Spring round up

Well thats me finished for the spring. I did not make it up on sunday after all. My next trip wont be till the middle of August. It seemed like a pretty good spring countrywide. Looking at the records it seems to be one of the best springs on record for rare and scarce birds on Tory. The weather from late march to late May had a strong continental flavour with east and south east winds predominating. Common migrants were in short supply with maximum counts of just 6 Willow Warblers and 6 Chiffchaff and smaller numbers of other warblers and Spotted Flycatchers.Tory had birders on for 14 days during this period and these are the highlights;



Greenland White fronted Goose; 1 on 14th April



Corncrake; Up to 8 birds calling in May

Corncrake (R.Vaughan)

Curlew Sandpiper; One on 4th June

Curlew Sandpiper (P.Phillips)

Red-necked Phalarope; 2 from the ferry off Inishbofin Island on 30th May (R.Vaughan)
                                        
                                            1 off Tory Island on 4th June (P.Phillips)

Red necked Phalarope (P.Phillips)

Ruff ; Male in full breeding plumage on 28th May

Ruff  R.Vaughan

Yellow legged Gull; Adult 27th May to 4th June (R.Vaughan et al)



Short eared Owl; One on 28th May

Short eared Owl (R.Vaughan)

White Wagtail; 1 on 25^th March. 2 on 14^th April. 2 on 16^th April. 12 on 21^st May.

Bluethroat; One red spotted bird from 20th -22nd May (R.Smyth T.Campbell, R. Murray et al) 

Bluethroat P.Philllips

Common Redstart; One on 27th May (C.Ingram W.Farelly et al)

Redstart R.Vaughan

Whinchat; One on 23rd May (C.Ingram R.Sheppard)

Garden Warbler; One on 11th June (C.Ingram)

Lesser Whitethroat; One on 21st May (P.Phillips)

Leser Whitethroat (P.Phillips)

Collared Flycatcher; One on 29th May (R.Vaughan et al)

Collared Flycatcher (P.Phillips)

Mealy Redpoll; One on 23rd May (C.Ingram R. Sheppard)