Brad Robson 27th April

From Irishbirding

1 Fieldfare
1 Corncrake
1 Blackcap
8 Chiffchaff
4 Willow Warbler
51 Wheatear
2 Lesser Redpoll
2 Goldfinch
1 Iceland Gull

Chris Ingram and Brad Bobson; 25th to 26th April

I had an email from Chris...


"Here are my sightings for 25th and 26th April and includes Anton's on 24th and Brad's on 26th:

Great Northern Diver 1 on sea off east
Manx Shearwater  2 from boat (BR) on 26th
Gannet
Fulmar
Cormorant
Shag
Mute Swan
Whooper Swan  3 on west lake
Greylag  8 in east
PB Brent Goose  2 on west lake
Teal  1 on east lake
Green-winged Teal  1 on east lake (CI BR)
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Eider  4 in harbour 25th/26th
Peregrine  1 on 25th (CI) 2 on 26th (BR)
Merlin  1 on 25th (CI)  1 on 26th (BR)
Pheasant  2 pairs
Oystercatcher  65 roosting at west lake on 2Turnstone5th
Ringed Plover
Golden Plover  7 on 24th (AM)  3 on 25th and 2 on 26th
Lapwing
Purple Sandpiper  1 on beach 26th
Dunlin  7 on beach 25th 4 on 26th
Snipe
Whimbrel  1 on 25th  5 on 26th
Redshank
Common Sandpiper 2-  ! on 26th (BR) and 1 on beach 26th (CI)
Black-headed Gull  6 on 24th (AM)  2 on 25th (CI)
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Iceland Gull  1st year bird still present in east on 26th
Great Black Back
Kittiwake  c.20 roosting on west lake and breeding on east cliffs
Razorbill
Black Guillemot  c.15 on sea in east
Puffin  large numbers off east
Rock Dove
Skylark
Swallow
Meadow Pipit  1 noted with nest material
Rock Pipit
Pied Wagtail
White Wagtail  c.20 on 25th c.10 on 26th
Wren
Wheatear a fall on night of 25th with in excess of 65 birds on 26th
Ring Ouzel  male near lighthouse on 24th (AM)
Fieldfare  1 on 26th (BR)
Song Thrush  2 on 26th (BR)
Garden Warbler  c.3 on both days
Chiffchaff  c.5 both days
Willow Warbler  up to 10 both days
Chough
Hooded Crow
Raven
Starling
Tree Sparrow
Linnet  1 on 26th
Goldfinch  1 on 26th
Snow Bunting  spring male on 24th (AM) and 26th (BR)
Reed Bunting  1 around Anton's garden

61 species, and I rounded it off with a Swift on the way home!"

Regards Chris

Anton Meenan ;18th April

Some recent sightings from Tory;

Twite 5
Linnet 6
Goldfinch 4
Chough 5-6 (showing signs of breeding)
Stonechat 1 (possibly overwintered)
Swallow 3
Collared Dove 1 on 17th
Merlin 1 over wintered
Sparrowhawk 1
150-200 Grey Geese flying north (probably Greylag)
5-6 pairs of Starlings attempting to nest.
1 Pheasant egg predated by Hooded Crows

Chris Ingram 17th April

Chris was on Tory last thursday..

I went over to Tory on Thursday to leave some reports for Jacqui to sell at the shop. Owing to tides and a late departure I only had just over 2 hours on the island.  List as follows:

Great Northern Diver  2 in Magheroarty harbour.
Mute Swan  2 on east lake
Mallard
Pintail  a drake on east lake
Tufted Duck
Eider   one at Magheroarty and 3 offshore Tory
Gannet
Fulmar
Manx Shearwater  2 from ferry
Shag
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Lapwing
Redshank
Turnstone
Arctic Skua  pale phase bird from ferry
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black Back
Iceland Gull  1st year bird on east lake
Kittiwake passage of birds on return crossing
Razorbill few from ferry
Rock Dove
Rock Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Blackcap  1 in Anton's  (AM)
Chiffchaff   1 by cemetery
Chough
Hooded Crow
Raven
Starling
Reed Bunting  1 in Anton's
Tree Sparrow

The ferry goes to Killybegs for its annual overhaul just after Easter so the Whispering Dawn will be in service and departure times will very from normal.

Chris

Anton Meenan-1st April

I had an update on the bird news from Tory. Good numbers of Greylag Geese, Whooper Swans and Redwings moving north over the last week or so. One of the two Glaucous Gulls still remains. A Song Thrush has been in song since february..unheard of on Tory. Wheatear were early this year with the first bird on 11th March and 4 birds present on 28th March.A couple of Robins overwintered and a pair are present in Grace's Garden. The Tree Sparrows are back on the island, with up to 13 birds present but a migrating Merlin has taken a couple and at least one of the 3 resident Reed Bunting. A few Chiffchaffs moving through and the best a male Black Redstart on Anton's lawn this morning.