Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor (Falarop Wilson)
A first winter Wilson’s Phalarope turned up at a small flooded field near Ross Bay
Loop Head on Saturday morning 23rd September approximately 8.45am.
Found by John Murphy and later seen by Brian Finnegan, Austin Cooney and
Christy Meehan. The bird was accompanied by a colour ringed juvenile Black-tailed
Godwit and it remained feeding in the field up to about 11.30am. It only departed
when a immature female Hen Harrier flew over a hedge and into the field flushing the
phalarope who flew high into the air and headed south eastwards trailing along behind
a Ringed Plover who was also getting out of town due to the harrier.
Photos John N Murphy
This was a third county record of this rare Nearctic vagrant.
The two previous records were both from the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
One from 18th to 20th August 1981.
One juvenile from 11th to 20th August 1984.
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