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
