IRISH BIRD NEWS - September 2004

Black-browed Albatross - Kilcummin Head, Co. Mayo. © Will Woodrow

Spotted Sandpiper - Listowel, Co. Kerry. © Michael O' Keeffe

Terek Sandpiper - Blennerville, Co. Kerry. © Michael O' Keeffe

WED 1 SEP - A Fea's Petrel was seen at the Bridges of Ross (Clare) and then presumably the same bird was noted past Brandon Head (Kerry) about an hour later, a single Long-tailed Skua was also seen the Bridges, an Icterine Warbler was found on Cape Clear while the Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Kinsale Marsh (Cork), Ring-billed Gull at Seapoint (Louth), an Osprey was seen at Rogerstown (Dublin) and a Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint were at Tacumshin (Wexford).

THU 2 SEP - A remarkable day for rare birds in Ireland with the discovery of a Booted Warbler and a juvenile Citrine Wagtail at Ballycotton (Cork) while another Booted Warbler was found at Annagh Head (Mayo), a Red-breasted Flycatcher was on Cape Clear (Cork), a juvenile Baird's Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper were found at Tacumshin (Wexford) and a Melodious Warbler was at Erris Head (Mayo), drake American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin) where the Osprey was still present and also an American Wigeon was also at Ballycotton, Balearic Shearwater off St. John's Point (Down), 40 Sooty Shearwaters, a Pomarine Skua, Firecrest, 3 Wood Warblers Garden Warbler and Pied Flycatcher were noted at Cape Clear today while an Icterine Warbler was found on Mizen Head (Cork).

FRI 3 SEP - The Booted Warbler at Annagh Head (Mayo) was still present today, a Tawny Pipit was found on Cape Clear Island (Cork) where 4 Great, 1 Cory's and 56 Sooty Shearwaters plus 21 Great Skuas were also noted, a Pectoral Sandpiper was found at Ballycotton where there was no sign of either the Booted Warbler or the Citrine Wagtail today and an Icterine Warbler was seen on Mizen Head (Cork).

SAT 4 SEP - Booted Warbler still at Annagh Head (Mayo), juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper found at Tacumshin (Wexford) where the juvenile Baird's Sandpiper, 4 Little Stints and 5 Curlew Sandpipers were also present, Icterine Warblers at Cape Clear Island, on Galley Head and on Mizen Head (Cork), 30 Great Shearwaters past Cape Clear Island and 10 past Galley Head (Cork), 2 Lesser Whitethroats were at Howth Head, Osprey and American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin), Blue-headed Wagtail at Lady's Island Lake (Wexford).

SUN 5 SEP - Ireland's second Terek Sandpiper was found at Blennerville (Kerry) where the Long-billed Dowitcher was also still present, a Red-eyed Vireo was discovered today on Cape Clear Island (Cork), the Booted Warbler was still at Annagh Head (Mayo), juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Wexford), Long-billed Dowitcher at Kinsale Marsh, Icterine Warbler on Mizen Head, Pectoral Sandpiper at Ballycotton and Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork), the adult White-rumped Sandpiper was seen again at Poulnasherry Bay (Clare) while another was found today at Killala Bay (Mayo), 3 Black Terns were at Sandymount, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper at Booterstown Marsh and 8 Little Egrets at the Bull Island NNR (Dublin).

MON 6 SEP - Terek Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher at Blennerville (Kerry), a juvenile Citrine Wagtail was found at Leam Lough (Mayo), Spotted Crake at Belfast Lough RSPB (Antrim) where 2 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint were also present, Semipalmated Sandpiper plus Baird's and Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Wexford), juvenile Red-backed Shrike at Malinmore (Donegal), Long-billed Dowitcher and Spotted Redshank at Kinsale Marsh (Cork), Icterine Warbler and 2 Pied Flycatchers at Mizen Head (Cork), Osprey, a Quail and the American Wigeon at Rogerstown, Little Stint and 3 Curlew Sandpipers at the Bull Island NNR (Dublin). News was also received of a Snowy Owl seen at Carrickfin airport (Donegal) yesterday.

TUE 7 SEP - A Red-rumped Swallow was seen on Great Blasket Island (Kerry), Terek Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher at Blennerville (Kerry), Semipalmated, Baird's and Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Tacumshin (Wexford) where 3 Marsh Harriers were also seen, Long-billed Dowitcher at Kinsale Marsh and 2 Curlew Sandpipers at Blackrock castle (Cork).

WED 8 SEP - Terek Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher and Spotted Redshank at Blennerville (Kerry), Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Dursey Island (Cork), Baird's and Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Wexford), 2 late Swifts were seen on Malin Head (Donegal).

THU 9 SEP - Terek Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher at Blennerville, 3 Little Stints at Black Rock (Kerry), Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Dursey Island (Cork), Rose-coloured Starling at Ardglass (Down), Lesser Whitethroat on Galley Head (Cork).

FRI 10 SEP - A Cliff Swallow was reported from Galley Head and a possible Isabelline Wheatear was seen at Garrettstown, an Ortolan Bunting was on Cape Clear , 2 Spotted and 1 Pied Flycatcher plus Turtle Dove on the Old Head of Kinsale (Cork), Semipalmated, Buff-breasted and Baird's Sandpipers at Tacumshin (Wexford), Baird's Sandpiper at Ballycotton, 6 Sooty Shearwaters and a Black Tern off Galley Head, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank at Kinsale Marsh, Spoonbill at Clonakilty and a Melodious Warbler was reported from Toe Head (Cork).

SAT 11 SEP - A Black-browed Albatross was seen at Kilcummin Head (Mayo) along with 2 Leach's Petrels, 50 Sooty Shearwaters and 30 Great Skuas while 1 Wilson's and 100 Leach's Petrels, 60 Great and 60 Arctic Skuas flew past the Bridges of Ross (Clare), 1 Wilson's, 47 Leach's, 3 Great and 56 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Sabine's Gulls, 24 Great and 7 Arctic Skuas were noted off Brandon Head (Kerry), adult Sabine's Gull, 5 Leach's Petrels, 41 Sooty Shearwaters and 12 Great Skuas past Melmore Head (Donegal),Terek Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher and 8 Curlew Sandpipers at Blennerville (Kerry), a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling was at the Old Head of Kinsale (Cork), 2 Buff-breasted, the Semipalmated and the Baird's Sandpiper were at Tacumshin (wexford), Turtle Dove on the Old Head of Kinsale (Cork).

SUN 12 SEP - A Wilson's Petrel, 3 Leach's Petrels, 39 Sooty Shearwaters and 3 'Blue' Fulmars were noted at Annagh Head (Mayo), Semipalmated Sandpiper at Lady's Island Lake and 3 Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Wexford), Long-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Redshank and 6 Curlew Sandpipers at Blennerville (Kerry), American Herring Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway), 1 Great Shearwater past Cape Clear (Cork), American Wigeon, Osprey and Spotted Redshank at Rogerstown (Dublin), Ring-billed Gull at Rosscarbery (Cork).

MON 13 SEP - A Baird's Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper were found at Lissagriffin (Cork), Pectoral Sandpiper at Smerwick (Kerry), Sabine's Gull, 1 Great and 100 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Pomarine and 24 Great Skuas off Brandon Head (Kerry), a single Leach's Petrel was seen at Silver Strand (Galway), Long-billed Dowitcher, Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank at Kinsale Marsh, a Wryneck was seen on cape Clear Island and the Spoonbill was still at Clonakilty (Cork), Ring-billed Gull and 5 Curlew Sandpipers at Black Rock Strand (Kerry) and American Herring, Ring-billed and Glaucous Gull at Nimmo's Pier (Galway).

TUE 14 SEP - Red-eyed Vireo found today at Smerwick (Kerry), Terek Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher at Blennerville, 5 Little Stints and 2 Curlew Sandpipers at Black Rock Strand, 22 Sabine's Gulls, 130 Leach's Petrels, 1 Long-tailed, 2 Pomarine and 44 Great Skuas off Brandon Head (Kerry), 500 Leach's Petrels, 5 Sabine's Gulls, 1 Long-tailed, 25 Arctic and 45 Great Skuas and a Grey Phalarope off Ramore Head (Antrim) while 1 Sabine's Gull and 60+ Leach's Petrels were off Portstewart (Antrim) and a Sabine's Gull was at Grey Point in Belfast Lough (Antrim), 8 Sabine's Gulls, 100 Leach's, 2 Long-tailed, 12 Pomarine and 50 Great Skuas at the Bridges of Ross (Clare), 1 Great and 150 Sooty Shearwaters, 130 Leach's Petrels, 2 Arctic and 22 Great Skuas at Kilcummin Head (Mayo), 1 Sabine's Gull, 100 Leach's Petrels and a Black Tern at Killala Bay (Mayo), juvenile Rose-coloured Starling and 2 Common Rosefinches at Mizen Head (Cork), 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were at Tacumshin (Wexford), 4 Little Stints and a Curlew Sandpiper at Ballycotton (Cork).

WED 15 SEP - A probable Honey Buzzard was seen at Ballymacart (Waterford), Terek Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher at Blennerville (Kerry), Red-backed Shrike on Cape Clear, Rose-coloured Starling and Common Rosefinch on Mizen Head and Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork), Common Rosefinch on Tory Island (Donegal), 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Tacumshin (Wexford).

THU 16 SEP - A Sabine's Gull, 3 Leach's Petrels and 15 Arctic Skuas were seen off Helvick Head (Waterford), Terek Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher and Spotted Redshank at Blennerville (Kerry), Long-billed Dowitcher also at Kinsale Marsh (Cork), 2 Barred Warblers, a Common Rosefinch and 5 Reed Warblers at Mizen Head, a Wryneck was on Cape Clear, (Cork), a Lapland Bunting was on Tory Island (Donegal) and American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin).

FRI 17 SEP - Terek Sandpiper at Blennerville (Kerry), a Wryneck was on Cape Clear (Cork), 2 Grey Phalaropes were seen at Tory Island (Donegal), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin).

SAT 18 SEP - A juvenile Spotted Sandpiper was discovered at Listowel (Kerry) while the Terek Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher were still at Blennerville, an American Golden Plover was found at Kilcoole (Wicklow), 3 Buff-breasted, a Baird's and a Pectoral Sandpiper plus a Lapland Bunting at Tacumshin (Wexford), a Red-backed Shrike and a Redstart were seen on Cape Clear (Cork), 1 Long-tailed Skua, 2 Pomarine Skuas and 3 Leach's Petrels past Brandon Head (Kerry), 1 Long-tailed Skua, 44 Leach's Petrels and a Sabine's Gull off the Bridges of Ross (Clare), a Great Shearwater, 2 Grey Phalaropes and 4 Pomarine Skuas past Annagh Head (Mayo), 4 Long-tailed Skuas, 3 Sabine's Gulls, 4 Leach's Petrels, 2 Grey Phalaropes and the first 6 Barnacle Geese of the winter were noted at Rocky Point (Donegal), a Grey Phalarope and a Snow Bunting were seen at Tory Island (Donegal), American Wigeon and Curlew Sandpiper at Rogerstown (Dublin), Osprey at Broad Lough (Wicklow).

SUN 19 SEP - Spotted Sandpiper at Listowel (Kerry) a juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was found at Annagh Beach (Mayo), Terek Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher still at Blennerville (Kerry), American Wigeon and 11 Curlew Sandpipers at Rogerstown (Dublin), 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were found at Myroe Levels (Derry), Lesser Whitethroat and Common Rosefinch at Mizen Head (Cork), Sabine's Gull off Helvick Head (Waterford) and another off Seven Heads (Cork), Osprey at Broad Lough (Wicklow), another Wryneck was seen on Cape Clear (Cork), 5 Leach's Petrels and a Grey Phalarope off the Bridges of Ross (Clare), Lapland Bunting at Rocky Point (Donegal).

MON 20 SEP - Spotted Sandpiper at Listowel, Terek Sandpiper at Blennerville, 2 Grey Phalaropes at Black Rock (Kerry), Red-backed Shrike, Common Rosefinch and Wryneck on Cape Clear (Cork), 9 Sabine's Gulls, 200 Leach's Petrels, 6 Long-tailed and 2 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Grey Phalaropes and 20 Sooty Shearwaters off the Bridges of Ross (Clare), 1 Long-tailed and 2 Pomarine Skuas off Kilcummin Head (Mayo), 1 Long-tailed, 1 Pomarine, a Leach's Petrel and 2 Grey Phalaropes off Rocky Point (Donegal),

TUE 21 SEP - Spotted Sandpiper at Listowel, Terek Sandpiper at Blennerville, 2 Grey Phalaropes were seen at Black Rock and 1 Sabine's Gull, 3 Pomarine Skuas, a Leach's Petrel and 19 Grey Phalaropes off Brandon Head (Kerry) where a Snow Bunting was also present, Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck on Cape Clear, Common Rosefinch on Mizen Head (Cork), Semipalmated Sandpiper at Annagh Beach (Mayo), 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 2 Leach's Petrels, 12 Pomarine, 3 Great and 6 Arctic Skuas off Kilcummin Head (Mayo), 1 Great Shearwater, 2 Long-tailed Skuas and 2 Leach's Petrels off Rocky Point, Pectoral Sandpiper, Snow Bunting and Lapland Bunting on Tory Island (Donegal), 5 Leach's Petrels off Ramore Head (Antrim).

WED 22 SEP - A Barred Warbler , Pectoral Sandpiper, Snow Bunting and Lapland Bunting were at Tory island (Donegal), Terek Sandpiper and 10 Curlew Sandpipers at Blennerville (Kerry), 26 Leach's Petrels off Ramore Head (Antrim), Osprey at Broad Lough (Wicklow).

THU 23 SEP - Semipalmated Sandpiper at Annagh Beach and Short-toed Lark at Termoncarragh (Mayo), Terek Sandpiper at Blennerville (Kerry), 7 Arctic and 1 Pomarine Skua off Helvick Head (Waterford), Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck on Cape Clear (Cork).

FRI 24 SEP - Wilson's Phalarope found at Tacumshin (Wexford) where a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was also present, a report was also received of 2 juvenile Baird's Sandpipers at this site during the week, a Pectoral Sandpiper was at Rahasane turlough (Galway), Semipalmated Sandpiper at Annagh Beach, Short-toed Lark at Termoncarragh (Mayo), Baird's Sandpiper found at Carahane Strand, Spotted Sandpiper at Listowel, Terek Sandpiper at Blennerville (Kerry), Red-backed Shrike at Knockadoon Head, Red-backed Shrike on Cape Clear, juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at the Old Head of Kinsale, 6 Green Sandpipers were at the Lee reservoirs near Macroom and Spoonbill at Clonakilty (Cork).

SAT 25 SEP - Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, American Golden Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, a Short-toed Lark and a Goshawk were all seen at Tacumshin (Wexford), Short-toed Lark at Termoncarragh (Mayo), Spotted Sandpiper also at Listowel (Kerry), Baird's Sandpiper at Rosscarbery (Cork), Baird's and Pectoral Sandpiper at Rahasane (Galway), 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, Barred Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Lapland Bunting and 30 Snow Buntings on Tory Island (Donegal), Red-backed Shrikes were seen at Knockadoon Head and on Cape Clear (Cork), American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin), Ring-billed Gull at Portrush (Antrim).

SUN 26 SEP - Spotted Sandpiper and Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Wexford), Baird's Sandpiper at Rosscarbery (Cork), Baird's and Pectoral Sandpiper at Rahasane (Galway), Terek Sandpiper at Blennerville and Spotted Sandpiper at Listowel (Kerry), Short-toed Lark at Termoncarragh (Mayo), Pectoral Sandpiper and 20 Snow Buntings on Tory Island, Greenland Redpoll at Rocky Point (Donegal), Buff-breasted Sandpiper and 4 Little Stints at Myroe Levels (Derry), Red-backed Shrike on Knockadoon Head and Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Cork), Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper at the Bull Island NNR and American Wigeon at Rogerstown (Dublin).

MON 27 SEP - Short-toed Lark and Snow Bunting at Glencolumkille (Donegal), Pectoral Sandpiper and Barred Warbler on Tory Island and 4 Snow Buntings on Arranmore Island (Donegal), Pectoral Sandpiper at Rogerstown (Dublin), Baird's Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper at Rahasane (Galway).

TUE 28 SEP - Terek Sandpiper at Blennerville, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers were seen at Smerwick, 2 Pied Flycatchers at Dunquin (Kerry), Short-toed Lark still at Glencolumkille where a Common Rosefinch was also seen, 9 Leach's Petrels, 4 Pomarine Skuas, Pectoral Sandpiper on Tory Island, 9 Snow Buntings and a Lapland Bunting on Arranmore Island (Donegal), adult Sabine's Gull at Clonea (Waterford).

WED 29 SEP - Short-toed Lark and Common Rosefinch at Glencolumkille (Donegal), Short-toed Lark at Termoncarragh Lough and Semipalmated Sandpiper at Annagh Beach (Mayo), Red-backed Shrike at Knockadoon Head (Cork), Terek Sandpiper at Blennerville (Kerry) and 2 Lapland and 30 Snow Buntings on Tory Island (Donegal).

THU 30 SEP - 5 Pectoral Sandpipers, juvenile American Golden Plover and American Wigeon at Rogerstown Estuary (Dublin), Lapland Bunting at Brandon Head (Kerry).

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