IRISH BIRD NEWS - October 2004

Marsh Warbler - Galley Head, Co. Cork. © Michael O' Keeffe

Firecrest - Brownstown Head, Co. Waterford. © Mary Duggan

Western Bonelli's Warbler - Mizen Head, Co. Cork. © Michael O' Keeffe

FRI 1 OCT - A probable Marsh Warbler was found on Galley Head (Cork), Lesser Whitethroat on Arranmore Island (Donegal), 3 Pectoral Sandpipers at Rogerstown Estuary (Dublin), juvenile Baird's Sandpiper at Rosscarbery (Cork), 5 Grey Phalaropes off Brandon Head (Kerry), 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were seen at Myroe Levels (Derry) 6 Little Egrets and 30 Brent Geese were at the Bull Island NNR (Dublin).

SAT 2 OCT - Marsh Warbler (3rd Irish record) at Galley Head (Cork), 3 Pectoral Sandpipers at Rogerstown (Dublin), 3 Pectoral Sandpipers were at Smerwick (Kerry), Baird's Sandpiper and 2 Ring-billed Gulls at Rosscarbery, Pectoral Sandpiper and Snow Bunting at Lissagriffin, Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Cork), Terek Sandpiper at Blennerville (Kerry), Baird's, Pectoral and Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Wexford), Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper and Little Stint at Rahasane (Galway), a Red-backed Shrike was found at the Bull Island NNR (Dublin), 2 Spotted Redshanks were at the Douglas Estuary (Cork).

SUN 3 OCT - Marsh Warbler at Galley Head (Cork), Red-backed Shrike at the Bull Island NNR, adult American Golden Plover at Swords Estuary, 1+ Pectoral Sandpiper and American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin), 2CY American Herring Gull and Glaucous Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Cork).

MON 4 OCT - Red-backed Shrike at the Bull Island NNR (Dublin) Pectoral Sandpiper at Lissagriffin and Spotted Flycatcher at Crookhaven (Cork) Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Carahane and Surf Scoter in Brandon Bay (Kerry), one Buff-breasted Sandpiper seen at Myroe Levels (Derry) 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and a Lapland Bunting at Rogerstown (Dublin), Lapland Bunting at Ballycotton, Spoonbill at Inchydoney but no sign of the Marsh Warbler at Galley Head (Cork).

TUE 5 OCT - 9 Sabine's Gulls, 3 Long-tailed Skuas, 80 Grey Phalaropes, 16 Leach's Petrels, 400 Sooty Shearwaters and 2 Pomarine Skuas past the Bridges of Ross (Clare) while there was also a report of a dark-rumped petrel sp. seen off nearby Fodroy Point, 1 Long-tailed Skua, 30 Leach's Petrels, 35 Grey Phalaropes and 170 Sooty Shearwaters off Brandon Head (Kerry), 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, a Dotterel, 9 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint at Myroe Levels (Derry), Pectoral Sandpiper at Lissagriffin (Cork), Spotted Redshank and 7 Curlew Sandpipers at Dundalk Harbour (Louth), 2W Ring-billed Gull at Portrush (Antrim).

WED 6 OCT - Pectoral Sandpipers were today seen at Knockaderry Lake (Waterford), at Lissagriffin (Cork) and at Smerwick (Kerry) where 3 birds were present, Baird's Sandpiper, 20 Curlew Sandpipers and 2 Little Stints at Tacumshin (Wexford), a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Carahane Strand while a Surf Scoter and a Black-throated Diver were seen off Fermoyle in Brandon Bay (Kerry), Dotterel, and Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Myroe Levels (Derry), 6 Sabine's Gulls, 10 Leach's Petrels, 35 Grey Phalaropes off the Bridges of Ross (Clare), 6 Sabine's Gulls, 12 Grey Phalaropes and 2 Leach's Petrels off Ramore Head (Antrim), one Sabine's Gull, 3 Leach's Petrels and 2 Pomarine Skuas off Bloody Foreland (Donegal), Black-necked Grebe and 3W Glaucous Gull at Dun Laoghaire and 2 Ring-billed Gulls at Sandymount (Dublin).

THU 7 OCT - American Golden Plover and 2 Lapland Buntings at Loop Head (Clare), juvenile American Golden Plover at Lurgangreen (Louth), a Red-backed Shrike was found at Dungarvan (Waterford), while another Red-backed Shrike was at Knockadoon Head (Cork), 3 Pectoral Sandpipers at Smerwick (Kerry), Pectoral Sandpiper at Annagh Marsh and Glaucous Gull and Snow Bunting at nearby Annagh Beach (Mayo), Sabine's Gull, 3 Grey Phalaropes and 6 Arctic Skuas past Ramore Head (Antrim), 2 Grey Phalaropes off the Bridges of Ross (Clare).

FRI 8 OCT - A Richard's Pipit was seen near the lighthouse on Loop Head while the American Golden Plover, 7 Lapland and 2 Snow Buntings were nearby and a Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Kilbaha (Clare), a Barred Warbler was found on Inish Mor on the Arran Islands (Galway), Pectoral Sandpiper at Lissagriffin (Cork).

SAT 9 OCT - 3 Yellow-browed Warblers on Inish Mor (Galway) but no sign of the Barred Warbler there, Yellow-browed Warbler at Kilbaha (Clare), Red-breasted Flycatcher and 2 Ring Ouzels on Cape Clear, Barred Warbler at Firkeel and 2 Ring-billed Gulls at Rosscarbery (Cork), a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on Tory Island (Donegal), juvenile American Golden Plover at Lurgangreen (Louth), American Golden Plover and 4 Lapland Buntings on Loop Head (Clare), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin).

SUN 10 OCT - American Golden Plover, Dotterel and 6 Lapland Buntings on Loop Head, Yellow-browed Warbler at Kilbaha (Clare), Red-breasted Flycatcher, Melodious Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Ring Ouzels on Cape Clear (Cork), Firecrest on Hook Head (Wexford), Forster's Tern at Carlingford Lough (Down), Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Myroe Levels (Derry), Sabine's Gull off Mizen Head (Cork), Glaucous Gull and Little Stint at Murvagh Beach (Donegal).

MON 11 OCT - Yellow-browed Warblers on Inish Mor (Galway) and at Garinish Point and Schull (Cork), Long-billed Dowitcher at Kilmore Quay (Wexford), Melodious Warbler and Firecrest on Cape Clear Island and 2 Lapland Buntings on Dursey Island (Cork).

TUE 12 OCT - Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest on Cape Clear (Cork), an Osprey was seen over the Dublin City centre (Dublin).

WED 13 OCT - Spotted Sandpiper found at Portballintrae near Portrush (Antrim), Forster's Tern at Carlingford Lough (Down), Lapland and Snow Bunting on Dursey Island (Cork), Glaucous Gull and Jack Snipe at Belfast Lough RSPB (Antrim).

THU 14 OCT - Spotted Sandpiper at Portballintrae, Portrush (Antrim), Forster's Tern at Carlingford Lough (Down), juvenile Rose-coloured Starling near Red Strand on Galley Head (Cork), 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Baltimore (Cork), Ring-necked Duck at Lough Gill (Kerry), Firecrest at Brownstown Head (Waterford).

FRI 15 OCT - A Bonaparte's Gull was reported at Garretstown Strand near the Old Head of Kinsale, juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at Red Strand, Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest and Jack Snipe on Cape Clear Island (Cork), a juvenile Long-tailed Skua was seen at Myroe Levels (Derry), Spotted Sandpiper at Portballintrae, Portrush (Antrim), Forster's Tern at Greenore Point on Carlingford Lough (Down), American Wigeon at Timoleague (Cork), Firecrest on Brownstown Head (Waterford).

SAT 16 OCT - Red-throated Pipit at the Old Head of Kinsale and on Cape Clear Island (Cork), Rose-coloured Starling at Red Strand, Yellow-browed Warbler on Toe Head (Cork), Spotted Sandpiper at Portballintrae (Antrim), Surf Scoter off Brandon Pier and 30 Grey Phalaropes off Fermoyle (Kerry), 5 Curlew Sandpipers at Tacumshin and Black Redstart at Tacumshin village (Wexford), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin).

SUN 17 OCT - Red-throated Pipit and Firecrest on Cape Clear (Cork), 2 Waxwings and 2 Brambling were at Rocky Point (Donegal), juvenile American Golden Plover and a Twite at Seabank (Louth), Pectoral Sandpiper at Smerwick, 2 Surf Scoter and 10 Grey Phalaropes in Brandon Bay (Kerry), American Wigeon at Lough Murray (Clare) and at Rogerstown (Dublin), 2 Short-eared Owls and 2 Hen Harriers on Barry Head and 6 Swallows on the Old Head of Kinsale (Cork), and Long-tailed Duck off the North Wall (Dublin). 7 Fin Whales were also noted today off Galley Head (Cork).

MON 18 OCT - Little Bunting found on Cape Clear (Cork), where a Lesser Whitethroat and Jack Snipe were also seen, Turtle Dove at Kilorglin (Kerry), American Wigeons at Lough Murray (Clare) and at Rogerstown (Dublin), Glaucous Gull between Baltimore and CCBO (Cork).

TUE 19 OCT - Bluethroat found on Dursey Island (Cork), Ring-billed Gull at Cartron (Sligo).

WED 20 OCT - Bluethroat on Dursey Island (Cork), Lesser Yellowlegs at Shaw's Lake near Markethill (Armagh), 30 Slavonian Grebes off Myroe (Derry).

THU 21 OCT - 75 Little Gulls were off Five-Mile-Point (Wicklow) where a Short-eared Owl was also seen, 850 Barnacle Geese were at Lissadell (Sligo), the American Wigeon was still at Rogerstown (Dublin) and a late Swallow was noted near Dunleer (Louth).

FRI 22 OCT - American Wigeon at Rogerstown, 6 Little Egrets on the Bulls Island NNR (Dublin).

SAT 23 OCT - Red-breasted Flycatcher and Yellow-browed Warbler on the Mullet (Mayo), Rose-coloured Starling near Dundalk (Louth), Yellow-browed Warbler and Jack Snipe on Cape Clear (Cork), 3 Waxwings were seen at Macroom (Cork), American Wigeon at Lough Murray (Clare) 15 Swallows were seen over Greystones and another Swallow was reported from Ashford (Wicklow

SUN 24 OCT - A Hobby was seen near Wicklow Harbour, 50+ Little Gulls off Wicklow Head and 15 Swallows and 4 Little Gulls at Arklow (Wicklow), juvenile American Golden Plover at Lurgangreen (Louth), 2 Little Auks were seen off Dungarvan (Waterford), 2 Waxwings were on Dursey Island (Cork), 2 Goosanders were at Ballycarry Bridge on Larne Lough (Antrim) and the American Wigeon was at Rogerstown (Dublin).

MON 25 OCT - A juvenile American Golden Plover was found at the Bann Estuary (Derry), 25 Waxwings, a tristis Chiffchaff and a "Northern' Bullfinch were seen on Tory Island (Donegal), 2 Waxwings were at Blacksod and another was at Carne (Mayo), 1 at Dunquin (Kerry) 1 Waxwing at Mizen Head (Cork), Lesser Whitethroat and Redstart at Helvick Head and Corncrake on Brownstown Head (Waterford), adult Sabine's Gull at Cobh (Cork), Green-winged Teal at Bell Harbour (Galway) and 18 Swallows at Cahore (Wexford).

TUE 26 OCT - 120+ Waxwings at Carrick (Donegal), 3 Waxwings on Dursey Island (Cork), 3 Waxwings and a 'Northern' Bullfinch on Tory Island (Donegal) and 12 Waxwings, Lapland Bunting and 'Northern' Bullfinch on the Mullet (Mayo), adult Sabine's Gull at Cobh (Cork), Slavonian Grebe at Hermitage (Louth).

WED 27 OCT - Huge numbers of phylloscs seen today with at least 500 at Mizen Head and 300, mainly Chiffchaffs on Cape Clear Island (Cork), 2 Black Redstarts were also on Mizen while 12 were on Cape Clear, a Little Bunting was seen at Malinmore (Donegal), 450 Little Gulls were seen off Wicklow Harbour and 12 off Kilcoole (Wicklow), a Spoonbill was at Lissagriffin (Cork), 8 Waxwings were at Castlebar (Mayo), 3 Goosanders were at Ballycarry Bridge, Larne Lough (Antrim).

THU 28 OCT - Western Bonelli's Warbler found at Three Castles Head on Mizen Head (Cork) with 15 Black Redstarts and a Whinchat nearby, Spoonbill at Lissagriffin, 25 Black Redstarts and 30 Chiffchaffs at Galley Head and a single Black Redstart at Broad Strand (Cork), Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest, 24 Black Redstarts, 550 Chiffchaffs, several Snow Buntings and a Woodcock on Cape Clear (Cork), a Glossy Ibis was seen at Tacumshin (Wexford), a Spotted Crake was found exhausted and taken into care at Long Strand near Ownahincha (Cork), Green-winged Teal at Belfast Lough RSPB (Antrim).

FRI 29 OCT - Western Bonelli's Warbler at Three Castles Head on Mizen Head (Cork) with Barred Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, c.50 Black Redstarts, a Waxwing and 300+ Chiffchaffs nearby, 2 Red-backed Shrikes (male & juv) were at Crookhaven and a Spoonbill was at Lissagriffin (Cork), the Spotted Crake taken into care near Ownahincha (Cork) was still alive today, 300 Chiffchaffs and 16+ Black Redstarts on Cape Clear (Cork), Lesser Whitethroat at Cabinteely (Dublin), Sabine's Gull at Cobh (Cork), a Hoopoe was reported from Co. Wicklow for it's second day, 12+ Waxwings at Enniskillen (Fermanagh), 4 Waxwings at Rocky Point (Donegal), American Golden Plover on the Bann Estuary (Derry), 2 Black Terns on the North Slob (Wexford) and one at Kilkeran Lake (Cork), 17 Black Redstarts on the Old Head of Kinsale (Cork), Black Redstart in Killarney (Kerry).

SAT 30 OCT - Red-eyed Vireo discovered at Toe Head, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Barred Warbler, 2 Red-backed Shrikes and a Ring Ouzel on Mizen Head (Cork), 80 Waxwings were at Ballycastle, 50 at Whitehead and 12 were in Belfast (Antrim), a Waxwing was also at Goleen (Cork), American Wigeon at Bell harbour (Galway), Firecrest on Brownstown Head (Waterford), Surf Scoter in Brandon Bay (Kerry) and Pomarine Skua off the headland, Lesser Whitethroat in Cabinteely, Long-tailed Duck and Black Redstart at Sutton, Little Stint on the Bull Island NNR, 16 Black Redstarts at Howth, 2 Black Redstarts at the West Pier / Sandycove and 2 Black Redstarts at Rush (Dublin), a Black Redstart was also seen in Kenmare (Kerry), single Swallows seen at Ashford and Killoughter (Wicklow).

SUN 31 OCT - Western Bonelli's Warbler and a second Barred Warbler seen on Mizen Head (Cork), Glossy Ibis at Tacumshin (Wexford), Long-billed Dowitcher found at the Bull Island NNR (Dublin), Yellow-browed Warbler and 10 Black Redstarts at Howth Head (Dublin), Sabine's Gull at Cobh, 2-3 Wrynecks, a Reed Warbler and 9 Snow Buntings on Cape Clear (Cork), 4 Waxwings at Torr Head (Antrim), 3 Waxwings, a Turtle Dove and 150 Chiffchaffs at Baltimore (Cork), Firecrest, Mealy Redpoll and Waxwing at Termon on the Mullet peninsula (Mayo), a single Waxwing was at Rocky Point (Donegal), Firecrests also seen on the Saltees and on Hook Head (Wexford), Garganey and 3 Jack Snipe at Broad Lough (Wicklow), 5 Black Redstarts were reported from Sandycove (Dublin), Black Redstart and Redstart at Tacumshin village (Wexford), Black Redstart also seen at Macroom (Cork), Common Tern at Blackrock (Cork).

Back to INDEX