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Occasional
sightings from adjacent counties are reported to this site and are to
be found in these pages.
Note:
All
sightings listed
below are as received and are unconfirmed.
You can email your sightings (including early or late
migrants, rare or scarce birds, unusual numbers or behaviour etc.) by
e-mailing us or by clicking the button below.
Digital photos and digital video clips are particularly welcome for
inclusion in our
sightings
pages and gallery, please e-mail them to the same address, sightings@sligobirding.com
in any size or format.
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Leitrim
Sightings 2008
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Date
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Species
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Photo |
Number |
Site |
Observer |
Remarks |
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| 18 May 2010 |
Corncrake |
|
1 |
Conray,
Glencar,
Co Leitrim |
via Tim Gordon |
In song for the last few 2-3 weeks. |
| 11 May 2010 |
Kingfisher |
|
1 |
Carrigeencor,
Dromahair,
Co. Leitrim |
Mícheál Casey |
Flew across road from tiny stream c. 2m wide |
27 April 2010 |
Grey Wagtail |
|
2 |
Bonet River,
Co. Leitrim |
Declan Feeney |
|
27 April 2010 |
Kingfisher |
|
1 |
Bonet River,
Co. Leitrim |
Declan Feeney |
Flying downstream |
27 April 2010 |
Dipper |
|
1 |
Bonet River,
Co. Leitrim |
Declan Feeney |
|
21 April 2010 |
Hen Harrier |
|
1 |
near Manorhamilton,
Co. Leitrim |
Don Cotton |
Excellent views of a male |
21 April 2010 |
Common Cuckoo |
|
1 |
Aughriman,
Drumshanbo,
Co. Leitrim |
Frances Farrell |
|
04 April 2010 |
Hen Harrier |
|
1 |
Morerah,
near Manorhamilton,
Co. Leitrim |
Paul Keogh |
Female |
24 March 2010 |
Greenshank |
|
1 |
Srabraggan,
Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim |
Frances Farrell |
Same place where two seen on 14th March |
23 March 2010 |
Whooper Swan |
|
75 |
Leitrim village,
Co. Leitrim |
John Davis |
On flooded area near Leitrim village |
16 March 2010 |
Whooper Swan |
|
22 |
Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim |
John Davis |
Flying north |
15 March 2010 |
Whooper Swan |
|
c. 100 |
Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim |
John Davis |
Flying north, early in the morning |
14 March 2010 |
Greenshank |
|
2 |
Srabraggan,
Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim |
Frances Farrell |
Unusual record for site, possibly on migration? |
14 March 2010 |
Whooper Swan |
|
41 |
near Leitrim Village,
Co. Leitrim |
John Davis |
In flooded area |
10 March 2010 |
Common Buzzard |
|
1 |
Ross,
Five-mile-Bourne,
Co. Leitrim |
Helga Keogh |
Present for several weeks |
10 March 2010 |
Common Buzzard |
|
1 |
Ross,
Manorhamilton,
Co. Leitrim |
Colm O Muireagáin |
Present for several weeks |
01 March 2010 |
Hen Harrier |
|
1 |
near Ballinamore,
Co Leitrim |
John Davis |
Female Hen Harrier hunting over rough ground just south of Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim on March 1st |
24 November 2009 |
Long-tailed Duck |

|
1 |
Lough Doon,
Dromahair,
Co. Leitrim |
Fiona Farrell |
Adult female in winter plumage.
Long-tailed Ducks are relatively unusual at inland sites. The species has been recorded at this particular site just three times before - a pair was seen here c. 1999 (Séamus Feeney); 1 juvenile/female was seen on 17th November 1999 (Don Cotton) and at nearby Lough Colgagh, two females were present on 18th March 1992 (Don Cotton). |
24 November 2009 |
White-tailed Eagle |
|
1 |
Co. Leitrim |
Satellite data via Allan Mee |
The White-tailed Eagle, 'Male L', which travelled to Scotland during the autumn is on his way back! Satellite date placed him at Lisnabrack, to the north of Benbo mountain, Co. Leitrim yesterday afternoon!
Follow his progress here. |
23 November 2009 |
Golden Eagle |
|
1 |
Near Lurganboy,
Manorhamilton,
Co. Leitrim |
Max Brosi |
The satellite-tagged young male, Conall, was seen well as he fed on the carcass of an adult fox in a large roadside field on the edge of Lurganboy village. He obviously knows how to make himself popular in sheep farming country!
Satellite data from his GPS tag shows that he returned to Glencar on Saturday 21/11/09 - see our 'Conall' page |
15 November 2009 |
Golden Eagle |
|
1 |
near Carrigeencor Lough,
Co. Leitrim |
Satellite Data via Lorcan O'Toole of the Golden Eagle Trust. |
Conall the satellite-tagged Golden Eagle continues his southerly route - he roosted near Carrigeencor Lake, near Dromahair last night. There is surely a good chance he will be seen as he moves into more populated areas. Where next - The Ox Mountains? |
13 November 2009 |
Golden Eagle |
|
1 |
Glencar Lough,
Co. Leitrim |
Satellite Data via Lorcan O'Toole of the Golden Eagle Trust. |
Conall moved south from Lough Melvin yesterday and roosted overnight on King's Mountain. His movement patter so far has trended to the south, he may continue once the weather improves. In the meantime, any sightings at Glencar would be welcome. Further updates will be posted as they are received.
See satellite traces on the Conall page |
11 November 2009 |
Golden Eagle |
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1 |
Lough Melvin,
Co. Leitrim
|
Oonagh & Joe Kavanagh |
Seen crossing the lake at the western side of Lough Melvin, near Kinlough, being mobbed by a dozen crows.
The observer notes:
Eagle flew westwards along the northern shore of Lough Melvin and then veered south avoiding the town of Kinlough, labouring against the south east wind, heading to the Dartry mountains. He flew low at approx 30m altitude was being mobbed by a dozen crows. As he banked to gain height I caught a glimpse of a red wing tag on starboard wing. He looked quite dark without a golden sheen. There was a barely noticeable light patch on his tail base. His head looked large enough and the wings looked broad enough for me to believe that this was a juvenile White Tailed Eagle. However the red wing tag matches that of Conall the newly fledged Donegal born Golden Eagle, who was satellite tracked to Castle Caldwell on the western shore of Lough Erne on Nov 8th.
Satellite data fromthe Golden Eagle Project confirms that this is the satellite tagged juvenile bird 'Conall' from the Donegal Re-Introduction Project - see his remarkable story here.
This bird is part of the first generation of Golden Eagles hatched in the wild in Ireland for over a hundred years, one of two successfully hatched & fledged by a pair of re-introduced Golden Eagles in Donegal last summer. |
| 1 November 2009 |
Common Buzzard |
|
1 |
3 km west of
Carrick-on -Shannon,
Co. Leitrim |
Declan Feeney |
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| 27 October 2009 |
Brambling |
|
1 |
Curry,
Killargue,
Dromahair |
Bernie Feeney |
Among
a flock
of Chaffinches at a garden bird table
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| 15 October 2009 |
Redwing |
|
15 |
Drumduff North/Aughriman,
near Drumshanbo,
Co. Leitrim |
Frances Farrell |
Seen flying
over
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| 14 October 2009 |
Redwing |
|
4 |
Drumkeelan Beg/Aughriman,
near Drumshanbo,
Co. Leitrim |
Frances Farrell |
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| 9 August 2009 |
Swift |
|
1 |
South of Cleighanroe,
eastern side of Lough Allen,
Co. Leitrim |
Frances Farrell |
Seen over fields |
| 9 June 2009 |
Spotted Flycatcher |
|
1 |
near
Dromahair, Co. Leitrim |
Paul
Keogh |
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| 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. |
| 4 May 2009 |
Whimbrel |
|
87+ |
Lough Melvin, Co. Leitrim
|
Michael Stinson |
Separate flocks of 35+, 36
and 16 respectively |
| 3 May 2009 |
Whimbrel |
|
72+ |
Lough Melvin, Co. Leitrim
|
Michael Stinson |
In groups of 8, 7 and 2
respectively, with one much large flock of 55+ |
| 26 April 2009 |
Long-eared Owl |
|
1
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Dromahair,
Co. Leitrim |
Paul
Keogh |
Seen at night |
| 22 April 2009 |
Cuckoo |
|
1
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near
Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim |
Frances
Farrell |
|
| 20 April 2009 |
Whooper Swan |
|
2
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Lough Melvin, Co. Leitrim |
Brian
Hallett via Séamus Feeney |
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| 3 April 2009 |
Waxwing |
|
7
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Leitrim Village,
Co. Leitrim |
Declan
Skehan |
Flew off north
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| 18th
March 2009 |
Martin
sp. |
|
3 |
Organic
Centre,
Rossinver,
Co. Leitrim |
Seán
Callagy |
Either House Martin or Sand Martin, probably Sand
Martin, only seen in silhouette
|
| 17th
March 2009 |
Whooper
Swan |
|
15 |
Sheenun,
Rossinver,
Co. Leitrim |
Seán
Callagy |
Seen flying almost directly north in V-shaped
formation, perhaps towards Bunduff/Mullaghmore, or indeed on migration
to Iceland |
| 17th
March 2009 |
White-fronted
Goose |
|
14 |
Lough
Allen,
Co. Leitrim |
Frances
Lucy |
Seen in flight over the lake |
| 14th
March 2009 |
Common
Buzzard |
|
1 |
Boleyboy,
Manorhamilton,
Co. Leitrim |
Fiona
Farrell |
Seen at Boleyboy, 3km NW of Manorhamilton on the
afternoon of Sunday the 15th of March |
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26th January 2009
Arroo
Mountain,
Rossinver,
Co. Leitrim |
A male Snow
Bunting was seen on Arroo mountain (F. Farrell).
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18th November 2008
Dromahair,
Co. Leitrim |
One
Brambling
was with about 70 Redwings
just outside Dromahaire today (P. Keogh). |
9th November 2008
Dromahair,
Co. Leitrim |
Two Bramblings were
in my garden today (P. Keogh). |
28th October 2008
Dromahair,
Co. Leitrim |
7 Whooper Swans flew over Dromahair
this morning (P. Keogh). |
21st September
2008
Benbo Mountain,
Manorhamilton,
Co. Leitrim |
A female Merlin was
seen near the top of Benbo mountain today (P. Keogh). |
30th
August 2008
Manorhamilton,
Co. Leitrim |
A Greenshank
was heard calling as it flew over our house at night in Manorhamilton,
on the night of the 30th August (R.
Wheeldon via F. Farrell). |
21st August 2008
Lough Melvin |
An Osprey
was seen on Lough Melvin today (K.
Curtis). The observer watched
it catch a trout and remarked that the bird had a better day's fishing
than he did! |
17th August 2008
Drumshanbo,
Co. Leitrim |
26 Swifts were seen
flying as a group over
Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim (Frances
Farrell) |
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| Images
© Noah Lipham 2008 |
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15th
June 2008: Two Choughs photographed on Ben Bulben today (one from
each of the two pairs seen).
Click on image
above to see larger version.
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15th June 2008
Glencar Valley,
Co. Leitrim |
A pair of Chough
were seen today on the cliff face just above the large forested area at
Glencar in Co. Leitrim. They flew into a crevice in the high
cliffs, presumably visiting a nest site (M. Bell), while a second pair were
also showimg interest in a possible nest site further along the
mountain (N. Lipham, J. Vangeldt).
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10th June 2008
Farrell's Bay,
Lough
Melvin,
Kinlough |
Three Goldeneye
were present today - eight were seen at this site earlier in the week (B. Hallett). Normally
only a winter visitor to western Europe, Goldeney have bred in
Scotland. |
9th June 2008
Lough Melvin,
Kinlough |
A Peregrine Falcon
was seen flying over the lake (S.
Feeney). |
5th May 2008
Dromahair |
Spotted Flycatcher seen
(P. Keogh). |
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| Images
© Mícheál Casey (left) and
Seamus Feeney (right) 2008 |
4th
May 2008: Two of three Crossbills seen on Scots Pines in a large
mature forestry plantation at Killavoggy, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim on
Sunday afternoon.
The bird on the left is a female and the one on the right is
a
juvenile (a male was also present). Crossbills are well known
for
breeding very early. This forest is a very reliable site for
this
species, which have been seen four times in four visits in recent weeks
Click on image above for a larger image. |
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4th May 2008
Killavoggy,
Dromahair |
3 Crossbills - a
male a female and a juvenile seen in Scots Pines (S. Feeney, M. Casey). |
26th April 2008
Dooloughan
Lough, Keshcarrigan
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Black-headed Gull
colony with 198 adults (D. Cotton
& J. Dunleavy). |
29th April 2008
Killavoggy,
Dromahair |
23 Crossbills seen
in forestry on Drumkeeran side of Killavoggy - Grid Reference G872 233 (S. Feeney). |
26th April 2008
Dromahair |
Very large bird
of prey seen near Dromahair, at least Common Buzzard-sized. Swifts also seen (D. Skehan). |
24th April 2008
Killavoggy,
Dromahair |
2 Crossbills were
still present in the general area where they were seen on the 22nd, now
at Grid reference G863 240 (S.
Feeney). |
22nd April 2008
Killavoggy,
Dronahair |
3 Crossbills were
at Killavoggy, Co. Leitrim, in spruce forest (Grid Ref - G864 246) (F. Farrell) |
21st April 2008
Drumshanbo |
The Cuckoo was heard calling near
Drumshanbo, Co. leitrim today - first Leitrim report of 2008 (F. Farrell). |
19th April 2008
Kinlough |
Blackcap singing in
a rural garden near Kinlough (J.
Kavanagh). |
16th April 2008
Lough Nahoo,
Mullagh,
Dromahair |
A group of about 27 Whooper
Swans wintered at Lough
Nahoo, Mullagh, Dromahair, arriving about October 24th. Most left
around the last week in March. Three remain since on Lough Nahoo |
30th March 2008
Kinlough |
1 Chiffchaff was
singing at Kinlough, and 4 House
Martins were seen flying over the village (J. Kavanagh). |
19th March 2008
Manorhamilton |
One Swallow was seen over the Owenmore
River crossing near Manorhamilton (N.
Warnock, A Crory). 2008's first Swallow in the north-west! |
9th March 2008
Dromahair |
1 Brambling (P. Keogh). |
3rd March 2008
Dromahair |
Two Bramblings seen
(P. Keogh) |
10th February 2008
Lough Errill |
At Lough Erril, 80+ Tufted
Duck, 2 Pochard, c.35
Goldeneye and 4 Whooper Swans were
seen with 2 Water Rail heard
calling here also. The Goldeneye were
displaying and a pair of Great
Crested Grebes were seen "dancing" (N.T. Keogh, E. O'Flynn). |
10th February 2008
Cloonfinnan Lough |
No sign of the male Blue-winged
Teal at Cloonfinnan Lough. There was
100+ Mute Swans, 5 Whooper Swans, 50+ Tufted Duck and 23 Pochard present(N.T. Keogh, E. O'Flynn). |
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19th
January 2008:
Paul Keogh obtained this distant record shot of the
Coolfinnan Blue-winged Teal under near impossible conditions of light,
weather, distance, and obstruction by reeds. |
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19th January 2008
Coolfinnan
Lough,
Mohill |
Blue-winged Teal still
present at Cloonfinnan Lough (P.
Keogh). This site can be hard to find - see location map here. |
12th January 2008
Coolfinnan
Lough,
Mohill |
Blue-winged Teal (per J. Coveney). |
CAVAN
NEWS:
26th November 2007
Kilgariff
Townland,
Dowra,
Co. Cavan |
5 Greenland
White-fronted Geese were seen along the shoreline (S. de Jong). |
22nd November 2007
Tullycorka Commonage,
Drumkeeran |
The characteristic droppings of Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) were
found (S.
de Jong). |
21st November 2007
Drummans Island,
Lough Allen |
21/11/2007
– 9 Greenland
White-fronted Geese (Anser
albifrons flavirostris) were seen on the island
and on the peninsula connecting it to the mainland (S. de Jong). |
28th October 2007
Townlands of
Lecarrow and Gubb,
Spencer Harbour, Drumkeeran,
Co. Leitrim. |
19 Greenland
White-fronted Geese (Anser
albifrons flavirostris) were seen flying in a
south-easterly direction at around 2.30pm (S. de Jong). |
23rd October 2007
Townlands of
Lecarrow and Gubb,
Spencer Harbour, Drumkeeran,
Co. Leitrim. |
14 Greenland
White-fronted Geese (Anser
albifrons flavirostris)
were seen flying in a south-easterly direction at around
5.30pm (S. de
Jong). |
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| Image ©
Mícheál
Casey 2007 |
24th
September 2007
Dromahair |
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 |
21st
September 2007
Lough Allen
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Two Common/Arctic
Terns
seen (J. Davies via
D. Cotton). |
19th
September 2007
South of
Drumshanbo
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Red Kite seen near
Kinlough - the bird seemed to have some broken tail feathers (B. Birtwhistle via
D. Cotton). |
1st
September 2007
South of
Drumshanbo
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A
Skua sp. (probably Arctic
Skua) was seen (via
D. Cotton). |
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Image © Michael Burke 2007 |
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13th
August 2007: This young Sparrowhawk was found and photographed by
Michael Burke in his rural garden on the shore of Lough Rynn, near
Mohill, Co. Leitrim, and appeared reluctant to move. As the
photo
shows, it was in excellent condition, and Michael reports that it flew
off normally after
about five minutes. The behaviour described may have been an
example of the "freeze"
reaction that young wild birds often adopt when they feel threatened.
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