March 2008 Sightings
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30th March 2008
LEITRIM NEWS		 1 Chiffchaff was singing at Kinlough (J. Kavanagh), and 4 House Martins were seen flying over the village (J. Kavanagh, P. Keogh).
30th March 2008
Raghly		 Off Raghly there were 18 Great Northern Divers, 11 Long-tailed Ducks, 50ish Brent Geese, and a Sandwich Tern at Raghly Harbour (S. Feeney).
30th March 2008
Sligo Harbour		 There were two 1w Iceland Gulls in the harbour (S. Feeney).
30th March 2008
Ballyconnell		 55 Brent (one ring read) and a pair of Eider were in Ballyconnell Bay (M. Enright via S. Feeney). One first-winter Iceland Gull was also present (S. Feeney).
30th March 2008
Ballintemple		 The Pink-footed Goose and the pale Richardson's Cackling Goose were with the Barnacle flock, which was spread out over several fields (M. Enright via S. Feeney).
30th March 2008
Mullaghmore
& Mermaid's Cove		 At Mermaids Cove there was a pair of Long-tailed Duck, about 60 Common Scoter, about 10 Great Northern Diver, one Red-throated Diver, about 20 Eider, about 15 Razorbill and several Sand Martins.  There were 4 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks near Mullaghmore harbour and one Gannet seen offshore (M. Bell & J. Vangendt).
29th March 2008
Drumcliff		 Two Little Egrets were on the shore below Drumcliffe Bridge on Saturday afternoon (C. McElhinney).
Red-breasted Mergansers
Image ©  Gerard Scott 2008
29th March 2008:  Red-breasted mergansers in the main tidal channel at Killaspugbrone, Strandhill
Click on image above for a larger image.
27th March 2008
Quay St Car Park		 There were some Grey Wagtails & Rock Pipits displaying and a single dark 1st winter Iceland Gull (D. Skehan).
26th March 2008 Not much in the way of news or sightings so far this week, and lots of nice images coming in, so have decided to go with the flow....apologies to those with slow internet connections.

With migration just starting (first Wheatears in Donegal, Sand Martins at severeal locations around the country) the first of Sligo's summer visitors must be due, please submit any sightings by clicking on the button above.
 
26th March 2008:  This map shows the theoretical shortest route from North Ronaldsay to Sligo (very unlikely to have been followed by a Storm Petrel!)
26th March 2008
RINGING NEWS		 A BTO report received today revealed that a ringed Storm Petrel that was trapped in a mist net at Knocklane, Ballyconnell on the 11th August 2007 had been originally ringed at North Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands.  Incidentally the bird was caught in a 'North Ron' mist net which was made in .............North Ronaldsay!  (C. Benson, M. Casey).
Whoopers in flight
Image ©  Declan Skehan 2008
24th March 2008:  This small group of Whooper Swans was photographed near Bunduff lakes, Mullaghmore.  
They are part of the mass migration of Whooper Swans returning to their breeding grounds in Iceland, which is well underway.
Click on image above for a larger image.
Grey Wagtail displaying Grey Wagtail singing Grey Wagtail displaying
Male House Sparrow with nesting material Female Bullfinch with nesting material
Images ©  Declan Skehan (House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail), M. Casey (Bullfinch) 2008
25th March 2008:  Spring is in the air in Sligo - the Grey Wagtail (top row) was singing and displaying at the Quay in Sligo, while the House Sparrow (lower left), also in Sligo town, and the female Bullfinch (lower right), near Tubbercurry were carrying nest materials.
Click on image above for a larger image.

Long-tailed Tit Male Goldfinch Female Goldcrest
Images ©  M. Casey 2008
24th March 2008:  Mist-netted and ringed in a rural garden near Tubbercurry today:  from left, Long-tailed Tit, male Goldfinch, female Goldcrest.
Click on image above for a larger image.

Melanistic Pheasant Fulmars Raven
Images ©  Séamus Feeney 2008
24th March 2008:  Some interesting birds seen in the Ballyconnell area today:  from left, a melanistic male Pheasant, two Fulmars prospecting a  possible nest site, and a territorial Raven.
Click on image above for a larger image.
24th March 2008
Ballintemple/Ballyconnell		 At least 3,500 Barnacle Geese were in the Ballyconnell/Ballintemple area (M. Enright), among which was the paler of the Richardson's Cackling Geese and the Pink-footed Goose (M. Enright, S. Feeney).  Two Iceland Gulls were also seen in fields in the Ballyconnell area (S. Feeney).
24th March 2008
Sligo Harbour		 Two Iceland Gulls were in the Harbour (S. Feeney).
24th March 2008
Ballyconnell area		 Breeding activity confirmed at Raven nest in Ballyconnell area (S. Feeney)
22nd March 2008
Raghly		 A few of us were up yesterday to look for the Richardsons Cackling Goose but no luck despite a 4 hour search of the fields.  30 Eider were close in at Raghly Pier and 2 Iceland Gulls were inland in a field behind Raghly (L. Benson and members of Tolka branch, BirdWatch Ireland).  
This was unlucky - unfortunately the Barnacle flock sometimes partly or fully stays on Inishmurray in stormy weather, such as we had on Thursday and Friday night - in recent weeks the full flock has been based around Ballyconnell/Ballintemple every day, apart from periods of bad weather.
Images ©  Marius Breen 2008
22nd March 2008:  A Great Black-backed Gull feeds on a sea urchin, while a Shag waits around for left-overs at Mullaghmore (top), and five of the seven Long-tailed Ducks seen at Lissadell (bottom)
Click on image above for a larger image.
22nd March 2008
Sligo/Fermanagh		 3 Kestrels were seen during a drive from the Gleniff Horseshoe near Cliffoney to Garrison, Co. Fermanagh (M. Breen).
22nd March 2008
Lissadell		 Seven Long-tailed Ducks were at Lissadell Strand, near Carney village (M. Breen).
21st March 2008
Sligo Harbour		 Ring-billed Gull seen at Markievicz Road, three first-winter Iceland Gulls at Cartron Sewage outflow (M. Bell)
21st March 2008
Lissadell		 Four Long-tailed Duck were seen off the beach at Lissadell (M. Bell, S. Feeney)
White-billed Diver
Image ©  Mícheál Casey 2008
21st March 2008:  Poor quality record shot of Great Northern Diver (initially identified as a possible White-billed Diver) at Raghly
Click on image above for a larger image - no more detail visible unfortunately.
21st March 2008
Raghly Point		 The possible White-billed Diver at Raghly this afternoon was re-identified as a Great Northern Diver based on structure, silhouette and the dark tones on the head and nape.  Comments, opinions, and above all, better photos would be very welcome!!

Directions:  The bird was to the south-east from the harbour, in the direction of Old Rosses - if you look east from Raghly Harbour, you can see a four-legged pylon in the middle of Drumcliff Bay (a signal beacon).  The bird was seen to the right of this, towards the sandy beach on the far shore (Rosses Point beach). Towards mid-afternoon it gradually moved towards Lissadell.

Images © Mícheál Casey 2008
19-20th March 2008:  Ring-billed Gull - behind adult Herring Gull (left), 2nd-winter Iceland Gull (centre) and first- and second-winter Iceland Gulls , all photographed in the Garvogue River at Markievicz Road, Sligo (opposite Quay St. car park).
Click on image above to see larger version
20th March 2008
Sligo Harbour		 A Little Egret was seen flying from Hughes Bridge past Cartron Sewage Outlet (D. Skehan).  This Little Egret sighting is the closest to the town centre yet reported.  More Iceland Gulls in the harbour - 2 pale first-winters, 3 dark first-winters, and a second-winter Iceland Gull (D. Skehan), adult Ring-billed Gull (S. Feeney, M. Casey).
19th March 2008
Sligo Harbour		 A Whimbrel was heard calling over the harbour area late at night (D. Skehan).
LEITRIM  NEWS
19th March 2008
Manorhamilton		 One Swallow was seen over the Owenmore River crossing near Manorhamilton (N. Warnock, A Crory).  2008's first Swallow in the north-west.
19th March 2008
Ballintemple		 One Richardson's Cackling Goose was with a large flock of Barnacle Geese at Ballintemple (N. Warnock, A. Crory).
19th March 2008
Ballyconnell		 Very large flock of Barnacle Geese, 1 Iceland Gull (first-winter) (D.Skehan).  A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was with 50 or so Light-bellied Brent at Ballyconnell beach.  A single Eider was also present (N. Warnock, A. Crory).
19th March 2008
Mermaid's Cove		 130 Common Scoter, no Eider seen (D. Skehan).
19th March 2008
Hazelwood		 2 Brambling (D. Skehan).
19th March 2008
Raghly		 A large diver, showing some features of White-billed Diver was seen with Great Northern Divers between Raghly and Rosses Point.  A party of at least 12+ Long-Tailed Duck also seen (D. Skehan).  An extract from the text of the finder's report is below - well worth checking the area around Drumcliff Bay/Ballyconnell for this bird if you are in the area over the Easter weekend - photos especially welcome if you get decent views.

"At Raghly, between 17:30 & 18:00 I saw a large Diver at extreme range in apparent Winter/Juv plumage with what appeared to be a pale bill. The bird was located between Raghly & Rosses Point in the company of a 'normal' looking GND. In the area were a c.10-15 other GND's. It was always possible to locate this individual among the other Divers. In the late light, the bill appeared very pale & was difficult to even see at times - unlike the GND's. The bird also frequently held its bill upwards giving it a peculiar profile. It was also displaying for c.30 secs but mostly had its back to me so no useful details possible. At the distance involved, it was not possible to rule out a GND with a pale bill: it did not appear structurally larger than nearby GND and the plumage appeared very 'contrasty'. The light was very low, behind me and may have accentuated the bill colour."

Three Great Northern Divers were seen west of Raghly (N. Warnock, A. Crory)
19th March 2008
Easter Greetings from Islay		 BirdWatch Sligo members Gerard Scott, Martin Enright and Miriam Crowley send Easter greetings from Islay, off the west coast of Scotland, where they are taking part in the annual RSPB Barnacle Goose count.  The total Islay flock now stands at over 10,000 geese and the Irish group have read 35 rings so far.  Ring-reading at Lissadell and elsewhere over the past 20 years has confirmed that the Barnacle Goose flocks in Mayo, Sligo, Donegal and Islay can be considered part of an single extended flock, with birds moving freely between the sites both between and within winter seasons.  The Sligo birders have also been assessing Islay's other natural features - the island's eight operating distilleries are home to some of the best and certainly to some of the most distinctive malt whiskies in Scotland.
19th March 2008
Sligo Harbour		 A first-winter and a second-winter Iceland Gull were at Markievicz Road (opposite Quay St Car Park) while the dark first-winter bird was opposite the Deepwater Quay.  No sign of yesterday's hybrid gull (S. Feeney, M. Casey, D. Skehan).
19th March 2008
Carraroe		 A Peregrine Falcon flew west across the dual carriageway at dusk (M. Casey).
19th March 2008
The Inishes,
Ballysadare Bay		 A report was received today of a Richardson's Cackling goose seen with Brent Geese a week ago (on 12th March) at the Inishes, on the northern edge of Ballysadare Bay (T. Hunter).  A Richardson's Goose was seen vwith a flock of Brent Geese at Belfast last September and not re-sighted since - the same bird? (D. Charles)
18th March 2008
Easkey		 Five male Eider Ducks and two female seen at Easky near Rosslea Castle just off the rocks, on 18 March (R. Burnhams)
18th March 2008
Cartron Bay,
Sligo Harbour		 There were three Iceland Gulls (two first-winter & one second-winter) this morning in Sligo Harbour (D. Skehan).  


Click on image for more
pictures of this bird

An interesting hybrid gull found by at the Deepwater Quay by Seamus Feeney yesterday (brief views) was re-sighted today at the gull roost beside the old swimming baths downstream from Hughes Bridge, in Cartron Bay today (S. Feeney, M. Casey). There seems to be consensus that one parent was a Common Gull - but was the other a Mediterranean Gull or a Black-headed Gull?  

Photos of this bird are here -  opinions on ID welcomed!  
17th March 2008
Raghly		 In the mid-afternoon, a male Hen Harrier came in off the sea at quite a high level, from the direction of Knocknarea, initially flying towards Ballintemple before altering course to the east towards Ben Bulben (S. Feeney).
17th March 2008
Sligo Harbour
 Two Iceland Gulls were in the harbour (a first-winter and a second-winter) and a Little Egret was at Gibraltar (S. Feeney).
17th March 2008
Grange/
Cashelgarron		 A report was received today of a group of five Common Buzzards seen about two weeks ago flying from the direction of Cashelgarron towards Grange (K. Murray).
17th March 2008
Ballyconnell		 There was a Dark-bellied Brent at Ballyconnell beach, as well as a dark-bellied bird with pale sides (possibly a hybrid) with about 58 Light-bellied Brent.  One of the Light-bellied Brent was seen to have an orange ring while it was up-ending, but brief views did not permit reading of the number (S. Feeney).
Images © Marius Breen 2008
16th March 2008:  Iceland Gulls at Ballineden, near Raghly
Click on image above to see larger version
16th March 2008
Ballintemple		 The dark Richardson's Cackling Goose was with a large Barnacle flock - possibly the full flock - at Ballintemple.  The flock was flushed by a distant plane  There were two first-winter Iceland Gulls in the fields there also (S. Feeney).
16th March 2008
Lough Bó		 The male Ring-necked Duck was again seen at Lough Bó (S. Feeney).
16th March 2008
Carrowreagh Cooper,
Tobercurry		 13 Whooper Swans seen grazing on pasture at Carrowreagh Cooper (M. Casey)
16th March 2008
Lissananny,
Ballymote		 31 Whooper Swans were at Lissananny (M. Casey).
Images © Dermot Breen 2008
15th March 2008:  Richardson's Cackling Goose photographed at Ballyconnell by Dermot Breen using a cameraphone!
Click on images above for a larger image.

Images © Séamus Feeney 2008
15th March 2008:  These photos shows the male Lesser Scaup at Muck Island Channel, Lough Arrow today.
Click on image above to see larger version

Further images and video of this long-staying rare North American vagrant are here.

15th March 2008
Lough Bó		 A Greylag Goose was with a group of 15 Whooper Swans on Lough Bó - the group appeared set to roost for the night.  Just four Tufted Ducks were seen, no sign pof the male Ring-necked Duck. (S. Feeney)
15th March 2008
Muck Island channel		 A male Lesser Scaup, almost certainly the one that has been seen for the past two months at Rinnbaun Bay, was located at the point west of the Muck Island causeway where the male Ring-necked Duck was seen in recent weeks.  The Ring-necked Duck was not seen (S. Feeney, D. Breen).  
15th March 2008
Ballyconnell		 The darker of the two Richardson's Cackling Geese was at Ballyconnell with the Barnacle Geese (D. Breen).
Ring-necked Duck Ring-necked Duck
Images © Mícheál Casey 2008
14th March 2008: Ring-necked Duck, Lough Bó
Click on image above to see larger version
14th March 2008
Lough Bó		 The male Ring-necked Duck was with six Tufted Ducks at Lough Bó (M. Casey).
14th March 2008
Mullaghmore		 40 Whooper Swans were seen leaving Bunduff and crossing Donegal Bay, there were 10+ Great Northern Divers in the bay, as well as 2 Red-throated Divers (one approaching summer plumage) and 10 Purple Sandpipers on the shore (D. Skehan).
14th March 2008
Mermaid's Cove		 Three more Purple Sandpipers, a mixed flock of 60 Eider and similar numbers of Common Scoter and a flock of 30 Brent Geese, including one ringed bird (D. Skehan)


Images © Declan Skehan 2008
14th March 2008:  Purple Sandpiper (top) and brent Goose (bottom) at Mermaid's Cove, near Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo.  The rest of Declan's super set of photos from his rewarding tour of north Sligo on the 14th are in a pictorial special here.
Click on images above for a larger image.
9th March 2008
Half-moon Bay, Hazelwood,
Lough Gill		 An adult Iceland Gull was at Half-Moon Bay in Hazelwood (S. Feeney).  Quite an interesting record as adult Iceland Gulls have not been seen in Sligo for several years, and Lough Gill would be an unusual site for Icelands - it may have been sheltering from the storm.
9th March 2008
Aughris Strand
(at Beach Bar)		 8 Great Northern Divers , 12 Eider  (P. Keogh).
9th March 2008
Mullaghmore		 7 Great Northern Divers, 350 Common Scoter (P. Keogh).  
9th March 2008
Mermaids Cove,
Mullaghmore		 55 Eider, 2 Chough (P. Keogh).
9th March 2008
Sligo Harbour 		5 Iceland Gulls (P. Keogh). 
9th March 2008
Oyster Island Channel,
Cummeen Strand		 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Glaucous Gull (P. Keogh).
LEITRIM NEWS
9th March 2008
Dromahair		 1 Brambling seen (P. Keogh).
8th March 2008
Ballyconnell		 10+ Lesser Black-backed gulls were seen on 8th March in the Ballyconnell area - none were in the area yesterday (D. Skehan).
8th March 2008
Ballyconnell		 Both Richardson's Cackling Geese were seen (P. Keogh)
Little Egret Little Egret
First Winter Glaucous Gull First-winter Glaucous Gull
First-winter Iceland Gull First winter Iceland Gull

Images © Seamus Feeney 2008
9th March 2008:  Little Egret at Gibraltar (top row) today, and at Cartron seage outfall there was a first winter Glaucous Gull (middle row) and first-winter Iceland Gull (bottom row)
 Click on image above to see larger version
9th March 2008
Aughris		 100 Light-bellied Brent seen at Aughris, on beach in front of "The Beach Bar" (BirdWatch Sligo outing led by M. Enright)
9th March 2008
Pullaheeney Harbour		 100 Light-bellied Brent were at Pullaheeney Harbour (BirdWatch Sligo outing led by M. Enright)
9th March 2008
Killrusheighter,
Aughris		 Killrusheighter - 10 Whooper Swans including one ringed bird (too far away to read) (BirdWatch Sligo outing led by M. Enright)
9th March 2008
Sligo Harbour		 A first-winter Glaucous Gull, two Iceland Gulls, and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage were seen in the harbour, near the Cartron sewage outflow (S. Feeney, M. Bell).  This is the first Lesser Black-backed Gull sighting of 2008.
9th March 2008
Gibraltar Point		 Little Egret seen feeding in the tidal channels (S. Feeney).
9th March 2008
Knockbeg,
Collooney		 A pair of Common Buzzards were seen displaying over the N17 approx 1 km south-west of Collooney village.  The birds were circling, while one, presumably the male, alternately climbed and dived, as the pair drifted slowly southwards (M. Casey).
8th March 2008
Cummeen Strand		 130 Light-bellied Brent were on Cummeen Strand, including some ringed birds (M. Enright).
8th March 2008
Union Wood		 A Buzzard, a male Brambling, and a Treecreeper seen (D. Cotton).
7th March 2008
Dromahair		 Both Richardson's Cackling Geese were with a small group of Barnacle Geese at Ballintemple (M. Casey).  Video clips of both birds, and some recent photos, are here.
LEITRIM NEWS
7th March 2008
Dromahair		 One Brambling seen in Dromahair this morning (P. Keogh).
Great Northern Diver
Image © Mícheál Casey 2008
5th March 2008: Great Northern Diver, Mullaghmore Harbour
Click on image above to see larger version
5th March 2008
Mullaghmore Harbour		 Two Great Northern Divers, and two Black Guillemots in breeding plumage gave great views at close range in the inner harbour at Mullaghmore at lunchtime (M. Casey).
4th March 2008
Ballintemple		 The dark Richardson's Cackling Goose and the Pink-footed Goose were with the Barnacle flock at Ballintemple (S. Feeney).
3rd March 2008
Raghly		 Surf Scoter reported at Raghly (posted on www.birdguides.com, observer not stated) 
3rd March 2008
Lissadell		 The pale Richardson's Cackling Goose was with Barnacle Geese at Lissadell (S. Feeney).
3rd March 2008
Dromahair		 Two Bramblings seen (P. Keogh)
 
2nd March 2008
Drumcliff Bay		 At least 40 Great Northern Divers were seen in Drumcliff Bay, between Lissadell and Raghly (P. Keogh).  
2nd March 2008
Raghly		 The Common Scoter flock was off the harbour at Raghly, but there was too much swell to check for the Surf Scoters seen off Strandhill some weeks back (P. Keogh).
2nd March 2008
Sligo Harbour		 Three Iceland Gulls seen (P. Keogh, D. Skehan).
2nd winter Iceland Gull
Image © Declan Skehan 2008
2nd March 2008: Second winter Iceland Gull, Sligo Harbour
Click on image above to see larger version
2nd March 2008
Bunduff/
Mullaghmore		 17 Whooper Swans were in the fields below Classiebawn Castle (D. Skehan).
2nd March 2008
PHOTOS RECEIVED		 A very high quality set of photos was received for this website today from Enniskillen birder Marius Breen, who sent in photos he has taken in recent years of some interesting birds he has seen in the north-west.  Click on the images or the links below to see a selection of the photos.  Thanks, Marius!
Grey Phalarope
Fairy Bridges
Bundoran
Co. Donegal
2nd December 2007		 Snowy Owl
Dooey Point,
Lettermacaward,
Co. Donegal
October 2006		 Wood Duck
Erne River
Enniskillen
Autumn/Winter 2007/8
Richardson's Cackling Goose with Barnacle geese at Ardtermon
Images © Mícheál Casey 2008
2nd March 2008:  The darker of the two Richardson's Cackling Geese (top) was with the main Barnacle flock at Ardtermon today, as well as the Pink-footed Goose (bottom left).   The goose flock was greatly disturbed, and flushed several times, by a protracted Coastguard Helicopter exercise (bottom right) at Raghly.  

This crew's training was called upon within 48 hours as this same helicopter had to undertake a very dangerous rescue in near-impossible conditions off the Donegal coast, where seven fishermen were lifted off a trawler in a highly risky operation - see news report here.  Well done lads!

Further images of the Richardson's Cackling Goose are here.
 Click on image above to see larger version
2nd March 2008
Ardtermon/
Ballintemple		 The darker Richardsons Cackling Goose was with a very large Barnacle flock (over 2,000) birds on the flat fields opposite Ardtermon Castle, as well as the Pink-footed Goose (M. Casey).  Four Iceland Gulls and one Glaucous Gull in the fields at Ballintemple (seen by a party of visiting Northern Ireland birders, reported via P. Keogh).
2nd March 2008
Lough Bó		 Adult male Ring-necked Duck seen again (S. Feeney, M. Bell, J. Vangendt).
2nd March 2008
Rinnbaun Bay,  
Lough Arrow		 Maler Lesser Scaup seen well (M. Bell, J Vangendt).
1st March 2008
Ballygawley Lough		 1 Whooper swan, 15 Goldeneye, 3 Tufted duck, 25 Cormorants (J. McEvoy)
1st March 2008
Ardtermon/Raghly		 Both Richardson's Cackling Geese were seen well this morning, with the main Barnacle flock in the fields south-west of the road between Ballintemple and Raghly (M. Bell, J. Vangendt).This is the first simultaneous sighting of both of the Richardson's Geese in several weeks, although they have both been seen separately on several occasions.  The darker bird was still present in the afternoon, to the relief of some visiting birders who had travelled quite a distance to see it:
"We arrived at Ballintemple in the afternoon. Together with two other cars we found the dark Richardson's Canada Goose pretty soon. At first it was quite far away and at the same time the weather was very dark and rainy, but shortly before darkness the Barnacle flock with the Richardson's Canada Goose lifted, just to settle again almost immediately , but now much closer. At the same time a sudden clearing in the sky meant that we got excellent views of the bird, which obviously was the dark one" (C. Leth, Denmark)