IRISH BIRD NEWS - February 2004

Glaucous Gull (1W) - Killybegs, Co. Donegal. © Chris Mills

American Herring Gull (1W) - Nimmo's Pier, Co. Galway. © Eugene Archer

Bonaparte's Gull - Cobh, Co. Cork. © Colin Barton

SUN 1 FEB - 40 Black-throated Divers and 12 Long-tailed Ducks were at Mountcharles (Donegal) while a single Glaucous Gull was at Killybegs (Donegal), American Herring Gull, 6 Glaucous, 3 Iceland and 1 Ring-billed Gull were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 2 Ring-billed and 17 Mediterranean Gulls were at Cobh (Cork), 8 Green Sandpipers and 2 Curlew Sandpipers were at the Mallow Sugar Factory lagoons (Cork) but there was no sign of the Little Ringed Plover there today, at least one Smew was at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve (Antrim), Goosanders were at Lough Gall (Kerry) and the RSPB Reserve in Belfast Harbour (Antrim), 32 Snow Buntings were still at Shane's Hill (Antrim) and single Sandwich Ters were noted at Ballywalter and at Portavogie (Down).

MON 2 FEB - American Herring Gull, 3 Glaucous, 1 Iceland and 2 Ring-billed Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway) and 2 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls at Killybegs (Donegal).

TUE 3 FEB - American Herring Gull, 3 Glaucous, 1 Iceland and 1 Ring-billed Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Iceland Gull at Cartron (Sligo) 3 Goosanders were at Knockmore Bay, Lough Conn (Mayo) and American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin).

WED 4 FEB - An adult Bonaparte's Gull was found at Cobh (Cork) where 18 Mediterranean, 3 Ring-billed and 1 Iceland Gull were present along with the wintering Rose-coloured Starling nearby. The Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck and Goosander were seen at the Lee Reservoirs near Dooniskey (Cork), 5 Rddy Ducks were also at the Gearagh (Cork), the 1W American Herring Gull, 3 Glaucous, 2 Ring-billed and 1 Iceland Gull were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway) and a Goosander was noted at Lough Beg (Derry).

THU 5 FEB - Adult Bonaparte's Gull at Cobh (Cork) and Black Brant and Iceland Gull at Cartron (Sligo).

FRI 6 FEB - Bonaparte's Gull at Cobh (Cork), American Herring Gull, 4 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 3 Goosanders were at Knockmore Bay, Lough Conn (Mayo) and American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin),

SAT 7 FEB - The adult Bonaparte's Gull was still at Cobh (Cork) along with 25 Mediterranean, 3 Ring-billed and 2 Iceland Gulls, the Lesser Scaup was on the Lee Reservoirs at Dooniskey (Cork) while the Spoonbill was at Clonakilty (Cork), a Forster's Tern was at Killyleagh (Down), Water Pipit still at Brigg's Rock (Down), American Herring Gull, 5 Glaucous and 4 Iceland Gulls were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), female Smew at Kilcoole (Wicklow) and American Wigeon at Rogerstown and Eider near Sutton (Dublin).

SUN 8 FEB - Forster's Terns were seen at Rosslare (Wexford) and at Strangford Narrows (Down) where 5 Sandwich Terns were also present, 2 Black Brant and 2 Ring-billed Gulls were at Annagh and a Mediterranean Gull was at Belmullet (Mayo), Little Ringed Plover and 5 Green Sandpipers at Mallow Sugar Factory lagoons and Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork), Snow Goose and 6 Pink-footed Geese at the North Slob (Wexford), American Herring Gull, 2 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 6 Glaucous and 3 Iceland Gulls at Killybegs (Donegal), Water Pipit and 15 Twite at Brigg's Rock (Down), 3 Twite were at Fahamore (Kerry), 6 Black-throated Divers were off Finvarra and another 2 were at Traught (Galway) and American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin).

MON 9 FEB - Bonaparte's Gull at Cobh (Cork), American Herring Gull, 2 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Black Brant at Elly Bay on the Mullet (Mayo), 4 Glaucous and 3 Iceland Gulls were at Killybegs (Donegal) and Lesser Whitethroat in Ballymun (Dublin).

TUE 10 FEB - Bonaparte's Gull at Cobh (Cork), 2 Surf Scoter were off Brandon Head (Kerry), American Herring Gull, 4 Ring-billed, 2 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 2 Ring-billed Gulls were at Whitehouse lagoons and another Iceland Gull was at Ardglass (Antrim), the Lesser Whitethroat was still in Ballymun (Dublin) and two late reports were also received today of House Martins seen at Dun Laoire (Dublin) on 7th and another near Ashford (Wicklow) on 8th February.

WED 11 FEB - The Hume's Warbler was seen again on Hook Head (Wexford), 1W American Herring Gull, Forster's Tern, 3 Glaucous, 2 Iceland and 2 Ring-billed Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 7 Mediterranean Gulls and a Black Redstart were at Cobh (Cork) with 2 Ring-billed Gulls at nearby Cuskinny Marsh.

THU 12 FEB - 2 Forster's Terns, 5 Glaucous, 4 Iceland Gulls and 5 Sandwich Terns were reported at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 2 grey-bellied Brent Geese were reported from Elly Bay (Mayo) with a Glaucous Gull at Annagh Beach and 2 Pink-footed Geese at nearby Termoncarragh while the Black Brant and Iceland Gull were at Cartron Marsh (Sligo), 2 Glaucous Gulls and 5 Slavonian Grebes were on Lough Foyle (Derry) while 2 Glaucous and 1 Iceland Gull were at Dargan Bay (Antrim) and a male Goosander was at Lough Geal (Kerry). News was also received today of an adult Kumlien's Gull at Killybegs seen on 6th February, a singing Chiffchaff was reported from Cork City while in Dublin City the Lesser Whitethroat was singing in Ballymun and a paired male Blackcap was singing and displaying in Kimmage.

FRI 13 FEB - The Little Ringed Plover, 8 Green and 2 Common Sandpipers were at Mallow Sugar Factory lagoons (Cork), Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck at the Lee Reservoirs near Dooniskey (Cork), 1W American Herring Gull, 3 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls plus the Forster's Tern and 7 Sandwich Terns reported from Nimmo's Pier (Galway), a 1W and a 3W American Herring Gull were reported from Killybegs (Donegal) 7 Velvet Scoter were off Rosses Point and the Black Brant was still at Cartron (Sligo).

SAT 14 FEB - Hume's Warbler on Hook Head (Wexford), the 2 Taiga Bean Geese and a Snow Goose were at the North Slob while a Black Brant was seen at the South Slob (Wexford), Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck at the Lee Reservoirs (Cork), American Herring Gull, 2 Iceland and 2 Glaucous Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Black Brant and Ring-billed Gull at Annagh Beach and 2 grey-bellied Brent Geese at Elly Bay (Mayo), Black Brant at Cartron (Sligo), 1,050 Greylag and 21 Pink-footed Geese were at Lurgangreen (Louth), a singing Chiffchaff was at Kilcoole and female Smew at Broad Lough (Wicklow) and the Lesser Whitethroat continues it's stay at Ballymun (Dublin).

SUN 15 FEB - A probable Tundra Bean Goose, 1,000+ Greylags and 23 Pink-footed Geese were at Lurgangreen while a Slavonian Grebe was seen off Salterstown (Louth), the 2 Taiga Bean Geese were at the North Slob (Wexford), 2 Red-necked and 5-6 Slavonian Grebes were at Castlegregory while 2 Surf Scoter, 3 Velvet Scoter and 7 Eider were in Brandon Bay (Kerry), 2 Surf Scoter were also at Ballyvooney Cove and 2 Goosanders were at Dungarvan (Waterford), 1,400 Barnacle Geese and 2 Pink-footed Geese were at Raghley (Sligo) and a single Brambling was noted at Kilkee (Clare).

MON 16 FEB - 1W American Herring Gull found at Culmore Dump (Derry) along with 3 Glaucous and 1 Iceland Gull, the Tundra Bean Goose, 27 Pink-feet and 42 Greenland White-fronted Geese were with the Greylags at Lurgangreen (Louth), the Hume's Warbler was still at Hook Head (Wexford), at least 8 Ring-billed Gulls were seen between Tivoli and Cuskinny (Cork) along with 12 Mediterranean Gulls at the latter site and the Lesser Whitethroat was again reported from Ballymun (Dublin).

TUE 17 FEB - Tundra Bean Goose still at Lurgangreen (Louth), Forster's Tern and single Ring-billed, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 2 Iceland and 1 Glaucous were at Dargan Bay (Antrim), female Smew at Kilcoole (Wicklow), 2 Brambling were seen at Rathfarnham Castle (Dublin), and a Goosander was at the Lee Reservoirs (Cork),

WED 18 FEB - 2 Surf Scoter were at Ballyvooney Cove, a Goosander was at Dungarvan and the Water Pipit was still at Kilmeaden (Waterford) today, 2 grey-bellied Brent Geese were at Elly Bay (Mayo) with 2 Glaucous Gull in the same area, female Smew at Kilcoole (Wicklow), 14 Long-tailed Ducks were at Carrickfergus (Antrim), 4 Brambling were at Lissadell (Sligo) and a Glaucous and Iceland Gull were in Dargan Bay (Antrim).

THU 19 FEB - Adult Bonaparte's Gull still at Cobh (Cork), 1W American Herring Gull, Forster's Tern and a Ring-billed Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), juvenile/1W American Herring Gull also at Killybegs (Donegal) along with 2 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls, 14 Pink-footed Geese were seen briefly at Kilcoole (Wicklow), 3 Brambling were reported from Barry Head near Kinsale (Cork) while 3 Slavonian Grebes plus 11 Long-tailed Ducks were noted off Rosses Point (Sligo), both good records for the county.

FRI 20 FEB - 2 Bonaparte's Gulls were seen today at Cobh (Cork), a grey morph Gyrfalcon was seen near Mountcharles (Donegal) while a 1W American Herring Gull and 5 Glaucous Gulls were at Killybegs, 2 Smew were at Inch Levels and 66 Long-tailed Ducks were noted off Fanad Head (Donegal), the Tundra Bean Goose, 2 Pink-feet, 26 Greenland White-fronted Geese and over 1,000 Greylags were at Lurgangreen (Louth), the Hume's Warbler was at Hook Head and the 2 Taiga Bean Geese and a Green-winged Teal were at the North Slob while another Green-winged Teal was seen at Cahore (Wexford), 8 Pink-footed Geese and female Smew at Kilcoole (Wicklow) and 3 Smew were at Drumgade Lake near Enniskillen (Fermanagh).

SAT 21 FEB - Tundra Bean Goose at Lurgangreen (Louth), 2 Taiga Bean Geese and a Green-winged Teal at the North Slob (Wexford), 1W American Herring Gull and 2 Glaucous Gulls at Culmore dump (Derry), 1W American Herring Gull plus Forster's Tern and single Ring-billed, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), American Wigeon and Goosander at the Lee Reservoirs, Spoonbill at Clonakilty and 3 Ring-billed Gulls at Tivoli (Cork), single Water Pipits continue to be seen at Kilmeaden (Waterford) and at Brigg's Rock (Antrim), 2 Goosanders were still at Dungarvan (Waterford) while 2 Ring-billed Gulls were also seen there today, Green-winged Teals at Cahore (Wexford) and Newry (Down), 7 Pink-footed Geese and female Smew at Kilcoole (Wicklow) and Ruddy Duck at Lough Ennell (Westmeath).

SUN 22 FEB - Tundra Bean Goose at Lurgangreen (Louth), 2 Taiga Bean Geese, white morph Snow Goose and Green-winged Teal at the North Slob (Wexford), 30 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Ring-billed Gulls were at Cobh, 2 Black Redstarts were at Barry Head and a Green-winged Teal was at Ballymacoda (Cork), Green-winged Teal also at Newry (Down) and 2 Iceland and 1 Glaucous Gull plus a Goosander at the Belfast Harbour RSPB Reserve (Antrim)

MON 23 FEB - The Tundra Bean Goose was seen again at Lurgangreen (Louth) along with 20+ Pink-footed Geese, the Forster's Tern, 1W American Herring Gull, 2 Glaucous and 1 Iceland Gull were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 8 Slavonian and 1 Black-necked Grebe were in Wexford harbour (Wexford), 2 Ring-billed and 1 Mediterranean Gull were in the Greenhills area (Dublin) and a report was received today of a possible 1W Laughing Gull seen from the ferry at Dun Laoghaire (Dublin) yesterday afternoon.

TUE 24 FEB - A male Ferruginous Duck was found at Coole Park near Gort (Galway), the wintering Lesser Whitethroat was seen again in Ballymun (Dublin), Iceland Gull at Cartron (Sligo) and Black Redstart at Dun Laoghaire (Dublin).

WED 25 FEB - Ferruginous Duck at Coole Park, Gort (Galway), 1W American Herring Gull still at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 20+ Pink-footed Geese were at Lurgangreen (Louth) but there was no sign of the Tundra Bean Goose there today, 17 Velvet Scoter were off Laytown (Louth), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin) and a possible Great White Egret was reported from Baldoyle (Dublin).

THU 26 FEB - Forster's Tern off Silver Strand and 1W American Herring Gull, 2 Ring-billed, 2 Glaucous and 1 Iceland Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway) and 17 Mediterranean Gulls were reported from the Cobh area (Cork).

FRI 27 FEB - Ferruginous Duck at Coole Park (Galway), Hume's Warbler at Hook Head (Wexford), 1W American Herring Gull and 2 Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway) and American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin).

SAT 28 FEB - Ferruginous Duck at Coole Park (Galway), 1W American Herring Gull, Forster's Tern, 4 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 1W American Herring Gull, 5+ Glaucous, 3+ Iceland and a Yellow-legged Gull were reported from Killybegs (Donegal), 2 Taiga Bean Geese still on the North Slob (Wexford) and 2W Glaucous Gull was at Bulloch Harbour (Dublin).

SUN 29 FEB - A Water Pipit, Twite and Green-winged Teal were found today at Broad Lough (Wicklow), American Herring Gull and Forster's Tern at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 1W American Herring Gull, 6 Glaucous and 3 Iceland Gulls were at Killybegs (Donegal), the Tundra Bean Goose was seen again inland from Lurgangreen (Louth) while 2 Red-necked Grebes were at nearby Salterstown, 2 Grey-bellied Brent Geese were at Elly Bay (Mayo), Black Brant at Cartron (Sligo) along with an Iceland Gull, on Hook Head (Wexford) the Hume's Warbler was still present, the American Wigeon was at Rogerstown (Dublin, a Surf Scoter was found at Lahinch (Clare), 2 Red-necked and 6 Slavonian Grebes were at Sandy Bay (Kerry), and in Timoleague (Cork) a House Martin was noted.

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