Category Archives: Scarce & Rare Bird Sightings

Saturday 30th September 2023

A Merlin, a Peregrine and four Chough were between Hags Head and Clahane.(James Organ)


Friday 29th September 2023

Friday 29th September 2023

The small flock of Pink-footed Geese at Loop Head John N Murphy

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was near the Eire sign and an American Golden Plover was flying around at Loop Head (John N Murphy)
Also at Loop Head were 108 Golden Plover and five Wheatear.(Chris Cullen & JNM)
There was a flock of 11 Pink-footed Geese and one Merlin at the Plover Fields, Loop Head. (JNM & CC)
At Ross, Loop Head this morning between 9.00 & 10.00 there were 16 Sooty Shearwaters, two Red-throated Divers, two Common Scoter, eight Sandwich Terns and three Storm Petrels.(JNM)
At the Bridges of Ross between 11.30 and 12.30 there were four Arctic Skuas, three Arctic Terns and three Sooty Shearwaters. (CC & JNM)
Three Grey Phalaropes were at Kilkee.(Geoff Hunt)
One Willow Warbler was caught and ringed in Kilbaha. (Phil Brennan)
Two Buzzards were along the motorway near the Quin turn off. (James Organ & JNM)


Thursday 28th September 2023

Thursday 28th September 2023

Immature Pink-footed Goose Drumcliffe John N Murphy

A Pink-footed Goose was at Drumcliffe, Ballyallia Lake along with two Buzzards.(John N. Murphy)
One Surf Scoter and 21 Storm Petrels were at the Bridges of Ross. (Chris Cullen & Geoff Pearson)
Three Grey Phalarope were at West End, Kilkee.(Jeff Copner)
A Little Stint and five Curlew Sandpiper were at Seafield.(JC)
The Buff-breasted was still near the Lighthouse at Loop Head. One Arctic Skua, one Red-throated Diver and one Wheatear were also at Loop Head.(GP)


Tuesday 26th September 2023

Tuesday 26th September 2023

Buff-brested Sandpiper at Loop Head John N Murphy

A Brown Booby flew past the Bridges of Ross at 15.10.(Geoff Pearson) This if accepted would be a fourth land based Irish record.
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still at Loop Head this morning.(Chris Cullen, John N. Murphy)
A White-tailed Eagle flew east from Loop Head, turquoise tag on left wing, yellow tag on right wing.(JNM)
An American Golden Plover was on the Headland.(JNM)
Also on the Headland were 92 Golden Plover, three Wheatear, two Kestrel and two Chough.(CC)
At the Bridges of Ross there were three Arctic Skua, one Great Skua, 16 Sooty Shearwater, one juvenile Sabine’s Gull, two Red-throated Diver, 12 Common Scoter, 600 Razorbill and two Wheatear.(GP & CC)
Two Grey Phalarope and a White Wagtail were at Cloghaun Lough.(CC)
Four Grey Phalarope were at Ross Bay.(JNM)
Another four Grey Phalaropes and 12 Sandwich Terns were near Murphy’s Point, Feard, Loop Head. (JNM)
One Grey Phalarope was at Liscannor.(Jeff Copner)
In Kilbaha there was one immature Hen Harrier and one Chiffchaff.(JNM & CC)
A Pomarine Skua was seen at sea off Doolin.(Cian Cardiff, Joe Proudfoot)


Monday 25th September 2023

A juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Loop Head.(Nick Larter)
At the Bridges of Ross between 13.30-15.30 there were 12 Arctic Tern, two Arctic Skua, one Great Skua, 175 Sooty Shearwater, one Sabine’s Gull and one Red-throated Diver.(Chris Cullen, John N. Murphy)
An Arctic Skua and a Great Skua were at Lahinch Bay.(Jeff Copner)


Sunday 24th September 2023

A long-eared Owl was hunting close to Lough Avalla trail at 8p.m.(James Organ)


Saturday 23rd September 2023

One Snow Bunting was at Georges Head Kilkee. (John Collins)
The Clare Branch outing to Shannon Airport Lagoon recorded a Reed Warbler, 40 Gadwall, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, five Little Egret, 20 Redshank, 60 Teal and seven Shoveler.(Phil Brennan, Sean Whelan, Maura Turner et al)
A Buzzard and Jay were at Lough Avalla.(James Organ)
One adult and 2CY Mediterranean Gull were at Corraunroo.(JO)


Friday 22nd September 2023

The Cliff Swallow is at Kilbaha again this morning.(Colin McNamee)
A Black Tern was at Kilbaha.(Chris Cullen)
A Peregrine was at Lake Inchiquin.(James Organ)
At the Bridges of Ross between 08.20-10.20 there were four Arctic Skua, 235 Great Shearwater, 14 Sooty Shearwater, one Cory’s Shearwater, two Leach’s Petrel, one Storm Petrel, 16 Sandwich Tern, 19 Kittiwake, six Common Scoter, one Brent Goose, one Whimbrel and one Wheatear.(Chris Cullen)


Thursday 21st September 2023

Thursday 21st September 2023

Iberian Yellow Wagtail at Kilbaha David Dack

One Cliff Swallow was at Kilbaha this morning.(A. Kelly et al) This bird was last seen around 19.00. (Seamus Feeney et al)
The Iberian Yellow Wagtail was back and forth between the harbour area and the back of the memorial all day.(David Dack, Killian Mullarney et al)
The Icterine Warbler was seen briefly in the reedbed behind the memorial.(Tom Tarpey)
A juvenile Sabine’s Gull was at Kilkee Beach.(Ellie Byrne)
One Lapland Bunting was at Loop Head Lighthouse. (Sean Farrell)
One Ruff was in a flooded field near Ross Bay (DD & DD Jnr)


Wednesday 20th September 2023

Wednesday 20th September 2023

Cliff Swallow at Kilbaha John N Murphy

A Cliff Swallow was seen in the harbour area of Kilbaha Village at 14.15. This is the first county record and only the second Irish record.(David Dack, Bob Dack et al)
Also at Kilbaha were one Icterine Warbler (JNM) a Yellow Wagtail, one Hen Harrier and one Kingfisher. (DD & JNM).
The Grey Phalarope was still at Kilkee. (Dixie Collins & Finbar MacGabhainn)
There was steady seabird migration past the Bridges of Ross with today with 15 Corys Shearwaters, five Great Shearwaters, 250+ Sooty Shearwaters, 20 Leach’s Petrels, 30 Storm Petrels, 20 Grey Phalaropes, six Sabines Gulls, six Pomarine Skuas, ten Arctic Skuas, 25 Bonxie, five Red-throated Diver, one immature male Red-breasted Merganser and three Common Scoter.(DD, BD, NK, BP, JC, SH, JNM & KM)
A Ruff and eight Arctic Tern were at Clahane.(Jeff Copner)
A Crossbill was at Ballybeg.(Cliff Baxter)
One male Hen Harrier was near Moveen National School. (FMacG)
One Merlin was near Loop Head Lighthouse.(KM & JNM)


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