November Seatrack Update

A run of Atlantic weather systems moving through over the past two weeks produced some nice tallies for the time of year with late Balearic, Sooty & Great Shearwaters noted along with all four species of skuas & a few Grey Phalaropes. A flock of up to 450 Little Gulls off the Murrough coastline in Co. Wicklow on 22nd/23rd October was a nice find, but to be expected in the right weather conditions at this time of year. 

Little Gull (Dick Coombes)

The final Seatrack survey of the 2011 season takes place this weekend 5th/6th November starting at 08:30am. Whilst the forecast for the weekend seems rather unfavorable for any 'decent' seawatching, early Novemeber can often throw up a few surprises, with Little Auk certainly topping the seasonal wish list. Observers in the south-west should still be on the look out for our target species, Balearic Shearwater, which can often be found here well into the winter.

If you're interested in undertaking a Seatrack survey then e-mail Niall Keogh at seatrack@birdwatchireland.ie

Little Auk, coming to a bathtub near you! (Declan Murphy)

Location: Bloody Foreland, Co. Donegal

Date: 19/10/2011

Time: 08:00-11:05

Weather: F3 N-NW, showers & poor-mod visibility.

Observer(s): Chris Ingram

Great Skua (Bonxie): 23 W

Pomarine Skua: 7 W

Arctic Skua: 5 W

Skua sp: 6 W

Sabine's Gull: 12 W

Arctic Tern: 1 W

Red-throated Diver: 7 W

Great Northern Diver: 11 W & 1 E

Diver sp: 2 W & 1 E

Gannet: 164 W & 5 E

Kittiwake: 1431 W & 4 E

Guillemot: 1 W

Auk sp: 81 W & 16 E

Red-breasted Merganser: 36 W

Barnacle Goose: 54 W & 32 E

Location: Dursey Island, Co. Cork

Date: 17/10/2011

Time: 08:00-10:00

Weather: F6-7 W-SW, dry with excellent visibility

Observer(s): Derek A. Scott

Manx Shearwater: 2 N

Sooty Shearwater: 3 N

Pomarine Skua: 1 N

Arctic Skua: 3 N

Skua sp: 1 M (Arctic/Pomarine sat on the sea)

Fulmar: 190 N

Kittiwake: 105 N

Auk sp: 231 N

Harbour Porpoise: 6 M

"Undertaken from the comfort of our house, 2.2 km from the extreme south-western tip of the island. Our house is situated about 450 feet above sea-level and faces due south, so that we have a commanding view of the sea between Mizen Head and the tip of Dursey. Sea-watching can be quite good from the door of our house when there is a strong wind from the north-west or west and most birds are tracking WNW into the wind on a course from Mizen Head to Dursey Tip. A good telescope is, however, essential. The disadvantage is that we seldom see anything that is heading south-west past the tip from the north side of the island, as this is much too far away."

Location: Bloody Foreland, Co. Donegal

Date: 15/10/2011

Time: 08:25-11:35

Weather: F2-4 SW, light-nil rain in poor-good visibility

Observer(s): Ralph Sheppard & Chris Ingram

Manx Shearwater: 1 W

Sooty Shearwater: 2 W

Storm Petrel: 1 W

Great Skua (Bonxie): 1 W & 1 E

Arctic Skua: 3 W

Skua sp: 2 E & 1 M

'Commic' Tern: 1 W

Common Scoter: 8 W

Red-throated Diver: 1 W

Great Northern Diver: 13 W & 4 E

Diver sp: 1 W & 1 E

Fulmar: 1 W

Gannet: 535 W & 71 E

Kittiwake: 28 W & 4 E

Guillemot: 26 W

Razorbill: 31 W

Auk sp: 107 W

Black Guillemot: 1 W

Red-breasted Merganser: 1 E

Basking Shark: 1 W

Location: Brownstown Head, Co. Waterford
Date: 15/10/2011

Time: 08:55-12:00
Weather: 5-6 SW, vis moderate, some drizzle

Observer(s): Paul Walsh & Jonathon Bulfin

Great Skua (Bonxie): 2 E
Arctic Skua: 1 E & 1 W
Fulmar: 2 W
Gannet: 20 E, 29 W
Red-throated Diver: 1 W
Diver sp: 1 W
Wigeon: 13 W
Shelduck: 3 W
Kittiwake: 17 E & 159 W
Sandwich Tern: 1 W
Auk sp: 27 E & 34 W

Late September Seatrack Update

The last Seatrack Target Weekend (17th/18th Sept) coincided nicely with a mass movement of Sabine's Gulls, Arctic Terns, Long-tailed Skuas & Sooty Shearwaters along the west coast, particularly from The Bridges of Ross & Dursey Island. A smattering of scarcities were still recorded from vantage points along the North, South & East coast however, with a late Cory's Shearwater from Wicklow Head topping the bill.

The next Seatrack survey takes places this weekend 1st/2nd Oct. We're now moving away from the traditional seawatching period but given the right conditions, good numbers of skuas & Leach's Petrels can be expected along with an increase in the number of auks, seaduck & divers. Saying that, the forecast for the weekend looks rather settled so the draw of checking gardens & bushes on headlands might take precedence over seawatching for some! If you're interested in taking part in a Seatrack survey then e-mail Niall Keogh at seatrack@birdwatchireland.ie

Location: Fanad Head, Co. Donegal

Date: 18th September 2011

Time: 08:10-10:10

Weather: F5-6 N-NW, dry with good visibility.

Observer(s): Chris Ingram.

Balearic Shearwater: 1 W

Sooty Shearwater: 1 W

Manx Shearwater: 15 W

Leach's Petrel: 2 W

Great Skua (Bonxie): 5 W

Great Northern Diver: 6 W & 1 E

Fulmar: 13 W

Kittiwake: 3 W

Razorbill: 68 W

Auk sp: 99 W

Location: Brownstown Head, Co. Waterford.
Date: 18th September 2011
Time: 07:55-09:55 & 10:00-11:00
Weather: 4-5 NW, vis excellent to moderate, occasional drizzle.
Observer(s): Jonathan Bulfin & Paul Walsh.


Balearic Shearwater: 3 W
Manx Shearwater: 1 E, 2 W
Gannet: 220 E & 405 W
Common Scoter: 4 E & 8 W
Wigeon: 6 W
Dunlin: 27 E
Great Skua: 1 W
Arctic Skua: 2 W
Kittiwake: 5 E & 85 W
Sandwich Tern: 38 E & 183 W
Arctic Tern: 3 W
Common/Arctic Tern: 2 E & 22 W
Razorbill: 14 W
Guillemot: 4 W
Large auk sp: 2 E & 98 W


Manx almost outnumbered by Balearics! - including 2 very pale-below birds.
Dozens of Swallows also passing W over sea.

September Seatrack Update

The last Seatrack survey weekend (3rd/4th Sept) saw some good national & local movements of shearwaters recorded right around the coast from Donegal to Wicklow. Details from a few of these watches are listed below.

The next survey takes places this weekend (17th/18th Sept) with  moderate-strong North-westerly winds predominating so who knows what will be picked up this time around? If you're interested in taking part in a Seatrack survey then e-mail Niall Keogh at seatrack@birdwatchireland.ie

Location: Bloody Foreland, Co. Donegal

Date: 3rd September 2011

Time: 07:05-10:25

Weather: F4 W turning F4 SW, dry with good visibility. 

Observer(s): Ralph Sheppard & Chris Ingram.

Sooty Shearwater: 112 W

Manx Shearwater: 125 W & 3 E

Great Skua (Bonxie): 7

Pomarine Skua: 2

Arctic Skua: 4

Sandwich Tern: 4 W

Puffin: 1 E

Great Northern Diver: 2 W

A good showing by the Sooties.

Location: Annagh Head, Co. Mayo

Date: 3rd September 2011

Time: 07:00-18:20

Observer(s): Alan Lauder, KDShaw, JMAOsborne, SDHousden, Dave Suddaby, Chris Jones, Rob Innes et al.

Cory's Shearwater: 4

Great Shearwater: 333

Balearic Shearwater: 3

Sooty Shearwater: 2,900

Manx Shearwater: 5,700

Fulmar: 1,920

Storm Petrel: 4

Great Skua (Bonxie): 43

Pomarine Skua: 20

Arctic Skua: 28

Sandwich Tern: 8

Arctic Tern: 19

Puffin: 18

Whimbrel: 2

An excellent tally of shearwaters. Cory's are often quite scarce away from Cork, so a good North-west record indeed.

Location: Dursey Island, Co. Cork

Date: 3rd September 2011

Time: 07:30-10:30

Weather: F4 NW, dry with good-excellent visibility.

Observer(s): Derek A. Scott, Joanna E. Scott & David Cooke.

Sooty Shearwater: 4 W & 133 E

Manx Shearwater: 110 W & 249 E

Great Skua (Bonxie): 3 E

Arctic Skua: 5 W

Arctic Tern: 2 E

Puffin: 2 E

Minke Whale: 1

Common Dolphin: 2

Harbour Porpoise: 12

A good run of Sooties in conditions which weren't ideal for seawatching from Dursey.

Location: Brownstown Head, Co. Waterford
Date: 3rd September 2011 07:40-10:40 ()
Time: 07:40-10:40
Weather: 4-5 SW later 2-3 W, vis moderate to good, occasional drizzle.
Observer(s): Jonathan Bulfin & Paul Walsh.


Balearic Shearwater: 1 W
Arctic Skua: 2 E
Great Skua: 1 W
Manx Shearwater: 60 E, 384W, 1 on sea
Fulmar: 7 E, 39 W
Gannet: 143 E, 94 W
Bar-tailed Godwit: 2 W
Kittiwake: 7 E
Sandwich Tern: 101 E, 37 W
Razorbill: 3 E, 28 W
Large auk sp: 4 E, 39 W


Another quiet watch, but with the (belated) first Balearic Shearwater of the year for Brownstown.

Location: Carnsore Point, Co. Wexford

Date: 4th September 2011

Time: 07:15-10:45

Observer(s): Noel Keogh & Kieran Grace

Great Shearwater: 3

Balearic Shearwater: 4

Sooty Shearwater: 20

Manx Shearwater: 6,300

Great Skua (Bonxie): 1

Arctic Skua: 2

Little Gull: 1

Puffin: 6

Anyone who has seawatched from Carnsore before will appreciate how good these totals are! One of the Great Shears came in nice & close too.

Location: Wicklow Head, Co. Wicklow

Date: 4th September 2011 

Time: 07:30-10:30

Weather: Calm at the beginning, turning F2-3 SW later & F3-4 SE by the end with squally showers & poor visibility. 

Observer(s): Steve Newton

Sooty Shearwater: 1 N

Manx Sheawater: 3 N & 1 S

Storm Petrel: 1 S

Common Scoter: 12 S

Fulmar: 3 Milling

Gannet: 23 N, 14 S & 13 M

Kittiwake: 11 N, 169 S & 673 M

Auk sp: 6 S

Sandwich Tern: 32 S

Common Tern: 7 S & 6 M

'Commic' Tern: 1 N & 1 S

Black Guillemot: 1 M

Sooty Shears are always a welcome sight during an east coast seawatch!

Brownstown Head Seatrack Update

Waterford based seabird volunteer, Paul Walsh, has sent on some of his Brownstown Head totals from the previous three Seatrack Target Weekend surveys so far this year. Although some surveys can be very quiet given that they are often conducted in conditions that are far from ideal (in terms of seawatching),  the benefits of sticking it out for the cause often materialise in the form of nice local movements of certain species or even a long awaited patch tick as shown by Paul's results below. 

For more Waterford info, check out the excellent Waterford Birds website with sections of interest on seawatching & pelagics which can be found here & here.

So best of luck to Paul & all the rest of the Seatrack volunteers who will be out recording from their respective headlands this weekend. There may well be some 'decent' winds along the west coast depending on what way the tail-end of Irene blows through.

Brownstown Head towers & lookout hut (Paul Walsh)

TARGET WEEKEND THREE

Brownstown Head 21st August 2011

Time: 07:00-09:00

Weather: F2 SW, vis good to excellent, mainly sunny, no rain

Observer: Paul Walsh

Manx Shearwater: 114 E, 199 W

Fulmar: 13 E, 22 W

Gannet: 290 E, 251 W

Kittiwake: 4 E, 21 W

Sandwich Tern: 14 E, 205 W

Commic Tern: 2 W

Razorbill: 1 W

Guillemot: 2 on sea

Large auk sp: 1 W

"A quiet morning, even by Brownstown-fair-weather standards, with not a scarcity or cetacean in sight. Minor highlight was a good westward movement of Sandwich Terns, especially (148) from 07:30 to 08:30."

TARGET WEEKEND TWO

Brownstown Head 6th August 2011

Time: 06:50-09:50

Weather: F1 SW, vis excellent, mainly dry (very occasional drops of light drizzle)

Observer: Paul Walsh

Manx Shearwater: 134 E, 54 W

Fulmar: 6 E, 20 W

Gannet: 301 E, 107 W

Common Scoter: 4 E

Whimbrel: 3 W

Kittiwake: 28 E, 37 W

Sandwich Tern: 26 E, 28 W

Razorbill: 2 E

Guillemot: 1 on sea

Large auk sp: 2 W 

Black Guillemot: 2 E (adult & juv separately)


Porpoise: 1 feeding


Pretty quiet!

TARGET WEEKEND ONE

Brownstown Head 23rd July 2011

Time: 06:45-10:45

Weather: F1-2 NW, vis excellent, dry

Observer: Paul Walsh

Cory's Shearwater: 2 W @ 08:55 & 08:57 (then joined up)

Manx Shearwater: 720 E, 60W & 60+ feeding/rafting

Storm Petrel: 1 W

Fulmar: 5 E, 3 W

Gannet: 117 E, 67 W

Great Northern Diver: 3 E together @ 09:44 (then an immature on sea next day)

Common Scoter: 3 E

Bar-tailed Godwit: 1 W

Pomarine Skua: 1 2nd/3rd-summer W

Arctic Skua:  1 E

Great Skua: 1 E

Mediterranean Gull: 1 juv W @ 07:30

Kittiwake: 68 E, 76 W

Roseate Tern: 2 adults E @ 07:26

Sandwich Tern: 38 E, 68 W

Razorbill: 3 E, 1 W

Guillemot: 1 E

Large auk sp: 2 E

Porpoise: 1 W

"For a calm morning, not a bad seawatch for Brownstown, including site-tick of Cory's Shearwater (only been waiting 34 years!). Roseate Terns, 2nd-ever Med Gull for Brownstown, an unseasonal GND flock, 3 skua species & Barwit site-year tick were other highlights of a diverse species list."