An interesting time to view Great Northern Divers right now, at least a dozen offshore in roaring water Bay, every plumage from first winter to adult summer and many variations in transitional plumage like the one shown here. Photo JH.
Record shots here of a distant Surf Scoter seen today from the island ferry, the diagnostic white nape visible. Also from the ferry 2 Whimbrels, Common Gull, Red-throated and Great Northern Divers. Several Swallows also heading north across Roaringwater Bay.
This species is a rare vagrant to our shores from North America, a handful are recorded in Ireland each year, there hasn't been a population crash, the global population is thought to be as many as 1,300,000.
A surprise this morning by way of an impressive adult male Surf Scoter on sea and in flight from the island ferry this morning. A further surprise when researching for this post was to discover that the last Cape Clear record for this species was exactly 33yrs ago today.
A few migrants trickling through these past few days, Yesterday a Yellow Wagtail (scarce in Ireland) was found during the daily census & today a Sedge Warbler (shown here) amongst the bird ringing brightened up a murky morning for the current observatory guests. Video Charlotte Salter-townshend.
A chilly NE breeze didn't do much for migration today, just a couple of Chiffchaffs, some signs of spring however, Speckled Wood, Tapered Drone Fly, Large (Moss) Carder Bee and Scarlet Pimpernel this morning.
Great to have to opportunity to present to the members of West Cork BWI group last night.
It's not too late to apply to be the recipient of the 2026 Steve Wing Memorial Bursary. Submissions can be sent to ccbo@birdwatchireland.ie. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31st March 2026. See the BirdWatch Ireland website for further details. Visit birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/cap...
10 days later than our first spring fall last year, this morning a sprinkling of Robins, Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs featured amongst the bird ringing & got our passage of passerines underway. Common Scoter, Sandwich Tern, Merlin and Wheatear were all new for year during the last 48hrs. Image Chiffchaff
Yes I think quite likely. I wrote exactly that on the island sightings WhatsApp group
Spring is in the air, well bats, moths & migrating birds are at least! This past week Pipistrelle bats were out hunting, the moth trap was deployed recording Dotted Border. White tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier and Firecrest have been spotted, none of which were recorded last spring. Pic Dotted Border.
Yesterday we were blessed with a fabulous sunny calm afternoon for the visit of the first corporate volunteers weekend this year, enabling us to finish preparing the island's primary ringing sites, Nordy Wood & Cotter's Garden ready for 2026. Thanks to all involved.
Delighted to come across this amazing Orange Peel Fungus this afternoon close to the observatory, the latest new addition to the list of wildlife of Cape Clear.
The cold front brought us a rare visitor to Cape this morning, located by local resident birder Mary Cadogan, a fine male Gadwall at the lake. Photo JH.
A late in the year Lesser Whitethroat was ringed this afternoon. Field sightings today included 8 Sooty Shearwaters, Arctic Skua, Black Redstart and Short eared Owl.
A Merlin was amongst the ringing this morning, the first ringed here in over 20yrs. We have recorded up 3 individuals about the island almost daily for several weeks now, looks like a good year for them.
October thus far, records include Black browed Albatross, Hobby, Jack Snipe, Grey Phalarope, Sabines Gull, Pomarine Skua, Wryneck, Tawny Pipit, Common Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Yellow browed, Pallas's, & Radde's warbler, Crossbill, Rosefinch, Ortolan & Rustic Bunting. Photo today's Pallas's.
Fewer migrants today against yesterday, no sign of the Rustic Bunting. This morning a Common Rosefinch was ringed at Michael Vincent's garden, in the afternoon a Wryneck was found and photographed by David O' Connor at central bog. Also today, Merlin, Garden Warbler and Common Crossbill.
Todays highlights; Merlin, Hen Harrier, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, a late moving Sand Martin. Also a flurry Swallows (24) & a flock of 9 Common Buzzards. A Coal Tit, Irish ssp hibernicus, was an addiction to this year's species ringed (see photo).
Brilliant thanks
I think that was a foreign 'control' Paul, originally ringed outside Britain & Ireland as a Reed Warbler but re-identified as Marsh when re-trapped here. Some good knowledge coming in it seems one was ringed elsewhere in Ireland in 1991.
Thanks Harry, my contact said he was fairly sure, as the other one was a foreign 'control'.
Yesterday morning's Marsh Warbler was relocated singing in Cotter's garden during the afternoon. Apparently this is the first one ever ringed in Ireland.
Highlights of a PM pelagic trip for our residential bird course attendees were Sooty Shearwater, 10 Storm Petrels, Pomarine Skua, 2 Bonxie, Arctic Tern & Grey Phalarope but the show stoppers were 2 Humpback Whale with a supporting cast of 2 Minke Whale & 100+ Common Dolphin. Photos Humpback Whale.
Visiting Copeland bird observatory warden Adam Ringland was delighted to ring one of two adult Choughs that surprisingly ventured into our mist nets this morning.
A Common Crane briefly visited the east end of the island & the search to find it produced a rarity for Ireland; a Honey Buzzard in off the sea headed along the east coast. Few grounded migrants today but still a couple of Spotted and a single Pied Flycatcher at Cotter's garden. Photo today's HB
2 Sabine's Gulls offshore were the pick of the bird records today. The moth trap held the first Pink-barred Sallow of the autumn.
The calm after storm brought an influx of passerine migrants today, particularly Robins and Willow Warblers, 35 House Martins at the lake, Common Sandpiper and 7 Grey Wagtails 4 of which were ringed including the juvenile shown here.
Briefly!
