At the Clare Branch of BWI Dawn Chorus outing to the Burren this morning a number of Blackcap and Whitethroat were heard singing in a chorus dominated by Blackbird song. A Cuckoo in full voice gave lovely close up views for a long period and he took little notice of several pairs of Meadow Pipit as they mobbed him. Two male Yellowhammer were seen along with Wheatear and Common Gull. Several Willow Warbler sang in the hazel bushes. A Barn Owl was seen hunting prey at Drumcliffe Cross in Ennis by people on their way to the outing at 4.30a.m.
Leave a commentFriday 17th May 2013
A Pectoral Sandpiper was at the Shannon Airport Lagoon this evening (John N Murphy), along with 100 Dunlin, 1,000 Black-tailed Godwits, six Little Egrets and 15 Whimbrel.
Leave a commentSunday 12th May 2013
A Blackcap was singing at Ballyallia as five Swift were flying overhead.
Leave a commentThursday 9th May 2013
Great Northern Diver in summer plumage off the pier at Seafield © John N Murphy
There were 45 Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies and six Great Northern Divers off Black Head. One male Hen Harrier was at the Hand, Connolly. There were 15 Great Northern Divers in summer plumage at Seafield, Quilty, with 40 Dunlin, 38 Sanderling , 25 Turnstone and ten Whimbrel around the beach.
Leave a commentWednesday 8th May 2013
Immature White-Tailed Eagle © John N Murphy
We were delighted today when the news finally broke to the public about the nesting White-tailed Sea Eagles in Clare and Kerry. The last couple of weeks were torture trying to keep the news under wraps ,that the White-tailed pair in Mountshannon on the shores of Lough Derg, had two chicks hatched out about 12 days ago, and that both birds were being well looked after by the parents. After the disappointment of last years season when young hatched but did not make it through their first day, it was great to hear that birds successfully bred again in Ireland and here in Clare, for the first time in over 130 years. Better still, it was on our own back doorstep and a great privilege for the residence of east Clare and the rest of the county.
The emergence of young eagles in Kerry over the last few days also added to the good news. It now looks very positive for the future of White-tailed Eagles in Ireland. All of this is of course down to the dedicated years of work carried out by Dr. Allan Mee, Lorcan O’Toole and Declan Clarke, along with members and supporters of the Irish Eagle Trust. Eventually all their efforts came to a pinnacle with the emergence of birds in Clare and Kerry. Our Congratulations to you all.
We ask all who plan to visit Mountshannon over coming weeks, to please respect the eagles as they go about raising their young on the island off Mountshannon. The birds are being monitored 24 hours a day and an exclusion zone is being place around the island where the birds are nesting. If you want to see them in action, the best place to observe them from is the pier at Mountshannon. Trained staff will show you the birds through a telescope and will explain what stage the birds are at as the summer progresses. PLEASE HELP US TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLES SUCCEED IN BREEDING HERE IN CLARE.
John N Murphy, Chairperson, Clare Branch, Birdwatch Ireland.
Other birding news. There were three Hen Harriers (two males and a female near Doo Lough, along with one male Hen Harrier and seven Raven.
Leave a commentTuesday 7th May 2013
Eight Blackcap were singing in Lees Road Wood Ennis this morning.
Leave a commentFriday 3rd May 2013
50 Whimbrel were at Scarriff and ten were seen flying west at Mountshannon.
Leave a commentFriday 26th April 2013
Male White-tailed Eagle ‘Red Y’ at Mountshannon ©Nigel Beers-Smith
A Common Sandpiper was at Mountshannon.
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