The Big Year: 2022

This year has been incredible so far. A couple of days into January I realised that it had been my best start to a year list ever and I decided that I would push on and see how it played out. I plan to post some individual blog posts on some of the days birding I have had so far. So far I am torn between my best bird so far this year and that is between Greater Sand Plover and Eurasian Bittern. Relocating both species when it was looking like a dip on both occasions was an amazing feeling. Despite having seen some incredibly rare species and seeing birds like Egyptian Vulture and Ross's Gull in the same day, the most enjoyable days birding I have had so far was on Tory Island in mid January when we had a minimum of 53 Little Auks. Seeing small flocks of them passing off the East End Cliffs and watching some fishing directly under us was amazing. 
So far I have currently seen 223 species as of the 13th of June. The end of year target is 270 so we will see in the coming months if that is achievable. The one thing that I am looking forward to the most however is January...so I can sleep! 
Attached is a selection of some of the better birds seen in the six months so far. 



Glossy Ibis, Ballyfermot, Co. Dublin

Mandarin, Phoenix Park, Co. Dublin

Little Auk, Tory Island, Co. Donegal

Black-throated Diver, Magheroarty Harbour, Co. Donegal

Ring Ouzel, nr Newry, Co. Armagh

Green-winged Teal, Castle Espie, Co. Down

Twite, Whitehead, Co. Antrim

Great White Egret, Ballycarry, Co. Antrim

                                     


Cattle Egret, Lough Beg, Co. Derry

Water Pipit, Tacumshin, Co. Wexford
Tundra Bean Goose, River Suir, Co. Kilkenny
Lesser Yellowlegs, Rahasane Turlough, Co. Galway
Lesser Scaup, Oxford Island, Co. Armagh

Iceland Gull, Killybegs, Co. Donegal

American Coot, Lady's Island Lake, Co. Wexford

Cackling Goose, Ballintemple, Co. Sligo
Snow Goose, Lissadell, Co. Sligo


Bewick's Swan, Killag, Co. Wexford


Ferruginous Duck, Ballysaggart Lough, Co. Tyrone

Double-crested Cormorant, Doon Lough, Co. Leitrim

Ross's Gull, Mutton Island, Co. Galway


Egyptian Vulture, Lough Funshinagh, Co. Roscommon

Avocet, Kinsale, Co. Cork

Black-necked Grebe, Reedy Flat, Co. Armagh

Smew (self-found), Reedy Flat, Co. Armagh

Forster's Tern, Kinvarra, Co. Galway


Red-necked Grebe, Rosslare Backstrand, Co. Wexford

Red-flanked Bluetail, Saltee Island, Co. Wexford

Snow Bunting, Belmullet, Co. Mayo

American Black Duck, Belmullet, Co. Mayo


Siberian Chiffchaff, Monalty Lough, Co. Monaghan

Great White Egret, Tacumshin, Co. Wexford
Water Pipit, Tacumshin, Co. Wexford
Common Redpoll, Richill, Co. Armagh


Bonaparte's Gull, South Slob, Co. Wexford



Blue-winged Teal, Tacumshin, Co. Wexford

Golden Eagle, Sliabh Beagh, Co. Monaghan

Serin, Saltee Island, Co. Wexford


Garden Warbler, Lough Ree, Co. Westmeath

Greater Sand Plover, Tramore, Co. Waterford

Greater Sand Plover, Tramore, Co. Waterford

Garganey, Tory Island, Co. Donegal

Yellow Wagtail, Saltee Island, Co. Wexford

Little Ringed Plover
American Wigeon, Lough Beg, Co. Derry

                                        

Squacco Heron, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

Purple Heron, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

White-rumped Sandpiper, Tacumshin, Co. Wexford

American Golden Plover, Tacumshin, Co. Wexford

Turtle Dove, Annestown, Co. Waterford

Least Tern, Portrane, Co. Dublin







































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