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Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus
Regular Autumn passage seabird. |
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The first record for the county was one on 15th October 1983.
Since then, there has been an annual passage of 10 – 15 records per annum between the months of July to early October, off the Bridges of Ross. 2001: One at Bridges of Ross on 24th, three on 25th, one on 26th, four on 29th and four on 30th August. 2000: One at Bridges of Ross on 1st September. 1999: Two at Bridges of Ross on 17th August. Singles at Bridges of Ross on 24th, 27th and 28th August. Seven at Bridges of Ross on 26th August. Four at Bridges of Ross on 29th August. Three at Bridges of Ross on 30th August. Two at Bridges of Ross on 8th and 9th August. 1998: One at Bridges of Ross on 23rd and one on 29th August. Two at Bridges of Ross on 9th September.
1997: All records are from the Bridges of Ross. One on 31st July. Four on 23rd, one on 24th and 25th, six on 28th and one on 29th. August. One on 1st, two on 3rd, one on 4th and 6th September: 1996: At Loop Head and Bridges of Ross: Four on 16th, one on 17th, two on 19th, one on 20th, two on 21st, one on 23rd, 11 on 24th, two on 25th, and three on 31st August. One on 7th and two on 17th September. One on 3rd and 4th October. 1995: At Bridges of Ross: One on 25th August. Three on 2nd, one on 14th and 25th September. One on 6th and 14th October. 1994: At Bridges of Ross: two on 8th, one 9th and three on 10th September. 1993: One at Bridges of Ross on 16th September. 1991: Singles at Bridges of Ross on 7th and 21st September with two there on 16th September. 1990: One off Loop Head on 12th August, 21 from 12th August to 19th September, with a maximum of four on 12th August. 1988: One on 23rd September. 1987: There were 13 at the Bridges of Ross between 30th July an 6th October, with a. maximum four on 2nd September. 1986: Singles at Bridges of Ross on 18th and 22nd October. 1985: One at Castle Point, Kilkee on 1st September. 1984: Ten at the bridges of Ross between 9th and 23rd September. 1983: One at Bridges of Ross on 15th October. |
Balearic Shearwater
Black-necked Grebe
| Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Rare vagrant. |
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| 1997: The first county record made a short appearance at Poulnasherry Bay on 25th October. |
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Horned (Slavonian) Grebe
| Horned (Slavonian) Grebe Podiceps auritus Scarce winter visitor. |
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| 1997: Two Poulnasherry Bay 19th January, one 25th October. 1996: One at Parteen on 21st September. Two at Poulnasherry Bay on 25th October. 1995: One at Ballyvaughan from 25th February to 19th March. 1994: Two at Aughinish Island on 26th February. 1998: Two at Aughinish Island on 24th January. 1993: One at Liscannor Bay on 24th January. One at Moyasta, Poulnasherry Bay on 28th November. 1992: Three at Aughinish Island on 11th January, with four there on 19th January. One at Liscannor Bay on 19th & 20th December. Two at Aughinish Island on 28th December. 1990: One at Ballyvaughan on 29th December. 1989: A pair at Lough Graney on 24th January. 1987: One at Ballyvaughan on 1st January. 1985: One at Quilty on 13th March. 1983: Three at New Quay on 22nd January. 1982: Two at New Quay on 4th December. One at Labasheeda Bay on 20th November. 1966: One at Scarriff Bay, Lough Derg on 26th December. 1948: One at Ballyvaughan Pier on 17th February. 1907: One at Ballyvaughan on 25th March. |
 Slavonian Grebe © John N Murphy
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Red-necked Grebe
| Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Regular winter visitor. |
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| 2005: One adult in summer plumage at Poulnasherry Bay on February. 2000: 1999: One at Ross Bay, Loop Head on 20th October. One at Ballyvaughan on 20th November. 1998: One at Aughinish Island on 22nd January. One at Poulnasherry Bay on 15th November. 1997: One at Poulnasherry Bay on 19th January. One at Ballyvaughan on 8th and 9th March. 1996: One at Aughinish Island on 3rd March. 1994: Two at Ballyvaughan throughout January. 1993: One at Shannon Airport on 16th and 17th January. One at Ballyvaughan on 16th October. 1992: One at Aughinish Island on 19th January. 1989: One at Ballyvaughan on 19th February. 1988: One at Ballyvaughan on 20th February. 1968: Two at Labasheeda Bay on 29th December. |
Pied-billed Grebe
| Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Rare North American vagrant. |
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| 1997: One at Cloghaun Lough, Loop Head from 11th to 13th December. This was only the fifth Irish record at that time and a first for the county. |
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| Pied-billed Grebe John N Murphy |
Great Northern Loon
| Great Northern Loon Gavia immer
Common winter visitor.
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Any coastal site can hold small numbers of 10 or less but highest concentrations are in Galway Bay.
The largest counts from this site were 95 on 22nd January 1998. 250 in April 2000 is one of the largest counts ever.
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Bird Species In Clare
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To view the status of any listed species below for Clare, then please click on the bird species which you would like information on and a map with details of sightings will pop up.
1. RED-THROATED DIVER
2. BLACK-THROATED DIVER 3. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER 4. PIED-BILLED GREBE 5. LITTLE GREBE 6. GREAT CRESTED GREBE 7. RED-NECKED GREBE 8. SLAVONIAN GREBE 9. BLACK-NECKED GREBE 10. FEA’S/SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL 11. FULMAR 12. CORY’S SHAERWATER 13. GREAT SHEARWATER 14. SOOTY SHEARWATER 15. MANX SHEARWATER 16. BALEARIC SHEARWATER 17 LITTLE SHEARWATER 18 WILSON’S STORM PETREL 19 EUROPEAN STORM PETREL 20 . LEACH’S STORM PETREL 21. GANNET 22. CORMORANT 23. SHAG 24. EURASIAN BITTERN 25. LITTLE EGRET 26. GREAT WHITE EGRET 27. GREY HERON 28. PURPLE HERON 29. GLOSSY IBIS 30. EURASIAN SPOONBILL 31. MUTE SWAN 32. WHOOPER SWAN 33. BEWICK’S SWAN 34. BEAN GOOSE 35. PINK-FOOTED GOOSE 36. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 37. GREYLAG GOOSE 38. SNOW GOOSE 39. CANADA GOOSE 40. BARNACLE GOOSE 41. BRENT GOOSE 42. RUDDY SHELDUCK 43. SHELDUCK 44. WIGEON 45. AMERICAN WIGEON 46. GADWALL 47. EURASIAN TEAL/GREEN-WINGED TEAL 48. BLUE-WINGED TEAL 49. MALLARD 50. PINTAIL 51. GARGANEY 52. SHOVELER 53. POCHARD 54. RING-NECKED DUCK 55. TUFTED DUCK 56. SCAUP 57. EIDER 58. LONG-TAILED DUCK 59. COMMON SCOTER 60. SURF SCOTER 61. VELVET SCOTER 62. GOLDENEYE 63. SMEW 64. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER 65. GOOSANDER 66. RUDDY DUCK 67. WHITE-TAILED EAGLE 68. MARSH HARRIER 69. HEN HARRIER 70. GOSHAWK 71. SPARROWHAWK 72. BUZZARD 73. GOLDEN EAGLE 74. OSPREY 75. KESTREL 76. MERLIN 77. HOBBY 78. GYR FALCON 79. PEREGRINE 80. RED GROUSE 81. GREY PARTRIDGE 82. RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE 83. QUAIL 84. PHEASANT 85. WATER RAIL 86. SPOTTED CRAKE 87. CORNCRAKE 88. MOORHEN 89. COOT 90. COMMON CRANE 91. LITTLE BUSTARD 92. OYSTERCATCHER 93. BLACK-WINGED STILT 94. AVOCET 95. STONE CURLEW 96. COLLARED PRATINCOLE 97. RINGED PLOVER 98. DOTTEREL 99. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER 100. GOLDEN PLOVER 101. GREY PLOVER 102. LAPWING 103. KNOT 104. SANDERLING 105. SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER 106. LITTLE STINT 107. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER 108. BAIRD’S SANDPIPER 109. PECTORAL SANDPIPER 110. CURLEW SANDPIPER 111. PURPLE SANDPIPER 112. DUNLIN 113. BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 114. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER 115. RUFF 116. JACK SNIPE 117. SNIPE 118. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 119. WOODCOCK 120. BLACK-TAILED GODWIT 121. BAR-TAILED GODWIT 122. WHIMBREL 123. CURLEW 124. UPLAND SANDPIPER 125. SPOTTED REDSHANK 126. REDSHANK 127. GREENSHANK 128. LESSER YELLOWLEGS 129. GREATER YELLOWLEGS 130. GREEN SANDPIPER 131. WOOD SANDPIPER 132. COMMON SANDPIPER 133. TURNSTONE 134. WILSON’S PHALAROPE 135. RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 136. GREY PHALAROPE 137. POMARINE SKUA 138. ARCTIC SKUA 139. LONG-TAILED SKUA 140. GREAT SKUA 141. MEDITERRANEAN GULL 142. LAUGHING GULL 143. LITTLE GULL 144. SABINE’S GULL 145. BONAPARTE’S GULL 146. BLACK-HEADED GULL 147. RING-BILLED GULL 148. COMMON GULL 149. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL 150. HERRING GULL 151. YELLOW-LEGGED HERRING GULL 152. ICELAND GULL 153. GLAUCOUS GULL 154. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL 155. ROSS’S GULL 156. KITTIWAKE 157. GULL-BILLED TERN 158. SOOTY TERN 159. SANDWICH TERN 160. ROSEATE TERN 161. COMMON TERN 162. ARCTIC TERN 163. FORSTER’S TERN 164. LITTLE TERN 165. BLACK TERN 166. WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN 167. GUILLEMOT 168. RAZORBILL 169. BLACK GUILLEMOT 170. LITTLE AUK 171. PUFFIN 172. PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE 173. ROCK DOVE 174. STOCK DOVE 175. WOODPIGEON 176. COLLARED DOVE 177. TURTLE DOVE 178. CUCKOO 179. BARN OWL 180. SNOWY OWL 181. LONG-EARED OWL 182. SHORT EARED OWL 183. NIGHTJAR 184. SWIFT 185. KINGFISHER 186. BELTED KINGFISHER 187. BEE-EATER 188. ROLLER 189. HOOPOE 190. WRYNECK 191. GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER 192. SHORT-TOED LARK 193. SKYLARK 194. SAND MARTIN 195. SWALLOW 196. RED-RUMPED SWALLOW 197. HOUSE MARTIN 198. RICHARD’S PIPIT 199. BLYTH’S PIPIT ) 200. TREE PIPIT 201. MEADOW PIPIT 202. ROCK PIPIT 203. WATER PIPIT 204. YELLOW WAGTAIL 205. GREY WAGTAIL 206. PIED/WHITE WAGTAIL 207. WAXWING 208. DIPPER 209. WREN 210. DUNNOCK 211. ROBIN 212. BLUETHROAT 213. BLACK REDSTART 214. REDSTART 215. WHINCHAT 216. STONECHAT 217. WHEATEAR 218. PIED WHEATEAR 219. ROCK THRUSH 220. SIBERIAN THRUSH 221. GREY-CHECKED THRUSH 222. RING OUZEL 223. BLACKBIRD 224. FIELDFARE 225. SONG THRUSH 226. REDWING 227. MISTLE THRUSH 228. GRASSHOPPER WARBLER 229. SAVI’S WARBLER 230. SEDGE WARBLER 231. REED WARBLER 232. ICTERINE WARBLER 233. MELODIOUS WARBLER 234. BARRED WARBLER 235. LESSER WHITETHROAT 236. WHITETHROAT 237. GARDEN WARBLER 238. BLACKCAP 239. ARCTIC WARBLER 240. PALLAS’S WARBLER 241. YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER 242. WOOD WARBLER 243. CHIFFCHAFF 244. WILLOW WARBLER 245. GOLDCREST 246. FIRECREST 247. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER 248. RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER 249. PIED FLYCATCHER 250. LONG-TAILED TIT 251. COAL TIT 252. BLUE TIT 253. GREAT TIT 254. TREECREEPER 255. GOLDEN ORIOLE 256. GREAT GREY SHRIKE 257. JAY 258. MAGPIE 259. CHOUGH 260. JACKDAW 261. ROOK 262. HOODED 263. CARRION CROW 264. RAVEN 265. STARLING 266. ROSE-COLOURED STARLING 267. HOUSE SPARROW 268. TREE SPARROW 269. RED-EYED VIREO 270. CHAFFINCH 271. BRAMBLING 272. GREENFINCH 273. GOLDFINCH 274. SISKIN 275. LINNET 276. TWITE 277. REDPOLL 278. LESSER REDPOLL 279. MEALY REDPOLL 280. CROSSBILL 281. SCARLET ROSEFINCH 282. BULLFINCH 283. HAWFINCH 284. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT 285. YELLOW WARBLER 286. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER 287. DARK-EYED JUNCO 288. LAPLAND BUNTING 289. SNOW BUNTING 290. YELLOWHAMMER 291. ORTOLAN BUNTING 292. RUSTIC BUNTING 293. LITTLE BUNTING 294. REED BUNTING 295. BLACK-HEADED BUNTING 296. CORN BUNTING 297. RED KITE 311. PHILADELPHIA VIREO
312. ROSE-BREASTED GROSSBEAK
313. PACIFIC DIVER
Birds believed to be of possible captive origins or escapees.
314. YELLOW-THROATED BUNTING
315. BLACK SWAN 316. GREATER FLAMINGO |
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Upcoming Outings
Sat
Saturday 15th January 2011
Outing to Liscannor Bay and Clahane to see divers, shorebirds and pipits. Meet at Liscannor Pier at 11a.m.
Leaders: Dave McNamara and Stan Nugent
CHILDREN UNDER 14 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT ON ALL OUTINGS
WEAR WARM CLOTHING AND SUITABLE FOOTWEAR.
NO DOGS ALLOWED.
Saturday 19th February 2011
Outing to Nimmo’s Pier, Galway for white winged gulls and shorebirds. Meet at the Slipway Nimmo’s Pier at 11a.m.
Leaders: John N Murphy and Finbarr MacGabhann
Saturday 19th March 2011
Outing to Ballyvaughan Bay in search of divers, sea duck and early returning migrants. Meet at the Pier in Ballyvaughan at 11a.m.
Leaders: Austin Cooney and Brian Finnegan
Saturday 16th April 2011
Outing to Fanore where we will look for summer breeding birds in the sand dunes and walk up the Caher Valley for wild flowers and other birds. Meet at the car-park at Fanore sand dunes at 11a.m.
Leaders: John N Murphy and Tom Lynch
Sunday 15th May 2011
Outing to the Mulloughmore area of the Burren on National Dawn Chorus Day. This is an opportunity to listen and see Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Blackcap and other birds of the Burren. It will be a very leisurely stroll lasting for 3 hours or more if the weather is good. Meet at the Gotto Corofin at 5a.m. (No dogs allowed) Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Leaders: Austin Cooney Finbarr MacGabhann Tom and Nuala Lynch.
Saturday 11th June 2011
Boat trip under the Cliffs of Moher to see breeding Puffins and other seabirds. Meet at Doolin Pier. Check on this site for more exact details closer to the date. (Times and tides)
Book the week in advance by contacting John N Murphy Tom Lynch or Austin Cooney. It is necessary to do this as places are limited on this very pleasant sea outing.
Saturday 2nd July 2011
Outing to Corronroo on the Clare/Galway border to visit the Sandwich Tern and Black-headed Gull colony. Meet at the Merriman Hotel in Kinvarra at 11a.m.
Leaders: John N Murphy and Tom Lynch
Saturday 21st August
Outing to the Bridges of Ross to watch seabird migration. This one of the hot- spots for birding on these islands at this time of year. A very different birdwatching experience. Meet at the car-park at the Bridges of Ross at 10a.m. B+B and food is available at the Lighthouse Inn Kilbaha at reasonable rates.
Leaders: John N Murphy and Finbarr MacGabhann.
Saturday 10th September 2011
Outing to the Shannon Airport Lagoon to see waders and ducks. Meet at the Shannon Golf Club car-park at 10a.m.
Leaders: John Rattigan and Stan Nugent.
Saturday 1st October 2011
Outing to Loop Head to look for lost American vagrants. Meet at the Lighthouse Inn Kilbaha at 11a.m.
Leaders: John N Murphy and Brian Finnegan.
Saturday 19th November 2011
Outing to Lurga Point, Seafield, Quilty to search for wading birds and gulls. Meet at the Pier at Seafield at 11a.m.
Leaders: John N Murphy and Tom Lynch
Saturday 3rd December 2011
Outing to Ballyallia Lake, Ennis to see wildfowl and ducks. Meet at the Display Board opposite the shop at 11a.m.
Leaders: Nuala and Tom Lynch.
Warm clothing, binoculars, flask and sandwiches add greatly to the enjoyment of all the above outings.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Dogs are not allowed.
For other 2011 outings check our calendar or www.birdwatchireland.ie or seasonal issue of Wings.
Copies of our publication The Shannon Airport Lagoon-A Unique Irish Habitat
are available from Tom Lynch, 16 Oak Park, Ennis, Co. Clare. Price: €10
Clare Bird Watching Sites
Bird Sites
The following is a list of the best birding sites that Clare has to offer. We will be adding detailed information on these sites over time.
The following is a list of the best birding sites that Clare has to offer. We will be adding detailed information on these sites over time.
Auginish Island
Aughinish Island is found on the north Clare coast in Galway Bay. It is connected to the mainland by a causeway and has a Martello Tower on the north east end of the island. You can drive onto Aughinish from the main road (N67) which runs between Kinvarra and Ballyvaughan.
It is best in winter for Divers, Grebes, Brent Geese, Long-tailed Duck and a variety of other seabirds and diving duck.
Scarce and rare birds here have included Ross’s Gull, Snow Bunting, Slavonian and Red-necked Grebe, Black Redstart and Forster’s Tern.
Ballyallia
Ballyvaughan
Black Head
Bridges of Ross
Ballyeither Loughs
Ballycar Lake
Bell harbour
Burren
Carron Polje
Carrigaholt
Clenagh
Clonderlaw Bay
Clohaun Lough
Cliffs of Moher
Corofin Lakes
Cullaunaheeda
Cratloe Woods
Dromore Woods & Lough
Dromoland Castle
Doon Lake
Doo Lough
Ennistymon Falls & Marsh
Ennis
Fergus Estuary & River
Fanore
Farrihy Lake
Fenloe Lake
Flaggyshore
Hags Head
Islandavanna
Illaunonearaun
Ing
Kilkee
Kilbaha
Kilrush Woods and Marina
Killaloe
Kilcredaun Marsh
Lahinch
Lisdoonvarna
Liscannor Bay
Lurga Point
Lough Graney
Lough Inchiquin
Lough Atedaun
Lough Bunny
Lough O Grady
Lough Inchironan
Lough Derg
Lough Donnell
Lough Murree
Lough George
Lough Gash
Loop Head
Maghera Mountain
Mutton Island
Mattle Island
Muckanagh Lake
Poulnasherry Bay
Querrin
Rinneville Bay
Rine
Rosroe Lake
Scarriff Bay
Shannon Airport lagoon
Shannon Estuary & River
Shannon Town
Tullagher Bog
1 Comment Aughinish Island is found on the north Clare coast in Galway Bay. It is connected to the mainland by a causeway and has a Martello Tower on the north east end of the island. You can drive onto Aughinish from the main road (N67) which runs between Kinvarra and Ballyvaughan.
It is best in winter for Divers, Grebes, Brent Geese, Long-tailed Duck and a variety of other seabirds and diving duck.
Scarce and rare birds here have included Ross’s Gull, Snow Bunting, Slavonian and Red-necked Grebe, Black Redstart and Forster’s Tern.
Ballyallia
Ballyvaughan
Black Head
Bridges of Ross
Ballyeither Loughs
Ballycar Lake
Bell harbour
Burren
Carron Polje
Carrigaholt
Clenagh
Clonderlaw Bay
Clohaun Lough
Cliffs of Moher
Corofin Lakes
Cullaunaheeda
Cratloe Woods
Dromore Woods & Lough
Dromoland Castle
Doon Lake
Doo Lough
Ennistymon Falls & Marsh
Ennis
Fergus Estuary & River
Fanore
Farrihy Lake
Fenloe Lake
Flaggyshore
Hags Head
Islandavanna
Illaunonearaun
Ing
Kilkee
Kilbaha
Kilrush Woods and Marina
Killaloe
Kilcredaun Marsh
Lahinch
Lisdoonvarna
Liscannor Bay
Lurga Point
Lough Graney
Lough Inchiquin
Lough Atedaun
Lough Bunny
Lough O Grady
Lough Inchironan
Lough Derg
Lough Donnell
Lough Murree
Lough George
Lough Gash
Loop Head
Maghera Mountain
Mutton Island
Mattle Island
Muckanagh Lake
Poulnasherry Bay
Querrin
Rinneville Bay
Rine
Rosroe Lake
Scarriff Bay
Shannon Airport lagoon
Shannon Estuary & River
Shannon Town
Tullagher Bog
homepage
| Scarce & Rare Bird Sightings in Clare
This section deals with scarce and rare birds seen in Clare on a daily basis. If you wish to report any sightings of birds from your locality then please send us an email to lets us know what you have seen and we will add it to our updates every day. Alternatively you can call in your sightings or text us the details to John Murphy @ 086-3208965 or Tom Lynch @ 087-2390738 or by email tnaclynch@gmail.com All photos of scarce or rare birds can be forwarded to jemurphy@esatclear.ie All photos on this web site are the copyright of photographers and must not be used elsewhere without their prior permission.
|
 Hoopoe © JNM |
| Scarce & Rare Bird Sightings for Limerick This section highlights birds found in Limerick. All sightings for inclusion in this section should be sent to the following; Tom Tarpey, County Limerick Recorder ttarpey2@gmail.com Tel. 087-2769000 or Jeff Hunt of the Limerick Branch of Birdwatch Ireland geoffreyhunt@eircom.net Telephone 087-7656439 All pictures for inclusion in this section Should be sent to Tom Tarpey or John Murphy details above. |
 Garganey © JNM |
| Colour Ringed Birds in Clare Every Year there are many sightings of colour ringed (banded) birds in Clare. This section deals with the sightings of all colour ringed birds seen in the county. There is a breakdown of the species and full details of the movements of birds like Whooper Swans, Brent Geese, Black-tailed Godwits, Sanderling, Lapwing, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull and Mediterranean Gulls in and out of the country. |
 Darvic band on Whooper Swan © JNM |
| Best Bird Sites in Clare Clare has a huge variety of habitats suitable for birds. It is one of the few counties in Ireland that has nearly all the habitats with the Burren being a unique and special landscape feature in Clare. This section outlines the best sites that our county has to offer, from the Loop Head penninsula in the south West to the east Clare lakes and mighty Shannon. We hope you enjoy your visit to Clare |
 Sunset over Dromore © JNM |
| New Clare Branch Calendar 2011 The Clare Branch have just launched a new bird Calendar for 2011. To see how you can get hold of one of these colourful Calendars, then just click on the headed title above. |
 2011 Calendar © JNM |
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