NATIONWIDE RARITIES  
Some rare Birds, or just shy Birds, seen countrywide by our members!

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See IRBC Appendix 1   Red List - High conservation concern
See IRBC Appendix 2   Amber List - Medium conservation concern
  Green List - Not threatened

THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS  and ADVISERS 

Dermot Breen, Jose Campos, Mark Carmody, Victor Caschera, Philip Clancy, Shay Connolly, Eric Dempsey, David Dillon, 
Tom Doyle, Rosemary Doyle, Ger Franck, John Fox, Michael Harris, Edd Kealy, Aidan G. Kelly, Niall T Keogh & Noel Keogh, Stephen Lawlor, 
Dermot McCabe, Paul McMahon, Cian Merne, Paul Robinson, Adrian Rooney, Brendan Sheils, Robert Vaughan,  

The named authors hold the copyright for all photographs published on this website. 
Authors permission must be sought for copying, publishing or reproduction for any purpose other than for personal archives.

A-C D-F G
Avocet
Bluethroat
Chiffchaff, Siberian
Corncrake
Crane, Common
Crow, Indian House
Dotterel
Dowitcher, Long-billed
Duck, Ring-necked
Eider
Falcon, Red-footed
Flycatcher, Collared
Flycatcher, Red-breasted
Garganey
Grebe, Pied-billed
Gull, Common
Gull, Glaucous
Gull, Iceland
Gull, Ivory
Gull, Little
Gull, Ring-billed
H I-J-K-L-M-N O-P-Q-R
Harrier, Marsh
Harrier, Montagu's
Harrier, Northern
C.C.Hudsonius
Harrier, Pallid
Heron, Night
Heron, Purple
Ibis, Glossy
Lark, Short-toed 2010, 2011
Lesser Yellowlegs
Nighthawk, Common
Partridge, Grey
Phalarope, Wilson's
Plover, American Golden
Pipit, Buff-bellied
Pipit, Richard's
Raven
Redshank, Spotted
Redstart, Black
S T U-V-W-X-Y-Z
Sandpiper, Baird's
Sandpiper, Buff-breasted 2010, 2011
Sandpiper, Least Kerry2010, Wex2010
Sandpiper, Pectoral
Sandpiper, Semipalmated
Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed
Sandpiper, Spotted
Sandpiper, White-rumped
Shrike, Red-backed
Skua, Great
Skua, Pomarine
Spoonbill 2010, 2011
Stilt, Black-winged
Teal, Blue-winged
Tern, Black
Tern, White-winged Black
Tern, Forster's
Vireo, Red-eyed
Wagtail, Citrine
Warbler, Grasshopper
Warbler, Yellow-browed Oct11, Nov11
Wheatear, Desert
Whitethroat, Lesser (Asian)


10-11 March 2013

Bull Island:  A Common Spoonbill was found on North Bull Island, north of the causeway by Paul McMahon. It was present to dusk.AGK



23 February 2013

Cooley Point, County Louth: on Shelling Hill Beach at Templetown 1 Richard's Pipit. This is a rare visitor to Ireland from Siberia and all the more rare for visiting in the early Spring has been in the area since early February. RD


8 October 2012

Bull Island:  the 1st-winter Lesser Yellowlegs was showing exceptionally well at ranges down to 15m on The North Bull Island at 13:45 today. Present North of the causeway, just past the small bit of salt marsh at the River Santry outflow. Best viewed from the coastal path alongside the road.NTK & NK

Lesser Yellowlegs at Bull Island (Photo by Edd Kealy)


Lesser Yellowlegs at Bull Island (Photo by Niall Keogh)


7 October 2012

Bull Island:  Lesser Yellowlegs about 150m north of the causeway on the Anne's Park side at 3.30 today. Feeding very close to the footpath in mud with tufts of grass (views to about 10m) . Went home for camera but tide was in when I got back and could not re-locate. Long yellow legs, slimmer, longer bodied and smaller than redshank when side by side. Faint brown tinged streaking to upper breast, white breast/belly otherwise, pale super in front of eye, white eye ring, thin blackish bill.PR

 

29 May 2012

BREAKING NEWS:   Ireland's first ever Collared Flycatcher was found today. It is apparently a 1st summer male and was found on Tory Island today by Robert Vaughan. A great bird and a great find. Well done Robert.


31 March 2012

Tachumshin, Co. Wexford: Black-Winged Stilt still present at Tacumshin today.PC

Black-winged Stilt at Tachumshin (Photo by Philip Clancy)


30 March 2012
Deansgrange:  A Siberian Chiffchaff (subspecies tristis) gave excellent views this afternoon as it fed in the trees along the stream that runs through Clonkeen Park, between Supervalu Deansgrange & Meadowvale Tennis Club from 14:15 to 15:00. It was very vocal, repeatedly giving the distinctive, plaintive '(h)eep' or '(s)eep' call which was useful in locating the bird as it flit about. This call is markedly different to that of our own Chiffchaffs (subspecies collybita) which gives a more drawn out, di-syllabic 'hu-weet' call. It is also in active moult, looking rather messy around the face, is growing its central tail feathers & looks set to drop some of its upper tertials. This state of moult for the time of year is another feature which can help distinguish tristis from collybita. The bird is a much colder grey-brown overall, with green edged flight feathers, jet black legs & feet, a very dark bill & strikingly pale underparts compared to collybita. A little cracker! Niall T Keogh & Noel Keogh

29 March 2012
Bunnmahon, Co. Waterford:  saw a Purple Heron that was found by Daniel Weldon (1st county record).Philip Clancy

27 March 2012
ECNR news:  Highlight of the day however was the rather unexpected finding of a Siberian Chiffchaff that spent two hours (10:45-12:45) ranging between the reedbed boardwalk in ECNR & the garden at Six Mile Point. It showed very well at times, called frequently & gave some snatches of song allowing for the identification to be confirmed. Niall T Keogh

23 March 2012
Rogerstown:  5 Avocets at Rogerstown today (first spotted by Sean Cullen).Philip Clancy,Ger Franck,Edd Kealy

Four of the 5 Avocets at Rogerstown (Photo by Philip Clancy)



19 March 2012

Drogheda:   Common Crane showing well at Beaulieu Pond, Drogheda. Bird showing well in Stubble field at rear of the pond throughout the morning and also viewed out on the estuary, giving superb views.BS

Common Crane seen in Drogheda (Photo by Brendan Sheils)




20 November 2011
Bull Island:  Attached are two shots of a Desert Wheatear found by Shane Farrell earlier today. It was seen at the Northern tip of the Bull Island on the city side. This bird is, I understand, a first record for The Bull and Co. Dublin and the 6th Irish record.JohnFox

Desert Wheatear at Bull Island (Photo by John Fox)



13 November 2011

One of two Desert Wheatears found today on Bray Head, just south of the Cross (Photo by Mark Carmody)


12 November 2011
Rogerstown:   photo of the Common Crane which flew into Rogerstown Estuary today. It came in from the north, over the flooded field, looked like it was going to land but every bird took flight and probably spooked it. The bird went on east, over the landfill area kept going. Great buzz.Mark Carmody

1 Crane at Rogerstown today well spotted from Mark Carmody.SC

Crane, Common - at Rogerstown (Photo by Shay Connolly)


7 November 2011
Kilcoole:  The Yellow-browed Warbler was at Kilcoole again this morning, calling on the laneway north of the train station car park.Niall T Keogh & Noel Keogh.

Rogerstown: Single Spoonbill came in over North Hide at 12:30 & landed in a ditch northeast of hide then headed south at 14:30.Adrian Rooney.


30 October 2011

Juv Red-Backed Shrike at Churchtown Co. Wexford (Photo by Philip Clancy)

17 October 2011

Short-toed Lark at Cape Clear, County Cork (Photo by Philip Clancy)

Red-eyed Vireo at Cape Clear, County Cork (Photo by Philip Clancy)

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Cape Clear, County Cork (Photo by Philip Clancy)
 

Yellow-browed Warbler being ringed at Cape Clear, County Cork (Photo by Philip Clancy)

16 October 2011
A pair of Glossy Ibis at Lady's Island Lake in Co. Wexford (Photo by Mark Carmody)




15 October 2011
Bull Island:   1 Spotted Redshank. The observers were myself, Philip Clancy & Gerry Power.TD

Spotted Redshank at Bull Island (Photo by Tom Doyle)


County Louth:  Forster's Tern showing very well on Cruisetown Strand, Clogherhead this morning. Presumed a returning Bird. Bird has been present the past two days on the south side of the Strand close to the rocks.Brendan Sheils

9 October 2011

Least Sandpiper at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford (Photo by Mark Carmody)




3 October 2011

Gormanstown,County Meath:   A juvenile Baird's Sandpiper seen at Gormanstown Strand this morning, showing well at the outflow on both the Meath & the Dublin sides of the border. Niall T Keogh

Baird's Sandpiper, south of the Devlin River, Gormanstown (Photo by David Dillon)



Least Sandpiper which was found at Carrahane, Co. Kerry (Photo by Mark Carmody)


25 September 2011
Wexford:   Tacumshin Lake: 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper.BS

Semipalmated Sandpiper at Tacumshin, Wexford (Photo by Brendan Sheils)



4 September 2011
Tacumshin, County Wexford: 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 American Golden Plover, 1 Citrine Wagtail, 1 Black Tern, 1 White-winged Black Tern and a Marsh Harrier. Pallid Harrier was also seen by some (3rd Irish record, all in this year).Philip Clancy

Citrine Wagtail at Tacumshin (Photo by Philip Clancy)


17 July 2011
Wexford - at Ladys Island:  a rare summer plumaged Spotted Sandpiper from North America.PC

Spotted Sandpiper at Lady's Island, Wexford (Photo by Philip Clancy)


1 May 2011 

Night Heron at Bunmahon, County Waterford (Photo by Philip Clancy)


14 January 2011
Below is a photo of a Lesser Whitethroat seen at Drogheda today.
The bird was ringed on the 13th January 2011 by Chris Honan in the company of Alyn Walsh and Killian Mullarney. 
Killian has stated on the IBN that some of the features seen, the call and wing formula measured while the bird was in the hand suggest that the bird may be one of the Asian forms of Lesser Whitethroat, most probably halimodendri or minula. DNA collected may prove its race in time. Either way a very interesting bird particularly for the time of year.JF

Lessor Whitethroat at Drogheda (Photo by John Fox)



13 November 2010
Kilcoole: one Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus hudsonius) - this find was the third documented C.C.Hudsonius for Europe.Stephen Lawlor

Northern Harrier c.c. hudsonius at Kilcoole (Photo by Stephen Lawlor)



30 October 2010
At Carne Harbour Wexford: we had a Buff-Bellied Pipit, a very rare vagrant from North America (found by Eric Dempsey is the 5th Wexford record)

Buff-bellied Pipit at Carne Harbour, Wexford (Photo by Eric Dempsey)   See IRBC Appendix 1


17 October 2010
The 2nd-cal year Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was showing well (but often disappearing for some time) in front of the south hide at Rogerstown from 08:10 this morning. This excellent find by Liam Feeney is the 5th Irish record and the first for the East Coast recording area.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Rogerstown (Photos by Eric Dempsey)

30 September 2010


Wilson's Phalarope, Tachumshane, Co. Wexford (Photo by Philip Clancy)

26 September 2010

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tachumshane, Co. Wexford (Photo by Philip Clancy)




19 September 2010

Ring-necked Duck, Ballyconneely, Connemara (Photo by Michael Harris)

Long-billed Dowitcher, Ballyconneely, Connemara (Photo by Michael Harris)

Blue-winged Teal, Ballyconneely, Connemara (Photo by Michael Harris)

 

September 2010????

Indian House Crow at Cobh, County Cork (Photo by Dermot McCabe)

Indian House Crow at Cobh, County Cork (Photo by Mark Carmody)




30 June 2010


Montagu's Harrier (3 Photos by John Fox)





9 July 2010

Grey Partridge, Boora Bog, County Offaly (Photos by Philip Clancy)
   


18 June 2010

Drumming Snipe at Boora Bog (Photo by John Fox)


14 June 2010


Eider and Chick, County Down, 14th June 2010. (Photo by Eric Dempsey)  ***AMBER***


27 May 2010

Timahoe West, County Kildare:  1 Red-footed Falcon (female).JF   See IRBC Appendix 2

Red-footed Falcon, 27th May 2010. (2 Photos by John Fox)
 



Red-footed Falcon, 27th May 2010. (3 Photos by Victor Caschera)
3 Photos by Victor Caschera)

 

  


 

19 May 2010

Grasshopper Warbler on Great Saltee, 19th May 2010. (Photo by John Fox)  ***AMBER***



29 April 2010

Raven at Glenveigh National Park, Donegal, April 2010. Photo by Cian Merne


8 April 2010

Little Gull, Tachumshane, County Wexford, 8th April 2010. Photo by John Fox


Garganey, Tachumshane, County Wexford, 8th April 2010. Photo by John Fox



7 April 2010

Short-toed Lark at Ballycotton, County Cork, 7th April 2010. Photo by John Fox



25 March 2010

Ballyconneely, ConnemaraDotterel
.DB


Dotterel at Ballyconneely, Connemara (Photos by Dermot Breen)


12 March 2010

Inchydoney, County Cork: Spoonbill.PC

Spoonbill at Inchydoney (Photo by Philip Clancy)



4 March 2010

County Limerick: 
Pied-billed Grebe at Lough Gur.JF


Pied-billed Grebe, Lough Gur, Co Limerick. (Photo by John Fox)



8 November 2009

Ballycotton, County Cork:  Bluethroat, seen in the area from the 8th to the 11th. John Fox

Bluethroat at Ballycotton (Photo by John Fox)

29 October 2009

Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin: Black Redstart.JF

Black Redstart at Dun Laoghaire (Photo by John Fox)


25 October 2009

Caherciveen, County Cork:   Common Nighthawk - a very rare American vagrant.ED

Common Nighthawk seen in Caherciveen (Photos by Eric Dempsey)




September 2009

Pomarine Skua (Photo by John Fox)

Great Skua (Photo by John Fox)





June 2009

Inishbofin:  Corncrake.ED

Corncrake calling, Innisboffin 
    


Corncrake listening, Innisboffin (Photo by Eric Dempsey) 
 

6 March 2009

Baltimore, County Cork:  Ivory Gull. RV, ED, JF

Tryptich below: Baltimore Gulls - Iceland, Common, and Ivory Gull. John Fox
Iceland and Common gulls shown for comparison

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by John Fox)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by John Fox)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by John Fox)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by John Fox)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by John Fox)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by John Fox)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by John Fox)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by John Fox)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by Eric Dempsey)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by Eric Dempsey)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by Eric Dempsey)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by Eric Dempsey)

Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by Eric Dempsey)


Ivory Gull at Baltimore, Cork (Photo by Eric Dempsey)



Ivory Gull, Baltimore, Cork (Photo by Robert Vaughan)




1 February 2009


Glaucous Gull, Nimos Pier, Galway 1 February 2009. Jose Campos 



Ring-billed Gull, Nimos Pier, Galway. 1 February 2009. Jose Campos 


 
       

 

 

© Copyright, Tolka Branch, Birdwatch Ireland 2012