Sunday, November 28, 2021

Clare Species List, What next?

Semi-palmated Plover, Florida  John N Murphy

As the year quickly draws to a close, I find myself sitting down trying to predict, what is the next new Species of bird that will arrive in Clare? Since I last did this prediction in November 2016, we have added three new species to the county list. Radde's Warbler at Loop Head, King Eider on the north Clare coast and Lesser Kestrel at Kilkee.  Only two of these appeared on the last predicted list, (Radde's Warbler N0.3 on that list and King Eider No.20). No one would have ever expected Lesser Kestrel, but as I always say "the birds don't read the books". Its still hard to believe that we have not recorded a Shrike in the county since the record of Great Grey in the Burren during the 1970's.

So here are my new top 20 predictions for Clare as we approach 2022.

1.   Red-backed Shrike

2.   Franklin's Gull

3.   American Coot

4.   Greenish Warbler

5.   Northern Harrier

6.   Semi-palmated Plover

7.   Night Heron

8.   Blyth's Reed Warbler

9.   Shorelark

10. Blackpoll Warbler

11. Black-capped Petrel

12. Ivory Gull

13. Brunnich's Guillemot

14. Dusky Warbler

15. Woodchat Shrike

16. Killdeer

17. Olive-backed Pipit

18. Red-flanked Bluetail

19. Stilt Sandpiper

20. Two-barred Crossbill


Monday, November 1, 2021

Yellow-browed Warblers

It has been another poor year for Yellow-browed Warblers from the east with only three at Loop Head this season and I managed to see another individual on Clare Island in Mayo. Here are a few shots from this autumn.





Yellow-browed Warblers John N Murphy