Monthly Archives: October 2008

October 2008

Friday 31st October 2008
There were 10 Whooper Swans at Ballygireen, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Five Bewick Swans were at Ballycar Lough, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Wednesday 29th October 2008
There were still three Snow Buntings at Loop Head.
Also at Loop Head there were two Merlins, two Peregrines, a Jack Snipe,
one Willow Warbler, one Chiffchaff, two Goldcrests , four Raven and 12 Chough.
One Curlew Sandpiper was at Ross Bay, Loop Head.
A flock of 108 Whooper Swans near Lough Cullaun.
A flock of 53 Whooper Swans were at Drumcliff, Ballyallia Lake, Ennis. 
One Little Egret was at Moyasta.
One female Hen Harrier was at Tullagher Bog.
Tuesday 28th October 2008
A flock of 43 Barnacle Geese were near Goleen, Kilkee.
One male and one female Hen Harrier were near Tubber.
Two Little Egrets were at Querrin.
One Peregrine and two Raven were at Lough Rath.
A flock of 250 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ballyallia Lake, Ennis.
Monday 27th October 2008
One Buzzard was seen today near Dromoland Castle.
At Loop Head there were two Tree Sparrows, one Red-throated Diver,
16 Redwings, three Merlins and one Brent Goose.
A flock of 50 Greylag Geese were at Ballycar Lake, Newmarket-on-Fergus. 
Sunday 26th October 2008
At Loop Head today there were three Snow Buntings, one Twite,
one Willow Warbler, two Merlin and 12 Chough.
One Grey Phalarope and one Bonxie were off the Bridges of Ross.
One second-winter Glaucous Gull was at Liscannor.
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Snow Bunting at Loop Head Lighthouse John N Murphy
Saturday 25th October 2008
Six Grey Phalaropes and the second-winter Iceland Gull were at Liscannor.
One Snow Bunting and 50 Snipe were at Doonbeg. 
There were 10 Barnacle Geese at Illaunonearaun near Kilkee today.
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Grey Phalarope at Liscannor Dave McNamara
Friday 24th October 2008
There were six Twite at Kilbaha, Loop Head today.
One Ruff, a Peregrine, the second-winter Iceland Gull and five Great Northern Divers were
at Liscannor this afternoon.
Thursday 23rd October 2008
The ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was relocated this morning at Kilbaha Harbour (Kieran Fahy).
Also at Kilbaha was one Snow Bunting.
There were three Grey Phalaropes, one adult Little Gull,a second-winter Iceland Gull and
one juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Liscannor.
A flock of 15 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at Tullagher Bog.
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Brent Goose at Kilkee Iza Zawadzka
Wednesday 22nd October 2008
An immature ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen at Loop Head this morning (John N Murphy)(10.10).
This is a first Clare record and only the ninth for Ireland.
Also at Loop Head were; one Arctic Skua, one adult Little Gull, one Willow Warbler, one Chiffchaff,
two Goldcrests, six Coal Tits, two Merlin, one Peregrine, 40 Redwing, six Fieldfares and four Raven.
One Barn Owl was seen near Ennistymon.
A Kingfisher was seen on the River Fergus near Willow Park, Ennis.

Tuesday 21st October 2008
The juvenile American Golden Plover was at Doonbeg (Geoff Pearson).
At Liscannor today there were two Grey Phalaropes, one Curlew Sandpiper and
one second-winter Iceland Gull.
Large flocks of waders were at the Shannon Airport Lagoon this afternoon, highlights were;
two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 500 Dunlin, 60 Red Knot, 2,000 Golden Plovers, 40 Grey Plovers,
300 Redshanks, 200 Black-tailed Godwits, nine Whooper Swans, three Little Egrets and two Water Rails. 
A flock of 40 Greylag Geese were at Ballycar Lake, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
One Peregrine was at Lahinch Marsh with 80 Ringed Plovers up the Inagh Estuary.
Two Purple Sandpipers were at Seafield, Quilty.
One Swallow and two male Blackcaps were at Ballymacahil, Ennis.
Monday 20th October 2008
Eight Bonxies, three Great Northern Divers and two Chough were at the Bridges of Ross.
A flock of 310 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ballyallia Lake, Ennis.
Eight Whooper Swans were at Drumcliff, Ennis.
One Water Rail and 42 Greylag Geese were at Ballycar Lake, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Sunday 19th October 2008
The American Golden Plover is still at Doonbeg (Dave McNamara).
Two Whooper Swans were on the River Fergus near Willow Park in Ennis.
Four Redwings were at Applewood, Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Saturday 18th October 2008
At Loop Head today there was one Black Redstart, one first-winter Mediterranean Gull, 

one Spotted Flycatcher, one Swallow, one Willow Warbler, one Chiffchaff, one Goldcrest,
eight Chough, four Raven and two Merlin.
One Green Sandpiper was at Moyasta Creek.
There were four adult and four juvenile Whooper Swan at Ballyallia Lake this afternoon.
Friday 17th October 2008
There were 50 Greylag Geese and four Water Rails at Ballycar Lake, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Thursday 16th October 2008
One adult-winter Little Gull was at New Quay.
There was a flock of 37 Greylag Geese at Ballycar Lough.
Sixteen Whooper Swans were near Lough George, Corofin.
One Whooper Swan , eight Greenshank and 110 Wigeon were at Lough Murree.
A flock of 96 Redshank , 60 Curlew and 40 Teal were at Bell Harbour.
Two Whooper Swans were at Ballygireen.
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Adult Little Gull at the Flaggy Shore John N Murphy
Wednesday 15th October 2008
There is an American Golden Plover at Doonbeg this morning (Dave McNamara & Jeff Copner).
At the Shannon Airport Lagoon there were 330 Teal, four Little Egrets, four Whooper Swans,
10 Gadwall and 300 Black-tailed Godwits.
One Snow Bunting and three Merlin were at Loop Head.
Further down the Shannon Estuary near Shannon Town there were six Little Egrets one Merlin
and 12,000 Golden Plover.
There were 10 Tree Sparrows and one White Wagtail at Killard Bay Doonbeg.
One Merlin was at Tullagher Bog.
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Juvenile American Golden Plover at Doonbeg Dave McNamara
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American Golden Plover with Golden Plover at Doonbeg Jeff Copner
Tuesday 14th October 2008
The PHILADELPHIA VIREO was present at Loop Head again today.
Also at Loop were one Pink-footed Goose and one Lapland Bunting.
Another Pink-footed Goose was at Lahinch Marsh.
One second winter Glaucous Gull was at Liscannor village.
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Pink-footed Goose at Loop Head Dave McNamara
Monday 13th October 2008
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was at Loop Head today (Dave McAdams et al).
This is only a second Irish Record.
Also at Loop Head today were one Yellow-browed Warbler, on adult Little Gull,
one Pink-footed Goose, three Long-tailed Tits, four Chiffchaffs, two Raven, a Tree Sparrow,
one Redwing and four Goldcrests.
One Barn Owl was seen near Moveen, Kilkee.
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Philadelphia Vireo at Loop Head John N Murphy
Saturday 11th October 2008
There was a juvenile American Golden Plover at Loop Head today (John N Murphy, Finbarr MacGabhann, 
Ger & Jane Griffin).
Also at Loop Head there was one Bonxie, two Merlin, one Peregrine, 18 Chough, 10 Raven,
two Chiffchaff, three Wheatear and one Water Rail.
One adult Mditerranean Gull was at the White Strand, Doonbeg.
One Short-eared Owl was seen this evening near Doonbeg.
One Snow Bunting, one Wheatear, seven Chough, two Raven and two Peregrines
were at Baltard Bay, Doonbeg. 
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American Golden Plover at Loop Head John N Murphy
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Snow Bunting Bill Ryan
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Wheatear at Ross Bay Dave McNamara
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Merlin at Loop Head John N Murphy
Friday 10th October 2008
At the Shannon Airport Lagoon today there were three Little Egrets,
two Water Rail, 300 Black-tailed Godwits and 14 Gadwall.
Thursday 9th October 2008
There was a flock of 24 Greylag Geese at Fenloe Lake.
Wednesday 8th October 2008
At Loop Head today there were two Snow Buntings, one Jack Snipe, one Hen Harrier, one Merlin,
200 Meadow Pipits, 50 Reed Buntings , one Barnacle Goose and 30 Golden Plover.
Five Sooty Shearwaters, one Manx Shearwater and two Great Northern Divers flew past Loop Head.
One Glaucous Gull and one Water Rail were in Kilbaha.  
One adult Mediterranean Gull and  a Little Egret were at Killimer.
Tuesday 7th October 2008
At the Shannon Airport Lagoon today there was one Ruff, one juvenile Curlew Sandpiper,
one Spotted Redshank, 2,000 Golden Plover, 350 Redshank, 500 Black-tailed Godwits,
four Little Egrets, 12 Gadwall and one Water Rail.
Eight Swalllows were at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
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A muddy Little Egret at the Shannon Airport Lagoon John N Murphy
Monday  6th  October 2008
One Barn Owl was seen near Moyasta this evening.
A Whooper Swan and 30 Wigeon were at Lough Atedaun, Corofin.
One male Merlin and a Water Rail were at Ballyallia Lake, Ennis.
A colour ringed Black-headed Gull as seen in the photo below was at the attenuation pond
near the Claureen River in Ennis along with 12 Black-tailed Godwits. 
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Colour ringed Black-headed Gull John N Murphy
This bird was ringed at a breeding colony on an un-named island in Lough Corrib in 2007.
The bird was found later that winter in Northern Spain and was still there into early 2008. 
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Black-tailed Godwit John N Murphy
Sunday 5th October 2008
One Blackcap, a Pink-footed Goose and a Merlin were at Loop Head today.
Four Little Egrets were at Moyasta, Poulnasherry Bay.
One Little Egret was at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
A Jay was at the Lee Road Wood.
A flock of 20 Whooper Swans were at Lough Donnell the first of the year.
Saturday 4th October 2008
There was one Snow Bunting and a Blackcap at Loop Head today.
A group of 14 Little Egrets were at Poulnasherry Bay.
A flock of 200 Golden Plover were at Doonbeg Bay.
Friday 3rd October 2008
A Common Rosefinch was at Kilbaha this morning (Dave McAdams).
Also at Loop Head there was Blackcap, three Chiffchaffs, 13 Swallows,
two Ravens, one Brent Goose, eight Barnacle Geese and two Water Rails 
in the pool at Kilbaha.
One Snow Bunting was at Rinville Bay, Carrigaholt.
There were eight Little Egrets one Common Sandpiper and on Kingfisher
at Moyasta.
There was a flock of 250 Golden Plovers at Doonbeg.
A flock of 60 Greylag Geese and one Jay were at Fenloe Lake, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
One Little Egret was on the estuary near Inishculen Hill, Shannon Town.
A flock of 500 Golden Plover were still at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
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Bar-tailed Godwits Jeff Copner
Thursday 2nd October 2008
Things had calmed down this morning at the Bridges of Ross with the
only highlights being two Leaches Petrel, 11 Grey Phalaropes and five
Arctic Skuas.
At the lighthouse on Loop Head there was one Blackcap and a Snow Bunting
was in Kilbaha village.
One adult Yellow-legged Gull and adult Little Gull were at Kilkee.
A Pink-footed Goose was at Lough Donnell.
One Barn Owl was at Dysart.
Seven Little Egrets were at the Shannon Airport Lagoon along with
700 Golden Plover and large flocks of Black-tailed Godwits.
Three Swallows were still at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Wednesday 1st October 2008
At the Bridges of Ross today there were;
One adult and four immature Long-tailed Skuas (John N Murphy, Dave McAdams, Geoff Pearson,
Finbarr MacGabhann, Stan Nugent, Dave McNamara, Gerry Butler and Tom Tarpey).
Also at the Bridges were 119 Bonxies, 134 Pomarine Skuas, 56 Arctic Skuas, one juvenile
Sabines Gull, two juvenile Little Gulls, 189 Grey Phalaropes, seven Sooty Shearwaters,
34 Manx Shearwaters, six Leaches Petrels, three Storm Petrels, seven Red-throated Divers,
two Great Northern Divers, six Pintail, two Red-breasted Mergansers and four Common Scoter.
One immature Long-tail Skua was in Kilbaha Harbour (John N Murphy & Finbarr MacGabhann).
One Spotted Redshank and a Water Rail was in the small pool at Kilbaha.
One first-winter Mediteranean Gull was on the sea near Cloghaun Lough.
One second-winter Ring-billed Gull was at Seafield, Quilty.
One second-winter Mediterranean Gull was at Doonbeg.
Six Little Egrets were at Moyasta.
One Hen Harrier was at Tullagher Bog.  
Tuesday 30th September 2008
News from the Bridges of Ross this morning, one Long-tailed Skua (Dave McAdams),
15 Leaches Petrels. four Storm Petrels, 22 Sooty Shearwaters, 27 Bonxies , four
Pomarine Skuas, eight Arctic Skuas and 103 Arctic Terns.
There were lots of waders still at the Shannon Airport Lagoon along with four Little Egrets. 
One White Wagtail was at White Strand Doonbeg.
Monday 29th September 2008
At the Shannon Airport Lagoon this evening there were two Curlew Sandpipers,
one Ruff, eight Little Egrets, over 1,000 Black-tailed Godwits, 600 Redshank,
18 Greenshank and three Water Rails.
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Red-throated Diver at Liscannor Dave McNamara
Sunday 28th September 2008
A Buzzard was seen near Killard Bay, Doonbeg along with on Peregrine and a Merlin.
One Short-eared Owl and a Merlin were at Tullagher Bog.
Saturday 27th September 2008
There was an ORTOLAN BUNTING at Loop Head this morning (Finbarr MacGabhann),
this is only the second county record.
Also at Loop Head there was one male Blackcap, one Carrion Crow,
one Water Rail and one Merlin.
One immature Hen Harrier and ten Little Egrets were at Poulnashery Bay.
Three Green Sandpipers were at Moyasta.
Two Hen Harriers were at Tullagher Bog.
One adult Mediterranean Gull was at Clahane, Liscannor.
One Carrion Crow and a Merlin were at Spanish Point.
Friday 26th September 2008
One Dipper was on the Claureen River.
Thursday 25th September 2008
There was one Whinchat at the Fodry Loop Head.
Also at Loop Head there was one Merlin, eight Chough, ten Raven,
a flock of 280 Linnets, eight Cold Tit and four Wheatears. 
One Peregrine was at Seafield, Quilty.

Tuesday 23rd September 2008
A Long-billed Dowitcher was seen this afternoon at Lough Donnell (Stan Nugent).
Two Curlew Sandpiper were reported from Seafield.
One Buzzard flew over Kilbaha today (Maeve and Chris Meehan).
A Spotted Flycatcher,a Peregrine and three Redpoll were seen around the gardens near Kilbaha and

a Water Rail was at the pond close to the harbour.
Eight Little Egrets were at Illaunamanagh, Shannon.
At the Lighthouse Loop Head six Chough were spotted and a Sooty Shearwater flew past the headland.
There were thirty Sandwich Tern at Rinvella Bay.
A flock of 15 Chough were near Poulneen the Blue Pools Doonbeg.
Six Chough and two Raven were near Baltard Bay.
A flock of about 600 Starling were circling over the Gort Road Ennis at dusk.
Monday 22nd September 2008
A Garden Warbler was spotted near the Lighthouse at Loop Head today.
A female Hen Harrier and a Peregrine were at the Fodry on the peninsula also.
A Sooty Shearwater,two Chough,a Peregrine, thirty Goldfinch and 
a large number of seabirds were reported from Doonbeg.
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Garden Warbler at Fodry Loop Head Dave McNamara

Sunday 21st September 2008
There were three Pectoral Sandpipers at Ross Bay Loop Head this morning.(Tom Tarpey)
Also at Loop Head were one ring-tail Hen Harrier and a Merlin.
A male Hen Harrier was seen at Kilkee reservoir and a Carrion Crow at Killard, Doonbeg.
Two Curlew Sandpipers and a White Wagtail were at Seafield.
Four Little Egrets were at Moyasta.
Ten Greenshank were at Querrin.
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Curlew Sandpipers at Seafield Dave McNamara

Saturday 20th September 2008
A Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, four Chough, six Raven, a Water Rail, two Red-throated Diver
and a Black Tern were reported from Loop Head this morning (Finbar MacGabhann)

Friday 19th September 2008
A Peregrine was seen at Doonbeg earlier today.

Wednesday 17th September 2008
A Green Sandpiper was seen at the Claureen attenuation pond this morning.
A Jay was noted at Ballyallia. A Short-eared Owl, a male and female Hen Harrier
were at Tullagher Bog.
Four White Wagtail were reported from Seafield.

Tuesday 16th September 2008
There were two Peregrines, two Ravens and four Chough at Doonbeg today.

Monday 15th September 2008
A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at Ballyallia Lake this evening. A Raven flew over the lake also.
A Kingfisher and four Little Egret were seen at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.

Seven Little Egrets were at Poulnasherry Bay.

Saturday 13th September 2008
At the Bridges of Ross this morning there was an Arctic Skua, a Bonxie, a Common Scoter, 

six Brent Geese and a Sooty Shearwater.
A Hen Harrier was seen at Loop Head and a Water Rail at Kilbaha pond.
A Curlew Sandpiper flew past Lurga Point this evening.

Friday 12th September 2008
A Common Sandpiper was at the Claureen attenuation pond this evening.

Six pale-bellied Brent Geese flew past the Bridges of Ross.

Thursday 11th September 2008

At the Bridges of Ross today there was  64 Sooty Shearwaters, one Balearic Shearwater,

55 Sandwich Terns, three Arctic Terns, seven Red-throated Divers, 24 Great Skuas,
eight Arctic Skuas, three Sabines Gulls, 25 Grey Phalaropes, five Storm Petrels and 
one Common Scoter.
A Common Sandpiper and a White Wagtail were seen at Clahane today.

Wednesday 10th September 2008
Five Little Egrets were at the Shaonon Airport Lagoon this afternoon.
Tuesday 9th September 2008
There were 14 Little Egrets at the Shannon Airport Lagoon today
along side 400 Redshank, 200 Dunlin, 70 Knot, 60 Ringed Plover
200 Black-tailed Godwit and two Wheatear.

Monday 8th September 2008
Two Little Egrets were at Blackweir Bridge, Poulnasherry Bay.

One Little Egret was at Querrin.
Two Green Sandpipers were at Ballycorick Bridge, Ballynacally.
One Kingfisher was at Islandavanna, Clarecastle.
One Green Sandpiper was at Clarecastle.
Two Chough were at Pouleen, the Blue Pool, Doonbeg.
One Peregrine was at the Kilkee Reservoir.

Sunday 7th September 2008

The second-winter Iceland Gull was still at Kilbaha this morning.

The Ring-billed Gull was back at Spanish Point.
A first-winter Mediterranean Gull was at Quilty.
A female Hen Harrier was seen at Slieve Elva again today. 
Off the Bridges of Ross there were three Great Skuas and two Arctic Skuas.
One Common Sandpiper and one White Wagtail was at Clahane, Liscannor.
A Raven flew over Lees Road Wood this afternoon.
Mediterranean Gull at Quilty Dave McNamara

Saturday 6th September 2008
There was one adult Sabines Gull, one Balearic Shearwater,
five Bonxies, two Arctic Skuas and ten Grey Phalaropes off the Bridges of Ross today.
One second-winter Iceland Gull and one Arctic Skua were in Kilbaha Harbour.
There was one female Hen Harrier at Slieve Elva.
One Peregrine was at Loop Head along side 200 Meadow Pipits
and 12 Chough.
Five Little Egrets were at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
One Jay was at the Lees Road Wood.
Friday 5th September 2008
A second year Ring-billed Gull was at Spanish Point today.
One Common Sandpiper was at Clahane.
Ring-billed Gull at Spanish Point Dave McNamara
Thursday 4th of September 2008
Things had gone quiet at the Bridges of Ross today with the only highlights
being five Bonxies, one Grey Phalarope, one Sooty Shearwater and five Common Scoter.
One juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, one Ring-tailed Hen Harrier, 13 Wigeon, 18 Greenshank
and five Little Egrets were at Poulnasherry Bay.
One Grey Phalarope was at Lough Donnell.
One Grey Phalarope was on the sea near Cloghaun Lough, Loop Head. 
One Jay was at Dromoland Castle.
Ten Chough were at Fanore.
A flock of 35 Mistle Thrushes were at Corofin.  
Wednesday 3rd September 2008
At the Bridges of Ross today there was, 50 Sooty Shearwaters, two Balearic Shearwaters,
40 Great Skuas, 40 Arctic Skuas, Storm Petrels, 11 Leaches Petrels, 11 Sabines Gulls, 50 Grey Phalarope, 
one Blue Fulmar, 100 Arctic Terns, one Great Northen Diver, three Red-throated Divers and 12 Common Scoter.
One Roseate Tern was at Kilbaha harbour with one Great Skua.
One second year Mediterranean Gull was at Quilty.
Tuesday 2nd September 2008
There was a good days seawatching at the Bridges of Ross today.
There wee 110 Sooty Shearwaters, two Balearic Shearwaters, 66 Arctic Skuas,
51 Bonxies, four Pomarine Skuas, two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, 12 Storm Petrels,
eight Leaches Petrels, 21 Sabines Gulls, 55 Grey Phalaropes,  two juvenile Black Terns,
110 Arctic Terns, 6 Puffins, 27 Common Scoter, one Great Northern Diver, three Red-
throated Divers and on pale-bellied Brent Goose. 
One juvenile and one adult Black Tern were in Kilbaha Harbour along side two Arctic Skuas.
Monday 1st  September 2008
There was steady passage of Manx Shearwaters, Gannets and Kittiwakes today at
the Bridges of Ross.
Highlights were; 120 Sooty Shearwaters, seven Balearic  Shearwaters, 14 Storm Petrels,
one Leaches Petrel, six Pomarine Skuas, 33 Arctic Skuas,  22 Bonxies, five Grey Phalaropes, 
one juvenile Black Tern, 69 Arctic Terns, 13 Common Scoter, seven Puffin,
two Red-throated Divers and 37 Whimbrel. 
A seawatch off the Blue Pools near Doonbeg produced one Cory’s Shearwater (Maeve & Christy Meehan),
ten Sooty Shearwaters, one juvenile Sabines Gull, seven Great Skuas, three Arctic Skuas, 
one Pomarine Skuas, two Little Terns and two Storm Petrels. 
One Black Tern was at Liscannor.
There were 179 Curlew at Lahinch Marsh.
A flock of 20 Snipe were at Doonbeg.
One Jay was at Darragh.
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