1989 Bird Report

Yellow Wagtail © John N Murphy

By Phil Brennan

After the marvelous autumn of 1988, the succeeding year proved most disappointing.  Coverage in '89 was poor, with observers present on only 27 days, from September 11th to November 15th.  Fifteen days were covered in October. Despite this reduced effort, I doubt that much was missed.

Some small-scale tree planting was begun in 1989 and this was continued in 1990, mainly due to Declan Manley's provision of shrubs and young trees. Planting was done in Lillis's haggard, in the reeds at Kilbaha Cottage,  in the Sallow's (Marty's) and in Griffins (next to the orchard).  Let's hope they survive and provide badly-needed cover.

In both years, as in the preceding seasons, we were indebted to the Sides/Burrows family for the continued rental of Kilbaha Cottage.  Of course the hospitality of the people continues to be vital for the success of our birding and ringing, and by now, I feel we have become part of the autumn landscape there.  The tape-luring equipment sponsored by De Beers, Ireland, was very useful in both seasons.  In 1990 Aer Rianta, Shannon, became our second sponsor, the money mainly going towards the rings and badly-needed net replacements and more tape-luring gear.  In 1990, access was allowed to Gibson's and for this we are grateful.  My sincere thanks to all the birders who helped the venture.

Chronology 1989

A September with virtually none of the usual gales and an entire autumn with very few southerlies or south-easterlies was a sure recipe for little of interest on either sea or land.  That only one species new to the area was recorded is ample evidence of a poor season. 

Very little seawatching was done, with only one day, September 16th, producing a reasonable passage of Leach's Petrels, skuas and a few Sabine;s Gulls.  Bad weather and unsuitable winds lasted through September, ruling out coverage of the usual areas for land-birds.  September 30th, however promised an improvement, when a Yellow Wagtail was at the light at dawn, and a Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Turtle Dove were later found at Kilbaha, with Goldcrests plentiful.  The day was rounded off with10 Snow Buntings, also at the Head.  October 1st produced an Ortolan Bunting, heard over Kilbaha, as well as a Redstart.

On 4th October a Spotted Crake, a first for the area, was found dead on the cliffs at the Head.  Whinchat, Redstarts, and Black Tern were seen in early October, but mid-month was a disaster due to returning bad weather.  Coverage was almost continual from Oct 22nd to Nov 15th, and the ringing totals were good despite some truly horrible days.  There were several days with gale-force winds, reaching a vicious force 10 on Oct 28th.  "You've got to be joking" was Dave Borton's only entry under 'Observations' in the log for that day.

Good corvid movements were recorded in late October and good numbers of Chaffinches were ringed.  Early November was again very poor, though Blackcap and Song Thrush were relatively very common on the few good days.  An Eider was found in the harbour on 13th and remained until coverage ended on the 15th.  Ironically, some perfect 'migration weather' came in late November, when the migration season was over!


Systematic List

Red-throated Diver

Three records, from Oct 7th to Nov 3rd.  3 seen on Oct 22nd.

Great Northern Diver

Five records. From Sept 16th to November 5th. 3 seen on Sept 16th and Oct 30th.

Fulmar

The best passage was 800 per hour on Aug 12th.

Great Shearwater

One was seen on Aug 12th.

An unidentified 'LARGE SHEARWATER' not definitely recognisable as Cory's or Great, was seen on Aug 29th, 1990 and two seen on Sept 5th.

Sooty Shearwater

A poor season. 58 was the best count, on Aug 12th, and 42 were seen on Aug 16th.

Manx Shearwater

Best counts were 1500 per hour on Aug 12th and 500 P.H.  on Aug 26th.  302 was an early count, on July 28th.

Storm Petrel

Few seen. One was attracted to the Light on the night of Oct 30th.  Two late birds were recorded on Nov 4th.

Leach's Petrel

In all, a very poor season, with only 47 recorded.  38 was the best count, on Sept 19th.  3 late birds were seen on Nov 4th.

Gannet

100 per hour were seen on September 16th. A late count of 55 P.H. was recorded on Nov 3rd.

Shag

Peak count, 20 on Aug 12th.

Cormorant

Six was the highest count in the year.

Grey Heron

Recorded most days in autumn, with five the peak count.

Wigeon

3 at Cloghaun Lough on Oct 1st.

Teal

Small numbers seen from Sept 2nd.  14 was the peak, on Oct 4th.

Mallard

25 on Sept 24th, was the best count.

Common Scoter

Seen on four days from Aug 12th.  10 was the peak, on Oct 13th.

Eider

A female or immature bird was present in Kilbaha harbour from Nov 13th to 15th.

Long-tailed Duck

A male was seen off Ross on Oct 7th.

Sparrowhawk

Recorded on 10 days. Peak of two birds.

Kestrel

Recorded on 8 days; peak count was two birds.

Peregrine

Recorded on 8 days all single sightings.

Pheasant

One heard on July 9th.

Moorhen

Three records of single birds.

Spotted Crake

One was found dead on the cliffs at the Head on October 4th.

Oystercatcher

Peak count of 100. Mostly 20 - 70 recorded daily.

Ringed Plover

Bred. Regular with a peak of 20 on Sept 16th.

Golden Plover

10 on Sept 3rd was the first sighting.  25 to 60 irregularly seen in October.  Recorded almost daily after Oct 21st, peaking at 430 on Oct 31st.

Lapwing

Single birds seen on Aug 30th and Sept 1st.  30 to 150 regular from Oct 22nd, peaking at 160 on Nov 2nd.

Knot

11 on Sept 16th was the only sighting.

Sanderling

One was seen on Aug 26th.

Dunlin

Five records in September, peaking at 21 on the 2nd.

Turnstone

Present on July 9th.  Up to 40 daily, peaking at 100 on Nov 3rd.

Purple Sandpiper

Four records involving up to 4 birds, in October/November.

Phalarope Species; 

Single birds, probably Grey Phalaropes, were recorded singly on 12th and 26th and Sept 16th. 

Redshank

Regular, usually less than 12 in a day; peak of 30 on Oct 1st.

Greenshank

Single birds were seen on Sept 2nd and Oct 7th.

Snipe

1 to 10 daily.  Peak count of 36 on Oct 3rd.

Woodcock

three were attracted to the Light in bad weather on the night of Oct 30th.  One was seen Nov 2nd.

Whimbrel

3 seen on July 9th.  An exceptional 302 and 206 were recorded on seawatches on July 27th and Aug 12th respectively.  16 were seen on Sept 16th.  There were eight records of 1 to 3 birds.

Curlew

40 to 50 were regular with peak of 90 on September 3rd.

Common Sandpiper

Single birds were recorded at Ross on July 19th and 23rd.

Great Skua

Recorded on nine days from Aug 12th to Nov 3rd; 68 birds seen.  31 were counted on Sept 16th, otherwise 1 to 13 seen.

Pomarine Skua

The only records were single birds seen on Aug 12th and 26th.

Arctic Skua

Recorded on six days, from Aug 12th to Oct 7th with a total of 34 birds seen.  The peak count was of 19 on September 16th, and 1 to 5 birds were otherwise seen.

Sabine's Gull

A very poor year with only 6 reported, as follows.... 3 on Sept 16th, 2 on Oct 7th, 1 on Nov 4th.

Black-Headed Gull

150, on July 9th, was the peak count.  Generally less than 25 daily, with 70 on Oct 22nd.

Common Gull
150, on July 9th, was the peak count.  Generally less than 25 daily, with 70 on Oct 2nd.

Lesser Black-backed Gull
Eight records, with a peak of 14 on Aug 12th.

Herring Gull
Bred. 40 was the peak count, recorded Oct 29th and Nov 5th.

Great Black-backed Gull
Bred.  50 was the peak count, on Oct 22nd.

Kittiwake
No checks were carried out on the breeding colonies at Loop Head.
Peak hourly rates of passage were recorded at Ross.. 100 P.H. on Aug 26th; 300 P.H. on Sept 22nd; 550 P.H. on Nov 3rd.

Sandwich Tern
Seen irregularly from Aug 12th to Sept 16th.  Highest counts were 41 on Aug 26th, 67 on Sept 3rd and 57 on Sept 16th.

Common Tern
Two records; 2 were seen on Aug 12th and 1 on Aug 16th.

Arctic Tern
One on Sept 16th was the only record.

'Comic' Tern
40 were seen on Aug 26th.

Black Tern
One was seen off Ross on Oct 7th.

Razorbill
No census of colonies.  40 were seen off Ross on Oct 28th.

Guillemot
No census of colonies.  50 were seen off Ross on Oct 7th.

Auk Species
100 were seen on Oct 28th and there were 60 per hour on Nov 3rd.

Puffin
One, on Aug 12th, was the only record.

Rock Dove
Probably bred in cave below turret at Kilbaha.  Irregular throughout the autumn, with peak of 11 on Aug 3rd and Oct 1st.

Woodpigeon
Scarce breeder.  No more that 2 or 3 seen on any one day.

Collared Dove
Spring... 8 were in Kilbaha on May 10th. No autumn records.

Turtle Dove
Single birds were seen on Sept 30th.

Skylark
22 on Nov 2nd was the highest count.  20+ were seen on Oct 8th.

Swallow
Bred.  Over 100 were seen on Sept 2nd, with 45 on Sept 24th.  The latest was a singleton on Oct 22nd.

House Martin
2 were seen on July 9th.

Meadow Pipit
Numbers lower than usual. 200 was the peak count, on Sept 30th.  100 were seen on Sept 3rd, Oct 4th and 23rd. No more than 60 per day after Oct 27th.

Rock Pipit
60 was the peak count, on Oct 23rd.

Yellow Wagtail
One was at the lighthouse on dawn on Sept 30th.

Grey Wagtail
Resident. Seen almost daily, with 5 the highest count.

Pied Wagtail
Resident. No White Wagtails see.

Wren
Resident.

Dunnock
Resident. Seldom counted.

Robin
Resident.  30 was the highest day's count.

Redstart
Three or four records. One was at the conifers opposite Lillis's on Oct 1t.  This may have been the bird seen in Gibson's on Oct 7th and 8th. A male was at the Light on Oct 4th and a different bird was trapped in the Sallows on the same day.

Whinchat
One was at the Light on Oct 14th.

Stonechat
Present in good numbers, with up to 35 normal daily.  50 were counted on Oct 1st.

Wheatear
An exceptional 25 were counted on July 10th.   The autumn peak was of 7 on Oct 4th.  None were seen after Oct 7th.

Blackbird
Up to mid-October, 10 was the most seen daily. 4 to 20n daily after Oct 22nd.

Fieldfare
The first was a single bird, on Oct 23rd.  Scarce in November; 120 on Nov 4th was the only sizeable count.

Song Thrush
Bred.  No migrants appeared until Oct 25th/26th, but no more than 10 seen at this time.  50 arrived with other thrushes, on Nov 13th and 20 were seen on the following day.

Redwing
12, on Oct 22nd, was the first record.  150 were seen on Nov 13th and Nov 15th.

Mistle Thrush
Bred.  5 appeared on Oct 26th and 2 to 4 were present in mid Nov.

Grasshopper Warbler
Summer visitor.  No summer census.

Sedge Warbler
Present at Kilbaha in July.  No summer census.

Garden Warbler
Only one, at the Light, on Oct 1st.

Blackcap
20 records, most late in the season, as follows...

September: No Records.     October: 1 on 1st        November: 2 on 13th
                                                             4 on 22nd                         6 on 14th
                                                             4 on 26th                          1 on 15th
                                                             1 on 27th
                                                             1 on 30th

Chiffchaff
43 birds seen, 8 in September, 26 in October, 9 in early November.

Willow Warbler
3, on Sept 30th, was the solitary record.

Goldcrest
One early record, on Aug 12th.  Peak counts were 40 on Sept 30th and 30 on Oct 1st.
Numerical breakdown was as follows;

Aug:1     Sept: 51     Oct: 79     Nov: 24

Spotted Flycatcher
One, on Oct 4th.

Red-breasted Flycatcher
One was in the area between Crotty's and Gibson's on Sept 30th.

Pied Flycatcher
One, on Oct 1st.

Coal Tit
Three records, one on Sept 24th, 2 on Oct 4th and 1 on Oct 8th.

Blue Tit
Usually up to 20 seen daily, with 40 seen on Oct 1st.

Great Tit
Up to 8 recorded daily.

Magpie
Up to 25 recorded daily. Nested in guttering of church and on electricity poles.

Chough
Recorded almost daily, with a peak of 8 on Sept 30th.\

Jackdaw
Bred.  Movements noted from Oct 22nd.  100+ recorded on seven days.  500 on Oct 23rd, 200 on Oct 26th, 300 on Oct 30th, 200 on Nov 1st and 250 on Nov 3rd were the highest counts.  The October counts involve westward movements over Kilbaha.

Rook
In October, peak movements were 70 on Oct 22nd, 60 on Oct 26th, 100 on Oct 30th with 120 on Nov 13th.  The first three of these counts coincided with Jackdaw movements.

Hooded Crow
Up to 30 present on three days in October.

Raven
Bred.  1 to 9 usually seen daily, with an unusual high of 35 on Oct 26th, a day of good corvid movement.

Starling
200-350 normal from Sept to Nov, peaking at 500 on Oct 30th.

House Sparrow

Up to 30 recorded daily.

Tree Sparrow
Breeding reported from three sites within the recording area.  Recorded on six days in Oct/Nov.  5 seen on Oct 1st was the maximum count.

Chaffinch
Early records were one on Aug 12th and two on Sept 30th.  The first significant day.  600 were present on Oct 26th and 180 on the 30th.  These latter two counts were in timing with Redpoll and Brambling arrivals.  80 was the peak for early November.

Brambling
4 were present on Oct 26th and single birds were seen on Nov 13th and 15th.

Greenfinch
Three records; 3 on Aug 12th, 5 on Oct 1st and 3 on Oct 7th.

Goldfinch
Two records.  12 birds arrived with other finches on Oct 30th. One was seen on Nov 12th.

Siskin
The only record was of 2 birds on Oct 30th.

Linnet
80 were seen on Aug 12th.   In Sept/Oct, numbers were normally in the range 15 to 64, with peak of 100 on Oct 1st.  Scarce in Nov.

Redpoll
Recorded on six days after oct 4th; 30, on Oct 26th, was the peak.  15 were seen on Oct 30th, with 1-3 otherwise seen.

Snow Bunting
Seen on nine days from Sept 16th to Oct 31st.  1-3 birds normally encountered, with a maxima of 10 on Sept 30th/Oct 1st.

Ortlolan Bunting
One was over the Kilbaha Cottage area on Oct 1st.

Reed Bunting
Up to 25 seen daily.


__________________________________________________________________________________


Ringing Report

The autumn of 1989 was generally very poor for ringing, all due to adverse (perverse?) weather.  Only 484 birds were ringed.  Even when good numbers of, for instance, Chaffinch, were present, relatively few were caught.  Goldcrest numbers were down.  Two summer sessions at the Bridges  produced reasonable catches of Storm Petrel.  One of the petrels was to turn up in August 1990 on the east coast of Scotland.  Redstart was the rarest bird caught and the trapping of five Tree Sparrows reflected their improved breeding success, though passage can't be ruled out.


Ringing Totals for 1989

Storm Petrel             146
Swallow                        1
Meadow Pipit              5
Rock Pipit                    1
Pied Wagtail                3
Robin                         24                        
Redstart                       1
Stonechat                   16
Blackbird                   21
Song Thrush              11
Redwing                     13
Blackcap                     14
Chiffchaff                   16
Willow Warbler           3
Goldcrest                    50
Coal Tit                        3
Blue Tit                      31
Great Tit                      6
Jackdaw                       9
Rook                             3
Starling                         7
House Sparrow            3
Tree Sparrow              5
Chaffinch                   66
Brambling                    4
Linnet                           7
Redpoll                         8
Reed Bunting               7

Grand Total             484


Recoveries

231476     Storm Petrel      22.7.89     Loop Head
                                          11.8.90     Girdleness, Grampian, Scotland

2314530   Storm Petrel      26.6.88     Loop Head
                                           20.7.89     Lundy Island, Devon, England

Loop Head the Beginning

Loop Head Lighthouse © John N Murphy

By Phil Brennan September 1990
In the 1970's, most of my birding was tied up in surveys of one kind or another, from the Wetland Survey to the Winter Atlas, with a fair bit of bird ringing thrown in.  The efforts were rewarded by the usefulness of collecting information that would have son conservation value, as well as getting to know my own area well.  There was also the occasional local rarity to add a little excitement.  However, one was always somewhat envious of the opportunities for rarities, great 'falls' of migrants, etc.etc, that birders on the south coast reputedly enjoyed.  Little did I think that a site that would afford 'observation' watching was waiting to be discovered in West Clare. 

Oddly enough, in contrast to most coastal 'good spots', Loop Head was discovered by local watchers, not visitors.  This contrast somewhat with the temporary observatories of two and three decades ago at places such as Tory Island.  Malin Head and the Mullet, where dedicated groups of visiting birdwatchers produced much original and unexpected observation on migration.  However, I feel that the Loop Head effort has a close affiliation with that tradition of pioneering fieldwork.

The whole thing started quietly in 1977/78, when Philip Buckley and Ewart Jones, and the late Mike Donohue began seawatching at Loop Head.  Approximately 15-20 days seawatching were carried out each year from 1979 to 1984, with the effort gradually switching away from the Head itself to the nearby to the Bridges of Ross, on the north of the peninsula. This site is low over the sea, permitting better views as the birds funnel down the Clare coast before rounding the Head.  From 1984/85, with its reputation growing, especially for Long-tailed Skua, Leach's Petrel and Sabine's Gull, as well as individual rarities such as Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Black Tern and Wilson's Petrel, Loop began attracting seawatchers.

There were some tantalising old records, such as the 1905 Slate-coloured Junco and the 1931 Wryneck, as well as a Pied Flycatcher in 1980.  However, as most visits were for seawatching, the conditions were never right for finding grounded migrants and a glance at the geography of the peninsula persuaded  most people that it was a likely migration site.  This picture changed subsequently in 1985 with the start of a regular watching and ringing effort around Kilbaha village, about three miles from the Head. The volume of migrants did not compare with the south coast sites, but we were surprised by the quality of the rarities which included Ireland's second Rustic Bunting.

Of course 1985 will be remembered as a very good year at many coastal sites, and it was suggested that the Loop successes of that year might have been somewhat of a 'flash-in-the-pan'.  Since then there have been some good and some poor years, but the effort has been well worth while, with many interesting movements seen and new birds encountered.  1988 was one of these years, with both good seabird and landbird migration conditions prevailing from September to November.  1989 was terrible!  

As has been mentioned, the best seawatching spot is in the north of the peninsula, at the Bridges of Ross.  I suppose it should be called the 'Bridge of Ross' nowadays, as only one of the natural arches from which this scenic area gets its name remains.   Seawatching is possible from the Head itself, but it is quite high, making this difficult.

Bridges of Ross Seawatching Point © John N Murphy

Grounded migrants may turn up anywhere, as at most coastal sites.  However, the Loop Head peninsula is particularly bereft of shrubs and trees.  The first bushes encountered are almost two miles back from the Head.   It is no wonder people were put off in the past.  What cover exists is concentrated in the mile- longstretch along the road west of Kilbaha village.  Nearest Kilbaha are a small orchard and sycamore grove (out of bounds), a few haggards and farmyards with scattered bushes here and there at the top of the road,  'The Sallows'.  Grounded birds don't stay long with this lack of cover.  However, despite all, this short stretch of sometimes mucky road has produced a succession of good birds since 1985.  Most of the ringing is carried out along this stretch and there is a small Heligoland trap, erected along an overgrown track in 1987.  Good birds recorded at Kilbaha and accepted by the rare Birds Panel have included Arctic Warbler, Rustic Bunting, Little Bunting, Red-rumped Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Buzzard, Scarlet Rosefinch, Ortolan Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Mealy Redpoll and several Yellow-rumped Warblers, while the verdict is awaited on a Pied Wheatear and Serin.

Since 1987, the exposed area around the lighthouse has been watched fairly well, though coverage is often difficult due to lack of observers.  Recorded here have been Hobby, Spotted Crake, Richard's Pipit, Dotterel, Lapland Bunting and of course there is the old Junco record.  The light has recently been shown to attract migrants at night in bad conditions.  In summer there is a colony of about 6,000 seabirds on the cliffs, where there are breeding Chough, Peregrine and Raven.  Waders are scarce: the pools at the Bridges of Ross, at Kilbaha and at Cloghaun Lough to the east, and the shingle bays are the best places.

Looking along Loop Head from Fodry © John N Murphy

Best Conditions for Seawatching are in Autumn. The best seawatches have taken place in north-west gales, especially if the storm centres lie well to the north between Scotland and Iceland, or have moved from that direction.   However there have been some very good watches in westerlies.  August has been somewhat neglected, but has had up to 180 Cory's and 75 Great Shearwaters in a day.  Sabine's Gull are very regular, the earliest being recorded on July 31st, but most common from September to mid-October.  57 were seen in 1987.  Leach's Petrel have also been very regular, with a peak year of 855 and up to 486 in one day in 1988.  1,680 Grey Phalarope were seen in 1984 and this was also the best year for Little Auk, with 91 recorded.  `small numbers of Little Gull and Black Tern occur.

Many people come in the hope of Long-tailed Skua, but it would seem that a lot of hours are usually needed for success... ask Philip Buckley or Killian Mullarney!  The rarer petrels, gulls and terns have also turned up, mainly in north-west storms.  The other skuas are very common also, as are Sooty and Manx Shearwater.  Birds I omitted that have been seen in seawatches have been probable Little Shearwater, Mediterranean Gull, Surf Scoter, Little and Roseate Tern.

Kilbaha Harbour © John N Murphy

Anyone who has spent a week or fortnight at Care Clear, or any other migration site will know well the frustrations of waiting when weather conditions just won't come right.  The good days are quickly forgotten and the teller of stories of previous great 'falls' and wonderful exotic birds soon runs the risk of being thrown into the nearest ditch.  Loop Head is no different.  So becoming a student of the weather is essential to avoid a fruitless stay.  Southerlies and south-westerlies definitely seem to be Loop's most regular producers of 'falls' and rarities.  If the weather centre lies in the Bay of Biscay/northern France area the chances improve.  Indeed, easterlies and even north-easterlies or south-westerlies that originated in that area have all produced results on occasion.  One of the puzzles is why the many westerlies fail to turn up more American birds.  Large 'falls' are not regular, and even common warblers are scarce.  However, Goldcrest, A Skylark and Redwing have all had some good 'falls'.  One of the most spectacular was an all-day movement of over 2,000 Chaffinch in 1988.

In the last three autumn seasons, Kilbaha Cottage has been rented by kind permission of the Sides family.  The house is large, and gives good observatory accommodation, with plenty of rooms and well stocked kitchen.  In 1989, a new fireplace was installed and there has also been fairly extensive re-wiring and damp-proofing, which is very welcoming for coming seasons, as the house can be cold as the winter draws near.  Ringing and log call is done at the house.

 Sides Cottage at Kilbaha, home of the original Bird Observatory © John N Murphy