October 2008 Sightings
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| September 2008 <<< | Back to Archive | >>> November 2008 |
| 31st October 2008 Drumcliff River, Drumcliff |
A Little Egret was fishing in the river downstream from the bridge (M. Casey). | |||||||||
| 31st October 2008 Ballygilgan Nature Reserve, Lissadell |
A Pink-footed Goose was with approximately 1,000 Barnacle Geese and a small flock of Linnets were in the cereal plot at the east end of the Goose field. The Grey Phalaropes were not seen. (M. Casey). | |||||||||
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| 30th October 2008 Yellow Strand, Ballyconnell |
A compact flock of 300 Common Eider off the southern end of Yellow Strand included one bird showing features of the borealis
(Northern) race. The orange/yellow-tinged bill and elevated
scapulars ('sails') were clearly seen. Approximately 2,000 Barnacle Geese were in the fields behind the sand dunes at Yellow Strand (S. Geraty). An excellent article by Martin Garner and Wilton Farrelly on the identification of different races of Eider that may be seen in Ireland is available on Eric Dempsey's website here. |
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| 30th October 2008 Ballygilgan Nature Reserve, Lissadell |
A Pink-footed Goose was with approximately 800 - 900 Barnacle Geese. Two Grey Phalaropes were swimming in the middle of the pond (S. Geraty). | |||||||||
| 30th October 2008 Bunduff Lake, Mullaghmore |
Female Scaup noted (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 28th October 2008 Lough Colgagh |
15 Whooper Swans present (P. Keogh). | |||||||||
| 28th October 2008 Dromahair, Co. Leitrim |
7 Whooper Swans flew over Dromahair this morning (P. Keogh). | |||||||||
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| 28th October 2008 Lough Gill (Back Avenue/ Doorly Park) |
An adult Mediterranean Gull was with Black-headed and Common Gulls on the pier at lunchtime (M. Casey). | |||||||||
| 27th October 2008 Ross, Killaraght, Lough Gara |
400 Starlings, 8 Shoveler and 12 White-fronted Geese were at Lough Gara (M Creegan). | |||||||||
| 27th October 2008 Ballyconnell, Maugherow |
A ring-tail (i.e female/juvenile) Hen Harrier was at Ballyconnell Marsh again this afternoon. The bird gave brief but excellent views before descending into the reed beds (D. Skehan). | |||||||||
| 27th October 2008 Gibraltar Point, Cummeen Strand |
A Little Egret was seen at Gibraltar Point (D. Skehan). | |||||||||
| 27th October 2008 Rosses Point |
A pair of Chough was with a group of Jackdaws at Rosses Point carpark at 11am this morning (D. Skehan).. |
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| 27th October 2008 Kilcummin Head, Killala, Co. Mayo |
Seawatching totals from Kilcummin: 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Great Skuas, 4 Grey Phalaropes, 26 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red-throated Diver, 16 Snow Buntings (including a flock of 12) 1 Leach's Petrel, 6 Storm-petrel, 1 juvenile Arctic Tern, 1 Pink-footed Goose. Other birds seen included Rock Dove, Raven, Merlin, Common Scoter, Barnacle and Light-bellied Brent Geese, a couple of thousand Kittiwakes, and good numbers of auks and small numbers of Gannets (S. Feeney, M. Bell). | |||||||||
| 27th October 2008 Ballygilgan Nature Reserve, Lissadell |
Two Grey Phalaropes were swimming around in the middle of the flooded field. The Barnacle flock was also there with a single Pink-footed Goose (P. Keogh). | |||||||||
| 26th October 2008 Mullaghmore |
A mature Common/Arctic Tern was seen today at Mullaghmore (Grid Ref IG 70251 -58239); in the evening a Storm Petrel and 5 Grey Phalaropes flew past (F. Carroll, M. Breen, D Hagan). One Arctic Tern (same bird?) and a total of 8 Grey Phalaropes were seen from Mullaghmore Head. There was also a female Scaup on Bunduff lake. There was a flock of 14 Chough feeding on the short grass behind the dunes at Mullaghmore this morning, this is about 10 more than the most I've ever seen there together! (B. Robson) |
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| 26th October 2008 Sligo Harbour |
The second winter Iceland Gull in the harbour but there was no sign of any Ring-billed Gulls, though the tide was nearly full and few gulls were about (B. Robson). | |||||||||
| 26th October 2008 Ballygilgan Nature Reserve, Lissadell |
The Barnacle Goose flock in the Goose Field has grown to nearly 1,000 today, with a Pink-footed Goose amongst them at Lissadell; there was also a single Black-tailed Godwit in the field. However there was no sign at the pond of the two Grey Phalaropes seen there yesterday (B. Robson). | |||||||||
| 26th October 2008 Drum, Ballygawley |
A Long-eared Owl was seen (S. Feeney) | |||||||||
| 26th October 2008 Kilcummin Head, Killala, Co. Mayo |
Seawatching totals from Kilcummin today from 0700-1630: 2 Sooty Shearwater, 8 Manx Shearwater, 4 Storm Petrel, 1 Great Skua, 2 Pomarine Skuas, 1 Sabine's Gull, 1 Red-throated Diver, 31 Great Northern Diver, 8 Grey Phalarope, 17 Snow Bunting (including a flock of eleven). There was a light but steady passage of auks all day, but no Little Auk, good numbers of Gannets and Kittiwakes also passed (S. Feeney, J. Donaldson). | |||||||||
| 25th October 2008 Ballygilgan Nature Reserve, Lissadell |
2 Grey Phalaropes were found this afternoon at the pond in the Goose Field at Lissadell. Approx 400 Barnacle Gees and 5 Shovelers were also present (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 25th October 2008 Ballintemple |
A Lesser Black-backed Gull was at Ballysadare Estuary (M. Bell). | |||||||||
| 25th October 2008 Ballintemple |
Approximately 400 Barnacle Geese were present this afternoon (S. Feeney) | |||||||||
| 22nd October 2008 Sligo Harbour |
A Peregrine Falcon flew over (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 22nd October 2008 Pied Wagtail Roosts in Sligo? |
No Pied Wagtails have been using the traditional roost at Sligo Institute of Technology in recent weeks. None were seen at potential roosting sites at Ballinode College nor at Government Buldings, Cranmore which were also checked at dusk this evening (M. Casey). Is there another urban Wagtail roost site in Sligo? | |||||||||
| 22nd October 2008 Gibraltar Point, Cummeen Strand |
2 Little Egrets were at Gibraltar, as well as a flock of more than 1,000 Brent Geese (M. Enright). | |||||||||
| 22nd October 2008 Dunmoran Strand |
One immature Iceland Gull seen (R. Burnhams). | |||||||||
| 21st October 2008 Dromore West |
A Dipper was seen on the Dunneill River at Dromore West, upstream of the bridge mon the Sligo-Ballina Road (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 21st October 2008 Easkey |
A solitary Swallow was seen (R. Burnhams). | |||||||||
| 21st October 2008 Streamstown, Ballysadare Bay |
1 Little Egret was at Streamstown (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 19th October 2008 Kilcummin Head & Killala Harbour, Killala, Co. Mayo |
Seawatching totals from Kilcummin today - 1245-1600hrs: 4 Great Skuas, 6 Grey Phalaropes, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Manx Shearwater, 8 Great Northern Divers. The wind was light to fresh mostly westerly, just a touch of south, far from ideal. Two Little Egrets were in Killala Harbour opposite the pier, at Green Island. (S. Feeney) . | |||||||||
| 19th October 2008 Raghley |
Seen today at Raghley 1 Great Northern Diver. Also on Wednesday, last 7 Kestrels were seen between Raghley, Co. Sligo and Belleek Co Fermanagh (M. Breen). | |||||||||
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| 19th October 2008 Birdwatch Sligo Outing to Inch Levels and Inch Lake, near Burt, Co. Donegal and Bunduff, Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo |
October
20th, 2008, Sligo Birdwatch members went on a day trip to the Inch
Island and Inch Levels area of Donegal near Burt. The area has two
excellent hides overlooking the mud flats of Lough Swilly, in addition
there are several huge flocks of Whooper Swans in the fields in the area. A count of one field alone gave an estimated 1,200 Whoopers,who
were somewhat jumpy if we left the cars for a closer look.
Whoopers were also present in other fields in the area in
significant numbers. In
addition to the Whoopers the following were sighted from the hides: Great
Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Greylag, Greenland White-fronted
and Canada Geese, Greenshank, Ruff, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pochard,
Tufted Duck, Scaup, Goldeneye, Lapwing, and Golden Plover. On the return trip to Sligo we stopped briefly at Bunduff Lake, Mullaghmore where a Kestrel was hovering over the ground (M. Enright, S. McCanny, M. Bell, G. Scott, P. Leigh-Doyle, K. Craig, S. Garcia). |
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| 18th October 2008 Moy Estuary, Enniscrone |
Approx 300 Brent Geese were seen on Moy Estuary, Enniscrone on 18 October (R. Burnhams). | |||||||||
| 18th October 2008 Gibraltar Point, Cummeen Strand |
A flock of approx. 700 - 800 Brent Geese were feeding on the eel-grass beds opposite Gibraltar Point but they were flushed repeatedly by four people trekking on horse-back across the mudflats with loose dogs (M. Casey) Earlier in the day, 1,073 Light-bellied Brent were counted at this site, of which 17 were ringed. Some of these were instantly recognisable as birds ringed in the Canadian Arctic, Iceland and Ireland. 10 birds of the 156 ringed in the very successful cannon-netting operation at Enniscrone in February 2008 have been re-sighted in Co. Sligo to date (M. Enright). | |||||||||
| 18th October 2008 Drumcliff |
A Little Egret was seen along the Drumcliff River (M. Bell). | |||||||||
| 17th/18th October 2008 Numerous locations in Co. Sligo |
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| 17th October 2008 Sligo Cathedral |
A Peregrine Falcon was roosting on the parapet of the tower of Sligo Cathedral at about 8 pm. At about 8.10 pm on quite a dark night, it flew from the tower, and pursued and killed one of two gulls that flew over the Cathedral (almost certainly a Black-headed Gull), and returned with its prey to the parapet, where it proceeded to pluck it, resulting in a snowstorm of feathers falling through the beams of the Cathedral floodlights. The falcon was still on the parapet at 11pm (M. Casey). | |||||||||
| 17th October 2008 Drumcliff |
A Merlin flashed over Drumcliff Estuary (D. Skehan). | |||||||||
| 16th October 2008 Drumcliff |
A Ruff was in Ballysadare Estuary (D. Skehan). | |||||||||
| 16th October 2008 Ballygilgan Nature Reserve, Lissadell |
Approx 700 Barnacle Geese were in the Goose Field at Lissadell (M. Crowley). | |||||||||
| 16th October 2008 Quay St Car Park, Sligo town |
Iceland Gull still present at Quay St car park today (D. Skehan). | |||||||||
| 16th October 2008 Kilcummin Head, Co. Mayo |
Todays sea-watching totals from 0900-1500: 86 Pomarine Skuas including one group of 66 birds, 20 Grey Phalarope in groups of 3 to 5, 7 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Sabine's Gull, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 8 Great Northern Diver and 3 Red-throated Divers, a good passage of Kittiwakes and reasonable numbers of Gannets (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
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| 15th October 2008 Strandhill beach |
An exceptionally approachable Merlin was seen and photographed (R. Cahir). | |||||||||
| 13th October 2008 Quay St Car Park, Sligo Harbour |
2nd-winter Iceland Gull seen roosting on the roof of a nearby building (M. Casey). | |||||||||
| 13th October 2008 Maugherow area |
One male Sparrowhawk (Ballinfull), one Kestrel (Raughly) and one female Hen Harrier (Ballyconnell), were noted during the course of a one-hour walk (D. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 12th October 2008 Lomcloon, Monasteraden (Lough Gara) |
370 Tufted Ducks seen at Lough Gara (M. Cregan). | |||||||||
| 12th October 2008 Sligo Harbour |
591 Brent were in Sligo Harbour (M. Enright, K. Craig). | |||||||||
| 12th October 2008 Raghley |
16 Great Northern Divers were seen from Raghley Point, 14 of which were in summer plumage, also 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 of which were in summer plumage. The very large Eider flock was also in Brown's Bay, off Yellow Strand (P. Keogh). | |||||||||
| 12th October 2008 Drumcliff |
A Little Egret was observed just downstream from the bridge in Drumcliff today. Also seen were a Kingfisher and a Dipper. (M. Bell). |
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| 10th October 2008 Watch out for yanks! |
Very favourable weather conditions for transatlantic vagrants return this week, with a continous airstream across the Atlantic from the US to NW Ireland, and a some fairly intense depressions moving across - see detailed long-range wind forecast on the surfing forecast site www.magicseaweed.com (W. Woodrow). | |||||||||
| 10th October 2008 Easkey |
One Little Tern seen diving for fish diving for fish at the mouth of Easky River (R. Burnhams). | |||||||||
| 9th October 2008 Ballineden, Ballyconnell |
17 Barnacle Geese were grazing in the fields under Knocklane (M. Casey). | |||||||||
| 8th October 2008 Ballygilgan Nature Reserve, Lissadell |
Approx 300 Barnacle Geese were in the goose field at Lissadell (M. Crowley). | |||||||||
| 8th October 2008 Inishmurray Island, Donegal Bay |
Approx 1000 Barnacle Geese were on Inishmurray (M. Crowley). | |||||||||
| 8th October 2008 Drumclay Lough, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh |
What seemed to be a juvenile Osprey was seen today at 12:50 pm at Drumclay Lough near Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. It circled over the lough for 6 to 7 mins before it was seen off by some Jackdaws. Last seen flying in a westerly direction towards Lough Erne (F. Carroll). | |||||||||
| 8th October 2008 Ballinfull, Maugherow |
Approx 100 Barnacle Geese flew over my house in Ballinfull at 8.30am this morning, heading south towards Raughly (D. Feeney). This is this first report of Barnacles "over land" in Sligo this autumn - there have been a number of seawatching records of passing birds. | |||||||||
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| 7th October 2008 Easkey |
2 Tree Sparrows seen again in the garden in Riverbank , Easkey (R. Burnhams). | |||||||||
| 7th October 2008 Bunduff Lakes, Mullaghmore |
34 Whooper Swans (including 2 juveniles) and 26 Mute Swans (including 8 juveniles) were on the front lake (M. Casey) | |||||||||
| 6th October 2008 Gibraltar Point, Cummeen Strand |
C. 400 Brent Geese were on the mudflats at lunchtime (S. Feeney) | |||||||||
| 5th October 2008 Doonierin, Rosses Point |
Saw 3 Barnacle Geese on Sun 5th heading in direction of goose fields (M. Breen). | |||||||||
| 5th October 2008 Gibraltar Point, Cummeen Strand |
514 Brent Geese were at Gibraltar/Cummeen Head including 14 ringed birds. Of the 14 ringed birds, 8 had been ringed at Enniscrone Golf Course in the cannon-netting operation of 14th February 2008 (M. Enright) | |||||||||
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| 5th October 2008 Ballyconnell |
Eight Barnacle Geese were seen flying over the Ballyconnell area, while five were seen flying over the sea towards Inishmurray from the Loughaun area (D. Cotton, J. Dunleavy) | |||||||||
| 5th October 2008 Yellow Strand |
One Pink-footed Goose and 6 Barnacle Geese were seen flying over the sea from Yellow Strand. 8 Scaup flew over the Eider flock (287 birds), one landed and stayed, rest flew south around Raghly. One Whooper Swan also flew over the sea, almost landing among the Eider flock (D. Cotton, J. Dunleavy). | |||||||||
| 5th October 2008 Bunduff Lakes, Mullaghmore |
4 Whooper Swans were on the front lake at Bunduff, 75 Golden Plover were on the machair between the lake and the sea (D. Cotton, J. Dunleavy & N. Raftery) | |||||||||
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| 5th October 2008 Cloonagh Strand |
2 Whooper Swans were in the flooded area behind the storm beach. No Eider seen on the sea (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 5th October 2008 Yellow Strand, Ballyconnell |
201 Eider were seen at Yellow Strand (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 5th October 2008 Drumcliff Bay |
150 Redshanks were seen from Doonierin (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 5th October 2008 Sligo Harbour |
307 Redshanks were seen at Cartron (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 5th October 2008 Cooanmore Point, Easkey |
One Barnacle Goose and one Peregrine Falcon flew by, a single Swallow was seen nearby (M. Bell). | |||||||||
| 5th October 2008 Ballyconnell |
Female/juvenile Hen Harrier flew by over marsh, being mobbed by a Hooded Crow (D. Cotton). | |||||||||
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| 4th October 2008 Ballysadare Estuary |
The male and female juvenile Ruff were still together at Ballysadare Estuary (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 4th October 2008 Streedagh |
8 Whooper Swans seen at Streedagh (K. Murray). Same restless group of 8 as observed below? | |||||||||
| 4th October 2008 Rosses Point |
8 Whooper Swans were observed flying low over the main road in a north-westerly direction at Ballincar near dusk - 7.15 pm (D. Cotton & J. Dunleavy). | |||||||||
| 4th October 2008 Mullaghmore |
16 Whooper Swans seen at Bunduff (7 on front lake, 8 on largest lake, usual long-staying bird on marsh) (D. Cotton & J. Dunleavy). |
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| 4th October 2008 Lenadoon Point, Enniscrone |
1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Wheatear, 2 Pomarine Skuas and 8 Great Skuas were seen in a brief sea-watch at Lenadoon Point (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 4th October 2008 Drumcliff Bay |
At 3.15pm, 215 Brent
were on the shore near the end of the lane at Kintogher/Doonierin,
Rosses Point. At 4pm when I returned to the spot they had all flown (G. Scott). |
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| 3rd October 2008 Truskmore |
3 Snow Buntings in breeding plumage were on the summit, along the road near the RTE transmitter (J. Kavanagh). | |||||||||
| 2nd October 2008 Cooanmore Point, Easky, Co. Sligo |
Brief afternoon seawatch at Cooanmore Point in afternoon produced 7 Leach's Petrels and 3 Great Skuas, amid massive waves crashing onshore (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 2nd October 2008 Lacken Strand, Killala Bay, Co. Mayo |
7 Pink-footed Geese, c250 Golden Plover, one American Golden Plover, 1 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints (J. Donaldson via S.Feeney) | |||||||||
| 2nd October 2008 Kilcummin Head, Killala Bay, Co. Mayo |
Quieter day at Kilcummin today, strong NW wind, seawatch totals from early morning to 1500 hrs: 70 Great Skua, 5 Pomarine Skua, 15 Arctic Skua, 1 Long-tailed Skua, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 13 Manx Shearwater, 1 Little Gull, 2 Sabine's Gull, 3 Great Northern Diver, 6 Red-throated Diver, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 12 Grey Phalarope, 20 Arctic Tern, 4 Common Scoter, 1 Wigeon (S. Feeney). | |||||||||
| 2nd October 2008 Streedagh |
1 Whooper Swan seen (K. Murray) | |||||||||
| 1st October 2008 Streedagh |
Flock of 50-80 Goldfinches seen at Streedagh (K. Murray). | |||||||||
| 1st October 2008 Melmore Head, Mulroy Bay, Co. Donegal |
Totals from a seven-hour sea-watch from Melmore Head today: 103 Great Skuas, 30 Arctic Skuas, 10 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 1 Little Gull, 45 Sooty Shearwaters, 21 Leach's Petrels, 10 Arctic Terns, 3 Grey Phalaropes, 30 Barnacle Geese (E. Randall, via D. Breen). | |||||||||
| 1st October 2008 Derk Road, Dromard, Co. Sligo |
Two Leach’s Petrels and 8 Arctic Terns, were seen from Derk Road this afternoon (W Woodrow). | |||||||||
| 1st October 2008 Cooanmore Point, Easky, Co. Sligo |
A good range of birds were seen in a short sea-watch (17.30 - 18.30) from Cooanmore Point, Easky, including a very high proportion of Leach's Petrels: 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Pomarine Skua, 5 Great Skua, 14 Arctic Terns, 215 Leach’s Petrel (no Storm Petrels!), 55 Gannets, 1 Sooty shearwater, 4 Manx shearwater, 1 Sabines Gull, 7 Red-throated Divers, 77 Kittiwake (W. Woodrow). | |||||||||
| 1st October 2008 West Cliff Walk, Bundoran, Co. Donegal |
I saw 12 Leach's Petrels from the West cliff walk in Bundoran, Co. Donegal within about a half hour period, including six together in one binocular view. There were also a lot of Kittiwakes and a few Gannets (M. Bell). | |||||||||
| 1st October 2008 Kilcummin Head, Killala Bay, Co. Mayo |
Seawatching at Kilcummin in good conditions produced exceptional numbers of a very diverse range of species in great conditions. 4 Red-throated Divers, 6 Great Northern Divers, 200+ Manx Shearwaters, 43 Sooty Shearwaters, 8 Storm-Petrels, 74 Leach's Petrels, 2 Pink-footed Geese, 70 Barnacle Geese, 3 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 6 Common Scoter, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 417 Grey Phalaropes, 181 Great Skua, 148 Pomarine Skua, 34 Arctic Skua, 1 Little Gull, 7 Sabine's Gull, 77 Arctic Terns, and on land, 1 Snow Bunting (S. Feeney, J. Donaldson). | |||||||||
