[Peter Phillips]

Originally Posted by squidge

Was out there today from 12.10 to 2.15 and not a sign. I had a recording from the Dutch birding website as this is exactly what I heard. http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/upl...ebergSelXC.mp3 The doubting Thomas in me will always say well maybe but all I have to do is play the recording and I'm 100%. Its unfortunate I was the only observer but hopefully it will show itself again. Ger

I got out this morning at 6am and found presumably the same Chiffchaff about 40 metres short of the bridge. I heard it sing just 4 times in 40 minutes and it seemed to be mobile going silent for several minutes at a time. First of all I would like to point out that I am not great with bird song, but I did some research last night.

http://www.surfbirds.com/Features/ib...ibechiffs.html

When I first heard the bird it gave two or three chiffchaff like notes and then a short rapid rattle. I did not manage to record the call but it sounded interesting. It lacked what you might call a 'bridging note' between the initial call and the rattle at the end and I think some birders who heard it the other day thought it did not sound quite right for Iberian Chiffchaff. I did not get any sort of view of the bird so I cant comment on its appearance.

I had some recordings on a portable dictaphone with me. When I played it just after hearing the Slane bird I could not detect much if any difference between the two however I did not manage to get a recording of the bird singing.

There seems to be some variation in Iberian Chiffchaff song so you would need to get a recording of the song to be sure. I think in the UK only birds that have been recorded singing/calling have been considered for acceptance by the BBRC.

Peter

[squidge]

Hi Peter I did hear a chiffchaff which seemed to miss a note yesterday, I wasnt able to locate it though . It did sound different to what I heard as the bird I heard had a little bouncy warble at the end of its song. As you said there are variations in song. I played the recording I had and it was Blackcaps that replied. I saw one Chiffchaff yesterday but underneath was duller to the pale plumage of the original bird.

Its unfortunate I was the only one and I usually carry a small camera while out birding but it was more of a dog walk so all I had were my compacts. I walk in townley and across the river along the canal quite regular so hopefully it will pop up again.

I would fully expect a recording,picture or at least two to three different views for a bird to be accepted so I'm not dissapointed in that sense. It was after I made the id of the bird through the sound recordings that I found out how rare this bird was so I was very apprehensive about posting it up. But because I was 100% sure I posted it up.

In the meantime I'll keep looking and listening and hopefully someone will come across it. Thanks, Ger.

[Peter Phillips]

I see that some birders connected and got good views (and presumable heard it well?) today. Its on as a probable Iberian Chiffchaff, so you might be in luck if it get confirmed. I am not sure if any one has recorded the song, which would be very useful.

[squidge]

I see that alright. Good news indeed. It would be nice if there is a recording. I also see that there were two serins aswell. Ger.

[Tom Shevlin]

Here's a recording of the Chiffchaff at Townley Hall Wood. Recorded with Canon 7D Camera yesterday evening (May 2nd).

[Enda]

Ger
What a great find (if it is iberian)but none the less a very brave call that most of us would have shyed away from making.so well done either way and i hope that it is confirmed
Enda
www.cooleywildlifephotography.com

[Derek Watters]

Any further sightings of the whinchat? I see there was one reported from Killough in Co Down, so it may have headed north?

[squidge]

Originally Posted by Enda

Ger
What a great find (if it is iberian)but none the less a very brave call that most of us would have shyed away from making.so well done either way and i hope that it is confirmed
Enda
www.cooleywildlifephotography.com

Thanks Enda, I've been unable to get out the last few days so hopefully it will stick around. There were a few hours of indecision whether to post it up or not but with a bit of consultation and knowing what I saw and heard I just had to put it up.
Some excellent photographs by the way. Ger.

[breffni]

Still a few wheatears and white wagtails coming through Templetown beach yesterday + a single roseate tern at cooley point, overall tern numbers down visavis last year - a whinchat briefly there monday...

Fantastic photos indeed: www.cooleywildlifephotography.com

[Derek Watters]

Hi Enda

Just seen your new website.
Amazing photographs of animals that are hard enough to glimpse (red squirrel, jays, otters, etc), let alone photograph so well.
Best of luck with your tours!

Derek

[Gerry o Neill]

Originally Posted by Peter Phillips

I got out this morning at 6am and found presumably the same Chiffchaff about 40 metres short of the bridge. I heard it sing just 4 times in 40 minutes and it seemed to be mobile going silent for several minutes at a time. First of all I would like to point out that I am not great with bird song, but I did some research last night.

http://www.surfbirds.com/Features/ib...ibechiffs.html

When I first heard the bird it gave two or three chiffchaff like notes and then a short rapid rattle. I did not manage to record the call but it sounded interesting. It lacked what you might call a 'bridging note' between the initial call and the rattle at the end and I think some birders who heard it the other day thought it did not sound quite right for Iberian Chiffchaff. I did not get any sort of view of the bird so I cant comment on its appearance.

I had some recordings on a portable dictaphone with me. When I played it just after hearing the Slane bird I could not detect much if any difference between the two however I did not manage to get a recording of the bird singing.

There seems to be some variation in Iberian Chiffchaff song so you would need to get a recording of the song to be sure. I think in the UK only birds that have been recorded singing/calling have been considered for acceptance by the BBRC.

Peter

pic of drogheda chiffer

[Dolce]

Swallows flying around edge of Daisyhill woods and also flying beside the river and small woods in the Meadow. We saw close enough what we believe could not have been anything other than a pale Barn Owl or some sort of whitey fronted Owl near 8 am from a bus away outside Armagh in the middle of countryside. And enclose photo of Wagtail of what I thought was a bit different than usual Pied Wagtail but maybe not ............ It was taken at Loch Derg which is a paradise simply of heaps of beautiful very red necked Swallows and House Martins (no end to them) and saw one small plain Warbler ...... I also saw definite two Linnets in my garden twice yesterday and one sighting a week ago plus saw one male Reed bunting at same time.

[breffni]

Checked all the usual places this year but so far no sign of a cuckoo - i think this wind is keeping then down? Gropper at mullaghattin and another wetland to the north (where ther road turns right towards windy gap).

[breffni]

Originally Posted by Dolce

Swallows flying around edge of Daisyhill woods and also flying beside the river and small woods in the Meadow. We saw close enough what we believe could not have been anything other than a pale Barn Owl or some sort of whitey fronted Owl near 8 am from a bus away outside Armagh in the middle of countryside. And enclose photo of Wagtail of what I thought was a bit different than usual Pied Wagtail but maybe not ............ It was taken at Loch Derg which is a paradise simply of heaps of beautiful very red necked Swallows and House Martins (no end to them) and saw one small plain Warbler ...... I also saw definite two Linnets in my garden twice yesterday and one sighting a week ago plus saw one male Reed bunting at same time.

Male pied wagtail - they can be quite variable in the extent of black...

[Derek Watters]

Originally Posted by breffni

Checked all the usual places this year but so far no sign of a cuckoo - i think this wind is keeping then down? Gropper at mullaghattin and another wetland to the north (where ther road turns right towards windy gap).

Same here. Have been doing daily checks on Mullaghattin, Glenmore Forest and the forest at Foxes Rock, where I frequently had cuckoos last year, and there's been none this year.
Also a gropper on the road to the mast (Omeath side), though I have not been up since the fires there last week which may have distroyed that area.
BTW Swifts were back in Dundalk on 4 May.

[Gerry o Neill]

Originally Posted by Derek Watters

Same here. Have been doing daily checks on Mullaghattin, Glenmore Forest and the forest at Foxes Rock, where I frequently had cuckoos last year, and there's been none this year.
Also a gropper on the road to the mast (Omeath side), though I have not been up since the fires there last week which may have distroyed that area.
BTW Swifts were back in Dundalk on 4 May.

A female harrier was seen at Dundalk Docks at about 4 30.It was only seen for a short time but looked small and could be a montagus harrier.It was last seen going east on the north side of dundalk docks so keep a look out in louth for this bird.

[gareth2005]

Originally Posted by breffni

Male pied wagtail - they can be quite variable in the extent of black...

Huge roosts of Pied Wagtails can be seen in winter in-between the 2 maternity wards of Drogheda hospital.
There is a green/bramble covered area in between the 2 wards that is surrounded on all 4 sides and literally dozens of Pied wagtails stream into it at darkness.

[Derek Watters]

Originally Posted by breffni

Checked all the usual places this year but so far no sign of a cuckoo - i think this wind is keeping then down? Gropper at mullaghattin and another wetland to the north (where ther road turns right towards windy gap).

Eventually had first cuckoo last evening, plus 2 more groppers high in the
woods at Ballymakellet.

[squidge]

Plenty of Swifts above Drogheda today. Ger.

[breffni]

National Dawn Chorus is tomorrow morning - for Louth we are meeting at the Ballymascanlon Hotel, just north of Dundalk, at 5am in the main carpark. We will take a walk around the grounds until 7.

all are welcome

Breffni

[peter ro]

welcome visiter to dundalk today
seen at swimming pool and at the marshes

[Enda]

Great shot Peter.The marshes shopping centre??

Enda
www.cooleywildlifephotography.com

[breffni]

Bird probably had to pick up a few items!

I looked around yesterday evening but no sign - bird is probably hungry and needs any kind of raw fish or meat...escape from a UK site apparently.

[Derek Watters]

Originally Posted by breffni

Bird is probably hungry and needs any kind of raw fish or meat...

According to reports from our friends up north, it apparently quite likes digestive biscuits!

[OBROIN]

Ringed Black Guillemot at Clogherhead Pier this morning. Coulldnt make out much info but passed on what little info to BTO. Plenty of them around the pier this morning.

Matt.