|
December 2008
| 31 Dec |
Barn Owl seen near Westport |
W Stringer |
| 28 Dec |
Sightings From Erris / Belmullet:
Carrowmore Lake - Ring-necked Duck still present, seen at the north end
Pickle Point, Belmullet - Ring-billed Gull just off the harbour, along with an adult Mediterranean Gull
Termoncarragh Lake - 19 Pink-footed Geese including one with a
neck-collar 'LNC' which was ringed at Meikle Loch, Aberdeenshire,
Scotland on 12th April 2007. Also c500 Barnacle Geese. |
R Bonser & J Jones |
| 28 Dec |
1 Little Egret seen at Westport Quay |
R Bonser & J Jones |
| 27 Dec |
400 Golden Plover at Carrowholly, Westport |
M Hogan |
| 25 Dec |
300 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 250 Light-bellied Geese at Killala |
M Hogan |
| 19 Dec |
Whooper Swan with ring number ASV back in Aughagower,
Westport with 3 juveniles. She was first ringed as an adult in
Dumfries, Scotland, in 1995 by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
For details of where she has been seen since first ringing, click here |
E McGeal |
| 18 Dec |
1 Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) at saleen, Belmullet |
D Suddaby |
| 16 Dec |
36 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Erris |
M Reilly |
| 16 Dec |
1 drake Ring-necked Duck on Carrowmore Lake, 1 Hen Harrier seen near Bangor |
M Reilly |
| 14 Dec |
Buzzard seen near Leenane |
D Fabby |
| 12 Dec |
King Eider still present at Frenchport Pier and seen from sculpture near Annagh Head |
D Suddaby & M Reilly |
| 10 Dec |
First winter male King Eider Duck at Frenchport Pier, Annagh on the Mullet, along with 1 Glaucous Gull and 1 Iceland Gull |
D Suddaby |
| 10 Dec |
40 Twite seen at Dunnamo Gladree, on the Mullet |
M Reilly |
| 9 Dec |
Male Hen Harrier seen north of Castlebar |
W Lavelle |
| 6 Dec |
30+ Woodcock in wood near Hollymount |
C Benson |
| 1 Dec |
4 Waxwing seen feeding on a rowan tree at Garryduff near Castlebar.
Keep an eye out around rowan trees, especially near churches and
gardens for starling shaped birds which are buff in colour and
sometimes show a small crest. This is a good time of year to spot them |
M McLoughlin |
| 1 Dec |
1
male and 1 female Shoveler seen at Westport Quay, unusual for the time
of year at this location, although are common in other areas of Mayo |
M Hogan |
November 2008
| 23 Nov |
2 Merlin near Hollymount |
C Benson |
| 22 Nov |
Wigeons in field near Hollymount (locally scarce) |
C Benson |
| 22 Nov |
3 Little Egret and 1 Kingfisher seen between Annagh and Murrisk, west of Westport |
D Daly |
| 22 Nov |
Ring-billed Gull at Rosclave, just south of Newport |
S Meaney |
| 20 Nov |
Seawatching at Kilcummin Head:
51 Grey Phalarope, 1 Little Auk, 6 Twite, 6 Common Scoter, 7 Great Northern Diver, 6 Red-throated Diver
Small passage of common auks, gulls and Gannets |
S Feeney |
| 18 Nov |
3 Buzzard over Mullafarry Quarry near Killala, 4 Little Egret at Killala |
J Donnelly |
| 17 Nov |
1 first winter Glaucous Gull at Annagh Beach on the Mullet |
D Suddaby |
| 16 Nov |
1 Green-winged Teal still on Carrowmore Lake near Bangor |
M Reilly |
| 15 Nov |
23
Light-bellied Brent Geese (including juveniles) at Lecanvey (between
Westport and Louisburgh). They use this area when the small river flows
into the sea at low tide as they have access to their feeding site |
L Shelley |
| 13 Nov |
1 juvenile Eider Duck at Annagh Beach on the Mullet |
M Reilly |
| 13 Nov |
6 Long-tailed Duck off Belderra on the Mullet |
M Reilly |
| 11 Nov |
2 Black-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver in Broadhaven Bay and 12 Black Guillemot at Shanahee on the Mullet |
M Reilly |
| 11 Nov |
1 juvenile Common Tern at Annagh Beach, on the Mullet |
D Suddaby |
| 11 Nov |
1 Snow Goose (adult, white morph) at Termoncarragh Marsh on the Mullet |
D Suddaby |
| 9 Nov |
Seawatching at Kilcummin Head today:
A
cold but enjoyable day. Total counts 0900-1500 hrs - 12 Great Northern
Divers, 6 Red-throated Divers, 6 Little Auks, 262 Grey Phalaropes (lots
of groups in double figures, very few singles), 1 Sooty Shearwater, 2
Manx Shearwater, 1 juvenile Little Gull, 6 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua,
1000 Kittiwakes, 30 Fulmars, 2 Storm Petrels, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 10
Twite, 2 Snow Bunting flew in off the sea.
Good number of Gannets, very small numbers of Guillemots and Razorbills |
S Feeney |
| 9 Nov |
1
adult male Black Redstart seen at Cogaula, near Westport. Last year on
29th Oct, a Black Redstart was found accidentally trapped in a building under
construction at Aughagower, near Westport, but was released alive and well |
O Norris |
| 9 Nov |
2
Black-throated Diver, 4 Great Northern Diver, 1 Arctic Skua, 1
Peregrine, 2 Chough, 2 Light-bellied Brent Geese. 15 Greenland
White-fronted Geese and c500 Barnacle Geese - all seen on the Mullet |
D Pearson |
| 9 Nov |
5 Crossbill and 1 Woodcock (first of the winter) near Hollymount |
C Benson |
| 8 Nov |
5 Great Northern Diver,
8 Common Scoter, 1 Bonxie, 1 Sooty Shearwater and 1 Harbour Porpoise at
Kilcummin Head. Also good numbers of Gannets, Kittwakes and Fulmars and
some Guillemot and Razorbills |
D Pearson |
| 8 Nov |
4 Little Egrets at Killala seen together very close
to the road in the marshy area between Killala and Ross. Also over 800
Light-bellied Brent Geese seen in Killala Bay. |
W Stringer |
| 7 Nov |
137 Whooper Swan in the fields near Foxford. This is the area that last year had many ringed swans. |
D Clarke |
| 7 Nov |
1 Snow Goose with 7 Greylag Geese at Annagh Marsh and 2
Merlin at Annagh Head, as well as 8 Shoveler Duck at Termoncarragh, all
on the Mullet |
M Reiily |
| 6 Nov |
1 Long-tailed Duck at Westport Quay - an unusual visitor for the area |
D Fabby |
| 4 Nov |
1 Ring-tail Hen Harrier near Geesala, Belmullet |
M Reiily |
| 2 Nov |
1 drake Pintail Duck at Cross Lough and 460 Light-bellied Brent Geese at Carne - both on the Mullet |
M Reiily |
| 2 Nov |
72 Whooper Swan, 14 Mute Swan, 26 Tufted Duck at Lough Nagelia, Killawalla, Westport.
This lake has had large numbers of Whoopers at this time of year in the
last few years when they stop off before heading further south. They
are usually gone in a couple of days. |
W Stringer |
| 2 Nov |
420 Golden Plover, 170 Lapwing, 230 Tufted Duck, 860 Wigeon, 62 Greylag Geese at the turloughs 10km east of Ballinrobe.
The turloughs and fields 8-10kms east of Ballinrobe can hold very large
numbers of Whoopers, waders and ducks at this time of year, but they
tend to move from one area to another - even at different times of the
day. In November 2007, this area held over 600 Whoopers and thousands
of waders such as Golden Plover and Lapwing, as well as thousands of
duck. |
W Stringer |
| 1 Nov |
1 adult Mediterranean Gull at Belmullet Docks |
M Reiily |
| 1 Nov |
14 Purple Sandpiper with Turnstone near Roonagh, west of Louisburgh.
If you see Turnstone, check carefully to see if there are any Purple Sandpiper with them. |
W Stringer |
| 1 Nov |
1 Little Egret at Rosmoney, north of Westport.
There have been up to four seen in the Westport Quay area recently. |
Kevin O'Reilly |
October 2008
- 1 Male Hen Harrier north of
Castlebar (30th )
- Fieldfare at
Ballinlough, north of Westport (30th)
- Large
numbers of Redwing reported from all round the county (30th)
- 10 Red-breasted Merganser at
Claggan/Inishcuttle, Kilmeena, Westport (30th)
-
1 Green-winged Teal on Carrowmore Lake, near Bangor (27th)
-
17 Pink-footed Geese on the Mullet (27th)
-
1 Arctic Tern, Old Head near Louisburgh (26th)
-
1 White-rumped Sandpiper, Leam Lough on the Mullet (24th)
-
30 Light-bellied Brent at Mulranny (23rd)
-
400 Golden Plover near Hollymount (23rd)
-
6 Swallow at Knappagh, Westport (21st Oct)
- 1 Ring-tail Hen Harrier near Hollymount (20th Oct)
-
1 Greenland Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa) on the Mullet (15th)
- 1 Male Ring-necked Duck still on
Carrowmore Lake, Bangor (13 Oct)
- 1
Curlew Sandpiper at Annagh Beach on the Mullet (11th)
-
Cuburni (Icelandic race) Redwing, near Belmullet (8th)
-
Tree Pipit, seen near Belmullet (8th)
-
1 Greenland Wheatear at Leam on the Mullet (7th)
- 1 x Long Billed Dowitcher
-
2 x Pink-footed Geese
-
1 x Carrion Crow
-
4 Whooper Swans
-
All seen at Ronnah Lough, nr Kileen, (W of Louisburgh) (7th)
- Snowy Owl - still at Dervla's Twist Stone Circle,
Termon Hill, Blacksod,
area, 15
miles south of Belmullet (6th)
-
Little Blue Heron - Letterfrack, Co Galway - first record for Ireland (5th)
-
37 Whoopers (including 4 young) on Loch Cullin - first report of Whoopers this season (5th)
-
Long-tailed Duck (female) and 4 x Whoopers in Knockmore Bay - Lough Conn (3rd)
-
72 x Golden Plovers - Pontoon, Lough Conn (3rd)
Sightings from Belmullet
5th October
1 x Snow Bunting
6 x Whooper Swans
100 Golden Plover
at Termoncarragh
75 x Barnacle Geese flew past Annagh Head 3-3.30pm
200 Golden Plover opposite Eagle Island
4th October
75 x Barnacle Geese flew past Annagh Head 6-7pm, along with
1 x Sooty & 5 x Manx Sheawater
3rd October
4 x Whooper
3 x Scaup
At Cross Lake
7 x Slavonian Grebe
2 x Red Throated & 6 x Great Northern Divers, 400 x Common Scote
At Shraigh
200 x Golden Plover, Tranmore
20th September
8 x Scaup
At Cross Lake
Sightings form Lacken Strand / Killala Bay Area - 2nd October
7 x Pink Footed Geese
c250 Golden Plover
1 x American Golden Plover
1 x Curlew SandpIper
2 x Little Stint
Good Variety of Birds Seen from Kilcummin Head during september & October, including
417 Grey Phalaropes
Skuas & Shearwaters
For a complete list visit the Birdwatch Sligo Sightings Page
September
Contributors:
Chris Benson, Stephen Meaney,
John Milroy, R Sauer, Dave Suddaby
- Pomerine Skuas - 200 at Kilcummin Head, and over 30 on Loch Cullin (30th)
- Tufted Duck - several hundred gathering on Loch Cullin (30th)
- Snowy Owl - still at Dervla's Twist Stone Circle,
Termon Hill, Blacksod,
area, 15
miles south of Belmullet (28th)
- Swift - seen flying near the Ballinrobe Road, Westport (28th)
- Snow Goose - Termoncarragh (26th)
-
Red-Eyed Vireo - near Annagh on the Mullet (18th)
- Pectoral Sandpiper - near Annagh on the Mullet (18th)
- Barn Owl - seen between Pontoon and Ballina (17th)
-
Cormorants (31) and Pied Wagtails (50) in good numbers at Castle Burke, Lough Carra (12th)
-
Little Gull - seen amongst Sandwich Terns at Unneraboy / Bertra, Murrisk (10th)
-
Kingfisher (3) and Yellowhammer (1) seen near Aughagower (9th)
- Snowy Owl - still at Dervla's Twist Stone Circle,
Termon Hill, Blacksod,
area, 15
miles south of Belmullet (8th)
-
7 x Lapland Bunting at Termon Hill, Blacksod, Belmullet (8th)
-
11 x Crossbill, at Termon Hill, Blacksod, Belmullet (8th)
-
Kingfisher - seen at Castle Carra, Lough Carra (7th)
- Baird's Sandpiper - Leam Lough, Belmullet (7th)
- Long-Tailed Skuas - 9 seen at Broadhaven Bay, Belmullet (4th)
-
Pied Flycatcher - near Belmullet (4th)
August
Contributors:
Chris Benson, Dermot Breen, Micheal Casey, Michael David, Jackie Donnelly, Sean
Geraty , Wendy Stringer, Dave Suddaby
- Brent Geese - 10 seen at Westport Quay (28th)
-
Juvenile Little Egret - seen with two adults at Westport Quay (30th)
- Mediterranean Gull - juvenile, Westport Quay (29th)
-
Kingfisher - seen near Hollymount (29th)
-
Snowy Owl - Seen in the Fallmore / Dervla's Twist Stone Circle,
Termon Hill, Blacksod,
area, 15
miles south of Belmullet (28th)
-
Spoonbill - seen in vicinity of Westport House (25th)
-
Ruff - 3 juvenile seen among 20 juvenile Black-Tailed Godwits at Lough Baun, Nr Roonah (17th)
-
Red Throated Diver - first summer seen on the River Moy, near the Cathederal in Ballina (7th)
- Mediterranean Gulls - 2 seen at Belleck shore, River Moy between 9th & 20th July
-
Juvenile Peregrine seen over Partry Mountains (2nd)
July
Contributors:
Chris Benson, Mick Hogan
- Buzzard - heard at Westport House (29th)
- Barn Owl - nr. Holymount (21st)
- Whooper Swan - 1 seen flying SE, near Holymount (20th)
- Curlew - 58 near Holymount (19th)
- Ring-Billed Gull - seen at Lough Mask (4th)
June
Contributors:
Derek McLoughlin, Stephen Meaney;
-
Basking Shark - along with Common and Bottle Nosed Dolphin, off the coast of Achill (2nd)
-
Great Skua - Caher Island (1st)
May
Contributors:
Chris
Benson, Dave Cabot, Eoin McGreal, Chris Huxley, John Milroy, Michael Reilly, Wendy
Stringer
- Marsh Harrier - over Lough Carra (31st)
-
Great Spotted Woodpecker - Moore Hall, nr. Castlebar (25th)
-
Iceland Gull - still present at Belmullet Docks (25th)
-
Iceland Gull at Broadhaven Bay, Belmullet (17th)
-
Iceland Gull - in 2nd winter plumage at Ballycroy (15th)
-
Barnacle Geese - satellite tagged whilst on Inishkea
Islands on 4th April, follow their progress by clicking on this link!
-
-
Subalpine Warbler - on the Mullet (14th)
-
Spotted Flycatch - Old Head, Louisburgh (13th )
-
Little Egret - one present at Corragaun Lough,
nr Killadoon, the first one seen there (6th)
-
Sedge Warblers - 7 heard calling around Grannard in North
Mayo (5th)
-
Whimbrel - 16 at Dugort, Achill (4th)
- White Wagtails - 2
at Dugort, Achill (4th)
- Chough - 6
at Dugort, Achill (4th)
- Whimbrel -
continuous movements of flocks at
Tullavbaun, nr. Killadoon - 17 at (3rd), also
36 at Tipp, and 50 at Elly, Belmullet on same day , 5 seen at
Tullavbaun the following day
(4th), followed by 7 more on 7th and 21 on
8th
- Common Sandpipers -
3 seen at Carrowmore Lake, Erris (2nd) and
one on the coast at Tirrane, Belmullet (3rd)
-
Corncrakes - 2 different ones calling at Aghany, Roonagh,
nr Louisburgh (1st)
April
Contributors:
Chris
Benson, Dave Cabot, Don Cotton, Dave
Fabby, Lynda Huxley, Derek McLoughlin, Lee McDaid, Eoin McGreal,
Ruth-Ann Leak, Brendan Lyons, Lynn Mitchell, John Milroy, Ann
Osbourne, Michael Reilly, Ger Rogan, Wendy Stringer, Jimmy Tarpey
- Corncrake - heard calling near Roongh, Louisburgh (30th)
-
Buzzard - seen flying over Westport (30th)
-
Whitethroat - near Hollymount (29th)
-
House Martin - over Knockmore Bay, Lough Conn (28th)
- Swift - over Knockmore Bay, Lough Conn (28th)
-
Whimbel - 2 at Cross, Belmullet (23rd) - also 17 at Lecanvey (26th) and 100 at Cornfield, Hollymount (28th)
-
Grasshopper Warbler - near Louisburgh (21st)
-
White Wagtail - at Cross, Belmullet (23rd) and on Keel Strand, Achill (19th)
- 5 male Barnacle Geese - fitted with satellite transmitters on Inish Keas on 5th April - still resident on 22nd
-
Can be tracked online at www.wwt.org
-
Common Sandpiper - seen at Moore Hall (22nd)
-
Cuckoos - reports from across the county (from 21st)
-
Yellowhammers - seen Knappagh, Farnaught and Cloona, nr Westport (22nd & 20th)
-
Whimbrel - 33 at Lough Aghinny, Hollymount (22nd)
-
Grasshopper Warbler - heard near Hollymount (21st)
-
Cuckoo - near Kilkelly (17th)
-
Sandwich Terns - 2 at Lecanvey (17th)
-
Whimbrel seen at Lecanvery (17th)
-
Redwing - one late leaver seen near Hollymount (15th)
-
'Jaleel' the Super Whooper -
after a failed attempt to reach Iceland returned to Achill regaining
strength before attempting the journey again. At Termoncarragh,
Belmullet on 16th.
-
Light Belled Brent Geese -131 still at Lecanvey (16th)
-
'Horned' / Slavonian Grebe - Shraigh, Belmullet (10th)
-
Glaucous Gull - Clare Island (9th)
-
Willow Warblers - first report from Belcarra on 3rd, then influx across county on 8th
-
2 Lesser Canada Geese - seen on Inish Kea island (7th)
-
Gyr Falcon - dark phase bird seen on Inish Kea island (7th)
-
Swallow - arrived near Bangor, Erris (7th)
-
Chiffchaff - first report from Brackloon Woods, near Westport (6th)
-
Glaucous Gull - Killadoon, nr Lousiburgh (5th)
-
Bekan Lake, near Ballyhaunis - hosted Whooper swans, Wigeon and Swallows - our winter and summer visitors meeting (4th)
-
Fieldfare at Lough Lannagh (3rd)
-
Redwings still present near Westport (3rd)
-
Chiffchaff near Hollymount (2nd)
-
Swallow near Hollymount (2nd)
-
Sand Martin near Hollymount (1st)
-
Immature Peregrine near Hollymount (1st)
- Sandwich Terns at Beltra Strand (1st)
-
Wheatear - Termoncarragh, Belmullet (1st)
March
Contributors:
Richard Bonson, David Cabot, Fred Carroll, Tim Gordon, Eoin McGreal, Derek McLoughlin, Anne Molloy, Michael Reilly, Lorraine Shelley
- Sand Martins - Carrowmore Beach, Louisburgh (31st)
-
Iceland Gull - first winter, Broadhaven Bay Docks, Belmullet (31st)
-
Sand Martins - Killala (29th)
-
Snowy Owl - seen in Blacksod area on the Mullet (25th)
-
Iceland Gull - Bertra Island (25th)
-
Brent Geese - 12 at Bertra Island (25th)
-
Sand Martin - Partry (23rd)
- Whooper Swans - 40 at Roonagh Lough, Killadoon, Nr Louisburgh (21st)
- Barnacle Geese - 45 at Roonagh Lough, Killadoon, Nr Louisburgh (21st)
-
Grey Plover - 2 at Roonagh Lough, Killadoon, Nr Louisburgh (21st)
- Greylag Geese - 2 at Roonagh Lough, Killaddon, Nr Louisburgh (21st)
-
Hen Harrier - female seen near Dooaghtry, Killadoon, nr Louisburgh (17th)
- Wheatear - seen at Keem, Achill (17th)
-
Golden Plover - 628 seem on Dooagh, Tullavbaun, Killadoon, nr Louisburgh (9th)
-
Iceland Gull - second winter, seen at Broadhaven Bay, Belmullet (5th)
-
Ring Necked Duck - 3 seen (drake, female & 1st winter female), Doogan Lough, Newport (1st)
-
Iceland Gull - Elly Bay, Mullet (1st)
February
Contributors:
Eoin McGreal, John Milroy, Michael Reilly, Wendy Stringer
- Glaucous Gull - Clare Island (28th)
-
Purple Sandpipers - 11 seen with Turnstone at Bunatuckeen Strand, nr Roongh (W of Louisburgh); also 5 seen at Aughleam, Belmullet (27th)
-
Little Egret - Leam Lake, Barmagh, Belmullet (27th)
- Glaucous Gull - Roonagh Lough (nr Louisburgh) (27th)
- Mediterranean Gull - Carne, Blacksod Bay, Belmullet (5th)
January
Contributors:
Lynda Huxley, Lee McDaid, Eoin
McGreal, Derek McLoughlin, John Milroy, Michael Reilly,
Lorraine Shelley, Wendy Stringer, Dave Suddaby
- Little Egret - in
field near Claremorris (22nd)
- Birds seen around Blacksod Bay /
Broadhaven Bay included - Cackling Goose, Black Brant,
Ring-Necked Duck, Green Winged Teal, Mediterranean, Glaucous, Icelandic Gulls (21st)
- Green Sandpipers - 3
seen near Claremorris (21st)
- Red-Necked Grebe - 2
seen off Srah, Balcksod Bay Belmullet (21st)
- Light Bellied Brent
- Rockfleet Castle (20th)
- 'Hawkeye', ringed Brent Goose
feeding on Mulranny saltmarsh (14th)
- Glaucous Gull -
Doughmakeon (w of Louisburgh)
(11th)
- Ring-Necked Duck -
seen on Carrowmore Lake, Erris (11th)
- Purple Sandpipers -
3 seen with a group of turnstones at Roonah, Nr Louisburgh (8th)
- Pintails - pair seen at
Berta / Murrisk Abbey (8th)
- Buzzard - spotted
flying over Lahardane, Nr Ballina (6th)
- Iceland Gull - Mulranny
Pier (5th)
|