August Pelagic

On a pelagic off Loop Head this morning there were two Wilson's Storm Petrels, one first-summer Long-tailed Skua, one 2nd summer Pomarine Skua, one Arctic Skua, seven Bonxies, 30 Sooty Shearwaters, one Balearic Shearwater, two adult Sabine's Gulls, 300 Storm Petrels two Minke Whales and 150 plus Common Dolphins.

Owen Foley et al.

August Already

Wednesday 1st August 2012

August has arrived and with it birders look to the Bridges to find that first Wilson's Storm Petrel of the year or something better.  Today Southerly winds shifted to SW then strong from the West and with that in mind, Dave McNamara spent a couple of hours on the Bridges in the late afternoon.  The only birds of note were one Sooty Shearwater, two Bonxies and eight European Storm Petrels.  On the landward side there were three Chough and 20 Rock Doves.

North west not always best

Last Saturday on a strong north westerly wind shearwaters and skuas trickled past the Bridges.  Two Grey Phalaropes were the highlights along with 28 Sooty Shearwaters, two Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie, one Storm Petrel and good numbs of Manx Shearwaters.

Graham Clarke & Owen Foley.

Shearwaters are building

Monday 23rd July 2012

A wet misty day with prolonged wet conditions all day at The Loop. A short clearance in the evening allowed one hours seawatching off the Bridges where there was one Balearic Shearwater, seven Sooty Shearwaters, 500 Manx Shearwaters per hour, one Puffin and smaller movements of auks, Fulmamrs, Kittiwakes and some gulls. On the headland there were two Wheatears, four Raven and mixed flocks of large gulls in freshly cut fields.

 John N Murphy & Brian Finnegan.

Seabirds on the move

Tuesday 17th July 2012

 One Arctic Skua, one Bonxie and 100 Manx Shearwaters per hour were off the Bridges of Ross today.

 Brian Finnegan.

Open Season

Sunday 15th July 2012

Today has seen the beginning of the seawatching season at the Bridges of Ross where there was one Cory,s Shearwater, 200 Manx Shearwaters per hour and one Bonxie.

Geoff Hunt.

Golden Oriole

Sunday 3rd June 2012 A female Golden Oriole was seen going to roosts late this evening at a garden near Feard (Tony Mee).