March 2010 Sightings

Home Button
News & Events
RecentSightings
Archived Sightings
Birding Sites
Reports
Photo Gallery
Links
Contact Us
February 2010 <<< Back to Archive >>> April 2010
Lesser Redpoll
 

Image  © Declan Skehan 2010

February 2010: Lesser Redpoll in a Sligo garden

     
Great Spotted Woodpecker

Watch out for Great Spotted Woodpecker in Sligo's woodlands

In view of several unconfirmed reports of Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Sligo last spring, and another possible sighting near Ballintrillick in mid-January reported to us this week (courtesy of Lar Thermes), please remember that any reports of this newest Irish breeding species are welcomed at this website. All reported sightings will be followed up.

Great Spotted Woodpeckers are now breeding in several Irish counties on the east coast, and will probably spread here eventually. Please try to obtain photos to confirm the identity, but only if you can do so without disturbing the bird, especially if there is any suspicion that the bird is breeding.

 

Please send any reports to sightings @sligobirding.com

The photos show a female (left) and male (right) Great Spotted Woodpecker at their nest hole in Co. Wicklow. These photos were taken by Dick Coombes of BirdWatch Ireland under special licence.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Image © Dick Coombes 2009 Image © Dick Coombes 2009
Ringed Herring Gull

Ring-reading news

The BTO have confirmed that a ringed Herring Gull (GF09646) seen in Sligo Harbour on 14th March 2009 and again on 5th October 2009 was ringed by Chris Reynolds as a nestling at Mointeach Airinis, Isle of Lewis, in the Scottish Western Isles on the 23rd June 2003. This gull was one of a large number attracted into the harbour last March by spillage from the export of a shipment of fishmeal from the Deepwater Quayl. Its reappearance in October suggests that it may be yet another regular wintering gull in Sligo from gull colonies in the northern half of the UK.

Together with ringing evidence for movements of Storm Petrels and Barnacle Geese, these gull movements show how closely the western coast of Ireland is connected with Scotland's islands in terms of bird movements.

Click on photos for full size image

Ringed Herring Gull
Image © Mícheál Casey 2009 Image © Mícheál Casey 2009

Some news from Donegal, received from Derek Charles.

9th March 2010
Mervagh area west to Rossnowlagh: 1600 Common Scoter, at least 10 Black Throated Divers, 50 Great Northern Divers and 2 Little Egrets

Donegal Town: Two 2nd winter Ring Billed Gulls

Trawbega Bay, Inishowen: 24 Pinkfooted Geese

10th March 2010

Dave Allen had one male Smew and the male Ring Necked Duck on Inch Lake.

11th March 2010

Dave Allen has found a parvipes Canada with the Barnacle Geese at Trawbrega Bay near Malin Town, Co. Donegal.

Kestrel

BirdWatch Ireland raptor diet research project:


A BirdWatch Ireland research project to compare the diet of Irish breeding raptors & owls in different parts of the country is under way this spring. As part of this study, miniature cameras will be placed near nests to record the prey items fed by birds of prey to their chicks. During the 2010 breeding season, details of nests or suspected breeding locations can be e-mailed to this website - mail@sligobirding.com and will be passed on confidentially to the research group. Alternatively, if you wish, you can just pass on your contact details and the name of the species and these will be passed to the project team who will contact you directly.

This work is being conducted under the relevant NPWS permits, and all project staff will have appropriate insurance cover. It is an offence to approach or interefere with the nest of a breeding species except with appropriate training and permits. Please do not approach or do anything that might disturb a suspected nest site, or reveal its location publicly. Any information given will be treated in the strictest confidence.

BTO

BTO begins to put ringing records online:


What was a Polish-ringed Jack Snipe doing on Cummeen Strand on 27th October 2008?
(Answer: Getting shot!)

What was an Icelandic Redshank doing on Sligo Cathedral on 19th September 2004?
(Answer: Being eaten by a Peregrine Falcon!)

These and many more interesting recoveries are publicly available now that the BTO has put that past few years of its ringing & recoverieshttp://www.bto.org/ringing/ringinfo/recovery_summaries.htm archive online.

This very useful resource is searchable by year and by county - e.g. the numbers of birds of each species ringed in Sligo in 2009 are here while significant recoveries of ringed birds in Sligo in 2009 are here.

More Birds of Prey poisoned:


Another sickening chapter in Ireland's shameful record on poisoning birds of prey was revealed today.

More details here.

Wild Journeys

Barnacle Geese on RTÉ:

Lots of Sligo interest on the latest episode of RTE's newest wildlife documentary series: 'Wild Journeys'.


If you have broadband, check out 'Wild Journeys', which covers the satellite tagging of Barnacle Geese on the Inishkea Islands off Co. Mayo, with some fantastically evocative film footage. The programme features well known Irish ornithologists, and friends of Sligo branch, Alyn Walsh and David Cabot, and is well worth a look. The same episode also covers the journey of the Eel from the Sargasso Sea and the mysterious Sunfish, earth's largest bony fish, which is increasingly turning up in Irish waters. Also, some coverage of Gannet colonies. Well worth a look here.

   
             

Date

Species

Photo

Number

Site

Observer

Remarks

31 March 2010

Sparrowhawk


1 Raghly

Ulrike Schwier

In a private garden

31 March 2010

Light-bellied Brent Goose


267 Ardtermon Strand,
Raghly

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

Observer comments:

Previous highest count that I know of was 170

31 March 2010

Light-bellied Brent Goose


104 Trawgar,
Streedagh

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

Observer comments:

Unprecedented count for a site that typically holds a maximum of 10 geese

31 March 2010

Razorbill


>40 Mullaghmore Head

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

East side

28 March 2010

Lesser Redpoll


8 Knocknaganny Park,
Sligo

Gabriel Howe

At bird feeder

28 March 2010

Northern Wheatear


2 Ballyconnell Strand

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

 

28 March 2010

Golden Plover


c. 200 Ballyconnell Strand

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

 

28 March 2010

Barn Swallow


2 Lissadell

Jean Dunleavy

 

28 March 2010

Whooper Swan


c. 40 Carney

Joanne O'Reilly

Flying overhead

28 March 2010

Whooper Swan


98 Bunduff Lough,
Mullaghmore

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

 

28 March 2010

Falcon sp.


1 Cartron Marsh,
Sligo Harbour

John Tyner (Wicklow)

Observer comments:

1 possible Peregrine Falcon was seen at Cartron Marsh at about 2pm on Sunday 28th March. It swooped down to the marsh and then seemed to have something in its talons. However I wasnt sure if maybe it was a falconer's bird as it looked like it had something attached to its tail as part of falconer's apparatus. It was definitely bird of prey of the falcon group.

Interesting sighting in view of recent reports of a possible escaped Barbary Falcon seen near Ballina, Co. Mayo

28 March 2010

Barn Swallow


3 Ballysadare Village

John Tyner (Wicklow)

 

27 March 2010

Cackling Goose


1 Ballintemple

Joe Donaldson

 

27 March 2010

Canada Goose


1 Ballintemple

Joe Donaldson

 

27 March 2010

Ring-necked Duck


1 Andresna Bay,
Lough
Arrow

Joe Donaldson

 

27 March 2010

Wheatear


2 Cloonagh Beach,
Ballyconnell

Joe Donaldson

 

27 March 2010

Barn Swallow


3 Ballysadare

Anna Lloyd (Tolka Branch)

 

27 March 2010

Barn Swallow


5 Ballydrehid,
Ballysadare

Noel Raftery/Trevor Hunter/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Wheatear


2 Streamstown

Noel Raftery/Trevor Hunter/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip, John Tyner

 

27 March 2010

Cackling Goose


1 Ballintemple

Dick Coombes, Terence Cassidy/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Canada Goose


1 Ballintemple

Dick Coombes, Terence Cassidy/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Common Eider


2 Streedagh

Stephen McAvoy/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Barn Swallow


2 Streedagh

Stephen McAvoy/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Light-bellied Brent


74 Streedagh

Stephen McAvoy/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Long-tailed Duck


1 Streedagh

Niall Hatch/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Red-throated Diver


1 Raghly

Barry Ryan/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Black Guillemot


1 Raghly

Barry Ryan/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Great Northern Diver


1 Raghly

Barry Ryan/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Great Crested Grebe


1 Raghly

Barry Ryan/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

Ardtermon side

27 March 2010

Common Snipe


1 Raghly

Barry Ryan/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

Ardtermon side

27 March 2010

Velvet Scoter


1 Raghly

Ralph Sheppard/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

With Common Scoter

27 March 2010

Tree Sparrow


2 Raghly

Don Cotton, Brian Caffrey, Alex Borawska/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Iceland Gull


1 Mullaghmore Head

Stephen McAvoy/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

1st winter

27 March 2010

Mediterranean Gull


1 Mullaghmore Head

Stephen McAvoy/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

2nd winter

27 March 2010

Sand Martin


2 Large Lake,
Bunduff Lough

Stephen McAvoy/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Whooper Swan


40 Large Lake,
Bunduff Lough

Brian Caffrey, Alex Borawska/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

27 March 2010

Water Rail


1 Large Lake,
Bunduff Lough

Brian Caffrey, Alex Borawska/BWI-RSPB Sligo Conference Field Trip

 

26 March 2010

Chiffchaff


1 Aughriman,
Drumshanbo,
Co. Leitrim

Frances Farrell

 

26 March 2010

Little Egret


1 Ballyweelin Lagoon,
Rosses Point

David Gunne

Actively feeding.

26 March 2010

Sanderling


18 'Second Beach,
Rosses Point

David Gunne

 

26 March 2010

Barn Swallow


2 'Second Beach',
Rosses Point

David Gunne

 

26 March 2010

Cackling Goose


1 Ballintemple

Killian Mullarney, Alyn Walsh

 

26 March 2010

Canada Goose


1 Ballintemple

Killian Mullarney, Alyn Walsh

 

25 March 2010

Sand Martin


2 Inishcrone

Mervyn Gawley

 

25 March 2010

Whimbrel


2 Dooneen,
Inishcrone

Mervyn Gawley

Heard.

25 March 2010

Barn Swallow


2 Beltra

Conor McElhinney

First Sligo report of 2010. Flying West along the N59 Sligo-Ballina Road towards Dromard.

25 March 2010

Purple Sandpiper


17 Mullaghmore

Michael Bell

 

25 March 2010

Ring-necked Duck


1 Andresna Bay,
Lough Arrow

éamus Feeney

 

25 March 2010

Purple Sandpiper


17 Mullaghmore

Michael Bell

 

25 March 2010

Whooper Swan


16 Doonowney,
Lissadell

Jean Dunleavy

19:10 16 over Doonowney near Lissadell

25 March 2010

Whooper Swan


7 Lislary

Declan Feeney

18:30 - 3 flew past over sea between Inishmurray and mainland. Declan Feeney

25 March 2010

Whooper Swan


7 Lissadell

Jean Dunleavy & Don Cotton

18:10 -7 flew over Drumcliff Bay and Lissadell.

25 March 2010

Whooper Swan


19 Raghly

Martin Enright, Declan Murphy & Katy Jennings

18:00 - 19 flew past Raghly.

25 March 2010

Whooper Swan


5 Ballyconnell

Don Cotton

17:35- 2+3 seen flying over sea towards Inishmurray (to join over 100 seen settled on sea 3-4 km offshore)

25 March 2010

Whooper Swan


100+ Donegal Bay

Don Cotton

17.35 - Resting on the sea 3-4km offshore. Probably included some if not all of the birds seen in flight earlier.

25 March 2010

Whooper Swan


8 Lissadell

Jean Dunleavy

17:15 - 8 flew over goose field area of Lissadell. Jean Dunleavy

25 March 2010

Whooper Swan


37 Ballyconnell

Don Cotton

17:10 - 37flew in V-formation seen from Ballyconnell against backdrop of Benbulbin

25 March 2010

Whooper Swan


85 Ballyconnell

Don Cotton

1700 - 85 Whooper Swans flew north in a straight line. Observer comments: The 85 Whooper Swans in flight, stretched out in a line, was the most I have ever seen in the air and was a 'wildlife spectacle' for anyone who might have observed them.

25 March 2010

Sand Martin


2 Lissadell

Jean Dunleavy

 

24 March 2010

Sand Martin


1 Portavaud,
Ballysadare Bay

Martin
Enright & Mr. Mulligan's 5th & 6th classes from High ParkNational School

 
24 March 2010

White-tailed Eagle


1 Derrymore Island,
Lough Gara
Allan Mee, from satellite data 'Male Star' is back in Sligo, on Lough Gara.

24 March 2010

Greenshank


1 Srabraggan,
Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim

Frances Farrell

Same place where two seen on 14th March

23 March 2010

Sand Martin


4 Lough Anelteen

Don Cotton

 

23 March 2010

Whooper Swan


29 Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim

John Davis

Flew north over Lough Allen

22 March 2010

White-tailed Eagle


1 near Elphin,
Co. Roscommon
Allan Mee, from satellite data 'Male Star' continues to move south, and has moved into Roscommon

22 March 2010

Barnacle Goose


c. 400 Ballintemple Mícheál Casey This sub-flock contained five Darvic-ringed birds, including one Inishkea bird and a regular ringed pair, as well as the Cackling Goose.

22 March 2010

Cackling Goose


1 Ballintemple Mícheál Casey The pale 'solitary' bird

21 March 2010

Whooper Swan


115 Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim

Tommy Early via John Davis

Flew north over Lough Allen

21 March 2010

Tree Sparrow


2 Carrigeens,
Cloughboley,
Ballinfull
Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy & Declan Feeney In rural garden

21 March 2010

Lesser Black-backed Gull


1 Bunduff Strand,
Mullaghmore

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

 

21 March 2010

Shoveler


1 Bunduff Lough,
Mullaghmore

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

On the marshy lake

21 March 2010

Sand Martin


5+ Mermaid's Cove,
Mullaghmore

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

 

21 March 2010

Common Buzzard


3 Lissadell

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

Wheeling together over Lissadell. Two dark birds and one pale. Watched for 10 minutes, then one of the dark birds tried to drive away the pale bird.

23 March 2010

Whooper Swan


75 Leitrim village,
Co. Leitrim

John Davis

On flooded area near Leitrim village

21 March 2010

Whooper Swan


8 Donegal Bay

Declan Feeney

A raft of 8 birds was resting on the sea between Lislary and Inishmurray, presumably on migration

20 March 2010

Long-tailed Duck


1 off Streedagh

Michael Bell

Also several Skylarks singing in the dunes.

20 March 2010

Little Egret


1 Ballyweelin Lagoon,
Rosses Point

Conor McElhinney

Standing in the water near the boat wreck

20 March 2010

Wheatear


1 Ballyconnell Strand

Séamus Feeney

First Sligo report of 2010. Female, Knocklane end.

20 March 2010

Lesser Black-backed Gull


55 Ballysadare Estuary

Séamus Feeney

High count

19 March 2010

Peregrine Falcon


1 Yellow Strand

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

Flying along dune ridge.

19 March 2010

Eastern Jackdaw


1 Mullaghnaneane,
Cashelgarron

Mícheál Casey

Showing features of the eastern races (subspecies soemmerringii/monedula). The bird was on the side of the main Bundoran road (N15) a few hundred metres north of Cissie Mac's. It appeared to be paired with a bird that looked like the local subspecies (spermologus).

An excellent article on the identification of different subspecies of Jackdaw from Dutch Birding is here.

18 March 2010

Common Eider


200+ Lislarry,
Maugherow

Michael Bell

Seen flying north from Streedagh to Inishmurray at 5.00pm today

18 March 2010

Barn Swallow


1 near Lecarrow,
Co. Roscommon

Michael Bell

 

18 March 2010

Pintail


3 Tulsk,
Co. Roscommon

Michael Bell

On turlough along main Dublin Rd East of Tulsk

18 March 2010

Sand Martin


1 Lough Bo

Paul Keogh

First Sligo report of 2010.

17 March 2010

Black-throated Diver


2 Raghly

John Davis

 

17 March 2010

Red Knot


353 Ardtermon Strand,
Raghly

Don Cotton & Jean Dunleavy

High count.

17 March 2010

Whimbrel


1 Rathscanlon,
Tobercurry

Mícheál Casey

First Sligo report of 2010. Heard calling as it flew over about 9 pm

16 March 2010

Whooper Swan


22 Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim

John Davis

Flying north

15 March 2010

Whooper Swan


c. 100 Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim

John Davis

Flying north, early in the morning

15 March 2010

Little Egret


1 Drumcliff Estuary

Derek Kenna

 

15 March 2010

Cackling Goose


2 Ballintemple

Derek Kenna

 

15 March 2010

Canada Goose


1 Ballintemple

Derek Kenna

 

15 March 2010

Dark-bellied Brent Goose


1 Raghly

Derek Kenna

 

15 March 2010

Ruddy Shelduck


1 Gibraltar Point,
Sligo
Harbour

Derek Kenna

 

15 March 2010

Knot


1 Ardtermon Strand,
Raghly

Martin Enright, Michael Bell & BirdWatch Sligo outing

Colour-ringed, ringing details awaited

15 March 2010

Bar-tailed Godwit


1 Ardtermon Strand,
Raghly

Martin Enright, Michael Bell & BirdWatch Sligo outing

Colour-ringed, ringing details awaited

13-15 March 2010

White-tailed Eagle


1 Lough Gara Allan Mee, from satellite data 'Male Star' has moved south to Lough Gara

14 March 2010

Greenshank


2 Srabraggan,
Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim

Frances Farrell

Unusual record for site, possibly on migration?

14 March 2010

Velvet Scoter


1 Rosses Point

Séamus Feeney

Distant view, with Common Scoter, seen wing-flapping

14 March 2010

Whooper Swan


41 near Leitrim Village,
Co. Leitrim

John Davis

In flooded area

14 March 2010

Little Egret


1 Streedagh Estuary

Tom Murray

One little Egret and three Grey Herons together

8-13 March 2010

Skylark


Several Portavaud &
Ballintemple
Ryan Wilson-Parr & Robert Fennelly, Declan Feeney Singing Skylarks seem to herald the spring - we just need the first summer migrant (Chiffchaff? Sand Martin? Wheatear?) to complete the picture

13 March 2010

Greenshank


5 Portavaud,
Ballysadare Bay
Ryan Wilson-Parr & Robert Fennelly  

13 March 2010

Sanderling


38 Portavaud,
Ballysadare Bay
Ryan Wilson-Parr & Robert Fennelly  

13 March 2010

Great Northern Diver


6 Portavaud,
Ballysadare Bay
Ryan Wilson-Parr & Robert Fennelly  

13 March 2010

Grey Plover


7 Raghly Point

Ryan Wilson-Parr & Robert Fennelly

in amongst a flock of Knot (>200) and Bar tailed Godwit (>60).

13 March 2010

Red-breasted Merganser


19 Raghly Point

Ryan Wilson-Parr & Robert Fennelly

 

13 March 2010

Great Northern Diver


8 Raghly Point

Ryan Wilson-Parr & Robert Fennelly

 

13 March 2010

Long-tailed Duck


2 Raghly Point

Ryan Wilson-Parr & Robert Fennelly

 

13 March 2010

Little Egret


1 Rosses Point

Robin Burnhams

 

12 March 2010

Goosander


1 Ballysadare Estuary

Chris Ingram via irishbirding.com

 

11 March 2010

Ruddy Shelduck


1 Cummeen Strand,
Sligo
Harbour

Tom Tarpey via irishbirding.com

 

11 March 2010

Twite


1 Raghly Harbour

Tom Tarpey via irishbirding.com

 

11 March 2010

Cackling Goose


1 Ballintemple

Tom Tarpey via irishbirding.com

hutchinsii

11 March 2010

Ring-necked Duck


1 Lough Gara

Séamus Feeney & Don Cotton

Male

11 March 2010

Gadwall


14 Lough Gara

Séamus Feeney & Don Cotton

 

11 March 2010

Goosander


1 Lough Gara

Séamus Feeney & Don Cotton

Female

11 March 2010

Greenland White-fronted Geese


c. 80 Lough Gara

Séamus Feeney & Don Cotton

 

11 March 2010

Shoveler


1 Lough Gara

Séamus Feeney & Don Cotton

Male

10 March 2010

White-tailed Eagle


1 Templehouse Lake

Séamus Feeney & Don Cotton

'Male Star' seen on the western shore of Templehouse Lake, having moved inland some weeks ago. He was being stalked by a fox, who may have wanted his leftovers, or may have fancied his chances of taking on an eagle. However he thought better of it and beat a retreat. Looking very well, he may be fishing in the lake.

11 March 2010

Shoveler


1 Templehouse Lake

Séamus Feeney & Don Cotton

Male

10 March 2010

Goosander


4 Templehouse Lake

Séamus Feeney & Don Cotton

One male, three females

10 March 2010

Raven


2 Beltra

Conor McElhinney

Soaring

10 March 2010

Common Buzzard


1 Beltra Hall,
Beltra

Conor McElhinney

Soaring, seen twice, presumably same bird

10 March 2010

Common Buzzard


1 Ross,
Five-mile-Bourne,
Co. Leitrim

Helga Keogh

Present for several weeks

10 March 2010

Common Buzzard


1 Ross,
Manorhamilton,
Co. Leitrim

Colm O Muireagáin

Present for several weeks

10 March 2010

Goosander


1 Ballysadare Estuary

Mícheál Casey

 

09 March 2010

Long-eared Owl


2 Clooncolry,
Calry

Francis Gonley

Calling most nights

09 March 2010

Ring-necked Duck


1 Lough Bo

Séamus Feeney

Male, possibly returning bird. Near the pumphouse, only duck on lake.

09 March 2010

Red-throated Diver


1 Easkey

Robin Burnhams

 

09 March 2010

Whooper Swan


21 Bunduff Lough,
Mullaghmore

Mícheál Casey

Large Lake, plus one long-stayer on marshy lake

08 March 2010

Merlin


1 Carrigeens,
Ballinfull

Declan Feeney

Observer remarks: Adult female. Seems she has taken to our garden bird feeder - second visit in 10 days. Straight around the house at eye level, over the hedge to the feeder, an explosion of small birds and silence for 15 minutes. Brilliant!

08 March 2010

Cormorant


1 Doorly Park,
Sligo Town

Val Robus

In full breeding plumage, a very well marked individual

08 March 2010

Common Buzzard


1 Templeboy

Mervyn Gawley

On way home, having seen two more between Omagh, Co. Tyrone and Belleek, Co. Fermanagh!

08 March 2010

Common Buzzard


1 near Inishcrone

Mervyn Gawley

Still present daily

08 March 2010

Goosander


1 Ballysadare Estuary

Séamus Feeney

 

08 March 2010

Glaucous Gull


1 Pollnadivva Harbour,
Easky

Séamus Feeney

First winter bird still present

08 March 2010

Cackling Goose


2 Ballintemple

Will Soar, Craig Holden, et al via Derek Charles

Seen by visiting group of UK birders with 700 Barnacle Geese at 9am. No Common Eider seen this morning

08 March 2010

Canada Goose


1 Ballyconnell

Will Soar, Craig Holden, et al via Derek Charles

07 March 2010

Peregrine Falcon


1 Ardtermon Strand,
Raghly

Martin Enright

Flew entire length of Ardtermon Strand, quite low, causing uproar among the waders

07 March 2010

Whooper Swan


28 Lissadell

Don Cotton

Skein flying north

07 March 2010

Whooper Swan


30 Cloonagh Lough,
Ballyconnell

Don Cotton

 

07 March 2010

Light-bellied Brent


90 Strandhill Beach

Tom Murray

 

06 March 2010

Tree Sparrow


1 Easkey

Robin Burnhams

Reappeared in village garden where seen before - first sighting for a long time

08 March 2010

Goldeneye


2 near The Holy Well,
Lough Gill

Declan Feeney

Pair of Goldeneye seen, also Great Crested Grebe

06 March 2010

Ruddy Shelduck


1

Gibraltar Point,
Cummeen Strand
,
Sligo Harbour

Paul Keogh

 

06 March 2010

Merlin


1 Culleenamore,
Strandhill

Séamus Feeney

Perched in a tree

06 March 2010

Goosander


1 Ballysadare Estuary

Mark Carmody, Martin Enright

From Silver Falls Car Park

06 March 2010

Brent sp.


1 Ballygilgan Strand,
Lissadell

Séamus Feeney

A Brent goose on the strand near the Goose Field showed features of Gray Brant/Grey-bellied Brent, a race of brent goose that breeds on some of Canada's arctic islands, esp Melville Island

05 March 2010

Red Grouse


1 Ox Mountains

Mícheál Casey

Near Lough Easkey

03 March 2010

Common Buzzard


1 near Inishcrone

Mervyn Gawley

Feeding on frogs for the past week

01 March 2010

Common Eider


8 Streedagh Point

Robin Burnhams

Four pairs

01 March 2010

Black-tailed Godwit


12 Streedagh Point

Robin Burnhams

 

01 March 2010

Hen Harrier


1 near Ballinamore,
Co Leitrim

John Davis

Female Hen Harrier hunting over rough ground just south of Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim on March 1st

01 March 2010

Greenshank


1 Finned,
Ballysadare Bay

John Foss