IRISH BIRD NEWS - August 2003

Pectoral Sandpiper - Kilcredaun Marsh, Co. Clare. © John Murphy

Wilson's Petrel - Off Co. Donegal. © David Steele

Short-toed Lark - Tacumshin, Co. Wexford. © Pat Lonergan

FRI 1 AUG - The Bonaparte's Gull was still present at the Mallow Sugar Factory Lagoons where a Little Stint and at least 4 Green Sandpipers were also seen, 2 Pomarine, 4 Arctic and 6 Great Skuas, 1 Balearic, 12 Sooty and 50,000 Manx Shearwaters were noted off the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare while 10 Great Skuas were seen at Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork and 7 Mediterranean Gulls were at Sandycove, Co. Dublin. No news today on the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.

SAT 2 AUG - A Bee-eater was seen in flight near the Oval in east Belfast today, the adult White-winged Black Tern was seen at Lough Derg, Co. Tipperary while another adult was seen flying north past Carnsore Point, Co. Wexford where a Balearic Shearwater was also seen. The Red-crested Pochard was seen at Tacumshin and a Green Sandpiper and a Ruff were at Cahore, Co. Wexford, a Goshawk was reported north of Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, 3 Great Skuas and a Balearic Shearwater were seen at the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare and a Spotted Redshank was seen at Kinsale marsh, Co. Cork.

SUN 3 AUG - White-winged Black Tern at Goat Island in Lough Derg, Co. Tipperary, the Bee-eater was reported again over east Belfast, a Pectoral Sandpiper was found at the Quoile Pondage, Co. Down, Short-toed Lark, Red-crested Pochard and Marsh Harrier at Tacumshin but no sign of the Montagu's Harrier, a Pomarine Skua, plus 3 Great, 1 Cory's, 1 Balearic and 4 Sooty Shearwaters were off Galley Head, Co. Cork, 1 Great, 1 Balearic and 12 Sooty Shearwaters off Cape Clear, Co. Cork and 2 Balearic and 10 Great Skuas off the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare while 12 Little and 3 Mediterranean Gulls were at Cruisetown Strand in Co. Louth.

MON 4 AUG - An eclipse male Blue-winged Teal was reported briefly at Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow where the Buff-breasted Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail were also seen, first-summer Bonaparte's Gull at Mallow Sugar Factory Lagoons, White-winged Black Tern at Goat Island, Lough Derg, Co. Tipperary, Pectoral Sandpiper at Quoile Pondage, Co. Down, 1 Great and 2 Balearic Shearwaters off Galley Head, Co. Cork, Red-crested Pochard and Marsh Harrier at Tacumshin and Yellow Wagtail, Ruff and Green Sandpiper at Cahore, Co. Wexford and a Curlew Sandpiper was at Mornington, Co. Louth.

TUE 5 AUG - A Tree Pipit, Wood Sandpiper and Curlew Sandpiper were at Ardmore Point, Lough Neagh, Co. Armagh, Red-crested Pochard, Ruddy Duck and Marsh Harrier at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford, Balearic Shearwater off Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow, and a Quail was heard near Coursetown, Athy, Co. Kildare.

WED 6 AUG - An adult Stilt Sandpiper was found today at Lough Beg near Cork City, Red-crested Pochard, Marsh Harrier, Ruff and 2 Little Gulls at Tacumshin and 2 Ruff at Lady's Island Lake, Co. Wexford and 1 Sooty Shearwater was seen on a seawatch off Galley Head, Co. Cork.

THU 7 AUG - The Stilt Sandpiper was seen again at Lough Beg near Cork City while a Goshawk was also reported in the area, a Lesser Yellowlegs was found at White's Marsh, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, the Red-crested Pochard and Short-toed Lark were still at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford and 16 Buzzards were reported near Snowtown, Co. Dublin.

FRI 8 AUG - Adult Stilt Sandpiper at Lough Beg along with a Ring-billed Gull and Lesser Yellowlegs at White's Marsh, Clonakilty, both in Co. Cork, Pectoral Sandpipers were seen at Garristown, Co. Cork and another was at Lough Beg, Co. Derry, 4 Black Terns and 2 Arctic Skuas were at the tern roost at Sandymount in Dublin Bay, Red-crested Pochard at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford and 24 Mediterranean Gulls were at Sandycove, Co. Dublin.

SAT 9 AUG - Stilt Sandpiper at Lough Beg and Lesser Yellowlegs at Clonakilty, Co. Cork, Short-toed Lark, Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harriers were at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford, Osprey at Lough Beg, Co. Derry, 1 Black Tern was seen at the evening tern roost at Sandymount, Co. Dublin, Pied Flycatcher (first of the autumn) and Yellow-legged Gull at Ballycotton, Co. Cork, Yellow Wagtail and Ruff at Cahore, Co. Wexford and seawatching at Galley Head, Co. Cork produced 1 Balearic and 2 Sooty Shearwaters plus 9 Great Skuas.

SUN 10 AUG - Stilt Sandpiper still present at Lough Beg, Co. Cork, a pelagic off Dingle, Co. Kerry produced 1 Balearic Shearwater and 4 Great Skuas while 1 Sooty Shearwater and a Black-throated Diver were seen on a seawatch off Portrush, Co. Antrim, a male Marsh Harrier was seen at Bunduff Lough near Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo while another probable was seen at Ringabella, Co. Cork, the long-staying Black Duck was seen at Cross Lough, Belmullet, Co. Mayo while a male Velvet Scoter was seen at nearby Creggan 8 Green Sandpipers were at Blake's Cross, Co. Dublin and a Green Sandpiper and 2 Ruff were at Cahore, Co. Wexford.

MON 11 AUG - No sign of the Stilt Sandpiper today. Sabine's Gull, 1 Balearic and 2 Sooty Shearwaters off the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare, a Wood Sandpiper and 6 juvenile Ruff were at Lough Beg, Co. Derry, 2 Ring-billed Gulls weer at Timoleague, Co. Cork, a Pied Flycatcher was seen at Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork and 6 Green Sandpipers were at Blake's Cross near Rogerstown, Co. Dublin.

TUE 12 AUG - The Stilt Sandpiper was seen again today at Lough Beg, Co. Cork, 8-10,000 Manx Shearwaters plus 2 Great Skuas were seen off Whitehead near Belfast, Co. Antrim, the juvenile Wood Sandpiper was still at Lough Beg, Co. Derry along with a Green Sandpiper and 14 Ruff while 22 Purple Sandpipers were noted at Ramore Head, Co. Antrim, a female Marsh Harrier was at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford along with 10 Little Egrets while 9 of the latter were at Bannow Bay, 5 at Fethard and 3 at Saltmills, also in Co. Wexford and 9 Mediterranean Gulls were seen today at Sandycove, Co. Dublin.

WED 13 AUG - An Osprey was still at the Bann Estuary, Co. Derry, a Pomarine Skua was seen off Cork harbour and 1 Sooty Shearwater was the best on a seawatch off the Old Head of Kinsale, Co. Cork and a Yellow-legged Gull was reported from Blessington, Co. Wicklow

THU 14 AUG - Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier at Tacumshin and Curlew Sandpiper at Lady's Island Lake, Co. Wexford, Green Sandpiper and 3 Ruff at Timoleague, Co. Cork, 3 Great Skuas off Galley head, Co. Cork and a Ring-billed Gull was at Blackrock Strand, Co. Kerry.

FRI 15 AUG - A pelagic trip off Burtonport in Co. Donegal produced 1 Wilson's Petrel, an adult Long-tailed and 7 Pomarine Skuas, adult Sabine's Gull, a Black Tern, 500+ Storm Petrels, 20 Great and 3 Arctic Skuas along with 5 Minke Whales and 7 Bottlenosed Dolphins.

SAT 16 AUG - An Osprey was seen off the South Slob, Co. Wexford while elsewhere in the county the Short-toed Lark and a Marsh Harrier were at Tacumshin, Black-necked Grebe, 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 6 Ruff were at Lady's Island Lake and a Wood Sandpiper and Carrion Crow were at Cahore Point, 10 Green Sandpipers were at Rogerstown, Co. Dublin and 2 Spotted Redshanks were at Clonakilty, Co. Cork.

SUN 17 AUG - An unidentified pratincole sp. was seen in flight over Salisbury Avenue in Belfast today, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua was off St Johns Point, Co. Down, 1 Great Shearwater, 2 Pomarine Skuas and 1 Arctic Skua were at the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare, a Black-necked Grebe was at Lady's Island Lake along with a Ruddy Duck, 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 1 Green Sandpiper, a Gargany and a juvenile Buzzard were at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford, 2 Balearic Shearwaters were off Galley Head, Co. Cork and a Ring-billed Gull was at White Strand, Kinsale, Co. Cork.

MON 18 AUG - Pied Flycatcher at Cape Clear Bird Observatory (CCBO), Co. Cork while 1 Great and 1 Balearic Shearwater were seen offshore and 12 Little Egrets were at Saltmills, Co. Wexford.

TUE 19 AUG - A Gull-billed Tern was reported from Blanket Nook, Co. Donegal today and was first seen on 17th August, Pectoral Sandpiper at the Bann Estuary, Co. Derry, 1 Sooty and 2 Balearic Shearwaters off Mizen Head, Co. Cork with 1 Sooty and 41 Storm Petrels off Galley Head, also Co. Cork.

WED 20 AUG - Pectoral and Wood Sandpiper at White's Marsh, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, 3 Green and 1 Wood Sandpiper plus 3 Ruff at Mallow Sugar Factory lagoons, Co. Cork, Sabine's Gull, Ring-billed Gull and 35 Little Egrets at Timoleague, Co. Cork, Ring-billed Gull and Black Tern at Sandymount, Co. Dublin, Ring-billed and 3 Mediterranean Gulls at Blackrock Strand, Co. Kerry, 22 Mediterranean Gulls at Whitegate, Co. Cork and 6 at Cruisetown Strand, Co. Louth and a summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe was seen from Mullagh at Lough Beg, Co. Derry.

THU 21 AUG - A Soft-plumaged (Fea's?) Petrel plus 1 Wilson's Petrel, 1 Great, 1 Cory's, 60 Sooty, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 6 Pomarineand 11 Great Skuas were at the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare while a juvenile Long-tailed Skua was seen at nearby Kilbaha, a Melodious Warbler was seen on Dursey Island, Co. Cork, Gull-billed Tern at Blanket Nook, Co. Donegal, Lesser Yellowlegs at Rogerstown, Co. Dublin, juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank at White's Marsh, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, a Ring-billed and a Yellow-legged Gull were at Sandymount, Co. Dublin along with 2 Black Terns and the Sabine's Gull was reported again from Timoleague, Co. Cork.

FRI 22 AUG - A total of 6 Wilson's Petrels were seen at the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare along with 1 Cory's, 8 Great, 32 Sooty and 5 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 juvenile Sabines Gulls, 13 Pomarine, 20 Great and 26 Arctic Skuas, 2 Grey Phalaropes and 110 Storm Petrels, off Cape Clear Bird Observatory (CCBO) in Co. Cork 1 Cory's, 2 Great and 2 Sooty Shearwaters were seen on a pelagic trip, the Gull-billed Tern was at Blanket Nook, Co. Donegal, 2 Wood and 21+ Green Sandpipers were at Mallow Sugar Factory lagoons, Co. Cork and Lesser Yellowlegs at Rogerstown, Co. Dublin.

SAT 23 AUG - A flock of 22 Snow Geese were found today at Blennerville in Co. Kerry and comprised 12 adult and 3 juvenile white phase plus 4 adult and 3 juvenile blue phase birds, the flock may have been present since 15th August but all bar one juvenile departed the area later in the day, in Co. Wexford a Green Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper were at Tacumshin while 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were at Cahore along with 4 juvenile Wood Sandpipers and a "Blue-headed" Wagtail, a Black-necked Grebe and a flava Wagtail were at Lady's Island Lake and an Osprey was seen at the South Slob, the Lesser Yellowlegs was still at Rogerstown, Co. Dublin, a Pectoral Sandpiper was at White's Marsh, Clonakilty, Co. Cork along with 2 Wood Sandpipers and a Spotted Redshank and the 2 Wood Sandpipers at Mallow Sugar Factory lagoons were also present today while a Ring-billed Gull was at Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, in Co. Kerry a Ring Ouzel was seen at Kenmare and 14 Mediterranean Gulls were at Sandycove, Co. Dublin.

SUN 24 AUG - 1 Wilson's Petrel and 4 - 5 Great Shearwaters were seen on a pelagic trip off Union Hall, Co. Cork, the Gull-billed Tern was still at Blanket Nook, Co. Donegal, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and up to 5 Wood Sandpipers were at Cahore, Co. Wexford, a Leache's Petrel and a Tree Pipit were reported from Cape Clear Bird Observatory (CCBO), Co. Cork, Osprey at Carnsore Point, Co. Wexford, 2 Cory's and 2 Balearic Shearwaters off the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare and the Black Duck was reported again at Cross Lough, Co. Mayo.

MON 25 AUG - 1 Wilson's Petrel and 2 Balearic Shearwaters were at the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare, a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was at White's Marsh, Inchydoney, Co. Cork, single Melodious Warblers, Pied Flycatcher and Whinchat were at CCBO while another Pied Flycatcher was seen on Galley Head, both in Co. Cork and a Pectoral Sandpiper and Marsh Harrier were noted at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford.

TUE 26 AUG - A total of 22 Pied Flycatchers, a Melodious Warbler, 2 Whinchats, a Yellow Wagtail and a Twite along with good numbers of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were seen at CCBO, Co. Cork, juvenile Long-tailed Skua off St. John's Point, Co. Down, 2 juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers were seen at Kilbaha, Co. Clare and one was at nearby Carrigaholt, while another juvenile was at Inchydoney, Co. Cork, an adult Sabine's Gull was at Cobh, Co. Cork, Wood Sandpiper and Cuckoo at Cahore, Co. Wexford, Yellow Wagtail and Marsh Harrier at Tacumshin, 20 Ruff at Lady's Island Lake, a Pied Flycatcher and a Whinchat were at Carnsore Point and an Arctic and a Pomarine Skua were seen off Hook Head, all in Co. Wexford while the Black Duck was still at Cross Lough, Co. Mayo.

WED 27 AUG - A Baird's Sandpiper was found at the Shannon Airport Lagoons along with a Gargany and a Curlew Sandpiper, the adult Sabine's Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull were at Cobh, Co. Cork along with 14 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers are now at Kilcredaun Marsh, Carrigaholt, Co. Clare, 2 Arctic Skuas were at Kilbaha but there was no sign of any Pectoral Sandpipers there, single Pomarine and Arctic Skuas plus 1 Balearic Shearwater were at the Bridges of Ross, Co.Clare, 19 Pied Flycatchers and a Redstart were at CCBO, Co. Cork (a rare Pale Clouded Yellow and a Clouded Yellow butterfly were also seen at CCBO today), 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Whinchats, a Marsh Harrier and a Tree Pipit were seen on the Saltees, 2 Pied Flycatchers were on Hook Head, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Ruff and Marsh Harrier were at Tacumshin and 2 Yellow Wagtails were at Lady's Island Lake, all in Co. Wexford, adult Ring-billed and 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Blackrock Strand, 3 Curlew Sandpipers at Blennerville and Turtle Dove at Ardfert, Co. Kerry and at Rahasane Turlough, Co. Galway a Wood Sandpiper and 8 Ruff were noted.

THU 28 AUG - An Osprey was seen over Waterford City today, Hobby at Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow, 21 Snow Geese were seen yesterday evening near Ballybunion, Co. Kerry and were still present today, 4 Balearic and 20 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off Loop Head, Co. Clare with 1 Balearic Shearwater, 6 Great Skuas and 2 Little Gulls off the nearby Bridges of Ross, 2 Pied Flycatchers were at Dirk Bay on Galley Head, Co. Cork, 2 Curlew Sandpipers at Tacumshin and 2 at Lady's Island Lake, Co. Wexford and 3 Arctic Skuas were noted off Greenisland, Co. Antrim.

FRI 29 AUG - 18 Snow Geese were seen at Poulnasherry Bay, Co. Clare, presumably the Kerry birds moving north, a Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Little Stints and 3 Curlew Sandpipers were at the Shannon Airport Lagoons, Co. Clare, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers also at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford while 2 Wood Sandpipers were at Cahore, Co. Wexford, Sabine's Gulls were at Cobh, Co. Cork, the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare along with a Black Tern and a Long-tailed Skua, and off Ramore Head, Co. Antrim where a Balearic Shearwater, Pomarine Skua and 9 Little Gulls were also noted, Black Duck at Cross Lough, Co. Mayo, 7 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Tree Pipits, a Reed Warbler and a Hen Harrier were at CCBO, Co. Cork and a Pied Flycatcher was at Baltimore, Co. Cork.

SAT 30 AUG - The 18 Snow Geese were still at Poulnasherry Bay, Co. Clare, Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Pied Flycatchers and a Reed Warbler at CCBO, Co. Cork, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 7 Whinchats and a Reed Warbler were on Mizen Head, Co. Cork, Green Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpipers and a Marsh Harrier were at Lissagriffin, Co. Cork, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and a Wood Sandpiper were at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford and 3 Pomarine Skuas and a Grey Phalarope were the highlights from the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare.

SUN 31 AUG - A juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was found today at Lurga Point near Quilty, Co. Clare, 2 Ortolan Buntings were seen at CCBO, Co. Cork, in Co. Wexford 2 Pectoral and 8 Curlew Sandpipers, a Gargany and 2 Marsh Harriers were seen, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers and a Little Stint were at Lady's Island Lake and 3 - 5 Wood Sandpipers and a Yellow Wagtail were at Ring Marsh, a Pied Flycatcher and a Whinchat were on Galley Head, Co. Cork, Wood Sandpiper at Ballycotton, Co. Cork, 1 Grey Phalarope, 10 Arctic Skuas and a Balearic Shearwater were seen off the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare and a Cory's Shearwater was noted off the Copeland Islands, Co. Down.

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