Category Archives: Scarce & Rare Bird Sightings

John Archer, Penny Bartlett, Garry Baron, Roy Beddard, Keith Bennet, Sinead Biggane, Richard Bonser, Dermot Breen, Phil Brennan, John Joe Cahill, Victor Cashera, Padraic Callinan, Bruce Carrick, Florence & Kevin Carey, Dixie Collins, Austin Cooney, Jeff Copner, Dermot Cosgrove, Gerry Coughlan, Andrew Dale, Matthew Deans, Kris De Rouck, PJ Donnelly, Joe Doolan, Jim Dowdall, Jamie Durrant, Shane Farrell, Davey Farr, Peter Farbridge, Liam Feeney, Brian Finnegan, Mike Flannagan, Donal Foley, Owen Foley, Kieran Grace, Mark Gibson, Paul Gaughran, Sean Geraghty, Raymond Griffin, Adrian Glasgow, Clodagh Glasgow, Chris Harbard, Niall Hatch, James Hayes, Margaret Hanrahan, Mark Helmore, Barry Howell, Geoff Hunt, Josh Jones, Aidan Kelly, Aileen Lynch, Nuala and Tom Lynch, Steve Millar, Stephen McEvoy, Frank & Darragh McDermott, Finbarr McGabhann, Joy & Martin McKeown, Dave McNamara, Pat Lonergan, David Lyons, Frank O’ Duffy, Kathy & David O Gorman, Mick O’Neill, Elaine O’Malley, Tony Mee, Maeve Meehan, Christy Meehan, Dominic Mitchell, Killian Mullarney, Edel Murphy, John N Murphy, Jim Nolan, Chris Pappiet, Colin Perkins, Brian Porter, Chris Power, John Power, Pat Pykett, Bill Ryan, Pearse Ryan, Brendan Ross, Tom Shevlin, Will Soar, Christian Staunton, Tom Tarpey, Paul Troake, Darrach Turley, Robert Vaughan, Stephen Ward, Howard Williams & Mark Wilson.

© John N Murphy

One Long-tailed Duck, 119 Coot, 86 Little Grebe, 29 Gadwall, and 11 Whooper Swans were at Lough Inchiquin.

A female Blackcap was in a garden at Oak Park Ennis.

One Long-tailed Duck was at Lough Inchiquin., along with 14 Goldeneye.

A flock of 50 Whooper Swans were at Tullagher Bog.

There were 140 Whooper Swans at Ballygireen, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Two Jay were in Lees Road Wood.

One Buzzard was between Manusmore and the Killow Roundabout at Clarecastle.

At Lough Murree there was one Little Egret, the Black Swan, 178 Brent Geese, eight Whooper Swans, eight Red-breasted Mergansers and 240 Wigeon.

At Doorus there was one Long-tailed Duck, one Little Egret, 72 Brent Geese, 150 Wigeon, five Greenshank and 20 Bar-tailed Godwits.

Two Long-tailed Ducks wee at Liscannor Bay.

There were eight Whooper Swans and 12 Shoveler at Burrin Lake, New Quay.

Shoveler at Burrin Lake © John N Murphy

One drake Green-winged Teal was at Bell Harbour (John N Murphy, Brian Finnegan & Austin Cooney), along side 250 Wigeon, 200 Teal, 34 Shelduck and 20 Little Grebes.

At Lough Inchiquin there were two Goosanders (Howard Williams), also at Inchiquin was one Long-tailed Duck..

One Brambling was at the Spa, Lisdoonvarna.

One drake adult Common Eider was off the Flaggy Shore, New Quay.

At Lough Murree there was one Little Egret, the Black Swan, 140 Brent Geese and 240 Wigeon.

Along the Flaggy Shore there were 28 Bar-tailed Godwits and 50 Dunlin.

A flock of 160 Whooper Swans were at Ballygireen, Newmarket-on-Fergus this Morning.

Another nine Whooper Swans were at Burrin Lake, New Quay.

The drake Geen-winged Teal is still showing well at Bell Harbour © John N Murphy

Little Egret on the Flaggy Shore, birds were very scarce during the harsh weather © John N Muphy

A female/redhead Smew was at Lough Inchiquin (Dave McNamara, Howard Willliams et al).

Also at Lough Inchiquin were 25 Goldeneye and 40 Pochard.

The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Ballyallia Lake (Dave McNamara & Howard Williams).

At Liscannor Bay today there were four Long-tailed Ducks. 

One Merlin was at Rath Lough. 

One Black-throated Diver and one Woodcock were at Black Head.

One Woodcock, one male Blackcap, two Water Rails and three Ravens were at Applewood, Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

One male Blackcap was in the garden of Mount Vernon, New Quay.

Woodcock at Black Head © Jeff Copner

There were two Woodcock,  one Jay and three Water Rails at Dromore Nature Reserve this morning.

Two more Woodcock were in a garden at Barefield.

One of the two Woodcocks in a garden at Barefield © Dave McNamara

Three Goosanders were still at Dromore Nature Reserve earlier today (Jeff Copner), along with five Whooper Swans, ten Goldeneye and 60 Tufted Ducks.

One Brambling was at the Shannon Industrial Estate while one female Blackcap was in Shannon Town.

One Woodcock was at Barefield, while another was near Fountain cross, Ennis.

A female Hen Harrier was at Gort Coirce, Dysert.

Snipe are foraging throughout many town gardens © John N Murphy

This female Blackcap was eating remaining apples on a tree in Shannon © John N Murphy

Redwings are really struggling to survive this cold winter © John N Murphy

There were five immature/female Goosanders at Dromore (John N Murphy), along with two Water Rails, one Jay and 45 Tufted Ducks.

Goosanders at Dromore Nature Reserve © John N Murphy

Water Rail on the Fergus River at Dromore Nature Reserve © John N Murphy

Three immature/female Goosanders were seen early this morning on the river Fergus near Dromore Nature Reserve (David Lyons).

Also at Dromore was one Water Rail and one Jay.

At Ballyallia Lake there were 200 Tufted Ducks, 100 Gadwall. 100 Wigeon, 20 Shoveler and two Pintail.

There were two White-fronted Geese and 14 Pintail at Ballyallia Lake.

A flock of 140 Gadwall were at Lough Inchiquin.

Three Woodcock were at Rath Lake, Corofin.

Six Goosanders were seen near Dromore Nature Reserve (per David Lyons).

There were 177 Whooper Swans at Ballygireen, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

One Slavonian Grebe and one Velvet Scoter were at Liscannor (John N Murphy & Howard Williams).

Also at Lisscannor were  30 Common Scoter, 16 Red-throated Divers and seven Great Northerns.

One returning drake Green-winged Teal was at the Shannon Airport Lagoon along with two Water Rails (James Hayes & Clodagh Glasgow).

One Brambling was at St.Flannans College, Ennis.

Over 140 Whooper Swans were at Ballygireen, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

A small flock of ten Whooper Swans were near Ennistymon.

At Seafield, Quilty this evening there was on first-winter Iceland Gull, 280 Dunlin, 36 Purple Sandpipers, 50 Sanderling, 80 Turnstone and a flock of 100 Barnacle Geese were on nearby Mutton Island.

One Great Northern Diver and eight Goldeneye were at Lough Atedaun.

One Peregrine was at Clahane.

Iceland Gull at Seafield © John N Murphy

Four Black-throated Divers were at Aughinish Island.

One Eastern Jackdaw was at Rossbracken, Shannon Town this morning (John N Murphy).

One female Hen Harrier and a Merlin were at Lough Cullaun, the Burren.

Six Yellowhammers were at Mullaghmore.

Three Turnstones and two Little Egrets were near Inishcullen Hill, Shannon.

There was a Water Pipit at Doonaha earlier today (Paul Troake).

At Lahinch there was one Slavonian Grebe, one Velvet Scoter, 60 Common Scoter, 13 Great Northern Divers, 11 Red-throated Divers and ten Brent Geese. 

One male Blackcap was at Bunratty.

A flock of 29 Greylag Geese were at Applewood, Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Blackcap at Bunratty © John N Murphy

The three Goosanders were back at Lahinch this morning (Jeff Copner).

The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Ballyalli Lake (Finbarr MacGabhann).

Over 140 Whooper Swans were at Ballygireen, Newmarket-on-Fergus today.

There were 34 Greylag Geese at Applewood, Ballycar.

One Slavonian Grebe was at Liscannor (Frank O’Duffy).

One Common Buzzard was opposite Saints Island, the Shannon Estuary between Bunratty and Shannon.

One Snow Bunting was on the Green Road at Abbeyhill, the Burren.

One Little Egret was at Oilean na Managh, Shannon.

Common Buzzard near Saints Island © John N Murphy

A WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLE (STAR) was seen flying from Limerick towards Bunratty at approximately 15.00 today (Tom Tarpey et al). 

The drake Green-winged Teal was still at Bell Harbour (John N Murphy & Brian Finnegan).

A Buzzard was seen on the main Ennis Galway road near Killow/Clarecastle this morning.

One Waxwing flew North-east over Rehy near Kilcredaun today along with one Merlin.

There were 15 Black-throated Divers, two immature Common Eiders, ten Long-tailed Duck, 64 Great Northern Divers, 50 Black Guillemots , 48 Red-breasted Mergansers, 30 Common Scoter, three Little Egrets and 150 Brent Geese between Aughinish and Ballyvaughan.

There were 133 Whooper Swans at  Ballygireen, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

One Black Swan was still at Lough Murree, along with 94 Mute Swans and 160 Wigeon.

At Lough Inchiquin today there were 25 Goldeneye, 120 Little Grebe, 140 Gadwall, 350 Tufted Duck and 15 Pochards.

Buzzard near Clarecastle © John N Murphy

Black-throated Diver off North Clare coast © John N Murphy

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Ballyallia Lake today (Howard Williams).

One Brambling was at the Shannon Industrial Estate.

One adult Mediterranean Gull was at Cloghaun Lough, Loop Head, while on the headland there were three Tree  Sparrows, one ring-tailed Hen Harrier, one Merlin, two Peregrine and 200 Snipe. 

Three Water Rails, 3,000 Dunlin, 800 Knot, 400 Golden Plover and 50 Teal were at Shannon Airport Lagoon.

Two Woodcock were at Applewood,  Ballycar.

Redpoll at the Shannon Airport Lagoon © John N Murphy

Many Snipe have turned up in gardens during this cold snap © John N Murphy

Three famale Goosanders were at Clegg Beach, Lahinch this morning along with ten Red-throated Divers and 60 Common Scoter (Howard Williams, Dave McNamara & Jeff Copner).

One immature drake Ring-necked Duck was at Ballyallia Lake (John N Murphy & Howard Williams), along with one imamature Scaup, 260 Tufted Ducks, 20 Pochard, 34 Gadwall and over 300 Coot.

There were two male Hen Harriers, one Merlin and two Woodcock at Doo Lough. 

At Ardclooney earlier today there were 22 Whooper Swans, 14 Goldeneye, 200 plus Tufted Ducks, ten Pochard, three Scaup, 100 Cormorants and two Jays.

Goosanders at Lahinch © Dave McNamara

Immature male Ring-necked Duck at Ballyallia with female Tufted Ducks © John N Murphy

Male Goldeneye Ardclooney © James Hayes

The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Ballyallia again today (Nuala and Tom Lynch) along with 54 Gadwall 15 Pintail and 37 Shoveler.

The Long-tailed Duck was still at Lough Inchiquin.

One Peregrine, one female Hen Harrier and 11 Goldeneye were at Lough Atedaun.

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Ballyallia Lake (Howard Williams), along with two White-fronted Geese, 19 Pintail, 26 Gadwall, and over 200 Coots.

A flock of 49 Common Scoter and two Red-throated Divers were at Lahinch.

One male Blackcap was in a garden on the Lahinch Road Ennis.

The first-winter drake Ring-necked Duck was at Ballyallia Lake (Dave McNamara & John N Murphy).

The male and one female Goosander Ardclooney (James Hayes & Paul Troake), along with 250 Tufted Ducks, 15 Goldeneye and three Scaup.

The first-winter male Velvet Scoter is still at Lahinch this morning (Jeff Copner).

Two Brambling were at St Flannan’s College, Ennis.

One male Blackcap was at a garden on the Lahinch Road, Ennis.

Red-throated Diver at Lahinch © Jeff Copner

Drake Shovelers and Wigeon flying over Ballyallia Lake © John N Murphy

A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Ballyallia Lake (Dave McNamara), along with two White-fronted Geese and nine Greylag Geese.

One Green Sandpiper was at the attenuation pond near the Killow West Roundabout, Doora.

One Long-eared Owl was at Rath.

Five Bramblings were at St.Flannan’s College.

Six Crossbills flew over Inagh.

One Long-tailed Duck was at Lough Inchiquin.

One Hen Harrier was at Lough Muchanagh.

Six Woodcock were at Clifden Hill, Corofin.

A flock of 176 Whooper Swans were at Kells Lake.

A male Blackcap was in a garden at Oak Park Ennis.

There were 41 Whooper Swans at Shragh.

Green Sandpiper near Killow West, Doora © John N Murphy

Bramblings are still at St. Flannan’s College © John N Murphy

One Black-throted Diver, 12 Red-throated Diver and 60 Common Scoter were at Liscannor Bay.

One Brambling was caught and Ringed at the Shannon Industrial Estate.

Three Jays were at the Lees Road Wood.

At the branch outing 58 Gadwall 40 Black-tailed Godwit and over 300 Coot were seen at Ballyallia Lake.

Thirteen Whooper Swan were also present on the partially frozen lake.

One "tristis" Chiffchaff and one Ruff were at Ardclooney, both good winter records.

One Short-eared Owl and seven Woodcock were at the Burren Perfumery in Carron.

The Long-tailed Duck was still at Lough Inchiquin along with 300 Tufted Ducks, 109 Little Grebes, 130 Gadwal and ten Goldeneye.

There were 100 Whooper Swans at Kells Lake with another 30 just on the approach road to Corofin village from Ennis.

There were 17 Goldeneye at Lough Muchanagh.

A flock of 25 Whooper Swans, two Woodcock  and ten Fieldfare’s were near Barry’s Orchard, Moanreel.

There were three Jack Snipe, one Woodcock, two Merlins and a Peregrine at Loop Head.

One Woodcock was at Ballyea, Inagh.

One Long-tailed Duck, 230 Tufted Duck,  127 Gadwal and two Jays were at Lough Inchiquin.

A flock of 60 Common Scoter were at Lahinch.

Woodcock in Snow © Dave McNamara

A herd of 60 Whooper Swans were at Ballygireen, Newmarket-on-Fergus.