IRISH BIRD NEWS - November 2003

Red-throated Pipit - Tacumshin, Co. Wexford. © Killian Mullarney

Pied-billed Grebe - Tacumshin, Co. Wexford. © Killian Mullarney

Forster's Tern - Nimmo's Pier, Co. Galway. © Pat Lonergan

SAT 1 NOV - An adult Red-throated Pipit was found at Tacumshin (Wexford) as was a Water Pipit, on Loop Head (Clare) a Yellow-browed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whinchat and 20 Snow Buntings were reported, a female Smew was at Blanket Nook (Donegal), 2 Lapland Buntings were at Clogher Head (Louth), Hen Harrier at Rogerstown (Dublin) and a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull was at the RSPB Reserve in Belfast (Antrim).

SUN 2 NOV - Water Pipit at Tacumshin (Wexford) but no sign of the Red-throated Pipit there today, Yellow-browed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat at CCBO (Cork), a Black Brant was found at Strangford Lough (Down), the long-staying adult Sabine's Gull was seen again at Cobh (Cork), Pink-footed and Greenland White-fronted Geese at Rogerstown (Dublin and a Goshawk was reported from Roundwood (Wicklow).

MON 3 NOV - A Lesser Yellowlegs was seen at Smerwich (Kerry) with a Little Auk and a Snow Bunting at nearby Brandon Point (Kerry), a Little Stint was at Lady's Island Lake (Wexford), Yellow-legged Gull at the RSPB reserve in Belfast Harbour and a Snow Bunting was at the West Pier, Dun Laoghaire (Dublin).

TUE 4 NOV - Immature Surf Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and 9 Great Northern Divers at Courtmacsherry (Cork), white-morph Snow Goose, 5 Barnacle Geese and 4 Pink-footed Geese at the North Slob (Wexford) and 2 late Swallows were noted at Lady's Island Lake (Wexford).

WED 5 NOV - Lesser Yellowlegs and Little Stint at Smerwick (Kerry), immature Surf Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and 20 Great Northern Divers now at Courtmacsherry (Cork) and 2 Pink-footed Geese and 5 Brambling were at Lissadell (Sligo).

THU 6 NOV - Two Pallas's Warblers were found today at Knockadoon Head (Cork), Surf Scoter and Long-tailed Duck at Courtmacsherry (Cork), 6 Long-tailed Ducks and 20 Chough were at Rossbeigh Creek, Glenbeigh (Kerry), 20 - 30 Brambling were at Lissadell (Sligo), 2 Black Redstarts were on Hook Head (Wexford) and a Swallow and Redstart sp. were seen at CCBO (Cork).

FRI 7 NOV - At least 2 Pallas's Warblers were on Knockadoon Head (Cork) along with 4 Black Redstarts, a Firecrest was found on Dalkey Hill (Dublin), Surf Scoter at Courtmacsherry (Cork), Lesser Yellowlegs at Smerwick (Kerry), American Wigeon and 2 Little Egrets at Rogerstown (Dublin), 45 Brambling were at Lissadell (Sligo) and 2 Swallows were noted at CCBO (Cork) while one was at Kilcoole (Wicklow).

SAT 8 NOV - 2 Pallas's Warblers were found on Galley Head while at least one Pallas's was still at Knockadoon Head (Cork), Lesser Yellowlegs at Smerwick (Kerry), 2 Balearic Shearwaters flew past Carnsore Point and one past Hook Head (Wexford), Surf Scoter and Long-tailed Duck at Courtmacsherry and Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Cork), the white morph Snow Goose, 4 Barnacle Geese and 2 Slavonian Grebes were at the North Slob (Wexford) and an 'Eastern' Jackdaw was at Howth (Dublin).

SUN 9 NOV - A Pallas's Warbler was found today at CCBO (Cork) while singles were still present on Galley Head and on Knockadoon Head (Cork), a Firecrest was also at Galley Head and a Siberian (tristis) Chiffchaff was at Garinish (Cork), the Lesser Yellowlegs was at Smerwick (Kerry), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin) along with 3 Little Egrets and a Jack Snipe, 2 Brambling were at Ballyhillinen on Malin Head (Donegal) and the Spoonbill was at Inchydoney (Cork).

MON 10 NOV - A grey morph Gyrfalcon was reported from Blanket Nook (Donegal) for it's second day today, one Pallas's Warbler, a Black Redstart and up to 20 Chiffchaffs were on Galley Head (Cork), 1 Pallas's still at Knockadoon Head (Cork), juvenile Surf Scoter still at Courtmacsherry (Cork), 2 Slavonian Grebes were off the North Slob (Wexford), up to 50 Brambling were still at Lissadell (Sligo) and 7 Long-tailed Ducks were at Rossbehy Creek, Glenbeigh (Kerry).

TUE 11 NOV - Pallas's Warbler on Galley Head, Surf Scoter at Courtmacsherry and Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Cork).

WED 12 NOV - A Pallas's Warbler was found today on Brownstown Head (Waterford) while another was found on Mizen Head (Cork) bringing this autumn's total to a record minimum of nine individuals, a White-rumped Sandpiper was at Cockle Strand near Crookhaven (Cork), an American Wigeon was at Barrow Harbour (Kerry) along with 2 Spotted Redshanks and a Black Redstart was reported from Garryvoe (Cork).

THU 13 NOV - Pallas's Warblers still at Barley Cove on Mizen Head (Cork) and on Brownstown Head (Waterford), Long-billed Dowitcher at Lough Beg (Derry) and 2 Waxwings were seen in Cherryville Street, Belfast.

FRI 14 NOV - A juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 16 Leach's Petrels, a Grey Phalarope, 2 Little Auks, 8 Sooty Shearwaters and 16 Great Skuas were noted passing Brandon Head (Kerry) and the Spoonbill was at Inchydoney (Cork),

SAT 15 NOV - The grey morph Gyrfalcon was reported again from the Blanket Nook area (Donegal), a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling was at Lisburn (Antrim), 2 drake Ring-necked Ducks were seen near Newport (Mayo) while 3 Waxwings were found at Ballina (Mayo), a 1W drake Ring-necked Duck was also found at Smerwick (Kerry), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin), the long-staying adult Sabine's Gull was at Cobh (Cork), white morph Snow Goose and 5 Barnacle Geese were at the North Slob (Wexford) and a tristis Chiffchaff and a Black Redstart were at Hook Head (Wexford).

SUN 16 NOV - A Water Pipit was found at the Lingstown end of Tacumshin (Wexford), Black Brant at Strangford Lough (Down), Sabine's Gull at Cobh and Black-necked Grebe at Aghada (Cork), Slavonian Grebe at Sutton (Dublin), American Wigeon at Barrow (Kerry) and Rogerstown (Dublin), Ring-billed Gull and 3 Twite at Blackrock strand (Kerry) and Little Egret and Brambling at Seabank (Louth).

MON 17 NOV - Little Auk, Black-throated Diver, 3 Velvet Scoter and 2 Black-necked Grebes at Castlegregory (Kerry) while the American Wigeon was at Smerwick and a Pink-footed Goose was at Lough Gill (Kerry).

TUE 18 NOV - Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling still at Lisburn (Antrim) and a Glaucous and 2 Ring-billed Gulls were at Nimmo's Pier (Galway).

WED 19 NOV - Ring-necked Duck at Smerwick (Kerry), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin) and Black Redstart at the East Pier, Dun Laoghaire (Dublin).

THU 20 NOV - A Red-throated Pipit and at least 3 Water Pipits were seen today at the Lingstown end of Tacumshin (Wexford), Rose-coloured Starling at Lisburn (Antrim) a Waxwing was at Greenisland (Down), 6 Slavonian Grebes were at Greyabbey (Down) and the drake American Wigeon was again at Rogerstown (Dublin)

FRI 21 NOV - The Red-throated Pipit and 2 Water Pipits were at Tacumshin (Wexford) and a very late House Martin was noted over Ballymena (Antrim).

SAT 22 NOV - A Pied-billed Grebe (6th Irish record) was found today at Tacumshin (Wexford) while the Red-throated Pipit and at least 3 Water Pipits were also seen, the grey morph Gyrfalcon was again at Blanket Nook (Donegal), Rose-coloured Starling at Lisburn (Antrim), 25 Waxwings were seen at Ballycastle (Antrim), 4 Waxwings were at Blennerville (Kerry) and 684 Greylag Geese were noted at Stabannon (Louth).

SUN 23 NOV - The Pied-billed Grebe was seen again today at Tacumshin (Wexford) as was the Red-throated Pipit and 4 - 6 Water Pipits, Rose-coloured Starling at Lisburn (Antrim), 8 Slavonian Grebes were in Strangford Lough (Down), 15 Snow Buntings were seen on Mullaghcleevaun mountain (Wicklow) and the drake American Wigeon and 16 Brambling were at Rogerstown estuary (Dublin)

MON 24 NOV - Pied-billed Grebe and Red-throated Pipit at Tacumshin (Wexford).

TUE 25 NOV - American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin) and at least 4 Slavonian Grebes off Greyabbey, Strangford Lough (Down).

WED 26 NOV - A Forster's Tern was discovered at Nimmo's Pier in Galway City while a 1W Glaucous Gull was at Rossaveal (Galway), Pied-billed Grebe, Red-throated Pipit and at least 1 Water Pipit at Tacumshin (Wexford) and 2W Ring-billed Gull and 7 Mediterranean Gulls were at Cobh (Cork).

THU 27 NOV - Forster's Tern at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Pied-billed Grebe and 3 Water Pipits at Tacumshin (Wexford), 16 Waxwings were found near Maynooth (Kildare), juvenile Rose-coloured Starling still at Lisburn (Antrim) and a Whinchat was seen at Ballycotton (Cork).

FRI 28 NOV - Rose-coloured Starling at Lisburn (Antrim) and American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin).

SAT 29 NOV - The adult Forster's Tern was at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Pied-billed Grebe at Tacumshin (Wexford), juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at Lisburn (Antrim), a Swallow was noted at Greystones (Wicklow), BlackRedstart at the East Pier, Dun Laoghaire (Dublin), Yellow-legged Gull at Brandon (Kerry), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin) and Spoonbill at Clonakilty / Inchydoney (Cork).

SUN 30 NOV - Pied-billed Grebe, Red-throated Pipit and 4 Water Pipits plus 2 Jack Snipe and a Swallow were reported from Tacumshin (Wexford) today, the Forster's Tern and 2 Ring-billed Gulls were at Nimmo's Pier in Galway, the Snow Goose and a Green-winged Teal were at the North Slob while 2 Little Auks were found at Rosslare Harbour (Wexford) and a Slavonian Grebe and a Green Sandpiper were reported from the Swords Estuary (Dublin).

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