IRISH BIRD NEWS - March 2004

Snow Bunting - Loop Head, Co. Clare. © John Murphy

Spotted Redshank - North Slob, Co. Wexford. © Paul Archer

Bittern - Tacumshin, Co. Wexford. © Killian Mullarney

MON 1 MAR - Forster's Tern, 3 Glaucous, 2 Iceland and 1 Ring-billed Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 1W American Herring Gull, 6 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls at Killybegs (Donegal), a Green-winged Teal was noted at Victoria Lock (Louth) between Newry and Carlingford.

TUE 2 MAR - The Ferruginous Duck was at Coole Park (Galway), a drake Ring-necked Duck and 230 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at New Lake, Dunfanaghy (Donegal), Lesser Whitethroat still in Ballymun (Dublin) and a Scandinavian (littoralis) Rock Pipit was present today at Redbay, Waterfoot (Antrim).

WED 3 MAR - A Goosander, Glaucous Gull and 2 Iceland Gulls at the RSPB Rederve in Belfast harbour (Antrim), 2 Goosanders were also at Dungarvan (Waterford) and one was seen at Poulaphouca Reservoir (Wicklow).

THU 4 MAR - An adult Forster's Tern and 10 Eider were seen at Durrus Bay near Kinvarra (Clare), 1W American Herring Gull at Culmore Dump (Derry), Iceland Gull at Greencastle (Donegal), 3 Glaucous and 1 Iceland Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), American Wigeon at Rogerstown and dark-bellied Brent Goose at Swords (Dublin) and a Whimbrel was noted at Sandycove (Dublin).

FRI 5 MAR - American Herring Gull, 2 Glaucous and 1 Iceland Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 2 Iceland and 1 Glaucous at Belfast Lough and 1 Iceland Gull was at Larne Lough (Antrim).

SAT 6 MAR - Ferruginous Duck at Cool Park, Gort (Galway), Surf Scoter and 5 Velvet Scoter off Lahinch (Clare), 2 Taiga Bean Geese and Snow Goose at the North Slob (Wexford), 2 Ring-billed Gulls were at Arklow (Wicklow), Ring-billed Gulls also seen at Castletownbear (Cork) and in Cork City where 2 birds were present, a Slavonian Grebe was seen at the northern tip of the Bull Island and the American Wigeon was at Rogerstown (Dublin).

SUN 7 MAR - A male American Wigeon and 2 Jack Snipe were seen at Broad Lough (Wicklow), 1W American Herring Gull and Iceland Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Red-necked Grebe at Hermitage (Louth), 7 Slavonian Grebes were at Greyabbey (Down), a Twite was at Brigg's Rock (Antrim), 2 Brambling were at Leopardstown (Dublin) and a Black Redstart and Ring-billed Gull were at Kinsale (Cork).

MON 8 MAR - A 2W Ring-billed Gull was at Arklow (Wicklow) and Glaucous Gull at the RSPB reserve in Belfast harbour (Antrim).

TUE 9 MAR - Glaucous Gull at the RSPB reserve in Belfast harbour (Antrim) and Black Redstart at the East Pier, Dun Laoghaire (Dublin).

WED 10 MAR - 1W American Herring Gull, 2 Glaucous, 1 Iceland and 2 Ring-billed Gulls at Nimmo’s Pier (Galway), 5 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls around Belfast harbour (Antrim), Grey-bellied Brent Goose and Black Brant at Elly Bay and Ring-billed and Glaucous Gull at Annagh Head (Mayo), an American Wigeon was at Timoleague and the Spoonbill was at Clonakilty while the same bird or another was seen at Kinsale Marsh (Cork).

THU 11 MAR - American Herring Gull, 2 Glaucous, 2 Ring-billed and 1 Iceland Gull at Nimmo's Pier and (Galway), 40+ Little Gulls were seen off Greystones while another 11 were at Wicklow harbour (Wicklow) and 10 Brambling were in Tullamore (Offaly).

FRI 12 MAR - An American Wigeon and a Ring-necked Duck were found on the Arran Islands (Galway), Ring-billed Gull at Whitehouse and single Glaucous and Iceland Gull at Dargan Bay (Antrim), the Black Brant was at Cartron (Sligo) and a Brambling was seen at Kimmage (Dublin).

SAT 13 MAR - A 1W “Kumlien’s” Gull and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Killybegs (Donegal), 6 Ring-billed, 1 Iceland, 15+ Mediterranean and 2 Little Gulls were at Sandymount Strand (Dublin) while a swift sp. was seen briefly nearby, the male Ferruginous Duck was still at Coole Park, Gort and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Rossaveal (Galway), 1W American Herring Gull, 2 Ring-billed, 2 Iceland and 3 Glaucous Gulls were at Nimmo’s Pier and a Forster’s Tern was at Kinvarra Bay (Galway), a Whimbrel was at Clogher Head (Louth) Green-winged Teal at Newry Estuary (Down / Armagh), a Sandwich Tern seen at Ringabella (Cork) was most probably a migrant, a possible American Herring Gull was reported from Burtonport and 2 Black-throated Divers were at Mountcharles (Donegal).

SUN 14 MAR - 8 Ring-billed Gulls were counted at Sandymount (Dublin) while another was at the North Bull Island, American Herring Gull, 2 Glaucous and 1 Ring-billed were at Nimmo’s Pier (Galway), Forster’s Tern and 4 Sandwich Terns in Kinvarra Bay (Galway), a Red-necked Grebe was at Salterstown (Louth), Black-necked Grebe was at Aghada (Cork), one Surf Scoter was still off Ballyvooney Cove (Waterford), the Lesser Whitethroat continues to be seen at Ballymun (Dublin), a Glaucous Gull was at Falcarragh (Donegal) while a possible 1W American Herring Gull was seen at Burtonport (Donegal).

MON 15 MAR - A male borealis Eider was present with 50 Eider and c.30 Long-tailed Ducks off Fanad Head (Donegal), 5 Brambling still at Lissadell (Sligo), 2 Ruff were at Baun Lake near Galmoy (Kilkenny), 12 Mediterranean and 7 Little Gulls at Sandymount (Dublin) and a Sandwich Tern was at Kilcoole (Wicklow).

TUE 16 MAR - A possible Double-crested Cormorant was reported from Cobh (Cork), American Herring Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Forster's Tern off Doorus Pier, Kinvarra Bay (Galway), c.20 Sand Martins were at Wrafton Pond (Dublin),  Ring-necked Duck and female Smew at Inch Lake, Lough Swilly (Donegal), 5 Black-throated Divers at Mountcharles (Donegal), 58 Little Gulls were off Bray (Wicklow), a littoralis Rock Pipit was at Carnsore Point (Wexford) and Glaucous Gull at Culmore Dump (Derry).

WED 17 MAR - An Alpine Swift was reported at Greystones (Wicklow), a Great White Egret flew over Midleton (Cork) and 15 Sand Martins and 1 House Martin also seen in the area, American Wigeon, female Smew and 7 Little Gulls at Kilcoole (Wicklow), Forster's Tern and 8 Sandwich Terns at Kilclief Bay, Strangford Lough (Down), Forster's Tern and 15 Sandwich Terns at Kinvarra Bay (Galway), Black Brants at Cartron and at Ballyconnell Strand (Sligo), 2 Swallows and 2 Sand Martins were at Tacumshin, Hume's Warbler at Hook Head and littoralis Rock Pipit at Carnsore Point (Wexford), a single Sand Martin was at Bray (Wicklow), Black-throated Diver at Cobh and Black-necked Grebe at Aghada (Cork), Lesser Whitethroat at Ballymun (Dublin) borealis Eider at Fanad Head (Donegal), Spoonbill at Inchydoney and 2 Sand Martins were at Douglas (Cork).

THU 18 MAR - 5 Waxwings were at Lodge Road in Coleraine (Derry), adult Iceland Gull in Larne Harbour (Antrim), Hume's Warbler at Hook Head (Wexford), 4 female Smew were at Drumgay Lough near Enniskillen (Fermanagh), Richardson's Canada Goose and 600 Barnacle Geese at Termoncarragh Lake (Mayo), 2 Goosanders at Knockmore Bay, Lough Conn (Mayo), Swallow at Midleton and Ring-billed Gull on Atlantic Pond in Cork City (Cork), Black Brant at Ballyconnell Strand (Sligo), 1W American Herring Gull, 3 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier and a Little Egret was at Rossaveal (Galway), 5 Sand Martins were at Rosslare while the littoralis Rock Pipit was at Carnsore Point (Wexford).

FRI 19 MAR - A Red-rumped Swallow was found at Newcastle (Wicklow), 2 Forster's Terns were seen off Doorus Pier, Kinvarra Bay (Galway), 1W American Herring Gull and a Glaucous Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), a Richardson's Canada Goose was with 600 Barnacle Geese at Termoncarragh Lake (Mayo), 50-60 Sand Martins and a Swallow were at Lough Aderra and a Wheatear was at Roche's Point (Cork) 2 Sand Martins were noted in Galway City (Galway) and a Glaucous Gull was seen at Knockadoon Head (Cork).

SAT 20 MAR - Red-rumped Swallow at Newcastle (Wicklow) with 50 Little Gulls and 3 Sandwich Terns also seen there today, Hume's Warbler still at Hook Head (Wexford), Forster's Tern off Doorus Pier, Kinvarra Bay (Galway), 1W American Herring Gull and 3 Glaucous Gulls at Nimmo’s Pier and 2 Iceland Gulls at Rossaveal (Galway), Snow Goose at the North Slob (Wexford), 3 Iceland and 2 Glaucous Gulls at Belfast Harbour RSPB (Antrim) and 27 Brambling were at Douglas Grange (Cork).

SUN 21 MAR - Red-rumped Swallow still at Newcastle (Wicklow), Snow Goose, 2 Taiga Bean Geese, 7 Pink-footed Geese and 30 Brambling were at the North Slob (Wexford), 4 Ring-billed Gulls were at Sandymount (Dublin), 2 Ring-billed Gulls were at Tivoli (Cork) and 4 Iceland and 1 Glaucous Gull were at the Belfast Harbour RSPB reserve (Antrim).

MON 22 MAR - An immature Golden Eagle was seen near Newcastle (Down), 1W American Herring Gull, 4 Glaucous and 3 Iceland Gulls at Killybegs (Donegal), 1W American Herring Gull and 2 Glaucous Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Hume's Warbler at Hook Head (Wexford), 12 Mediterranean and 1 Iceland Gull at Cobh (Cork) and Iceland Gull at Larne (Antrim).

TUE 23 MAR - A Eurasian Bittern was discovered at Tacumshin (Wexford) while the Snow Goose was still present on the North Slob, female Smew, dark-bellied BrentGoose and a Willow Warbler were at Kilcoole (Wicklow), 1W American Herring Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway) and male Ring-necked Duck and male Smew at Blanket Nook (Donegal).

WED 24 MAR - The Bittern was seen again at Tacumshin (Wexford), 1W American Herring Gull and 2 Glaucous Gulls at Nimmo's Pier (Galway) and 2 Wheatears were noted at Newcastle (Wicklow).

THU 25 MAR - Ring-necked Duck at Rostellan, 1W Ring-billed Gull and 20+ Sand Martins at Lough Aderra and Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Cork), Green-winged Teal at Newry Estuary (Down) and Green-winged Teal also at Belfast Lough RSPB reserve (Antrim).

FRI 26 MAR - A Firecrest , 25 Chiffchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers and several Wheatears were on Cape Clear island (Cork), Black-throated Diver at Redbay (Antrim), 3 Wheatears were at Galley Head and a Black-necked Grebe was at Aghada (Cork), 2 Wheatears were seen near Grange (Sligo) 2 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls at Belfast Lough RSPB (Antrim) and female Smew and 2 Little Egrets were at Kilcoole (Wicklow).

SAT 27 MAR - The Bittern was still at Tacumshin where a summer plumaged Water Pipit was also noted, the Hume's Warbler was at Hook Head and a Slavonian Grebe was seen off the North Slob (Wexford), 3 Ring-billed Gulls were at Tivoli and the Spoonbill was at Inchydoney (Cork), 1W American Herring Gull and 1 Iceland Gull at Killybegs (Donegal), Forster's Tern at Brigg's Rock and Iceland Gull at Ardglass (Down), Smew and several Chiffchaffs at Kilcoole (Wicklow).

SUN 28 MAR - An unidentified Eagle sp. of unknown origin was seen over Cobh and Midleton (Cork), a Water Pipit was at Broad Lough (Wicklow), a Hobby was seen at Balbriggan (Dublin), Water Pipit at Carnsore Point, 3 Jack Snipe were at Tacumshin (Wexford) but no sign of the Bittern there today, a Black-throated Diver was also noted offshore, the first Cuckoo of the season was reported from Poyntzpass (Down), Glaucous Gull at Lough Beg (Derry) Forster's Tern and Water Pipit noted at Brigg's Rock (Down) and Sand Martins and Chiffchaffs were widely reported today.

MON 29 MAR - A Curlew Sandpiper was seen today at Swords (Dublin), 10 Mediterranean, 2 Ring-billed and 1 Iceland Gull at Cobh (Cork) with another Ring-billed at The Lough in Cork City, Iceland Gulls were also noted today at Lurgangreen (Louth) and Brigg's Rock (Down).

TUE 30 MAR - Smew and dark-bellied Brent Goose at Kilcoole (Wicklow), several Willow Warblers were noted at Templetown (Louth) , Brambling near Lough Ine (Cork) and a recently fledged juvenile Siskin was seen at Courtmacsherry (Cork).

WED 31 MAR - A Hobby was seen at Dundalk Docks and was heading towards Sildier's Point (Louth), a Ring Ouzel and a Marsh Harrier were noted at Mizen Head (Cork), Smew at Kilyurk Lough (Fermanagh) and 3W Yellow-legged Gull plus single Glaucous and Iceland Gulls at Belfast harbour RSPB (Antrim).

Back to INDEX