A large Canada-type Goose (left) and a smaller, darker Cackling-type
Goose (right) (possibly
the returning presumed Richardson's
Cackling Goose seen in winter 2007/2008)
were with the Barnacle
Goose flock at Lissadell.
Cackling Goose and Canada Goose with the Barnacles at
Lissadell.
These
smaller of the
two brownish birds in the foreground is the Cackling Goose, possibly
Richardson's Cackling Goose seen at this site in winter 2007/2008. The
larger bird is a Canada Goose not seen here previously. The birds
appear to have paired.
This
young male Greenfinch was found dead in a cattle shed at Ballina mona,
Calry, east of Sligo, between Loughs Colgagh and Anelteen. It
had
been
noticed by the finder, Darragh Feeney, the day before, as it appeared
weak/dull. The bird was ringed
with a closed ring, indicating that it is a captive-bred bird (ie an
escaped cage bird). Preliminary post mortem results from Sligo Regional
Vet Lab indicated that death was due to starvation.
The
Greenfinch may
not
have coped well with the transition from captivity to life in the wild,
despite being a native Irish species, and having found a potential
source of artificial food (cattle feed).
Three Peregrines visited the Goose Field over the course of the
morning. The two in the top row were present for a long time,
the
one in the lower image left in the direction of Sligo after some mild
harrassment from Hooded Crows. None were seen feeding or
hunting,
and the birds in the field were unconcerned by their presence.
A Richardson's-type Cackling Goose and a larger Canada-type Goose were
with the Barnacle Geese at the Goose Field in Lissadell today.
The smaller goose looks very similar to one of the presumed
Richardson's Cackling Geese seen with the Barnacle flock in the winter
of 2007/2008. See photos of that bird here.
The larger bird appears to have a very thin chin-strap
dividing
the throat patch, while the smaller bird appears to have an undvided
throat patch
Barnacle flock in flight over Ballygilgan Strand, Lissadell, Drumcliff
Bay. This photo shows a flock of 780 Barnacles in flight on
their
way to roost on Inishmurray Island.
