White-rumped Sandpiper
Our tour in delightful County’s Wexford gives us the opportunity to explore some of Ireland’s famous wader watching sites. In addition, we will have the opportunity for sea watching, which at this time of year could make for some exciting species. The tour is ideal for those who wish to brush up on their shorebird identification skills, as many species are present side by side, allowing good comparisons of sometimes difficult species. Our base is the Danby Lodge Hotel, which is ideally situated for all the best sites and is just a couple of kilometres from the ferry port at Rosslare. Carnsore Point can produce migrant passerines such as Common Whitethroat, Sedge and Willow Warblers. With luck, we may also encounter species such as Pied Flycatcher and Common Redstart. Offshore, Common Terns, Northern Gannets, Manx Shearwaters and European Storm Petrels should be passing and there is a good chance of Common Scoter. We move inland to Lady’s Island Lake to check for migrant shorebirds. This famous site has hosted a whole host of rare species such as Short-billed Dowitcher, Elegant Tern, Lesser Yellowlegs and Baird’s Sandpiper, whilst regular passage migrants include Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit. Great Crested and Little Grebes can be present in very good numbers and we should also see Common, Sandwich and hopefully Roseate Terns, Water Rail and Little Egrets here. Another famous site is Tacumshin Marsh, which can host thousands of birds. Dunlin and Ringed Plovers are the predominant species, but careful scanning of the flocks will often produce Little Stint or rarer species such as Pectoral, White-rumped and Baird’s Sandpipers. Semi-palmated, White-rumped, Broad-billed, Marsh and up to nine Buff-breasted Sandpipers have also been seen here, as has another Short-billed Dowitcher. Large numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew and Northern Lapwing, may hold a Bar-tailed Godwit or two, Grey Plover, Red Knot, Whimbrel and Spotted Redshank. This is where your wellies will come in really useful, as the lake is shallow, and providing it isn’t too windy, close approaches can be made. Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Little Tern, Northern Wheatear, and large numbers of gulls may also be present. Wildfowl should include Common Teal, Northern Shoveler and perhaps a Garganey. We will drive through Wexford town to the North Slob reserve, where from the observation tower; we search the shorebirds for anything unusual. Kilmore Quay is a pretty seaside village that overlooks Great Saltee Island, and from here, we should experience more seabird passage, as well as shorebirds such as Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling. Hook Head is the southernmost point in Wexford and has turned up many interesting migrants. Approximately half an hour from the hotel, we will take an early breakfast in order to be at the site to search the many gardens around Slade for migrants. Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchat, Common Redstart and Blackcap could be present and the area has hosted Melodious Warbler and Red-backed Shrike have been recorded on several occasions. We will also scan offshore for passing seabirds here and Red-billed Chough may be present.
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Introduction
