Theo and Chris 27th-28th April

Here are the sightings of Theo and I for 27th-28th April:

Whooper Swan  1 east lake on 27th

Greylag  at least 2 still

Great Northern Diver  3/4 offshore on 27th

Manx Shearwater  small passage past on 28th

Peregrine  1 on 28th

Corncrake  1 in east, 1 in west

Golden Plover  5 over west town on 27th, 21 in west and 3 over west town on 28th

Dunlin  up to 5 on beach each day

Jack Snipe  2 over bog road on 28th

Snipe  small numbers

Black-tailed Godwit  1 on east beach on 27th,  16 in west on 28th

Whimbrel  1/2 both days

Great Skua  2 offshore on 27th

Black-headed Gull  30 on north lake on 28th

Iceland Gull  1st winter bird still present

Swallow  small fall on 28th

Chiffchaff   2 on 27th

Redwing  3 on 27th

Black Redstart  1 on 27th around school

White Wagtail  up to 5 around island both days

Lapland Bunting  2 in Anton's east garden, present for a few weeks.

The Tormor is in for its annual service and the Whispering Dawn is running from Magheroarty.  It would be advisable to check sailing times as they may vary.

Regards Chris

Robert Vaughan 19th-22nd April

Hi Peter,
a good few days on Tory again from 19-22, not a huge amount in the way
of migration, but some great birds, and some good weather.

Great northern diver- 12+ each day, swell made it difficult to count.
Fumar- Common.
Manx Shearwater- Small numbers passing through out the trip.
Gannet- Good numbers around the island.
Shag-  high count of 40 east end, several more all around the island.
Cormorant- not as numerous as shag.
Whooper Swan- 1 adult each day east end.
Mute Swan- 6 each day.
Brent Goose- 2 West end 19 and 20, 40 east end 22 including 3 ringed
birds, will send on details when I track them down.
Barnacle Goose- 75+ over Inishmore on way out, a flock of 12 or so
most days passed the island.
Shelduck- Male east end 20.
Mallard- 10 each day.
Teal- Roughly 20 each day.
Tufted Duck- 9 each day west end, a pair east end on 21.
Eider- two males and a female each day, 11 on 20, west harbour.
Sparrowhawk- Female on the 20, east end.
Merlin- A pair around the lighthouse most days.
Peregrine- A pair on 19 above west town, a second year east end on 20.
Corncrake- Male east end each day.
Oystercatcher- Common.
Ringed Plover- Common breeder, a flock of 34 flying around harbour 19 and 20.
Golden Plover- Several flocks overhead, on the deck 5 east end 20, 30
west end 21.
Grey Plover- A winter bird with the golden plover on 21.
Lapwing- Common.
Turnstone- 15-20 between the beaches.
Dunlin- Small numbers, no pairs seemed to be holding territory, a
flock of 50 plus by the lake on the lighthouse road on 20.
Whimbrel- less than 10 19 and 20, numbers rose and a few flocks of 30+
21 and 22 over the sea.
Black-tailed Godwit- 4 east end 19 and 20, 35 west end and 1 east end on 21.
Redshank- Common, several birds holding territory.
Snipe- a few big flocks passed over the island on 21 and 22, 2 flocks
of 30 east end plus 20 flushed shortly after.
Arctic Skua- 1 dark phase east end 19.
Great Skua- 2-3 each day except 21.
Black-headed Gull- 10 pairs lighthouse lake, 2 off east end on 22 were unusual.
Kittiwake- Common.
Common Gull- Common.
Iceland Gull- 2nd Cal year each day, same as last month.
Lesser Black-backed Gull- 10-20 each day.
Great Black-backed Gull- 30 most days, mostly adults.
Guilemot- common, several bridled seen, atleast 10 on 20.
Razorbill- Common.
Puffin- Good numbers off-shore, none on the cliffs again.
Black Guillemot- Common.
Woodpigeon- 1 19 and 20.
Turtle Dove- 1 21 and 22.
Skylark- Common.
Swallow- About 10 each day, numbers constant.
House martin- 1 east harbour on 21.
Rock Pipit- Smaller numbers than last month, no sign of any littoralis.
Meadow Pipit- Common.
White Wagtail- Roughly 6 each day, all males.
Pied Wagtail- Roughly 10 each day, all males as with last month.
Wren- Common.
Dunnock- One east end on 20.
Black Redstart- 1 19 and 20, female type.
Stonechat- male east end 20.
Wheatear- Common, plenty of pairs holding territory, a few Greenland
types about also.
Redwing- 20+ most days, several looked good for Icelandic.
Blackcap- female each day east end.
Chiffchaff- 5 on 19, atleast 20 the folowing day, numbers dropping a
little after.
Willow warbler- 1 on 19, 10 the following day and dropping as above.
Goldcrest- 1 east end on 22.
Starling- Common.
Chough- Probably 6, always 2 east and west end, 4 east end on a few occasions.
Ravens- 2 pairs.
Hooded Crow- 11 at a rabbit carcass was a high count.
Tree sparrow- appeared everywhere, no big flocks, hard to estimate.
Chaffinch- Male each day apart from 22.
Linnet- 7 around the lighthouse 20.
Twite- 2 females 21 and 22.
Reed Bunting- 3 males and a female most days.
Snow Bunting- 1 summer male west end each day.
Lapland Bunting- 4 each day, 1 stunning summer male.

Not much else to report, a grey seal off the east end each day and a
bat sp. flying around infront of the pub on the 20.

Corncrake

Twite

Turtle Dove 

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting

Snow Bunting 

Derek Brennan 22nd April

Few shots from today. Not much new about.
Best are...

Lapland bunting 3
Twite 2
Great skua 2
Barnacle goose 6
Brent goose 40 (guess)
Iceland gull 1

Derek.

Turtle Dove 

Lapland Bunting 

Lapland Bunting 

Lapland Bunting 

Lapland Bunting 

Turtle Dove 

Derek Brennan continued..

Turtle dove 1
Merlin 2
Peregrine 2
Chiffchaff 8
Willow Warbler 6
Blackcap 1
Snow bunting 1
Lapland bunting 4
Golden plover 33
Black tailed godwit 32
Grey plover 1
Greylags 12
Great skua 2

21st April Derek Brennan

Derek Brennan found a turtle dove, 2 twite. 4 lapland buntings and the snow bunting still on tory. Nice fall of phylloscs, about 20 each of willow warblers and chiffchaffs. House Martin also

20th April Robert Vaughan

4 lapland buntings. Male snow bunting. Artic skua. Black redstart. 12 white wagtails. 30 whimbrel. 5 golden plover. 1 stonechat

Robert Vaughan

Good day on tory. 4 laplands, black Red,  Iceland gull, bonxie, merlin,2 peregrine, woodpigeon, magpie, plenty of gn divers but nothing rarer yet!