County Louth (formerly Dundalk Bay) local patch. (4 Viewers)

[Peter Phillips]

Over 250 leach's petrels were observed around Ireland and Britain yesterday. Today I note that several records have come in from locations on the far side of the Irish Sea (not too far from us.)
Are there any louth records for this bird - I cannot recall any.
Either way, there seems to be a good movement of these birds, so a good one to look out for over next few days.

I think there are a couple of Clogher Head Records.We will need the wind to back Easterly to have a chance...............

They are more or less annual on the British West coast.Probably the constant westerly winds keeping them that side of the channel.

 

[MargaretM]

At Cruistown this afternoon, flock of Golden Plover still there, about 70 Brent, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Greenshank, 3 Sambos and 3 RB Mergansers on the beach.
Baltray had about 200 Golden Plover, 1 Greenshank and 1 Little Egret.
Tommy saw an Otter in the sea at Clogherhead harbour.

 

[Derek Watters]

I think there are a couple of Clogher Head Records.We will need the wind to back Easterly to have a chance...............
They are more or less annual on the British West coast.Probably the constant westerly winds keeping them that side of the channel.

Peter, I agree with you regarding the easterlies but with the numers so high, it's worth keeping an eye out for them. When I posted earlier, reports had been received from 2 N Wales locations totalling 8 birds. Later reports from Conwy (less than 100miles from Clogerhead) indicates that 129 leach's were seen today (plus a Cory's)!

 

[MargaretM]

Peter, I agree with you regarding the easterlies but with the numers so high, it's worth keeping an eye out for them. When I posted earlier, reports had been received from 2 N Wales locations totalling 8 birds. Later reports from Conwy (less than 100miles from Clogerhead) indicates that 129 leach's were seen today (plus a Cory's)!

Definitely worth keeping an eye out, just in case. The seas at Clogherhead and Cruistown were very quiet this afternoon.

 

[breffni]

I've a notion I've seen leach's a few times off Balaggan point or Shelling Hill but only distant individual birds so hard to be sure...storm petrels were very thin on the ground this year in comparison to last.

 

[Peter Phillips]

I've a notion I've seen leach's a few times off Balaggan point or Shelling Hill but only distant individual birds so hard to be sure...storm petrels were very thin on the ground this year in comparison to last.

Its the right time of year anyway...Margaret and Derek..Let me know how you get on!

I had my first 3 Redwing today on the farm...still lots of Meadow Pipits moving through.

 

[Derek Watters]

FYI - Don had a Fosters Tern this morning at Cruisetown. No doubt the same bird as was here in 2006 and 2007 ( arrived 8/10/06 and 28/10/07 per my records).
Also 2 Med gulls present.

 

[MargaretM]

Its the right time of year anyway...Margaret and Derek..Let me know how you get on!

Think it would need to land on my scope to be sure Peter!!
Went to Cruistown this afternoon but tide full in so it was fairly quiet. At Dunany saw what was probably the Forsters Tern out feeding between there and Cruistown but difficult viewing conditions in heavy rain.

 

[Derek Watters]

Forster's Tern was present at Cruisetown during early morning. It returned mid afternoon and give good views at full tide. Single adult med gull at Cruisetown plus 3 late staying sambo terns. Nice meeting up with so many birders (12 in all covering this part of the coast today). 2 confiding wheatear also at Cruisetown.
Otherwise Don had a single Canada Goose at Hermitage. First Grey Geese of the winter starting to appear in small numbers.

 

[Peter Phillips]

Nice shots Derek

Louth County Year List

171 Forsters Tern
172 Canada Goose

 

[breffni]

Yesterday spent several house slogging around glenmore, annaverna and ravensdale but generally very quiet, as with a bit of seawatching from Clogher. Cruisetwon had 350 blackheaded gulls, 100 common, 34 great black backed, 4 lesser black backed, 118 herring gulls, 150 kittiwake, 51 sanderling, 180 dunlin, 60 ringed plover, 90 cormorant, 400 odd common scoter, 2 shag, 900 oyca, 120 redshandk and 230 golden plover plus the forsters tern just after high tide. Out at sea there were large rafts of gulls.

 

[breffni]

Damian Clarke of the Golden Eagle Trust will give an illustrated talk about the natural recolonisation of Ireland by Buzzards at the Spirit Store, Dundalk docks, Dundalk (upstairs) at 8pm this evening 6th October 2008.

All are welcome!

 

[Peter Phillips]

The best on the coast today about 500 Auks sp south in 30 mins at Clogher Head. The only passerine migrants,1 Chiffchaff and 7 Lesser Redpoll. Cruisetown was best with the Adult Forster's Tern Adult Med Gull and an Adult Dark-bellied Brent and one Wheatear. One Whimbrel at Hermitage. KCP quiet.

 

[breffni]

About 60 swallows here this morning, along with five skylarks and a big mobile flock of several hundred finches...

 

[Derek Watters]

Ringed med gull

Anyone else see the adult med gull at Cruisetown with a large bright green ring on the right leg? Any ideas where it might be from??

 

[Peter Phillips]

Anyone else see the adult med gull at Cruisetown with a large bright green ring on the right leg? Any ideas where it might be from??

Hi Derek.I had an adult med gull at cruisetown today.It was asleep (see pic two)so i did not see the legs.

 

[breffni]

Great talk last night by Damian with 62 people in attendance - standing room only!

Regarding the little blue heron - Enda had a green/yellow legged little egret this time last year at lurgangreen: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=28640&page=43

 

[breffni]

I had a small falcon flying in from the sea this afternoon. Its flight was fluttery, almost as though it was flycatching. It flew about two or three feet over the water and when it reached the shore, flew straight inland without stopping unfortunately.

 

[Gerry o Neill]

Nice shots Derek

Louth County Year List

171 Forsters Tern
172 Canada Goose

Got forsters and canada goose now 167...A few photos from Galway of l. b. Heron.

 

[peter ro]

treecreeper at mullaghattan today