Pos. Sib. Chiff Chaff Lurgangreen

A chiffchaff  ( pos.tristis chiff chaff )seen today at Lurgangreen on  the high bank where you park just south of the waterworks.It was on the small bush on the bank and was feeding on the salt marsh and flew south seen by D.C.
IF THIS BIRD IS A TRISTIS CHIFFER IT WILL BE A FIRST RECORD FOR LOUTH.

Also reported in Dundalk docks a ring billed gull on sunday.

WHITE LINNET AT SEABANK

4 Waxwing at REGIONAL COLLEGE DLK

2  ARGENTATUS HERRING GULL  AT CRUIESTOWN

More Waxwings seen

15 Waxwings seen 1 mile north of Castlebellingham and 3 at Blackrock.

Waxwings at Annagassan.

4   WAXWINGS WERE ON THE ROAD FROM  ANNAGASSAN TO CASTLEBELLINGHAM NEAR THE TOP OF THE HILL ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.

Waxwings seen off quay st.

7 Waxwings were seen again around 3 pm today at small estate between  Barrack st./Quay st area.Seen at same time as yesterday about 3 pm.

Yellow browed warbler at Rathcor

Ballagan Today, Oct 15.

BEACH BUZZARD

Carrion crow Cruistown sunday

Today I took a trip out to the Cooley area around Balagan point,birds of interest were 20 House Martin 4 Swallow,1 Wheatear,1 Hen Harrier and at Dundalk dock 5 Ruff,2 Curlew sands.

IWEBs

I was out counting birds in Dundalk Bay today almost 1,000 Brent at Annagassan. 1 adult Med Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull at Seabank.

Dick Coombes had 2 Slavonian Grebes at Blackrock and the Forster's Tern at Soldier's Point.

Plenty of Buzzards around (12) and a nice Merlin at Cruisetown

Buzzard

Merlin

RECENT SPAIN TRIP

FROM LEFT,    BIRDER,                GERRY O NEILL{ME},          VAL    AND    GLYN          ,EDDY.

A DAY AT THE RAPTOR WATCHPOINT EL ALGARROBO ,RUPPELLS VULTURE  SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE BLACK STORK BLK KITES HONEY BUZZARDS ETC

Clogher Head

I had a quiet hour on Clogher Head this evening in a northly wind. The best bird this adult Med Gull

A quick look on the head itself just produced some Meadow Pipits and this Stonechat

Breffni Martin had a mixed flock of Linnet and Twite at Ballymascanlon saltmarsh.

Black Tern

I did an hour long seawatch this afternoon at Clogher Head. It did not look too promising with a strenghtning North West wind but perseverance paid off with an adult winter Black Tern passing northwards in a steady trickle of about 50 Sandwich Terns. Also about 5 Red throated Diver, a few Kittiwake and about 30 Gannets. The garden looked quiet.

3 Yellow legged gulls Lurgangreen Forsters Tern

The Forsters tern was seen again at Soldiers point ,showing well feeding in front of the hide with 2 Sandwich terns.Also at Lurgangreen 3 Yellow legged gulls were on the mudflats but distant.Med gull at Cruiestown and 2 skuas at Clogher head were the best of the rest on sunday 23 sep.

Forsters Tern on show.

Forster's Tern at Soldiers Point

Forster's Tern

Forster's Tern

Forster's Tern

Sandwich Tern

Tom Gittings found a Forster's Tern at Soldiers Point today. Presumably the returning bird. It showed on and off from lunchtime to 6 O'Clock. Commuting up and down the river.

Artic skua and swallow at Hermitage

More Med Gulls etc

About 700 terns at Cruisetown today. Mainly Common but also 20 Roseate and 30 Sandwich Terns. 1 adult and 3 sub adult Med Gulls also present amoung the large number of commoner gulls.

Lurganreen had another sub adult Med Gull and 3 Ruff. 2 Pale bellied Brent also present.

3 Artic skuas at Lurgangreen.

3 Artic skuas at Cruiestown beach

SEAWATCHING NEWS FROM LOUTH

Great winds today east to south east f6/8.Also Ring Ouzel reported from Drogheda garden.An all white Common gull and 2 argentatus Herring gulls were also at Lurgengreen.
.
                                      LURGANGREEN.         CLOGHER HD.   HERMITAGE.

GREY PHAL                                                         4  + 2                      1
ARTIC SKUA                      4                               10                           18
POM SKUA                                                          1
BLACK TERN                                                      1 + 2
LIT. GULL                           1                                1
Y.L. GULL                           1(ad)
MANX SHEAR                                                     100+

Juv. Great spotted woodpecker seen in Ravensdale woods.

Over the last few years g.s.woodpeckers have established a small breeding population in Wicklow with signs of them moving   to other counties along the east coast.With  2  records of g.s.woodpecker in louth over the last few years the signs were that we might find a breeding pair with luck.I think luck had alot to do with the finding of this  juv. g.s.woodpecker in Ravensdale wood as it was found on friday the 13th by someone not looking for woodpeckers but in a hide photographing squirrels .Lets hope this is  a sign of a pair in the area and of future breeding.

Another ad. Med Gull at Dundlk Docks today.

Red footed falcon reported at Tallinstown

Summer Ruff Dundalk Docks area

Lesser whitethroat reported today at Clogher Head garden

Osprey seen at Salterstown

Clogher Head Wheatears

Good fall of wheatears and whitethroats on Clogher head Sunday.