Brambling

At Loop Head today there were two Bramblings, one male Crossbill, one male Hen Harrier, one Peregrine, one first-winter Mediterranean Gull, one adult Arctic Tern, 23 Lapwings, four Chough and one Chiffchaff.

Off the Bridges of Ross there were 1,000 plus Kittiwakes, 500 auks including two Puffins, one Red-throated Diver, six Wigeon, one Purple Sandpiper and one female Pochard.


John N Murphy & Brian Finnegan

 Brambling at Walshes Farm, Kilbaha © John N Murphy

Raven hovers over Ross beach © John N Murphy

Mediterranean Gull on the rocks in Kilbaha © John N Murphy

Black Redstart

Today Tuesday 1st November sees after a night of South East winds, the first Black Redstart of the autumn at Loop Head.  Tony Mee has been on the peninsula for the past few days over the Bank Holiday weekend, but things have been dead.  So far he managed to dig out three Merlin, a late staying Swallow (31/10/11), one Chiffchaff and now a Black Redstart.  Little return for many hours of flogging the Loop.  We feel your pain Tony.

John N Murphy

Black Redstart © John N Murphy

Late staying Willow Warbler

At Kilbaha today there were five Pomarine Skuas chasing Kittiwakes and other gulls around the harbour and bay. One adult Sabine’s Gull was seen far out in the Bay feeding with a flock of approximately 300 Kittiwakes.  One juvenile Arctic Tern also came into the harbour.   One late staying Willow Warbler was in the New Zealand sea flax around the harbor,  along with one Chiffchaff, one Siskin, a Sparrowhawk, one Peregrine, six Snipe and four Ravens. A flock of 70 Lapwing were in adjacent fields next to Ross Bay.

John N Murphy, Jeff Copner & Howard Williams.

 Willow Warbler © John N Murphy

Pomarine Skua chasing Kittiwake in Kilbaha Bay © John N Murphy

More October Seawatching

At the Bridges of Ross today between 08.30 to 15.30, there were 45 Pomarine Skuas, two Arctic Skuas, one Great Skua, 61 Grey Phalaropes, eight Sooty Shearwaters, seven Manx Shearwaters, four Storm Petrels, ten plus Arctic Terns, one Puffin, four Red-throated Divers and two Great Northern Divers.

Paul Troake & Geoff Pearson.

The Twisted Rocks at the Bridges of Ross © John N Murphy

Merlin on the headland

At Loop Head today 16th October 2011, there was one immature Merlin at the Lighthouse, one Chiffchaff was in the Gardens at Kilbaha, two Pomarine Skuas and 3 Barnalce Geese were in Kilbaha bay along with ten Arctic Terns.

Dave McNamara

Immature Merlin at Loop Head © John N Murphy

Not much happening

At Loop Head today there was one Snow Bunting at Kilbaha, four Wheatears on the headland, 26 Snipe, one Peregrine, two Sparrowhawks, two Ketrels, ten Chough, two Chiffchaffs and one Willow Warbler.

There were also five Red Admirals.


John N Murphy

Peregrine at the Fodry © John N Murphy

Corvids Build Up

At Loop Head today there were three Pomarine Skuas (one off the head & two in the Kilbaha Bay).  There were also two Lapland Buntings, one Snow Bunting, one male Blackcap, two Wheatears, 22 Skylarks, 200 Meadow Pipits, 40 Rock Doves, 30 Chough, 34 Golden Plovers, one Red-throated Diver and a mixed flock of 300 corvids mainly Rooks and Jackdaws flying around the lighthouse.

John N Murphy & Floss Gibson.

Seabirds still migrating

Second-summer Pomarine Skua passing Fodry Point © John N Murphy

At Loop Head today 11th October 2011, there was one Snow Bunting at the Fodry, a flock of 400 Gannets were feeding off the tip of Loop Head Lighthouse, 27 Snipe and 34 Golden Plovers were in open ground around the lighthouse along with 12 Chough.  One Wheatear was in the harbour with another at fields near the Bridges of Ross along with 46 Golden Plover. Seven Swallows were in Kilbaha. One Whimbrel was at Horse Island.

A one hour seawatch (10.30-11.30) off Fodry Point there were seven Pomarine Skuas, seven Arctic Skuas, one Leach’s Petrel which was taken by a Peregrine out to sea, one Red-throated Diver and four Great Northern Divers.

A one hour seawatch this evening (17.00-18.00) off the Bridges of Ross produced three Long-tailed Skuas (two adults and one 2nd-cal bird), 15 Arctic Skuas, 11 Pomarine Skuas, seven Bonxies, five Leaches Petrels, one Storm Petrel, three Sooty Shearwaters, six Manx Shearwaters, two Great Northern Divers and one Red-throated Diver.
Mammals & Insects

Irish Hare near the tip of Loop Head © John N Murphy

There were hundreds of Drinker Moth caterpillars throughout the headland, 26 Irish Hares, two Speckled Wood Butterflies, one Peacock Butterfly and one Grey Seal was off Fodry Point.

John N Murphy.

More Seabirds

There are still some seabirds lingering off the Bridges.  Today a half hour seawatch off the Bridges of Ross produced two Pomarine Skuas, three Bonxies, five Sooty Shearwaters and ten Manx Shearwaters.

One Snow Bunting was in Kilbaha.

Dave McNamara

Snow Bunting © John N Murphy

Pomarine Skua Kilbaha

At Loop Head today 8th October 2011, there were eight Snow Buntings (one immature/female on the Horse Island Road, one male near the parking area at Fodry, one on Fodry Hill and five at the tip of Fodry Point). One juvenile Pomarine Skua was in Kilbaha Harbour. On the headland there was one male Merlin, 40 Snipe, one Wheatear, ten Swallows.  One Grey Phalarope was off the Fodry Point along with three juvenile Bonxies and 16 Brent Geese.

John N Murphy

Pomarine Skua © John N Murphy

 Snow Bunting © John N Murphy

Pomarine Skuas

At Loop Head today there were two Snow Buntings, one Chiffchaff, two Ruff at Cloghaun Lough, ten Swallows, three Wheatears and 70 Golden Plover. Between the Bridges of Ross and Fodry Point there were one juvenile Sabine's Gull, 37 Pomarine Skuas, ten Arctic Skuas, ten Bonxies, two Grey Phalaropes, one Red-breasted Merganser, one Great Northern Diver and two Red-Throated Divers.

John N Murphy & Jeff Copner

 Pomarine Skua adult off the Bridges of Ross © John N Murphy

 Snow Buntings at Loop Head © John N Murphy

Chiffchaff in Kilbaha  © John N Murphy

October Seawatch

Bridges of Ross 6th October 2011


Weather: Strong North-west Force:6-7
Observers: Killian Mullarney, Brian Porter, Paul Archer, Paul Troake & Geoff Pearson.


Sooty Shearwaters: 10
Leach’s Petrels: 10
Storm Petrels: 20
Pomarine Skuas: 40
Arctic Skuas: 14
Bonxies: 27
Long-tailed Skua: one juvenile
Sabine’s Gulls: 7 juveniles
Grey Phalaropes: 25
Gannet: 1400
Auk species: 1600
Great Northern Diver: 8
Arctic Tern: 150
Snipe: 1
Brent Geese: 11
Common Scoter: 6

Snow Bunting

Today at Loop Head the highlights were one Snow Bunting and a flock of 34 Chough.

Dave McNamara.

Garden Warbler

A small scattering of migrants arrived at Loop Head today 1st October.  There were flocks of Chaffinches, corvids were building up on the headland with a mixed flock of 300 Hooded Crows, Rooks and Jackdaw on the road to the lighthouse.  Throughout the rest of the headland there was one Garden Warbler, four Lapland Buntings, six Chiffchaff, one Willow Warbler, ten Wheatears, 16 Chough, two Raven, one Peregrine, one Merlin and one dark-phased Arctic Skua in Kilbaha Bay.

Reed Warbler

After yesterdays strong winds a bird showed up at the Lighthouse this morning.  Dave McNamara came across this Reed Warbler skulking around the walls of the lighthouse garden and buildings.  Something has arrived on Loop at last.

Reed Warbler © Dave McNamara

All's Quiet

Wheatear © John N Murphy

On what looked like a promising day for the Loop, three of us braved the strong southerly winds to check the headland for a lost European vagrant, But to no avail.  The headland had about 200 Meadow Pipits and six Wheatears near the light, but these were being harassed by a Peregrine.  Down the Fodry there were two Lapland Buntings and a flock of 18 Skylarks.  A small male Merlin was hunting this area and flushed a flock of 30 Golden Plover that flew off towards the tip of the light.  No birds of interest were in the gardens. A large mixed flock of Sparrows, Linnets and Chaffinches were feeding on Fat hen behind Peter Gibson's Cattle Sheds.  With these there was one Tree Sparrow.  The Harbour, pond and Lough were All Quiet.

John N Murphy, Brian Finnegan & Geoff Pearson.

Mediterranean Gull

There were to first-winter Mediterranean Gulls this evening, in the harbour at Kilbaha,  They were feeding on unhatched eggs churned up by the waves and floating on the incoming tide.

Two first-winter Med Gulls at Kilbaha © John N Murphy

Blue-winged Teal, a species new to Loop

This afternoon Dave McNamara found a juvenile Blue-winged Teal on the small pond at the Fodry, Loop Head. This is the first bird of this species found on the headland.  Hopefully a sign of more North American Birds to arrive on the Loop. Also at Loop there was a Snow Bunting.

 Blue-winged Teal at Fodry © Dave McNamara

Snow Bunting, Loop Head © Dave McNamara

Common Rosefinch

Common Rosefinch at Kilbaha © Richard Bonser

It is rare for Niall Keogh to leave the draw of the Bridges of Ross, but today the North-westerly winds and horrendous sea spray drove him off, for only the third time in the last month.  On his wonderings he ended up in Walshe's haggard at the top end of Kilbaha village, the last farm on the way to Loop Lighthouse. Here he found a first-winter Common Rosefinch.  This is only the fourth record for the headland and three out of the four recorded at Loop have turned up in this exact same field.  Great find Niall.

Also on the headland today were nine Buff-breasted Sandpipers and two Lapland Buntings.

John N Murphy

Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Fodry

There was a flock of 15 Buff-breasted Sandpipers at the Fodry, Loop Head yesterday 15th September 2011.  This is one of the largest flocks ever recorded in Ireland. There was only one other flock of equal size in this part of the world and that was on the Scilly Isle in the 1970's.  A wonderful spectacle.  Also at the Fodry were 12 Lapland Buntings, two Dunlin and a flock of Black-tailed Godwits.

  Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the Fodry © John N Murphy

The 15 Buff-breasted Sandpipers with 2 Dunlin at Fodry © Jeff Copner

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

This morning saw the long awaited arrival of six Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Loop Head.  One was found by a group of seawatchers this morning at the Bridges of Ross, while there other five were found feeding on grasslands at the Fodry, near the tip of Loop Head.  Also on the headland were 14 Lapland Buntings.

Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Fodry © John N Murphy

September Seawatching

Bridges of Ross 21st Sept 2011

Time:  0840-1350.

Observer(s): Paul Troake

Great Shearwater: 1

Sooty Shearwater: 53

Manx Shearwater: 28

Sabine's Gulls: 43

Long-tailed Skua: 1 juv

Pomarine Skua: 4 adults

Bonxies: 15

Arctic Skuas: 10

Arctic Terns: 200 plus

Red-throated Diver: 2

Common Scoter: 3

Bridges of Ross 18th Sept 2011

Time: 0700-1940

Weather: F5 N-NW clear & bright but with heavy sea spray. F4-5 NW in the evening, clear & bright again with some lovely light conditions.

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh, Brian Porter, Killian Mullarney, Eanna O'Flynn, Owen Foley, Conor Foley, Donal Foley, Shane Farrell, Mark Stewart, Geoff Oliver, Niall Hatch, Stephen McAvoy, Denis O'Sullivan, Richard Bonser, Tom Tarpey, Tony Mee et al.

Sooty Shearwater: 5

Wilson's Petrel: 2 [1 @ 09:05 (Eanna O'Flynn, Mark Stewart & Conor Foley) & 1 @ 11:20 (Tom Tarpey)]

Leach's Petrel: 1

Storm Petrel: 8

Grey Phalarope: 19

Great Skua (Bonxie): 54

Pomarine Skua: 2

Arctic Skua: 37

Long-tailed Skua: 16 (3 adults & 13 juvs)

Sabine's Gull: c.170 (c.75% juvs)

Little Gull: 2 juv/1st-w

Sandwich Tern: 12

Arctic Tern: c.500

Puffin: 11

Common Scoter: 2

Red-throated Diver: 7

Great Northern Diver: 1

Bottlenose Dolphin: c.6

Sunfish: 1


Bridges of Ross 17th Sept 2011

Time: 07:00-19:30

Weather: F5 NW in the morning & F5 W-NW in the afternoon with short squalls at times otherwise clear, bright & sunny for the most part.

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh, Brian Porter, Owen Foley, Shane Farrell, Killian Mullarney, Tom Kilbane et al.

Balearic Shearwater: 3

Sooty Shearwater: 145

Manx Shearwater: max. 10,000

Wilson's Petrel: 1 (Niall T Keogh)

Leach's Petrel: 38

Storm Petrel: 16

Grey Phalarope: 130

Great Skua (Bonxie): 47

Pomarine Skua: 3

Arctic Skua: 150+

Long-tailed Skua: 76 (64 adults & 12 juvs)

Sabine's Gull: 865+ (c.25% juvs)

Black Tern: 26 juvs

Sandwich Tern: 45

Common Tern: 1 juv

Arctic Tern: c.8,000

Puffin: 62

Common Scoter: 6

Red-throated Diver: 15

Bottlenose Dolphin: 1+

Common Dolphin: c.5

Sunfish: 2-3

Bridges of Ross 16th Sept 2011

Time: 12:40-19:40

Weather: F4 SW sunny, dry & hazy at a distance in the afternoon turning F5 W with some light showers & grey seas with good visibility in the evening.

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh & Joe Shannon.

Sooty Shearwater: c.1,360

Manx Shearwater: c.12,500

Leach's Petrel: 8

Storm Petrel: 21 

Great Skua (Bonxie): 60

Arctic Skua: 184 

Long-tailed Skua: 35 (31 adults, 2 2nd cal-yr & 2 juv)

Sabine's Gull: 392+ (c.40% juvs)

Little Gull: 4 juv/1st-w 

Black Tern: 8 juv 

Little Tern: 4 juv 

Sandwich Tern: 13 

Arctic Tern: c.5,000 

Common Tern: 1 juv 

Grey Phalarope: 1 

Puffin: 3

Common Scoter: 8 

Light-bellied Brent Goose: 18 

Red-throated Diver: 13

Bar-tailed Godwit: 12

Minke Whale: 1

Common Dolphin: c.5

Sunfish: 1

Bridges of Ross 15th Sept 2011

Time: 07:00-09:00 & 16:45-18:30

Weather: F1-2 SE, clear, dry & bright in the morning. F4 S-SE, overcast, calm with good visibility later on.

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh, Tomas Kjelsson, Rolf Sjöberg & Keith Bennett.

Balearic Shearwater: 1

Sooty Shearwater: 16

Storm Petrel: 6

Great Skua (Bonxie): 5

Pomarine Skua: 1

Arctic Skua: 10

Long-tailed Skua: 1 adult

Sabine's Gull: 48 (13 juvs)

Little Gull: 1 juv/1st-w

Sandwich Tern: 14

Arctic Tern: c.140

Common Scoter: 16

Light-bellied Brent Goose: 10

Red-throated Diver: 4

Black Guillemot: 1

Whimbrel: 5

Golden Plover: 1

Common Dolphin: c.30

Bridges of Ross 14th Sept 2011

Time: 07:00-10:45 & 14:45-19:20

Weather: F5 NW dry, bright & clear in the morning. F2 NW, sunny, dry & warm later on.

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh, John N. Murphy, Tomas Kjelsson, Rolf Sjöberg, Keith Bennett, Kris de Rouck, Wout de Rouck & Joe Shannon.

Fea's-type Petrel: 1 west @ 18:45-18:50 (Noel Keogh & Niall T Keogh)

Sooty Shearwater: c.60

Manx Shearwater: c.5,000

Wilson's Petrel: 4 (Niall T Keogh,  Noel Keogh, John N Murphy et al )

Leach's Petrel: 28

Storm Petrel: c.35

Grey Phalarope: 1

Great Skua (Bonxie): 25+

Pomarine Skua: 4

Arctic Skua: c.55

Long-tailed Skua: 16 (14 adults, a 2nd cal-year & 1 juv.)

Sabine's Gull: c.95 (25% juvs)

Sandwich Tern: 6

Arctic Tern: c.300

Puffin: 5

Red-throated Diver: 5

Common Scoter: 6

Teal: 1

Minke Whale: 1-2

Wilson's Storm Petrel off the Bridges of Ross © John N Murphy

Bonxie off the Bridges © John N Murphy

Bridges of Ross 13th Sept 2011

Time: 06:45-10:45 & 12:25-19:15
Weather: F6 W-NW, bright, clear & sunny. Some brief showers in the afternoon.Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh, Joe Adamson, John N. Murphy, Stan Nugent, Dave McNamara, Tomas Kjelsson, Rolf Sjöberg, Keith Bennett, Kris de Rouck, Joe Shannon et al.


Great Shearwater: 1
Balearic Shearwater: 4
Sooty Shearwater: 111
Manx Shearwater: c.500 (evening passage)
Wilson's Petrel: 6 (Niall TKeogh, Noel Keogh & John NMurphy)
Leach's Petrel: 80
Storm Petrel: 115
Grey Phalarope: 7
Great Skua (Bonxie): 95
Pomarine Skua: 2
Arctic Skua: 27
Long-tailed Skua: 20 [14 adults, 2 2nd cal-years & 4 juvs] (Niall T Keogh, Noel Keogh, Kris de Rouck, John  N Murphy & Stan Nugent)
Sabine's Gull: 130 (42 juvs)
Little Gull: 1 juv/1st-w
Sandwich Tern: 60
Arctic Tern: 145
Puffin: 12
Common Scoter: 7
Red-throated Diver: 6
Great Northern Diver: 2
Whimbrel: 2

Minke Whale: 1
Leatherback Turtle: 3 sightings

Sunfish: 3+

Adult Long-tailed Skua off the Flat Slab at the Bridges © John N Murphy

Bridges of Ross 12th Sept 2011

Time: 07:00-19:10

Weather: F7 Westerly & dry throughout the day, good sunny spells & some spray.

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh, Joe Adamson, Paul Troake, Dave McNamara, Tomas Kjelsson, Rolf Sjöberg, Keith Bennett, Kris de Rouck, Jim Bowman, Patrick Veale et al.

Fea's-type Petrel: 1 west @ 17:10 (Niall T Keogh)

Great Shearwater: 4

Balearic Shearwater: 4

Sooty Shearwater: c.1,000

Manx Shearwater: 2,000+

Wilson's Petrel: 4 (Noel Keogh & Niall T Keogh)

Leach's Petrel: 45+

Storm Petrel: c.250

Grey Phalarope: 4

Great Skua (Bonxie): 110

Pomarine Skua: 15 (incl. 3 juvs)

Arctic Skua: 58

Long-tailed Skua: 21 [9 adults, 1 subadult, 3 2nd cal-years & 8 juvs] (Niall T Keogh, Noel Keogh, Joe Adamson, Paul Troake & Dave McNamara)

Sabine's Gull: 200+ (c.25% juvs.)

Sandwich Tern: 4

Arctic Tern: c.600

Puffin: 4

Common Scoter: 3

Bridges of Ross 11th Sept 2011

Time: 07:00-11:30 & 12:50-18:45Weather: F7 SW, overcast, dull, dry with moderate visibility. F5 SW, overcast with moderate visibility turning F5 S with persistent rain in the evening.Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh & Joe Adamson.


Great Shearwater: 1
Balearic Shearwater: 1
Sooty Shearwater: 494
Manx Shearwater: c.300
Wilson's Petrel: 1 offshore from 08:40-09:30! (Niall T Keogh, Noel Keogh & Joe Adamson)
Storm Petrel: 63
Great Skua (Bonxie): 28
Pomarine Skua: 3 pale phase
Arctic Skua: 20
Long-tailed Skua: 1 adult @16:30 (Niall T Keogh & Noel Keogh)
Sabine's Gull: 33 (incl. 5 juvs.)
Sandwich Tern: 32
Arctic Tern: 126
Common Scoter: 17
Puffin: 1
Whimbrel: 7
Bar-tailed Godwit: 1

Sunfish: 3

Bridges of Ross 10th Sept 2011

Time: 07:00-10:30 & 15:20-19:20

Weather: F4 S in the morning, overcast with light rain but with sunny spells also. F6-7 SW this afternoon, overcast with persistent showers at times.

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Noel Keogh, John N. Murphy, Joe Adamson & Finbarr MacGabhann.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: 1 juv Cloghaun Lough (John N Murphy & Finbarr MacGabhann)

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: 5 juvs Fodry (John N Murphy & Finbarr MacGabhann)

Sooty Shearwater: 33

Storm Petrel: 24

Great Skua (Bonxie): 5

Pomarine Skua: 1 pale phase

Arctic Skua: 22

Sabine's Gull: 15 (6 adults, 8 2nd cal-years & 1 juv.)

Sandwich Tern: 2

Arctic Tern: 214

Puffin: 5

Common Scoter: 10

Red-breasted Merganser: 3

Whimbrel: 3
Peregrine: 1
Storm Petrel: 1 was in Kilbaha Bay

Common Dolphin: c.10

Sunfish: 1

Off the Fodry there was one first-summer Sabines Gull, three Arctic Skuas, two Red-throated Divers and four Common Scoters.

 Dark phased Arctic Skua passing the Fodry © John N Murphy

Arctic Skua chasing Kittiwakes & Sabine's Gull off the Fodry © John N Murphy

Four male Common Scoters migrating past Fodry © John N Murphy

Bridges of Ross 9th Sept 2011

Time: 06:45-08:30 & 17:30-18:30

Weather: F4 SW, dry, dull but with good visibility. Turning F2-3 S later on. 

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Keith Langdon, Dave Farrow, Reg Land & Noel Keogh.

Sooty Shearwater: 35

Storm Petrel: 3

Great Skua (Bonxie): 8

Arctic Skua: 7

Sabine's Gull: 3 adults

Sandwich Tern: 6

Arctic Tern: 54

Puffin: 1

Common Scoter: 27

Light-bellied Brent Goose: 26

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: 1 juvenile at the seawatch point 08:30-08:45 before flying off East!!! (Keith Langdon)

Bottlenose Dolphin: c.18

Leatherback Turtle: 1 west @ 07:45

Bridges of Ross 8th Sept 2011

Time: 07:15-10:30 & 14:15-18:15

Observer(s): Dave Farrow & Reg Land.

Sooty Shearwater: 400+

Leach's Petrel: 1

Storm Petrel: 25

Great Skua (Bonxie): 25+

Pomarine Skua: 3+

Arctic Skua: 40+

Long-tailed Skua: 1 adult

Sabine's Gull: 23

Little Gull: 1 juvenile

Common Scoter: 30+

Light-bellied Brent Goose: 12

Red-throated Diver: 3

Whimbrel: 20+

Bottlenose Dolphin: 12

Common Dolphin: 20

Risso's Dolphin: 4

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Basking Shark: 1

Sunfish: 2

Bridges of Ross 7th September 2011

Time: 0645-1820

Weather: F5 W, dry & dull in the morning turning, F6 W in the afternoon/early evening with persistant rain & poor visibility.

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Mike Blaver, Keith Langdon, Reg Land, Dave Farrow & Dave McNamara.

Great Shearwater: 1

Balearic Shearwater: 1

Sooty Shearwater: 430+ (morning passage)

Blue Fulmar: 1

Leach's Petrel: 5

Storm Petrel: c.80

Great Skua (Bonxie): 37

Pomarine Skua: 6 

Arctic Skua: 20

Long-tailed Skua: 1 adult @ 10:25 (Niall T Keogh & Dave Farrow)

Sabine's Gull: 30

Little Gull: 1 juv/1st-w

Sandwich Tern: 10

Common Tern: 1

Arctic Tern: 75

Puffin: 13

Black Guillemot: 1
Common Scoter: 25

Red-throated Diver: 2 adults

Light-bellied Brent Geese: 29

Whimbrel: 20

Bottlenose Dolphin: 3+

Sunfish: 3 (including one breaching three times in succession this afternoon!)

Bridges of Ross 6th September 2011

Adult Pomarine Skua off the Bridges © John N Murphy

Time: 0645-1930

Weather: F6-7(8) W, with light showers at times but dry for the most part with variable lighting conditions. Turning F6 W-NW in early evening with misty spray.

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Brian Porter, Mike Blaver, Paul Troake, John N. Murphy, Brian Finnegan, Dermot O'Mahony, Keith Langdon, Reg Land, Dave Farrow, Geoff Pearson, Paul Moore, Denis O'Sullivan & John Power.

Great Shearwater: 4

Balearic Shearwater: 4

Sooty Shearwater: 4,500+

Manx Shearwater: 10,000+

Blue Fulmar: 2

Wilson's Petrel: 1 (John N Murphy)

Leach's Petrel: 21

Storm Petrel: c.80

Great Skua (Bonxie): 83 (including several juveniles)

Pomarine Skua: 12 (all pale phase)

Arctic Skua: 44

Long-tailed Skua: 2 adults (Niall T Keogh)

Sabine's Gull: 73 (63 adults/adult-types, 7 2nd cal-years & 3 juveniles)

Black Tern: 1 adult & 1 juvenile

Sandwich Tern: 4

Common Tern: 2 juveniles

Arctic Tern: 261

Common Scoter: 1 male

Great Northern Diver: 1 juvenile

Puffin: 43

Whimbrel: 14 

There were thousands of Sooty Shearwaters off the Bridges © John N Murphy

 Pomarine Skua © John N Murphy

 

 Pale phase adult Arctic Skuas © John N Murphy

Dark phase Arctic Skua © John N Murphy

Pale phase Arctic Skua with Gannet © John N Murphy

Bonxies at the Bridges © John N Murphy

Bridges of Ross 5th September 2011

Time: 0650-1740

Weather: F3-4 W-NW first thing in the morning, dry with good visibility, turning F5-6 SW by late afternoon with constant misty drizzle & some showers, poor visibility in the distance.

Observer(s): Niall T. Keogh, Brian Porter, Mike Blaver, Paul Troake, John N. Murphy, Brian Finnegan, Dermot O'Mahony, Keith Langdon, Reg Land & Dave Farrow.

Sooty Shearwater: c.210

Balearic Shearwater: 1

Manx Shearwater: c.1,000 (0745-1045)

Blue Fulmar: 1

Wilson's Petrel: 1 @ 13:50 (Keith Langdon, Reg Land & Dave Farrow)

Leach's Petrel: 7

Storm Petrel: 29

Great Skua (Bonxie): 9

Pomarine Skua: 1 pale phase adult

Arctic Skua: 3

Sabine's Gull: 1 juvenile

Arctic Tern: 12

Sandwich Tern: 9

Common Scoter: 7

Red-throated Diver: 5 

Great Northern Diver: 1 'winter' plumage bird

Puffin: 68 (including one summer plumaged bird)

Sanderling: 12

Whimbrel: 16