IRISH BIRD NEWS - August 2004

Arctic Skua - Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare. © John Murphy

Melodious Warbler - Galley Head, Co. Cork. © Michael O' Keeffe

Wilson's Petrel - Off Blasket Islands, Co. Kerry. © Michael O' Keeffe

SUN 1 AUG - A Pectoral Sandpiper was found at Smerwick (Kerry), Short-billed Dowitcher and Wood Sandpiper at Lady's Island Lake (Wexford), American Herring, Glaucous, Ring-billed and Yellow-legged Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper at Templetown beach (Louth) Spoonbill at Clonakilty and a Spotted Redshank was at Kinsale Marsh (Cork) and the Laughing Dove of unknown origin was seen again at Ballymena (Antrim).

MON 2 AUG - An adult White-rumped Sandpiper was found today at Kilcoole (Wicklow) where a Wood Sandpiper was also present, Short-billed Dowitcher and Wood Sandpiper at Lady's Island Lake (Wexford), juvenile Black Tern at Clonea and 46 Little Egrets were at Dungarvan (Waterford), a Red Kite was seen at Portmore Lough RSPB (Antrim), 2 Great Shearwaters, 1 Balearic Shearwater and a Pomarine Skua off Galley Head (Cork), 3 Green Sandpipers were at Rogerstown (Dublin), Curlew Sandpiper at Shannon airport lagoons (Clare) and Laughing Dove at Ballymena (Antrim).

TUE 3 AUG - White-rumped Sandpiper at Kilcoole (Wicklow), Greater Yellowlegs reported again at Quoile Pondage (Down).

WED 4 AUG - Pectoral Sandpiper at Ballylongford (Limerick), 2 Wood Sandpipers at Kilcoole (Wicklow), 1 Sooty and 2 Balearic Shearwaters off Galley Head (Cork).

THU 5 AUG - An adult Sabine's Gull was seen off Ramore Head (Antrim), single Great Shearwaters off Cape Clear and Galley Head (Cork), American Herring, Glaucous and Ring-billed Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway).

FRI 6 AUG - Long-billed Dowitcher found at Blennerville (Kerry), adult Bonaparte's Gull at Passage West (Cork), Great Shearwater off Galley Head and Cory's Shearwater off Cape Clear (Cork), American Herring, Glaucous and Ring-billed Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 29 Mediterranean Gulls and a 2nd cal-yr. Yellow-legged Gull at Sandymount (Dublin).

SAT 7 AUG - Long-billed Dowitcher at Blennerville (Kerry), 1 Great and 4 Sooty Shearwaters off Galley Head (Cork), a Pied Flycatcher was at Belfast Lough RSPB (Antrim), Ring-billed and Yellow-legged Gull at Rosscarbery, Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork).

SUN 8 AUG - White-rumped Sandpiper at the North Slob (Wexford), Long-billed Dowitcher and Glaucous Gull at Blennerville (Kerry), a Balearic Shearwater was seen off St. John's Point (Down), Pied Flycatcher still at Belfast Lough RSPB (Antrim), 25 Cory's, 6 Great and 12 Sooty Shearwaters off Cape Clear, 9 Cory's, 1 Balearic and 3 Sooty off Galley Head, 3 Cory's, 1 Great and 1 Sooty off the Old Head of Kinsale, Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork), Wood Sandpiper at Kilcoole (Wicklow).

MON 9 AUG - Baird's Sandpiper at Lissagriffin (Cork), White-rumped Sandpiper at the North Slob (Wexford), Pectoral Sandpiper at Kilcoole (Wicklow), Long-billed Dowitcher and Spotted Redshank at Blennerville (Kerry), Pied Flycatcher at Cape Clear (Cork) along with 9 Cory's, 9 Great, 14 Sooty Shearwaters and a "Blue" Fulmar.

TUE 10 AUG - Melodious Warbler on Dursey Island, 3 Pied Flycatchers were at Ballycotton and 2 Great Shearwaters off Cape Clear (Cork), adult Black Tern at Sandymount (Dublin), 4 Curlew Sandpipers at Tacumshin (Wexford).

WED 11 AUG - Snowy Owl on Arranmore Island (Donegal), Long-billed Dowitcher at Blennerville (Kerry), Wood Sandpiper at Kilcoole (Wicklow), 31 Mediterranean Gulls and a juv Black Tern at Sandymount (Dublin).

THU 12 AUG - Melodious Warbler and Pied Flycatcher on Galley Head (Cork), American Wigeon and 2 Little Egrets at Lough Beg (Derry), Short-billed Dowitcher and Curlew Sandpiper at Lady's Island Lake (Wexford), American Herring and Ring-billed Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), juv Black Tern at Sandymount and 15 Mediterranean Gulls at Sandycove (Dublin), Pied Flycatcher at Helvick Head and 3 Green Sandpipers at Ballyshunnock Res. (Waterford) and large numbers of Swifts were noted along the Co. Cork coast..

FRI 13 AUG - Snowy Owl on Arranmore (Donegal), Melodious Warblers on Dursey Island and on Galley Head (Cork), 3 juv Black Terns at Tacumshin , Short-billed Dowitcher at Lady's Island Lake and 2 Wood Sandpipers at Ring Marsh (Wexford), 2 juv Black Terns at Sandymount (Dublin), Long-billed Dowitcher at Blennerville (Kerry), Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork),

SAT 14 AUG - Baird's Sandpiper and Short-billed Dowitcher reported from Lady's Island Lake (Wexford), a Dotterel was found on Arranmore Island (Donegal), Melodious Warbler and at Carnsore (Wexford), 3 Wilson's Petrels were seen on a pelagic trip c.6 miles NNW of Tearaght , Blasket Islands (Kerry), Great Shearwater off the Old Head of Kinsale and 1 Balearic and 2 Sooty Shearwaters past Galley Head, Spotted Redshank at the Douglas Estuary (Cork), Little Stint at Ballagan Point (Louth).

SUN 15 AUG - 2 Cory's, 2 Great and 6 Sooty Shearwaters past Cape Clear (Cork), Short-billed Dowitcher at Lady's Island Lake (Wexford), Pectoral Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper at Kilcoole (Wicklow), American Herring, Ring-billed and Glaucous Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway).

MON 16 AUG - Long-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Redshank and Curlew Sandpiper at Blennerville (Kerry), eclipse male Garganey at the Douglas Estuary (Cork).

TUE 17 AUG - Melodious Warbler still at Carnsore Point, 3 Black Terns at Nethertown and 21 Little Egrets at Fethard (Wexford), 2 Cory's and 1 Sooty Shearwater past Brow Head, 1 Great and 1 Sooty off Galley Head, Spotted Redshank at Kinsale Marsh (Cork).

WED 18 AUG - Little Stint at Lady's Island Lake and Wood Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Wexford), Wood Sandpiper, 2 Garganey and Short-eared Owl at Ballycotton (Cork), 9 Mediterranean Gulls at Sandymount (Dublin).

THU 19 AUG - 3+ Wilson's Petrels, 2 Long-tailed Skuas, a Balearic and 8 Sooty Shearwaters were seen at the Bridges of Ross while another Long-tailed Skua was seen off Quilty (Clare), 20 Cory's Shearwaters off Cape Clear (Cork), 2 Great Shearwaters off the Blasket Islands (Kerry), a Red-necked Grebe was reported from Kilkeran Lake, 2 Garganey were at Ballycotton and the Spoonbill was at Clonakilty (Cork).

FRI 20 AUG - Wilson's Petrel, 2 Long-tailed Skuas, a Sabine's Gull, 13 Great and 36 Arctic Skuas and a Grey Phalarope were seen off the Bridges of Ross (Clare), Long-tailed Skua and 10 Cory's Shearwaters plus a Pied Flycatcher at Cape Clear (Cork).

SAT 21 AUG - A Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 3 Black Terns and an Arctic Skua were at Tacumshin while 2 Black Terns were at Ring Marsh (Wexford), 2 Pied Flycatchers were seen on Hook Head while another was seen at Carnsore Point (Wexford), Long-billed Dowitcher at Blennerville (Kerry), 2 Cory's Shearwaters and a Pomarine Skua were seen off the Old Head of Kinsale , 2 Pied Flycatchers were on Cape Clear, a Garganey was at the Douglas Estuary, the Spoonbill was at Clonakilty (Cork) and 3 Green Sandpipers were at Ballymascanlon Bay (Louth).

SUN 22 AUG - A Wilson's Petrel, juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 1 Cory's, 41 Sooty Shearwaters and 21 Great Skuas off Cape Clear while 5 Sooty and 5 Great Skuas were off Galley Head (Cork), seawatching was also good on the east coast with 80+ Arctic, 1 Pomarine and 6 Great Skuas plus 3 Black Terns off Clogher Head (Louth), 1 Pomarine and 6 Arctic Skuas off Skerries, a Long-tailed Skua, 5 Balearic and 2 Sooty Shearwaters off Howth (Dublin) a single Balearic Shearwater was off Bray Head (Wicklow), and another Balearic was seen at Ballycotton (Cork), an adult White-rumped Sandpiper was also found today at Ballycotton, the Long-billed Dowitcher was seen at Blennerville (Kerry), a Wood Sandpiper was at Lough Beg (Cork), Pied Flycatcher at Carnsore Point (Wexford), Pied Flycatcher and Whinchat at Brownstown Head (Waterford) and Wood Warbler and 2 Pied Flycatchers were seen on Cape Clear (Cork).

MON 23 AUG - A possible Canvasback, potentially a first Irish record, was found today at Smerwick (Kerry), 2 Long-tailed Skuas were seen off Greystones (Wicklow), 5 Black Terns were at Belfast Lough RSPB (Antrim), 1 Black Tern was seen at the Bridges of Ross (Clare), Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler on Cape Clear (Cork), American Herring Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway).

TUE 24 AUG - Possible Canvasback still at Smerwick (Kerry), a Wilson's Petrel, 2 Leach's, 30 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Long-tailed, 10 Great and 20 Arctic Skuas plus an adult Sabine's Gull and 5 Grey Phalaropes at the Bridges of Ross (Clare), White-rumped Sandpiper and Little Stint at Ballycotton (Cork) and a Cory's Shearwater was seen from the Rosslare - Fishguard ferry (Wexford).

WED 25 AUG - A Fea's Petrel, Wilson's Petrel, 13 Long-tailed Skuas, a Sabine's Gull, 1 Balearic and 250 Sooty Shearwaters were noted at the Bridges of Ross (Clare), 2 Great Shearwaters and 140 Sooty, 2 Long-tailed Skuas and 4 Leach's Petrels were seen at Kilcummin Head (Mayo), 1 Leach's and 50 Sooty were off Rocky Point, 6 Sooty, a Pomarine Skua and a Black-throated Diver flew past Melmore Head, a Sabine's Gull, 1 Pomarine and 3 Long-tailed Skuas were at Malin Head and a Sabine's Gull was seen at Fanad Head (Donegal), Northern Ireland's first Little Shearwater, 7 Balearic Shearwaters, a Sabine's Gull and 3 Long-tailed Skuas flew past Ramore Head (Antrim), the Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Blennerville (Kerry), Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Marsh Harrier at Tacumshin (Wexford) and the possible Canvasback was still at Ballinrannig Marsh near Smerwick (Kerry).

THU 26 AUG - 1 Long-tailed Skua at the Bridges of Ross (Clare), Long-billed Dowitchers at Blennerville (Kerry) and at Kinsale Marsh (Cork) where a Spotted Redshank was also present., Yellow Wagtail at Tacumshin (Wexford).

FRI 27 AUG - 1 Long-tailed, 48 Arctic and 66 Great Skuas, 3 Leach's Petrels and 600 Sooty Shearwaters off Rocky Point (Donegal), 5 Long-tailed, 3 Pomarine, 18 Arctic and 25 Great Skuas, 1 Great and 1 Balearic Shearwater plus 2 Leach's Petrels and a 'blue' Fulmar at the Bridges of Ross (Clare), American Herring and Ring-billed Gull at Nimmo's Pier and 7 Arctic Skuas at Silver Strand (Galway). The possible Canvasback at Smerwick (Kerry) has now been identified as a Pochard.

SAT 28 AUG - 3 Long-tailed, 1 Pomarine and 40+ Arctic Skuas plus 20 Leach's Petrels and a Balearic Shearwater off the Bridges of Ross (Clare), a Cory's Shearwater was seen off Arklow (Wicklow), an American Golden Plover was at Lough Beg (Cork) along with a Wood Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank while another AGP was reported from Ballycotton (Cork), Long-billed Dowitchers were noted at Blennerville (Kerry) and at Kinsale Marsh (Cork), a White-rumped Sandpiper was found at Poulnasherry Bay (Clare), Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper at the Bann Estuary (Derry),

SUN 29 AUG - A Little Shearwater, 1 Great Shearwater, 3 Wilson's Petrels, 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 15 Leach's Petrels and 200+ Sooty Shearwaters off Brandon Head (Kerry), a Little Shearwater, 2 Balearic, 7 Long-tailed Skuas, 2 Sabine's Gulls, 50 Great and 30 Arctic Skuas, 600 Sooties and several Leach's Petrels were noted at Kilcummin Head (Mayo), 3 Long-tailed, 100 Arctic and 20 Great Skuas, 25 Leach's Petrels, 3 Balearic and 500+ Sooty Shearwaters plus 3 Sabine's Gulls past the Bridges of Ross (Clare), 1 Long-tailed, 9 Arctic and 12 Great Skuas were seen off Bloody Foreland (Donegal), 7 Long-tailed, 44 Arctic and 20 Great Skuas, 1 Balearic and 18 Sooty Shearwaters plus 2 Leach's Petrels were off Ramore Head (Antrim), a possible Gyrfalcon was reported from Oxford Island NR (Antrim), Long-billed Dowitcher at Kinsale Marsh and Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork), and an Osprey was seen at the Swords Estuary (Dublin) while another Osprey was at Lough Beg (Derry). Late news was also received today of a Melodious Warbler seen at Firkeel (Cork) on Wednesday 25th.

MON 30 AUG - 6 Long-tailed Skuas, 2 Sabine's Gulls, 2 Leach's Petrels and a Grey Phalarope off the Bridges of Ross (Clare), 1 Long-tailed, 15 Arctic and 15 Great Skuas plus 6 Leach's Petrels off Ramore Head (Antrim), a Great Shearwater, 5 Sabine's Gulls, 20 Leach's, 1 Pomarine, 1 Arctic and 16 Great Skuas off Fanad Head (Donegal), a Surf Scoter was in Brandon bay (Kerry) while 5 Arctic Skuas were noted off Brandon Head and the Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Kinsale Marsh (Cork).

TUE 31 AUG - A Wryneck was found today on Mizen Head (Cork), a Great Shearwater was the best on a pelagic out of Burtonport (Donegal), a juvenile Sabine's Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull were at Kinnegar Shore (Down), 1 Pomarine Skua and 40 Sooty Shearwaters off Cape Clear (Cork), a Garganey was at Lough Beg (Derry) and the American Herring Gull, a Ring-billed and a Glaucous Gull were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway).

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