Baird's Sandpiper, Tacumshin Lake, Co. Wexford. September 2006
(Paul and Andrea Kelly)
Irish Rare Birds Committee
The Irish Rare Birds Committee (IRBC) is responsible for maintaining a list of the birds recorded in the Republic of Ireland and in addition the inshore waters up to 30km from the nearest land or where relevant, the median point between Ireland and Great Britain. So-called ’at sea’ records, i.e. records of birds outside this 30 km limit but still within the Exclusive Economic Zone which extends to approximately 370 km (200 nautical miles) offshore or where relevant, the median point between Ireland and Great Britain are assessed and published by the IRBC in the Irish Rare Bird Report (IRBR), but are excluded from the main list.
The primary function of the IRBC is the assessment of records of certain rare and scarce species. From 2004 the results are published annually in the IRBR and previously in the Irish Bird Report (IBR) from 1953 to 2003. The most recent report is for 2007 which, along with the 2005 and 2006 reports is available for download on this website. In addition the IRBR is included in Irish Birds, which is published by BirdWatch Ireland. Irish Birds is available from the BirdWatch Ireland online shop, Wings.
Beginning with the 2004 IRBR, the IRBC changed its method of record submission and assessment. Generally speaking many regularly occurring and apparently seldom misidentified rarities no longer require formal documentation (although there may be occasional exceptions). The full list of species affected are included in Appendix 2. Those species which continue to require formal documentation are listed in Appendix 1. For a full account of the background and reasons behind these changes click here.
The Committee, whose members work in an honorary capacity, operates under the auspices of BirdWatch Ireland. The Committee's current membership is listed here. For a short background to its origins as well as the all time list of its members click here.
The Northern Ireland Birdwatchers' Association Records Committee (NIBARC) performs a similar role in Northern Ireland and the two committees work together to maintain a comprehensive record of birds found on the island of Ireland. Click here for NIBA contact details.
March Banner
This month's banner image shows a view of Kilcoole Marsh and Beach from just south of The Breeches looking to the north. Taken by Dick Coombes it also shows the main Dublin to Wexford rail line, a small area of the Irish Sea to the right and in the distance (from left to right), the Great Sugarloaf, Little Sugarloaf and Bray Head. Located in County Wicklow about 20 miles south of Dublin, the area is a mixture of salt marsh, tidal channels, reedbeds, farmland and shingle beach. The beach area hosts breeding Little Terns which have been monitored by a BirdWatch Ireland protection scheme since 1985. Immediately beyond the bank visible below Bray Head is Webb's Field, now owned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. To date the area has added Ortolan Bunting to the Irish List and recorded such rarities as Black Brant, Blue-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Purple Heron, Black Kite, Montagu's Harrier, Red-footed Falcon, Hobby, Gyrfalcon, Little Ringed Plover, Temminck's Stint, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Yellowlegs, Wilson's Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Alpine Swift, Shore Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Water Pipit and Bearded Tit.
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Appendix Lists
2005 Revised Rarity List with subsequent updates (Appendix 1), click here.
2005 Supplementary Accreditation Species with subsequent updates (Appendix 2), click here.
BirdWatch Ireland
BirdWatch Ireland is the largest independent conservation organisation in Ireland, and is dedicated to the protection of Ireland’s wild birds and their habitats.
