Sharp-tailed Sandpiper! Delighted to finally see my 350th species in Ireland. Had excellent views of this adult at Clogheen Marsh, Co. Cork this evening.
@BirdGuides
The best bird I’ve seen in Ireland. The Common Nighthawk showed extremely well from 19:00-19:20 at Galgorm, Co. Antrim. 40 twitchers connected this evening. Top top day with John Cusack Mark Stewart and Tom McEntee especially after connecting with Baltimore Oriole earlier.
Can’t believe it!! Absolutely delighted to have identified Irelands third Black-winged Pratincole at Blanket Nook, Donegal with
@Victor_Caschera
after it was found yesterday by Chris Ingram. The first in Ireland since 1974.
@BirdGuides
BAROLO SHEARWATER west past the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare @ 10:05 this morning. Found and pics by the legend
@nialltkeogh
! It is impossible not to turn to jelly when “Little Shear” is called. One or two deep breaths and I was on it!! Sensational stuff. Thanks Niall!
@BirdGuides
An outrageous day on Inishmore, Galway. Pied-billed Grebe, Bufflehead, American White-winged Scoter and American Wigeon. Quality winter birding!
@BirdGuides
On the way to Mayo yesterday a Pine Marten ran in front of the car somewhere just west of Sligo. Remarkably this was my 7th Pine Marten in the last 12 months. Pic from last August in Longford.
I arrived in Dublin Airport yesterday evening to the news of the first Yellow-crowned Night Heron for Ireland in Belcarra, Co. Mayo. This morning, we were treated to crippling views of this ultra rare vagrant from North America.
@BirdGuides
Shots of the Egyptian Vulture from Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal last Wednesday the 14th of July. The first record for Ireland and the same bird seen a month previously on the Isles of Scilly.
IT’S STILL HERE!!! Egyptian Vulture again!!! Amazing pickup by
@agk10k
after it was relocated today by Conor Henry. Near Funshinagh Lough, Roscommon.
@BirdGuides
The first Isabelline Wheatear in Ireland for 30 years showed well shortly after sunrise this morning on Toe Head, Co. Cork. 2nd Irish record.
@BirdGuides
@IRSBG1
I finally connected with the Hooded Merganser on my second attempt near Newport, Co. Mayo. It looks totally mega in amongst the Teal and Wigeon…
@BirdGuides
@IRSBG1
Top class! Elusive Baltimore Oriole showing on and off in the same garden as the Red-eyed Vireo in Kilbaha, Co. Clare. 6th record for Ireland and 1st for Clare.
@BirdGuides
South Polar Skua west past the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare yesterday evening at 17:23. Despite being convinced of the ID we ran it past KMullarney, DLVelasco and NTKeogh who were all in agreement with the ID. Picked up first by Ger Murray. 1st land based Irish record.
@BirdGuides
This is insanity!!! Just found a third BAROLO SHEARWATER!!! Picked it up head on, middle of the bay, which gave every observer present amble time to pick it up. Phenomenal prolonged views.
@BirdGuides
The Least Tern has returned for another summer at Portrane Strand, Co. Dublin with the Little Tern colony. Still the only Irish record to date. Very vocal and showing well all morning.
@BirdGuides
I was pleasantly surprised to see that the small flock of 5 Ring-necked Ducks on Lough Gara, Sligo had increased to 9 when I checked it yesterday afternoon!
Can’t bloody believe it. Just found the 13th Savi’s Warbler for Ireland in a tiny reedbed on the Louth/Monaghan border. Reeling away constantly. Will upload recordings later.
@BirdGuides
@LouthBirdNews
Absolutely fucking delighted!!! Found this quality drake Lesser Scaup and a Ring-necked Duck on Round Lough, near Belturbet, Co. Cavan this afternoon.
@BirdGuides
Red-necked Stint!!! 6th Irish and 3rd site record. A super find by Paul Moore and Dennis O’ Sullivan at Ballycotton, Co. Cork. I had only reminded the lads earlier that it was 11 years since their Bulwer’s Petrel. Keep the 1st of August free next year too…thanks lads.
adult Greater Yellowlegs showing very well at Carton House, Co. Kildare. Such a good record. Nine Wilson’s Storm Petrels off Cape Clear, Co. Cork earlier made for a decent year listing day.
@BirdGuides
For some reason
@cianbirder
has been the target of bullying again. Cian is the sharpest birder I know and one of the best bird-finders in the country. Here’s some of the best birds he’s found me:
Another BAROLO!!! Absolutely insane stuff. The Bridges of Ross is on fire 🔥 This time found by Noel Keogh. Some stills from a short bit of video I managed.
Upland Sandpiper on Inishbofin, Co. Galway today, last seen at 11:30. Super flight views and decent but brief on the deck views and yes, that is it on a telephone wire! Amazing call! 😍
@BirdGuides
Montagu’s Harrier from Portmore Lough, Co. Antrim. A real bogey bird for me and very difficult to connect with in Ireland in the last decade. Double tick weekend with the Black-eared Wheatear yesterday!
@BirdGuides
@nibirds
Twitching Irish style! Ireland’s first American White-winged Scoter showing very well on Achill Island, Mayo all day.
@Johnq_zak
and myself had it all to ourselves with the finder Pat Lonergan. Managed to scrape 270 for the year list by the skin of my teeth!
@BirdGuides
@IRSBG1
Güldenstädt's Redstart at almost 3100m above Khinaliq, Azerbaijan. Pretty surreal to be watching a pair of these just below the snow-line, on some of the highest peaks of the Caucasus Mountains, with a chorus of Caucasian Snowcock in the background. Magical stuff.
Turtle Dove from Annestown, Co. Waterford last Friday evening, 3rd of June. They are becoming a very tricky species to catch up with in Ireland.
@BirdGuides
One of the most impressive birds I’ve ever seen. This second-winter Golden Eagle spent a few days in Slieve Beagh, Co. Monaghan at the end of April. I would love to know where this bird came from.
Western Subalpine Warbler from Slade Lane, Hook Head, Wexford this evening. A brilliant find by Gerry Lyons. A new species for me in Ireland!
@BirdGuides
Rustic Bunting from near Bangor, Co. Down. Only the second record for Northern Ireland. Hard to believe this should be wintering in eastern China! Thanks
@nibirds
for sorting access.
Quality morning. Myself and Danny Ballard found this Western Bonelli’s Warbler near Three Castles, Mizen. Came down hoping for a self-found Wryneck, but this will have to do 😜
@BirdGuides
A two tick morning on Brownstown Head, Co. Waterford. I refound the Paddyfield Warbler before sunrise and the Black-headed Bunting gave itself up all day! A ridiculous double! Those Waterford lads are on fire!! 🔥
@BrownstownBirds
@Watbirder1
@BirdGuides
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler from Howth Head, Co. Dublin. Only the 5th record for Ireland and the first for Dublin. Top quality Irish tick for a lot of people today!
@BirdGuides
Andalusian Hemipode from near Sidi Abed, El Jadida. A tiny population is clinging on by a thread in the crop fields on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. This is such a mythical species in the Western Palearctic!
@BirdGuides
@dutchbirding
@TwoInTheHand1
Never been so relieved to get eyes on a bird! Short-billed Dowitcher showing well just west of Soldier’s Point on the Navvy Bank, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
@BirdGuides
Two gorgeous juvenile Long-eared Owls which are due for release shortly after being saved by Peter Phillips. Male on the left with the whiter ‘nose’ and female on the right with the darker ‘nose’
@LouthBirdNews
The Savi’s Warbler has completely given itself up over the last two evenings, showing continuously after about 7pm at Stonetown, Co. Louth. It still feels completely surreal listening to a reeling Savi’s on my patch! Let’s hope it stays a little while longer…
@BirdGuides
What an absolute f*cking stunner!!!! Found this adult Caspian Gull on Clay Lake, Keady, Co. Armagh this evening. Needless to say it was an adrenaline filled few moments when I picked it up first! First record for County Armagh. I’ve been working near Keady in recent days...
Day 6 in Azerbaijan: I’ve had worse days! Lammergeier, Güldenstädt’s Redstart, Caucasian Snowcock, Wallcreepers, White-winged Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor, Red-fronted Serin, Cinereous Vulture and Semicollared Flycatcher made for a brilliant day.
It’s finally happened!! Black-and-white Warbler has fallen for Irish twitchers for the first time. An exceptional find by Jim Dowdall on Inishbofin, Co. Galway! Not seen after 09:45am despite extensive searching
@BirdGuides
One of the best birding moments I’ve had. After nearly 12 hours of not being seen, I picked up the Bittern on the deck at the East End Pond, Tacumshin. What a buzz!!! BMcCloskey, CCardiff, JFDowdall, PKelly & GO’Sullivan.
@BirdGuides
Ferruginous Duck a long awaited Irish tick! A wonderful find by David Knight. It showed well with the Pochard flock on Ballysaggart Lough, Co. Tyrone.
@BirdGuides
@nibirds
Year list update:
244 species to end of August. Four more than I had expected to be at this point at the start of the year with still a few ‘easier’ species to hopefully see during September. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Citrine Wagtail the obvious highlights of the month.
North American passerines are what every birder wants in October. Out of the seven species recorded so far in Ireland this month, I have been lucky enough to see four of them. Alder Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Myrtle Warbler and Baltimore Oriole.
Nice views of this Elegant Tern last night at Lady’s Island Lake, Co. Wexford. Only my second time seeing this species after the Kerry bird in 2013. Seventh record for Ireland
@BirdGuides
One of my favourite finds to date! Found this 1w female Lesser Scaup on Monalty Lough, Carrickmacross late this evening. The first record for Co. Monaghan!
@BirdGuides
Well that’s the year list done. What an incredible year for rarities in Ireland. I managed to just about hit my target of 270 species with yesterday’s White-winged Scoter. Bird of the year for me is Bittern. Happy New Year all.
American waders number three and four for the year list. White-rumped Sandpiper and American Golden Plover both at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford last Friday, 3rd of June.
@BirdGuides
FEA’S PETREL just gone west past Galley Head, Co. Cork @ 12:35pm. Super find by
@agk10k
(white cap) Bird was well out in poor light but thankfully I managed to get on it fairly quickly. That Pterodroma arch!!!😍