| Mayo Branch of Bird Watch Ireland |
| Thursday, 15 October 2009 | |
Mayo Branch of BirdWatch IrelandOctober 2009 UpdateTo receive (or stop receiving) our Monthly Update by email, see details at the end of this Update Wed 7 October at 7.30pm: ‘Barn Owls’ – a free Public Talk by John Lusby (BWI’s Barn OwlResearch Officer) in Castlebar at the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology(GMIT). Contact Ruth-Ann - 0876432340 NB – Please note that this Talk is on Wednesday John Lusby has specialised in studying Barn Owl ecology for the past five years. He runs the Barn Owl Research Project, which is a collaboration between BirdWatch Ireland and University College Cork. One of the main aims of the project has been to learn more about the ecology of this elusive species in order to discover the reasons behind its dramatic population decline, and also to develop conservation measures to ensure its future protection in this country. The work thus far has had many significant findings, including the discovery of a small mammal species new to Ireland. The presentation will detail the various aspects of the research and its findings and also look at the future outlook for this iconic species. This summer, the project carried out work in Mayo. Therefore the insights gained, in terms of distribution, abundance and the ecology of the species will be put in a local context. The Barn Owl Research team welcome any help you can give to track down these wonderful birds. Please continue to send in any current or past records of Barn Owls.
17/18 Oct:Light-bellied Brent Goose Census (and 16/17 Jan 2010). This census has continued annuallysince 1996. The geese started to return to Mayo in late August this year, with the main arrivals nowdue. Branta berniclahrota are Ireland’s smallest geese and they can be seen on shoreline and coastal islands. Our wintering population mainly breed in high arctic eastern Canada, mostly in the eastern Queen Elizabeth Islands. They nest on the ground near fresh water lakes or rivers. They are grazers and, in Ireland, prefer Zostera, Enteromorpha and Ulva lactuca. Juveniles can be distinguished from adults in their first winter. Many Brent have readable rings on their legs. If you see one with rings, please note what colour and number/letter are on both legs and report them. If you are unable to read the rings, let us know that a ringed bird is present. Main sites where you can see Brent in Mayo are Broadhaven and Blacksod Bays, Killala Bay and Clew Bay, with 150-250 Brent to be seen at each site. If you can help out with this census, please contact us.
24/25 Oct:Irish Wetlands Bird Survey. LaterIWeBS Count Dates: 14/15 Nov, 12/13 Dec, 23/24 Jan, 20/21 Feb, 20/21 Mar
BWI Mayo Branch AGM – date to be confirmed(all BWI members welcome)
Late October /Early November: Birds of Lough Carra – a Public Talk by Chris Huxley – please keep an eye on our website for exact details.
01 Nov-31Dec –Early Winter Survey Bird Atlas 2007-2011 – the start of the third year – please consider taking on a tetrad, or sending in Roving Records
Sat 07 Nov 2009(9am-5pm) ‘What’sgoing on’ – an update on bird research and bird surveying in Northern Ireland at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Oxford Island. This one-day conference will inform you of the massive amount of research and survey work currently being undertaken in Northern Ireland. Speakers include: K Leonard, K Mackie,L Chivers, I Tomankove, A McGeehan, N McKee, S Wolsley, D Leech, E Meredith andI Enlander. Co-ordinated byShane Wolsley of BTO Ireland (you do not have to be a BTO or BWI member toattend). Cost is £20.00 perperson, which includes light lunch, coffee and registration. If you would likemore details, please email me at: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
14/15 Nov - Greylag Goose Survey 25 Nov: ‘The Garden Bird Survey’ – a Public Talk by Niall Hatch (Development Officer, BWI). 28 Nov: Branch Outing to Westport Quay
Please report all sightings of: Brent Geese and Whooper Swans (before the upcoming surveys) Birds to lookout for in October: · Increasing numbers of Little Egret, waders and ducks on the shoreline, in bays and on the lakes · Geese continue to arrive eg Barnacle, Brent, Greylag, Pink-footed · Unusual birds including Little Stint, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Long-tailed Duckand the more unusual sand pipers and buntings · Whooper Swans · Winter gullseg white-winged such as Glaucous and Iceland and other gulls such as Ring-billed Gull · Winter thrushes eg Redwing and Fieldfare · Sea Watching continues at headlands around Mayo eg Kilcummin, Downpatrick, Annagh · Late summer migrants eg Swallow, House Martin,
Passage migration is in full swing at various headlands around the county. Highest daily totals included: 300 Pomarine Skua, 93 Great Skua, 22 Arctic Skua, 1 Long-tailed Skua, as well as over 500 Sooty Shearwater, over 100 Great Shearwater and small numerous of Cory’s and Balearic Shearwater. There was also small numbers of both Leach’s and Storm Petrels. Other species included Grey Phalarope, Puffin, Arctic and Sandwich Tern and Sabine’sGull as well as the arrival of Barnacle Geese. Recent Sightings/Reports - The following are as reported: The Snowy Owl near the Stone Circle at Termon Hill at the south of the Mullet peninsula has been seen numerous times over the last month. Watch out for Lapland Bunting in the same area and at Annagh Head 04 Oct Tree Pipit, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Blackcap on the Mullet (D Suddaby) 23 Sept 1different adult American Golden Plover at Annagh Beach/Annagh Head on theMullet (D Suddaby) 22 Sept 1Buff-breasted Sandpiper and 1 adult moulting American Golden Plover at DunnamboGladree on the Mullet (M Reilly) 22 Sept 1Black-browed Albatross flying south at Annagh Head on the Mullet, 1 SolitarySandpiper near Annagh on the Mullet (D Suddaby) 1 juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 1 American Golden Plover at Termoncarragh,Mullet (D Suddaby) 19 Sept 9Lapland Bunting and 1 adult Long-tailed Skua at Erris Head on the Mullet (DSuddaby) 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull at Annagh Beachon the Mullet (D Suddaby) 19 Sept 1Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 100+ Twite Erris Head, Mullet (C Benson) 18 Sept 2 Mediterranean Gull at Belmullet Docks (1 adult, 1 1st winter) (DSuddaby) 2 second winter Ring-billed Gull at AnnaghHead and Annagh Beach on the Mullet (D Suddaby) 18 Sept 1Lesser Whitethroat on the Mullet and 1 Peregrine near Ballinrobe (C Benson) 1 Yellow-legged Gull at Annagh Beach on theMullet (D Suddaby) 13 Sept 1st winter Citrine Wagtail and 1 White Wagtail Corragaun Lough, near Louisburgh (DBreen) Juvenile Little Stint with two Dunlin atRoonah Lough. Also, flock of 17 Knot, 70 Lapwing, 1st winter ringed Mediterranean Gull (D Breen) Branch ContactDetails: John Milroy(Chair)0868449113 Wendy Stringer(Sec/Newsletter)0863382808 or 098 21019 or Ruth-Ann Leak(Treasurer/Website)0876432340 or 0949257841 (eve or w/e) Ger Rogan (PRO)0876788699 Keep an eye on ourwebsite for future events, news and sightings, or to send in sightings: Email Address: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Website address:www.birdwatchmayo.org This Newsletter is available byemail – just send your email address and let us know that you want to receive it (or stop receiving it to: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
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