Galley Head Birding: October 2005 Archives

October 31, 2005

more yanks

The merlin was seen at Galley again today, and a glaucous gull was at Red Strand. Despite this excitement, I cracked and twitched Cape for the yellow-rumped warbler there.

yellow-rumped warbler

Yellow-rumped warbler, Cape Clear | photos: c cronin

Sadly it had disappeared by this afternoon but we did manage great views of the grey-cheeked thrush and a grey phalarope.

grey-cheeked thrush

Grey-cheeked thrush, Cape Clear | photos: c cronin

Posted by col at 05:55 PM | Comments (0)

October 30, 2005

2 chimney swifts!

Female merlin and a chiffchaff was the best at Galley today. However a chimney swift in Baltimore and a second in Clonakilty brightened things up considerably.

Posted by col at 05:50 PM | Comments (0)

October 25, 2005

windy but

A black redstart was at the lighthouse today, with a chiffchaff in Dirk Bay and another at Strawtown.

Posted by col at 06:38 PM | Comments (0)

October 23, 2005

quiet enough

Much quieter this morning with only a chiffchaff or 2 remaining around shite lane, 3 yellowhammers over marsh lane and two 2nd w & one 1st w mediterranean gulls at Long Strand. The ring ouzel was at Strawtown again today.

Posted by col at 10:38 PM | Comments (1)

October 22, 2005

more of de same

Five chiffchaffs, 2 goldcrests and a black redstart were between shite lane crossroads and long strand this morning, with 3 bullfinches and a few chiffchaffs & goldcrests in Dirk Bay. A yellow-browed warbler was at Strawtown.

Posted by col at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)

October 21, 2005

rb fly

Plenty of crests, blackcaps and chiffchaffs down Dirk Bay today. A red-breasted flycatcher was showing well at Strawtown, along with a few chiffchaffs and goldcrests.

Posted by col at 02:16 PM | Comments (1)

October 20, 2005

long tails

Strong westerlies this morning so wasn't inspired to do more than a quick check round the lashers & down 'marsh lane' this morning. Had c.8 chiffchaffs, a couple of goldcrests, and 10 siskins. 4 long-tailed tits in the garden later were a nice surprise (131).

Two mediterranean gulls (1st w & 2nd w) were at Long Strand this morning.

Posted by col at 11:09 AM | Comments (0)

October 19, 2005

rain stopped play

Heavy rain all day today limited birding activity. A quick check round the lashers & down 'marsh lane' this evening produced c.8 chiffchaffs, 4 goldcrests, 1 blackcap and the icterine warbler, which was showing well - its been here a week now!

Posted by col at 10:30 PM | Comments (0)

October 18, 2005

gank goodies

After all the rain yesterday there didn't seem to be a whole lot new in at Galley today. Still c.20 chiffchaffs and robins, c.10 siskins, c.6 blackcaps and 2 black redstarts knocking about. Lapwing and brent goose were both worthy additions to the patch year list (130).

Posted by col at 11:51 AM | Comments (0)

October 17, 2005

reed for de patch

South-easterly again today but seemed a little quieter, with c.20 chiffchaffs and robins, 2 or 3 siskins over, c.6 blackcaps and the icterine warbler again at Lasher's Cross. A reed warbler down 'Marsh Lane' was new for the patch year list (128) and equals last years patch total, which was nice.

Posted by col at 12:09 PM | Comments (1)

October 16, 2005

radde's ya bas!

The south-easterly winds continued overnight and resulted in good numbers of common migrants at Galley, with at least c.40 chiffchaffs, c. 40 robins, c.40 redwings, c.10 blackcaps, 2 whinchats and a few siskins and redpolls over. 6 black redstarts and 1 brambling were both new for the patch year list (127).

The icterine warbler reappeared near lasher's cross and a new yellow-browed warbler was found down 'marsh lane' this morning.

All birders left the area on hearing of a radde's warbler at Ballymacrown, near Baltimore this afternoon - what a cracker!!

Posted by col at 05:46 PM | Comments (0)

October 15, 2005

barred warbler

2 chiffchaffs, good numbers of crests and a coal tit were in Dirk Bay today with 3 blackcaps, 4 chiffchaffs, female merlin and the long-staying snow bunting also around at Galley. A few siskin and 5 redwing were recorded going over, with the latter species new for the year (125).

A barred warbler was found this afternoon down 'marsh lane', although it was very elusive. An adult winter mediterranean gull was at Long Strand this afternoon.

Posted by col at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)

October 14, 2005

its gone all quiet

1 chiffchaff and 10 redpoll were in Dirk Bay today and 2 female scaup were on Kilkeran Lake.

Posted by col at 12:47 PM | Comments (0)

October 13, 2005

flyer's moon

The clear night led to a bit of a clearout of stuff at Galley today, with only a few chiffchaffs and goldcrests lingering. The female scaup was still on Kilkeran Lake and a female merlin was seen near the lighthouse.

The green heron was still present at Schull today, showing well.

Posted by col at 09:05 AM | Comments (0)

October 12, 2005

year ticks galore!

A year tick bonanza at Galley this morning with yellowhammer, merlin and icterine warbler all new (123). The firecrest and redstart were still present in Dirk Bay.

A female scaup on Kilkeran Lake this evening was also new for the patch year list (124).

The green heron was still present at Schull today, showing well.

Posted by col at 03:35 PM | Comments (2)

October 11, 2005

Aren't green herons brilliant?

Six jays at Long Strand this morning were a welcome bonus for the patch year list (120). A lesser whitethoat, firecrest and a few chiffchaffs and goldcrests were present in Dirk Bay, with a couple of chiffchaffs elsewhere.

Things went a bit mad this afternoon when a green heron was found at Schull. Cracking views of this 1st for Ireland were had by all - brilliant!

Posted by col at 10:38 PM | Comments (0)

October 10, 2005

Dirk comes good eventually

Caught up with the redstart in Dirk Bay this morning - a good patch year tick (119). Also had the firecrest and a few chiffchaffs and goldcrests there.

Took two attempts but finally nailed the hawfinch at the Old Head this afternoon - just. The grey-cheeked thrush was seen again there this morning.

Posted by col at 07:35 PM | Comments (0)

October 09, 2005

a tick before breakfast!

An early morning twitch to the Old Head was rewarded by cracking views of a gray-cheeked thrush in the plantation - fabulous! A hawfinch was also present there.

Dirk Bay had redstart, firecrest, blackcap and a few chiffchaffs and goldcrests. A wheatear was out by the lighthouse.

Posted by col at 07:29 PM | Comments (0)

October 08, 2005

new in

A new yellow-browed warbler was at Shite Lane this morning, with c. 6 chiffchaffs, 4 goldcrests, a blackcap and a willow warbler. Dirk Bay had a firecrest, lesser whitethroat and ring ouzel as well as good numbers of chiffchaffs, goldcrests and 3 blackcaps. The 2 coal tits were also still present.

Posted by col at 06:48 PM | Comments (1)

October 07, 2005

firecrest

The yellow-browed warbler was still present in Dirk Bay this morning, along with c.6 goldcrests and c.6 chiffchaffs. A firecrest at Lasher's Cross was new for the patch year list (118) and 4 goldcrests and c.6 chiffchaffs were also there.

The lesser yellowlegs was still at White's Marsh this afternoon.

Posted by col at 10:58 AM | Comments (2)

October 06, 2005

not so much

Things were a bit quieter at Galley this morning, although there were still numbers of common migrants around. A spotted flycatcher and c.10 chiffchaffs were in Dirk Bay, with c.6 chiffchaffs and 3 blackcaps elsewhere.

Posted by col at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)

October 05, 2005

ooo migrants!

Dirk Bay had a yellow-browed warbler and 2 coal tits this morning, which were both new additions to the patch year list (117). Also there were c. 5 chiffchaffs, 2 blackcaps and a few goldcrests. A ring ouzel was seen there in the afternoon.

Elsewhere around Galley there were 6 mistle thrushes, 1 snipe, 1 willow warbler and the snow bunting again near the lighthouse.

The lesser yellowlegs was still at White's Marsh this morning along with a little stint and a spotted redshank.

Posted by col at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)

October 04, 2005

south-easterlies!

Today's migrants at Galley were 1 chiffchaff, 3 or 4 goldcrests and a whinchat.

Posted by col at 01:44 PM | Comments (2)

October 03, 2005

dead again

A slog round Galley this morning produced just 2 chiffchaffs in Dirk Bay, c.6 goldcrests and good numbers of meadow pipits and finches moving through. The lesser yellowlegs was still present at White's Marsh this lunchtime.

Posted by col at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)

October 02, 2005

nae new migs

Galley was quiet again today with just a chiffchaff and a male blackcap in Dirk Bay. The lesser yellowlegs was still present at White's Marsh this morning and the juvenile long-billed dowitcher was seen at Clonakilty this afternoon.

Posted by col at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)

October 01, 2005

A quiet start to October...

The snow bunting was still present on the road to the lighthouse this morning. A juvenile long-billed dowitcher was with the long-staying lesser yellowlegs at White's Marsh this evening.

Posted by col at 01:49 PM | Comments (0)