mullaghmore.
12.01.06 Colgagh Lough
14 Little Grebes
12 Whooper Swans
5 Goldeneyes
10.01.06 Mullaghmore
12 Whooper Swans
1 Goosander (adult female/eclipse male)
Only the third or fourth record for County Sligo, the Goosander was seen on the lake closest to the sea (Lake 3). Intriguingly, it or another was possibly seen on Lough Arrow around the 24.12.05. The last record of Goosander from County Sligo, is of a female at the same site in October 2001.
09.01.06 Sligo Town
1 Blackcap (male)
This species only rarely overwinters in County Sligo.
09.01.06 Cartron Marsh
1 Iceland Gull (first winter)
Seen on the 30.12, this bird may be the same individual as the whitewinged gull seen on the 23.12.
Two adult Ring-billed Gulls and a possible juvenile were also present at this site on the 28.12.
03.01.06 Mullaghmore
4 Red-throated Divers
9 Eiders
19 Whooper Swans
03.01.06 Raghly
1 Peregrine
3 Tree Sparrows
03.01.06 Cartron Marsh
1 Merlin