Liz Mc Kenna-28th June

Liz McKenna from Birdwatch Ireland Cavan was on Tory on the 28th June. The only migrant noted was a single Whimbrel in the harbour. Seabirds seem to be having a good breeding season...

Thanks for the photos Liz!

Tory in the distance

Great black-backed Gulls with chicks

Puffins

Fulmars

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)

More east wind predicted...

The weather looks good again for this weekend on Tory with strong easterlies and rain later in the week turning north east over the weekend. Some great birds on the Western Isles in early June including Rustic Bunting and Greater Sandplover.

 http://www.western-isles-wildlife.com/  See recent sightings

There seem to be plenty of Marsh Warblers on the east coast of Britain, and early June would seem like the perfect time for one to turn up on Tory.

Great Grey Shrike  has turned up before on Tory in June, and Black-headed Bunting in July.

I am planning my last spring trip up this sunday.

Chris Ingram 11th June

I had an e mail from Chris Ingram last night, he was on Tory yesterday.

"Just did the short trip today so only covered the West end.  Best birds were a Spotted Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler in the magic bush.  Also from the ferry a Storm Petrel. 41 species + 7 from the ferry, list as follows:

Cormorant, Shag, Gannet, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Eider, Pheasant, Corncrake 3s, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Snipe, Whimbrel, Redshank, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull,Herring Gull,  Great Black Back, Lesser Black Back, Kittiwake, Arctic Tern 2, Little Tern c.20, Rock Dove, Skylark, Swallow, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wheatear, Wren, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, Hooded Crow, Raven, Chough,  Starling, Tree Sparrow.  From the ferry: Storm Petrel 1, Manx Shearwater 3, Fulmar, Puffin, Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Razorbill.

No phalaropes, did look carefully, as I need it for my County list (!), but I think a full day could still turn something up.  I hardly had time to do the west properly. "

Garden Warbler is new for the year and joins a list of scarce birds seen this spring that might normally be associated with Tory in autumn; Redstart, Black Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat and Whinchat

Corncrake update 11th June

I was talking to Anton Meenan today and he has recently counted the calling males on the Island. So far definetly seven birds (possibly eight) 4 east end, 3-4 west end. Compared to 8 possibly nine calling males last year.

Recent photos of Corncrake by Richard Smith

Corncrake

4th June Red-necked Phalarope

Lots of cloud predicted

Light easterly winds

Not much cloud!

Cloud and rain just missed Tory

A pleasent crossing with a few auks;Razorbill

Razorbills and Guillemots. The best a single Storm Petrel

A nice day for a walk

Very few migrants in west town. Just 4 Chiffchaff. No sign of yesterdays 2 Spot Flys

Lots of breeding waders; Oystercatcher

Lapwing chick

Back in west town

Magic Bush in West Town

Someones been spraying the nettles in west town......

Wren trying to avoid a big black cat sitting in the magic bush

Grace's garden. The only migrant a single Whitethroat

Wheatear

Take away delived right to the door

A quiet day..just as I head for the ferry 15 dunlin fly in and with them a nice summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper with Dunlin

Rob vaughan had 2 Red necked Phalarope from the ferry last week close to Inishbofin  Island

Within a minute of scanning the water, hey presto a Red necked Phalarope- probably over looked

Ferry home

Eider with ducklings along the coast

Richard Smith 3rd June

 
Richard Smith and Theo campbell were on Tory today. They had the following;


Manx Shearwater 2
Gt Black Backed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Gull
Black Headed Gull
Puffin
Black Guillemot
Guillemot
Razorbill
Sanderling 11 - 12
Dunlin
Ringed Plover
Golden Plover 2
Snipe
Wheatear (Two different colourations, possibly Greenland variety?)
Rock Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Wren
Tree sparrow
Little Tern 21
Arctic Tern 2
Oystercatcher
Corncrake 3 seen & 4-5 heard. 

We did a walk down to the lighthouse via the western harbour. Walked out to little graveyard. Returned to village via lake and spent most of the time after this around the gardens to the rear of the village.