Hooded Merganser update

Robert Vaughan and Seamus Feeney were on Tory today. Both Hooded Mergansers still present.  The male is unringed and the female has no ring on one leg. Other leg not seen well enough.

Hooded Merganser

Photo of one of Anton's pair of Hooded Merganser attached. Thanks to Anton and the Scottish birder on the island who managed to get the phtoo to Chris. Male still present but he has not seen the female since the original sighting

Photo to come some tech issues. ..

Chris Ingram and Theo Campbell 14th,15th May

I recieved an email from Chris who was on Tory last weekend

Hi Peter,

Theo and I visited Tory this week on  14th and 15th May and were lucky to get a splendid fall of migrants on the 14th. Conditions were perfect on 14th with east winds and sunshine, however on 15th winds turned to the west with heavy showers. Here is the list:

Great Northern Diver   1 in s.p. from boat over in Tory Sound.
Manx Shearwater  9 from boat on return
Greylag  2 still on north lake
Canada Goose  Micky's goose has teamed up with a Mute Swan
Shelduck  2 off east beach  (island tick!) on 14th
Eider  2 in harbour on 15th
Buzzard  1 on 15th west town
Merlin  1 west town on 14th
Hobby  1 flew from back of west town, over the island and out to sea towards mainland
Corncrake  3/4 singing west town and one seen well
Golden Plover  2 over west town on 15th
Dunlin  c.30 on east beach on 14th and c.30 on west beach on 15th
Black-tailed Godwit  1 on east beach on 14th
Bar-tailed Godwit  1 on east beach on 14th
Whimbrel  2 around the island on 14th
Pomarine Skua 1 seen from boat on 14th as we left Magheroarty
Great Skua  2 over the island on 14th (prospecting?)
Arctic Tern  c.30 at lighthouse on 15th
Little Tern  2 seen by Anton on 14th but none seen on 15th
Collared Dove  2 west town and 12 east town on 14th, 5 west town on 15th
Sand Martin  1 over east lake on 14th
House Martin  1 over west town on 15th
White Wagtail  1 on west beach and one at lighthouse on 14th, 1 west beach on 15th
Whinchat  2m2f west town on 14th
Redstart   female west town on 14th
Song Thrush  1 Anton's east on 14th, 1 west town on 15th
Sedge Warbler  1 in reeds west town on 14th, 1 magic bush on 15th
Whitethroat  3 around island on 14th, 1 west town on 15th
Garden Warbler  1 in tree by hotel on 14th
Blackcap  at least 5 on 14th, female in magic bush on 15th
Wood Warbler  1 in Grace's garden on 14th
Willow Warbler  at least 10 on 14th , c.5 on 15th
Chiffchaff  at least 10 on 14th, c.5 on 15th

Goldcrest  2 on 14th, 1 on 15th
Spotted Flycatcher  5 on 14th

Also a male House Sparrow in Anton's garden 

Chris 

Candidate Thurbergi Yellow Wagtail photos

Attached a selection of Brad Robson's Yellow Wagtail photos  from April

Derek Brennan 9th May

Via Irish Birding...

160 Puffins
1 Peregrine
1 Kestrel
1 Great Skua
10 White Wagtails
45 Swallow
5 Black tailed Godwit
20 Golden Plover
1 Goldfinch
7 Chiffchaff
6 Arctic Tern
4 Little  Tern
6 Corncrake

Paul Lynch 9,10th May

Hi Peter

I made it to Tory but it turned out to be a short visit. I had to work Saturday morning so the early boat was out of the question and this morning I got a couple of hours birding in before the weather closed in. With strong southerly winds I didn't want to take a chance on the last boat not running so I took the 10:30. 

Thanks for your help, my list of sightings is below. I spoke to Anthony and he said to say hello. 

I had a Corncrake calling in Magheroarty in a field near the east car park. A local saw me looking into the field and came down wanting to know why I was photographing the land! Something to do with the NPWS apparently.

Mute Swan

Canada Goose!!

Greylag

Wigeon (one on Lough Ahooey)

Mallard

Tufted Duck

Pheasant

Fulmar

Gannet

Cormorant

Shag

possible Merlin north of West Town, but only got a glimpse

Peregrine

Corncrake, 3 West town and at least two in East town

Oystercatcher

Golden Plover

Lapwing

Ringed plover

Whimbrel12 

Dunlin

Redshank

Snipe

Razorbill

Guillemot

Black-headed Gull

Common Gull

Lesser black-backed Gull

Great black-backed Gull

Herring Gull

Collard Dove

Chough

Hooded Crow

Raven

Skylark

Swallow

Chiffchaff

Wren

Starling

Wheatear

Tree Sparrow

Pied wagtail

White Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

Rock Pipit

Regards Paul

Printed 2014 Tory Bird Report

The printed version of the report is finished and has been sent to Chris to print.  IT should be ready shortly after 12th May.