Anton Meenan; Late April/Early May

I rang Anton to see if he had any bird news. He reports the following over the last few days...

5 Corncrake (3 West Town/2 East End)
2 Goldfinch in the garden
1 Linnet in the garden
1 Greylag Goose
4 Brent Geese
Up to 8 Whimbrel daily for the last couple of weeks
c30 White Wagtails in early May near his brothers garden
2 Blackcap
2-3 Redwing still hanging around
Pair of Peregrines still present

c20th April a large fall of Phyllocs 100+ birds present and a Goldcrest

Derek Brennan; 6th May

From Irish Birding.....

Purple Sandpiper 2
Puffin 8
Little Tern 2
Buzzard 1
Corncrake 2 calling.
Iceland Gull 1

19th April; Chris Ingram

I recieved an e mail from Chris who was on Tory for the day yesterday

'I did the crossing from Magheroarty so only did the West.  The Northern Eider was a lone male in the harbour.  Here is the list:

In Magheroarty Bay was a Great Northern Diver and 5 Eiders. A female Kestrel flew in and there were 4 White Wagtails around the beach.  On the crossings were a few Puffins and Razorbills with good numbers of Kittiwakes and on the return to Magheroarty was another Great Northern Diver and a flock of 7 Common Terns.
39 species were seen on Tory, here is the list:

Fulmar   offshore
Gannet   offshore
Shag   19 on rocks by harbour, all but one juveniles.  Others offshore
Mute Swan   1 on nth lake and another on the sea from north of island
Teal   3 on nth lake
Mallard  14 on lakes and marsh
Tufted Duck  5
Eider  5 offshore and a single  'borealis' male in harbour
Buzzard  1
Kestrel  1 female
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Lapwing  c.10
Snipe  1 on marsh
Redshank
Turnstone  c.10 on beach
Black-headed Gull  6 on nth lake

Common Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black Back

Kittiwake   offshore
Razorbill   offshore
Guillemot   offshore
Rock Dove
Skylark  3/4
Swallow  c.10
Meadow Pipit  2/3
Rock Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Robin  1
Wheatear  c.10
Redwing  6+
Chiffchaff   2 - 1 normal /1 grey bird (possible tristris)
Chough  1 pair
Hooded Crow
Raven
Starling
Tree Sparrow  1 by magic bush, 6 by Anton's garden
Goldfinch   3

The 'Tormor' is out of service for about 10 days on Monday so the 'Whispering Dawn' will operate the service.'

17th April; Anton Meenan

I rang Anton to see what birds were still about. He reported a pair of Brambling coming to his feeder in the garden for the last few days. The Coal Tit is still present. A single Blackbird and 3 Redwing remain. There are two pairs of Reed Bunting in and around the garden also.

The small boat is currently ferrying passangers to and from the island. The big boat will be going for maintenance work in the next week or two and will be out of service for about a week. Its advised to ring the ferry company for up to date information if travelling over the next few weeks.

Antons Photos September 2012-April 2013

Last autumn I gave Anton my old Canan powershot camera to take a few phots of any birds he might come across on his travels around Tory

Greylag Geese

Blackbird

Robin

Dunnock

Redpoll 28th September

Chiffchaff

Chough

2 Coal Tits

Meadow Pipit

Juvenile Storm Petrel

Whooper Swans landing on the cliffs during as storm

Juvenile Storm Petrel

Tim Murphy with Waxwings

Waxwings

13th April; Anton Meenan

I rang Anton today to see if anything was about. He reported the following

1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit,3 Reed Bunting in and around the garden on the 13th. The Buzzard and Peregrine are still present. All of the Blackbirds seem to have departed on the southerly wind but at least 2 Redwing remain. The two Greylag Geese remain at the east end.

Goldcrest and Coal Tit are new for the year.

9th April:Gerards Photos

We found some feathers from a Sparrowhawk kill at the east end. Ger took a few photos and posted them on Bird Forum. Turns out they belonged to a Water Rail, which is new for the year.

Chiffchaff

Purple Sandpier and Turnstone

Chiffchaff