Twite Images and Video Clips from "The Inishes"
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These photos and video show two Twite (Carduelis flavirostris) that were at "The Inishes" in Ballisodare Bay, south-west of Sligo town, on the 25th November 2007.  

"The Inishes" is the name given locally to a marshy peninsula which is studded with small hills which are effectively islands of dry land in a semi-tidal marsh.  In all there were at least three Twite at this site and a further 23 were seen at Streamstown, which is quite a short distance away across a narrow part of the bay.
Twite - Photos
Twite
Twite
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Images © Mícheál Casey
25th November 2007 - 'The Inishes", Ballisodare Bay:  

The 26 Twite seen on the shores of Ballisodare Bay today represent a continuation of the trend of increasing numbers of reported sightings of this species in the county.  While there are small and stable breeding populations in neighbouring counties (Mayo and Donegal), there are a limited number of sporadic records for Co. Sligo.  These pictures show two different individuals (the bird in the bottom picture is a different individual to the one in the other photos).

Twite are specialist seed feeders - even feeding seed to their nestlings, unlike most other seed-eating birds.  The rich supply of seeds at this time of year can result in highly mobile flocks.

A Twite colour-ringing project based in Termoncarragh, near Belmullet is now in its third year and has alreeady traced one of its colour-ringed wintering birds to Argyll in Scotland - more information and contact details here.





Twite - Streaming Video Clips
(inevitably these will work best on a fast internet connection)
These clips show a Twite feeding on seed heads of marsh grasses - in this case Sea Arrow Grass (Triglochin maritima)...and as usual thanks to Don Cotton for identifying specimens of the plants!

The feeding technique is quite typical for Twite.  The grass on this part of the marsh has been partly flattened by the exceptionally high recent tides, and the birds are pulling the seed heads down with their feet before stripping them of seed.