Clare Bird Sightings

August 2010

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Tuesday 31st August 2010
One Glossy ibis was at the Shannon Airport Lagoon (John N Murphy), along with one Curlew Sandpiper, 200 Dunlin, two Ruff, 36 Little Egrets, 3,000 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Knot, 200 Redshank, five Water Rail, 30 Wigeon and four Gadwall.
One Balearic, one Sooty Shearwaters, three Storm Petrels, one Bonxie, one dark phased Arctic Skua, two Arctic Terns, seven Common Scoter and one Puffin were at the Bridges of Ross.
A Swift was seen over New Road Ennis
Monday 30th August 2010
The American Golden Plover was at Moyasta this morning (Andy Clifton, Steve Web, John N Murphy, Brian Finnegan et al).
Two Wood Sandpipers were at Shannon Airport Lagoon.
There were 22 Lapland Buntings at Loop Head Peninsula, 14 of which were on the Fodry, seven at the Bridges and one at the tip of the headland.
At the Bridges of Ross there were three Bonxies, one Arctic Skua, one Sooty Shearwater, five Common Scoter, one Black Guillemot, and one Arctic Tern.
One dark phased Arctic Skua was seen chasing amogs’t a flock of 300 Manx Shearwaters off Loop Head.
Also on the headland there were 12 Wheatears, four Chough, five Raven and six Golden Plover.
One Curlew Sandpiper, four Knot, and four little egrets and a Peregrine were at lough Donnell.
One Green Sandpiper was at Ballycorrick Bridge.
Three Common Sandpipers and a Whimbrel were at Islandavanna, Clarecastle.
One Ruff and two Kingfishers were at Doonbeg.
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Curlew Sandpiper at Lough Donnell © Dave McNamara
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Golden Plovers at Loop Head © John N Murphy
Sunday 29th August 2010
Two Glossy Ibises were back at the Shannon Airport Lagoon today  (John N Murphy & Geoff Hunt).
Also at the Lagoon were three Ruff, 16 Little Egrets, five Water Rails and over 3,000 Black-tailed Godwits on the mudflats with 30 Knot and 400 Redshank.
Four Lapland Buntings were seen near the Bridges of Ross.
At the Bridges of Ross there were five Balearic Shearwaters, two Leach’s Petrels, one Storm Petrel, 26 Arctic Skuas, 14 Bonxie, two Grey Phalaropes, 14 Arctic Terns, one Black Guillemot, two Common Scoter, two Puffins, 12 Teal, one Minke Whale and a Leather-backed Turtle.
Two Ruff were at Lough Atedaun.
One Common Sandpiper and a Little Egret were at the Lough, Doonbeg.
One juvenile Knot was a good inland record at Mullaghmore, the Burren.
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Lapland Bunting at Bridges of Ross © Jeff Copner
Saturday 28th August 2010
The American Golden Plover was at Moyasta Creek (James Hayes, Clodagh Glasgow and Finbarr MacGabhann).
At the Bridges of Ross today the seawatch produced two Sabine’s Gulls, three Balearic Shearwaters, two Sooty Shearwaters, on 3rd cal Pomarine Skua, six Arctic Skuas, four Bonxies, 18 Arctic Terns, a juvenile Little Gull, two Puffins, one Grey Phalarope, three Common Scoter, one Great Northern Diver, one Red-throated Diver and one Merlin.
There were seven Lapland Buntings on the headland at Loop Head, while three were still at the Bridges of Ross.
Two Glossy Ibises were at the Shannon Airport Lagoon this evening (John N Murphy, Gerry Butler & Tony Mee).
Also at the Lagoon were 26 Little Egrets, ten Water Rail, one Ruff, 1,400 Black-tailed Godwits, five Wigeon, ten Shoveler, four Gadwall and a female Hen Harrier.
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Lapland Bunting near the Bridges of Ross © James Hayes.
Friday 27th August 2010
A Glossy Ibis was at the Shannon Airport Lagoon this afternoon (John N Murphy & Brian Finnegan).
Also at the Lagoon was the Spoonbill, 20 Ruff, 3,000 Black-tailed Godwits, 24 Knot, 22 Little Egrets and four Water Rails.
The adult American Golden Plover was showing well at Moyasta Creek (Mark Sutton et al).
Four Lapland Buntings were west of the Bridges of Ross today, but there was little seabird migration with only one Sooty Shearwater, one pale phased Arctic Skua, one Bonxie and two Common Scoters.
Two White Wagtails were in Kilbaha, with 19 Chough on the headland.
There were three White Wagtails at Kilcredaun Marsh.
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Glossy Ibis at the Shannon Airport Lagoon © John N Murphy
This bird was not wearing any colour rings
Thursday 26th August 2010
The American Golden Plover was still at Moyasta today (John N Murphy, Brian Finnegan, Niall & Noel T Keogh), along with one Kingfisher.
Two Lapland Buntings were at the Bridges of Ross this morning along with one Balearic Shearwater,
one Arctic Skua, one Bonxie and a light passage of Manx Shearwaters.
One Ruff was at Lough Atedaun, while two Kingfishers were at Lough Inchiquin.
One Knot at Mullaghmore, the Burren was a good inland record.
Spotted Flycatchers are still feeding young at a garden in Clarecastle.
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Adult American Golden Plover at Moyasta © John N Murphy
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Adult Spotted Flycatcher at Manusmore © Brian Finnegan
Wednesday 25th August 2010
The American Golden Plover was back at Moyasta this evening (Ian Boustead et al), along with one Green Sandpiper.
One Wood Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper were at Claureen River attenuation pond.
The sub-adult  Glaucous Gull was at Cappagh Kilrush.
A dark-phased Arctic Skua was at the Flaggy Shore today.
Five Arctic Skuas, seven Bonxies and a Blue Fulmar were at the Bridges of Ross.
Two Common Sandpipers were at the Lough, Doonbeg.
One Common Sandpioer, one White Wagtail and two Knot were at Lough Donnell.
One Kingfisher and a White Wagtail were at the Skivileen River, Doonbeg.
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Glaucous Gull at Cappagh Pier Kilrush © John N Murphy
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Knots at Lough Donnell © John N Murphy
Tuesday 24th August 2010
A Fea’s (Soft-plumaged) Petrel just flew past the Bridges of Ross (Ian Boustead et al) (9.00), also at the Bridges this morning were one Wilson’s Storm Petel (Tom Tarpey), four Sabine’s Gulls and two Leach’s Petrels, six Sooty Shearwaters, six Great Skuas, six Arctic Skuas, three Puffins, 41 Arctic Terns, ten Storm Petrels and two Ruff were in Kilbaha.
An adult summer American Golden Plover was seen from the railway bridge at Moyasta this afternoon (Robert Vaughan & Conor Foley).
One Wood Sandpiper remained at the Claureen River attenuation ponds Ennis this afternoon.
A juvenile Spotted Redshank, five Ruff and 27 Little Egrets, four Water Rails , one female Hen Harrier and 1,500 Black-tailed Godwits  were at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
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American Golden Plover at Moyasta © Robert Vaughan
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Wood Sandpiper at the Claureen River Attenuation Pond © Jeff Copner
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A grey looking Chiffchaff at Clarecastle © Brian Finnegan
Monday 23rd August 2010
At the Bridges of Ross today there was one adult Sabine’s Gull,  three Pomarine Skua, 13 Arctic Skuas, 14 Bonxies, five Balearic Shearwaters, 16 Sooty Shearwaters , seven Grey Phalaropes, four Storm Petrels, one Blue Fulmar, 30 Arctic Terns, 12 Sandwich Terns, five Puffins, one Common Scoter, 12 Black-tailed Godwits and 14 Brent Geese.
Two Wood Sandpipers and one Green Sandpiper were at the Claureen River attenuation 
ponds in Ennis.
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Grey Phalarope off the Bridges of Ross © Rob Vaughan
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Two different Wood Sandpipers at the Claureen attanuation pond © John N Murphy
Sunday 22nd August 2010
One juvenile Long-tailed Skua was at the Bridges of Ross (Finbarr MacGabhann, John N Murphy et al).
Also at the Bridges were two adult Sabine’s Gulls, one Black Tern, eight Arctic Terns, seven Balearic Shearwaters, 15 Sooty Shearwaters, 17 Storm Petrels one Leach’s Petrel, three Pomarine Skuas, 10 Arctic Skuas, three Bonxies ,14 Common Scoter, one Grey Phalarope and good passage of wading birds.
One sub adult Glaucous Gull was at Cappa Pier, Kilrush.
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Glaucous Gull at Cappa Pier © James Hayes
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Long-tailed Skua at Bridges of Ross © Jim Nolan
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Dunlin feeding on the shore near Lough Donnell © John N Murphy
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Turnstone at Loop Head © John N Murphy
Saturday 21st August 2010
One adult and one juvenile Long-tailed Skuas were at the Bridges of Ross (Alan Clewes, Geoff Hunt et al).
Also at the Bridges there was one adult Sabine’s Gull,  two Great Shearwaters , two Balearic Shearwaters, over 30 Sooty Shearwaters, three Bonxies, one Arctic Skua, one Pomarine Skua and six Storm Petrels.
One sub-adult Glaucous Gull was at Kilrush.
Over 1,000 Black-tailed Godwits and one Ruff were at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
Friday 20th August 2010
At the Bridges of Ross this morning there were two adult Sabine’s Gulls, 
two Balearic Shearwaters and 12 Sooty Shearwaters so far (10 am).
One Spotted Redshank and two Ruff were at the Shannon Airport Lagoon
Thursday 19th August 2010
All was fairly quiet at the Bridges of Ross this morning with only one Balearic Shearwater,
a handfull of Sooty Shearwaters and one Pomarine Skua.
A Spotted Redshank, nine Little Egret and a Water Rail were at the Shannon Airport Lagoon
along with 1,000 Black-tailed Godwit.
One first year Mediterranean Gull and a Green Sandpiper were at Ballycorrick Bridge, Ballynacally.
Wednesday 18th August 2010
At the Bridges of Ross there were four Great Shearwaters, three Balearic shearwaters, 
over 40 Sooty Shearwaters, seven Arctic Skuas, one Pomarine Skua, 14 Bonxies, eight Storm
Petrels, six Puffins, one all white albino Fulmar, one Red-throated Diver, one Common Scoter,
ten Arctic Terns, 16 Sanderling, five Whimbrel, one Merlin, three Sun Fish and one Basking Shark.
Tuesday 17th August 2010
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still at Lough Donnell this morning (Brian Finnegan & Austin Cooney).
Also at Lough Donnell were two Ruff.
At the Bridges of Ross today were four Great Shearwaters, 13 Sooty Shearwaters,
four Arctic Skuas, three Bonxies, one Pomarine Skua, nine Storm Petrels, one Blue Fulmar
and a Minke Whale.
One Ruff, 14 Little Egrets, four Water Rail and 500 Black-tailed Godwits were at the
Shannon Airport Lagoon.
A dark phased Buzzard was seen hunting near the Claureen River Attenuation pond this evening.
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Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Lough Donnell © John N Murphy
Monday 16th August 2010
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Lough Donnell again today (John N Murphy, Stan Nugent &
Dave McNamara)(11.55 am).
Also at Lough Donnell were two Ruff, two Knot and 60 Snipe.
One adult Roseate Tern was at the mouth of the Skivileen River near Doughmore.
Two Common Sandpipers were at Doonbeg Lough.
One juvenile Little Gull was at Killimer. along with three Bar-tailed Godwits.
Three Little Egrets were at Poulnasherry Bay along with a colour banded Curlew.
One Balearic Shearwatwater was off the Bridges of Ross.
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Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Lough Donnell © John N Murphy
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Buff-breasted Sandpiper bottom left flying with Dunlin and one Snipe © John N Murphy
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Roseate Tern at the Skivileen River still very rare in Clare © John N Murphy
Sunday 15th August 2010
One Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Lough Donnell this evening (Paul Troake).
Also at Lough Donnell were two Ruff, 53 Snipe and over 1,000 Swallows.
At the Bridges of Ross there was one Sooty Shearwater, six Balearic Shearwaters,
3,000 Manx Shearwaters and six Storm Petrels.
One Bonxie and 22 Chough were at Kilkee.
At the Shannon Airport Lagoon there was one Spotted Redshank, one Ruff and
23 Little Egrets.
Saturday 14th August 2010
At the Shannon Airport Lagoon today there was one Spotted Redshank, eight Water Rails, 
ten Little Egrets and one female Hen Harrier was observed taking a young Water Rail from 
the reedbeds This bird spent one hour hunting the lagoon before soaring high in the air and headed
south towards Limerick. Also in the Lagoon were 200 Sandmartins and over 80 House Martins.
On the mudflats there were 1,200 Black-tailed Godwits and 80 Curlew.
Six Little Egrets were near Saints Island near Bunratty.
There were eight Arctic Terns, two Common Terns, 20 Sandwich Terns, one Knot and seven
Greenshank at Liscannor Harbour.
The Whooper Swan is still at Kilkee Reservoir.
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Knot at Liscannor © Jeff Copner
Friday 13th August 2010
There were two Little Egrets and 32 Greenshank at Ballynacally Creek.
One Little Egret was at Ballycorrick Bridge.
One Little Egret was at Islandavanna.
A flock of 500 Sand Martins and 12 Arctic Terns were at Fenloe Lake.
There were 15 Arctic Terns, 22 Sandwich Terns and four Greenshank at Clahane, Liscannor.
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There seem to be lots of Arctic Terns about over the past few days © Jeff Copner
This young Herring Gull wearing a Blue leg band was probably one ringed on
Mutton Island off Quilty earlier in the year © Jeff Copner
Thursday 12th August 2010
There was one adult Sabine’s Gull off the Bridges of Ross today along
with one Sooty Shearwater, one blue Fulmar, one Bonxie, one Puffin and eight Arctic terns.
The SPOONBILL was back at the Shannon Airport Lagoon along with seven Little Egrets.
Ten Little Egrets and 18 Greenshank were at Poulnasherry Bay.
Wednesday 11th August 2010
This morning at the Bridges of Ross there were two Sooty Shearwaters,
one Great Skua, five Arctic Skuas and one Red-throated Diver.
In the evening Manx Shearwater numbers built up to over 2,000 birds between 
the Bridges of Ross and Fodry Point with three Balearic Shearwaters within them. 
There was one Spotted Redshank, two Ruff, over 1,000 Black-tailed Godwits,
200 Dunlin, ten Knot, eight Ringed Plover, three Shoveler, two Gadwall, 22 Little
Egrets, 160 Redshank and one Water Rail at the Shannon Airport Lagoon. 
Tuesday 10th August 2010
At the Bridges of Ross there was one Great Shearwater, six Sooty Shearwaters,
one Arctic Skua, one Storm Petrel, one Common Scoter, six Puffins and 33 Arctic Terns.
The SPOONBILL was back at the Shannon Airport lagoon along with 25 Little Egrets,
1,500 Black-tailed Godwits, two Shoveler and two Gadwall.
One first year Mediterranean Gull was on the beach near Doonbeg.
Monday 9th August 2010
Two Little Egrets were at Moyasta.
One Little Egret was at Kilcredaun Marsh.
One Little Egret was seen flying overland near Dromoland Castle.
There were seven Raven and five Chough on the Clif walk at Kilkee. 
There were two Common Sandpipers at Ballycorrick Bridge.
Sunday 8th August 2010
One Wilson’s Storm Petrel was at the Bridges of Ross.
One female Hen Harrier was on Scattery Island.
Saturday 7th August 2010
There were two Balearic Shearwaters and one Bonxie at the Bridges of Ross.
Friday 6th August 2010
One Great Skua was at the Bridges of Ross along with four Chough.
One male Hen Harrier was in Kilbaha.
Thursday 5th August 2010
The Glaucous Gull was back at Kilrush Marina.
One Kingfisher and four Common Sandpipers were at Islandavanna.
Wednesday 4th August 2010
Highlights from the Bridges of Ross today were four Balearic Shearwaters, 11 Sooty Shearwaters,
two Blue Fulmars, one Arctic Skua, seven Bonxies, two Storm Petrels, seven Whimbrel,
36 Arctic Terns, five Puffins, 12 Dunlin and two Chough.
Two Little Egrets were at Moyasta.
Monday 2nd August 2010
There was two Little Egrest at Corronroo Bay.
Three Raven were near Lough Bunny.

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