Date	Species	Photo	Number	Site	Observer	Remarks
31st March 2009	Little Egret		1	Kellystown, Ballysadare Bay	Gary Salter
31st March 2009	King Eider		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Don Cotton	Male appears to be developing more features of adult plumage.
31st March 2009	Blackcap		1	Annaghmore Bog, Near Collooney	Séamus Feeney	First Sligo Blackcap of 2009.   No Willow Warblers were recorded in a search of Slish Wood and the Breeogue area (Trevor Hunter)
31st March 2009	Chiffchaff		1	Annaghmore Bog, Near Collooney	Séamus Feeney
31st March 2009	Whooper Swan		9	Kilmacowen, Ballysadare	Martin Enright	Flew over in darkness at 9.30 pm, following precisely the same path as the large group that went through two hours earlier.
31st March 2009	Whooper Swan		72	Kilmacowen, Ballysadare	Martin Enright	Flying directly northwards in a perfect V formation
31st March 2009	Whooper Swan		c. 80	Over Strandhill School	Patricia Hunter	Circa 80 whooper swans in 3 long wedges seen flying north at about 12.15 pm.
31st March 2009	Long-eared Owl		1	near Doonally, Sligo	Francis Gonley	Seen and heard almost nightly in recent weeks
31st March 2009	Barn Swallow		1	Ballintrillick village	Joe Kavanagh
31st March 2009	Hooded Crow		2	Streamstown, Ballysadare Bay	Mícheál Casey	Both partly leucistic, presumably siblings, regularly seen at this location
31st March 2009	Green Sandpiper		1	Streamstown, Ballysadare Bay	Mícheál Casey	Flushed some distance off and rocketed up, calling constantly.  ID based on distant views, behaviour & call
31st March 2009	Little Egret		1	Streamstown, Ballysadare Bay	Mícheál Casey
31st March 2009	Whooper Swan		22	Bunduff Lakes, Mullaghmore	Trevor Hunter	Count (excluding single resident bird) conducted at at 5.30 pm
31st March 2009	Whooper Swan		30	Along Kings Mountain	Kevin Murray	Heading north
31st March 2009	Whooper Swan		17	Over Streedagh	Kevin Murray	Heading north
30th March 2009	Pale-bellied Brent		11	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Gerard Scott
30th March 2009	Oystercatcher		35	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Gerard Scott
28th March 2009	Sand Martin		1	Breeogue, Knocknahur	Trevor Hunter
28th March 2009	Merlin		1	Lenadoon Point, Rathlee, Easkey	Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy	Perched on beach just above Cuvier's Beaked Whale carcass!
29th March 2009	Chiffchaff		1	Doonowney, Lissadell	Jean Dunleavy
29th March 2009	Dipper		2	River Easkey, Easkey Village	Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy
28th March 2009	Cuvier's Beaked Whale (carcass)		1	Lenadoon Point, Rathlee, Easkey	Mícheál, Eileen & Claire Casey, Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy
28th March 2009	Raven		1	Lough Easkey, Ox Mountains	Mícheál Casey
28th March 2009	Wheatear		1	Lough Easkey, Ox Mountains	Mícheál Casey
28th March 2009	Greenshank		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Derek Charles
28th March 2009	Great Northern Diver		3	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Derek Charles, Tristan Reid
28th March 2009	King Eider		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Derek Charles, Tristan Reid
27th March 2009	Barn Swallow		1	Fawcett's Bridge, Doonally, Sligo	Madeline O'Donoghue, John Robinson
27th March 2009	Iceland Gull		1	Sligo Harbour	Derek Charles, Tristan Reid	Second-winter bird
25th March 2009	Merlin		1	Streedagh Point	Don Cotton, Siobhan Ryan & Eileen Magnier
25th March 2009	Wheatear		1	Trawgar Strand, Streedagh	Jean Dunleavy & Don Cotton	Male
24th March 2009	Sparrowhawk		1	Doorly Park	John McEvoy	A female Sparrowhawk flew over and dived into the woods on the south bank. A female Red Breasted Merganser and a Great Crested Grebe were on the  river.
23rd March 2009	Razorbill		10	Aughris Head	Robin Burnhams	Approx 10 Razorbills on sea below cliffs. Kittiwakes and Fulmars nesting on ledges
22nd March 2009	Redshank		340	Ballysadare Estuary, viewed from the "Silver Falls" car park	Martin Enright
22nd March 2009	Chiffchaff		1	Tanrego Intake, Ballysadare Bay	Martin Enright & Gerard Scott, leading the BirdWatch Sligo Woodland & seashore outing
22nd March 2009	Little Egret		1	Tanrego Woodland, Beltra	Martin Enright & Gerard Scott, leading the BirdWatch Sligo Woodland & seashore outing
22nd March 2009	Pale-bellied Brent		290	Strandhill	Martin Enright	"This is mainly the Ballysadare Bay flock, now feeding on the rocky shoreline under the cannon" (M. Enright).
21st March 2009	Dipper		2	John F. Kennedy Parade, Sligo Town	Trevor Hunter	Pair seen regularly along this stretch of urban river
21st March 2009	Little Egret		1	The Inishes/ Kellystown Shore	Trevor Hunter	A Little Egret is seen regularly foraging in this area, same pattern as last winter when one was present from January to March, then moved off
21st March 2009	Barn Swallow		1	Ballinafad village	Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy	First Sligo Swallow of 2009
21st March 2009	Common Buzzard		1	Rathscanlon, Tubbercurry	Mícheál Casey	Circling over farmland, mobbed by crows.  One was seen nearby in the nearby townland of Cashel about a month ago (Robert Lundy).
21st March 2009	Pale-bellied Brent		290	Strandhill	Martin Enright & Jim Wilson	In front of the promenade
21st March 2009	Chiffchaff		1	Holy Well, Tobernalt, Carraroe, Sligo	Trevor Hunter	Singing at 8.15 am, first warbler reported in Sligo this year. First Sligo Chiffchaff of 2009.
20th March 2009	King Eider		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Jim Wilson
20th March 2009	Iceland Gull		1	Stephen St car park, Sligo town	Declan Skehan	First-winter
20th March 2009	Sparrowhawk		1	Doorly Park	John McEvoy	A male Sparrowhawk flew over the playground in Doorly Park today at about 11am, flew into the trees at Cleveragh Retail Park and disappeared.
20th March 2009	Raven		2	Cashelgarron	Kevin Murray	They were seen from Cashelgarron,  circling at about 300 ft and in a thermal. They went to c. 2,000 ft altitude towards Grange & then came back and went over Benbulbin, turned back and flew along the mountain towards Glendaragh
20th March 2009	Pale-bellied Brent Goose		189	Strandhill	Don Cotton, Gerard Scott	On beach, north of promenade
20th March 2009	Iceland Gull		1	Strandhill	Don Cotton
20th March 2009	True's Beaked Whale (carcass)		1	Strandhill	Gerard Scott, Don Cotton	A deep-water species, rarely seen in Irish waters.  The carcass has been removed for disposal by Sligo Co. Council.
20th March 2009	Whooper Swan		c. 40	Bunduff, Mullaghmore	Mícheál Casey	On the large lake, on passage.
20th March 2009	Red-throated Diver		1	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Mícheál Casey	In full summer plumage
20th March 2009	Long-tailed Duck		9	Bunduff, Mullaghmore	Mícheál Casey
20th March 2009	Chiffchaff		1	Rossinver, Co. Leitrim	Joe Kavanagh
20th March 2009	Whooper Swan		8	Bunduff, Mullaghmore	Don Cotton	Total of all three lakes, excluding the regular non-flying, long-staying individual
19th March 2009	Hen Harrier		1	Cloonshanville Bog, Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon	Michael Bell	An adult male Hen Harrier hunting low over Cloonshanville Bog near Frenchpark in Co Roscommon this afternoon
19th March 2009	Lesser Black-backed Gull		2	Doorly Park	John McEvoy
19th March 2009	Purple Sandpiper		1	Rathlee, Easkey	Mícheál Casey	With Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Redshank at a high tide roost
19th March 2009	Tree Sparrow		2	Carrowmabryan, Rathlee, Easkey	Mícheál Casey	Prospecting for nest sites in the ruins of an old cottage, Grid Ref  IG316384.  2 breeding pairs were seen across the bay at Lacken, Co. Mayo in 2008 (by Jackie Donnelly), but no recent records from Enniscrone, where Jackie reports that they bred in the village in the recent past.
19th March 2009	Long-tailed Duck		10	Bunduff, Mullaghmore	Séamus Feeney
19th March 2009	Red-throated Diver		1	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Séamus Feeney	In full summer plumage
19th March 2009	Wheatear		1	Carrowmabryan, Rathlee, Easkey	Mícheál Casey	Male
19th March 2009	Brambling		1	Banks's Turn, Tawnyhoosy, Killargue, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim IG 860326	Bernie Feeney	Bernie reports a wide variety of birds visiting her garden in Killargue since she put up a feeder, including Dunnocks, Blue Tits, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinches, Great Tits, Greenfinches and Goldfinches and Redwings.
18th March 2009	Little Egret		2	Kellystown, Ballysadare Bay	Beatrice MacDonald	The egrets were foraging on the shore on the tide line, to the left of the lane down from the Marian shrine. Also a male and female Red-breasted Merganser were in the channel along the shore to the right, also Brent (10), Curlews, Oystercatchers, a Cormorant and various gulls.  Meadow pipits were on the field fences.
18th March 2009	Whooper Swan		25	Deepwater Quay, Sligo	Trevor Hunter	Migrating north
18th March 2009	Sanderling		200	The Inishes, Ballysadare	Trevor Hunter
18th March 2009	Iceland Gull		1	Deepwater Quay, Sligo	Mícheál Casey	First-winter bird.  Only about forty gulls on the jetty this evening.
18th March 2009	Sand Martin		3	Deepwater Quay, Sligo	Mícheál Casey
18th March 2009	Martin sp.		3	Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim	Seán Callagy	Either House Martin or Sand Martin, probably Sand Martin, only seen in silhouette
18th March 2009	King Eider		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Mícheál Casey	Shadowed by Great Black-backed Gull
18th March 2009	Common Buzzard		1	Mermaid's Cove	Séamus Feeney	Came in off the sea - flew across Donegal Bay at a considerable height, made landfall north of Mermaid's Cove
18th March 2009	Wheatear		1	Mermaid's Cove	Séamus Feeney
17th March 2009	Wheatear		1	Rosses Point	Conor McElhinney	On the second beach
17th March 2009	Wheatear		2	Streedagh	Fiona Farrell	With the simultaneous arrival of good numbers of Sand Martins (see below), spring has officially arrived!
17th March 2009	White-fronted Goose		14	Lough Allen, Co. Leitrim	Frances Lucy	Seen in flight over the lake
17th March 2009	Whooper Swan		15	Sheenun, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim	Seán Callagy	Seen flying almost directly north in V-shaped formation, perhaps towards Bunduff/Mullaghmore, or indeed on migration to Iceland
17th March 2009	Tufted Duck		20	Eastern shore, Lough Arrow	Beatrice MacDonald
17th March 2009	House Sparrow		2	Collooney	Conor McElhinney	Gathering nest material
17th March 2009	Blackbird		1	Moneylahan, Grange	Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy	An all-white albino Blackbird, a very impressive-looking individual
17th March 2009	King Eider		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Paul Keogh
17th March 2009	Ring-necked Duck		1	Lough Bo	Paul Keogh	Male
17th March 2009	Ring-necked Duck		1	Brick Bay, Lough Arrow	Paul Keogh	Female
17th March 2009	Sand Martin		50	Parkes' Castle, Lough Gill	Paul Keogh
17th March 2009	Sand Martin		4-6	Sheenun, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim	Sean Callagy
17th March 2009	Black-throated Diver		1	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Paul Keogh
17th March 2009	Sand Martin		1	Rosses Point	Conor McElhinney	On the second beach.  Also seen:  Skylark (3), Linnet (2), Greenfinch (1), Pied Wagtail (2), Meadow Pipit (1), Rock Pipit (1), Stonechat (1).
17th March 2009	Sand Martin		13	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Paul Keogh	First confirmed sighting of 2009
17th March 2009	Common Buzzard		1	Ballymote	Michael Bell	Mobbed by crows
16th March 2009	Whooper Swan		7	The Inishes, Ballysadare Bay	Trevor Hunter	Migrating north
16th March 2009	Skylark		15	Culleenamore, Strandhill	Conor McElhinney	Also seen: Red-breasted Merganser, Shag, Hooded Crow, Stonechat, Wren
16th March 2009	Brent Goose		102	Culleenamore, Strandhill	Conor McElhinney
16th March 2009	Black Guillemot		2	Culleenamore, Strandhill	Conor McElhinney
16th March 2009	Ringed Plover		33	Culleenamore, Strandhill	Conor McElhinney
16th March 2009	Great Northern Diver		2	Culleenamore, Strandhill	Conor McElhinney
16th March 2009	Great Crested Grebe		3	Deepwater Quay, Sligo Harbour	Sandie McCanny	"Do not seem to have paired off yet, but there was a short display of crests and head-shaking. I have seen them in this bay several years for spring courtship. They seem to favour the reed beds - could be the pair seen in Doorly Park earlier this month, but there was definitely a third bird there today".
16th March 2009	Little Egret		1	over Kintogher, Drumcliff Bay	Don Cotton, Declan Feeney, Sligo IT Field Trip	Seen in flight
16th March 2009	Dippers		2-4	Garvoge River, Sligo Town	Declan Skehan, John McEvoy	Pairs of Dippers have been seen at Hyde Bridge and at Thomas St  Bridge (Kelly's Bridge).  One pair or two?
16th March 2009	King Eider		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	John Power, John-Joe Cahill & Bernie Sheridan	The two birds were seen well this morning by a visiting group of Waterford birders
16th March 2009	Whooper Swan		2	over Rathcormack	Mícheál Casey	Flying north-west
16th March 2009	Whooper Swan		12	over Oakfield Park, Sligo Town	Declan Skehan	At least 12 flew over
16th March 2009	Herring Gull		280	Deepwater Quay, Sligo Harbour	Mícheál Casey	Very conservative count of birds on the jetty only, many more on the mud flats
16th March 2009	Black-headed Gull		60	Deepwater Quay, Sligo Harbour	Mícheál Casey	Included one Darvic-ringed bird, originally ringed as a nestling on an island in Lough Mask, Co. Mayo by Chris Benson & Eoin McGreal on the 21st June 2007. This is its first re-sighting.
16th March 2009	Iceland Gull		1	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Declan Skehan,  Mícheál Casey	Probably one of the birds seen at the Deepwater Quay earlier.
16th March 2009	Iceland Gull		3	Deepwater Quay, Sligo Harbour	Séamus Feeney, Declan Skehan, Paul Keogh, Mícheál Casey	An adult, a first-winter, and a second-winter
16th March 2009	Glaucous Gull		2	Deepwater Quay, Sligo Harbour	Séamus Feeney, Declan Skehan, Paul Keogh, Mícheál Casey	One adult and one first-winter
15th March 2009	Waxwing		13	Ballinode, Sligo town	Michael D. Casey	Gorging on haws on a large hawthorn at about 11.50am.
14th March 2009	Common Buzzard		1	Boleyboy, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim	Fiona Farrell	Seen at Boleyboy, 3km NW of Manorhamilton on the afternoon of Sunday the 15th of March
14th March 2009	Little Egret		1	Tanrego Intake, Ballysadare Bay	Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy	The Little Egret was seen in flight, and landed in the lagoon behind the dyke wall (fromthe hillside overlooking the bay, near the Hungry Rock - almost 2 km away!)
14th March 2009	Common Buzzard		1	near Coolaney	Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy	At least one birds, possibly two - seen on two occasions, probably different birds
14th March 2009	Waxwing		10+	Ballinode, Sligo town	Paul Keogh, Michael D. Casey, Mícheál Casey	Up to 12 birds present in private gardens along the main Dromahair Rd, feeding on red Pyracantha berries which have been almost completely depleted and drinking from the gutters of adjacent houses, allowing very close approach
14th March 2009	Lesser Black-backed Gull		3	Deepwater Quay, Sligo Harbour	Michael Bell, Mícheál Casey	Approx 400-500 gulls were in the general area of the Deepwater Quay, attracted by the debirs from yesterday's cargo of fish-meal, which was loaded on a bulk carrier in the docks
14th March 2009	Glaucous Gull		1	Deepwater Quay, Sligo Harbour	Declan Skehan, Michael Bell, Mícheál Casey	Adult
14th March 2009	Iceland Gull		1	Deepwater Quay, Sligo Harbour	Michael Bell	Adult
12th March 2009	Glaucous Gull		2	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Declan Skehan	Both birds present
11th March 2009	Tree Sparrow		2	Easkey village	Robin Burnhams	These birds are present most days
11th March 2009	Hooded Crow		8	Rahaberna, Rathcormack	Conor McElhinney	Unusual to see this many together at the start of the breeding season.  Two of the birds were plucking at a sheep as it chewed its cud, and flying off with beakfuls of wool, presumably to line a nest.
11th March 2009	Ring-billed Gull		1	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Paul Keogh	Adult, regular bird
11th March 2009	Glaucous Gull		2	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Paul Keogh	Both birds present at lunchtime
10th March 2009	Lesser Black-backed Gull		10	Ballysadare Estuary, viewed from Silver Falls car park.	Séamus Feeney
10th March 2009	Ring-necked Duck		1	Lough Bo	Séamus Feeney, Michael Bell	Male
10th March 2009	Ring-necked Duck		1	Andresna Bay, Lough Arrow	Séamus Feeney	Female, seen previously in Brick Bay
10th March 2009	Ring-billed Gull		1	Cartron Sewage Outfall, Sligo Harbour	Séamus Feeney
10th March 2009	Long-tailed Duck		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Mícheál Casey	Flew down the tidal channel at lunchtime.  Good numbers of Brent and common waders.
10th March 2009	King Eider		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Mícheál Casey	Both birds drifted up on the turning tide at lunchtime, from a spot almost opposite the Alpine Gardens at Lissadell, to the shellfish farm area.
10th March 2009	Glaucous Gull		2	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Declan Skehan	Adult, first winter, same two birds present for a while now.
10th March 2009	Goldeneye		2	Cartron Bay, Sligo Harbour	Robin Burnhams
9th March 2009	Merlin		2	Boleybrack Mountain near Dowra, Co. Leitrim	Robert Wheeldon	Male, seen in flight
9th March 2009	Great Crested Grebe		1	Doorly Park, Sligo Town	Robin Burnhams
9th March 2009	Treecreeper		3	Doorly Park, Sligo Town	Robin Burnhams
9th March 2009	Glaucous Gull		2	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Declan Skehan	Adult, first winter
9th March 2009	Redshank		248	Ballysadare Estuary, viewed from Silver Falls car park.	Mícheál Casey	Numbers are building at this important stop-over for migrating waders
9th March 2009	Dunlin		198	Ballysadare Estuary, viewed from Silver Falls car park.	Mícheál Casey
9th March 2009	Ring-billed x Tufted Duck Hybrid		1	Lough Colgagh	Séamus Feeney	Returning male, seen last spring at this site.
8th March 2009	Long-tailed Duck		5	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens
8th March 2009	Common Scoter		10	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens, Séamus Feeney	One seemed smaller thn the rest, very difficult viewing conditions
8th March 2009	Great Northern Diver		1	Mullaghmore Head	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens, Séamus Feeney	Good numbers of Fulmars seen
8th March 2009	Redshank		200	Ballysadare Estuary, viewed from Silver Falls car park.	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens	Approx count
8th March 2009	Dunlin		100	Ballysadare Estuary, viewed from Silver Falls car park.	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens	Approx count
8th March 2009	Glaucous Gull		1	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens
8th March 2009	King Eider		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Séamus Feeney	Both birds present at high tide
8th March 2009	Ring-necked Duck		1	Lough Bo, Riverstown	Paul Keogh	Male still present
8th March 2009	Ring-necked Duck		1	Brick Bay, Lough Arrow	Paul Keogh	Female still present
7th March 2009	Peregrine Falcon		1	Rahaberna, Rathcormack	Conor McElhinney	Folded its wings and dived towards an unseen target, behind trees
7th March 2009	Snipe		7	Rahaberna, Rathcormack	Conor McElhinney
7th March 2009	Kestrel		1	Rahaberna, Rathcormack	Conor McElhinney	Seen hovering
7th March 2009	Raven		2	Rahaberna, Rathcormack	Conor McElhinney
7th March 2009	Waxwing		8	Riverside, Sligo Town	Niall Hopper	Feeding on Pyracantha ("Firethorn") berries in a private garden
7th March 2009	Glaucous Gull		1	Quay St car park	Seán and Joe Geraty	An immature bird, very bleached, almost white, probably the first-winter bird
7th March 2009	Ring-necked Duck		1	Lough Bo, Riverstown	Seán and Joe Geraty	No sign of the female RND at Brick Bay, Lough Arrow
7th March 2009	Whooper Swan		1	Lough Bo, Riverstown	Seán and Joe Geraty	The Ring-necked Duck, the Whooper and a lone Mallard were the only birds on the lake today
7th March 2009	Hen Harrier		1	Drum, Ballygawley	Séamus Feeney	Female-type seen quartering a rushy field.  Hen Harriers have been seen in this area before, but not seen hunting - they have usually passed straight through.
7th March 2009	Long-tailed Ducks		20	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Seán and Joe Geraty	In the tidal channel at Lissadell. A total of 13 were still present in the afternoon, when the area was viewed from the Lower Rosses sand spit.
7th March 2009	King Eider		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Seán and Joe Geraty	Both birds present at 10.30 am.  First reported sighting of these long-staying vagrants for almost a week.  Re-sighted from the Lower Rossaes sand spit in the afternoon.
6th March 2009	Glaucous Gull		2	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Mícheál Casey	The adult and very worn first-winter birds are present again
5th March 2009	Melanistic Pheasant		1	Newtownward, Grange	Kevin Murray	Kevin has seen several of these striking birds around Grange in recent weeks.  Undoubtedly there has been a release of significant numbers of them in north Sligo in recent weeks.  His striking photo of today's bird on the March Gallery Page is well worth a look.
5th March 2009	Little Egret		1	Kellystown, Ballysadare Bay	Martin Enright
5th March 2009	Otter		1	Doorly Park, Lough Gill	Michael D. Casey	Seen on the shore 100m west of the park gates on the northern shore - on  Grammar School land.
5th March 2009	Cormorant		3	Doorly Park, Lough Gill	Michael D. Casey	One had a striking white breast (juvenile), and another was in breeding plumage, seen in a Scots Pine on the man-made island beside the park gates.
5th March 2009	Great Crested Grebe		2	Doorly Park, Lough Gill	Michael D. Casey	Seen 100m east of Doorly Park Gates. Fishing quite productively
5th March 2009	Ring-necked Duck		1	Brick Bay, Lough Arrow	Séamus Feeney	Female
5th March 2009	Ring-necked Duck		1	Lough Bo, Riverstown	Séamus Feeney	Male
3rd March 2009	Glaucous Gull		1	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Mícheál Casey	First-winter bird on apartment block roof
3rd March 2009	Goldeneye		1	Doorly Park	John McEvoy	Male
3rd March 2009	Red-breasted Merganser		1	Doorly Park	John McEvoy	Female
3rd March 2009	Melanistic Pheasant		1	Rosses Point	Ciarán Davis	A male, seen in a field behind Yeats Country Hotel. May be a newly-released bird from gun club stock, or alternatively, may be the one seen across across Drumcliff Bay in Maugherow in March 2008.  Interestingly an unidentified bird seen near Castlegal today and fitting this description was reported to branch chairman Martin Enright, so there may have been a recent release of Melanistic Pheasants by a gun club or shooting estate in the area (Lissadell?).
2nd March 2009	Shelduck		95	Doonierin, Drumcliff Bay	Séamus Feeney	Afternoon count.  It appears that most of the huge Shelduck flock seen yesterday has moved on
2nd March 2009	Shelduck		85	Doonierin, Drumcliff Bay	Don Cotton	Morning count.
2nd March 2009	Glaucous Gull		2	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Declan Skehan	First-year bird bird and adult, coming to bread at quayside
1st March 2009	Great Northern Diver		1	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens	No sign of the Common Eider flock here or at Raghly
1st March 2009	Long-tailed Duck		8	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens
1st March 2009	Common Scoter		50	Mermaid's Cove, Mullaghmore	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens
1st March 2009	Great Northern Diver		1	Mullaghmore	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens	Big decline noticed in numbers of Great Northern Divers seen in this area in recent weeks
1st March 2009	Fulmar		12	Mullaghmore Head, Mullaghmore	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens
1st March 2009	Scaup sp.		1	Lough Colgagh	Séamus Feeney	A long-staying but elusive small female Scaup, showing some features of American Lesser Scaup.  Distant images of this bird taken during the week are here.  Comments on the birds ID are welcome here!  Update 10th March 2009: The consensus among comments received is that this bird is a Common Scaup.
1st March 2009	Kestrel		1	Coast Road, Lislary, Ballinfull	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens	Male
1st March 2009	Ring-necked Duck		1	Lough Bo, Riverstown	Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy	Adult male seen at about 2pm
1st March 2009	King Eider		2	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Ciaran Cronin, Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens
1st March 2009	Great Northern Diver		1	Lissadell, Drumcliff Bay	Ciaran Cronin, Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens
1st March 2009	Lesser Black-Backed Gull		1	Half-moon Bay, Hazelwood, Lough Gill	Declan Skehan	Lesser Black-backed Gulls are returning from their wintering grounds in southern Europe & North Africa - birds have been seen at three different sites in Sligo today.
1st March 2009	Lesser Black-Backed Gull		2	Sligo Harbour	Declan Skehan	Opposite Connacht Gold stores
1st March 2009	Glaucous Gull		1	Ballast Quay	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens	Probably one of the birds seen at Quay St today (below)
1st March 2009	Glaucous Gull		2	Quay St car park, Sligo Harbour	Declan Skehan	A first-winter and an adult bird were present
1st March 2009	Little Egret		1	Drumcliff Estuary, Drumcliff	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens	Seen near the river
1st March 2009	Shelduck		400	Doonierin, Rosses Point	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens	A very high count - that's not a typo - approx 400 Shelduck (a conservative estimate) were present at Doonierin today.  "The previous highest count for Shelduck in Sligo Bay was 197 for all three estuaries combined, and 124 at a single sight - Gibraltar point on 19th January 1997" (Don Cotton)
1st March 2009	Shelduck		1	Ballysadare Estuary, viewed from Silver Falls car park.	Marius Breen, Fred Carroll, Dermot Hagens
1st March 2009	Lesser Black-Backed Gull		4	Ballysadare Estuary, viewed from Silver Falls car park.	Séamus Feeney