Marsh Harrier at the Red Bog, Lough Gur ©Tom Tarpey
A female type Marsh Harrier was found at the Bog Lake, Lough Gur this afternoon (Geoff Hunt). Surprisingly this is the first record of the species for the County in modern times, the only previous record being from archaeological remains at Lough Gur. The bird was seen again in the Red Bog later in the evening (Tom Tarpey).
A pair of Gadwall were at also at the Bog Lake and a Cuckoo was heard at the Red Bog.
Two venues were used for the annual Dawn Chorus Branch Outing. Mistle Thrush, Goldfinch and Greenfinch were the highlights at the People’s Park in Pery’s Square while a follow up visit to Westfields added Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler and Whimbrel to the list.
A large crowd turned up at UL car park and were rewarded with a good variety species including good views of Cuckoo and Treecreeper. Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler were also in song.
The first signs of summer today also brought out some scarce butterflies; a Wall Brown, the first in seen in the County in a number of years, and a Dingy Skipper were seen at the Aughinish sanctuary.
Five Pochard, three Shoveler, a Gadwall, a Lapwing and a Little Egret were seen at Coonagh today.
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Yellowhammer ©Tom Tarpey
A Yellowhammer was heard singing today on Aughinish Island near the Nature Trail carpark. This is the first report of the species in potential breeding habitat in the County in the past few years. A number of breeding territories were known in the Askeaton area in the early years of the last decade, however no reports of the birds have come to light in recent years. This was formerly the stronghold for the species in the County. Any other reports of the species would be most welcome.
Leave a commentThe drake Garganey was seen at the eastern end of the upper lagoon at Coonagh this morning (John N Murphy).
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Garganey pair at Coonagh ©Tom Tarpey
A pair of Garganey were at Coonagh this morning (Tom Tarpey) . This is the sixth record of the species for the County and the second for the site, the first being on May 12th, 2012. See ttbirding.blogspot.com for additional photos. Other migrants of note included an adult Little Gull (John N Murphy), a male Wheatear, three Scaup and 50 Whimbrel. A Whitethroat, several Sedge Warblers, two Swift, a Little Egret, a Lapwing, a Snipe, 13 Pochard, 14 Tufted Duck and a Great-crested Grebe were other birds of note, while a Summer plumage Spotted Redshank (photos at murfswildlife.blogspot.com), 120 Black-tailed Godwits and 30 Redshank also visited during the high tide in the afternoon. A large raptor, a possible Marsh Harrier, was also seen briefly as it left the site and disappeared from view over the river bank (John N Murphy).
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Whitethroat at Gooig Bog ©Tom Tarpey
Whitethroats were seen near Castleconnell and at Gooig Bog today.
A Swift and a House Martin were seen at Newcastle West this evening.
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