I was lucky enough to come across a "trip" of four Dotterel down by Aillebrack yesterday. The Slyne Head area has proved to be a relatively regular spot for the species in the last five years or so. It's probably has had the most records for one site in Ireland during that time. I've added all the Dotterel records for county Galway below;
• One, Inishbofin, 1st June 1992 (K.P.Collins).
• Male, Aillebrack, Slyne Head, 23rd to 26th April 2010, photographed (D.Breen et al.).
• Juvenile, Aillebrack, Slyne Head, 10th October 2010, photographed (D.Breen).
• Juvenile, Truska, Slyne Head, 22nd to 29th September 2011, photographed (D.Breen et al.).
• Juvenile, Aillebrack, Slyne Head, 24th to 30th October 2011, photographed (D.Breen et al.).
• Three, Aillebrack, Slyne Head, 26th April to 4th May 2012, photographed (A.Ó’Dónaill et al.).
It's interesting to note that I found my first Dotterel at the same site on the very same date in 2010. They have a reputation for turning up at the same traditional sites at the same time most years. I'm sure many more go unnoticed on other machair commonages, fields and mountain tops each year.
These birds were hanging around with seven European Golden Plovers. These are presumed Arctic breeding birds as the local Connemara birds have been on their territories for well over a month now.
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| Bird 1 |
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| Bird 1 |
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| Bird 1 |
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| Bird 1 |
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| Bird 2 |
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| Bird 2 |
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| Bird 4 & 3 |
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| Bird 3 |
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| Bird 3 |
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| Bird 3 |
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| Bird 4 |
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| Golden Plover |
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| Golden Plover |
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| Golden Plover |
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