Good weather definately helped. My highest tally ever at hallowe'en.Great spotting Stephen,
We don't get a list like that at Derrybeg!
Wow! Would love to see that many gwfs!785 Greenland Whitefronts
598 Common Scoter
They certainly looked most like red-throats, didn't look bulky enough to be great northern and quite a lot of white on throat and neck for black-throated. When I read that in Collins I thought I'd maybe got the scale a bit wrong cos they were out on the open water with no other birds around and like I say I'd no scope. There were also 2 large divers off Tramore on 2nd November that were most likely great northern. Anyway no more excuses!Hi Stephen,
I also heard Red-throated Divers calling recently, off Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow.
Probably just a bit of post-breeding behaviour of some sort.
It was a great report,we always park at mcglincheys house and walk toSightings at Sheskinmore Nature Reserve at Hallowe'en 2008 are in attached Microsoft Word file.
Snow bunting were highlight. 3 species of geese. Red throated diver, eider. Buzzard, kestrel, sparrowhawk, raven, chough.
EDIT: "red-throated" divers made short screaming calls but Collins guide says they're silent in winter. Now not so sure of identification! My excuse is I didn't have a scope!
we always park at mcglincheys house and walk to
ballinreavey strand.Though it is a long walk with a scope,never seen a snow bunting before.
Otter, distant photo not great quality.
Otter, distant photo not great quality.