Cape Clear Bird Observatory (CCBO)

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.

Announcing the Steve Wing Memorial Bursary - BirdWatch Ireland Steve Wing (1957 – 2024) Today we remember our dear colleague and friend, Steve Wing, long-serving Wildlife Officer at BirdWatch Ireland’s Cape Clear Bird Observatory, who passed away on 19th...

birdwatchireland.ie/announcing-t...

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!

Irish biology students staying at the observatory this weekend were keen to take part in a sea-watch this afternoon. Over 4 hours some 12,000 Manx Shearwaters, 1200 Cory's, 80 Great, 2 Sooty Shearwaters and 1 Pomarine Skua were recorded.

Flycatchers again featured in the ringing, today 3 Pied & 1 Spotted, also a locally rare & very recently fledged Bullfinch (see image) suggesting evidence of this species breeding on Cape for the first time in many years. Balearic Shearwater & Common Scoter were recorded during an early seawatch.

Today's highlights were 2 Tree Pipits, 5 Pied Flycatchers, 4 Spotted Flycatchers and a Greenshank amongst an influx of more common migrant birds across the island. Images, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers amongst the ringing this morning.

Our first autumn movement of Swallows and a few Sand Martin's through the island today with gathered flocks reported from several locations, some 220 on power lines at the lake this evening.

This morning our first pelagic out of Cape this year, wind SSW, a little choppy & sporadic mist but fabulous views of all our target species. Totals; Sooty Shearwater 4, Corys 7, Great 6, Storm Petrel 80+, Wilson's Petrel 12, Arctic Tern 3.

Petrel ringing into the early hours, always a wonderful experience. Photo (JH).

Our third 'Wildlife Course ' of the year this weekend included moth trapping, guided walks, presentations & Storm Petrel ringing. Amongst a wide variety of species we recorded was this 3ft long European Eel present in North Harbour on Friday afternoon; video by course participant Alicia Bertrand.

A bumper day for butterflies, good numbers of Wall Brown, Dark Green Fritillary & Painted Lady. A Lesser Clouded Knot horn was the pick of the moth trap. Today's highlight was a 3ft long European Eel in North Harbour, a rare treat to see this critically endangered species. Photo Painted Lady (JH).

Flying the flag for Bird Observatories this weekend at the Global bird Fair, promoting our research and facilities ( especially Cape Clear & Ireland!). Also giving a presentation on Sunday 1530hrs in the ' Curlew ' tent. Come and see us at the stand.

CES No.7 this morning & recently fledged Sedge Warblers dominating proceedings. The OBS moth trap contained a 1st for the island; Ochreous Pearl. Brown veined Wainscot & Blue bordered Carpet were new for year. As I packed up the ringing nets a Dark Green Fritillary showed unusually well, see photo.

A fair increase in Manx Shearwaters this morning in Roaring Water Bay with around 700 birds present along with a Minke Whale, and some 30 Common Dolphins including several calves. The OBS moth trap produced our first Garden Tiger moths of the year. Photo JH.

The Bird Observatory teamed up with NPWS staff today to carry out the Lesser black-backed Gull chick colour ringing program.