I just spent a week out on Inishmore, 11th to 17th October. The Arctic Warbler was by far the best bird I had during the week. Otherwise it was pretty quiet with about eight to nine Yellow-browed Warblers, 1 Lapland Bunting and long staying and unseen Reed Warbler being about the best of the lot.
While Inishmore has probably become best known for it's American passerines in recent years that possiblity just wasn't going to happen during my week. Ireland has been stuck in a high pressure system for the last while so if it was going to happen it was going to come from the east. I can't exactly complain about a self found Arctic Warbler I suppose! The high pressure resulted in unseasonably good weather. For the first time ever I didn't have a single drop of rain all week. While the wind never reached gale force it did get a little strong towards the end of the week and first time you could really feel the winter chill in the wind.
While Inishmore has probably become best known for it's American passerines in recent years that possiblity just wasn't going to happen during my week. Ireland has been stuck in a high pressure system for the last while so if it was going to happen it was going to come from the east. I can't exactly complain about a self found Arctic Warbler I suppose! The high pressure resulted in unseasonably good weather. For the first time ever I didn't have a single drop of rain all week. While the wind never reached gale force it did get a little strong towards the end of the week and first time you could really feel the winter chill in the wind.
| Yellow-browed Warbler |
| Yellow-browed Warbler |
| Yellow-browed Warbler |
| Yellow-browed Warbler |
| Chiffchaff |
| Dunnock |
| Dunnock |
| Robin |
| Robin |
| Blackbird |
| Fieldfares |
| Meadow Pipit |
| Pied Wagtail |
| Chough |
| Adult and young Woodpigeon. |
| Rock Doves |
| Goldfinch, one of the 4.4 million of them on the island along with Linnets which were even more numerous! |
| Redpoll |
| Linnet |
| Lapland Bunting |