IRBC - Irish Rare Bird Report 2021
Introduction
Three new species were added to the Irish List in 2021. A Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus (Sligo) and a Least Tern Sternula antillarum (Dublin) were both found in June and in mid-July an Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus was found in (Donegal). In addition, two subspecies were recorded for the first time,an Iberian Wagtail Motacilla flava (Kerry) and the first two Northern Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris alpestris/pratincola/hoyti (Galway) and (Cork) during October
Further highlights included the fourth and fifth records of Baillon’s Crake Zapornia pusilla (Wexford) in May and (Wicklow) in June, and the fifth and sixth records of American Coot Fulica americana (Wexford) and (Kerry) in November and December respectively. Rare waders put in a very respectable showing with the fifth record of Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus (Cork) in July, the sixth Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri (Waterford) also in July and the seventh and eighth Semipalmated Plovers Charadrius semipalmatus (Cork) and (Kerry) in July and October respectively while the eighth Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria (Mayo) in October. Rare raptors were not limited to the aforementioned Egyptian Vulture with the ninth record of Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus (Limerick) in May and the tenth Northern Harrier Circus hudsonianus (Offaly) in November. Passerines of note included the fourth Sardinian warbler Curruca melanocephala (Cork) in April, the fifth Cetti’s Warbler Pheucticus ludovicianus (Wexford) in January and the tenth Rose-breasted Grosbeak Tringa solitaria (Cork) in October
The backbone of the IRBC’s system for recording occurrences of rare birds in the Republic of Ireland is the Provisional List, published online at , which is updated regularly. Most of the data in this report were taken directly from the 2021 Provisional List. The IRBC expresses its sincere gratitude to all those who provided information during 2021, either directly or indirectly. The IRBC expresses its sincere gratitude to all those who provided information during 2021,either directly or indirectly. The committee also extends its grateful thanks to Joe Hobbs for his input, comments and corrections, and to Kieran Fahy for keeping track of the statistics
G.Clarke and A.O’Donaill (on behalf of the Irish Rare Birds Committee)
BirdWatch Ireland, Unit 20, Block D, Bullford Business Campus, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow.