October 2006 Sightings
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| September 2006 <<< | Back to Archive | >>> November 2006 |
23.10.06 Scurmore, Enniscrone
1 Ruff present, south of the golf links (M. Gawley).
21.10.06 Bunduff Lakes, Mullaghmore
190 Whoopers on the lakes, Little Gull, 60 Golden Plover on the beach, and a Chough flew over (M.Bell).
18.10.06 Raghly Point
Flock of 22 "grey geese", probably Greenland White-fronted geese passed over, heading south-east. (D. Cotton)
14.10.06 Trá Buí, west side of Aughris Head
Immature Surf Scoter, in the breaking surf close to the rocks, before the storm beach.
Also 1 Snow Bunting in winter plumage (D. Cotton)
14.10.06 Scurmore, Enniscrone
2 Ruff, White-rumped Sandpiper, Little Stint (D. Cotton)
12.10.06 Rosses Point beach
Little Gull (D. Cotton)
10.10.06 Bunduff, Cliffoney, Co. Sligo
22 Whooper Swans (J. Kavanagh)
09.10.06 Bunduff, Cliffoney, Co. Sligo
Family party of Whooper Swans - 2 adults and five juveniles.
First report of Whoopers in Sligo so far this autumn, and this is quite a large brood to have sucessfully reared to this stage. The numbers of Whoopers typically grow throughout October at Bunduff, which may well represent the first landfall for these Icelandic winter visitors.
02.10.06 Glencar, Co. Leitrim
Common Buzzard (M. Bell)
There have been a number of sightings of Buzzards in recent weeks. A few are seen each autumn, in Sligo, and we usually presume that these are young birds dispersing from breeding sites in Northern Ireland and Donegal. However there seems to have been more seen this year, perhaps suggesting that they are breeding closer to Sligo. Please report all sightings, even though Buzzards are no longer considered rare. This species seems to be expanding its range quite rapidly.
02.10.06 Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
Manx Shearwater (R. Morera). Sligobirding.com got an e-mail from Rui Morera, who had found a weak bird on his doorstep, which on closer inspection proved to be a Manx Shearwater, some 20 miles from the nearest sea! The bird had recovered well in Rui's care, having been well nursed by him and provided with warmth, shelter and water overnight. After examining the bird, it was decided that the best option was to release it immediately at a promontory on the coast. It was released at Rosses Point Pier, where it flew a short distance before alighting on the sea. Hopefully it will recommence it's southward migration and pass Rui's homeland (Portugal) within a few days.
This is quite an unusual record, as this is an exclusively marine species rarely seen any closer inshore than several hundred metres from the mainland. This finding may give substance to the theory that some skuas and shearwaters follow Lough Erne and the River Shannon system when migrating south in Autumn rather than fly around the coast. An alternative explanation is that the bird flew into Lough Gill and got hopelessly lost inland.
02.10.06 Gibraltar Point
125 Light-bellied Brent present at low tide (tea-time) (M. Enright)
02.10.06 Streamstown, Ballisodare
60 Light-bellied Brent present on the high tide (lunch-time), flew towards Gibraltar Point (M.Casey)