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Tipperary/Offaly Birding (2 Viewers)

Ring-necked Pics

As promised here are some awful record shots of the Duck from yesterday. I looked for it again this morning but could not re find it. It may well still be there. A few parts of the Lough are hard to view.
 

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Hi all

Was just down in Boora today for an hour or two. I finally managed to see a Buzzard there. They've been seen by a few people for a number of years there now but I've never managed to see any there dispite birding there on and off for 13 years. I've seen them at 2-3 other sites in Offaly and would probably hazard a guess of maybe half a dozen pairs breeding the county now. Still a while to go before they reach the densities found in the north of the country. They are far and away the most regularly seen bop in Donegal when I'm out birding.
Also down in Boora were two 2nd cal Hen Harriers who were together briefly, 1 female-type Merlin and at least 5 Kestrels. Lots of Linnets, Reed Bunitngs, pipits and larks there as usual thanks to the fantastic habitat created for the partridge.
Have to say Boora is pretty much useless for waterbirds. However birds of prey make up for this. Its had Marsh Harrier on a few occasions, Short-eared Owl (flushed one from an old partridge pen last winter) and I've seen Barn Owl also at Finnamores a good few years back.
Good for wintering Whoopers (usually 250 birds) and breeding waders. Lapwing and Redshank getting down to business already.
The bird hide at Turraun is a disgrace, falling apart and the one at Boora Lake isn't far behind either. If Bord na Mona aren't going to anything with them they should really get rid of them, they're more of a health hazard than anything at the moment.

Dermot

Thanks for the report Dermot,
The other hides are pretty poor too.
The Tumduff Mor hide seems to be used as a social club by a few people to go drinking etc. I never bother going into it. Impossible to comfortably use a scope in them too.
Saw a mink in Tumduff Mor Lough last summer. Maybe they are affecting waterbird numbers.
Also spent 5 half days looking for the Marsh Harrier but no luck there.
You'll know all about this but Boora can be a good place to see Water Rail too. Kingfisher fairly easily seen from Boora lake hide.
Decent rarity list too which no doubt you've added to. Crane, Temmincks Stint, Red-necked Phalarope all seen in the area.
 
I also got a report back from Jenny Gill on another of the colour banded Godwits I saw on Ashton's callow.
I wasn't entirely certain of the details so I won't post the reply as its an educated guess rather than a definitive report.
They thought however that it was a bird ringed as an adult male in 1999 on The Wash and seen there subsequently at Snettisham and many times at Clonakilty.
They were able to work it out based on the partial info I submitted and by checking this against a list of birds reported regularly in Ireland.
Now thats what I call going above and beyond the call of duty.

And many thanks to whoever gave this thread five stars
 
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Black Redstart at Knocklofty this morning, just inside the Tipp border. Dont think I've ever seen an "inland" Black Redstart so an interesting record.

Regards,

Hi,
Would it be possible to get some more detail on the sighting? Maybe a more exact location?
Thanks
Tom
 
Hi Tom,

Knocklofty is on the Tipp/Waterford border, just a couple of miles from Marlfield Lake in Clonmel. I was returning to Dungarvan this morning and noticed the bird landing in a tall tree not far from the road. The bird had very obvious wing flashes from a distance and was obviously black so almost certainy an adult male. We get plenty of records in Waterford annually, but rarely far from the coast. I'm guessing Black Redstart is not a common Tipperary bird but as regards if the bird will "stick" or is just passing through, anybody's guess. Zoom in on map to see exact location.

http://www.traveljournals.net/explore/ireland/map/p443193/knocklofty.html

Regards,
 
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Hi Tom,

Knocklofty is on the Tipp/Waterford border, just a couple of miles from Marlfield Lake in Clonmel. I was returning to Dungarvan this morning and noticed the bird landing in a tall tree not far from the road. The bird had very obvious wing flashes from a distance and was obviously black so almost certainy an adult male. We get plenty of records in Waterford annually, but rarely far from the coast. I'm guessing Black Redstart is not a common Tipperary bird but as regards if the bird will "stick" or is just passing through, anybody's guess.

Regards,

Thank you very much for the info.
You're right about Black Redstart not being common in Tipperary. I've never heard of a record but it surely has been recorded before.
I'm from North Tipp which explains my hazy understanding of South Tipp geography.
By the way thats a nice website ye have down in Waterford. I look in on it from time to time.
Thanks again.
Tom
 
20 Sand Martins and 8 Little Egrets seen at Cabragh Wetlands, Thurles, Co Tipp this morning. Spring is definitely here.
Also one Sand Martin reported at Lough Eorna on Sunday morning
 
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Hi all

I've been over in the Callows this week looking for waders. Still plenty of flooding after recent rain.
Highlights were...on Wednesday, a male ruff (alas not in breeding plumage) and at least 3 sand martins to the north of Shannonbridge. Also a female merlin was perched in a willow all the while I was there. These were probably all on the Roscommon side of the border, though worth a mention I think.
Yesterday, an oystercatcher was feeding at the edge of the flood NNE of Inchinalee Island (NE of Clonmacnoise), Co. Offaly. I'm told these are very scarce visitors to the callows.
I returned to the hide at Ashton's Callow last Friday. At least 3000 black-tailed godwits were still present, with some feeding not far away to the left of the hide, though difficult to get a look at their legs for rings. Still good numbers of duck, but nothing of note.

Troakie
 
Hi all

I've been over in the Callows this week looking for waders. Still plenty of flooding after recent rain.
Highlights were...on Wednesday, a male ruff (alas not in breeding plumage) and at least 3 sand martins to the north of Shannonbridge. Also a female merlin was perched in a willow all the while I was there. These were probably all on the Roscommon side of the border, though worth a mention I think.
Yesterday, an oystercatcher was feeding at the edge of the flood NNE of Inchinalee Island (NE of Clonmacnoise), Co. Offaly. I'm told these are very scarce visitors to the callows.
I returned to the hide at Ashton's Callow last Friday. At least 3000 black-tailed godwits were still present, with some feeding not far away to the left of the hide, though difficult to get a look at their legs for rings. Still good numbers of duck, but nothing of note.





Thank for the report Paul.
I was at Ashton's on Friday too but in the evening. I must have just missed you. As you say nothing startling there. No raptors unusually but see below. The Redshank were very noisy, seems like they are just waiting for the floods to recede before getting on with things.
Good to hear the Ruff are back too. They are regular at Ashton's in autumn and spring too. The maximum number I saw together there this autumn was 8 although flocks of up to 41 (Bridge Callow, Banagher, March '99) have been recorded. Males in partial and full summer plumage show up occasionally.
Nice record of Oystercatcher, have never seen one in the area myself but there is some suspicion they may be breeding on the Shannon.
Your experience with the Godwits being distant mirrors mine. They've only come close enough to the hide to see their legs on one occasion this year while I've been there. The callows represent the biggest gap in ring resightings in the whole of their European wintering range although a member of the Operation Godwit team read rings this year on the Little Brosna. Good to hear you visited the area again.

Firville Lake, Borrisokane was quiet this Friday too with some Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Tufties, Mallard and Whoopers present. A Blue-winged Teal showed up here last year so it's always worth a scan.
Reddan's Lough, Borrisokane quiet on Friday too, a few Common Gull and 12 Gadwall were about the best. Good site for wintering Gadwall.

On Saturday morning (yesterday) I saw a male and female Hen Harrier hunting within 50m of each other at a breeding site in the Silvermines Mts, Tipperary. I didn't see display there yet but it's surely only a matter of time. The male came heart stoppingly close on Saturday. Full adult with clean grey wings. I was actually packing up the scope when he appeared first. Isn't it always the way! Don't think I've ever set up my scope so quickly before. The female was mobbed by Hoodies and left the area very quickly. Last spring I saw a male, female and a juvenile bird within minutes of each other at the same site. Their presence here today explains why they weren't at Ashton's on Friday I suppose.

After that I visited Lough Eorna near Nenagh. The best there was a couple of Common Gulls and a female Ruddy Duck. One of the lucky few who have escaped the cull by dint of living over here. It's a regular site for Ruddy Duck but I haven't had many sightings there this winter. They can be elusive there though in the reedy areas

Today I saw a pair of Yellowhammer at a regular site near Ballinderry village North Tipp. Spring seems to be finally kicking in.
 
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Hi Tom

Aidan Kelly was in touch with me re the photos of the Ring-necked Duck that you took at Lough Ourna. I only looked at them briefly at the time and due to the poor quality of them I didn't say anything.
However Aidan has doubts about the likelyhood of this bird being a pure Ring-necked Duck and I'm inclined to agree with him now.
Going by the shots the bird seems to lack the white ring at the base of the bill and around nostrils (granted usually very hard to see) and the presence of a very prominent crest. How dark were the flanks and how clear was the white spur?
There are shots of a similar hybrid from Sligo at http://www.sligobirding.com/November2007.html
Aidan said he had another hybrid at Lough Iron, Westmeath this winter also.

Dermot
 
20 Sand Martins and 8 Little Egrets seen at Cabragh Wetlands, Thurles, Co Tipp this morning. Spring is definitely here.
Also one Sand Martin reported at Lough Eorna on Sunday morning

What's the status of Little Egret in Tipperary? Know that they are still quite rare in extreme inland Cork, though, perhaps, more common than we think (there are very few resident birders in north Cork, with only Ger Walsh near Mitchelstown coming to mind, and whoever happens to be warden at Kilcolman in a given year).
Buzzard, as I hinted in the Cork thread, is really starting to get, if not quite 'common', a lot more firmly established here now, with perhaps up to 20 known pairs at this stage...not bad, when one considers that they weren't proved to breed until 2004!
Regards,
Harry
 
What's the status of Little Egret in Tipperary? Know that they are still quite rare in extreme inland Cork, though, perhaps, more common than we think (there are very few resident birders in north Cork, with only Ger Walsh near Mitchelstown coming to mind, and whoever happens to be warden at Kilcolman in a given year).
Buzzard, as I hinted in the Cork thread, is really starting to get, if not quite 'common', a lot more firmly established here now, with perhaps up to 20 known pairs at this stage...not bad, when one considers that they weren't proved to breed until 2004!
Regards,
Harry

Hi Harry,
Little Egret is still a notable sighting in Tipp. Usually a winter visitor but there are a few summer records. As far as I know they haven't bred yet but I can't be 100% sure on that. There are very few people looking out for them.

There has been a big increase in Buzzard sightings (in North Tipp at least, I don't know enough about South Tipp) in the last few years and breeding is strongly suspected by me at least given the large amount of apparently suitable territory, the number of sightings, and that they breed in Offaly.

It's just proving it thats the problem ;)
Again not enough observers.
Heard about another "pair" in North Tipp last weekend and waiting on a more exact location before checking it out. Fingers crossed.
Best wishes,
Tom
 
Hi Tom

Aidan Kelly was in touch with me re the photos of the Ring-necked Duck that you took at Lough Ourna. I only looked at them briefly at the time and due to the poor quality of them I didn't say anything.
However Aidan has doubts about the likelyhood of this bird being a pure Ring-necked Duck and I'm inclined to agree with him now.
Going by the shots the bird seems to lack the white ring at the base of the bill and around nostrils (granted usually very hard to see) and the presence of a very prominent crest. How dark were the flanks and how clear was the white spur?
There are shots of a similar hybrid from Sligo at http://www.sligobirding.com/November2007.html
Aidan said he had another hybrid at Lough Iron, Westmeath this winter also.

Dermot

Hi Dermot,
I was wondering about that myself. Thanks for bringing it up,
The lack of a clear white line on the bill base is troubling as is the crest.

On the plus side the head did look quite angular rather than rounded and I didn't detect any tuft on the day.
I was thinking it could have been a 1st winter bird moulting into adult plumage which might explain the minus points like the lack of white around the nostrils and the lack of a clear cut white line on the bill base since these features are apparently less prominent in juvenile birds and presumably are also less prominent on moulting juveniles too. However I don't know enough about moult in Ring-necks to offer any kind of definitive opinion on this.

The flanks were noticeably darker than the accompanying Tutfed and the spur stood out. However the flank/spur contrast was perhaps (from memory) not as clear as on a drake I saw at Reddans Lough last April and May.

However the concensus seems to be hybrid which given what you outlined above seems to be the way to go.
Interesting bird.
Thanks for bringing it up Dermot.
Regards
Tom
 
I had 4 little egrets well inland at near Carlow town a few weeks back.(In with cows the B**t*rds)
Furthest inland I have ever seen them!Cant be far off breeding inland at this point.

Pariah
 
I had 4 little egrets well inland at near Carlow town a few weeks back.(In with cows the B**t*rds)
Furthest inland I have ever seen them!Cant be far off breeding inland at this point.

Pariah

Fingers crossed on the Egrets.

Swallows and a House Martin seen at Cabragh Wetlands Thurles today.
 
Yesterday morning (Wednesday) I took a walk up Keeper Hill (Tipperary). Flushed 2 Woodcock on the edge of a conifer plantation on the west side of the hill.
1 Jay and a few Raven were about the best after that.

This morning on Ashton's Callow a Spotted Redshank was present. Still in winter plumage. This is the third April in a row one has been recorded here.
Also present were 8 Ruff and a Kingfisher. Apart from that the usual mix of ducks were there though much reduced in numbers. Also c.400 Black-tailed Godwit.
I've attached some Ruff pictures from today below.
The last one is of a Redshank. I can't decide whether it is preening or looking at its reflection in the water ;)
 

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Hi Dermot,
I was wondering about that myself. Thanks for bringing it up,
The lack of a clear white line on the bill base is troubling as is the crest.

On the plus side the head did look quite angular rather than rounded and I didn't detect any tuft on the day.
I was thinking it could have been a 1st winter bird moulting into adult plumage which might explain the minus points like the lack of white around the nostrils and the lack of a clear cut white line on the bill base since these features are apparently less prominent in juvenile birds and presumably are also less prominent on moulting juveniles too. However I don't know enough about moult in Ring-necks to offer any kind of definitive opinion on this.

The flanks were noticeably darker than the accompanying Tutfed and the spur stood out. However the flank/spur contrast was perhaps (from memory) not as clear as on a drake I saw at Reddans Lough last April and May.

However the concensus seems to be hybrid which given what you outlined above seems to be the way to go.
Interesting bird.
Thanks for bringing it up Dermot.
Regards
Tom


Tom,

The absence of white at the bill-base on Ring-necked Ducks occurring in Europe is a topic which has come up here before, and which is probably not a clear-cut case of hybridism (at least not F1 hybrids)

See http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=71645, and http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=925108 among other threads. Perhaps PM Joern Lehmhus for comment - hybrid wildfowl are his specialism.

Graham

PS - great thread - I have family on the Tipp/Off border and while I don't visit these days it's great to hear of all the locations I visited as a young child.
 
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