IRISH BIRD NEWS - January 2004

Tundra Bean Geese - Myroe Levels, Co. Derry. © David Steele

Rose-coloured Starling - Cobh, Co. Cork. © Colin Barton

Ring-necked Duck - Lough Doogan, Co. Mayo. © Paul Hackett

THU 1 JAN - The Hume's Warblers at Hook Head (Wexford) and Knockadoon Head (Cork) were both still present today, Forster's Tern and single Ring-billed, Iceland and Glaucous Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Ring-necked Ducks were seen at Lough Fern (Donegal) and at Rostellan (Cork), Surf Scoter at Ballyvooney Cove (Waterford), 8 Waxwings were at Coleraine (Derry), Water Pipit at Kilmeaden (Waterford) and Goosander at nearby Dungarvan, a Slavonian Grebe was at Salterstown (Louth), Black-necked Grebe at Aghada (Cork) and 9 Long-tailed Ducks were off Carrickfergus (Antrim).

FRI 2 JAN - Hume's Warblers at Hook Head (Wexford) and Knockadoon Head (Cork), Black Brant, Snow Goose and 3 Spotted Redshanks at the North Slob (Wexford) with a Red-necked, a Black-necked and a Slavonian Grebe off the sea-wall, Forster's Tern and 3 Glaucous Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), a Ring-necked Duck was at Culmore Lake near Castlebar (Mayo), female Smew at Broad Lough and 47 Brambling at Tinakilly (Wicklow), Red-necked Grebe off the West Pier, Dun Laoire (Dublin) and 5 Iceland and 2 Glaucous Gulls were at Culmore Tip (Derry).

SAT 3 JAN - A Yellow-browed Warbler was found at Tymon Park and a Lesser Whitethroat was discovered today in Ballymun (Dublin), the Hume's Warbler was still on Hook Head (Wexford), Forster's Tern and 3 Glaucous Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Snow Goose and Black-necked Grebe at the North Slob (Wexford), Ring-necked Duck at Ballyhonack Lough (Cork), Surf Scoter off Ballyvooney Cove (Waterford), American Wigeon at Rogerstown, 3 Black Redstarts were in the Sandycove area, 2 Eider were off Skerries and a female Eider was seen off the South Wall (Dublin).

SUN 4 JAN - The Yellow-browed Warbler was still present at Tymon Park (Dublin), a Forster's Tern was seen from the North Slob and then later at Ferrybridge (Wexford), Ring-necked Ducks were seen at Lough Gill (Kerry) and on the Lee Reservoir (Cork) where an American Wigeon and a Goosander were also present, Iceland Gull and Slavonian Grebe at Sutton (Dublin), Ring-billed Gull and Sandwich Tern at Brigg's Rock (Down), Goosander at the RSPB Resseve in Belfast Lough (Antrim), 2 Iceland, 2 Glaucous and a Ring-billed Gull were at Whitehouse Lagoon (Antrim) with 2 Iceland Gulls also at nearby Dargan Bay, 2 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Culmore Tip (Antrim) 9 Waxwings were at Portstewart Road, Coleraine (Derry), a Chiffchaff was at Fountainstown (Cork) and a Black Redstart was at Rosslare (Wexford).

MON 5 JAN - 2 Bean Geese were found near to Myroe Levels (Derry), 5 Iceland and 5 Glaucous Gulls were at Killybegs (Donegal), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin) but no sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler at Tymon Park.

TUE 6 JAN - Hume's Warbler still at Knockadoon Head (Cork), the 2 Bean Geese were still in fields near Myroe Levels (Derry) along with 200 Greylags, 2 Barnacle and 1 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Surf Scoter were at Ballyvooney Cove (Waterford), Forster's Tern, 3 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 1 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Dargan Bay (Antrim), 5 Glaucous and 5 Iceland at Killybegs (Donegal) and a Little Auk and 2 Black-throated Divers were at Montcharles (Donegal).

WED 7 JAN - The 2 Bean Geese were still near Myroe Levels (Derry), 2 Ring-billed Gulls were at Greenhills (Dublin) and 16 Little Gulls were off Wicklow Harbour (Wicklow).

THU 8 JAN - An immature male Lesser Scaup was reported from Dooniskey near Macroom (Cork) along with a Ring-necked Duck and 20 Snow Buntings were seen near Ballyvaughan (Clare).

FRI 9 JAN - Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck on the Lee Reservoirs at Dooniskey (Cork), adult Forster's Tern at Ferrybank and Snow Goose at the North Slob (Wexford), 2 Bean Geese were still at Myroe Levels (Derry) and Ring-billed, Iceland and Mediterranean Gull at Castletownbere (Cork).

SAT 10 JAN - Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck at Dooniskey (Cork), Ring-necked Duck found at Lough Kinale and Common Sandpiper at Lough Sheelin (Cavan), Forster's Tern at Ferrybank (Wexford), 2 Bean Geese were at Myroe Levels (Derry), 2 Ring-billed, an Iceland and a Yellow-legged Gull were at Cobh (Cork), Rose-coloured Starling still at Lisburn (Antrim) and an Iceland and a Glaucous Gull were at Dargan Bay (Antrim).

SUN 11 JAN - Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck and Goosander at the Lee Reservoirs near Macroom (Cork) with another possible Lesser Scaup also in the area, Hume's Warbler still on Hook Head (Wexford), Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork) and 2 Ring-billed, an Iceland and Yellow-legged Gull were at Cobh (Cork).

MON 12 JAN - The Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck were both seen again on the Lee Reservoir at Dooniskey (Cork), the 2 Bean Geese on Lough Flyle were seen today near Limavady (Derry), Rose-coloured Starling and Waxwing in Lisburn (Antrim) and 2 Iceland Gulls were in Dargan Bay (Antrim).

TUE 13 JAN - The 2 Bean Geese at Myroe Levels (Derry) have been re-identified and confirmed as Tundra Bean Geese, only the second and third individuals to be recorded in Ireland, Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck on the Lee Reservoir at Dooniskey (Cork), a first-winter American Herring Gull, 3 Glaucous, 1 Iceland and 2 Ring-billed Gulls plus a Little Auk were all seen at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Red-necked Grebe at Giles's Quay (Louth) Black-throated Diver and 4 Sandwich Terns at Strangford Narrows (Down), Iceland Gull at Bray (Wicklow) and Ring-billed and Glaucous Gull at Sligo Town (Sligo).

WED 14 JAN - The 2 Tundra Bean Geese were still at Myroe Levels (Derry), Water Pipit at Brigg's Rock and an Iceland Gull was at Larne (Antrim), 2 Brambling were at Dungarvan and a Goosander was at nearby Ballyneety (Waterford),and 2 Ring-billed, an Iceland and 11 Mediterranean Gulls were at Cobh (Cork).

THU 15 JAN - American Wigeon and 2 Little Egrets at Rogerstown (Dublin), Rose-coloured Starling at Lisburn (Antrim) and Glaucous Gull at Enniskillen (Fermanagh).

FRI 16 JAN - Lesser Scaup near Macroom (Cork) while 5 Ruddy Ducks were at the Gearagh nearby, the Forster's Tern, 3 Glaucous and 1 Iceland Gull plus 5 Sandwich Terns were still at Nimmo's Pier (Galway) and the American Wigeon was seen again at Rogerstown (Dublin).

SAT 17 JAN - A male and a female Smew were at Blanket Nook (Donegal) while 27 Slavonian Grebes were on the seaward side of the embankment there, 2 Goosanders and 2 Pink-footed Geese were at Lough Fern (Donegal), the 2 Tundra Bean Geese were still at Myroe Levels (Derry), 280+ Greylag Geese and 29 Whooper Swans were at Stabannon (Louth), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin) and 4 Glaucous, 2 Ring-billed and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway).

SUN 18 JAN - The 2 Tundra Bean Geese were at Myroe Levels (Derry), 2 Velvet Scoter and 7 Long-tailed Ducks were in Dundrum Bay (Down), Carrion Crow and Mediterranean Gull at Brigg's Rock (Antrim), 6 Goosanders were at the Vartry Reservoir, female Smew at Broad Lough, 20 Brambling were seen near Newcastle and a dark-bellied Brent Goose was at Kilcoole (Wicklow) and a Common Sandpiper was still wintering at Crosshaven (Cork).

MON 19 JAN - A first-winter Rose-coloured Starling was found at Cobh (Cork) while 2 Ring-billed Gulls were off the harbour nearby, 2 American Wigeon were at Courtmacsherry and one was at Castletownbere (Cork), Forster's Tern, 3 Glaucous, 1 Iceland and 1 Ring-billed Gull were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), the 2 Tundra Bean Geese were still at Myroe Levels (Derry) a Long-tailed Duck and a Little Egret were at Finvara (Clare) a Black Brant and 2 dark-bellied Brent Geese were at Killala Bay (Mayo).

TUE 20 JAN - The Rose-coloured Starling was still present at Cobh (Cork) while 2 Ring-billed and 14 Mediterranean Gulls were seen from the pier there and the Lesser Scaup and a Common Sandpiper were at the Lee Reservoirs, near Macroom (Cork).

WED 21 JAN - 2 Taiga Bean Geese were found at the North Slob (Wexford), Rose-coloured Starling at Cobh (Cork) and first-winter male Lesser Scaup stiill at the Lee Reservoirs, Macroom (Cork), 20 Snow Buntings were at Ballyvaughan (Clare) and an Iceland Gull, Carrion Crow and 40 - 50 Twite were at Dargan Bay (Antrim).

THU 22 JAN - A first-winter American Herring Gull was seen at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 3 Waxwings were seen at the Union Theological College in Belfast (Antrim), 2 Glaucous, 2 Mediterranean and 1 Iceland Gull along with 30 Brambling were at Culmore Tip (Derry) and a Ring-billed Gull was at Castletownbere (Cork).

FRI 23 JAN - The Rose-coloured Starling was still at Cobh (Cork) today.

SAT 24 JAN - Forster's Tern, 1W American Herring Gull, 2 Ring-billed and 1 Glaucous Gull were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Ring-necked Duck at Ross Castle, Lough Leane (Kerry), the 2 Tundra Bean Geese were seen at Myroe Levels (Derry) while the 2 Taiga Bean Geese and a Green-winged Teal were at the North Slob (Wexford) (click HERE for article on Bean Geese in Ireland), Rose-coloured Starling at Cobh (Cork), a Lesser Whitethroat was seen again in Ballymun (Dublin), 4 Glaucous and 1 Iceland Gull wee at Killybegs (Donegal) and a single Black-throated Diver was reported from nearby Mountcharles.

SUN 25 JAN - The Hume's Warbler was seen again at Hook Head (Wexford), Lesser Scaup at the Lee Reservoirs near Macroom (Cork) while the Little Ringed Plover found several weeks ago at the Mallow Sugar Factory lagoons was also seen there again today along with 12 Green and 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Tundra Bean Geese were at Myroe Levels (Derry), 2 Taiga Bean Geese and a Green-winged Teal were at the North Slob while 2 Yellow-legged Gulls were at Duncannon (Wexford), the Rose-coloured Starling was still at Cobh (Cork), an American Wigeon was found at Ashton's Callow (Tipperary), the Lesser Whitethroat was still in a suburban garden in Ballymun (Dublin) an "Eastern" Jackdaw was seen at Ballinode (Monaghan) and a male Smew was at Portmore Lough (Antrim) while a female Smew was at Craigavon (Armagh).

MON 26 JAN - Forster's Tern off the North Slob (Wexford), 50 Waxwings were at Ardglass (Down), 3 Sandwich Terns were at Killyleagh and another 2 were at the Narrows on Strangford Lough (Down).

TUE 27 JAN - 50 Waxwings still at Ardglass (Down), 2 Iceland Gulls and 30 Twite were at the North Foreshore Dump in Belfast (Antrim) and a Glaucous Gull was reported near Myroe Levels (Derry).

WED 28 JAN - The first-winter American Herring Gull, 4 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway).

THU 29 JAN - Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers and a total of 7 Chiffchaffs were seen at the Mallow Sugar Factory lagoons (Cork), American Herring Gull, 3 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 32 Snow Buntings were at Shane's Hill (Antrim), Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork), Pink-footed Goose at Rogerstown (Dublin), Goosander at Lough Gill (Kerry), Goosander and 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Belfast Lough (Antrim) 1 Goosander was at Lough Gall (Kerry) and 2 Goosanders were at Lough Fern (Donegal).

FRI 30 JAN - Little Ringed Plover and 8 Green Sandpipers at the Mallow Sugar Factory lagoons (Cork), Black Duck at Cross Lough and 2 Chiffchaffs at Blacksod on the Mullet peninsula (Mayo), Snow Goose and 2 Black-necked Grebes at the North Slob and a Grey Phalarope was at Rosslare (Wexford) and an Iceland Gull was at Cartron Point (Sligo).

SAT 31 JAN - A Black Brant was found at Cartron Point near (Sligo) and an Iceland Gull was also present, American Herring Gull, 4 Glaucous, 3 Iceland and 1 Little Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Ring-necked Duck at Lough Doogan near Newport (Mayo), Black-throated Diver at Bundoran and single Glaucous and Iceland Gulls at Killybegs (Donegal), Black-throated Diver and 6 Snow Buntings near Ballyvaughan (Clare) , Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork) and American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin).

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