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2010 		2009 Previous Sightings     January     February     March    April    May  June   July   Aug   Sept   Oct   Nov  

Date Bird Reported Observer
29 Dec Male Hen Harrier seen at Ballintubber C Benson
28 Dec Whoopers Swans seen on Rathbawn Lake, Castlebar
6 Oystercatchers and Redwing seen on Mulranny Golf Course		 K McGreal
18 Dec Buzzard east of Kilmaine N Sharkey
18 Dec 1 whitephase Gyr Falcon in the bog / sika spruce are at Kilmovee P Smyth
15 Dec One Little Egret and a flock of Pochard (including 3 males) at Belclare, Westport M Rabbette
14 Dec 2 Eider Ducks seen in the channel at Achill Sound, also the Black Duck still at Sruhill M O'Briain
13 Dec Male Black Duck at Sruhill (Dooinver) Lough (NE Achill), also 37 Great Northern Divers off Dooinver Coast, Achill M O'Briain
11 Dec 9 Purple Sandpipers on shoreline opposite Sruhill (Dooinver) Lough (NE Achill) M O'Briain
9 Dec Long Eared Owl at Cooneal, between Ballina & Killala M Gawley
6 Dec Little Auk found on road between Kilkelly & Swinford. Taken care of overnight and safety released on 7th via RA Leak
2 Dec 600 Golden Plover, 130 Lapwing and 31 Whooper Swans - in flooded areas around Ballyvary and Bohola (N5) J Milroy
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Nov 2009 Birds Reported
30 Nov Great Northern Diver on Carrowmore Lake, Black Redstart at Annagh Head, both in Erris M Reilly
29 Nov Long-billed Dowitcher confirmed at Leam Lough, Mediterranean Gull at Belmullet Docks, Iceland Gull, Frenchport all on the Mullet M Reilly
24 Nov Snowy Owl seen perched at Enniscrone near  pier M Hannan via M Gawley
16 Nov Peregrine Falcon at Fahy Lough, Ballycroy L McDaid
10 Nov 3 Brent Geese with rings feeding at Mulranny L McDaid
10 Nov 7 Whooper Swans, Keel Lough, Achill L McDaid
10 Nov 1 Black Redstart at Annagh Head and 10 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Terrmoncarragh, Belmullet M Reilly
9 Nov One Snow Bunting near Diamond Coast Hotel, Enniscone, along the Devlin River, feeding with mixed group of finches, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and pipits M Gawley
6 Nov 5 Greenland Fronted Geese, Fahy Lough, Ballycroy L McDaid
5 Nov 2 Snow Bunting  (one male, one female) Keel Machair, Achill L McDaid
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Oct 2009 Birds Reported
29 Oct Yellow-legged Gull on Annagh Beach, along with one Blackcap and a juvenile Buzzard at Annagh Plantation - on the Mullet M Reilly
25 Oct 6 Little Egrets at Killala - see photo of 5 of them M Casey
24 Oct One drake green-winged Teal on Carrowmore Lake, Erris (returning bird) and one male Ringed Ouzel at Terrmoncarragh on the Mullet M Reilly
22 Oct Kingfisher and Spotted Redshank at Palmerstown Bridge, nr Killala M Reilly
20 Oct 8 Little Egrets at Killala, nr Ross Strand J Donnelly
18 Oct Spotted Redshank at Killala (opposite NCF) RA Leak
18 Oct Large group of Fieldfare with few Redwings arrive in Attymass RA Leak
17 Oct Sightings from The Mullet - 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit., 11 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 40 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 1 Merlin C Benson
15 Oct 1 Little Egret at Keel Lake, Achill O Calvey
15 Oct 12 Whoopers arrive at Lough Conn (12 adults and 2 juvenile) D Fabby
11 Oct 1 Snow Bunting on Mweelin, Achill W Stringer
10 Oct 250 Brent Geese, along with good views of Grey Plover, Dunlin, Wigeon, Redshank and Godwit at Moyne / Ballysakeary Moy Estuary M Gawley
2 Oct 2 Whooper Swans on Lough Doo along with 32 Tufted Ducks at Keel both on Achill L McDaid
2 Oct 1 Ring-necked Duck (male in eclipse) on Carrowmore Lak
2 Curlew Sandpipers (juv) on Annagh Beach		 M Reilly
1 Oct Buzzard reported near railway walk behind Westland Housing Estate, Westport via M Hogan
1 Oct 1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Tranmore Shraigh
3 Slavonian Grebe of Shraigh Beach, on the Mullet, along with 1 Peregrine Falcon		 M Reilly
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Sept 2009 Bird Reported
30 Sept 26 House Martins seen flying south over Westport M Hogan
29 Sept 1 Buzzard and 1 Merlin along with 14 Chough at Annagh Marsh
Seawatching at Annagh Head 6pm - 7pm : 35 Sooty Shearwater, 40 Great Skua, 17 Pomarine Skuas, 7 Arctic Skuas, 1 Great Northern Diver, and 40 Barnacle Geese		 M Reilly
26 Sept 1 Snow Bunting at Annagh Head M Reilly
24 Sept 1 juvenile Sabines Gull and 2 Grey Phalaropes - seawatching at Annagh Head M Reilly
23 Sept American Golden Plover (different than one spotted on 22nd) Annagh Beach on the Mullet D Suddaby
22 Sept 1 Buff-breasted Sandpiper and 1 American Golden Plover (adult moulting) at Dunnambo Gladree on the Mullet M Reilly
22 Sept 1 Black-browed Albatross flying south at Annagh Head, Belmullet
1 Solitary Sandpiper seen initially at Annagh Head then between Termoncarragh and The Glebe area		 D Suddaby
19 Sept 9 Lapland Bunting and 1 adult Long-talied Skua at Erris Head and 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull at Annagh Beach on the Mullet D Suddaby
19 Sept Seawatching at Kilcummin Head - 200+ Sooty Shearwater, 16 Great Skua, 2 Pomarine Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Storm Petrel, 1 Leach's Petrel, 1 Sabine's Gull J Donaldson
19 Sept Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 100+ Twite at Erris Head, on the Mullet C Benson
18 Sept 2 Mediterranean Gull at Belmullet Docks (1 adult and 1 x 1st Winter)
2 x 2nd Winter Ring-billed Gulls at Annagh Head and Annagh Beach on the Mullet		 D Suddaby
18 Sept Peregrine at Ballinrobe C Benson
18 Sept 1 Adult female Snowy Owl on Termon Hill in the Mullet D Suddaby
17 Sept 7 Lapland Bunting on Annagh Head and Termon Hill D Suddaby
15 Sept 1 Curlew Sandpiper at Ballycastle Strand
1 Little Stint at Lacken Back Strand
Seawatch at Kilcummin Head - 10 Great Skua, 3 Artic Skua, 1 Merlin		 J Donaldson
15 Sept Snowy Owl at Termon Hill and 1 male Ring-necked Duck at Carrowmore Lough, Bangor C Cronin
13 Sept Juvenile Little Stint with Dunlin at Roonah Lough, Louisburgh. Also Knot, Lapwing and First Winter Med Gull (showing Darvic Ring) D Breen
13 Sept Good views of first winter Citrine Wagtail and 1 White Wagtail  at Corragaun Lough, Killadoon D Breen
9 Sept 130 Greylag Geese on Terrmoncarragh Lough, on the Mullet M Wright
7 Sept 1 Lapland Bunting at Termon Hill on the Mullet D McAdams, JL Copte
7 Sept 1 eclipse male Ring-necked Duck at Carrowmore Lake, near Bangor Erris
6 Sept 1 adult female Snowy Owl at Termon Hill on the Mullet D McAdams, JL Copte
5 Sept 5 Gadwall below Palmerstown Bridge, Killala - Ballycastle Road S Meaney
4 Sept Seawatching at Kilcummin Head between 6.50am and 7pm - 12 Great Sheawater, 70 Sooty Sheawater, 128 Great Skua, 5 Pomarine Skua, 16 Arctic Skua, 11 Sabine's Gull, 2 Storm Peterel, 5 Leach's Petrel, 3 Puffin, 139 Arctic Tern, 30 Sandwich Tern J Donaldson, S Feeney, N Keogh et al
3 Sept Seawatching at Kilcummin Head between 7am and 7pm - 6 Cory's Sheawater, 1 Baleric Shearwater, 195 Sooty Shearwater, 70 Great Skua, 17 Arctic Skua 3 Pomarine Skua, 19 Sabine's Gull, 1 Grey Phalarope,6 Leach's Petrel, 141 Arctic Tern D Charles, P Doherty, J Donaldson & S Feeney
2 Sept 9 Swift over Killala (late sighting) D Charles
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Aug 2009 Bird Reported
29 Aug 6 Brent Geese at Killala S Meaney
21 Aug Juvenile Ruff at Leam Lough, Belmullet M Reilly
11 Aug Snowy Owl seen at Tarmon Hill, Belmullet R Hunter
8 Aug Female Snowy Owl on Tarmon Hill, Belmullet D Suddaby
3 Aug Rock Dove seen on Clare Island M Casey
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July 2009 Bird Reported
12 July 2 Wood Warblers heard in Drummin Woods, between Pontoon & Foxford (opp 2nd car park) J Milroy & S Meaney
11 July 40 Whimbrel at Cornfield, Hollymount C Benson
10 July Approx 50 Swift flying over Healey's Hotel, Pontoon J Milroy
10 July American Golden Plover in Summer plumage at Roonah Lough, L755765 P Lonergan

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June 2009 Bird Reported
24 June 10 Greenshank, Castleconnor, Moy Estuary and 1 Cuckoo at Rathmeal, Ballina J Donnelly
23 June 2 Osprey seen fishing on Ballinlough, north of Westport via S Meaney
20 June Seawatching report from Kilcummin including good numbers of Manx Sheawater S Feeney & J Donaldson
12 June Spotted Flycatcher seen around Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar J Milroy
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May 2009 Bird Reported
22 May 1 Cuckoo, 4 Black Guillemots, 7 Whimbrel and 6 Great Northern Divers (3 in summer plumage)  at Rathfran Bay J Donnelly
20 May 6 Corncrake heard near Roonagh Pier and 1 at Doonakeon, West of Louisburgh T Gordon
19 May 1st Summer Female Snowy Owl see on Inishkea North D Suddaby
17 May House Martins seen in Ballyvary RA Leak
16 May 1 Yellow-legged Gull in Belmullet Town, 1 Ring-billed Gull and 1 Long-tailed Skua at Cross Lough on the Mullet D Suddaby
14 May 21 Pomerine Skuas in two groups rafting of Mulranney Pier M Reilly
14 May White-billed Diver at Inishboffin via W Stringer
13 May One Curlew Sandpiper in summer plumage on Shraigh Beach, Belmullet, along with a mixed flock of Dunlin and Sanderling M Reilly
11 May Swifts over Castlebar J Milroy & RA Leak
10 May 17 Swifts over Westport W Stringer
2 May Whitethroat at Cornfield, Hollymount C Benson
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April 2009 Bird Reported Observer
28 Apr Corncrake Update - flurry of Corncrakes have arrived in the last 24 hours with one reported at Doolough, two at Carne House, Belmullet and one at Glebe. Also three on Inishturbot, one or two at Aghy and possibly one in Belmullet town. T Gordon
28 Apr 6 Redshank, representing at least one breeding pair locally, along with 4 Red-breasted Mergansers (3 males, 1 female) at Corragaun Lough, nr Killeen, Louisburgh D Cabot
28 Apr 10 Greylag Geese, 6 Adult Whooper Swans, 8 Tufted Ducks and 1 Common Sandpiper at Roonagh Lough, nr Louisburgh D Cabot
27 Apr Whimbrel at Tullavbaun, nr Louisburgh D Cabot
27 Apr 30+ Whimbrel outside Knock, (Ballyhaunis Road) J Milroy
26 Apr 2 Sedge Warblers at Lough Lannagh J Milroy
24 Apr Grasshopper Warbler heard at Aghinish, w of Louisburgh A Osborne
23 Apr Cuckoo heard at Carrajames, Belcarra L Huxley
22 Apr 11 Whimbrel near Ballindine C Benson
19-24 Apr Corncrakes heard  nr Roonah, w of Louisburgh; east of Claremorris and 2 on Inishturbot T Gordon, M & B Lyons & D Godden
20 Apr 1 Whimbrel at Lough Carra L Huxley
19 April Buzzard soaring over Cornfield, Hollymount C Benson
22nd Mar - 8 Apr Sightings on Inishkea Island including 3,000 Barnacle Geese, 1 Gry x Saker Falcon and satellite tracked geese.
For full details of sightings click here
To track the satellite tagged Barnacles click here		 D Cabot
20 Apr Whimbrel seen at Lough Carra L Huxley
19 Apr Female Ring-necked Duck still present at Cross Lough, Killadoon with Tufted Duck D Cabot
14 Apr Grasshopper Warbler on Clare Island E McGreal
14 Apr 60 Light-bellied Brent at Lacken, nr Killala S Meaney
13 Apr 1 male Ring-necked Duck at Cross Lough on the Mullet, along with 1 first winter Ring-billed Gull and 1 adult Glaucous Gull
1 male Ring-necked Duck at Carrowmore Lake nr Bangor		 D Suddaby
12 Apr Blackcap heard singing in woods at Lough Lannagh, Castlebar J Milroy
12 Apr 5 House Martin at Ashford Castle, Cong M Reimann
12 Apr Female Ring-necked Duck at Cross Lough, Killaddon, Louisburgh D Breen
12 Apr Second Cuckoo reported, Sarnaught, Castlebar W Lavelle
11 Apr First Cuckoo reported at Ballinlough, north of Westport L McElderry
7 Apr Swallow at Killadoon, w of Louisburgh E McGreal
5 Apr Willow Warbler singing at Cornfield, nr Holymount C Benson
4 Apr Swallow nr Attymass RA Leak
4 Apr 276 Brent Geese at Lecanvey, Louisburgh while Sandwich Terns fly overhead  -  winter meets summer W Stringer
3 Apr 2 Willow Warbler heard, 4 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin nr Belcarra L Huxley
3 Apr 100 Swallows at Loch Cullin along with Willow Warbler and Whoopers S Meaney

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March 2009 Birds Reported Observer
30 March Corncrake on Inisturbot, first for the season via T Gordon
27 March Sandwich Tern seen near Berta, nr Murrisk D McLoughlin
22 March 2 Buzzards and 1 Wheatear at Lough Furnace, nr Newport L McElderry
21 March Chiffchaff singing at Cornfield, nr Hollymount C Benson
20 March Wheatear at Roonagh Lough and Sand Martins at Carrowmore, west of Louisburgh E McGreal
19 March Buzzard seen at Cornfield, nr Hollymount C Benson
19 March 100+ Whooper Swans along with 300+ Golden Plover at Cloonglowa, nr Ballinrobe C Benson
17 March Gyr Falcon seen at 1pm from Annagh Head on the mullet; previously seen near Frenchport on 15th M Reilly
16 March Snow Goose with Greylags at Cross Lough and 40 Twite at Termmoncarragh both on the Mullet M Casey
16 March Little Gull, Westport Quay D Fabby
12 March 1 Little Egret, tidal marsh, Murrisk, Clew Bay D Cabot
12 March 1 adult Glaucous Gull, Corragaun Lough, nr Killadoon. Unusual at this location, present since 6th March and feeding on carrion D Cabot
6 March 1 Iceland Gull, Achill Sound C Benson
5 March 100+ Whoopers at Cloongowla, Ballinrobe C Benson
2 March Waxwings seen feeding in Ballina Town M Gawley
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Feb 2009 Bird Reported Observer
27 Feb 2 Iceland Gulls on the River Moy, Ballina Town J Donnolly
19 Feb 4 Glaucous Gull near Louisburgh E McGreal
12 Feb Buzzard seen near Ballinrobe J Knight
11 Feb Willow Warbler heard singing at Aughagower, Westport M Hogan
7 Feb Male Blackcap in Westport town W Stringer
7 Feb One 1st winter Iceland Gull feeding in a field at Tonemore, nr Belmullet
11 Glaucous Gulls around the Mullet including 2 adults at Annagh Beach, 1 adult first winter  and 1 third winter Cross Lough, 2 first winter on beach south of Cross Point, 1 second winter on beach N of Casilean nr Aughleam
One adult Ringed-billed Gull at Elly Strand
3 Purple Sandpiper at Caislean		 M Reilly
7 Feb Albino Redwing seen in fields near Belcarra R A Leak
4 Feb 2 Jays at Sheskin Lodge, Sheskin Forest nr Bellacorrick, Erris M Reilly
2 Feb 9 Crossbills, 1 Merlin and 1 Woodcock at Oweniny Bog, Bellacorrick A Copland
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Jan 2009 Bird Reported Observer
31 Jan Glaucous Gull seen at Barnabaun, Killadoon, w of Louisburgh W Stringer
30 Jan Iceland Gull along with 3 Glaucous Gulls seen at Cross Lough, Louisburgh D Fabby
28 Jan Pink Footed Goose seen with Whoopers from the Ballyhaunis Road, Knock J Milroy
28 Jan First winter Snow Bunting seen at Partry E McGreal
25 Jan Glaucous Gull seen at Keel Strand, Achill L McDaid
22 Jan One Iceland Gull seen at Lough Roonagh, west of Louisburgh E McGreal
22 Jan One only Pink Footed Goose, one Greylag Goose and 140 Light Bellied Brent at Trawboy, Ballycroy M Reilly
20 Jan Long-eared Owl seen near Crossmolina via C McElhinney
20 Jan 2 Iceland Gulls, one adult and one first winter, seen between Dooyork and Kanfinalta Point, east side of Blacksod Bay on the Mullet M Reilly
18 Jan One drake Ring-necked Duck and one drake Green-winged Teal seen on Carrowmore Lake near Bangor, Erris D Suddaby
18 Jan 20 Pink-footed Geese and one white phase Snow Goose seen at Cross Lough on the Mullet D Suddaby
18 Jan One Black Brant seen at Leam Lough on the Mullet D Suddaby
18 Jan One first winter Iceland Gull and one first winter Glaucous Gull seen at Annagh on the Mullett D Suddaby
11 - 16 Jan Two Great Northern Divers frequenting Knockmore Bay, (sw of Ballina) L Mitchell
13 Jan White morph adult Snow Goose with Greylag flock at southern end of Cross Lough on the Mullet. Also 20 Pink-footed Geese, including the neck-collarded individual, on the Mullet M Reilly
12 Jan Barn Owl heard around Newport . Second time heard in this location L McDaid
9 Jan Brent Geese at Mulranny, counted 98 individual birds including 4 with rings L McDaid
8 Jan Little Egret in garden near Knockmore, Ballina S Meaney
8 Jan Three 1st winter Ring-billed Gulls at Cross Lough on the Mullet, also one 1st winter and one 2nd winter Ring-billed Gull at Belmullet Docks D Suddaby
8 Jan 1 adult Mediterranean gull at Belmullet Docks D Suddaby
8 Jan 1 Black Brant at Carricklan near Belmullet D Suddaby

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