Buff-bellied Pipit, Clahane Beach, Liscannor, Co. Clare. 11 October 2007
(Dick Coombes)
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.
February Banner
This month's banner image shows a view of the North Bull Island located a few miles from Dublin city. Taken by Mark Carmody it shows part of the island occupied by the Royal Dublin Golf Club and the adjacent salt marsh and mudflats. In the background are towers and silos situated in the vicinity of the River Liffey and further in the distance, the Dublin Mountains. The island was formed by a slow build up of silt and sand deposited in the area following the construction of the Bull Wall in the 1820s. By 1902 it had acquired its present geography measuring about 5km long and 1km wide. Access to the island is provided by a wooden bridge and the Causeway Road. As far back as the 1930s it was recognised as a Bird Sanctuary. In became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981 and a Nature Reserve in 1988. Under the Ramsar Convention it is designated as a 'Wetland of International Importance'. To date it has added American Wigeon, Kentish Plover and Little Ringed Plover to the Irish List as well as recording such rarities as Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Black Duck, Glossy Ibis, Montagu's Harrier, Black-winged Stilt, Stone Curlew, Killdeer, American Golden Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Great Snipe, Short-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Phalarope, Laughing Gull, Forster's Tern, Red-backed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike and Shore Lark.
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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.
