they all count!

Three scaup on Kilkeran Lake today were a much needed addition to the patch year list (135).  Not much else doing though.

sneaky seawatch

A 1st winter little gull past Galley this afternoon was a patch tick and could prove vital for de year list challenge (134).  A manx shearwater and a sooty shearwater were also seen. The 1st and 2nd w mediterranean gulls were at Long Strand again today, with a greenshank also there.

hammer time!

Two yellowhammers at Shite Lane this morning was only the 2nd patch record this year - with 2 more or the same birds seen out towards the lighthouse. At least 12 reed buntings were also knocking about, with 3 blackcaps, 1 reed warbler, 1 fieldfare, 2 redwings and lots of goldcrests also seen.  The lesser yellowlegs was seen again at Rosscarbery today.

not much doing

Still quiet at Galley today although 8 redwing, 6 chiffchaffs, 1 willow warbler, 1 blackcap, 1 whinchat, 1 black redstart and several goldcrests were knocking about.  An arctic skua was off Galley this evening and 2 mediterranean gulls (1st & 2nd winter) were at Long Strand.

sat'day seawatch

A seawatch off Galley late morning had 1 juvenile long-tailed skua, 4 pomarine skuas, 12 arctic skuas, 7 bonxies, 2 little auks, 3 leach's petrels, 6 sooty shearwaters, 1 grey phalarope and a velvet scoter.  This evening 1 bonxie, 4 sooty shearwaters and 2 great shearwaters were seen.

hermit thrush oml!

Cracking views of the hermit thrush on cape clear today, courtesy of de langer - what a find - cheers fella!! Numbers of common migs had dropped a good bit from monday's visit but still managed whinchat, blackcap, pied flycatcher, a good few chiffchaffs and a yellow-browed warbler.  It's been quite a week!!

bits 'n' bobs

A male ring ouzel and a male blackcap were at the lighthouse this morning with a black redstart nearby. A few chiffchaffs and goldcrests were at Shite Lane, with a female ring ouzel in the fields nearby.  The lesser yellowlegs was seen again at Rosscarbery this morning, with a yellow-legged gull also there.

The izzy, the sweeney etc etc

A few more signs of migration this morning at Galley - a short-eared owl was flushed from the stubble fields, and a male ring ouzel was also knocking about - both new for the year (133).  Also present were 3 blackcaps, 4 chiffchaffs, 1 black redstart and a few goldcrests. Another male ring ouzel was seen in Dirk Bay this evening, with a whinchat at Long Strand.

 

However, this was all overshadowed by the news of Ireland's second isabelline shrike at the Old Head of Kinsale, with a juvenile woodchat shrike - both birds showing really well this afternoon.  The lesser yellowlegs was also still present at Rosscarbery.

carmo's gonna kill me!

Well it had to be done! Finally went to Cape for the baltimore oriole this morning, and got good but brief views of it mid morning.  Also caught up with the cracking male red-breasted flycatcher and a juvenile red-backed shrike, with a flyover red-throated pipit too! So now just 5 behind ya carmo!!

rare waders hit Ross

No birds at Galley again today but a juvenile american golden plover and the lesser yellowlegs at Rosscarbery were very nice! A ruff was also there.

an unsatisfactory find

Galley remained quiet today with the best bird being a richard's pipit which flushed 4 times before disappearing (131).  An unsatisfactory find which couldn't be relocated.

back to earth

Normal service resumed at Galley this morning, with a pied flycatcher and 2 chiffchaffs at Shite Lane, while a spotted flycatcher, 7 chiffchaffs, 2 house martins and loads of goldcrests were in Dirk Bay. A 2nd winter mediterranean gull was on the beach at Long Strand. A yellow browed warbler was reported in Dirk Bay this afternoon.

rev it up, canada here I come!!

Found myself in Kilbaha this afternoon for two cracking ticks.  The CANADA WARBLER was amazing, giving great views on and off all afternoon - truly fabtastic! The red-eyed vireo was a bit more of a sweat but eventually I got great views. Another highlight was telling Britain's Greatest Birder to SSHHHH whilst waiting for views of the vireo. He was demonstrating his fieldcraft skills by yarning on loudly right where the bird was - some people!

just fresh in

A seawatch off Galley this am had 2 great shearwaters, 15 sooty shearwaters, 10 manx shearwaters, 2 bonxies and 1 arctic skua.  A reed warbler was at Long Strand this lunchtime.  Once the rain cleared this afternoon 6 chiffchaffs, 1 spotted flycatcher, 2 whinchats, 1 redstart and 2 black redstarts were knocking about on Galley, with the latter new for the year (130).

(just a) goldie

A golden plover over Galley this morning and a green sandpiper at Long Strand this evening were both new for the year (129), while 1 willow warbler, 1 chiffchaff and c.12 goldcrests were at Shite Lane.  A blackcap and a chiffchaff were in Dirk Bay. A 1st w mediterannean gull was on Kilkeran Lake this lunchtime, and 2 more mediterranean gulls were at Rosscarbery.

its oh, so quiet

The pied flycatcher was still at Shite Lane this morning, with a willow warbler and a chiffchaff.  One wheatear was also seen at Galley.

more migs

Two blackcaps and 2 chiffchaffs were new in at Dirk Bay this morning, with 2 whimbrel also there.  A 2nd winter mediterranean gull was at Long Strand.