October 2007 Sightings
| September 2007 <<< | Back to Archive | >>> November 2007 |
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| 31st October 2007 Cummeen Strand |
A Little Egret was on the saltmarsh along the shore, to the right of the Coney road (M. Casey). | |||||||||
| 30th October 2007 Gibraltar Point |
A total of 1,027 Light-bellied brent were seen here on the falling tide (M. Enright) | |||||||||
| 30th October 2007 Raghley Point |
A female Surf Scoter was seen with Eider in the bay to the west of Raghley Point, off the Yellow Strand (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 29th October 2007 Lissadell |
1,200 Barnacle Geese were in the Goose Field (Ballygilgan Nature Reserve) at Lissadell (M. Enright). | |||||||||
| 29th October 2007 Gibraltar Point |
A
Little Egret
was present on Monday morning Oct 29th at about 11.00 am in the channel
("the gut") near the point at Gibraltar. This was right beside the road
and just under the bend as you come down along the Sea Road from the
Strandhill Road. It was low tide at that time. The Brent numbers off
Gibraltar were up to 331 on Bank Holiday Monday, must be the start of
the Brent holidays as well!
(G. Scott, M. Enright). With up to seven Little Egrets (and three Spoonbills) just across the bay from Enniscrone in Killala at the moment, the range of large wading birds in the general area has certainly expanded! |
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| 29th October 2007 Streamstown, Ballisodare |
There were two Twite at the end of the grassy spit at Streamstown this morning. The were seen well and heard along with about 20 Linnet (M.Bell). | |||||||||
| 27th October 2007 Streedagh |
1st winter Iceland Gull seen (P. Keogh). | |||||||||
| 26th
October 2007 Ardtarmon House |
There were c 100 Chaffinches in the trees, but no movement this morning in a strong south-south-west wind. One Peregrine Falcon passed over towards the north (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
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| 26th October 2007 Bunduff Lakes |
A first-winter male Ring-necked Duck was at Bunduff - most north-westerly part and there were 20 Whoopers on the lake including a single juvenile (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 25th October 2007 Ardtarmon House |
1,450 Chaffinches, 1 Brambling, 50 Siskins, 90 Goldfinches, 10 Greenfinches, and 4 Redpolls flew south/south east between 8.10am and 9.50 am. Two of the Redpolls seemed to have flatter-sounding calls than the other two, which sounded like typical (Lesser) Redpolls. 230 Fieldfares and 50 Redwings flew south, while 28 Woodpigeons flew east/south-east in the same period. 2 adult Whooper Swans flew from the east towards Yellow Strand before turning south over Sligo Bay. 55 Pale-bellied Brent arrived on the shore from the direction of the inner bay. A Brambling was seen near the gatehouse that was definitely not the individual seen earlier in the morning migrating with the Chaffinches (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 25th October 2007 Cummeen Strand |
1 Little Egret (M. Creegan) | |||||||||
| 24th October 2007 Ardtarmon House |
1,210 migrating winter thrushes passed south-west between 8.15 am and 9.50am (approximately 70% Fieldfares, 30% Redwings), also 6 Whooper swans (2 adults and 4 juveniles in a family party), and 8 Lapwing, all flying south-west. Circa 1,000 Chaffinches flew south/south-east , and 75 Siskins, 5 Skylarks, 1 probable Lesser Redpoll (with a somewhat flatter call note than usual) and 150 Goldfinches flew south between 8.15 am and 9.50am. 58 Barnacle Geese were seen flying south towards Lissadell in the morning (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 24th October 2007 Ballyconnell Strand (east of Knocklane) |
One Chiffchaff was in a garden by the shore, a Greenshank and a pair of Eider were on the strand, 70 Golden Plover (accompanied by a single Knot) flushed from the south, while 130 Barnacle Geese flushed from the south and flew towards Inishmurray. Two Merlins were also seen here (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 24th October 2007 Ballintrillick River above Keelogues |
One Dipper was seen (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 24th October 2007 Dorrins Strand, near Coney island Road |
One Little Egret was seen on the strand (M. Creegan). | |||||||||
| 23rd October 2007 Ardtarmon House, near Raghley |
Hundreds of Chaffinches were observed moving over the area in a south-easterly direction, and sometimes stopping in trees, while 31 Siskins were seen flying south-east. One Brambling was seen with the Chaffinches in the trees. Circa 8 Barnacle Geese flew over towards Lissadell (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 23rd
October 2007 Lisnalurg, Rathcormack |
Large movement of migrating Chaffinch flocks
observed (N. Mugan).
This sighting, together with those of Bob Chapman on the same and succeeding days are a remarkable record of visible migration. |
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| 23rd October 2007 Lissadell Strand |
One adult Mediterranean Gull flew in from the west and landed on Lissadell Strand (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 23rd October 2007 Streedagh |
Waders seen today in the bay included c 40 Knot, 270 Golden Plover and 3 Greenshank, while 3 Great Northern Divers and c 200 Common Eider were seen from the Back Strand (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 22nd October 2007 Inishmurray (viewed from Ballyconnell) |
Approximately 150 Barnacle Geese were seen on the island, looking across from the mainland at Ballyconnell (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 22nd October 2007 Ballyconnell |
One adult drake Common Eider (also present on the 23rd), one adult Great Northern Diver off shore towards Inishmurray (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 22nd October 2007 Bunduff Lakes |
27 Whooper Swans including four juveniles (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 22nd October 2007 Ardtarmon Strand |
Approximately 10 Common Scoter flew off around Ragley point, while there was also a single adult Great Northern Diver off shore (B. Chapman). | |||||||||
| 21st October 2007 Yellow Strand |
107 Common
Eider (59 male, 48 female) in a group at southern end of
Yellow strand at about 3.30pm, as well as 1 Great
Northern Diver (F.
Farrell). |
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| 21st October 2007 Ballyconnell Strand |
1 Red-breasted Merganser (female), 1 Common Eider (female) (F. Farrell). | |||||||||
| 21st October 2007 Mullaghmore |
9 Whooper Swans flew in from the sea, at about 5.30pm (F. Farrell). | |||||||||
| 20th
October 2007 Dromahair, Co. Leitrim |
A Red
Kite released in Co. Wicklow as part of the
re-introduction
scheme, and subsequently found poisoned near Dromahair, Co Leitrim a
few weeks ago, was
saved by the quick thinking of a Co Leitrim farmer. See full details here |
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| 19th
October 2007 Drumcliff |
One Fieldfare seen. First Sligo record this autumn. (N. Mugan) | |||||||||
| 19th
October 2007 Gibraltar Point/Cummeen Strand |
230 Brent Geese were on the mudflats, at least 6 of which had colour-rings (G. Scott) | |||||||||
| 18th
October 2007 Standalone Point, Sligo Harbour |
One Snow Bunting and three Skylarks present, as well as several Rock Pipits and Meadow Pipits seen, several Redwings heard flying over after dusk (M. Casey). | |||||||||
| 18th
October 2007 Inishmurray |
1200 Barnacle Geese were on Inishmurray (M. Crowley). The island provides grazing for the geese on their arrival, and becomes a roost site for the remainder of the winter, when they graze on the mainland at Lissadell, and in the area around Ballyconnell. Apart from a "fly-past very early in September, there have been no reports of Baracles at lissadell yet this autumn. | |||||||||
| 16th
October 2007 Knocklane |
A juvenile Pomarine Skua was seen from Knocklane, and sixteen Skylarks were in the stubblefield behind the hill (N. Mugan). | |||||||||
| 15th
October 2007 The Inishes/Kilmacowen Ballisodare |
A Barn Owl was seen hunting over the Inishes, near Ballisodare at 7.40pm, and it was re-found a quarter of a mile away on main Strandhill-Ballisodare Road at Kilmacowen at 8.15pm - probably the same bird as seen on 30th September at Breeogue (c 1 mile away) (T. Hunter) | |||||||||
| 15th
October 2007 Near Geevagh, Co. Sligo |
A report was received of a male Montagu's Harrier, reportedly seen by a single observer in a bog near Geevagh. Directions: From Geevagh village, go towards Ballygawley (along the old Sligo-Dublin Rd), the area of bogland is on the left hand side of the road, about 1 - 2 km from the village. (B. Birtwhistle, reported via D. Cotton) | |||||||||
| 14th
October 2007 Mullaghmore Head |
Cetacean news: A pod of 30 Bottle-nosed dolphins was seen off the headland (G. Scott). | |||||||||
| 14th
October 2007 Knocklane |
A Peregrine Falcon, a female Snow Bunting and a Merlin were seen on Knocklane Hill (N. Mugan). | |||||||||
| 14th
October 2007 Raghly Point |
A Mediterranean Gull and two Sandwich Terns were on the beach, while two Great Northern Divers and a Red-throated Diver were seen in the bay (N. Mugan). | |||||||||
| 14th
October 2007 Mullaghmore Head |
A Great Skua and 6 Chough were seen at at Streedagh (N. Mugan). | |||||||||
| 13th
October 2007 Union Wood, Sligo |
Two Common Buzzards seen in flight over the wood (N. Mugan) | |||||||||
| 12th
October 2007 Standalone Point, Sligo Harbour |
One Curlew Sandpiper (N. Mugan) | |||||||||
| 12th
October 2007 Bunduff Lakes, Mullaghmore |
32 Whooper Swans, including just a single juvenile (the only juvenile Whooper reported in Sligo this year), and the long-staying, non-flying resident. The latter was noted when wing-flapping to have apparently lost half of its wing, which explains why it has spent so many years at this site! (D. Cotton) | |||||||||
| 11th
October 2007 Gibraltar Point, Sligo Bay |
Two female Pintail ducks were seen (N. Mugan) | |||||||||
| 11th
October 2007 Lisnalurg, Sligo |
Two Chough flew over (N. Mugan) | |||||||||
| 10th
October 2007 Lissadell, Carney |
A Common Buzzard was seen near Lissadell (J. Dunleavy). | |||||||||
| 12th
October 2007 Bunduff Lakes, Mullaghmore |
35 Whooper Swans, including just a single juvenile, and the long-staying, non-flying resident, which was noted when wing-flapping to have apparently lost half of its wing, which explains why it has spent so many years at this site! (D. Cotton) | |||||||||
| 7th
October 2007 Streedagh Beach |
A Snow Bunting was at the edge of the dunes (F. Farrell, via M. Bell) | |||||||||
| 6th
October 2007 Finisklin Industrial Estate, Sligo |
A Peregrine Falcon gave good views at it perched on the large telecommunications mast (M. Enright) | |||||||||
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| 5th - 6th October 2007 Cloonagh Beach, Ballyconnell |
The juvenile Ruff found on the 4th by Niall Mugan was still at Cloonagh Beach (M. Casey, S. Feeney) | |||||||||
| 4th October 2007 Union Wood, near Collooney |
A single Common Buzzard was seen in flight over the wood (D. Breen) | |||||||||
| 4th October 2007 Cloonagh Beach, Ballyconnell |
One Ruff was seen on the beach today (N. Mugan, via D. Cotton). | |||||||||
| 3rd October 2007 Bunduff Lakes, Mullaghmore |
The count of Whooper Swans on the front lake at Bunduff remains at 18, including a single juvenile (D. Cotton & J. Dunleavy). | |||||||||
| 3rd October 2007 Bunduff Beach, Mullaghmore |
75 Pied Wagtails were seen on the beach in the area where the stream crosses the strand this evening. At least one White Wagtail was with the flock (D. Cotton & J. Dunleavy). Possibly a pre-roost flock, assembling before roosting for the night in some of the nearby reedbeds. | |||||||||
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| 2nd
October 2007 Trawalua, Mullaghmore |
Cetacean
news: A large rorqual whale, possibly a Minke Whale,
was washed up on Trawalua beach. It was not possible to
confirm
the identity as the carcass is very decomposed; it probably died
several weeks before being washed ashore. A small flock of Golden Plover (55) and a few Dunlin were also seen on the beach (D.Cotton). |
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