Clare Birdwatching

Thursday 17th May 2012

John Murphy — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:08:21 +0000

Little Egret at Shannon Airport Lagoon © John N Murphy

There were 14 Little Egrets, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Dunlin, one Whimbrel, three pairs of Gadwall, one drake Wigeon and a singing male Blackcap at the Shannon Airport Lagoon this evening.

Wednesday 16th May 2012

John Murphy — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:05:34 +0000

There was bad news today for the nesting WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLES at Mountshannon. The parents deserted the nest. Alan Mee of the Eagle Trust later checked the nest on Bushy Island to find and unhatched egg and another egg that seemed to have hatched with partial remains of a chick next to it. Hopefully they will stick around and retry again during next years breeding season.

Tuesday 15th May 2012

John Murphy — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:58:33 +0000

Lots of Wheatears are still migrating through the west of Ireland.
This male bird was nesting near Lough Bunny © John N Murphy

There were two Crossbills seen flying over Lough Atedaun.

Sunday 13th May 2012

Tom Tarpey — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:02:43 +0000

Wheatear at Dromada (Mike Sheehy)

A Wheatear was at Dromada, Athea.

Male Wheatear at Dromada (Mike Sheehy)

Saturday 12th May 2012

Tom Tarpey — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:06:24 +0000

Wheatear at Coonagh (Tom Tarpey).

A drake Garganey was found at Coonagh today (Tom Tarpey). This is the first record of the species for the site and the fifth for the County. Other notable migrants there were three Wheatears, 150 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Dunlin and 20 Whimbrel. Summer visitors included two Cuckoos, singing Sedge Warblers and a single Whitethroat. A Raven was also noted passing over the site.

Wheatear, Cuckoo and Garganey at Coonagh (Tom Tarpey)

Saturday 12th May 2012

John Murphy — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:11:41 +0000

The Todd’s Canada Goose and a Kingfisher were back in the Post Office Field in Ennis town.

Friday 11th May 2012

John Murphy — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:17:41 +0000

One Merlin was being mobbed by two Chough at Coosheen, Kilkee.

Tuesday 8th May 2012

John Murphy — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:13:57 +0000

A first-summer Iceland Gull, 25 Red-throated Divers, seven Great Northern Divers, a male Peregrine, 20 Common Scoter, three Brent Geese, three White Wagtails and ten Sanderling were at Liscannor.
Eight Common Crossbills were at Roxton, Corofin.
One juvenile Dipper was at Kilcornan, Ennistymon.

Monday 7th May 2012

Tom Tarpey — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:43:09 +0000

White-tailed Eagle at Glensharrold (Mike Flanagan).

A White-tailed Eagle was seen this afternoon at Glensharrold, Carrigkerry (Moss O’Connor, Mike Flanagan)

Sunday 6th May 2012

Tom Tarpey — Sun, 06 May 2012 22:21:09 +0000

Seven Swift, six Whimbrel and a Dunlin were at the Charleville Lagooons.
Cuckoos were reported from Lough Gur, Drombanna, Bauraneag,Carrigkerry and Grouse Lodge, Ardagh.
A Whitethroat was also at Grouse Lodge.
Six Blackcaps were recorded in one CBS tetrad at Currachase. Four House Martins were also seen in the area.