Inishmore 4th to 11th October 2013

Time for the usual October jaunt out to Inishmore. While the Buff-bellied Pipit was nice along with five Yellow-browed Warblers we got the distinct impression that we may have been about a fortnight too late for the party. We had no really rapidly moving Atlantic systems on the move during the week. It may well be worth doing a September stay next year however if the conditions look decent...
We had a good crew out on the island this year with Hugh Delaney, Paul & Andrea Kelly, John Murphy, Stan Nugent and Neal Warnock all clocking in from a three days to a week out there.

The best of the rest included;

• Buff-bellied Pipit, An Gleannachán, Eoghanacht, DB.
• Spotted Sandpiper, Loch Phort Chorrúch, 7th, PK.
• Yellow-browed Warbler
• 1 at Eoghanacht, 9th, DB. 
• 1 at Kilmurvey, 6th - 11th, DB.
• 1, Kilmurvey, 8th, PK & AAK.
• 1 Eochaill, 11th, SN & JNM.
• 1 in Kilronan Wood, 9th Oct, PK & AAK.
• Reed Warbler, Kilronan Wood, 9th - 10th, PK & AAK.
• Garden Warbler, Eoghanacht, 8th - 10th Oct (at least), DB.
• Common Whitethroat, Gort na gCapaill, 8th, DB.
• Turtle Dove
• 1, Kilmurvey, 8th, SN & JNM.
• 1 in Mainistir area, 9th - 11th, SN & JNM.
• Black Redstart, Eochaill, 11th, SN & JNM.

Neal, Hugh and the Kelly's had a Wood Warbler and at least two new Yellow-browed Warblers after Friday. The former was seen in the same garden that the Dusky Warbler took up residence last year. I ticked Wood Warbler in the very same garden back on 6th May 2000. That's Chiffchaff, Willow, Yellow-browed, Wood and Dusky Warbler that this small garden has recorded so far, not bad for the West coast of Ireland. Radde's, Greenish or Arctic in there would be nice additions to the county list.

The Yellow Wagtail was seen at Rinvyle Point by the way on 2nd October,

Yellow Wagtail, Rinvyle Point, 2nd October 2013.

Yellow Wagtail, Rinvyle Point, 2nd October 2013.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Inishmore.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Inishmore.

Chiffchaff, Inishmore.

Chiffchaff, Inishmore.

Willow Warbler, Inishmore.

Willow Warbler, Inishmore.

Goldcrest, Inishmore.

Wren, Inishmore.

Northern Wheatear & Robin, Inishmore.

Wheatear, Inishmore.