Clare Bird Sightings

Bird Sightings for 2005

Contributors to this report were: Eva Andreu, Paul Archer, Brian Arthurs, Julia Baer, Lorraine & Robert Benson, Simon Berrows, Mark Bibby, Gerry Bilbao, Phil Brennan, Richard Bonser, Julien Boulanger, Dermot Breen, Graham Catley, Austin Cooney, Kieran Cronin, Michael Davis, Hugh Delaney,  Alan Donovan, Joe Doolan, Jimmy Dowdal, Aidan Duggan, Matti Eriksson, Lee Evans, Brian Finnegan, François Gabillard, Mattias Gierdin, Christophe Gruwier,  Mans Grundsten, Colum Flynn, Owen Foley, Kieran Grace, Tim Griffin, Nick Hallam, Dave Halliday, Tom Hayes, Chris Heard, Michael Hoit, Harry Hussey, Carol & Tim Inskipp, David Jenkins, Noel & Niall Keogh, Aidan Kelly, Keith Langdon, Raphaël Lebrun, Jacques-A. Leclercq, Noel Lennihan, Pat Lonergan, Tom Lowe, Tom & Nuala Lynch, Barry O’ Donaghue, Frank O’Duffy, Franco Maroevic, Mick Frosby, Finbarr Mac Gabhann, Maeve & Christy Meehan, Paul Milne, John N Murphy, Killian Mullarney, Rick Mundy, Gabriel Noonan, Stan Nugent, Benoit  Paepegeay, Geoff Pearson, Brian Porter, John Rattigan,  Bill Ryan, Frank Sadler, Robert Vaughan, Gerard Walsh, Noel Walsh, Andy Woods, John Wright. 

Friday 29th December 2005
There were 8 Black-throated Divers in Nort Clare.

Wednesday 28th December 2005
There were two Crossbills at Letteragh Wood Near Kilmaley.

Tuesday 27th December 2005
There were five Crossbills and one Jay at Kilnacreagh this morning.
There were also two Crossbills just north of Oatfield east of Sixmilebridge this afternoon. 
There was one female ring-tailed Hen Harrier at Clonderlaw Bay.

Monday 26th December 2005
There was a dark-phased Gyr Falcon at Doonbeg (Maeve & Christy Meehan).
This is only a third land based county record.
There was one male Hen Harrier at Poulnasherry bay and three Little Egrets.
There were two Black Redstarts on the Pier at Seafield, Quilty.

Saturday 24th December 2005
There were 12 Crossbills at Kilnacreagh this afternoon.


Crossbills  John N Murphy

Friday 23rd December 2005
There were eight Crossbills at Kilnacreagh, Fishermans Hill east of Sixmilebridge this afternoon.

Thursday 22nd December 2005
The female Ring-necked Duck was once again seen at Ballyallia Lake, Ennis (Finbarr MacGabhann)
There were two (a pair) Crossbills at Kilnacreagh, Fishermans Hill, Sixmilebridge.

Wednesday 21st December 2005
There were 20 Crossbills this afternoon near Kilnacreagh, Fishermans Hill,
which is just east of Sixmilebridge

Tuesday 20th December 2005
There were four Crossbills, one female Hen Harrier and one Jay
at Knockanuarha just North of Woodcock Hill earlier today.

Monday 19th December 2005
There was a female Blackcap at Oak Park, Ennis today.

Saturday 17th December 2005
There was a Short-eared Owl near the Shannon Airport Lagoon this evening.
At Poulnasherry Bay there was a huge build up of waders and wildfowl with
a peak count of 10 Little Egrets.
There was one Little Egret at Doonbeg Bay.
One Little Egret was also seen near the bridge at Lahinch.

Friday 16th December 2005
There were two Crossbills at Gallowshill, Woodcock Hill, Cratloe this afternoon.
One Jay was seen near Cratloekeel, Woodcock Hill, Cratloe.  

Thursday 15th December 2005
The female Blackcap was still at Ballymacahill, Tulla Road, Ennis.

Tuesday 13th December 2005
The female Ring-necked Duck was still at Ballyallia Lake this afternoon (John N Murphy)
The female Blackcap has taken up winter residence at a garden at Ballymacahill in Ennis.

Female Blackcap at Ballymacahill, Ennis © John N Murphy

Sunday 11th December 2005
There were three Little Egrets at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.

Saturday 10th December 2005
One Waxwing seen on Cahercalla road this morning.
One Female Ring-necked Duck on Ballyallia lake (John N Murphy).
One female Blackcap was at Pine Grove, Ennis.

Monday 5th December 2005
Female Blackcap at a birdtable on Tulla Road, Ennis.

Sunday 4th December 2005
One Hen Harrier and one Jay were at Labasheeda.

Saturday 3rd December 2005
One Little Egret was at Ballyvaughan.

Friday 2nd December 2005
A male Blackcap in Clarecastle.

Thursday 1st December 2005
Three Little Egrets were on the Shannon Estuary east of Shannon Town.

Tuesday 29th November 2005
There was a female Ring-necked Duck at Ballyallia Lake, Ennis (Stan Nugent).  

Female Ring-necked Duck with © Coot Stan Nugent

Monday 28th November 2005
There were two Chiffchaff orth of Bunratty.
A female Blackcap was in a garden on the Tulla Road, Ennis.

Sunday 27th November 2005
There was a Marsh Harrier at the Shannon Airport Lagoon (Phil Brennan).
There was one Little Egret at Bsihop’s Quarter, Ballyvaughan.
One Woodcock was at Boolynagleragh Bog, Liccycasey.

Saturday 26th November 2005
A Barn Owl was picked up injured on the main Street in Newmarket-on-Fergus.
The bird is now in care recovering. 
There were 81 Whooper Swans on fields west of the Dromoland Roundabout near Ballygireen.

Friday 25th November 2005
The drake Green-winged Teal was at Bell Harbour agian this afternoon.
There was an adult Mediterranean Gull near New Quay.
One Little Egret was near Corranroo on the Clare Galway border.

Thursday 24th November 2005
An eclipsed drake Ring-necked Duck was at Knockalough, Kilmihil this afternoon (John N Murphy). 

Wednesday 23rd November 2005
Eight Jays were seen together at Cratloe Woods.
There was a female Blackcap at Ballymacahill, Tulla Road Ennis.
A Barn Owl was at Newpark House, Ennis.

Tuesday 22nd November 2005
There were three Blackcaps in Sixmilebridge.

Sunday 20th November 2005
The drake Green-winged Teal was still at Belll Harbour.
There were 42 Black-throated Divers between Aughinish Island and Finvarra Point.
Also in this region of North Clare there were 128 Great Northern Divers, 112 Black Guillemots
14 Long-tailed Ducks and over 200 Razorbills.
A Short-eared Owl was seen this afternoon at Boolynagleragh Bog near Lissycasey 

Saturday 19th November 2005
There was a drake Green-winged Teal at Bell Harbour in North Clare.
Three Jays were at the Lees Wood Road in Ennis.

Friday 18th November 2005
A Short-eared Owl was seen flying over the sea at Quilty this morning. 

Thursday 17th November 2005
There was a Carrion Crow at Ballycar National School, Newmarket-on-Fergus, this afternoon. 
One Water Rail was seen on the Owenogarney River near Bunratty.

Wednesday 16th November 2005
There was a Merlinjust West of Sixmilebridge.

Tuesday 15th November 2005
One Black-Throated Diver and 20 Purple Sandpiper at Seafield, Quilty.
There was one Jay at Sixmilebridge.

Monday 14th November 2005
There were 30 Common Scoter at Lahinch/Liscannor Bay.

Sunday 13th November 2005
There was a flock of 29 Whooper Swans at Ballyallia lake (Drumcliffe side).
One Purple Sandpiper at Clahane, Liscannor.
One Hen Harrier was seen near Lissycasey.

Tuesday 8th November 2005
Small flock of Siskins and one Common Sandpiper in Clarecastle.

Monday 7th November 2005
One Jay, up to 100 Black-Tailed Godwits and as many Lapwing at Ballyallia lake.
There were two Little Egrets and three Pintail at Moyasta, Poulnasherry Bay.

Sunday 6th November 2005
One Sandwich Tern, two Peregrines, one Merlin and about 20 Snipe around the Fodry, Loop Head.
One Merlin was seen at Moyasta, Poulnasherry Bay.

Friday 4th November 2005
The juvenile American Golden Plover was relocated near the Lighthouse at Loop Head (Tom Tarpey).
One Green Sandpiper, 50+ Chaffinch and numerous Redpoll at Kilbaha, Loop Head.
Two Jays at Lees Road Wood, Ennis.

Thursday 3rd November 2005
There was a male Blackcap at Cappahard, Ennis.

Wednesday 2nd November 2005
The Rough-legged Buzzard was released today in Wexford at 2.00 pm.
Flock of over 100 Golden Plover on Loop Head today. However they were too flighty to locate the
American specimen amongst them. One Merlin and 30 Redwing also present.
In and around Kilbaha village were two Chiffchaff, one Blackcap and one Hen Harrier.
Six Whooper swans in a field outside Kilrush.

Sunday 30th October 2005
A juvenile American Golden Plover seen near the lighthouse on Loop Head (Chris Meehan).

Friday 28th October 2005
Adult Mediterranean Gull at Quilty and 6 Curlew Sandpipers at Lurga Point.
The juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus sanctijohannis from North American that was found in
weak condition at Tulla on 11th October (Alan Donovan) has now been nursed back to
health and ready to be released back into the wild at some point over the next few days. 
Information on this bird did not come to light until earlier in the week and the bird will be released
on private grounds.  More details about the release of this bird will go out on this web site early
next week.  This is a first county record and possibly a first
Irish record as well.


Rough-legged Hawk  © John N Murphy

Monday 23rd October 2005
Duck numbers are beginning to build up at Ballyallia Lake where one Jay was also observed today.

Sunday 22nd October 2005
There was one Carrion Crow at Lough Murree this afternoon.

Friday 21st October 2005
There were three Jays on the Lees Road in Ennis today.

Thursday 20th October 2005
There were five Curlew Sandpipers and one White-rumped Sandpiper
at Quilty this afternoon (John N Murphy).

White-rumped Sandpiper with Dunlin at Seafield, Quilty © John N Murphy

White-rumped Sandpiper immature bird at Seafield © John N Murphy

Wednesday 19th October 2005
There were two Jays on the Lees Road in Ennis this afternoon.

Tuesday 18th October 2005
At Loop Head today there was one male Brambling, one Wheatear,
four Chiffchaffs and two Common Sandpipers.

Wheatear and flies © John N Murphy

Monday 17th October 2005
One Jay was at Carrigoran House, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Sunday 16th October 2005
There was a large amount of Redwings migrating through the county earlier this morning.
One Little Egret was at Iniscullen Hill outside Shannon.
The Green Sandpiper was still at Lough Gash, Newmarket-on-Fergus along with one Little Egret.
There were five Whooper Swans and 14 Gadwall at the Shannon Airport Lagoon. 
There was a Long-eared Owl calling near Newpark House, Cappahard, Ennis late this evening.   

Saturday 15th October 2005 
There was a Hobby at Loop Head today and a late staying Willow Warbler was caught and ringed at Kilbaha.   

Friday 14th October 2005
Redwing migration has begun with one bird heard calling over Ennis this evening.

Thursday 13th October 2005
There was an adult Mediterranean Gull at Quilty today.
One Hen Harrier at Quilty.

Wednesday 12th October 2005
One White-rumped Sandpiper at Seafield, Quilty (Gerry Bilbao), (I only received these details on
the night of 20th October by email from Gerry, just when I taught I had found a decent bird for the 
county, shattering my dreams etc..).

Tuesday 11th October 2005
The only news from Loop Head today was seven Chiffchaffs and 12 Goldcrests.

Sunday 9th October 2005
One female Hen Harrier and one Tree Sparrow were the highlights from Loop Head.
One Grey Phalarope at Bridges of Ross.

Saturday 8th October 2005
At the Bridges of Ross there was a small movement of birds on the sea, highlights were;
one Balearic and 19 Sooty Shearwaters, 15 Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie, one Pomarine Skua,
one Little Gull and 13 Grey Phalaropes.
In the gardens at Kilbaha there was one Long-earded Owl and a few Chiffchaffs.
There was one Barn Owl calling during early evening at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
One female Hen Harrier was at Hags Head.
One second-winter Mediterranean Gull at Kilrush.

Thursday 6th October 2005
The only news today was that the two Snow Buntings were still at Loop Head along with one Tree Sparrow.

Wednesday 5th October 2005
There were two Snow Buntings a male Hen Harrier and a male Blackcap at Loop Head today.
This morning in the GAA pitch at Kilkee there was a first-winter and one second-winter Mediteranean Gulls.

Tuesday 4th October
Today at the Loop Head the Red-breasted Flycatcher was relocated in Gibson’s Garden at Kilbaha.

Monday 3rd October 2005
There was one Snow Bunting and two Willow Warbler at Loop Head today.
The Red-breasted Flycatcher was not relocated in the gardens at Kilbaha.

Sunday 2nd October 2005
This morning at Kilbaha in willows across the road from Keatings Pub was an immature Red-breasted
Flycatcher.   Between 7.30 and 9.30 off the Bridges of Ross there was good movement of Shearwaters
with 1700 Greats, 350 Sooties, one Arctic Skua and two Leach’s Petrels.

Saturday 1st October 2005
At the Bridges of Ross today were 110 Leach’s Petrels, 45 Storm Petrels, 25 Arctic Skuas,
46 Pomarine Skuas, 90 Bonxies, two Long-tailed Skuas, the Sooty Shearwaters,
seven Little Gulls, eight Sabine’s Gulls, 50 Grey Phalaropes, six Red-throated Divers and
one Great Northern Diver.
 
Friday 30th September 2005
There was one first-winter and one adult winter Mediterranean Gulls at Killimer.
At Lough Gash, Newmarket-on-Fergus there was one Green Sandpiper and one Ruff.

Thursday 29th September 2005
The Firecrest was stil in the gardens in Kilbaha, two Lapland Buntings were
found on the Fodry near Loop Head lighthouse.
Five Arctic Skuas were seen off the Bridges of Ross.

Wednesday 28th September 2005
At the Bridges of Ross this afternoon were;  two Juvenile Sabine’s gulls,
12 Leach’s Petrels, one Sooty Shearwater, four Bonxies, 14 Arctic Skuas,
six Red-throated Divers, two Brent Geese, 25 Grey Phalaropes,
one first-winter Little Gull, 80+ Arctic Terns.
In the gardens in Kilbaha there was one Firecrest (only the 4th county record)
and one Tree Sparrow.
One Glaucaus Gull was seen in a field outside Kilbaha.
A Hen Harrier was spotted four miles east of Kilrush.

Firecrest at Kilbaha © Killian Mullarney

Tuesday 27th September 2005
There was good seawatching at the Bridges of Ross today.
Highlights were, 23 Great Shearwaters, 220 Sooty Shearwaters, one Little Auk, 13 Leach’s Petrels,
seven Pomarine Skuas, 24 Arctic Skuas and 12 Bonxies, two Sabine’s Gulls, 19 Grey Phalaropes
143 Arctic Terns and 12 Red-throated Divers.

Monday 26th September 2005
There were two Curlew Sandpipers at Lough Gash, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
A Grey Phalarope was seen flying along a wet road near Quilty during stormy weather.

Sunday 25th September 2005
At the Bridges of Ross today there was one Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Carol & Tim Inskipp).
There was also three Sabine’s Gulls, one juvenile Little Gull, 34 Sooty Shearwaters and
two Balearic Shearwaters, one Leach’s Petrel, two Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie,
one Pomarine Skua and two Red-throated Divers.

Saturday 24th September 2005
Strong southerly winds at the Bridges of Ross were completely wrong for seawtching, never-the-less
there was one Arctic Skua, one Bonxie, one Leach’s Petrel, one Velvet Scoter and two Grey Phalaropes.
There was no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher at Doonbeg.  Six Curlew Sandpipers were at Seafield, Quilty.
One Curlew Sandpiper and one Spotted Redshank were still at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
There was a Glaucous Gull at Castle Point near Kilkee.

Friday 23rd September 2005
Weather conditions were excellent at the Bridges of Ross this morning with a great variety of seabirds passing.
These included 450 Sooty Shearwaters, one Cory’s, eight Greats and two Balearic Shearwaters.
There was one Long-tailed Skua, six Pomarines, eight Bonxies and 19 Arctic Skuas.  There were over 100
Storm Petrels, nine Leach’s, one juveniles Sabine’s Gull, two first-winter Little Gulls, 45 Grey Phalaropes,
11 Puffins, six Red-throated Divers and one summer plumaged Great Northern.
One of the juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers was at Doonbeg this evening along with one Curlew Sandpiper.
There were six Curlew Sandpipers on the beach at Seafield, Quilty.
There was a Little Stint, one Curlew Sandpiper and one Spotted Redshank at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was picked up freshly dead in a field near Tullig, at Cross village on the
Loop Head peninsula after a spell of stormy weather.  This is only the second county record. (Bill Ryan and D Keane).

Thursday 22nd September 2005
There were two juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers at Doonbeg Bay this morning on high tide (John Wright).
At full tide in the Shannon Airport Lagoon, one Long-billed Dowitcher was still present along with
eight Curlew Sandpipers, four Ruff, two juvenile Little Gulls, one adult Little Gull and two Little Egrets. 
At the Bridges of Ross this evening there were two Sooty Shearwaters, one juvenile Little Gull
and one Arctic Skua. 


Long-billed Dowitcher juvenile at Doonbeg © John Wright

Wednesday 21st September 2005
The adult Mediterranean Gull was still at Quilty.

Tuesday 20th September 2005
At the Bridges of Ross today there were 170 Sooty Shearwaters, one Balearic Shearwater,
six Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie, one Leach’s Petrel and three Red-throated Divers.
The Yellow Wagtail was in Cloghaun Lough Loop Head. 
The adult Mediterranean Gull and six Curlew Sandpipers were at Quilty.
One male Hen Harrier was seen near Doonbeg.
There was a second year Mediterrranean Gull at Knockalough near Kilmihil.

Curlew Sandpiper on the beach at Seafield © John N Murphy

Monday 19th September 2005
The Citrine Wagtail was at the Shannon Airport Lagoon this afternoon (John N Murphy). 
Few waders were in the Lagoon due to low tide but there were two Curlew Sandpipers.
A Glaucous Gull flew past the Bridges of Ross this morning, while this evening after the
winds shifted to a westerly direction the following passed the point, 27 Sooty Shearwaters,
one Balearic Shearwater, one Blue Fulmar, two Leach’s Petrels, one Pomarine Skua, one Arctic Skua,
three Red-throated Divers and five Common Scoters.  There was one adult Mediterranean Gull
and two Curlew Sandpipers on the beach at Seafield, Quilty.

Sunday 18th September 2005
The Semi-palmated Sandpiper was still at the Shannon Airport Lagoon on high tides and the
Long-billed Dowitcher.  There were also eight Curlew Sandpipers and six White Wagtails.
There was no sign of The Citrine Wagtail nor the Red-necked Phalarope. 
The Yellow Wagtail was still at Loop Head in Cloghaun Lough, there was a Lapland Bunting at
the Lighthouse but no sign of the Arctic Warbler.  

Saturday 17th September 2005
The Citrine Wagtail had moved back and forth from in front of the hide at the Lagoon
and spent some time near the putting greens in front of the Golf Course Club House.
 The Semipalmated Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Long-billed Dowitcher,
two Spotted Redshanks and four Little Egrets (John Rattigan, Brian Finnegan et al) 
and a Pectoral Sandpiper (Don Hodgers) were also present at the Shannon Airport Lagoon today.
There was a Yellow Wagtail on the stoney beach at Clohaun Lough Loop Head.  This was beleived to be
a different bird to the one which spent a long period of time in Kilbaha.
There were 25 Little Stints at Quilty.

Yellow Wagtail at Cloghaun Lough Loop Head © Keith Langdon

Friday 16th September 2005
We received news late on Saturday of an Arctic Warbler which was seen
near sheds on the road to Loop Head Lighthouse  (Maeve and Christy Meehan)(14.45).
If accepted this will be  a second county record.
The Citrine Wagtail, Red-necked Phalarope juvenile, Semipalmated Sandpiper,
Long-billed Dowitcher, Marsh Harrier, one juvenile Little Gull , Spotted Redshank,
five Little Egrets and 14 Curlew Sandpipers were all showing well this evening at the Shannon
Airport Lagoon (John N Murphy, Stan Nugent, John Rattigan Finbarr Mac Gabhann et al). 
There were three Little Egrets at Drumgeely Point in Shannon Town.
One Garganey was at Kilcredaun Marsh and pools.  

Citrine Wagtail juvenile at Shannon Airport Lagoon © John N Murphy

Marsh Harrier at Shannon Airport Lagoon © John N Murphy

Thursday 15th September 2005
A  juvenile CITRINE WAGTAIL was reported from the Shannon Airport Lagoon this afternoon (Tom Lowe).
This is a first county record.
Also there was a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Tom Lowe) another county first. 
The Semi-palmated Sandpiper was also present along with the Long-billed Dowitcher, 14 Curlew Sandpipers,
one Spotted Redshank, three Ruff, six Little Egrets, the Whooper Swan and one Marsh Harrier. 
At the Bridges of Ross there was one Great Shearwater, two Leache’s Petrels, one Bonxie
one Arctic Skua, three Red-throated Divers and one Minke Whale.
There was one Common Sandpiper at Clogaun Lough.

Wednesday 14th September 2005
There was a juvenile Semi-palmated Sandpiper at the Shannon Airport Lagoon today (John N Murphy)(14.00).
Also present were the Long-billed Dowitcher, one Spotted Redshank, 15 Curlew Sandpiper, three Ruff,
four Little Egrets and thousands of common waders.

Tuesday 13th September 2005
There was a Green Sandpiper and one Kingfisher at Ballycorick Bridge near Ballynacally earlier today.
There was no news of the Baird’s Sandpiper at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.

Monday 12th September 2005
A juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper was at the Shannon Lagoon this morning (Tom Lowe).
There was also four Little Stints and ten Curlew Sandpipers.
One Little Stint was spotted at Seafield, Quilty.

Sunday 11th September
The Green Sandpiper was still at Lough Gash.

Saturday 10th September 2005
At the Bridges of Ross today there were two Cory’s Shearwaters, one Long-tailed Skua, three Arctic Skuas,
two Bonxies and 17 Common Scoter.

Thursday 8th September 2005
There were over 100 Curlew Sandpipers at the Shannon Airport Lagoon today,
also two Little Stints, 400 Dunlin, three Ruff, 300 Teal and three Little Egrets.

Wednesday 7th September 2005
At the Bridges of Ross this morning there was little movement on deep southerly winds, never-the-less
three Cory’s Shearwaters, 13 Sooty Shearwaters, five Common Scoter and one Red-throated Diver passed the point.
This evening at the Bridges there were six Black Terns, three Great Skuas and five Arctic Skuas.
On land there were few passerines on Loop Head with the only migrants being 25 Wheatears and one Spotted Flycatcher.
There were three Curlew Sandpipers on the beach at Kilkee.
The Green Sandpiper was at Lough Gash, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
The Long-billed Dowitcher was back in the Shannon Airport Lagoon along with 30 Curlew Sandpipers
40 Knot and two Little Egrets. 

Tuesday 6th September 2005
The Green Sandpiper was still at Lough Gash, Newmarket-on-Fergus. 

Monday 5th September 2005
At the Bridges of Ross and Loop Head today there were, three Black Terns, 32 Arctic Terns,
one Velvet Scoter, two Arctic Skuas, four Sooty Shearwaters,27 Chough and a Minke Whale. 
There were hundreds of waders at the Shannon Airport Lagoon this morning on high tide,
with them were 80 plus Curlew Sandpipers, one Little Stint, one Pectoral Sandpiper, three Ruff,
two Little Egrets and the Whooper Swan.  There was no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher.
At Lough Gash, Newmarket-on-Fergus the Green Sandpiper was still present.

Sunday 4th September 2005
This morning at Loop Head there was 30 Twite, one Cory’s Shearwater, nine Sooty Shearwaters,
four Black Terns, two Bonxies, five Arctic Skuas, and 60 Wheatears and one Minke Whale.
At Quilty there was 31 Curlew Sandpipers and one Little Stint.
There were two Whooper Swans at Lough Atedaun.

Curlew Sandpiper at Quilty © Graham Catley

Saturday 3rd September 2005
Today at the Bridges of Ross on South-easterly winds there were over 100 Sooty Shearwaters,
two Balearic Shearwaters, five Black Terns, three Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies and seven Grey Phalaropes,
Nine Brent Geese, one Red-throated Diver, 39 Common Scoter, 43 Arctic Terns and one Cory’s Shearwater. 
One Minke Whale was seen off the Fodry, three Sun Fish and 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins off the Bridges.  
There was a Green Sandpiper at Lough Gash, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Friday 2nd September 2005
The winter plumaged Long-billed Dowitcher was back at the Shannon Airport Lagoon after a short absence.
There was also 40 Curlew Sandpipers, one Ruff, three Little Egrets and the Whooper Swan. 
At the Bridges of Ross there were three Black Terns, one Leache’s Petrel and three Sooty Shearwaters
and one Grey Phalaropes.
There was 1500 Manx Shearwters off Doonbeg Bay, one Curlew Sandpiper in the Bay but no sign of the Spotted Sandpiper. 

Thursday 1st September 2005
At the Bridges of Ross today were;
150 plus Sooty Shearwaters, one Balearic Shearwater, one juvenile Long-tailed Skua,
two adult Pomarine Skuas, one Bonxie, 17 Arctic Skuas, one juvenile Sabine’s Gull,
five Leache’s Petrels, nine Grey Phalaropes, 84 Arctic Terns and two Red-throated Divers. 

Wednesday 31st August 2005
A Little shearwater was seen passing the Bridges of Ross (Noel, Niall Keogh et al) (12.50).
There was also two juvenile Pomarine Skuas, 23 Arctic Skuas, one Cory’s Shearwater,
three Balearic Shearwaters,  70 Sooties and 8,000 Manx Shearwaters, ten Storm Petrels,
32 Common Scoters, four Puffins and 60 Sandwich Terns.
There were lots of birds at the Shannon Airport Lagoon,
of interest were five Ruff, two Curlew Sandpipers, eight Little Egrets and the Whooper Swan.. 

Tuesday 30th August 2005
At the Bridges of Ross there was one juvenile Sabine’s Gull, two Balearic Shearwaters,
three Bonxies, 22 Arctic Skuas, 60 plus Sooty Shearwaters, 33 Common Scoter, three Pintail
and 45 Storm Petrels.
There was also 20 Bottle-nosed Dolphins,15 Common Dolphins, two Minke Whales and one Otter. 
The Yellow Wagtail was once again in the small pool in Kilbaha.
The Spotted Sandpiper was still at Doonbeg.

Monday 29th August 2005
There was good movement at the Bridges of Ross early this morning.
Highlights were; 330 Great Shearwaters, 15 Cory’s, 70 Sooties, two Balearic Sherwaters,
one Wilsons Storm Petrel, eight Leache’s Petrels, 37 Storm Petrels, two Sabine’s Gulls,
10 Bonxies, 23 Arctic Skuas, two juvenile Pomarine, one Long-tailed Skua and three Grey Phalaropes.
The Spotted Sandpiper was showing well at Doonbeg along with one Kingfisher (see photo below).
 
Spotted Sandpiper at Doonbeg © John N Murphy

Sunday 28th August 2005
The Spotted Sandpiper was at Doonbeg throughout the day.

Spotted Sandpiper juvenile at Doonbeg © John N Murphy

Saturday 27th August 2005
A juvenile Spotted Sandpiper was found near the new Golf Course Club House at Doonbeg (Nick Hallam et al).
This was a first county record and an excellent find.
The Yellow Wagtail was still at the pond in Kilbaha and there was also a juvenile Mediterranean Gull.
The Leather-backed Turtle was seen again.

Friday 26th August 2005
All is fairly quiet at the Bridges of Ross this morning with only two Leache’s Petrels,
three Grey Phalaropes, two Great and two Arctic Skuas seen so far.
The Leather-backed Turtle was still about.

Thursday 25th August 2005
News from the Bridges of Ross today;
Another Fea’s Petrel was spotted this evening (Aidan Kelly et al)(18.15).
Throughout the day there were three Leache’s Petrels, 10 Sabines Gulls, one Balearic Shearwater,
six Grey Phalaropes, two Long-tailed Skuas, 20 Arctic Skuas, 10 Bonxies, and 35-40 Sooty Shearwaters.
There was also a Leather-backed Turtle, one Minke Whale and four Sun Fish seen off the Bridges during the day. 

Sooty Shearwater © Killian Mullarney

Great Skua © Killian Mullarney

Long-tailed Skua © Killian Mullarney

Wednesday 24th August 2005
A Fea’s Petrel went past the Bridges of Ross (John N Murphy et al) (8.24).
Also at the Bridges were three Coy’s Shearwaters, two Great Shearwaters, 15,000 Manxies,
15 Balearic and 500 Sooty Shearwaters, six Sabine’s Gulls, five Leache’s Petrels, 10 Bonxies,
15 Arctic Skuas and six Grey Phalaropes.  

Sooty Shearwater at Bridges of Ross © John N Murphy

Tuesday 23rd August 2005
Highlights from the Bridges of Ross today were;
One Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Niall Keogh, Michael Hoit et al) (14.05).
Also there was six adult Sabine’s Gulls, 17 Balearic Shearwaters and 22 Great Shearwaters,
1,000 Sooty Shearwaters, two Pomarine Skuas, four Arctic plus seven Great Skuas and 70 Storm Petrels.
There was a report of a boat 22 nautical miles north of Loop Head and from it sightings of one Little Shearwater,
one Wilson’s Storm Petrel, 300 Great Shearwaters and some Cory’s Shearwaters (Kieran Cronin et al).

Monday 22nd August 2005
At the Bridges of Ross this morning there was one Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Jimmy Dowdal) (9.15).
Also past the bridges were 14 Balearic Shearwaters, eight Greats and two Cory’s Shearwaters.
There was no sign of the Lesser Yellowlegs at Doonbeg today.   

Sunday 21st Augus 2005
The Bridges of Ross had 4500 Manx Shearwaters, 300 Sooties, two Great and 11 Cory’s Shearwaters,
nine Balearic Shearwaters, nine Arctic Skuas, five Bonxies and one Pomarine Skua.  There was also 100 Storm
Petrels and 75 Whimbrel.
At the Shannon Airport Lagoon there was no sign of the dowitcher nor the Pectoral Sandpiper,
but there were a lot of waders including one adult Curlew Sandpiper, seven Ruff, six Little Egrets and one Whooper Swan.

Saturday 20th August 2005
The Lesser Yellowlegs was relocated at Doonbeg (Brian Finnegan).
One Wilson’s Storm Petrel at the Bridges of Ross (Harry Hussey, Owen Foley et al)(9.45).
There were few other seabirds this morning with only a small number of Sooty Shearwaters and
one Arctic Skua.

Friday 19th August 2005
There was a large movement of Manx Shearwaters off the Bridges of Ross this morning.
Highlights were seven Cory’s and two Great Shearwaters, seven Balearic Shearwaters and 100 Sooties.
The Long-billed Dowitcher was at the Shannon Airport Lagoon along with the Pectoral Sandpiper and
13 Little Egrets.

Thursday 18th August 2005
At the Bridges of Ross there was one Wilson’s Storm Petrel (John N Murphy) (9.00),
35 Storm Petrels, 50 Cory’s Shearwaters, seven Great Shearwaters, 35 Sooty Shearwaters,
four Balearic Shearwaters, two Long-tailed Skuas, five Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie and one Grey Phalarope.
The Yellow Wagtail was again in Kilbaha.
The Long-billed Dowitcher and a Pectoral Sandpiper were at the Shannon Airport Lagoon. 

Wednesday 17th August 2005
There were 30 Cory’s Shearwaters at the Bridges of Ross this morning.
The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
One Little Egret was at Poulnasherry Bay.
There were two juvenile and one adult Mediterranean Gulls at Moneypoint.

Tuesday 16th August 2005
A White-rumped Sandpiper was found at Poulnasherry Bay this evening (Mans Grundster, Matti Eriksson & Mattias Gierden) (20.30). 
There was no sign of the Lesser Yellowlegs at Doonbeg with one Ruff being the only bird of note.
The Yellow Wagtail was at Kilbaha.
One Little Egret was at Poulnasherry.
Four Ruff were at Lough Donnell. 

Monday 15th August 2005
There was an adult Lesser Yellowlegs found on mudflats just south
of the Doonbeg river (Nicolas Selosse et al). This is only the second county record.
There was also a Kingfisher and four Wigeon.
Things had gone quiet at the Bridges of Ross with only ten Sooty Shearwaters,
five Arctic Skuas and one Bonxie.
The Yellow Wagtail was in Kilbaha.

Yellow Wagtail at the small pond in Kilbaha © John N Murphy

Lesser Yellowlegs at Doonbeg © Jacques-A. Leclercq

Sunday 14th August 2005
There was another Fea’s Petrel at the Bridges of Ross today (Christophe Gruwier et al) (12.15).
There was also five Balearic Shearwaters, twe juvenile Mediterranean Gulls and one Long-tailed Skua off the Bridges.
The Yellow Wagtail was once again in Kilbaha.

Saturday 13th August 2005
The Bridges of Ross had the following;
One Fea’s Petrel passed at approx 20.00 in the evening (Nicolas Selosse et al) (20.00).
One Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Noel, Lennihan, Aidan Duggan, Brian Finnegan et al) (9.30am).
There was another Wilson’s Storm Petrel off the Bridges of Ross in the afternoon
(Raphaël Lebrun, Killian Mullarney et al) (16.00).  
There was also 27000 Manx Shearwaters, seven Balearic Shearwaters, three Great Shearwaters,
over 296 Sooty Shearwaters, one Balearic Shearwater, two Grey Phalaropes, 173 Storm Petrels, one
Long-tailed Skua, one Pomarine Skuas, six Arctic Skuas and six Bonxies.
The Yellow Wagtail was once again in the pond at Kilbaha.
At the Shannon Airport Lagoon one Long-billed Dowitcher was still present
along with the Whooper Swan, one Wigeon, ten Little Egrets, five Ruff and
one Spotted Redshank.
There was one Little Egret at Poulnasherry Bay and the white Curlew was still
in the locality.

Friday 12th August 2005
News from the Bridges of Ross; one Wilson’s Storm Petrel (John N Murphy), 40 Storm Petrels,
44 Sooty Shearwaters, one Balearic Shearwater, one Bonxie and four Arctic Skuas.
Around the Loop Head penninsula there were two White Wagtails.  The Yellow Wagatil was
in the pond at Kilbaha.  One juvenile Meditteranean Gull was near the Lough in Kilbaha.
There was one juvenile Long-eared Owl at Darragh.
The two Ring-billed Gulls were at Quilty. 

Thursday 11th August 2005
Very little about today, the only report was of a male Hen Harrier hunting near Maghera.
The Yellow Wagtail was again in the small pond in Kilbaha.

Wednesday 10th August 2005
The Yellow Wagtail was still in Kilbaha.

Tuesday 9th August 2005
Only one Long-billed Dowitcher was seen at the Shannon Airport Lagoon this morning.
There were hundreds of Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank along with nine Little Egrets
and the Whooper Swan.
One male Marsh Harrier at Lough Donnell (Frank O’Duffy).
One of the two Ring-billed Gulls was seen at Quilty today.

Monday 8th August 2005
The two Long-billed Dowitchers were feeding together this evening at the Shannon
Airport Lagoon.  There were also seven Little Egrets, one Ruff and one Whooper Swan.

Sunday 7th August 2005
All was quiet at the Bridges of Ross with only six Arctic Skuas observed during the day.

Saturday 6th August 2005
Dire weather conditions with seafog at the Bridges of Ross made watching
very difficult.  Highlights for the day were one Sooty Shearwater, 48 Storm
Petrels, one dark phased adult Pomarine Skua and four Arctic Skuas.
 
Friday 5th August 2005
Now at the Shannon Airport Lagoon there are two summer plumaged
Long-billed Dowitchers (John N Murphy) and 12 Little Egrets.
News from the Bridges of Ross was: 600 Cory’s Shearwaters, 110 Sooty Shearwaters,
45 Great Shearwaters, six Arctic Skuas, three Great Skuas, only 20 Storm Petrels and
one adult Sabine’s Gull.

Thursday 4th August 2005
At the Bridges of Ross today there were two Wilson’s Storm Petrels (Hugh Delaney et al), 
41 Cory’s Shearwaters, eight Great Shearwaters, 12 Sooty Shearwaters,
up to 1,100 Whimbrel passed throughout the day, 80 Storm Petrels,
three Common Scoter, one Great Skua and one Arctic Skua. 

Wednesday 3rd August 2005
The Long-billed Dowitcher was showing well at the Shannon Airport Lagoon,
and now there are eight Little Egrets as well as the Whooper Swan and a Ruff.
At the Bridges of Ross there were 71 Cory’s Shearwaters, 10 Great Shearwaters and three Sooties.
This was very little movement in comparision to that of other headlands in the North west of Ireland.

Tuesday 2nd August 2005
The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at the Shannon Airport Lagoon
today, along with six Little Egrets, two Whooper Swans and the Black-
tailed Godwits and Redshank.
The albanistic Curlew was still at Poulnasherry Bay and also a hunting juvenile
Hen Harrier was observed.

Long-billed Dowitcher © John N Murphy

Monday 1st August 2005
The Long-billed Dowitcher was still at the Shannon Airport Lagoon
along with the four Little Egrets.

Sunday 31st July 2005
The Long-billed Dowitcher returned to the Shannon Airport Lagoon.
The four Little Egrets, Whooper Swan and Ruff were still present.
There was also a luecistic Redshank.

Moulting flight shot of Long-billed Dowicher at Lagoon © John N Murphy.

Saturday 30th July 2005
There was a Wilson’s Petrel off the Bridges of Ross (Owen Foley & Colum Flynn).
along with three Sooty Shearwaters and four Arctic Skuas.
One Long-billed Dowitcher was at the Shannon Airport Lagoon (Harry Hussey & Owen Foley).
Also at the lagoon were four Little Egrets, one Ruff and a Whooper Swan.

Friday 29th July 2005
One Yellow Wagtail was in Kilbaha, Loop Head.

Thursday 28th July 2005
There were two Ring-billed Gulls at Quilty

Ring-billed Gul © Mike Davis

Wednesday 27th July 2005
There were six Common Sandpipers at Ballycorick Bridge near Ballynacally.
A flock of 65 Rock Doves fed on a newly sown field near Kilbaha, Loop Head.

Rock Dove at Loop Head © John N Murphy

Monday 25th July 2005
One Stock Dove was seen at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Sunday 24th July 2005
There were two young Long-eared Owls heard calling at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Saturday 23rd July 2005
Three Wilson’s Petrels were off the Bridges of Ross for over 1 hour
feeding witnin flocks of Storm Petrels (John N Murphy, Paul Milne, Stan Nugent & John Rattigan). 
There was also two Cory’s Shearwaters, 15 Sooty Shearwaters,
five Arctic Skuas, one Great Skua and five Common Scoters. 
Three Common Sandpipers were at Cloghaun Lough near Kilbaha.
There was a flock of 200 Dunlin at Poulnasherry Bay and the albanistic
Curlew has returned to this site for the fifth season.
 Tuesday 19th July 2005
A short morning seawatch off the Bridges of Ross produced six
Cory’s Shearwaters, one Great Shearwater, 14 Sooty Shearwaters,
25 Storm Petrels, one Arctic Skua, one 2nd year Long-tailed Skua and
10 Common Scoter.
There was a Yellow Wagtail at the small pond in Kilbaha.

Yellow Wagtail in the small pond at Kilbaha © John N Murphy

Thursday 23rd June 2005 
Two Leaches Petrels off the Bridges of Ross.

Saturday 28th May 2005
There were two Leaches Petrels off the Bridges of Ross.

Male Hen Harrier © John N Murphy

White Wagtail at Loop Head © John N Murphy

One of two Swallows at Ballycar © John N Murphy

Drake Ring-necked Duck with Tufted Ducks at Ballyallia Lake © Stan Nugent

Waxwing working his way through berries in Ennis © John N Murphy

Waxwing at the Hermitage Ennis © John N Murphy

Common Sandpiper © John N Murphy

Glaucous Gull (c) John N Murphy