A flock of 5 jays flew south over Galley this morning (123), before bailing out and heading back inland again - that's only the second time I've seen them here, but both times have been in autumn. I've seen magpies doing the same kind of thing in autumn, in big flocks of 50-60 birds. They head right to the lighthouse and then turn round and fly all the way back inland again - why do they do do that?
Otherwise, it was quiet on the mig front, with 3 wheatears, 2 willow warblers, 1 chiffchaff and a few goldcrests. A 1st w med gull was at Long Strand this morning. and a green sandpiper flew over the house mid-morning - bonus year tick (124).
I had 3 Jays flying 'down river' from the bottom of Sunday's Well on Monday, which I also felt to be unusual for the area...certainly, I hadn't seen any so close to town before, but I know that Carmody had one in Fitzgerald's Park once, and that the species has been recorded in the Cooperage/Distillery Fields. They seem to be increasing, but this is perhaps anecdotal for now...
September 24, 2008 - fitzgerald's park
Posted by col
Jay is only the tip of the iceberg of what carmo has had in fitzgerald's park but we'd best leave it there for now!
September 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Owen
Ive had Jay in UCC.Down by the art gallery on the river. Would ye ever go out and find me a brown shrike tho.
September 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
ye can leave Carmody out of it!! A fine oustanding pillar of society and shit hot birder to boot. Can id Little Auks flying over the Slabs at the Bridges of Ross with Guillemots sitting in the water beneath without any bother at all...and in August!!
September 25, 2008 - brown shrike
Posted by col
feck it, any shrike would be most welcome at Galley - i reckon i could do a shrike - nice & big and obvious and bouncing around - a bit like little auks really! that carmo tho - he's only a feckin legend, man, a leg-end!
September 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Harry Hussey
Why, when there's three Bluetails, a Sibe Thrush, a Sykes's Warbler etc etc in Britain, is Owen asking us to find him a Brown Shrike? That's one of the few megas there that I HAVE seen in Ireland...
September 26, 2008 - Cos...
Posted by Owen
Because the brown shrike is the only one that was in mainland britain...not shetland...which may as well be sweden!
September 26, 2008 - shetland
Posted by col
ah now, in fairness - i won't have a word said against shetland - fabulous part of de world altogether! but that hatful of stuff better feck orf damn quick before me mates get up there next week!
September 26, 2008 - A fierce dose of the Shets
Posted by Owen
Go out and find a sykes if ye must. Go out and find a blue tail if ye must!...but dont ye darken this door again without finding a brown shrike!....unless ye bring back a burger and chips or sumtn.
Galley Head Birding
Birding around Galley Head, County Cork
Patch Challenge 2010
1st Boghall 71.83% 2nd Folkestone 66.53% 3rd Galley 65.34% 4th Portlethen 58.47% 5th Girdleness 54.25% 6th Lough Beg 54.24% 7th North Don 52.85% 8th Collieston 42.14% 9th South Don 41.50% 10th Beer Head 38.88%
based on last 3 year's average total
updated 16/3/10
Patch Challenge 2009 - victors
1st North Don 107.94% 2nd Girdleness 106.89% 3rd Galley 100.74%
based on last 3 year's average total
updated 30/12/09
