Category Archives: Scarce & Rare Bird Sightings

Tuesday 6th January 2026

Tuesday 6th January 2026

Male Ruff at Lough Atedaun John N Murphy

The drake American Wigeon was at Ballyvaughan this afternoon. (James Organ)

One Ruff and a Kingfisher were at Lough Atedaun just west of the car park. (John N Murphy)

A juvenile White-tailed Eagle was at Lough Atedaun and Lough Cullaun. A Buzzard was also at Lough Cullaun.(Maura Crowe)

One female Great Spotted Woodpecker was at the Athaclare River near Killeen, Kilkishen. (JNM)

A flock of 20 White-fronted Geese and two Yellowhammers were at Tubber. (JNM)

A Common Sandpiper was at Clarecastle Quay.(Finbarr MacGabhann)

The Goosander is still at Shannon Banks.(Éabha Hughes)

Two Jay were at the Twelve O’clock Hills. (JNM)


Monday 5th January 2026

The Semi-palmated Sandpiper was still at Seafield this morning along with one Snow Bunting and 11 Chough. (John N Murphy)

A 2CY White-tailed Eagle, one Kingfisher and one Buzzard were at Lough Atedaun this evening. (JNM)

There were 110 Common Scoter and 12 Red-throated Divers at Liscannor Bay. (JNM & Geoff Pearson)


Sunday 4th January 2026

One drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Fenloe Lough. (John N Murphy & Finbarr MacGabhann)

The drake Goosander was at Shannon Banks. (FMacG & JNM)

Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were at Ardnacrusha. (John & Edel Murphy)

The Semi-palmated Sandpiper and two Snow Bunting were at Seafield. Five Tree Sparrow were at the nearby horse fields.(Jeff Copner)

A Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were at Clarecastle.(Chris Cullen)

Two Crossbill were at Maghera.(Cliff Baxter)

One Buzzard was near Kilulla off the M18 with another at Cratloekeel. (JNM)

One female Blackcap was at Applewood, Ballycar. (JNM)


Saturday 3rd January 2026

Saturday 3rd January 2026

Great White Egret at Doonbeg John N Murphy

At a well attended Clare Branch BWI outing to Seafield the Semi-palmated Sandpiper was still present this morning along with nine Chough and large numbers of waders. (John N Murphy, Stan Nugent, Geoff Pearson et al)

The drake American Wigeon was still in Ballyvaughan. (Charlie Lyons & Sean Whelan)

One Great White Egret was at Doonbeg. (JNM)

Two Grey Phalaropes were at the White Strand, Doonbeg. (JNM)

Seven Tree Sparrows were in horse fields south of Seafield. (JNM et al)

One Common Sandpiper was at Clarecastle Quay this morning. (JNM)

One Buzzard was in Kilbaha Harbour. (JNM)

The drake Goosander was at Shannon Banks, Parteen this morning (Patrick Bailey) and again in the late afternoon (Maura Turner).


Friday 2nd January 2026

Friday 2nd January 2026

American Wigeon at Ballyvaughan John N Murphy

The American Wigeon was at Ballyvaughan early this morning, (John N Murphy & Finbarr MacGabhann), along with 16 Black-throated Divers and three Long-tailed Ducks between Coolsiva Pier and New Quay. There were 14 Mediterranean Gulls at Corranroo also.

The Glossy Ibis is still at Ballyvelaghan Lough near New Quay and 29 Whooper Swans. (JNM & FMacG)

The Semi-palmated Sandpiper and two Snow Bunting were at Seafield. Six Tree Sparrow were at the nearby horse fields.(Chris Cullen)

A hundred and eighty six Common Scoter, one Long-tailed Duck and two Red-throated Diver were at Lahinch.(CC)

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming near the dam at Ardnacrusha.(John Rutherford)

A White-tailed Eagle and the Barnacle Goose were at Ballyallia.(Maura Crowe)

Three White-tailed Eagle and 52 Whooper Swan, 60 Dunlin, 90 Black-tailed Godwit and 200 Lapwing were at Lough Atedaun.(James Organ, JNM & FMacG)

Two Pochard were at Termon Lough.(JO)

Seventy one Greylag Geese and 35 Whooper Swans were at fields near Tubber. (JO, JNM & FMacG)

Three Buzzard were around Tubber with one at Drumcliffe. (JNM FMacG & Barry Howell)


Thursday 1st January 2026

Thursday 1st January 2026

The drake American Wigeon at Ballyvaughan Barry Howell

The Semi-palmated Sandpiper was at Seafield, Quilty. (Finbarr MacGabhann)

The eclipse drake American Wigeon was at Ballyvaughan again today. (Barry Howell)

Two drake Ring-necked Ducks were at Fenloe Lough along with one female Blackcap and a Greenshank. (John N Murphy)

One male and one female Blackcap were at Applewood, Ballycar this morning. (JNM)

there was a flock of 5,000 Golden Plover at Clenagh Bay. (JNM)


Wednesday 31st December 2025

Wednesday 31st December 2025

Drake Goosander ©Tom Tarpey

The American Wigeon is still at Ballyvaughan.(Jeff Copner)

A Buzzard was at Kilbaha. A female Hen Harrier was at Horse Island.(Dixie Collins)

There were 600 Golden Plover, 14 Purple Sandpiper and 44 Brent Goose(including two juveniles) at Clahane.(Geoff Pearson)

The Goosander was still at Shannon Banks, Corbally.(Tom Tarpey)

Twenty five White-fronted Goose flew north east over Lough Muckanagh.(Ray Glynn)


Tuesday 30th December 2025

Tuesday 30th December 2025

The American Wigeon was at the river mouth near Monk’s Pub, Ballyvaughan.(Stan Nugent)

The Semi-palmated Sandpiper, 450 Dunlin, 45 Purple Sandpiper and a Snow Bunting were at Seafield. Around 300 Barnacle Goose were at nearby Mutton Island.(Geoff Pearson, Nuala and Tom Lynch)

There were 430 Golden Plover at Clahane.(GP, N & TL)

Two hundred Common Scoter were at Lahinch.(GP, N & TL)

Two White-tailed Eagle and a Peregrine were at Ballyallia.(Finbarr MacGabhann)

Another two White-tailed Eagle were at Lough Atedaun.(Maura Crowe)

An adult male Goosander was the Clare side of the river at the Corbally Weir.(Tom Tarpey)

A female Hen Harrier was at Lough Donnell.(Nick Larter)


Monday 29th December 2025

Two adult/near adult White-tailed Eagle were at Lough Atedaun.(James Organ)

A Barn Owl was at Cregg close to Gleninagh Castle at dusk.(Glyn Thomas)


Sunday 28th December 2025

Sunday 28th December 2025

A first winter drake American Wigeon was 300m south of the car-park at Bishop’s Quater along with 300 Golden Plover and over 30 Greenfinch.(Niall Keogh)

A Glossy Ibis and 19 Whooper Swan were at Ballyvelaghan Lough.(NK)

One Black-throated Diver, four male Long-tailed Duck and two female Common Scoter were at the Flaggy Shore.(NK)

At Ballyvaughan Bay there were one Red-throated Diver, two Long-tailed Duck, four Common Scoter and one adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.(NK)

There were four Black-throated Diver at the Rine.(NK)

Thirty three Common Scoter were off Coolshiva Pier.(NK)

There were 212 Great Northern Diver, 65 Red-breasted Merganser, 230 Shag, 100 Brent Goose and 35 Black Guillemot between New Quay and Black Head.(NK)

A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Termon Lough.(Maura Crowe)