Monthly Archives: May 2008

May 2008

Saturday 31st May 2008
A family of Blackcaps hatched at Dysert.
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Baby Blackcap Dave McNamara

Friday 30th May 2008
There was a male Blackcap singing this morning at Applewood,
Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus. 

Thursday 29th May 2008
There was one male Blackcap singing at the Michael Cusack Center in Carron.
One male Blackcap and two Jays were at the Lees Wood Raod.
Six Yellowhammers were at Mullaghmore, the Burren.  

Wednesday 28th May 2008
There was a possible Hobby at Doonbeg today.
Three Black-throated Divers, five Great Northern Divers,
one Red-throated Diver and one Arctic Skua were Liscannor.
A flock of 92 Dunlin and 85 Sanderling were at Seafield, Quilty.
There was one Roseate Tern at the Shannon Airport Lagoon this evening.
Four Yellowhammers were at Mullaghmore, the Burren.

Tuesday 27th May 2008
One male Blackcap was at Kilnaboy National School.
Two Yellowhammers were at Mullaghmore, the Burren.
One Yellowhammer was at Moanreel.
Two Storm Petrels were off GreenIsland, Miltown Malbay.
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Redpoll Jeff Copner

Monday 26th May 2008
One male Blackcap and two Cuckoos were at the Michael Cusack Center
in Carron.

Sunday 25th May 2008
One  male Blackcap was heard singing at the Lees Road Wood this evening.
One Peregrine was at Applewood, Ballycar.

Saturday 24th May 2008
There were three Blackcaps and two Jays at Ardnacrusha.

Friday 23rd May 2008
One adult Yellow-legged Gull was in Kilbaha harbour, Loop Head.
One first-year Iceland Gull was in a field near Kilkee.
Four Storm Petrels were off Green Island, Miltown Malbay. 
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Yellow-legged Gull at Kilbaha John N Murphy
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Iceland Gull near Kilkee John N Murphy

Friday 22nd May 2008
There was one Storm Petrel, 100 Manx Shearwaters, and a first-winter
Iceland Gull off Green Island, Miltown Malbay.
A flock of  21 Purple Sandpipers and 30 Sanderlings plus the colour
ringed Sanderling were at Seafield.
One Jay was at Drommia on the Corofin road near Rath Cross.
One male Blackcap was at Mullaghmore.
A  pair of Yellowhammers were at South Commons near Kilnaboy.

Wednesday 21st May 2008
There was one male Pochard at Lough Atedaun Corofin.

Tuesday 20th May 2008
One male Blackcap was singing at Aplewood, Ballycar. 

Monday 19th May 2008
There was one Blackcap at Fin Lough, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Two male Blackcaps were at Clifden Hill, Corofin.
One Jay was at Gort Coirce, Dysert. 
Six Chough were at Clahane, Liscannor Bay.
The hybrid Herring  x Glaucous Gull was at Seafield, Quilty
along with a flock of 40 Sanderling, one of which was wearing
 a set of colour bands (see picture below).
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A Sanderling at Seafield with coulour bands Dave McNamara

Sunday 18th May 2008
There were six Yellowhammer, twoBlackcaps and five Whitethroat at
the dawn chorus outing this morning at Mullaghmore, the Burren.
One male Blackcap was at Ballyallia Lake,  Ennis.

Saturday 17th May 2008
One Red Grouse was at Booltiagh, Kilmaley.
One Ruff, 80 Dunlin, 200 Black-tailed Godwits and
12 Knot were at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
One Dipper was on the Claureen River.
Two Peregrines were near Farrihy.
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Red Grouse John N Murphy

Friday 16th May 2008
Three Tree Sparrows and a Barn Owl were near Doonbeg.
One Dipper and a Spotted Flycatcher were at the Claureen River, Kilmaley.

Thursday 15th May 2008.
Four Yellowhammers and one Blackcap were at Mullaghmore, the Burren.
One Common Sandpiper was at Creg Beach, Liscannor Bay.
One Blackcap was at Moy, Lahinch.
One Peregrine was at Barrtra, Lahinch.
One Little Egret was at Doonbeg.  
A male Blackcap was singing at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
The Jay was seen at Darragh again today.

Wednesday 14th May 2008
A male Hen Harrier and four Cuckoos were seen at Ben Dash.
One Jay and a male Blackcap were at Darragh.

Tuesday 13th May 2008
There was one male Blackcap at Cahermacnaghten, the Burren this morning.
There were 25 Cuckoo’s throughout a few locations in the north west Burren
this morning.
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Wheatears were plentiful in the Burren today John N Murphy

Monday 12th May 2008
Eight male Blackcaps were heard singing this morning in and around
Cratloekeal, Cratloe Woods. 

Sunday 11th May 2008
Ten Yellowhammers and one Blackcap were at Mullaghmore, the Burren.
A flock of 30 Purple Sandpipers were at Seafield, Quilty.
Three Tree Sparrows, three Great Northern Divers and on
Brent Goose were at Liscannor.
Two male Blackcaps were singing near Keevagh, Quin.
Two Greylag Geese and one Blackcap were at Ballycar Lough,
Newmarket-on-Fergus.
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Whiterthroats seem to be very plentiful in Clare this year © John N Murphy
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Stonechats are enjoying the fine weather with many busy feeding young © John N Murphy

Saturday 10th May 2008
The Hobby was back near Keevagh, Quin (Finbarr Mac Gabhann).

Friday 9th May 2008
At Loop Head today there was one Turtle Dove, one White Wagtail,
one Peregrine, 50 Whimbrel, 12 Chough and six Raven.
There were two male Blackcaps at the Lees Road Wood and
another male bird at Ballyallia Lake, Ennis.
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Turtle Dove at Loop Head © John N Murphy.

Thursday 8th May 2008
There was a Hobby near Keevagh, Quin this afternoon (John N Murphy).
Male Blackcaps were heard calling at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus,
with two near Keevagh and another at Finanagh, Quin.
One Spotted Flycatcher was also in woods near Finanagh,
the first recorded in Clare this year.
One Greylag Goose was at Ballycar Lough. 
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Hobby at Keevagh © John N Murphy

Wednesday 7th May 2008
One male Blackcap was singing at Ballycar with another at
the Lees Road Wood and one also at Ballyallia Lake, Ennis.

Tuesday 8th May 2008
One male Blackcap was singing at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus. 
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Knot in summer plumage at Quilty©  Dave McNamara

Monday 5th May 2008
There was one male Blackcap at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Another male Blackcap was singing in the square at Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Sunday 4th May 2008
There was one male Blackcap singing at Darragh.
Another male Blackcap was heard singing at Applewood,
Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Two first-winter Iceland Gulls were at Clahane, Liscannor.
Three Tree Sparrows were at Liscannor Bay.
One Common Sandpiper was at Lough Bunny.
Ten Whimbrel were also at Ballycar Lough.
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Iceland Gull at Clahane © Dave McNamara

Saturday 3rd May 2008
There were two Common Sandpipers and 50 Whimbrel at the White
Strand, Doonbeg.
One Peregrine was at Killard, Doonbeg.

Friday 2nd May 2008
There was one first-winter Mediterranean Gull at Clahane today along with
one Common Sandpiper, two White Wagtails and 30 Whimbrel.
Eight Yellowhammers, two Blackcaps, one Common Sandpiper and
four Raven were seen at Mullaghmore, the Burren today.
One Swift was at Ennis.
One Dipper was on the Claureen River, Kilmaley.
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Mediterranean Gull at Clahane © Dave McNamara

Yellowhammer in the Burren © John N Murphy 

Willow Warblers have settled in to breeding throughout Clare © John N Murphy 

Thursday 1st May 2008
There was a Blackcap singing at Darragh.
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May 2008

Rare & Scarce Bird News for Clare
Seawatchers at the Bridges of Ross © Joe DoolanRare Bird SightingsRarities.

All records of national rarities (see Irish Birds 4: 116 – 118 for complete list, and Irish Birds 4: 258 – 260,
5: 80 for amendments to list) should be sent for assessment to Irish Rare Birds Committee (IRBC).
This should be done as soon as possible after the bird has been found.
Prompt submission facilitates assessment and helps to ensure early publication.
Rarity description forms can be obtained by sending a S.A.E. to the secretary
Mr. Paul Milne, 100 Dublin Road, Sutton, Dublin 13 or paul.milne@oceanfree.net
All local and scarce bird sightings, should be sent to the county recorder:
John Murphy, Applewood, Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clare or jemurphy@esatclear.ie
List of Contributors:
Julia Baer, Cillian Boyd, Lorraine Benson, Dermot Breen, Austin Cooney, Mike Davis,
Shane Farrell, Brian Finnegan, Charles Glynn, Kieran Grace, Tim Griffin, Tom & Nuala Lynch,
Finbarr Mac Gabhann, Ken MacKenzie, Stewart Holohan, Tomas McCoy, Andrew, Maeve & Christy Meehan,
John N Murphy, Barry O’Donoghue, Colin Perkins, John Rattigan, Billy Ryan, Oliver Shine, Stan Nugent,
Andy Woods, Iza Zawadzka

 

 

Recent SightingsSaturday 25th March 2006
One drake Ring-necked Duck was at Ballyallia Lake this afternoon (John N Murphy et al).
A drake Green-winged Teal was at Bell Harbour.
A dark-bellied Brent Goose was at Lough Murree, near the Flaggy Shore.
There were 15 Black-throated Divers between Finvarra Point and Aughinish Island.
One Red-necked Grebe was off Doorus Pier near Aughinish Island along with one
Long-tailed Duck and one Sandwich Tern.
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Great Northern Diver John N MurphyThursday 23rd March 2006
There was a Merlin at Quilty today.

Wednesday 22nd March 2006
There were five Wheatears near Tullig, Cross in west Clare today.
A count of 11 Little Egrets was had at Moyasta, Poulnasherry Bay.
There was a 2nd year Ring-billed Gull and two Common Sandpipers
at the Quay in Clarecastle today.

Thursday 16th March 2006
There were 30 Whoopers Swans on wet meadows
along the Cullenagh River just south of Cullenagh on the Ennistymon road.

Wednesday 15th March 2006
There was a Merlin near Knockhogan on the main
Quin to Ennis road.

Tuesday 14th March 2006
The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Ballyallia Lake  today (John N Murphy).
There were five Little Egrets at Poulnasherry Bay.

Sunday 12th March 2006
A second-winter Iceland Gull was at Ross Bay, Loop Head.
There were 93 Whoopers Swans between Latoon South and Ballygirreen.
There was one Chiffchaff at Pine Grove, Ennis.
Five Greylag Geese were at Finn Lough, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Friday 10th March 2006
A drake Ring-necked Duck was on Ballyiallia lake today (S. Nugent)
The 15 White-fronted Geese were at Tullagher Bog today.

Wednesday 8th March 2006
A Common Sandpiper was seen in Clarecastle.

Sunday 5th March 2006
There were three female Ring-necked Ducks
at Knockalough, Kilmihil (John N Muphy et al).
There was one Crossbill at Boolynagleragh Bog.
There were 13 Snow Buntings at Loop Head.
Two Little Egrets and the white Curlew were
at Poulnasherry Bay.
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Three female Ring-necked Ducks at Knockalough ©  John N Murphy

Saturday 4th March 2006
The drake Green-winged Teal was still at Querrin (Maeve & Christy Meehan).
A group of 24 Red-throated Divers were off Querrin Point.
There were three Black-throated Divers off Finvarra Point.
The Black Redstart was still in Kilrush.
The Barn Owl was seen again in Kilkee.

Friday 3rd March 2006
The Barn Owl was one again seen hunting in Kilkee.

Thursday 2nd March 2006
One Jack Snipe was flushed at Ballyallia Lake.
There was one Black-throated Diver at Liscannor Bay with
two more birds off the rocky beach in Clahane.
A Barn Owl was seen hunting late this night at Kilkee.
A male Hen Harrier was seen west of Connolly.
A first winter Iceland Gull was at Lough O’Donnell, Quilty.

Wednesday 1st March 2006
Two Black-throated Divers were between Cappa and Aylevarroo, Kilrush.
A female Blackcap was in the Hermitage, Ennis.

Tuesday 28th February 2006
There was a drake Green-winged Teal at Querrin and another
drake was at Bell harbour.
Two Little Egrets were at Poulnasherry Bay.
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Partial albino Pied Wagtail in Kilkee,
this bird has been around for a few years ©  Iza Zawadzka

Sunday 26th February 2006
A male and female Blackcap were still at Oak Park, Ennis.

Saturday 25th February 2006
There was a Black Redstart at Liscannor.
Six Black-throated Divers and 20 Long-tailed Ducks
were seen along the Flaggy Shore in North Clare.
A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was in lough Murree.

Friday 24th February 2006
One male and one female Blackcap were in Oak Park, Ennis.

Thursday 23rd February 2006
A male and a female Blackcap were seen feeding in a gadren
in Oak Park, Ennis.

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
There was a drake Green-winged Teal at Querrin today (Maeve Meehan).

Tuesday 21st February 2006
There was a Merlin 2km east of Kilrush today.

Monday 20th February 2006
One Jay was seen North of Finn Lough, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Saturday 18th February 2006
An adult Ring-billed Gull was at Ballyvaughan.
There were seven Black-throated Divers and four
Long-tailed Duck near the Flaggy Shore today.

Friday 17th February 2006
There were two Jays north of Ardnacrusha.

Tuesday 14th January 2006
There was a Red Grouse at Woodcock Hill, Cratloe this afternoon.
One Water Rail was at Ballycar Lough, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Monday 13th February 2006
There was a Jack Snipe near Ballycar North, Ardnacrusha.
One Woodcock was at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Sunday 12th February 2006
The male Ring-necked Duck was at Lough Inchiquin, Corofin today (Meehan Family),
along with two Hen Harriers and seven Bewick’s Swans.
There was a female Hen Harrier at Islandavanna, Clarecastle.
One first-winter Iceland Gull was at Quilty.
One Little Egret was in Doonbeg Bay.
There was one Jay at Cappateemore East, north of Parteen today.

Saturday 11th February 2006
There were four Crossbills near Kylemore, Sallybank, Broadford.
One male Crossbill was at Kilnacreagh along with four Raven.

Friday 10th February 2006
There was a female Black Redstart on the peir at Seafield, Quilty.
Four Crossbills were at Gallowshill with one pair building a nest.
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Black Redstart © Stan Nugent

Thursday 9th February 2006
There was a female Merlin at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
One male Merlin was seen hunting over the road at Toonagh Cross, Ennis.
One Dipper was spotted at the Rine River in Quin.

Wednesday 8th February 2006
There was a Jay at Moneennagliggin South, near Meelick this morning.

Tuesday 7th February 2006
There was one Jay near Glenwood, east of Sixmilebridge.

Monday 6th February 2006
There was a Barn Owl at Ballycasey, Shannon tonight.
One male Blackcap was seen just outside Quin village.

Sunday 5th February 2006
A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Lough Inchiquin (Maeve Meehan).
There were 15 Crossbills and 35 Siskins at Kilnacreagh this morning.
One 2nd-winter Iceland Gull was at Clahane, Liscannor.
Two Little Egrets were at Blackwier Bridge, Poulnasherry Bay.

Friday 3rd February 2006
There was a Carrion Crow and one Jay near Cratloe this morning.

Thursday 2nd February 2006
One female Crossbill was in a small wood near Castlecrine
east of Sixmilebridge.
One Dipper was on the River below the bridge at Sixmilebridge.

Tuesday 31st January 2006
There was one male Blackcap and a Kingfisher near Parteen Today.
One Black-throated Diver was in Kilkee Bay.

Monday 30th January 2006
Two Common Sandpipers were at the Quay in Clarecastle.
There was one Little Egret at poulnasherry Bay.
One male Black Redstart was at Kilrush.
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Black Redstart at Kilrush © Charles Glynn

Sunday 29th Janaury 2006
One female Hen Harrier flew over Applewood, Ballycar
Newmarket-on-Fergus this morning.
Another female Hen Harrier was seen near Doonbeg this afternoon.
A count of 67 Whooper Swans were at Ballygireen.
The drake Ringed-necked Duck was at Ballyiallia lake (Austin Cooney & Brian Finnegan).
There was one Common Sandpiper and one Green Sandpiper
at the Quay in Clarecastle.

Saturday 28th January 2006
There were 15 Black-throated Divers off Finvarra Point and the Flaggy Shore.
Between Traugh Beach and the Flaggy shore there were 90 Black Guillemots
and 32 Long-tailed Ducks.
One Velvet Scoter was mixed in with a flock of 30 Common Scoters
off Aughinish Island.
There were also 50 Great Northern Divers and 30 Brent Geese along the
North Clare coast today.
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Brent Geese at NorthClare © John N Murphy

Friday 27th January 2006
There were 11 Crossbills at Kilnacreagh Wood this afternoon.
Ten Graylag Geese flew into Ballycar Lough this morning.

Thursday 26th January 2006
Onme drake Ring-necked Duck at Ballyallia Lake,
Ennis ( Finbarr Mac Gabhann & Kieran Grace).

Tuesday 24th January 2006
The male Blackcap was still at Oak Park.

Monday 23rd January 2006
There was a male Blackcap at Oak Park, Ennis.

Sunday 22nd January 2006
Only the male Ring-necked Duck was seen today
at Ballyallia Lake (Austin Cooney & John N Murphy).
One male Blackcap was North of Sixmilebridge.
There were two Common Sandpipers and one Jack Snipe
on the Owenogarney River near Bunratty.
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Drake Ring-necked Duck at Ballyallia lake © John N Murphy

Saturday 21st January 2006
The Common Sandpiper was once again at Clarecastle

Friday 20th January 2006
One Common Sandpiper was on the pier in Clarecastle.
The two Ring-necked Ducks were still at Ballyallia Lake (John N Murphy).

Thursday 19th January 2006
The female Blackcap was still at Balymacahill on the Tulla Road, Ennis.

Wednesday 18th January 2006
There was a female Blackcap at Ballymacahill, Ennis.

Tuesday 17th January 2006
There were three Crossbills at Kilnacreagh, east of Sixmilebridge.
One Little Egret was at Tullyvarraga Marsh in Shannon,
while at nearby Saint’s Island and Tradaree Point there
was a large flock of 2,500 Golden Plover and 2,000 Lapwing.

Monday 16th January 2006
There were two Ring-necked Ducks at Ballyallia, one drake
and one hen (Stan Nugent).
One Jay was at Sixmilebridge.
One male Blackcap was still at Oak Park, Ennis.
A flock of 35 Greylag Geese were at Ballycar Lake, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Sunday 15th January 2006
One female Blackcap was at Shannon Town.
There was a male Blackcap at Oak Park, Ennis.
There was a male Hen Harrier at Tullagher Bog.
There were 17 Greylag Geese at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Saturday 14th January 2006
There was a first-winter Iceland Gull at Quilty.
Ten Snow Buntings were near the Martello Tower on Aughinish
Island in North Clare.
A flock of 204 Brent Geese were in fields adjacent to Lough
Murree near the Flaggy Shore in North Clare this afternoon.
There were 125 Barnacle Geese on Mutton Island while another
50 were seen on Illaunonauran near Kilkee.
One Little Egret was at Doonbeg.
The Greenland White-fronted Goose flock at Tullagher Bog is
down to just 15 birds.  At the rate they are dropping off in
three years there will probably be no more birds at this site.
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Iceland Gull at Quilty © John N Murphy

Friday 13th January 2006
Female Blackcap at Ballymacahill, Ennis.

Tuesday 10th January 2006
Female Blackcap at Ballymacahill, Ennis.

Saturday 7th January 2006
There was one male and one female Blackcap at Oak Park, Ennis.
There were ten Crossbills in pine woods just North of Flagmont, near Lough Graney.
A flock of 60 Reed Buntings were also seen going to roost in a recently felled wood
just North of Flagmont.

Friday 6th January 2006
There was one Jackdaw of the Scandinavian race at Ballycar this morning.
One Little Egret fed in drains near Meelick this afternoon.
There were three Jays at the Lees Wood Road.

Thursday 5th January 2006
There was one Jay at Kilrush Woods.
A flock of 50 Siskins were on the Kilrush road just outside Ennis.
The female Blackcap was still at Ballymacahill, on the Tulla Road.

Wednesday 4th January 2006
One Common Sandpiper on the quayside in Clarecastle.

Monday 2nd January 2006
There was a 2nd winter Iceland Gull at Clahane.
A 1st winter Iceland Gull was at Quilty.

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