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County Galway Birding (local patch) (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter birdsgalway
- Start date
Paul Troake
troakiebloky
Went for a bit of a hike today and encountered a flock of 14 snow buntings on the southern slope of Bohaun mountain near Crumlin East. Later saw a fem/imm marsh harrier at Lough Corrib near Headford.
Yesterday at Nimmos, one adult ring-billed gull, plus long-tailed duck again off Claddagh beach.
Dermot, regarding your scaup query, I had 26 on Lough Atalia one day last January, though only one was seen there on the recent bay count. There have been small boats using the lough recently, but may be a bit of winter weather will limit their activities in favour of the wintering birds.
Troakie
Yesterday at Nimmos, one adult ring-billed gull, plus long-tailed duck again off Claddagh beach.
Dermot, regarding your scaup query, I had 26 on Lough Atalia one day last January, though only one was seen there on the recent bay count. There have been small boats using the lough recently, but may be a bit of winter weather will limit their activities in favour of the wintering birds.
Troakie
Neil Sharkey
Active member
Re the 'Brant'/Brent Goose name origin discussion. I have a copy of A.F Gotch's book on the origin of bird names.(published by Blanford Books 1981) He says this of the Brent Goose:
Brent (or Brant Goose)-Branta bernicla - Branta is coined from the Anglo Saxon 'brennan', to burn, and refers to the reddish brown colour. 'Bernicla' (New L) a barnacle ( see Barnacle Goose.
This explanation is more or less in line with the other offerings on the subject.
Brent (or Brant Goose)-Branta bernicla - Branta is coined from the Anglo Saxon 'brennan', to burn, and refers to the reddish brown colour. 'Bernicla' (New L) a barnacle ( see Barnacle Goose.
This explanation is more or less in line with the other offerings on the subject.
Brosnabirder
Well-known member
Cold cold day at Traught today.
5 GN Divers in the vicinity of Traught / Aughinish. No sign of the Hoopoe. It was looked for by at least 5 people today.
64 White fronts and a Greylag at Rahasane. Also the same species mentioned by Dermot above plus 7 Little Egrets.
Yesterday at the Curraghline 4 ringtail Hen Harriers, 1 Peregrine and 1 Sparrowhawk. Had a look at the Ducks on the Lough. Huge numbers but very distant. The Lough was flat calm. That was my third visit this week to Angliham but the Lough was far too choppy to pick anything up on the other days.
Where is Bohaun Mountain Paul?
5 GN Divers in the vicinity of Traught / Aughinish. No sign of the Hoopoe. It was looked for by at least 5 people today.
64 White fronts and a Greylag at Rahasane. Also the same species mentioned by Dermot above plus 7 Little Egrets.
Yesterday at the Curraghline 4 ringtail Hen Harriers, 1 Peregrine and 1 Sparrowhawk. Had a look at the Ducks on the Lough. Huge numbers but very distant. The Lough was flat calm. That was my third visit this week to Angliham but the Lough was far too choppy to pick anything up on the other days.
Where is Bohaun Mountain Paul?
Paul Troake
troakiebloky
Hi Tom
It's kind of in the middle of nowhere, 14km due west of Cong at grid ref M0055. The snowbs were at approx M009549 where a narrow line of rocks outcropped on the grassy slope. It's not the sort of place anyone would think of looking for birds, which makes me wonder how many could be hiding out in the mountains.
Troakie
Dermot Breen
Well-known member
Had a look out at Angliham yesterday but two boat loads of a-holes scattered everything. Around at least 25 Greater Scaup and may have had the female Lesser Scaup very distantly before they all got up.
Nimmo's relatively quiet, one first-winter Iceland up at Waterside with a nice brown wash to most of the primaries. Mike Davis said its been about with the other first-winter for a week or two now.
Belclare Turlough also fantastic at the moment. Went through all the duck, very surprised there wasn't a Green-winged Teal in there somewhere.
Duck numbers at Rostaff were generally low enough. Counted around 180 Greylags there though. Didn't know there was such a big flock there. I presume most if not all are feral. A few white farmyard types, at least one Greylag x Canada hybrid and a juvenile White-fronted Goose in the flock. Who knows what else could join up with them in the future. I had wild Pink-feet joining feral Greylags in Boora, Co. Offaly on a few occasions.
Dermot
Nimmo's relatively quiet, one first-winter Iceland up at Waterside with a nice brown wash to most of the primaries. Mike Davis said its been about with the other first-winter for a week or two now.
Belclare Turlough also fantastic at the moment. Went through all the duck, very surprised there wasn't a Green-winged Teal in there somewhere.
Duck numbers at Rostaff were generally low enough. Counted around 180 Greylags there though. Didn't know there was such a big flock there. I presume most if not all are feral. A few white farmyard types, at least one Greylag x Canada hybrid and a juvenile White-fronted Goose in the flock. Who knows what else could join up with them in the future. I had wild Pink-feet joining feral Greylags in Boora, Co. Offaly on a few occasions.
Dermot
Neil Sharkey
Active member
Dermot - re Greylags at Rostaff. This is a feral flock that goes between there and Inchiquin on the Corrib-they also fly in regularly to a wetland near me and I am able to see and hear them - most days. In summer they breed around the Corrib.The count of 180 is the highest ever - previous counts have been circa 100 over the last few years. I wonder if they have been joined by some migrating birds? The hybrid birds number about 10 and are a regular feature also. A White Fronted flock of about 40 visit Rostaff regularly also.
Brosnabirder
Well-known member
I was out at Angliham today.
The Ducks were miles away so no luck there.
I did see a wing tagged Hen Harrier which was tagged as a chick in West Clare this year. It flew to within about 30m of me while it was being mobbed by Hoodies. I was able to see the tag colour and read the letter so hopefully I'll get some further details shortly. It was previously reported at the Curraghline this year so it looks like it's staying in the area for the winter. Keep an eye out
The Ducks were miles away so no luck there.
I did see a wing tagged Hen Harrier which was tagged as a chick in West Clare this year. It flew to within about 30m of me while it was being mobbed by Hoodies. I was able to see the tag colour and read the letter so hopefully I'll get some further details shortly. It was previously reported at the Curraghline this year so it looks like it's staying in the area for the winter. Keep an eye out
Brosnabirder
Well-known member
Dermot Breen
Well-known member
Paul Troake
troakiebloky
Thanks Paul. Interesting stuff.
Was hoping it might be a bit closer to Galway
Tom
I'll try and find you a flock on Claddagh beach before the winter's out!
Up by Lough Corrib today near Oughterard had a male blackcap on a nut feeder in a garden, and a chiffchaff nearby which was lacking any obvious green/yellow tones, so perhaps from an eastern population, though not necessarily tristis and it didn't call to give me any clues. Another which I saw briefly out Connemara way recently also seemed to be an eastern bird.
Troakie
birdsgalway
Tom Cuffe
Saturday 6 December, Short outing with Tim Griffin et al[FONT=JCILLN+ArialNarrow,Arial Narrow][FONT=JCILLN+ArialNarrow,Arial Narrow]. at Nimmo’s Pier, 10.30am. [/FONT](Tim is in Florida so I think Brendan Dunne will lead the out[/FONT][FONT=JCILLN+ArialNarrow,Arial Narrow]ing).
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Brosnabirder
Well-known member
2 Great northern Divers between Black Rock and the causeway yesterday and 1 there the day before
Dermot Breen
Well-known member
I had a nice adult male Hen Harrier out on Roundstone Bog last Friday. I was surprised to say the least considering how rare there are west of the Corrib. Ger O'Donnell who has been out here for 10 - 15 years has only ever seen two here. I did a Atlas tetrad in the same area on Wednesday and found out why they are so rare out west. During my hour I counted 3 Wrens, 1 Hooded Crow, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Snipe (not a single Meadow Pipit!). A handful of Red Grouse droppings also. The harrier must surely have been just passing through since there is simply nothing out on the bogs here during the winter to keep one going.
Re. Chiffchaffs I've found the main NUIG grounds a good spot for them in the past, have had up to three there in the past. Often thought it could be a possible spot for a wintering Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest or somethng more exotic from across the water.
Dermot
Re. Chiffchaffs I've found the main NUIG grounds a good spot for them in the past, have had up to three there in the past. Often thought it could be a possible spot for a wintering Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest or somethng more exotic from across the water.
Dermot
Dermot Breen
Well-known member
Inishmore Trip Report (longish)
Trip Report for Inishmore. If anyone can add any species to the bottom list or point out any mistakes I'd be grateful.
A total of 114 species recorded between 7th September and 28th October 2008 on Inishmore. The island got about 19 days coverage between the above dates by thirteen visiting Irish and British birders. This was by far the highest number of coverage days and visiting birders that Inishmore has ever received in an Autumn and this was clearly the reason for such a good collection of records, a lot of whom are a very scarce in Galway.
Sixteen species were recorded for the first time on Inishmore during this time. Eight rarities were also recorded; Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck (15), Hobby, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Rose-coloured Starling and “north-western” Redpoll. The Inishmore list now stands at least 159 species.
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Annotated list of noteworthy records
Irish Rare Bird Committee description species underlined
Abbreviations; IF = Island First.
• Barnacle Goose (IF)
9 heading south, Bun Gabhla, 5th October, DB.
• Gadwall (IF)
Female, Portcowrugh Lough, 6th October, DB.
• Pintail (IF)
Eclipse male, Portcowrugh Lough, 27th September to 5th October, DB.
• Blue-winged Teal (IF)
Female/immature, turlough behind Kilmurvy beach, 10th October, AL & RMo. Only one accepted record for county.
• Shoveler (IF)
One, Portcowrugh Lough, October, PB.
• Ring-necked Duck
15 (11 males & 4 female-types), Portcowrugh Lough, 8th to 10th October, 12 (9 males, 2 adult female & 1 juvenile) remaining until 11th October. One male remaining 17th to 28th October. JG et al. One previous unsubmitted record from the same site on 12th March 2004. There have only been 3 accepted records for the county to date.
• Common Scoter (IF)
Pair in Killeany Bay, 11th October, RV.
• Black-throated Diver
Adult summer, Kilmurvey Bay, 12th October, RV.
• Merlin
One, Trawmore, 4th October, DB.
• Hobby (IF)
Juvenile, Kilmurvey, 5th October and at Creggacareen, 6th October, RV & DB. No accepted records for the county.
• Ringed Plover
c.200, Trawmore, 4th October, DB, JC & TC.
• Knot (IF)
Recorded by the Punkbirders during their visit.
• Sanderling
c.200 recorded by the Punkbirders at Trawmore.
• Semipalmated Sandpiper (IF)
Juvenile, Kilmurvy Beach, 13th September, HD. Only one accepted record of two individuals for Galway.
• Jack Snipe
One, Barr an Phointe Lough, 6th October, four on 9th October, DB & RV.
• Long-billed Dowitcher (IF)
First-winter, Barr an Phointe Lough, 4th to 10th October, DB. The first recorded American wader for the island.
• Grey Phalarope
Nine feeding off Barr an Phointe, 7th September, DB. Two, Killeany Bay, 28th October, HD.
• Arctic Skua
15 off Barr an Phointe, 7th September, DB.
• Pommarine Skua
One pale adult off Barr an Phointe, 7th September, DB.
• Mediterranean Gull (IF)
First-winter, Portcowrugh Lough, 17th October, DC.
• Kittiwake
c.200 (including two colour ringed in Finistère, France), Barr an Phointe, 7th September, DB.
• Sabine’s Gull (IF)
Adult from Aran ferry, 6th October, RV.
• Sandwich Tern
c.100, Barr an Phointe, 7th September, DB.
• Turtle Dove
One, Killeany, 6th October, MB.
Previous records - 9th October 2007, 22nd May 2004 & 6th to 10th October 2000.
• Tree Pipit (IF)
One near Kilmurvy, 6th October, JG.
Only three previous records for Galway.
• White Wagtail
One, Portmurvy, 7th September, DB.
• Yellow Wagtail (IF)
One flying west over “Blackpoll Jungle”, The Seven Churches, 11th October, RV.
• Grey Wagtail (IF)
One, Kilmurvy Wood, 6th to 10th October.
• Whinchat
One on 5th and 7th October, AL & RMa.
• Reed Warbler
Singles seen at Bun Gabhla, Creggacareen and Eochaill on 28th September, DB.
Previous records – 7th October 2007 and 9th October 1999.
• Blackcap
One on 5th and 6th October, PB. Three on 8th October, PB.
• Garden Warbler
About six seen between late September and early October between following sites; Bun Gabhla, Creggacareen, Gort na gCapall, Eochaill and Fearann an Choirce, DB & PB.
Previous records – 5th October 2002 and 14th October 2001.
• Lesser Whitethroat
One, Seven Churches, 5th to 8th October, JG & AL.
Previous records - one on 6th October 2000, 3 7th to 16th October 2000.
• Yellow-browed Warbler
Maximum of seven seen on 7th October. Probably about ten different individuals involved. Seen from Creggancareen to Kilronan.
Previous records – one on 11th October 2003, three on 9th October 2004, one on 11th October 2004, one on 6th October 2007 and nine on 7th October 2007.
• Chiffchaff
High count of 17 on 7th October.
• Spotted Flycatcher
Five individuals seen between late September and early October.
• Pied Flycatcher
One female/first-winter, Eochaill, 28th October, DB.
Previous records - 9th October 2007 and 20th October 2001.
• Red-breasted Flycatcher
First-winter, “Blackpoll Jungle”, Seven Churches, 12th October, DB.
Previous records – 20th October 2001 and 8th October 1999.
• Blue Tit
One, Kilmurvy Wood, 11th October, RV.
• Coal Tit
c.50 present on island on any given day in first and second week of October.
• Rose-coloured Starling
Juvenile, Kilronan, 7th October, DB.
Previous records – August 1837 on “one of the islands of Arran” and one from Kilronan in the early 20th century.
• “north-western” Redpoll IF
One, Creggacareen, 6th to 8th October, JG.
• Siskin
30 on 9th October, PB.
Contributors
Mark Baynes (MB), Punk Birders (PB), Dermot Breen (DB), John Carey (JC), Tom Chadwick (TC), Derek Charles (DC), Hugh Delaney (HD), Aonghus Ó Dónaill (AOD), James Gilroy (JG), Alex Lees (AL), Rob Martin (RMa), Rich Moores (RMo), Paul Troake (PT), Rob Vaughan (RV).
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Complete list of birds recorded on Inishmore from 7th September and 28th October 2008.
Common Name Scientific Name
1 Mute Swan Cygnus olor
2 Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
3 Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
4 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
5 Gadwall Anas strepera
6 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
7 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
8 Northern Pintail Anas acuta
9 Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
10 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
11 Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
12 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
13 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
14 Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata
15 Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica
16 Great Northern Diver Gavia immer
17 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
18 Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
19 Manx Shearwater Puffinis puffinus
20 Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
21 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
22 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
23 Northern Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis
24 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
25 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
26 Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
27 Merlin Falco columbarius
28 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
29 Peregrine Falco peregrinus
30 Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
31 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
32 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
33 Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
34 Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
35 Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
36 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
37 Knot Calidris canutus
38 Sanderling Calidris alba
39 Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
40 Dunlin Calidris alpine
41 Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus
42 Snipe Gallinago gallinago
43 Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
44 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
45 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
46 Curlew Numenius arquata
47 Redshank Tringa tetanus
48 Greenshank Tringa nebularia
49 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
50 Turnstone Arenaria interpres
51 Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius
52 Great Skua Stercorarius skua
53 Pommarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus
54 Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
55 Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
56 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
57 Common Gull Larus canus
58 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
59 Herring Gull Larus argentatus
60 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
61 Sabine’s Gull Xena sabini
62 Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
63 Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
64 Guillemot Uria aalge
65 Razorbill Alca torda
66 Black Guillemot Cepphus grille
67 Rock Dove Columba livia
68 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
69 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
70 Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
71 Skylark Alauda arvensis
72 Swallow Hirundo rustica
73 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
74 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
75 Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus
76 Pied/White Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii & alba
77 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
78 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
79 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
80 Dunnock Prunella modularis
81 Robin Erithacus rubecula
82 Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
83 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
84 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
85 Blackbird Turdus merula
86 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
87 Redwing Turdus iliacus
88 Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
89 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
90 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
91 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
92 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
93 Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
94 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
95 Spotted Flycathcer Muscicapa striata
96 Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
97 Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva
98 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
99 Coal Tit Periparus ater
100 Magpie Pica pica
101 Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
102 Jackdaw Corvus monedula
103 Rook Corvus frugilegus
104 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix
105 Raven Corvus corax
106 Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus
107 Starling Sturnus vulgaris
108 House Sparrow Passer domesticus
109 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
110 “North-western” Redpoll Carduelis flammea rostrata/islandica
111 Siskin Carduelis spinus
112 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
113 Linnet Carduelis cannabina
114 Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus
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Other species recorded on Inishmore in the past.
Common Name Scientific Name
115 Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus
116 Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris
117 Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota
118 Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
119 American Wigeon Anas americana
120 Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis
121 Common Eider Somateria mollissima
122 Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
123 Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca
124 Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
125 White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
126 Coot Fulica atra
127 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
128 Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
129 Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
130 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
131 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
132 Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
133 Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides
134 Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
135 Little Tern Sternula albifrons
136 Common Tern Sterna hirundo
137 Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
138 Long-eared Owl Asio otus
139 Swift Apus apus
140 Wryneck Jynx torquilla
141 Sand Martin Riparia riparia
142 House Martin Delichon urbicum
143 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
144 Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
145 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
146 Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia
147 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
148 Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina
149 Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria
150 Whitethroat Sylvia communis
151 Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix
152 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
153 Great Tit Parus major
154 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
155 Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
156 Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata
157 Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus
158 Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
159 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
Dermot Breen
Trip Report for Inishmore. If anyone can add any species to the bottom list or point out any mistakes I'd be grateful.
A total of 114 species recorded between 7th September and 28th October 2008 on Inishmore. The island got about 19 days coverage between the above dates by thirteen visiting Irish and British birders. This was by far the highest number of coverage days and visiting birders that Inishmore has ever received in an Autumn and this was clearly the reason for such a good collection of records, a lot of whom are a very scarce in Galway.
Sixteen species were recorded for the first time on Inishmore during this time. Eight rarities were also recorded; Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck (15), Hobby, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Rose-coloured Starling and “north-western” Redpoll. The Inishmore list now stands at least 159 species.
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Annotated list of noteworthy records
Irish Rare Bird Committee description species underlined
Abbreviations; IF = Island First.
• Barnacle Goose (IF)
9 heading south, Bun Gabhla, 5th October, DB.
• Gadwall (IF)
Female, Portcowrugh Lough, 6th October, DB.
• Pintail (IF)
Eclipse male, Portcowrugh Lough, 27th September to 5th October, DB.
• Blue-winged Teal (IF)
Female/immature, turlough behind Kilmurvy beach, 10th October, AL & RMo. Only one accepted record for county.
• Shoveler (IF)
One, Portcowrugh Lough, October, PB.
• Ring-necked Duck
15 (11 males & 4 female-types), Portcowrugh Lough, 8th to 10th October, 12 (9 males, 2 adult female & 1 juvenile) remaining until 11th October. One male remaining 17th to 28th October. JG et al. One previous unsubmitted record from the same site on 12th March 2004. There have only been 3 accepted records for the county to date.
• Common Scoter (IF)
Pair in Killeany Bay, 11th October, RV.
• Black-throated Diver
Adult summer, Kilmurvey Bay, 12th October, RV.
• Merlin
One, Trawmore, 4th October, DB.
• Hobby (IF)
Juvenile, Kilmurvey, 5th October and at Creggacareen, 6th October, RV & DB. No accepted records for the county.
• Ringed Plover
c.200, Trawmore, 4th October, DB, JC & TC.
• Knot (IF)
Recorded by the Punkbirders during their visit.
• Sanderling
c.200 recorded by the Punkbirders at Trawmore.
• Semipalmated Sandpiper (IF)
Juvenile, Kilmurvy Beach, 13th September, HD. Only one accepted record of two individuals for Galway.
• Jack Snipe
One, Barr an Phointe Lough, 6th October, four on 9th October, DB & RV.
• Long-billed Dowitcher (IF)
First-winter, Barr an Phointe Lough, 4th to 10th October, DB. The first recorded American wader for the island.
• Grey Phalarope
Nine feeding off Barr an Phointe, 7th September, DB. Two, Killeany Bay, 28th October, HD.
• Arctic Skua
15 off Barr an Phointe, 7th September, DB.
• Pommarine Skua
One pale adult off Barr an Phointe, 7th September, DB.
• Mediterranean Gull (IF)
First-winter, Portcowrugh Lough, 17th October, DC.
• Kittiwake
c.200 (including two colour ringed in Finistère, France), Barr an Phointe, 7th September, DB.
• Sabine’s Gull (IF)
Adult from Aran ferry, 6th October, RV.
• Sandwich Tern
c.100, Barr an Phointe, 7th September, DB.
• Turtle Dove
One, Killeany, 6th October, MB.
Previous records - 9th October 2007, 22nd May 2004 & 6th to 10th October 2000.
• Tree Pipit (IF)
One near Kilmurvy, 6th October, JG.
Only three previous records for Galway.
• White Wagtail
One, Portmurvy, 7th September, DB.
• Yellow Wagtail (IF)
One flying west over “Blackpoll Jungle”, The Seven Churches, 11th October, RV.
• Grey Wagtail (IF)
One, Kilmurvy Wood, 6th to 10th October.
• Whinchat
One on 5th and 7th October, AL & RMa.
• Reed Warbler
Singles seen at Bun Gabhla, Creggacareen and Eochaill on 28th September, DB.
Previous records – 7th October 2007 and 9th October 1999.
• Blackcap
One on 5th and 6th October, PB. Three on 8th October, PB.
• Garden Warbler
About six seen between late September and early October between following sites; Bun Gabhla, Creggacareen, Gort na gCapall, Eochaill and Fearann an Choirce, DB & PB.
Previous records – 5th October 2002 and 14th October 2001.
• Lesser Whitethroat
One, Seven Churches, 5th to 8th October, JG & AL.
Previous records - one on 6th October 2000, 3 7th to 16th October 2000.
• Yellow-browed Warbler
Maximum of seven seen on 7th October. Probably about ten different individuals involved. Seen from Creggancareen to Kilronan.
Previous records – one on 11th October 2003, three on 9th October 2004, one on 11th October 2004, one on 6th October 2007 and nine on 7th October 2007.
• Chiffchaff
High count of 17 on 7th October.
• Spotted Flycatcher
Five individuals seen between late September and early October.
• Pied Flycatcher
One female/first-winter, Eochaill, 28th October, DB.
Previous records - 9th October 2007 and 20th October 2001.
• Red-breasted Flycatcher
First-winter, “Blackpoll Jungle”, Seven Churches, 12th October, DB.
Previous records – 20th October 2001 and 8th October 1999.
• Blue Tit
One, Kilmurvy Wood, 11th October, RV.
• Coal Tit
c.50 present on island on any given day in first and second week of October.
• Rose-coloured Starling
Juvenile, Kilronan, 7th October, DB.
Previous records – August 1837 on “one of the islands of Arran” and one from Kilronan in the early 20th century.
• “north-western” Redpoll IF
One, Creggacareen, 6th to 8th October, JG.
• Siskin
30 on 9th October, PB.
Contributors
Mark Baynes (MB), Punk Birders (PB), Dermot Breen (DB), John Carey (JC), Tom Chadwick (TC), Derek Charles (DC), Hugh Delaney (HD), Aonghus Ó Dónaill (AOD), James Gilroy (JG), Alex Lees (AL), Rob Martin (RMa), Rich Moores (RMo), Paul Troake (PT), Rob Vaughan (RV).
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Complete list of birds recorded on Inishmore from 7th September and 28th October 2008.
Common Name Scientific Name
1 Mute Swan Cygnus olor
2 Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
3 Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
4 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
5 Gadwall Anas strepera
6 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
7 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
8 Northern Pintail Anas acuta
9 Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
10 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
11 Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
12 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
13 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
14 Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata
15 Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica
16 Great Northern Diver Gavia immer
17 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
18 Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
19 Manx Shearwater Puffinis puffinus
20 Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
21 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
22 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
23 Northern Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis
24 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
25 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
26 Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
27 Merlin Falco columbarius
28 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
29 Peregrine Falco peregrinus
30 Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
31 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
32 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
33 Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
34 Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
35 Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
36 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
37 Knot Calidris canutus
38 Sanderling Calidris alba
39 Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
40 Dunlin Calidris alpine
41 Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus
42 Snipe Gallinago gallinago
43 Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
44 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
45 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
46 Curlew Numenius arquata
47 Redshank Tringa tetanus
48 Greenshank Tringa nebularia
49 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
50 Turnstone Arenaria interpres
51 Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius
52 Great Skua Stercorarius skua
53 Pommarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus
54 Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
55 Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
56 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
57 Common Gull Larus canus
58 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
59 Herring Gull Larus argentatus
60 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
61 Sabine’s Gull Xena sabini
62 Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
63 Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
64 Guillemot Uria aalge
65 Razorbill Alca torda
66 Black Guillemot Cepphus grille
67 Rock Dove Columba livia
68 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
69 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
70 Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
71 Skylark Alauda arvensis
72 Swallow Hirundo rustica
73 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
74 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
75 Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus
76 Pied/White Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii & alba
77 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
78 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
79 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
80 Dunnock Prunella modularis
81 Robin Erithacus rubecula
82 Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
83 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
84 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
85 Blackbird Turdus merula
86 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
87 Redwing Turdus iliacus
88 Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
89 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
90 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
91 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
92 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
93 Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
94 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
95 Spotted Flycathcer Muscicapa striata
96 Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
97 Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva
98 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
99 Coal Tit Periparus ater
100 Magpie Pica pica
101 Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
102 Jackdaw Corvus monedula
103 Rook Corvus frugilegus
104 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix
105 Raven Corvus corax
106 Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus
107 Starling Sturnus vulgaris
108 House Sparrow Passer domesticus
109 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
110 “North-western” Redpoll Carduelis flammea rostrata/islandica
111 Siskin Carduelis spinus
112 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
113 Linnet Carduelis cannabina
114 Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus
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Other species recorded on Inishmore in the past.
Common Name Scientific Name
115 Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus
116 Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris
117 Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota
118 Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
119 American Wigeon Anas americana
120 Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis
121 Common Eider Somateria mollissima
122 Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
123 Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca
124 Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
125 White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
126 Coot Fulica atra
127 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
128 Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
129 Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
130 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
131 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
132 Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
133 Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides
134 Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
135 Little Tern Sternula albifrons
136 Common Tern Sterna hirundo
137 Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
138 Long-eared Owl Asio otus
139 Swift Apus apus
140 Wryneck Jynx torquilla
141 Sand Martin Riparia riparia
142 House Martin Delichon urbicum
143 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
144 Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
145 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
146 Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia
147 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
148 Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina
149 Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria
150 Whitethroat Sylvia communis
151 Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix
152 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
153 Great Tit Parus major
154 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
155 Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
156 Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata
157 Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus
158 Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
159 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
Dermot Breen
nialltkeogh
Well-known member
Hi Dermot,
An excellent trip report and list you've compiled there. Any plans to set up a rudimentary Obs on the island in the coming years??
Just looked through your list of species and it seems to be missing Corncrake which is cited as "...relatively common in the Burren and Aran Islands in the 1970's..." in Lysaght, L (2002) An Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Burren and the Aran Islands. Birdwatch Ireland
That makes 160 at least...
Keep up the good work, it has inspired me to make plans for a trip out there in the not to distant future.
See Ya,
Niall
An excellent trip report and list you've compiled there. Any plans to set up a rudimentary Obs on the island in the coming years??
Just looked through your list of species and it seems to be missing Corncrake which is cited as "...relatively common in the Burren and Aran Islands in the 1970's..." in Lysaght, L (2002) An Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Burren and the Aran Islands. Birdwatch Ireland
That makes 160 at least...
Keep up the good work, it has inspired me to make plans for a trip out there in the not to distant future.
See Ya,
Niall
birdsgalway
Tom Cuffe
DEREK CHARLES
Well-known member
Nice one Tom!
Derek
Derek
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