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Bat Conservation Ireland’s
Annual Bat Detector Workshop
Ballinafad, County Sligo
12th-14th June 2009
Details on our News page |
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Petition on Illegal Poisoning
Please sign the Golden Eagle Trust's Petition to ban indiscriminate poisoning of birds of prey in Ireland
The petition is hosted on the Golden Eagle Trust website here.
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Good luck John!
Best
wishes to local birder and regular sligobirding.com contributor John
McEvoy who is going to the UK next week to take up a post on a research
project on urban foxes in Bristol. |
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Four calling corncrakes on Oyster Island
The
mainland opposite Oyster island (ie Rosses Point) is the best place in
Sligo to hear Corncrakes this summer, with four calling males confirmed
by Tim Gordon, Birdwatch Ireland fieldworker for Connacht.
To hear the sound of a calling male Corncrake, click here. |
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| Other sources of bird news if you are visiting Sligo this summer: |
Other sources of information on bird sightings in County Sligo:
The Birds of Ireland News Service (BINS) operated by Eric Dempsey: Call 1550 111 700
Joe Doolan's Irish bird news website: Irishbirding.com
Please
continue to report Sligo sightings as usual to this site, and rarities
can be notified to Eric on (01) 830 7364/ by email to
birdsireland@eircom.net and to Joe Doolan 87 234 7296 by email to sightings@irishbirding.com |
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20 June 2009
Sligo Corncrake Update
by Tim Gordon
BirdWatch Ireland Fieldworker for Connacht
At the halfway point of the census, it looks like a minimum of six
calling Corncrakes in Sligo, the most found in the county for many
years. There are three or four on Oyster, one or two if which may have
strayed to Coney, where one was reported early in the season and where
John McGowan heard two on June 13 (one opposite the pub and one up in
the meadows). Two have returned to one of the uninhabited islands where
rat traps were set last
Spring.
None have yet been reported from the traditional Corncrake sites of
Mullaghmore, Raghly Point, Ballyconnell or anywhere else in the county.
The stretch of coast from Aughris Head to Enniscrone, which often turns
up one (as at Aughris and Ardogelly last year) has yet to be surveyed.
Sometimes a second period of more intense Corncrake calling begins
around the third week of June, before the last few stragglers and late
arrivals from earlier nesting elsewhere turn-up early in July, so the
next few weeks are the last chance to find new ones this year.
Elsewhere, there are now nine confirmed in Connemara and three in the
Callows, while in Mayo there are a minimum of 22 in Erris and eight in
the south Louisburgh area, although as yet none have been found
anywhere else in the county.
It’s been an unusual year for Corncrakes turning-up off the
beaten track. There are three on Valentia, and reports of one on Beara,
one at Banna Strand, one each in Clare, East Waterford and Wexford,
plus the one heard earlier in Cavan possibly still present. Counters
are still at work in Donegal, covering for BirdWatch’s northern
Corncrake fieldworker Sandy Alcorn, who has unfortunately broken her
ankle. So far, 50 have been confirmed.
Please keep the reports coming, by phone, 095 44941, or email via this website. |
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Sligo Western By-Pass - Public Consultation
Plans for
proposed Dual Carriagway across Sligo Inner Harbour are now available
for public consultation. Given the potential of all of the routes
for massive impact on the harbour's ecology and habitats, members are urged to
actively engage with this process. Maps showing this route can be
viewed during office hours at the following locations:
Sligo County Council, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo.
Sligo County Council, Road Design Section, Market Yard, Sligo
Public information evenings will be held and plans will be available
for viewing and comment in the Southern Hotel, Knappagh Road, Sligo, on
Wednesday 24th June and Wednesday 1st July, 2009, from 4:00pm to 7:30pm.
Observations or submissions relating to this route may be handed into the Public Information Sessions or may be submitted to:-
Tom Kilfeather,
Director of Infrastructure,
Sligo County Council,
Governor’s House,
St. Anne’s Place,
Sligo.
Submissions should be submitted no later than Friday 10th July, 2009. |
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Holiday Time!
This page will not be updated until 16th July 2009
Please continue to report sightings as usual to sightings@sligobirding.com
Any sightings received for the next two weeks will be posted in a temporary sightings file here. |
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Recent Sligo Sightings
Red text is used to signify records of particular significance for Co. Sligo
Date
|
Species
|
Photo |
Number |
Site |
Observer |
Remarks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 30 June 2009 |
Swift |
|
c 20 |
Sligo Town |
Seamus Feeney |
|
| 24 June 2009 |
Whooper Swan |
 |
2 |
Bunduff Lake |
Marius Breen |
Long-staying non-flyer and another Whooper seen |
| 24 June 2009 |
Common Sandpier |
|
1 |
Ballysadare Estuary
|
Martin Enright |
opposite Silver Falls apartment building |
| 24 June 2009 |
Long-eared Owl |
|
1 |
near Lough Gill |
Sandie McCanny |
Two juveniles being fed by adult |
| 23 June 2009 |
Common Tern |
|
c. 50 |
Lough Gill |
Séamus Feeney, Mícheál Casey |
c. 50 adults were seen in the vicinity of a traditional breeding colony
|
| 19 June 2009 |
Tree Sparrow |
|
1 |
Raghly |
Declan Skehan |
Near the harbour |
| 19 June 2009 |
Manx Shearwater |
|
200 |
Lenadoon Point, Inishcrone |
Séamus Feeney |
c. 200 Manx Shearwater, were feeding in a circuit that took them east and west of Lenadoon Pt. At times in a group of c. 100 |
| 19 June 2009 |
Sooty Shearwater |
|
2 |
Lenadoon Point, Inishcrone |
Séamus Feeney |
During a seawatch from 1000 - 1430 hrs. |
| 19 June 2009 |
Great Skua |
|
4 |
Lenadoon Point, Inishcrone |
Séamus Feeney |
Includes a pair, seen during a seawatch from 1000 - 1430 hrs. |
| 19 June 2009 |
Arctic Skua |
|
2 |
Lenadoon Point, Inishcrone |
Séamus Feeney |
A pair, seen during a seawatch from 1000 - 1430 hrs. |
| 19 June 2009 |
Storm Petrel |
|
8 |
Lenadoon Point, Inishcrone |
Séamus Feeney |
During a seawatch from 1000 - 1430 hrs. |
| 19 June 2009 |
Puffin |
|
7 |
Lenadoon Point, Inishcrone |
Séamus Feeney |
In one group, during a seawatch from 1000 - 1430 hrs. |
| 19 June 2009 |
Common Scoter |
|
6 |
Lenadoon Point, Inishcrone |
Séamus Feeney |
During a seawatch from 1000 - 1430 hrs. |
| 19 June 2009 |
Buzzard |
|
1 |
near Beltra |
Séamus Feeney |
Hunting
|
| 18 June 2009 |
Whinchat |
|
4 |
Near Ballinagare, Co. Roscommon |
Declan Skehan |
Adult and three juveniles |
| 18 June 2009 |
Tree Sparrow |
|
3 |
Raghly |
Mícheál Casey |
Two juveniles and an adult near the harbour. A Stoat was carrying prey (a mouse) along road nearby |
| 17 June 2009 |
Tree Sparrow |
|
1 |
Raghly |
Mícheál Casey |
Seen briefly but clearly at the very tip of the headland, near the harbour. |
| 16 June 2009 |
Jay |
|
1 |
Union Foods, Ballygawley |
Séamus Feeney |
Also a Common Whitethroat singing nearby |
| 15 June 2009 |
Spotted Flycatcher |
|
2 |
Markree Estate, Collooney |
Declan Skehan |
A pair seen at the bridge on the main avenue, where a pair has been seen for the past three years |
| 10 June 2009 |
Common Sandpiper |
|
1 |
Lough Gill |
Paul Keogh |
Also a Pine Marten seen near Dromahair on the same day |
| 9 June 2009 |
Wheatear |
|
2 |
Coney Island, Sligo Harbour |
Shaun Connor |
Male Wheatear and young juvenile seen adjacent to rabbit burrows on Coney Island (probable nesting site) (Shaun Connor) |
| 9 June 2009 |
Spotted Flycatcher |
|
1 |
near Dromahair, Co. Leitrim |
Paul Keogh |
|
| 9 June 2009 |
Kingfisher |
|
1 |
Lough Gill |
Paul Keogh |
|
| 6 June 2009 |
Arctic Skua |
|
1 |
Cooanmore Point, Easkey |
Séamus Feeney |
One dark phase bird, 39 Manx Shearwaters and good numbers of Gannets and Fulmars seen in a 2-hour seawatch
|
| 5 June 2009 |
Whooper Swan |
|
2 |
Lough Ree, Co. Roscommon |
Joe Donaldson |
On Roscommon side, west of Lanesboro. |
| 5 June 2009 |
Goldeneye |
|
4 |
Lough Ree, Co. Roscommon |
Joe Donaldson |
All males. On Roscommon side, west of Lanesboro.
|
| 4 June 2009 |
Whimbrel |
|
1 |
Rathscanlan, Tobercurry |
Mícheál Casey |
One heard calling as it flew over near midnight
|
| 3 June 2009 |
Tree Sparrow |
|
1 |
Old village, Aughris Head |
Mícheál Casey |
|
| 2 June 2009 |
Corncrake |
|
4 |
Oyster Island, Sligo Harbour |
Tim Gordon |
I
heard 4 corncrakes on Oyster, one in the eastern enclosure, one 100m
east of Bruen’s enclosure, one on the west wall of Bruen’s
enclosure, near the house – these three all on the Rosses Point
side of the island - and I think one on the other side, on or near the
south wall of Bruen’s enclosure.
There’s seems not to be one on Coney, and I didn’t find any
in the usual spots between Raghly Point and Knocklane. I hope to get
onto Oyster one night in the next few weeks to confirm last
night’s records. I’ve had no reports from anyone else in
Sligo so far.
Good numbers in Mayo, more than last year, but slightly fewer so far in Connemara.
Keep an ear out for other birds – there must be more out there!
Tim Gordon
|
| 1 June 2009 |
Long-eared Owl |
|
1 |
N4, Sligo Town |
Conor McElhinney |
Flew across main road between Sumerhill College and the Caltragh exit
|
| 1 June 2009 |
Common Tern |
|
4 |
Doorly Park, Sligo Town |
John McEvoy |
Heading upriver, towards Lough Gill
|
| 31 May 2009 |
Kingfisher |
|
1 |
Lough Arrow
|
Séamus Feeney |
|
| 31 May 2009 |
Common Sandpiper |
|
3-4 |
Lough Arrow
|
Séamus Feeney |
|
| 31 May 2009 |
Cuckoo |
|
1 |
Lough Arrow
|
Séamus Feeney |
|
| 31 May 2009 |
Painted Lady (Butterfly) |
|
Large numbers |
Co. Sligo
|
Don Cotton, Séamus Feeney, Declan Skehan |
Large numbers of this colourful migrant are being reported from several sites around the county. |
| 30 May 2009 |
Corncrake |
|
2 |
Oyster Island, Sligo Harbour |
Trevor an Patricia Hunter Terry and Kate Harte & families; Eamon Lynch & Niamh Lynch via www.irishbirding.com |
Calling males.
|
| 29 May 2009 |
Hobby |
|
1 |
Lough Arrow
|
Anon. via Don Cotton |
A
report was received today that the Hobby was seen again at Lough arrow
during the week, it was seen around an island in the middle of the
lake, catching mayflies in flight. |
| 25 May 2009 |
Whooper Swan |
 |
1 |
Bunduff, Mullaghmore |
Mícheál Casey |
An
apparent family group consisting of a Mute Swan, the long-staying,
non-flying Whooper Swan and five small cygnets were on the smallest
lakes. A case of hybridisation or fostering?
|
| 25 May 2009 |
Common Swift |
 |
4 |
Rathscanlan, Tobercurry |
Mícheál Casey |
Prospecting for nest sites at purpose-built nest box on an old farm building
|
| 24 May 2009 |
Cuckoo |
|
1 |
Hazelwood, Lough Gill |
Beatrice MacDonald |
Heard at Hazelwood
|
| 22 May 2009 |
Mute Swan |
|
6 |
Annagh Bay, Lough Gill |
Beatrice MacDonald |
Two
adults and four tiny cygnets, obviously recently hatched.Further round
the Hazelwood shore was a female Mallard with 11 ducklings. |
| 22 May 2009 |
Iceland Gull |
|
1 |
Sligo Harbour |
Declan Skehan |
|
| 19 May 2009 |
Whinchat |
|
1 |
near Ballinagare, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon |
Michael Bell |
Male singing on top of small tree
|
| 19 May 2009 |
Great Northern Diver |
|
c10 |
Off Raghly Point, Drumcliff Bay |
Séamus Feeney |
There
was one immature, the rest were adults in summer plumage.
Immature Red-throated Diver and one Common Scoter also seen
|
| 19 May 2009 |
Arctic Skua |
|
1 |
Off Raghly Point, Drumcliff Bay |
Séamus Feeney |
Dark phase bird, was harassing Sandwich Terns, and in turn being harassed
by the terns when it settled on the water. Left Drumcliffe Bay flying
over Raghly causeway. |
| 19 May 2009 |
Tree Sparrow |
|
1 |
Causeway wall, Raghly |
Séamus Feeney |
Female Wheatear also present on breakwater |
| 19 May 2009 |
Sandwich Tern |
|
c. 20 |
Off Raghly Point, Drumcliff Bay
|
Séamus Feeney |
Reduced numbers since Saturday last |
| 19 May 2009 |
Common Buzzard |
|
2 |
North Co. Sligo
|
Séamus Feeney |
Pair seen soaring on thermals over wooded area |
| 19 May 2009 |
Hobby |
|
1 |
Lough Arrow
|
Anon. via Eric Dempsey |
Seen at the north-western corner of the lake. |
| 18 May 2009 |
Minke Whale |
|
1 |
Rosskeeragh Point, Mullaghmore Head
|
Fiona Farrell, Mike Trewby, Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy |
Dead stranding. Female 6.4m long. Fairly fresh. |
| 17 May 2009 |
Golden Eagle |
|
1 |
Rossmore, Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim
|
Frances Farrell |
Location
was at Rossmore, between Dowra and Drumkeerin, on the northern shore of
Lough Allen, Co. Leitrim. The bird flew off eventually eastwards
towards Dowra (possibly to Playbank mountain?) about 4.00pm. |
| 17 May 2009 |
Siskin |
|
1 |
Lissadell
|
Robin Burnhams |
|
| 16 May 2009 |
Sandwich Tern |
|
c. 50 |
Off Raghly Point, Drumcliff Bay
|
Séamus Feeney |
Feeding intensely in a concentrated flock |
| 15 May 2009 |
Long-tailed Skua |
|
1 |
Ballinafad Bay, Lough Arrow
|
Dr David Gunn and John Gault, reported via Don Cotton |
Hawking
after Mayflies during an intense hatch on the lake. Long-tailed
Skuas have been reported from this site in May in the past. |
|