IRISH BIRD NEWS - October 2003

Common Yellowthroat - Loop Head, Co. Clare. © Alan Clewes

Semipalmated Plover - Arranmore Island, Co. Donegal. © Eugene Archer

Little Bunting - Dursey Sound, Co. Cork. © Michael O' Keeffe

WED 1 OCT - An immature Black or Red-headed Bunting was found on Tory Island (Donegal) today while a Barred Warbler was also seen, no sign of the Arctic Warbler at Bloody Foreland, Ortolan Bunting and a new Yellow-browed Warbler at CCBO (Cork), Red-backed Shrike on Mizen Head (Cork), Barred Warbler on Brownstown Head (Waterford), Garden Warbler, Crossbill, a Lapland and a Snow Bunting at Rocky Point (Donegal), Spoonbill at Lissagriffin Lake (Cork) and Turtle Doves were at Sandymount (Dublin) and Ballycroy (Mayo).

THU 2 OCT - A Radde's Warbler was discovered on Tory Island (Donegal) while a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Barred Warbler were at Glencolmkille (Donegal), Wilson's Phalarope at Kilcoole (Wicklow), American Golden Plover and Dotterel reported from Carahane Strand (Kerry), a female Goshawk was seen near Kilmurry (Cork), adult Sabine's Gull at Cobh and Turtle Dove and Whinchat at CCBO (Cork).

FRI 3 OCT - A Common Yellowthroat (1st Irish record) was found at Loop Head (Clare), Wilson's Phalarope at Kilcoole (Wicklow), Semipalmated Sandpiper at Dungarvan (Waterford), the Sabine's Gull was at Cobh and a Pectoral Sandpiper was at Ballycotton (Cork),

SAT 4 OCT - Common Yellowthroat at Loop Head (Clare) while a Short-toed Lark, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 5 Lapland Buntings, a Snow Bunting and a Turtle Dove were also seen nearby, a Subalpine Warbler was found at Crookhaven (Cork), the Wilson's Phalarope was still at Kilcoole (Wicklow), 3 Grey Phalaropes and a Little Auk off the Bridges of Ross (Clare), 7 Little Auks and 51 Leach's Petrels were the highlights from Kilcummin (Mayo) while a Sabine's Gull was seen off Erris Head (Mayo), Barred Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler at Rocky Point (Donegal) and Turtle Dove still at Sandymount (Dublin).

SUN 5 OCT - A first-winter male Northern Parula was found at Brownstown Head (Waterford), Barred Warbler also present in the area, no sign of the Common Yellowthroat on Loop Head (Clare) but the Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen again, Richard's Pipit and Firecrest on Dursey Island (Cork), Long-billed Dowitcher reported again from Swords (Dublin) before moving to nearby Rogerstown, Pectoral Sandpiper, 12 Little Egrets and 2 Pink-footed Geese at Broad Lough (Wicklow), Yellow-browed Warbler on Erris Head (Mayo), Sabine's Gull at Cobh (Cork), and Turtle Dove at Sandymount (Dublin).

MON 6 OCT - No sign of the Northern Parula today at Brownstown Head (Waterford) but the Barred Warbler was seen there, Long-billed Dowitcher at Swords (Dublin), Grey Phalarope off Garinish Point (Cork), 2 Sabine's Gulls, 30 Sooty Shearwaters and 3 Little Auks past Brandon Head (Kerry) and Yellow-browed Warbler on Erris Head (Mayo).

TUE 7 OCT - Long-billed Dowitcher at Swords (Dublin), 19 Leach's Petrels, 38 Pomarine, 7 Arctic and 11 Great Skuas plus 4 Little Auks and 29 Grey Phalaropes off Kilcummin Head (Mayo), 6 Leach's, 6 Pomarine, 3 Arctic and 2 Great Skuas plus 2 LIttle Auks and 43 Grey Phalaropes off Ramore Head (Antrim), a Common Rosefinch was at Carn on the Mullet peninsula (Mayo) and a Wood Warbler was at nearby Termon.

WED 8 OCT - Firecrest on Dursey Island (Cork), Spoonbill at Lissagriffin (Cork) with 2 Turtle Doves at nearby Crookhaven.

THU 9 OCT - Drake Blue-winged Teal found at Rahasane Turlough (Galway) where the Lesser Yellowlegs was also present, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Ring Ouzel were in the Crookhaven area (Cork) while the Spoonbill was at nearby Lissagriffin, a Yellow-browed Warbler was also on Erris Head (Mayo), Semipalmated Sandpiper at Ballyneety, Dungarvan (Waterford) and a Firecrest was on Dursey Island (Cork).

FRI 10 OCT - Ireland's first Semipalmated Plover was found at Arranmore Island (Donegal) Bobolink found at Cape Clear Island (Cork) and 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Crookhaven (Cork).

SAT 11 OCT - The Semipalmated Plover was still present on Arranmore Island (Donegal), a Grey-cheeked Thrush was seen briefly on Cape Clear Island (Cork) but there was no sign of the Bobolink there today, a Subalpine Warbler and 5 Yellow-browed Warblers were seen in the Crookhaven area (Cork), Yellow-browed Warbler on the Aran Islands (Galway) Lesser Yellowlegs at Rahasane Turlough (Galway), American Golden Plover on the Mullet peninsula (Mayo) with a Common Rosefinch at Carn in the same area.

SUN 12 OCT - No sign of the Semipalmated Plover on Arranmore Island (Donegal), a Pallas's Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Firecrests, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Lapland Buntings, 2 Black Redstarts and a Common Redstart were at CCBO (Cork), Common Rosefinch also on Sherkin Island (Cork), 3 Yellow-browed Warblers at Crookhaven and 1 Firecrest on Galley Head (Cork), a Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Ballyneety, Dungarvan (Waterford), Long-billed Dowitcher and Pectoral Sandpiper at Lough Beg (Derry), juvenile American Golden Plover found at Cruisetown Strand (Louth), Lesser Yellowlegs and Gargany at Rahasane Turlough (Galway), Grey Phalarope at Ring Marsh and Turtle Dove on Hook Head (Wexford) and a returning drake American Wigeon was noted at Rogerstown (Dublin).

MON 13 OCT - Pallas's Warbler still at CCBO (Cork) along with at least 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Firecrests and a Brambling, a Yellow-browed Warbler was also at Crookhaven, a single Firecrest was on the Old Head of Kinsale while Dursey Island (Cork) had 2 Black Redstarts and a Brambling, an adult American Golden Plover was at Leam Lough on the Mullet peninsula (Mayo) and a borealis Common Eider was at Cruisetown Strand (Louth).

TUE 14 OCT - Bluethroat and Redstart on Dursey Island (Cork), Common Rosefinch, Reed Warbler and 2 Jack Snipe at Crookhaven (Cork) with a Pectoral Sandpiper and a Spoonbill at nearby Lissagriffin, a Pectoral Sandpiper was also seen at the Mallow sugar factory lagoons (Cork) along with 5 Green Sandpipers, the Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Ballyneety, Dungarvan (Waterford), Yellow-browed Warblers were at Dirk Bay, Galley Head (Cork) and at Hook Head (Wexford) along with a Turtle Dove, a Grey Phalarope was at Lady's Island Lake (Wexford) and 2 Redstarts were seen on Rockabill Island (Dublin).

WED 15 OCT - Yellow-browed Warbler, 4 Ring Ouzels and a tristis Chiffchaff at CCBO (Cork) Yellow-browed Warblers also seen at Brownstown Head (Waterford), Hook Head (Wexford) and two were at Crookhaven (Cork), 3 Ring Ouzels and 2 Brambling were on Dursey Island (Cork) and a Firecrest was still on the Old Head of Kinsale (Cork).

THU 16 OCT - A Little Bunting was found at Dursey Sound (Cork) while a Common Rosefinch was also nearby, 4 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Red-breasted Flycatcher were at CCBO (Cork), Yellow-browed Warbler and Lapland Bunting at Galley Head (Cork), Yellow-browed Warbler also at Brownstown Head (Waterford) and a probable White-winged Black Tern was seen at Larne Harbour (Antrim).

FRI 17 OCT - A Pallas's Warbler was discovered at Howth Head (Dublin), Little Bunting at Dursey Sound (Cork), a Parrot Crossbill and 15 Common Crossbills were reported from Termon on the Mullet peninsula (Mayo) while an American Golden Plover was seen at nearby Leam Lough, Red-breasted Flycatcher and 3 Yellow-browed Warblers at CCBO (Cork) and a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Firecrest were at Garinish Point (Cork).

SAT 18 OCT - Little Bunting at Dursey Sound (Cork), 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatcher, 2 Firecrests and a tristis Chiffchaff at CCBO (Cork), Yellow-browed Warblers also at Garinish, Firkeel and Galley Head (Cork), with a Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel and 5 Brambling also at Galley Head, Firecrests at Ballycotton (Cork) and Lady's Island Lake (Wexford), a juvenile Montagu's Harrier was reported from near Carnsore Point (Wexford) where 2 Ring Ouzels and a Turtle Dove were seen, 3 Ring Ouzels were on Dursey Island (Cork) and a probable Richard's Pipit was noted at Lough Beg (Derry) where 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were present.

SUN 19 OCT - Juvenile Red-backed Shrike found at Knockadoon Head (Cork) with a Ring Ouzel and Garden Warbler nearby, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Yellow-browed Warbler at CCBO (Cork), 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Firecrest and 2 Ring Ouzels were at Crookhaven (Cork), Yellow-browed Warblers also at Ballylanders and at Toe Head (Cork) with 2 Black Redstarts also at the latter site, Ring Ouzels were reported from Dunowen and Garinish (Cork) while Firecrests were at Ballycotton (Cork) with 2 seen in and around Ballagan Point (Louth).

MON 20 OCT - A Great White Egret was seen at Midleton (Cork), the Red-backed Shrike was still at Knockadoon Head (Cork) along with 3 late Swallows, Yellow-browed Warbler and Black Redstart on Dursey Island, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Garinish and a Firecrest was at Firkeel (Cork), a Lesser Whitethroat was at Ballycroy on the Mullet peninsula (Mayo) and 1 Firecrest was at Ballagan (Louth).

TUE 21 OCT - A Eurasian Bittern was seen at Lough Beg (Derry), Firecrest, Reed Warbler and Brambling at Dunquin (Kerry), Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, Ring Ouzel and Jack Snipe on Dursey Island (Cork), Yellow-browed Warbler, 2+ Black Redstarts and tristis Chiffchaff still at CCBO (Cork), Black-necked Grebe and Long-tailed Duck off the North Wall in Dublin Bay, A late report was also received of a Rose-coloured Starling in Kilpatrick (Antrim) on 16th-17th Oct.

WED 22 OCT - Red-backed Shrike at Knockadoon Head (Cork), Firecrest at Firkeel and Spoonbill at Lissagriffin (Cork), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin) and a Pomarine Skua was seen off Brigg's Rock (Down).

THU 23 OCT - Red-backed Shrike at Knockadoon Head (Cork), Yellow-browed Warbler and tristis Chiffchaff at Dursey Sound, Turtle Dove at Sand's Cove on Galley Head, Black Redstart at Crookhaven and Ring Ouzel and Grey Phalarope at Dursey Island (Cork).

FRI 24 OCT - First-winter Ferruginous Duck at Quoile Pondage (Down), Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Cork), Yellow-browed Warbler at CCBO (Cork). Late news was also received of a Blue-winged Teal at the Gearagh (Cork) c.2 weeks ago.

SAT 25 OCT - Ferruginous Duck at Quoile Pondage (Down), Red-backed Shrike at Knockadoon Head (Cork), 4 Firecrests and a Ring Ouzel at CCBO, Yellow-browed Warblers at Toe Head and Firkeel and a Ring Ouzel on Dursey Island (Cork), Marsh Harrier at Broad Lough (Wicklow), 3 Little Auks off Fanad Head (Donegal), Pectoral Sandpiper seen at Rogerstown (Dublin) and Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Cork).

SUN 26 OCT - A Forster's Tern was seen between Carne and Nethertown (Wexford), Red-backed Shrike at Knockadoon Head (Cork), Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Firecrests and Ring Ouzel plus several Crossbills at CCBO (Cork), Pectoral Sandpiper at the SW corner of Lough Beg (Derry), Smew and Snow Goose reported from the North Slob (Wexford), a single Curlew Sandpiper was at Tacumshin (Wexford), Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Cork) and 20 Pink-footed Geese at Lurgangreen (Louth).

MON 27 OCT - Richard's Pipit and Red-breasted Flycatcher on Dursey Island (Cork), another Richard's Pipit was reported from Ballycotton while the Red-backed Shrike was still present at nearby Knockadoon Head (Cork), the Ferruginous Duck was at the Quoile Pondage (Down), Yellow-browed Warblers were seen at Garinish and at CCBO (Cork) where a Firecrest and 2 Common Crossbills were also noted, 15 Black-throated Divers were off Ballyvaughan (Clare), at least 4 Snow Buntings were on Slieve beagh mountain (Monaghan) and a Glaucous and a Yellow-legged Gull were at Rosscarbery (Cork).

TUE 28 OCT - 3 Common Cranes, a white morph Snow Goose and female Smew were seen at the North Slob (Wexford) while 5 Slavonian Grebes were off nearby Curracloe, juvenile Red-backed Shrike still at Knockadoon Head (Cork), drake American Wigeon found at Adrigole (Kerry) and Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Cork).

WED 29 OCT - Red-backed Shrike at Knockadoon Head (Cork), Black-necked Grebe at Rostellan (Cork), Yellow-legged Gull at the RSPB Reserve in Belfast, 4 Short-eared Owls at Tacumshin (Wexford) and Smew at the Noth Slob (Wexford) but no sign of any Cranes there today.

THU 30 OCT - Yellow-browed Warbler at CCBO (Cork), a Yellow-legged Gull was found at Brandon (Kerry) while a second Yellow-legged Gull was found at the RSPB Reserve in Belfast today and a juv/1W Surf Scoter was seen at Courtmacsherry (Cork).

FRI 31 OCT - The white morph Snow Goose was at the North Slob (Wexford), an American Wigeon was reported from Timoleague today for it's 5th day and an Iceland Gull and Snow Bunting were on Dursey Island (Cork).

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