SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) juvenile from 1st to 8th October 2021 found by Derek Charles and Majella Charles [data per www.irishbirding.com] at Clogher, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

 

 

 

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 The Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Tringa. This is a long distance migratory shorebird that breeds in the northern forests of Alaska, USA and Canada. It is also a very rare autumn passage vagrant to Western Europe. In mid autumn it moves south to spend the winter in Central and Southern America as well as the Caribbean. 

  This is the 2nd Co. Mayo Record and the 7 previous Irish Records are listed below:

•   Co. Kerry - (juvenile) 21 to 22-09-1968 at Akeragh Lough    
  
•   Co. Cork - (juvenile) 05 to 07-09-1971 at Lissergriffin 
•   Co. Cork - (juvenile) 15 to 17-09-1974 in a flooded field near O'Driscoll's Castle, Cape Clear Island
  
•   Co. Cork - (juvenile) 27 to 30-08-2008 flew over Lough Errul and then along the track at Central Bog, Cape Clear Island
•   Co. Mayo - (juvenile) 22-09-2009 at Annagh Head and at Termoncarragh Lake
•   Co. Wexford - (juvenile) 06 to 14-10-2014 at Duncormick, Rathangan and The Cull
  
•   Co. Clare - (adult) 15 to 18-08-2016 at Cloghaun Lough, near Kilbaha

  

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

Reference:

  A List of Irish Birds, version 11.0 by Joe Hobbs (download pdf here)

 

Geographical distribution map of Solitary sandpiper

 

  Breeding   Migration   winter

By Cephas - Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria), In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/solsan, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69875049

FAEROE SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago subspecies G. g. faeroeensis) at Cartron, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

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 The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Gallinago. It breeds in temperate regions of Eurasia. In the colder parts of its range, populations are migratory and move south to spend the winter in southern Eurasia as well as parts of northern and sub Saharan Africa.

There are two subspecies recognised, Common Snipe (G. g. gallinago) and Faeroe Snipe (G. g. faeroeensis) which breeds in Iceland, Orkney, Shetland as well as the Faeroes and has russet brown plumage tones. Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) which occurs in the Americas was formally regarded as a subspecies of Common Snipe but since 2003 it has been upgraded to full species status.

 

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago) showing some characteristics of Faeroe Snipe (Gallinago gallinago subspecies G. g. faeroeensis) at Cartron, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

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 The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Gallinago. It breeds in temperate regions of Eurasia. In the colder parts of its range, populations are migratory and move south to spend the winter in southern Eurasia as well as parts of northern and sub Saharan Africa.

There are two subspecies recognised, Common Snipe (G. g. gallinago) and Faeroe Snipe (G. g. faeroeensis) which breeds in Iceland, Orkney, Shetland as well as the Faeroes and has russet brown plumage tones. Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) which occurs in the Americas was formally regarded as a subspecies of Common Snipe but since 2003 it has been upgraded to full species status.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds    

 

 Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) distribution map  

 

 Breeding            Resident          Winter

 

By SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy. CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81451030

COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago subspecies G. g. gallinago) juvenile at Cartron, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

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 The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Gallinago. It breeds in temperate regions of Eurasia. In the colder parts of its range, populations are migratory and move south to spend the winter in southern Eurasia as well as parts of northern and sub Saharan Africa.

There are two subspecies recognised, Common Snipe (G. g. gallinago) and Faeroe Snipe (G. g. faeroeensis) which breeds in Iceland, Orkney, Shetland as well as the Faeroes and has russet brown plumage tones. Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) which occurs in the Americas was formally regarded as a subspecies of Common Snipe but since 2003 it has been upgraded to full species status.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds    

 

 Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) distribution map  

 

 Breeding            Resident          Winter

 

By SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy. CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81451030

EUROPEAN STARLING or COMMON STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) juvenile in transition to 1st winter plumage below and adult, feeding on Potworms (Enchytraeidae) at Clogher, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

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 The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) or Common Starling is of the family Sturnidae which is in the genus Sturnus.

GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) adult from 29th September to 14th October 2021 at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a large wading bird of the family Threskiornithidae which is in the genus Plegadis. This nomadic species breeds in the warmer regions of North America, Eurasia, Africa and Australia.

This individual was first reported in 2020 on 12th August at North Bull Island and then at Balbriggan Golf Course on various dates from 20th to 27th September as well as at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords on 26th and 29th September. There were no further reports until 29th September 2021 when it was relocated at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate and remained there until at least 14th October, data per www.irishbirding.com 

There are 23 previous Co. Dublin records, the first of which was from Balrothery in October or November 1840. There are just over 500 Irish records. 

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

Reference:

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2  by Joe Hobbs (download pdf here)

EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis) 1st winter Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a member of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Carduelis. It breeds in most of Europe and Western Asia but is absent from the colder northern parts of that region. It has a scattered distribution in North Africa and occurs as an introduced species in south eastern Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay. It can be commonly found in gardens, particularly in winter, where it readily comes to bird feeders.
   
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

NOON FLY or NOONDAY FLY (Mesembrina meridiana) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana) or Noonday Fly is of the family Muscidae which is in the genus Mesembrina. This is a common and widespread medium sized fly with distinctive golden cheeks and amber wing bases. The female lays a single egg in up to five cow pats or dung and when the lava hatches, it predates the larvae of other species which are feeding within the dung. The flight season is from late April into October.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

LITTLE GREBE or DABCHICK (Tachybaptus ruficollis) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) or more commonly known as Dabchick, is a small waterbird in the family Podicipedidae which is in the genus Tachybaptus. Nine subspecies are generally recognised whose range extends in a band over most of Europe across southern and eastern Asia. It also occurs in northern and sub Saharan Africa. Worldwide there were 23 species of grebe but Alaotra Grebe (Tachybaptus rufolavatus), which was last seen in 1985 at Lake Alaotra in Madagascar, is now considered to be extinct. 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) female and Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) in the background Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Anas.

RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY (Vanessa atalanta) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Vanessa.

COMMA BUTTERFLY (Polygonia c-album) two on the Bird Walk trail Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-aibum) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Polygonia. 

This common species has a widespread distribution in the temperate regions of Eurasia and North Africa. Formally absent from Ireland, it is only in recent times that it has been added to the Irish Butterfly List. It was first reliably reported near Portaferry, Co. Down in August 1997 and again in August 1998. There were no further reports until 17th August 2000 when there was a fully verified record from the Raven Nature Reserve, Co. Wexford. Proof of breeding was subsequently confirmed in that area. Over the last ten years, it has rapidly expanded its range from southeast Co. Wexford and has now colonised most of southern Leinster as well as eastern Munster.

The larval food plant is mainly Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) and the flight season is from late March to late September, split over two generations. Having overwintered as an adult, it emerges in late spring and then after mating, lays its eggs on the larval food plant.

The 1st record for Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork on 14th October 2019 (pers. comm. Jim Fitzharris) might be an indication of fresh immigration from Britain or Continental Europe. 

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BUFF TAILED BUMBLEBEE (Bombus terrestris) nectering on Common Ivy Blossoms (Hedera helix ) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

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The Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus. This bumblebee is commonly found throughout the temperate regions of Europe, The Middle East, northern Africa and occurs as an introduced species in other countries including Australia (Tasmania), Japan as well as parts of South America.  

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea) sheltering from the wind at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is of the family Ardeidae and is in the genus Ardea.  It is resident in the temperate regions of Eurasia as well as eastern and sub Saharan Africa. The more northern populations are migratory and move south for the winter. Wetlands are its main habitat and commonly occurs along estuaries, streams, rivers and lakes. Aquatic as well as terrestrial creatures are preyed upon. Prey items include amphibians, insects, reptiles, small mammals and birds which are swallowed whole.

This species nests in tall trees in colonies which are known as heronries. Upto five eggs are laid and are incubated for 25 days. Fledging takes place after 60 days.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) distribution map

 

 Breeding     Resident     Winter     Vagrant      Introduced resident 

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons 

COMMON BUZZARD (Buteo buteo) at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium sized bird of prey of the family Accipitridae which is in the genus Buteo.

RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres) in transition to winter plumage Blacksod Lighthouse, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

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The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Arenaria.