The adult laughing gull was at Rosscarbery again this afternoon, showing well, out in the middle of the bay, in with a group of cormorants. An adult ring-billed gull was also present there. The female pochard reported yesterday on Kilkeran Lake was back again this afternoon (59).
A grey wagtail at Galley was the only patch year tick of the weekend (70). Elsewhere, the lesser yellowlegs was again at White's Marsh today and an adult laughing gull was reported at Rosscarbery.
Cracking views of the forster's tern fishing up and down the shore at Ballycotton today. This is the first record for Cork so was well worth the twitch. The lesser yellowlegs was still at White's Marsh this afternoon. A female sparrowhawk over at Long Strand this evening was new for the year (57).
Today's I-WeBS count at Kilkeran Lake produced water rail and little egret, which were both patch year ticks (69).
A few redwing over at Galley this morning were new for the patch year list (67). The black-necked grebe re-appeared on Kilkeran Lake yesterday and was still present there this morning. The lesser yellowlegs was at White's Marsh again this afternoon, with a greenshank.
A few guillemots lingering off Galley Head this morning were new for the year (67) and a 1st w mediterranean gull was seen at Long Strand.
7 ring-billed gulls were at Ring today (4 ads, 1 2nd yr & 2 1st yrs) and an adult mediterranean gull was also present. Another adult ring-billed gull and an adult mediterranean gull were at Rosscarbery. A male green-winged teal was at the Red Benches at Clonakilty, and a kingfisher was also seen there. A 1st-w glaucous gull was at Red Strand.
The black-necked grebe was on Kilkeran again this lunchtime, and a turnstone, 2 greenshank and a redshank were at Long Strand.
A turnstone at Long Strand this lunchtime was new for the year (66). Also present was 1 greenshank, 1 redshank and an adult winter mediterranean gull.
The black-necked grebe was on Kilkeran Lake again this morning after a few days absence. Three otters were also showing very well by the bridge this morning.
Had 2 fieldfares over Long Strand this morning and caught up with the wintering greenshank there (64). The wintering lesser yellowlegs was at White's Marsh again this lunchtime.
A few fulmars and razorbills off Galley Head this morning were new for the patch year list, as were mistle thrush & pheasant at Long Strand and goldcrest in Dirk Bay (62). The lesser yellowlegs was showing very well again at White's Marsh this morning, and a black redstart was at Owenahincha.
The 17th annual Great Island Bird Race took place today, with 5 teams lining up for the off at Cobh town pier at 9.00 am. It was a great day for it, sunny & calm although quite chilly. Finding de birds proved tricky enough, however, with a lack of divers and auks in Cork harbour, although finches and waders were perhaps easier than usual.
By 6.00 pm it emerged that our winning team of last year (with just the 1 crew change) had managed to hold the usual victors to a draw with 94 species - best birds of the day were adult yellow-legged gull, 3 ring-billed gulls, slavonian grebe, and brambling.
Carmo - we might have a space for you next year boy, if yer interested?
A cracking male merlin hunting at Long Strand this lunchtime was new for the patch year list (57). This morning 4 great northern divers and 1 red-throated diver were surfing off Long Strand.
Gank day but managed 2 lesser black-backed gulls at Long Strand for the patch year list (56), and an adult w mediterranean gull flew over this morning, heading for the lake.
An adult and 2 1st w mediterranean gulls on Kilkeran Lake this afternoon were new for the patch year list (55). The green-winged teal was also still present there, in with c.40 common teal.
The long-staying lesser yellowlegs was again at White's Marsh this afternoon, showing well. Also 2 greenshank there. The only addition to the patch year list today was a snipe at Kilkeran (53).
Only three new species added to the patch list today; red-throated diver, kittiwake and gannet (52).