West Donegal (1 Viewer)

Peter Phillips said:

50 species.An early boat home ment I only had 4 hours on the island today. The winds looked good (strong south easterlies with rain) but despite this there was only one warbler to be found. A Pomarine Skua off the boat and a first winter Glaucous Gull eating a dead seal in the harbour were a good start. Anton Meenans was quiet with just a few Redwing on the wires. Heading east, close to Eamon Meenans , I flushed a Woodcock from a drain and 5 Chaffinch both new species this year. I made it to the east end without any further birds and was cursing the lack of migrants when I flushed what sounded like a robin from the base of a green shed. The bird flew low behind me and pitched up in the open about 15 feet away. I turned my head to see what it was, and it did not disappoint. A Little Bunting :eek!:was sitting there for all to see (well, just me). A tick and the bird of the autumn for me on Tory. The rest of the island was quiet. The shoveler is still on the lake at the east end and Wigeon and Merlin were new for the year, at the lake at the west end.



Boat trip

Gannet 7
Shag 5
Cormorant 1
Pomarine Skua 1
Kittiwake 12
Razorbill 12
Black Guillemot 1
Guillemot 4
Great Northern Diver 5
Herring Gull 2

Tory Island


Mute Swan 2
Grey Heron 3
Mallard 30
Teal 6
Wigeon 2
Shoveler 1
Tufted Duck 4
Oystercatcher 25
Ringed Plover 30
Golden Plover 3
Lapwing 25
Redshank 5
Curlew 8
Woodcock 1
Snipe 12
Turnstone 75
Merlin 1
Peregrine 1
Buzzard 1
Glaucous Gull 1
Herring Gull 70
Great black backed Gull 8
Common Gull 16
Rock/Feral Pigeon 40
Meadow Pipit 10
Rock Pipit 30
Pied Wagtail 2
Wren 8
Blackcap 1
Song Thrush 5
Blackbird 15
Fieldfare 12
Redwing 50
Chough 1
Hooded Crow 3
Raven 1
Starling 150
Tree Sparrow 8
Goldfinch 12
Chaffinch 5
Little Bunting 1

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nialltkeogh said:

Nice one Peter,

A well deserved find for all the effort you've put in. Gripping pics too!

Niall

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Dermot Breen said:

There are alot of warning "flags" in the area in fairness to ESB (or is it Electric Ireland now?) but it's a huge spot with miles upon miles of electricity lines. I have to say I haven't seen many bird strikes in the area in the last few years.
I know from dealing with ESB down here in Galway that they are always eager to minimise bird strikes by putting up the little flags. Alot of the time the wind can shift them and bunch them all at one end of the line though.
Ralph Sheppard had a count of 1850 Whooper Swans, 981 Greylag, 2 Bean, 5 White-fronted, 24 Pink-footed, 3 Barnacle Geese and 197 Canada Geese in the same field on 28th November. If the line was a significant problem it would become very clear very quickly with numbers like that coming and going everyday!

Dermot

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Dermot Breen said:

There are alot of warning "flags" in the area in fairness to ESB (or is it Electric Ireland now?) but it's a huge spot with miles upon miles of electricity lines. I have to say I haven't seen many bird strikes in the area in the last few years.
I know from dealing with ESB down here in Galway that they are always eager to minimise bird strikes by putting up the little flags. Alot of the time the wind can shift them and bunch them all at one end of the line though.
Ralph Sheppard had a count of 1850 Whooper Swans, 981 Greylag, 2 Bean, 5 White-fronted, 24 Pink-footed, 3 Barnacle Geese and 197 Canada Geese in the same field on 28th November. If the line was a significant problem it would become very clear very quickly with numbers like that coming and going everyday!

Dermot

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squidge said:

Excellent report Peter. A place I must visit some day.

Ger.

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Peter Phillips said:

I was out on Tory Island yesterday. I thought there might be some white winged gulls around. Not a single one....
The best were 10 Purple Sandpiper in the harbour, 2 Greylag Geese at the east end and 3 Eider just outside the harbour.

On the way home I stopped off at Big Isle outside Letterkenny. Lots geese present (mainly Greylag and Greenland white fronts) which included 2 Pink footed Geese and 4 Tundra Bean Geese.

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murso87 said:

Peter how long does the ferry take to Tory ? I believe there is a fast ferry as well as a normal one? Really want to visit the Island this month, after two great tours of Aranmore and Rathlin last year.

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Peter Phillips said:

It takes 1 hour 45 minutes from Bunbeg leaving at 8.45 arriving at the island at 10.30. It leaves from Tory and goes to Machaire Rabhartaigh and leaves here again for Tory at 11.30 (it takes 45-60mins).

http://www.toryislandferry.com/AmchlrTimetable.htm

You need to ring the day before to check if the ferry is going as its frequently canceled during rough weather and the departure time can change if the tide is low and the boat cant get out.

If you do go I would appreciate if you could make a note of numbers of common birds you see or anything rarer! If you post your sightings here or email them to me I can include them in the next Tory report.

I think the fast ferry only goes in good weather/summer time, but it would be advisable to check with the operator.

Peter

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