A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin Joe Hobbs Version 5.2 A

Home , Baily Lighthouse, Balscaddan, Barnaslingan, Bull Island, Carrickgollogan, Corkagh Park

List of Some

Rarer Birds in Dublin

Joe Hobbs

Cover photos: Complementary views of one of Dublin’s best known landmarks, the Twin Stacks of the Poolbeg Generating Station, taken from two of Dublin’s best birding locations. From North Bull Island (top), photo: Mark Carmody and from Sandymount Strand, photo: Dick Coombes. Introduction This note is a list of some rare and scarce species and subspecies that have been recorded within the traditional boundaries of County Dublin, now comprising Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. Systematic List The Systematic List includes records that have been recorded in at least one of Thomp- son (1849-1851), Ussher & Warren (1900), Barrington (1900), Kennedy et al. (1954), Kennedy (1961), Irish Bird Reports (1953 to 2003), Irish Rare Bird Reports (2004 to 2019), Irish East Coast Bird Reports (1980 to 2003), Irish Scarce Migrant Reports (2004 to 2008), The Birds of Dublin and Wicklow (Hutchinson 1975) and North Bull Island Bird Reports (2011 to 2020). In addition, some records not included in any of the previous that are posted on the Irish Birding, eBird Ireland and Birds of North Bull Island websites are included. A few records have been communicated by the observer. Species ranges indicated are very general just to provide a broad outline. For polytypic species, the form that is normally found or expected in Ireland is given. Reports and their Citations Irish Bird Reports from 1953 to 1976 were stand-alone publications, thereafter incor- porated in the annual publication Irish Birds until the final report for 2003. Irish Bird Reports from 1953 to 1976 are cited thus: IBR ‘report number’: ‘report page number’. Irish Bird Reports from 1977 to 2003 are cited thus: Irish Birds ‘volume number’ (‘volume issue number’): ‘page number’. Irish Rare Bird Reports from 2004 onwards are published in Irish Birds (see the IRBC website for a brief explanation of the change in approach). Irish Rare Bird Reports are cited thus: Irish Birds ‘volume number’ (‘volume issue number’): ‘page number’. Note that a departure from the traditional ‘volume and volume number’ naming system used by Irish Birds up to volume ten requires that the 2017 report is cited thus: Irish Birds 41: ‘page number’, for the 2018 report, Irish Birds 42: ‘page number’ and for the 2019 report, Irish Birds 43: ‘page number’. Irish East Coast Bird Reports were published for the years 1980 to 2003 and are cited thus: IECBR ‘report year’: ‘page number’. Dublin & Wicklow Bird Reports from 1976 to 1979 are cited thus: Dublin & Wicklow Report, ‘report year’. Irish Scarce Migrant Reports were twice published in Irish Birds covering the years 2004 to 2008. The first report, edited by John Rattigan, was published in Irish Birds 8(2): 263-298, covering the years 2004 to 2006 and is cited thus: Rattigan, ‘page number’. The second report, edited by Aonghus O’Donnell, was published in Irish Birds 9(3): 421-466, covering the years 2007 to 2008 and is cited thus: O’Donnell, ‘page number’. North Bull Island Bird Reports have been compiled annually by Tom Cooney since 2011 (with the most recent for 2020) and are made available for download through the ‘Birds of North Bull Island’ website at www.bullislandbirds.com and are cited thus: Cooney ‘report year’, ‘report page number’.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 1 Taxonomy Scientific nomenclature and species order follows version 11.2 of the IOC World List (Gill et al. 2021). The terms ‘subspecies’, ‘form’ and ‘race’ are used interchangeably. Place Names Place names are reported as precisely as the details available allow. The north Dublin location that is the estuary of the Broad Meadow River known variously Broad Meadows, Broadmeadow, Swords Estuary, Corballis and Malahide will be standardised as Malahide Estuary with additional details added when known. The north Dublin estuary of the Ballyboghil and Ballough Rivers that enters the sea between Rush and Portrane, variously referred to as either Rogerstown or Rogerstown Estuary will be standardised as Rogerstown Estuary with addition details added when known. National Rarity Status The following are the rarity status categories in use: • Extremely rare - Fewer than 10 records • Very rare - between 10 and 50 records • Rare - between 51 and 150 records • Scarce - between 151 and 300 records • Uncommon - between 301 and 500 records Statistics National statistics of IRBC’s Appendix I & II species are to 31st December 2019 and are compiled by the author from published records with considerable help from Kieran Fahy who undertook a detailed analysis of historic records. Annual totals include new records for that year only. The frequency and identity of returning birds is estimated as best as the author can judge, but in many cases are little more that guess work and other conclusions might just as easily be reached. See pages 151 and 152 for full list of references and abbreviations. Hyperlinks Links to web pages are indicated in this colour. Websites Cited Birds of North Bull Island: www.bullislandbirds.com eBird Ireland: https://ebird.org/region/IE Irish Birding: www.irishbirding.com Acknowledgements I am grateful to Dick Coombes, Tom Cooney, Kieran Fahy, Aidan G. Kelly, Niall T. Keogh, Paul Lynch, Paul Milne, Killian Mullarney, Tom Shevlin and Ian Stevenson for their help in compiling this note. Sincere thanks to all the photographers for their great pictures.

Joe Hobbs, August 2021. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 2 Flooded Field, Rogerstown Estuary, looking towards the railway viaduct and Lambay, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly.

Booterstown Marsh, near Blackrock with the DART in the background, Photo: Dick Coombes.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 3 Aerial views of Sandymount Strand and Booterstown Marsh looking south (below), and Rogerstown Estuary looking east towards Lambay and the Irish Sea (bottom), Photos: Tony Murray.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 4 Aerial view of Bull Island and the Mouth of the Liffey (top) and the Hill of Howth (above), Photos: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 5 Aerial view of Dun Laoghaire Harbour and Town, Photo: Richard T. Mills.

Broad Meadow, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, Photo: Victor Caschera.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 6 Rogerstown Outer Estuary, showing: The mouth of the estuary with part of Lambay Island to the right (below), Tip of Portrane Peninsula with Rush in the background (middle) and Portrane Peninsula with the Irish Sea in the background (bottom). Photos: Paul Lynch.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 7 The entrance to Turvey Hide, Rogerstown Estuary, Photo: Joe Hobbs.

Turvey Hide, Rogerstown Estuary, Photo: Paul Lynch. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 8 The view from Turvey Hide, Rogerstown Estuary, Photo: Paul Lynch.

Lambay Island, from the spit on Rush Beach, Photo: Paul Lynch. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 9 Shanganagh Beach and Cliffs with Killiney Hill and Dalkey Island in the background, Photo: Ronan Browne.

Scotsman’s Bay with Dun Laoghaire Seafront in the background, Photo: Ronan Browne.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 10 Looking north from Dalkey Island towards Dun Laoghaire and Dublin Bay, Photo: Tara Adcock.

Maiden Rock (Dalkey Islands) with Tern Nestboxes laid out, photo (taken under NPWS license): Tara Adcock.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 11 Part of the Gannet colony on the sea stack at Ireland’s Eye, Photo: Gustavo Zoladz.

East Pier, Howth with Ireland’s Eye in the background, Photo: Joe Hobbs.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 12 Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, Photos: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 13 Rockabill Lighthouse, offSkerries , Photos: Emma Tiernan.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 14 Rockabill, offSkerries with the Bill on the left and the Rock with its lighthouse on the right, Photo: Dick Coombes.

Nestboxes ready for deployment for a new season on Rockabill, Photo: Emma Tiernan. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 15 Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, Photo: Graham Prole.

Mixed flock of terns overDublin Bay, with Howth and the Baily Light in the background, Photo: Dick Coombes. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 16 Sandymount Strand looking towards Irishtown and the Poolbeg, Photo: Dick Coombes.

Bull Island’s South Lagoon looking towards the Poolbeg Generating Station, Photo: Derek O’Reilly. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 17 The Furry Glen and Pond, Phoenix Park, Photo: Ian Stevenson.

Grange Castle Business Park Lake, near Baldonnell Photo: Ian Stevenson.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 18 Oscar Merne Tern Platform moored off theGreat South Wall near the mouth of the Liffey, Photos: Capt. Neal Myles.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 19 Systematic List Black Brant Branta bernicla nigricans Black Brant is a subspecies of Brent Goose, which has three forms described. The nominate Dark-bellied Brent Goose B.b. bernicla is a rare winter visitor to Dublin from northwest Siberia and Pale-bellied Brent Goose B.b. hrota is a common winter visitor from the Canadian High Arctic, mainly in and around Dublin estuaries and parks. Some authorities treat these as full species in their own right. The type specimen of Black Brant was collected in New Jersey, USA in the 19th century. Subsequent examination revealed it resembled the so-called ‘Grey-bellied’ Brent Goose rather than Black Brant. Should this be confirmed, the rules of nomenclatural dictate that Grey-bellied Brent Goose would inherit the taxon nigricans upon formal recognition and Black Brant would be assigned orientalis, following a specimen collected in Siberia during 1941. Range: Northeast Siberia, Alaska, northwest Canada. Winters east Asia, west North America. Known occurrences: Seven records and one pending. 1984 Two: Adult, Corballis, Outer Malahide Estuary, 18th November to 14th December was joined by a second adult from 11th to 14th December, and, one of these two, Rogerstown Estuary, 30th November, and, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 26th to 29th December (IECBR 1984 p.11 & 1985 p.12, Irish Birds 3(1): 108 & 3(2): 299). 1985 Zero: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 9th January to early May (IECBR 1985 p.12, Irish Birds 3(2): 299), presumed one of two from 1984 returning. 1986 Zero: Adult, Sandymount Strand, 15th October (IECBR 1986 p.10) or 18th Octo- ber (Irish Birds 3(3): 460), presumed one of two from 1984 or 1985 returning. Note that dates differ in reports cited for this record.

Black Brant, Kilbogget Park, December 2020, Photo: Niall T. Keogh.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 20 Black Brant, Phoenix Park, January 2021, presumed same bird as shown on previous page, Photo: Sean Geraty.

1990 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, mid-April to 30th April (IECBR 1990 p.10, Irish Birds 4(3): 432). 1991 Zero: Adult, North Bull Island, 16th to 22nd April (IECBR 1991 p.10, Irish Birds 4(4): 579), presumed returning. 1992 One: Two adults, Rogerstown Estuary, 29th February, photographs Irish Birding News 2: 92-93 & 98; Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 20th November (IECBR 1993 p.11) or 28th November (Irish Birds 5(1): 84) in to 1993. Note that the first dates differ in reports cited for this record; Adult, Swords and Corballis, Malahide Estuary, 22nd November in to 1993 (IECBR 1992 p.10). All occurrences in 1992 presumed to involve the same two individuals, with one of these presumed returning. [rish Birds 5(1): 84]. 1993 Zero: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, from November 1992, remained to 21st Febru- ary, presumed returning; A different adult, Malahide Estuary, from 22nd November 1992, remained to 9th April, presumed returning. [IECBR 1993 p.11, Irish Birds 5(2): 214]. 1994 One: Adult, Poolbeg, 1st April; Adult, Corballis, Outer Malahide Estuary, 3rd April, and, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 9th April, presumed returning. [IECBR 1994 p.14, Irish Birds 5(3): 330]. 1995 Zero: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 11th February, presumed one of two present since 1990 returning; Adult, Poolbeg, 18th February to 10th March, presumed returning. [IECBR 1995 p.12, Irish Birds 5(4): 453]. 2000 One: Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 4th to 8th February (IECBR 2000 p.16), and, 12th February to 8th April (IECBR 2000 p.16, Irish Birds 7(1): 87). 2001 Zero: Adult, North Bull Island, 27th November (IECBR 2001 p.18, Irish Birds 7(2): 286), presumed returning. 2013 One: One, North Bull Island, 7th November (Irish Birds 10(1): 74). 2020 One pending: Adult, Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely and Blackrock College Rugby Pitches, 27th December in to 2021 (per Irish Birding website), presumed to have been at Kilcoole previously. Sometimes in the company of a Grey-bellied Brent family.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 21 2021 Zero: Adult, south Dublin locations from 27th December 2020 remained to 11th April, variously at Blackrock College Rugby Pitches, Kilbogget Park, Clontarf, Phoenix Park, North Bull Island, Belvedere College Sports Grounds, Navan Road, Belcamp and Le Fanu Park and Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot (per Irish Birding website). A Black Brant present at Sandymount Strand from 24th February to 11th March 2018 was considered a hybrid by some. It was also seen at Kilcoole, Wicklow. Establishing the exact number of individuals involved is problematic considering the longevity of geese and their faithfulness to particular wintering sites making seven a best estimate (see Fahy (2013) for an analysis of Irish records up to 2011). It seems likely that birds arriving on our shores are those that somehow become mixed in with Pale-bellied Brent Geese B.b. hrota on their Canadian breeding grounds, subsequently adopting their migration patterns. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 40 records. ‘Grey-bellied’ Brent Goose Branta bernicla ssp. This form of Brent Goose has been speculated as a potential fourth subspecies but to date has not been formally described. However, it does seem to represent a stable form and Shields (1990) has proposed it is a valid taxon on the basis of preliminary DNA analysis and morphology and concluded it is not a stable hybrid population. Range: Melville and Prince Patrick Islands (western Canadian High Arctic). Winters Puget Sound, Washington, USA. Their breeding grounds are therefore to the north of Black Brant and west of Canadian High Arctic Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Known occurrences: The following have shown characteristics of this form. 2009 One: One, Poolbeg, 17th April (per Irish Birding website). 2012 One: One, Donaghmede, 22nd February, and, presumed same, Coolock, 25th February (per Irish Birding website). 2013 One: Adult, Donaghmede and Kilbarrack, 15th February to 3rd March, and, presumed same, Kilbarrack and North Bull Island, November, photograph Birding World 26: 488 (per Irish Birding website). 2014 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 19th January. Considered to be a different individual to the previous year (per Irish Birding website). 2020 At least five: Adult and juvenile, Sandymount Strand, 29th October; One, possibly two adults, Sandymount Strand, 5th November; Adult male, possible adult female, three first-winters, Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely, 28th December in to 2021. Photos seem to suggest the birds at Sandymount were not those at Cabinteely and if confirmed would make five a minimum total. Some or all of these were also at Kilcoole, Wicklow on 22nd and 24th December. [per Irish Birding website] 2021 Three: Those at Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely on 28th December were present again on 2nd January; Adult male, two first-winter, Kilbogget Park, 16th to 17th January, presumed to be new birds. [various pers. comms.]. Status in Ireland: Since 1992 there have been claims from Down, Dublin, Louth, Mayo and Wicklow.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 22 ‘Grey-bellied’ Brent Goose, Kilbarrack, November 2013 (left), Rogerstown Estuary, January 2014, Photos: Aidan G. Kelly.

‘Grey-bellied’ Brent Goose, Kilbogget Park, December 2020, Photo: Niall T. Keogh.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 23 Canada / Cackling Goose Branta canadensis / hutchinsii Both were previously lumped as Canada Goose. Range: Canada and Cackling Goose breed across much of North America. Although there is some overlap, the smaller Cackling Goose has a generally more northerly dis- tribution. Wild birds winter in the southern states of the USA and northern Mexico. Feral Canada Geese have been introduced as far apart as northern Europe, Argentina, Chile, Japan and New Zealand. Known occurrences: Two records. 1991 Two: Two, Lambay Island, 2nd February (IECBR 1991 p.9, Irish Birds 4(4): 579). These could not be assigned to either species but were considered genuine vagrants (IRBC 2013). Each year from 1984 to 1987, two birds showing characteristics of the race minima, known as Lesser Cackling Goose were recorded at Lambay Island, however these were judged to be of feral or captive origin (IRBC 2013). Various descriptions submitted over the four year period suggest that more than two individuals were involved. A bird showing some characteristics of the race interior, known as Todd’s Canada Goose was at Rogerstown Estuary from 9th November 2013 to 19th January 2014. To date this record has not been published, however it is likely to be the same individual that was present at Lurgangreen, Louth from 29th March to 7th April 2014 (Irish Birds 10(2): 238). Feral or escaped Canada Geese may be encountered in various parklands, estuaries etc. around the county. Status in Ireland: Vagrant Canada and Cackling Geese are very rare with 46 and 32 records respectively. Previously treated as forms of Canada Goose both were recognised as full species by the IRBC in 2009 (this following similar decisions made by the AOU and BOU). In addition there are 61 records of ‘Canada’ type geese that are not specifically identifiable as either Cackling or Canada Geese but are considered to be of North American origin. Snow Goose Anser caerulescens Snow Goose has two subspecies, nominate caerulescens (Lesser Snow Goose) and at- lanticus (Greater Snow Goose). Range: Tundra breeding Nearctic goose, occurring in blue and white colour phases. Winters USA’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts, southwestern USA and northern Mexico. Known occurrences: Two records. 1941 Two: Two, Malahide Estuary, 29th December (Kennedy et al. 1954). Probably not surprising that so few Snow Geese have been recorded in Dublin as their main carrier species is the ‘Greenland’ White-fronted Goose luring the majority to Wexford. Status in Ireland: Rare winter visitor with 121 records.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 24 Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis Historically, Bean Goose was comprised of five subspecies that were divided in two distinct groups, i.e. three mainly orange-billed taiga breeding forms and two darker- billed tundra breeding forms. The absence of any recorded interbreeding between these groups led many to suspect both were better treated as full polytypic species. Therefore it was not a great surprise when in 2008 the IOC followed an initiative by the AOU to recognise both as full species, i.e. Taiga Bean Goose with subspecies fabalis, johanseni and middendorffii and Tundra Bean Goose with subspecies rossicus and ser- rirostris. The IRBC followed suit once it adopted the IOC taxonomy in March 2017. Range: Taiga regions of Scandinavia east to the Ural Mountains (western Russia). Win- ters in Europe. Known occurrences: One record. 1982 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 23rd May to late June (IECBR 1983 p.7, Irish Birds 2(4): 550). These are exceptional dates for this species as nationwide it is almost unheard of during summer months. Status in Ireland: Irregular winter visitor with 128 records since 1950. Russian White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons albifrons This is the smaller nominate form of White-fronted Goose. The Greenland race flaviro- stris is a local and scarce winter visitor to Dublin. Range: North Russia and northwest Siberia. Winters in Europe and the Middle East. Known occurrences: One record involving 50 individuals. 1947 At least 50: About 50, Ballough, near Lusk and Rogerstown Estuary, 5th January to 26th February (Kennedy et al. 1954). This was by far the largest flock of the nominate form recorded nationwide, accounting for just under half of all Irish records. They arrived during a period of severe weather that affected much of Europe and was one of the most persistent cold spells to hit the country during the 20th century with snowfalls covering all parts from late January until mid-March. On 5th January F.W. Fox shot four (three immature and an adult) out of a group of 11 at Ballough. The adult was only slightly winged, captured and presented to Dublin Zoo. A few days later Fox shot another. Then in early February he examined two of this form from a group of five shot. He was informed that those at Ballough had numbered about 50 in total. Finally on 26th February Fox saw ten or 12 at Rogerstown Estuary, all presumably part of the Ballough group. Status in Ireland: Scarce winter visitor with 176 records, mainly in Wexford. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Range: South Europe to central Asia with isolated populations in northwest Africa and Ethiopia. Winters south of breeding grounds. Known occurrences: At least five records. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 25 1892 At least five: About five or perhaps seven, Skerries, 26th June, three of these were shot (Ussher & Warren). This group were part of a general northward movement of Ruddy Shelduck in 1892 with some reaching as far north as Iceland and Greenland that was the result of a summer drought across much of southern and southeastern Europe. Other birds are seen from time to time but their status is doubtful and are not documented in this list. Status in Ireland: Prior to 1950 there are 75 records that are probably genuine vagrants. Most were in the 19th century, the 1892 influx numbered about 50 in total. Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors Previously Anas discors. Range: Southern Canada and USA. Winters south as fas as Brazil and central Chile. Known occurrences: Four records. 1974 One: Adult male, North Bull Island and north Dublin estuaries, 22nd October in to 1975 (IBR 22: 7). 1975 Zero: Adult male, North Bull Island, from 22nd October 1974, remained to 1st March when last observed at Baldoyle (IBR 23: 8). 1977 One: Adult male, North Bull Island, 16th September in to 1978 (Irish Birds 1(2): 248). 1978 Zero: Adult male, North Bull Island, from 16th September 1977, remained to 5th March (Irish Birds 1(3): 419 & 6(1): 69). 1997 One: Female, Rogerstown Estuary, 11th January to 8th February (Irish Birds 6(2): 292). 2005 One: Adult female, North Bull Island, 6th October in to 2006 (Irish Birds 8(3): 375), photographs Birding World 19: 8, Irish Birds 8: 376. 2006 Zero: Adult female, North Bull Island, from 6th October 2005, remained to 11th January (Irish Birds 8(3): 375 & 397), and, presumed same, 7th December in to 2007 (Irish Birds 8(3): 397). 2007 Zero: Adult female, North Bull Island, from 7th December 2006, remained to 21st January (Irish Birds 8(3): 397 & 8(4): 585), photographs Birdwatch 176: 68, British Birds 100: 132, and, presumed same, North Bull Island, 21st October in to 2008 (Irish Birds 8(4): 585). 2008 Zero: Adult female, North Bull Island, from 21st October 2007, remained to 20th January (Irish Birds 8(4): 585 & 9(1): 79). 2009 Zero: Adult female, North Bull Island, 11th September in to 2010 (Irish Birds 9(2): 254), photographs Birding World 22: 487, Birdwatch 212: 64, Irish Birds 9: 254, presumed returning. 2010 Zero: Adult female, North Bull Island, from 11th September 2009, remained to 27th February (Irish Birds 9(2): 254 & 287), and, presumed same, North Bull Island, 26th October in to 2011 (Irish Birds 9(2): 287 & 9(3): 451). 2011 Zero: Adult female, North Bull Island, from 26th October 2010, remained to 20th February (Irish Birds 9(3): 451), and, presumed same, North Bull Island, 24th Septem- ber in to 2012 (Irish Birds 9(3): 451 & 9(4): 581).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 26 Female Blue-winged Teal, North Bull Island, January 2007 (below), December 2009 (bottom). First recorded in October 2005, this bird returned annually to 2013, Photos: Paul Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 27 2012 Zero: Adult female, North Bull Island, from 24th September 2011, remained to 30th March (Irish Birds 9(4): 581), and, presumed same, 9th December in to 2013 (Irish Birds 9(4): 581 & 10(1): 75). 2013 Zero: Adult female, North Bull Island, from 9th December 2012, remained to 17th February (Irish Birds 10(1): 75). Status in Ireland: Rare with 116 records. American Wigeon Mareca americana Previously Anas americana. The Nearctic counterpart to Wigeon M. penelope. Range: Western Canada and northwestern USA. Winters south to Central America, northern South America and West Indies. Known occurrences: Six records. 1954 Two: Pair, 23rd to 27th February, North Bull Island (IBR 2: 9, King 1955). Found by Kerry birder Frank King. These are the first and second Irish records. 1977 Two: Pair, Rogerstown Estuary, 22nd April to 8th May (Irish Birds 1(2): 248). 1999 One: First-year male, Rogerstown Estuary, 27th December in to 2000 (IECBR 1999 p.12, Irish Birds 6(4): 550). 2000 Zero: First-year male, Rogerstown Estuary, from 27th December 1999, remained to 2nd January (IECBR 1999 p.12, Irish Birds 6(4): 550), and, now as an adult, Rogers- town Estuary, 29th October in to 2001 (IECBR 2000 p.17, Irish Birds 7(1): 87).

Field-sketch made by Killian Mullarney of the male American Wigeon, at Rogerstown Estuary, April 1977.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 28 2001 Zero: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, from 29th October 2000, remained to 20th March (IECBR 2000 p.17, Irish Birds 7(1): 87), and, presumed same, 21st September in to 2002 (IECBR 2001 p.19, Irish Birds 7(2): 216). 2002 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, from 21st September 2001, remained to 9th March (IECBR 2001 p.19, Irish Birds 7(2): 216); Different adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 5th to 26th January (IECBR 2002 p.22) or 26th January (Irish Birds 8(1): 109), and, presumed same, Rogerstown Estuary, 8th September to 28th December (IECBR 2002 p.22). Note that dates in January differ in reports cited for this record. 2003 Zero: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 18th January and 22nd March (IECBR 2003 p.18), presumed returning; Male, Rogerstown Estuary, 12th October in to 2004 (IECBR 2003 p.18, Irish Birds 7(4): 551), presumed returning. 2004 Zero: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, from 12th October 2003, remained to 6th March (IECBR 2003 p.18, Irish Birds 7(4): 551). Status in Ireland: Scarce with 153 records, with many returning multiple times. Up to 13 were at Akeragh Lough, Kerry in October 1968 with some of these observed arriving in off the sea. American Black Duck Anas rubripes Range: Eastern Canada and northeast USA. Known occurrences: One record. 1979 One: Male, North Bull Island, 1st December, and, presumed same, Rogerstown Estuary, 29th December in to 1980 (IECBR 1980 p.5, Irish Birds 1(4): 558). This was the fourth Irish record. 1980 Zero: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, from 29th December 1979 remained until March, and, presumed same, Mulhuddart, 9th September to 13th November, when it was shot (IECBR 1980 p.5, Irish Birds 2(1): 94). The mounted specimen is on display in the Natural History Museum, Merrion Street. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 22 records, some returning over a number of years. Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis The Nearctic counterpart to TealA. crecca. Previously considered conspecific with Teal, now regarded as a full species by most but not by BirdLife International or the IUCN. Range: Most of northern North America. Winters south to Mexico, northern Central America and West Indies. Known occurrences: 17 records. 1969 One: Male, North Bull Island, 17th March (IBR 17: 22). 1971 One: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, 4th December (IBR 19: 26). 1973 One: Male, North Bull Island, 18th November (IBR 21: 9). 1974 One: Male, North Bull Island, 21st April (IBR 22: 7). 1978 One: Male, North Bull Island, 20th November in to 1979 (Irish Birds 1(3): 419). 1979 Zero: Male, North Bull Island, from 20th November 1978, remained to 26th April, and, presumed same, North Bull Island, 18th November in to 1980 (Irish Birds 1(4): 558).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 29 Male Green-winged Teal, North Bull Island, April 2016, Photos: James Hayes.

1980 Zero: Male, North Bull Island, from 18th November 1979, remained to April, and, presumed same, North Bull Island, October in to 1981 (Irish Birds 2(1): 93). 1981 Zero: Male, North Bull Island, from October 1980, remained to mid-February (Irish Birds 2(2): 206) or 3rd March (IECBR 1981 p.8), and, presumed same, North Bull Island, 18th October in to 1982 (IECBR 1981 p.8). Note that the spring departure dates differ in reports cited for this record and no final departure date in 1982 is recorded in either Irish or East Coast bird reports. 1982 One: Male, Brittas Pond, 7th to 14th February (IECBR 1982 p.6, Irish Birds 2(3): 382). 1985 One: Male, North Bull Island, 19th November in to 1986 (IECBR 1985 p.13, Irish Birds 3(2): 299). 1986 Zero: Male, North Bull Island, from 19th November, remained to 20th January (IECBR 1986 p.12, Irish Birds 3(3): 461). 1988 One: Male, North Bull Island, 7th February (IECBR 1988 p.12) or 7th February to about 28th February (Irish Birds 4(1): 86). Note that dates differ in reports cited for this record. 1996 One: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, 7th December in to 1997 (Irish Birds 6(1): 68) or 7th to 8th December (IECBR 1996 p.16). Note that dates differ in reports cited for this record. 1997 One: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, from 7th December 1996, remained to 22nd March (Irish Birds 6(2): 292); Male, North Bull Island, 18th January to 1st February (IECBR 1997 p.17, Irish Birds 6(2): 292). 2000 One: Male, North Bull Island, 15th January to 6th February (IECBR 2000 p.18, Irish Birds 7(1): 87). 2001 One: Male, North Bull Island, 4th February to 31st March, with two males present 24th March (IECBR 2001 p.20, Irish Birds 7(2): 216), one presumed returning.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 30 2002 Zero: Male, North Bull Island, 19th to 22nd January (IECBR 2002 p.23, Irish Birds 7(3): 388), presumed returning. 2003 Zero: Male, North Bull Island, 27th January (IECBR 2003 p.19), presumed returning. 2005 Zero: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, 9th to 21st February, and, presumed same, North Bull Island, 27th November in to 2006 (Rattigan, p.265), presumed returning. 2006 Zero: Male, North Bull Island, from 27th November 2005, remained to 7th Janu- ary, and, presumed same, Rogerstown Estuary, 12th February and North Bull Island, 1st July (Rattigan, p.265). 2007 Zero: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, 20th January to 18th February, and, presumed same, North Bull Island, 23rd November (O’Donnell, p.422), presumed returning. 2010 Two: Male, Beaverstown, 23rd January; Male, North Bull Island, 13th March. [Irish Birds 9(2): 286]. 2012 One: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, 7th to 9th January (per Irish Birding website). 2013 Zero: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, 27th January to 23rd March (per Irish Birding website), presumed returning. 2015 Zero: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, 24th January (per Irish Birding website), presumed returning. 2016 One: Male, North Bull Island, 11th March to 12th April (Cooney 2016, p.5). 2020 One: Male, Rogerstown Estuary, 29th to 30th December (per Irish Birding website). 2021 Zero: Male, Outer Malahide Estuary, 6th to 2nd April (per Irish Birding website), presumed same bird present the previous month at Rogerstown. Note that the annual tallies and frequency of returning birds quoted are little more than guess work and could just as easily be under or over estimated. Status in Ireland: Scarce with at least 173 records (all males) to the end of 2011.

Green-winged Teal with other wildfowl, Rogerstown Estuary, December 2020, Photo: Paul Lynch.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 31 Male Red-crested Pochard, Grange Castle Business Park, March 2020, Photo: Ian Stevenson.

Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Range: Central and southern Europe to northern China. Winters north Africa and south Asia. Known occurrences: One record and one pending. 1984 One: Male, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 17th to 19th March (Irish Birds 3(1): 109) or to 24th March (IECBR 1984 p.13). Note that final dates differ in reports cited for this record. 2020 One pending: Male, Grange Castle Business Park, near Casement Aerodrome, 15th to 21st March (per Irish Birding website). The provenance of this bird has yet to be established. Status in Ireland: Rare with 70 records. How many of these are genuine vagrants can be difficult to establish as some may originate from wildfowl collections. One that would appear to pass the genuine vagrant test was shot at Youghal, Cork in January 1977 and had been ringed at Reserva del Guadiamar, Guadalquivir Delta, Sevilla, Spain in July 1975. Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca Range: West Europe and northwest Africa to central Asia. Winters to the south of breeding areas as far as the Sahel, Middle East and southeast Asia. Known occurrences: One record. 1871 One: Male, somewhere on the coast, March 1871 (Ussher & Warren). Shot while with a small flock of duck. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 35 records.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 32 Male Ring-necked Duck, UCD Campus South Pool, Belfield, May 2015, Photo: Niall T. Keogh.

Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris The Nearctic counterpart to Tufted DuckA. fuligula, in whose company it is often found. Range: Central Alaska through central Canada to Newfoundland and Great Lakes south to southwestern USA. Winters south of breeding grounds as far as Mexico and locally to Panama and West Indies. Known occurrences: Five records. 1981 One: Male, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 2nd January to 22nd March, and, presumed same, Knock Lake, 17th October in to 1982 (IECBR 1981 p.9, Irish Birds 2(3): 383). 1982 Zero: Male, Knock Lake, from 17th October 1981 remained to 13th March (IECBR 1982 p.7, Irish Birds 2(3): 383). 1985 One: Male, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 2nd February to 7th March (IECBR 1985 p.14, Irish Birds 3(2): 300). 2003 One: First-year male, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 20th to 24th December (IECBR 2003 p.22, Irish Birds 7(4): 552), also seen at Mell Quarry, Louth earlier in the same month. 2015 One: Male, UCD Campus South Pool, Belfield, 20th to 28th May (per Irish Birding website).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 33 Ring-necked Duck, (with Tufted Duck, above) Knock Lake, October 2020, Photos: Aidan G. Kelly.

2020 One: First calendar-year male, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 26th October to 7th December (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Uncommon with 323 records to the end of 2011 when it was removed from the IRBC’s rarity list. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis The Nearctic counterpart to Scaup A. marila. Range: Alaska through western Canada to western Montana. Winters south to Central America, West Indies and north Venezuela and Hawaiian Islands. Known occurrences: One record. 2006 One: First-year female, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 10th November to 24th De- cember (Irish Birds 8(3): 397), photograph Irish Birds 8: 401. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 44 records, with some of these returning to the same or nearby location over a number of years.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 34 First-year female Lesser Scaup (right) with Scaup, Knock Lake, November 2006, Photo: Paul Kelly.

Second calendar-year male Dresser’s Eider, off Skerries, April 2019, Photos: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 35 Dresser’s Eider Somateria mollissima dresseri One of six subspecies of Common Eider. Range: East coast of North America from Groswater Bay (Labrador, Canada) south to Massachusetts (USA). Winters Gulf of St. Lawrence south to Long Island, New York. Known occurrences: One record. 2019 One: Second-calendar year male, Colt Island, off Skerries, Dublin, 19th April to 13th May (Irish Birds 43: 74, Kelly 2019), the second Irish and Western Palearctic records. Found by Aidan G. Kelly. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with two records, the other was a male that frequented Glasagh Bay, Fanad Head, Donegal, early in 2010 and presumed same bird was off the Inishowen Peninsula, Donegal in June 2011. Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata Range: West Alaska through central Canada to Labrador. Winters Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America to Baja California and south Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico. Known occurrences: 12 records and one pending. 1880 One: Adult male, off Clontarf, October, (Ussher & Warren), shot. This was the second Irish record. 1958 One: Immature, off North Bull Island, 3rd November to 20th December (IBR 6: 8). 1988 One: First-winter male, off Portmarnock and Baldoyle (IECBR 1988 p.14) or off Baldoyle and Malahide (Irish Birds 4(1): 88), 24th January to 13th February. Note that locations differ in reports cited for this record. 1991 Two: Adult male, off Skerries, 6th February (Irish Birds 5(4): 455); Two adult males, off Skerries, 8th to 21st April and 17th October (IECBR 1991 p.14, Irish Birds 4(4): 582), presumed to include the bird from February returning. 2007 One: Adult male, off Balbriggan, 19th March (Irish Birds 8(4): 587). 2012 One: Female, off Balbriggan, 15th April (Irish Birds 9(4): 582). 2013 One: Male, off Balbriggan, 25th to 29th March (Irish Birds 10(1): 75). 2017 Two: Adult male, south Dublin Bay, 22nd to 31st January; One, off Skerries, 12th March. [Irish Birds 41: 59]. Both of these presumed to be part of the group of six that was off The Hermitage, Louth during 2016. 2018 One: Up to six (five males and a female), on the coast between Skerries and Balbriggan, 19th March to 19th April, with all six present on 6th April (Irish Birds 42: 74, per Irish Birding website). One of the males in this group is considered a new bird. 2019 One: Adult male and adult female, Bremore Point, near Balbriggan, 26th January, later flying towards Gormanston then remained on the Meath coast to 23rd March, both presumed returning from the previous year; First-winter male, Hampton’s Cove, Balbriggan, 29th January, also seen off Gormanston earlier in the month. [Irish Birds 43: 74]. 2020 One pending: Female or immature, Bremore Point, near Balbriggan, 25th Octo- ber (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Scarce with 278 records. Between January and April 2016 up to nine were in Blacksod Bay, Mayo, with all nine present on 2nd April. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 36 Female Ruddy Duck, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, December 2014 (left), and, with Tufted Ducks, Knock Lake, January 2015 (right), Photos: Paul Kelly.

Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Range: Neararctic stiff-tailed duck that became naturalised following escapes. Known occurrences: 1984 One: Male, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 16th and 17th September 1984 (IECBR 1984 p.15, Irish Birds 3(3): 463). 1992 Two: Pair, Dublin Zoo Pond, where breeding took place and five chicks were hatched, however none survived, probably as a result of predation by gulls (IECBR 1992 p.16, Irish Birds 5(1): 87), this is the first record of breeding away from Northern Ireland. The male had been present since 15th April 1988 and the female since 20th October 1989, neither were part of the zoo’s collection. 1993 One: The male at Dublin Zoo Pond since April 1988 was present throughout the year, and the female was present in April and July (IECBR 1993 p.19), breeding was not suspected; Male, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 17th to 20th September (IECBR 1993 p.19, Irish Birds 5(2): 216). 1994 Two: One, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 17th May (IECBR 1994 p.22, Irish Birds 5(3): 334), and, presumed same, 11th to 13th June (IECBR 1994 p.22); One, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 26th December (IECBR 1994 p.22, Irish Birds 5(3): 334). 2002 Two: Two, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 10th September (IECBR 2002 p.30). 2007 One: Female, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 19th October (O’Donnell, p.424). 2008 Three: Two males, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 25th August; Female or immature, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 21st to 22nd September. [O’Donnell, p.424]. 2010 One: Adult male, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 19th December in to 2011 (Irish Birds 9(2): 288). 2011 Zero: Adult male, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, from 19th December 2010 remained to 2nd January (Irish Birds 9(3): 454). 2014 One: Female, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 29th December, and Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 30th December in to 2015 (Irish Birds 10(2): 239).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 37 2015 Zero: Female, Knock Lake, from 29th December 2014 remained to 8th January, and, presumed same, Balrothery, 12th January (Irish Birds 10(3): 397). 2018 One: One, Broadmeadow River at Applewood, Swords, 3rd & 26th October (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Now very rare as a result of an eradication programme designed to remove the possibility of hybridisation with White-headed Duck O. leucocephala. Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Polytypic with four races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Southern Europe to northwest Iran. Winters Africa. Known occurrences: 13 records and one pending. 1833 One: One, Rathfarnham, March (Ussher & Warren), killed. The carcass was re- ceived in a fresh state by a taxidermist on 14th March. 1938 One: One, Killiney, 13th April (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1978 One: One, Raheny, 30th March (Irish Birds 1(3): 437). 1992 Six: One, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, 19th to 20th March (Coombes & Jordan 1992, IECBR 1992 p.41, Irish Birds 5(1): 96); Five, Killiney Village, 20th March (Fahy 1992, IECBR 1992 p.41, Irish Birds 5(1): 96), presumed to include the Dun Laoghaire bird; One, Howth Head, 27th May (IECBR 1992 p.41, Irish Birds 5(1): 96). 1997 One: One, Malahide Town, 23rd to 26th March (IECBR 1997 p.64, Irish Birds 6(2): 305), photograph Irish Birds 6: 300. 1999 One: One, Dalkey, 23rd May to 1st June (Irish Birds 6(4): 564) or 2nd June (IECBR 1999 p.46). Note that final dates differ in reports cited for this record.

Alpine Swift, Malahide, March 1997, Photo: Dick Coombes.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 38 2013 One: One, Glasnevin, 17th April (Irish Birds 10(1): 88). 2019 One: One, Windgate Road, Hill of Howth, 2nd June (Irish Birds 43: 91). 2020 One pending: One, Howth, 6th April (per Irish Birding website). The five found by Kieran Fahy over Killiney Village in 1992 is the joint largest flock recorded in Ireland along with five over Cork City in 2002. Other sightings of Alpine Swift were reported on 19th and 20th March 1992 in Shankill, Dalkey and Bulloch but these were never submitted for assessment. Status in Ireland: Rare with 88 records. Pallid Swift Apus pallidus Polytypic with three races. Range: [ssp. brehmorum] Madeira and Canary Islands, north Africa, southern Europe to Turkey. Winters Sahel, Africa. Known occurrences: One record. 1993 One: One, Howth, 9th August (IECBR 1993 p.46, Irish Birds 5(2): 224, O’Toole 1994a, 1994b), photograph Irish Birding News 3(4): 105. This was the second Irish record. Around noon on Monday, 9th August 1993, the late Sam O’Toole was following the Cliff Path at Howth. Abundant flying insects had attracted large numbers of Common Swifts as well as some Swallows and House Martins. While scanning these flocks he noticed an unusual swift near the sewage outlet at the Nose of Howth, which he soon identified as a Pallid Swift. At that time it appeared to be feeding and flying quite normally. However, just a couple of hours later Dave Fox found it in a state of exhaustion lying near the cliff path. It was subsequently taken in to care but did not survive. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with four records, most recently at Bray Seafront, Wicklow in March 2006. Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax Range: Southwest Europe and northwest Africa to central Asia. Some populations winters south of breeding grounds. Known occurrences: One record. 1931 One: One, Skerries, November (Kennedy et al. 1954), shot a day or two previous to 20th November. To date this was the most recent national record. Status in Ireland: Very rare with ten records. Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius Range: Mediterranean Basin east to Iraq and Iran and south through the Middle East to Egypt and much of Sub-Saharan Africa. Known occurrences: One Category D record. 1983 One: One, North Bull Island, 13th March (IECBR 1983 p.21, Irish Birds 2(4): 569), found dead on the tideline and assigned to Category D3. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with seven records mainly as a spring overshoot.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 39 Pallas’s Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus Range: West Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to China. Known occurrences: 16 records. 1863 One: One, Balbriggan, June (Ussher & Warren), found dead. 1888 15: 15, Portmarnock sand-hills, exact dates are not known but it was reported that they remained in the area for a period of six weeks; Three, near Malahide, 4th June, these presumed to be part of the Portmarnock flock; One, Clontarf, 16th June, killed, this also presumed to be from the Portmarnock flock (Ussher & Warren). Status in Ireland: A central Asian species that is prone to occasional irruptions as hap- pened at least twice in the 19th century during 1863, when 17 were recorded in three counties during June and in 1888 when 110 were recorded in 13 counties between May and December. Observations were made as far apart as Kildare, Donegal and Galway. Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur Polytypic with four races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe, Madeira and Canary Islands to western Siberia. Win- ters sub-Saharan Africa. Known occurrences: 1835 - 1836 Numbers not known: Thompson (vol.II, p.16) reports that some were shot in Malahide during ‘summer’ and another was observed there three or four years previous. 1837 One: One, Donnybrook, June (Thompson vol.II, p.16). 1939 At least two: A pair bred in St. Anne’s, Clontarf (Kennedy et al. 1954, O’Mahony 1939). 1954 Numbers not known: A small colony became established at Corduff, near Lusk (Hutchinson 1975, Kennedy et al. 1954). 1955 At least three: Breeding was confirmed and a juvenile seen at an unspecified location (IBR 4: 15). 1956 At least two: Breeding was confirmed at a different location to that in 1955 (IBR 4: 15). 1957 At least three: Circumstantial evidence suggested at least one pair bred at a north Dublin location (IBR 5: 16); One, near Tallaght, 11th December (Hutchinson 1975). 1960 At least four: A pair is believed to have bred at a west Dublin location (IBR 8: 19); Pair, near Tallaght, mid-May (IBR 8: 19). 1967 Two: Two, Whitestown, Tallaght, 26th October (IBR 15: 36). 1969 One: One, Sandymount Strand, 25th to 26th February (IBR 17: 47, Hutchinson 1975), observed in the company of Collared Doves. 1976 Four: One, North Bull Island, 21st April; Two, Milltown, 24th to 31st May; One, Dalkey, 30th May. Breeding suspected in the county. [Dublin & Wicklow Report, 1976] 1978 One: One, Killiney, 8th May (Dublin & Wicklow Report, 1978). 1980 Four: Four, Rogerstown Estuary, July (IECBR 1980 p.19). 1981 Three: One, Clondalkin, 21st June; One, Swords, 8th September; One, Rogers- town Estuary, 8th September. [IECBR 1981 p.25].

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 40 1982 Two: One, St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, 21st May; One, North Bull Island, 12th Sep- tember. [IECBR 1982 p.20]. 1983 Three: Three, Lusk, 13th July, with one remaining to 17th July (IECBR 1983 p.21). 1984 Ten: Ten, Rogerstown Estuary, 15th June, with three remaining to 24th July (IECBR 1984 p.37), breeding was suspected. 1985 Three: Two, Rogerstown Estuary, 22nd May; One, Booterstown Marsh, 11th June. [IECBR 1985 p.36, Irish Birds 3(2): 318]. 1986 Three: Up to two, Blake’s Cross, 21st June to 7th July; One, Dun Laoghaire, 12th to 14th June. [IECBR 1986 p.35, Irish Birds 3(3): 479]. 1987 Two: One, Blake’s Cross, 30th April; One, Blake’s Cross, 13th September. [IECBR 1987 p.30, Irish Birds 3(4): 635]. 1988 Four: One, Howth Head, 24th May; One, Rogerstown Estuary, 25th May; One, Blake’s Cross, 6th June; One, Booterstown, 13th June. [IECBR 1988 p.35]. 1990 Two: One, Booterstown, 7th June; One, Rogerstown Estuary, 28th October. [IEC- BR 1990 p.29]. 1991 One: One, Forrest Fields, Swords, 20th May (IECBR 1991 p.37). 1992 Two: One, Blackrock, 27th April; One, Clondalkin, 30th May [IECBR 1992 p.39]. 1997 One: One, Corduff, near Blanchardstown, 17th May (IECBR 1997 p.62, Irish Birds 6(2): 305). 2000 One: One, Swords, 1st May (IECBR 2000 p.69, Irish Birds 7(1): 101). 2001 One: One, Swords, 6th July (Irish Birds 7(2): 232). 2003 Two: One, Skerries, 9th July; One, Sandymount Strand at Booterstown, 1st to 5th October. [IECBR 2003 p.61]. 2004 One: One, Shankill, 16th June (Rattigan, p.290).

Turtle Dove, near Loughshinny, October 2018, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 41 2012 Two: One, North Bull Island, 8th May (Cooney 2012, p.15), flew from the Royal Dublin Golf Club towards Dollymount Strand; One, Ringsend, 9th June (per Irish Bird- ing website), landed briefly on the South Wall before flying towards Irishtown NP. 2018 Two: One, Phoenix Park, 8th October, in flight only; Juvenile, between Rush and Loughshinny, 28th October to 7th November. [per Irish Birding website]. Status in Ireland: Uncommon spring and autumn passage migrant. Has bred on a number of occasions. Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Range: Western Europe to central Asia. Winters Mediterranean to Middle East, Africa and Pakistan. Known occurrences: 1833 Two: Two, Thompson (vol.II, p.319) reports seeing two specimens in a private collection in Dublin during March, but does not make it absolutely clear if they were taken within the county but are here assumed they were. 1835 One: One, Portrane, 25th October (Thompson vol.II, p.319), shot. 1900 to 1954 Two: In addition to the three 19th century records already mentioned, Kennedy et al. (1954) report two more sometime between 1900 and 1954 without giving any further details. Status in Ireland: Very difficult to assess its true status on account of its secretive nature. Possibly occurs as a vagrant or rare summer visitor from Africa to suitable wetlands. Has bred in the past and possibly still does in very small numbers.

The first IrishLittle Crake, Natural History Museum, Dublin. Photo: Brian McCloskey.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 42 Little Crake Zapornia parva Range: Locally from southern and central Europe east to northwest China. Winters Mediterranean, western and eastern Africa and Arabia to Pakistan and India. Known occurrences: One 19th century record. 1854 One: Male, Balbriggan, 11th March (IRBC 2003, Ussher & Warren), shot. The mounted specimen is on display in the Natural History Museum. This was the first Irish record. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with two records, the other was obtained at an unknown location in Offaly in 1903. Crane Grus grus Range: Northern, central and central Europe to China and Russian Far East. Winters north Africa, Middle East, Pakistan, India and south China. Known occurrences: Eight records and four pending. 1998 One: One, Salthill, Dun Laoghaire, 19th May (Irish Birds 6(3): 389), presumed the same as one seen earlier in the day flying north at Newcastle, Wicklow. 2009 One: One, Lucan, 25th June (Irish Birds 9(2): 261). 2011 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 12th to 13th November (Irish Birds 9(3): 461). 2012 Zero: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 19th March (Irish Birds 9(4): 588), presumed returning, also seen in Meath and Louth. 2013 Two: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 6th April (Irish Birds 10(1): 80); Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 9th to 27th September (Irish Birds 10(1): 80).

Crane, near the north hide, Rogerstown Estuary, September 2013, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 43 Adult Crane with Lapwings, Rogerstown Estuary, November 2011, Photo: Mark Carmody.

2014 Two: Two, wandered between Baldongan, North Bull Island, Lusk, Donabate and Rogerstown Estuary, 12th to 20th December (Irish Birds 10(2): 244). 2018 One: One in flight, River Liffey at Chapelizod, 15th November, heading west (Irish Birds 42: 78). 2020 Four pending: Three in flight, Beaverstown, 5th September, heading towards Lusk; One in flight, Lucan, 5th December, heading west. [per Irish Birding website]. Status in Ireland: Nowadays rare, historically abundant up to the Middle Ages or possibly sometime in the 17th century. Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Polytypic with two subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Lowland temperate parts of Europe, Asia and North America. Winters mainly on sheltered coasts to the south of breeding grounds. Known occurrences: 42 records. 1848 One: One, Sandymount, 24th January (Kennedy et al. 1954), shot on what was then Sandymount Marsh. 1943 Two: Two, off North Bull Island, end of January, and, presumed same, 4th Febru- ary, and one of these, 4th March (Kennedy et al. 1954).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 44 Red-necked Grebe, Dun Laoghaire, January 2011 (left), January 2016 (right), Photos: Graham Clarke (left), Dick Coombes (right).

1955 Five: Three, Malahide Estuary, 3rd January, with two of these, Malahide Estuary, 15th January; Two, off West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, 25th January. [IBR 3: 7]. 1957 Four: Four acquiring adult plumage, Dublin Harbour, 5th February (IBR 5: 5). 1958 One: One, off West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, 25th January (IBR 6: 6). 1960 Four: Four, off West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, 6th February (IBR 8: 5). 1962 One: One, Killiney Bay, 6th February (IBR 10: 6). 1967 Two: Two, off West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, 19th November, with one remaining to the following day (IBR 15: 15). 1968 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 24th November (IBR 16: 14). 1971 Two: Two, Malahide Estuary, 1st November, and, presumed same, 6th November (IBR 19: 22). 1979 Two: One, Dun Laoghaire, 24th February to 7th April; One, Dun Laoghaire, 4th December in to 1980. [Irish Birds 1(4): 555]. 1980 One: One, Dun Laoghaire, from 4th December 1979, remained to 2nd April (Irish Birds 2(1): 89); One, North Bull Island, 19th October (IECBR 1981 p.3), this is almost certainly erroneously recorded as an 1982 record in Irish Birds 2(4): 547. 1981 One: One, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 8th November in to 1981 (IECBR 1981 p.3, Irish Birds 2(3): 378). 1982 One: One, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, from 8th November 1981, remained to at least 5th January and probably for another week until the estuary froze over (IECBR 1982 p.3); One, off Claremont Beach, Howth, 23rd January (IECBR 1982 p.3, Irish Birds 2(3): 378), possibly the same bird that was present at Malahide Estuary since 8th November 1981, but here treated as new.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 45 1984 Two: One, Seapoint, Dun Laoghaire, 29th October to 22nd December (IECBR 1984 p.5, Irish Birds 3(1): 106); One, Skerries, 22nd to 23rd December (IECBR 1985 p.5, Irish Birds 3(2): 291). 1985 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 3rd February (IECBR 1985 p.5, Irish Birds 3(2): 291). 1986 Two: First-winter, Dun Laoghaire, 14th October in to 1987, final date in 1987 is not recorded; One, Skerries, 15th November in to 1987. [IECBR 1986 p.5, Irish Birds 3(3): 457]. 1987 One: Two, including one from 15th November 1986, Skerries, 4th and 25th Janu- ary (IECBR 1987 p.4, Irish Birds 3(4): 611). 1988 Two: One, Dublin Bay, 24th January to 8th April; One, Dun Laoghaire, 4th October to 13th November. [IECBR 1988 p.4, Irish Birds 4(1): 81]. 2002 One: One, off North Bull Wall, 23rd October to 24th November, and, presumed same, Dun Laoghaire, 21st November (IECBR 2002 p.6, Irish Birds 7(3): 390). 2004 One: One, Dun Laoghaire, 2nd January (Rattigan, p.267). 2008 One: One, off Poolbeg, 5th to 10th February (O’Donnell, p.427). 2009 Two: One, off Sandymount Strand and Poolbeg, 31st January to 19th February; One, Dun Laoghaire, 23rd November in to 2010, photograph Wings 56: 22. [Irish Birds 9(2): 260]. 2010 Zero: One, Dun Laoghaire, from 23rd November 2009, remained to 23rd March, and, presumed same, 28th December in to 2011 (Irish Birds 9(2): 291). 2011 Zero: One, Dun Laoghaire, from 28th December 2010, remained to 21st February, and, presumed same, 20th November (Irish Birds 9(3): 457). 2012 Zero: One, off Great South Wall, Poolbeg, 14th October (per Irish Birding website), presumed returning. 2013 Zero: One, Dun Laoghaire, 14th to 27th February, and, presumed same, 29th December in to 2014 (per Irish Birding website), presumed returning.

Red-necked Grebe, Dun Laoghaire, March 2014, Photo: Stephen Lawlor.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 46 2014 Zero: One, Dun Laoghaire, from 29th December 2013, remained to 15th March (per Irish Birding website). 2015 Zero: One, Dun Laoghaire, 1st January to 1st February, and, presumed same, 6th December in to 2016 (per Irish Birding website), presumed returning. 2016 Zero: One, Dun Laoghaire, from 6th December 2015, remained to 17th February, and, presumed same, 18th December in to 2017 (per Irish Birding website). 2017 Zero: One, Dun Laoghaire, from 18th December 2016, remained to 1st March, and, presumed same, Skerries, 12th March, and, Dun Laoghaire, 29th December (per Irish Birding website). 2018 One: Two, Dun Laoghaire, 12th October, one of these assumed to be returning (per Irish Birding website). 2021 Zero: Two, Dun Laoghaire, 15th February, and one of these two, 5th March (per Irish Birding website), presumed returning. Status in Ireland: Uncommon winter visitor to all coasts with a preference for sheltered bays and estuaries. There were about 230 records up to 2011 when it was removed from the IRBC’s reports. Has bred at least once in 2003. Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Polytypic with five subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Western and southern Europe to the Balkans, Ukraine and the Caucasus. Winters west Africa. Known occurrences: Six records, all in winter when dates are known. 1829 One: One, near Clontarf, 27th January (Thompson vol. II, p.82), shot. This was the first Irish record. 1849 One: One, Clontarf Island, date not known (Ussher & Warren), shot. Note that Clontarf Island is no longer visible having become submerged, even at low-tide, sometime in the 1880s. It was located between the East Wall and Clontarf in the mouth of the Tolka River. 1853 One: One, location and date not known (Ussher & Warren). 1868 One: One, near Portmarnock, 4th January (Ussher & Warren), shot. 1884 One: One, North Bull Island, 3rd December (Ussher & Warren), obtained. 1940 One: One, North Bull Island, 9th November (Kennedy 1961). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 28 records. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Range: West Europe and Mediterranean region to central and southeast Asia and Tai- wan and sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Disperses more widely in winter. Known occurrences: Two records. Before 1837 One: One, Clontarf, some time previous to 1837 (Thompson vol. II, p.222), killed. 1989 One: Adult male, North Bull Island, 27th August, and, presumed same, Baldoyle Bay and Portmarnock, 10th to 15th September (IECBR 1989 p.19, Irish Birds 4(2): 240). Status in Ireland: Rare with 57 records mainly as a spring overshoot. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 47 Avocet, North Bull Island, September 2018, Photo: Seán A. O’Laoire.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Range: Europe to Central Asia and Russian Far East. Winters Africa and southern Asia. Known occurrences: 33 records. 1767 One: One, The Lots, near The North Wall, winter (Thompson vol. II, p.220), shot by Robert Bevin, Sexton of Christ Church. This was the first Irish record. 1848 One: One, somewhere on the coast, January (Thompson vol. II, p.221). 1897 One: One, North Bull Island, October (Ussher & Warren). 1966 One: One, North Bull Island, 3rd to 5th February (IBR 14: 39). 1968 Four: Two, North Bull Island, 21st to 24th January (IBR 16: 32); Up to four, North Bull Island, mid-December in to 1969, with a maximum count of four on 19th Decem- ber (IBR 16: 32), presumed to include two from the previous January returning. 1969 Zero: Up to four, North Bull Island, from mid-December 1968, remained to mid- January, when one of these was found dead at Booterstown Marsh (IBR 16: 32); Three, North Bull Island, 28th December in to 1970 (IBR 17: 39), presumed returning. 1970 Zero: Three, North Bull Island, from 28th December 1969, remained to 14th Janu- ary (IBR 17: 39 & 18:36). 1971 Zero: Two, North Bull Island, 11th to 28th January (IBR 19: 41), presumed returning. 1972 One: Up to four, North Bull Island, 6th January to 13th February; One, North Bull Island, 30th December in to 1973. Three of these presumed returning. [IBR 20: 16] 1973 Zero: One, from 30th December 1972, was joined by a second on 8th January and both remained to 14th January; One, North Bull Island, 2nd December in to 1974. All presumed returning. [IBR 21: 21]

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 48 1974 Zero: One, North Bull Island, from 2nd December 1973, remained to 6th January (IBR 22: 13), presumed returning. 1977 Two: Two, North Bull Island, 2nd to 5th May (Irish Birds 1(2): 259). 1982 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 13th December in to 1983 (IECBR 1982 p.9, Irish Birds 2(3): 386). 1983 Zero: One, Rogerstown Estuary, from 13th December 1982, remained to early January (IECBR 1982 p.9, Irish Birds 2(4): 557). 1992 Six: Six, North Bull Island, 15th to 16th November, with one remaining to 5th December (IECBR 1992 p.21, Irish Birds 5(1): 88). 1993 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 24th February to 4th March (IECBR 1993 p.24, Irish Birds 5(2): 218), photograph Irish Birding News 3(3): 70. 2004 Two: Two, Malahide Estuary, 12th April (Irish Birds 8(1): 111). 2007 Four: Four, Malahide Estuary, 10th to 11th June (Irish Birds 8(4): 591). 2012 Five: Five, Rogerstown Estuary, 23rd March (Irish Birds 9(4): 589). 2017 One: Adult, Baldoyle Estuary, 21st April (Irish Birds 41: 65). 2018 One: First-winter, North Bull Island, 16th to 18th September (Cooney 2018, p.12, Irish Birds 42: 78). 2019 One: Adult female, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 25th May, and, presumed same, Rogerstown Estuary, 26th May (Irish Birds 43: 80). Previously seen at Gorman- ston, Meath and Lurgangreen, Louth. The sequence of records at North Bull Island from 1968 to 1974 is treated as five in total but interpreted differently could have easily been more. As well as at North Bull Island, it is presumed this is the same group that was observed at the River Boyne and Mornington, Louth at various times during the same years. Status in Ireland: Scarce with 173 records. Has bred on two occasions.

Female Avocet, Rogerstown Estuary, May 2019, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 49 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva This species and American Golden Plover were historically lumped as Lesser Golden Plover, both now regarded as full species. Range: Siberia and Alaska. Winters south Asia, Australasia and California. Known occurrences: One record. 1993 One: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 3rd to 5th August (IECBR 1994 p.28, Irish Birds 5(3): 338). This was the sixth Irish record. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 17 records. American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica Range: Alaska and northern Canada. Winters southern South America. Known occurrences: Seven records. 2001 One: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 3rd to 4th November (Irish Birds 9(2): 263). 2003 One: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 19th to 26th September (IECBR 2003 p.35, Irish Birds 7(4): 557), photographs Birding World 16: 358, Dutch Birding 25: 405, IECBR 2003 p.36. 2005 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 20th to 31st August (Irish Birds 8(3): 379), photograph Birding World 18: 312. 2009 Three: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 29th August; Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 19th to 20th September; Adult, North Bull Island, 24th September. [Irish Birds 9(2): 262]. 2011 One: Juvenile, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 3rd November (Irish Birds 9(3): 463). Status in Ireland: Uncommon with 360 records.

American Golden Plover, Rogerstown Estuary, August 2005, Photo: Paul Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 50 American Golden Plover, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, September 2003, Photo: Paul Kelly.

Lesser Golden Plover P. fulva / dominica Birds not specifically identified as either American or Pacific Golden Plover. Known occurrences: One record. 1971 One: Adult, North Bull Island, 10th October (IBR 19: 34-35). Status in Ireland: There are 23 records of indeterminate Lesser Golden Plover. Most, if not all, are assumed to be American Golden Plover, considering the large difference in the numbers of occurrences of each nationally. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Polytypic with three subspecies. Range [ssp. curonicus]: North Africa, Europe, parts of Asia. Winters Africa and south Asia. Known occurrences: Ten records. 1953 Four: Four, North Bull Island, 17th September (IBR 1: 10). Found by C.F. & S.F Scroope, these were the first four Irish records. 1987 One: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 3rd May (IECBR 1987 p.16, Irish Birds 3(4): 621, Kelly 1988). 1997 One: Adult female, Malahide Estuary, 19th May (IECBR 1997 p.26, Irish Birds 6(2): 296).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 51 Little Ringed Plover, Malahide Estuary, April 2017, one of two present, Photo: Victor Caschera.

2008 One: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 26th August (Irish Birds 9(1): 88). 2017 Two: Two, Malahide Estuary, 22nd to 23rd April with one remaining to 27th April (Irish Birds 41: 66). 2019 One: Adult female, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 28th April (Irish Birds 43: 80). Status in Ireland: Scarce with 215 records. Appears to be establishing a foothold as a breeding species. Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Polytypic with three subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] North America in boreal forest. Winters South America. Known occurrences: Two records. 1928 One: Adult male, Naul, near Balbriggan, 12th January (Kennedy et al. 1954, Williams 1928), obtained while it was running about a grass field in the company of thrushes. This was the first Irish record. 1980 One: One, North Bull Island, 1st to 3rd September (IECBR 1980 p.10, Irish Birds 2(1): 99). Found by Brian Haslam and Paul McMahon, this was the tenth Irish record. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 22 records. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 52 Coloured field-sketches made by Killian Mullarney of theKilldeer at North Bull Island, September 1980.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 53 Coloured field-sketch made by Killian Mullarney of theKilldeer at North Bull Island, September 1980.

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Polytypic with three subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Western Europe, Atlantic Islands and north Africa to northern China. Winters north Africa and south Asia. Known occurrences: Four records. 1846 One: One, North Bull Island, autumn (Thompson vol.II, p.105), shot. This was the first Irish record. The mounted specimen is on display in the Natural History Museum. 1848 One: One, Baldoyle, 8th August (Ussher & Warren), killed. This was the second Irish record. 1851 One: Adult male, near Clontarf Railway Station, August (Ussher & Warren), killed with a stone. This was the third Irish record. 1948 One: One, West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, 18th August (Kennedy et al. 1954). This was the fourth Irish record. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 16 records.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 54 The first IrishKentish Plover, Natural History Museum, Dublin. Photo: Brian McCloskey.

Dotterel Charadrius morinellus Range: Tundra regions of northern Europe to northeast Siberia and northwest Alaska. Winters northwest Africa east to Iran. Known occurrences: Two records. 1900 One: Adult summer female, probably at Malahide, 21st May (Kennedy et al. 1954), obtained. 1919 One: One, Kilbarrack, 29th April (Kennedy et al. 1954). Status in Ireland: Uncommon spring and autumn passage migrant with 353 records. Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda Range: Alaska, northwest and south-central Canada to central and northeast USA. Winters southeast South America. Known occurrences: One record. 1974 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 17th July (IBR 22: 12). Found by Éamonn MacLochlainn, this was the seventh Irish record. During the afternoon of Wednesday, 17th July 1974, Éamonn MacLochlainn made his way to the flooded field on the north side of Rogerstown Estuary. As he walked along the eastern boundary he got very good views of a bird reasonably close to his side of the field. After a while it flew out on to the open mud in the direction of the railway, which allowed him to get a good look at its upperparts and strikingly unusual flying technique. He wasn’t sure of its identity but was certain he had never seen its like before.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 55 He continued birding for an hour before cycling home where he consulted his Peter- son’s Guide, at this point realising he had just seen an Upland Sandpiper. At the time Éamonn knew only one other local birder so he phoned Des Nolan but unfortunately Des was not free that evening. Being the height of summer it was bright until late so he returned and saw the bird for the second and final time back in the very same place he had found it. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 12 records. Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris Range: Northeast Siberia. Winters mainly Arabia, Pakistan, northern India, Bangladesh, southeast Asia and Australia. Known occurrences: One record. 2004 One: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 25th July (Irish Birds 8(1): 113). This was the first, and to date, only Irish record. Six days later on 31st July what is almost certainly the same bird was found on the other side of the Irish Sea at Skippool Creek on the River Wyre, near Fleetwood, Lanca- shire. This was a one-hour wonder also but gave everyone a second chance by returning to the same location on 16th and 17th August. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata Range: Northern Siberia. Winters from New Guinea to Australia and New Zealand. Known occurrences: One record. 2010 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 16th to 17th October (Irish Birds 9(2): 297 & 9(3): 467), photograph Birding World 23: 416. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with nine records.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Rogerstown Estuary, October 2010, Photo: Pat Lonergan.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 56 Stilt Sandpiper, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, September 2014, Photo: James Hayes.

Temminck’s Stint, Sandymount Strand, July 2014, Photos: Aidan G. Kelly (left), Victor Caschera (right).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 57 Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus Range: North Alaska and north Canada. Winters South America with small numbers locally in southern USA. Known occurrences: One record. 2014 One: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 4th to 7th September (Irish Birds 10(2): 245), photograph Wings 75: 29, also seen in Wexford. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 17 records. Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii Range: Northern Europe east to Siberia. Winters south of breeding grounds from Med- iterranean east to Malaysia and Philippines. Known occurrences: Three records. 1977 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 31st August (Irish Birds 1(2): 257). This was the 19th Irish record. 2009 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 2nd July (Irish Birds 9(2): 263) 2014 One: Adult, Sandymount Strand, 5th July (Irish Birds 10(2): 246). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 45 records. Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii Range: Siberia, northern North America from Alaska east across Canada and west Greenland. Winters South America. Known occurrences: Six records. 1973 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 4th to 6th October (IBR 21: 16). 1988 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 9th September (IECBR 1988 p.21, Irish Birds 4(1): 92). 1998 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 25th September (IECBR 1998 p.25, Irish Birds 6(3): 391). 2011 One: Juvenile, Gormanston Beach, 3rd October, (Irish Birds 9(3): 466), seen on both the Dublin and Meath parts of the beach. 2013 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 13th September (Irish Birds 10(1): 83). 2016 One: Juvenile, North Bull Island, 26th September to 3rd October (Irish Birds 10(4): 558). Status in Ireland: Rare with 181 records. Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla Range: Alaska and northern Canada east to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Winters south to Central and South America. Known occurrences: One record. 1998 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 12th to 25th September (IECBR 1998 p.25, Irish Birds 6(3): 391), photographs Dutch Birding 20: 249, Irish Birds 6: 392. This was the ninth Irish record. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 15 records.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 58 Baird’s Sandpiper, North Bull Island, September 2016, Photo: Tom Cooney.

Least Sandpiper, Rogerstown Estuary, September 1998, Photo: Paul Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 59 White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis Range: Northeasten Alaska and northern Canada east to southern Baffin Island. Win- ters east-central Brazil south to Tierra del Fuego. Known occurrences: 16 records and one pending. 1959 Two: Two, West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, 26th August (IBR 7: 12). These were the eight and ninth Irish records. 1971 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 17th October (IBR 19: 39). 1983 Two: One, Sandymount Strand, 28th August to 2nd September (IECBR 1983 p.13, Irish Birds 2(4): 558); First-winter, Rogerstown Estuary, 12th to 14th October (Irish Birds 2(4): 558) or to 16th October (IECBR 1983 p.13), note that the final date differs in reports cited for this record. 1992 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 24th to 31st October (IECBR 1995 p.25, Irish Birds 5(4): 459). 1997 One: Adult, North Bull Island, 28th September (IECBR 1997 p.30, Irish Birds 6(2): 296). 1998 One: Adult, Sandymount Strand and Booterstown Marsh, 8th to 10th August (Irish Birds 42: 80). 2005 One: Juvenile, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 11th October (Irish Birds 8(3): 380), photograph Irish Birds 8: 381. 2009 One: Adult, Sandymount Strand, 14th to 15th September (Irish Birds 9(2): 263), photographs Birding World 22: 359, Birdwatch 209: 64, Wings 55: 28. 2010 One: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 16th October (Irish Birds 9(2): 296). 2012 Two: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 9th September (Irish Birds 9(4): 591); Adult, Rog- erstown Estuary, 28th to 30th September (Irish Birds 9(4): 591).

White-rumped Sandpiper Swords, October 2005, Photo: Paul Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 60 White-rumped Sandpiper, Sandymount Strand, October 2018 (top), Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, August 2021 (above left), Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, September 2013 (above right), Photos: Noel Keogh (top), Peter Phillips (above left), James Hayes (above right). A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 61 Adult White-rumped Sandpiper with a Dunlin, Sandymount Strand, September 2009, Photo: Paul Kelly.

2013 One: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 2nd to 4th September (Irish Birds 10(1): 83). 2015 One: Adult, North Bull Island, 20th August (Irish Birds 10(3): 405). 2018 One: Juvenile, Sandymount Strand and Booterstown Marsh, 22nd to 28th Octo- ber (Irish Birds 42: 80). 2021 One pending: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 4th to at least 6th August (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Uncommon with 406 records. Buff-breasted Sandpiper Calidris subruficollis Range: Siberia, northern North America. Winters South America. Known occurrences: 36 records. 1845 or before One: One, near The Pigeon House, no date (Thompson vol. II, p.302), shot. This was the first Irish record. 1966 Two: Two, North Bull Island, 25th September to 2nd October (IBR 14: 38). 1968 Four: One, North Bull Island, 8th September, with four together 11th to 12th September, and, three, 29th September (IBR 16: 31). 1970 Two: One, North Bull Island, 27th September, joined by a second on 29th Sep- tember, with one remaining to 3rd October (IBR 18: 35).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 62 Buff-breasted Sandpiper, North Bull Island, September 2011, Photo: Tom Cooney.

1975 Six: One, North Bull Island, 7th to 9th September, with two 11th September, presumed to include the bird found on 7th September; One, North Bull Island, 21st Sep- tember; Four, North Bull Island, 25th September to 1st October, presumed to include one from earlier in the month. [IBR 23: 16]. 1976 Two: One, North Bull Island, 30th September to 3rd October; One, North Bull Island, 6th to 7th October. [Irish Birds 1(1): 82]. 1977 Two: One, North Bull Island, 1st September, joined by a second, 4th to 10th Sep- tember, with one remaining to 22nd September (Irish Birds 1(2): 258). 1980 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 6th September, and, presumed same, North Bull Island, 6th to 7th September, and, Rogerstown Estuary, 7th to 20th September (Irish Birds 2(1): 102). 1985 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 6th to 10th August (IECBR 1985 p.23, Irish Birds 3(2): 307). 1992 Two: Two juveniles, North Bull Island, 26th to 29th September (IECBR 1992 p.25) or 26th to 30th September with one remaining to 5th October (Irish Birds 5(1): 89), note that dates differ in reports cited for this record. 1993 One: Juvenile, Baldoyle, 11th September (IECBR 1993 p.28, Irish Birds 5(2): 220). 1997 One: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 10th to 26th September (IECBR 1997 p.32) or to 1st October (Irish Birds 6(2): 297), note that the final date differs in reports cited for this record. 2002 One: Juvenile, North Bull Island, 8th to 12th September (IECBR 2002 p.43, Irish Birds 7(3): 396). 2007 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 11th October (Irish Birds 8(4): 594). A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 63 2008 Three: Juvenile, North Bull Island, 15th to 17th September; Two juveniles, North Bull Island, 2nd October. [Irish Birds 9(1): 92]. 2011 Three: Juvenile, North Bull Island, 27th September, joined by a second, 30th Sep- tember, with both remaining to 4th October (Cooney 2011, p.7); Juvenile, Flooded Field, Rogerstown Estuary, 3rd October (per Irish Birding website). 2013 One: Juvenile, Flooded Field, Rogerstown Estuary, 8th to 9th September (per Irish Birding website). 2014 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 8th August (per Irish Birding website). 2017 One: One, North Bull Island, 20th September (Cooney 2017, p.17). Status in Ireland: Uncommon but regular vagrant with 479 records to 2011. Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos Range: Northern Siberia, west and north Alaska and northern Canada. Winters South America, southeast Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. Known occurrences: 1959 One: One, North Bull Island, 9th to 10th September (IBR 7: 12). 1960 One: One, West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, 29th September (IBR 8: 14). 1965 One: One, probably Booterstown Marsh, September or early November (Hutch- inson 1975, IBR 13: 9). 1968 One: One, North Bull Island, 7th September (IBR 16: 29). 1970 One: One, North Bull Island, 17th September (IBR 18: 34). 1978 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 1st to 5th October (Irish Birds 1(3): 429). 1979 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 27th September (Irish Birds 1(4): 567). 1980 Three: One, North Bull Island, 31st August (Irish Birds 2(2): 212); One, Malahide Estuary, 8th September (Irish Birds 2(1): 101); One, Rogerstown Estuary, 14th Septem- ber (Irish Birds 2(1): 101). 1981 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 28th to 31st August (Irish Birds 2(2): 212). 1983 Four: Up to four, Rogerstown Estuary, 23rd September to 7th October (IECBR 1983 p.13, Irish Birds 2(4): 558). 1984 Three: Two juveniles, Rogerstown Estuary, 9th to 18th September; Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 21st to 23rd September. [IECBR 1984 p.20, Irish Birds 3(1): 112]. 1985 Two: Two, Rogerstown Estuary, 17th to 18th September, with one remaining to 22nd September (Irish Birds 3(2): 306) or 23rd September (IECBR 1985 p.21), note that the final date differs in reports cited for this record. 1986 Three: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 30th September to 3rd October; Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 11th October; Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 20th to 27th October. [IECBR 1987 p.19, Irish Birds 3(3): 467]. 1987 Two: Juvenile, North Bull Island, 14th September; One, Rogerstown Estuary, 24th to 26th September. [IECBR 1987 p.19, Irish Birds 3(4): 623]. 1989 One: One, North Bull Island, 16th to 18th September (IECBR 1989 p.22, Irish Birds 4(2): 241.). 1990 One: One, North Bull Island, 16th to 18th September (IECBR 1990 p.18, Irish Birds 4(3): 439).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 64 Pectoral Sandpiper, North Bull Island, October 2007, Photo: Tom Cooney.

Pectoral Sandpiper, Rogerstown Estuary, September 2020, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 65 1992 One: One, North Bull Island, 27th September (IECBR 1992 p.24, Irish Birds 5(1): 89). 1993 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 15th to 16th September (IECBR 1993 p.28), this record is not published in an Irish Bird Report. 1994 One: One, Flooded Field, Rogerstown Estuary, 27th August (IECBR 1994 p.31), this record is not published in an Irish Bird Report. 1996 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 13th to 15th August (IECBR 1996 p.28, Irish Birds 6(1): 74). 1997 Two: Adult, Sandymount Strand, 13th August; One, North Bull Island, 31st Au- gust. [IECBR 1997 p.30, Irish Birds 6(2): 296]. 1998 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 10th October (IECBR 1998 p.25), this record is not published in an Irish Bird Report. 2000 Two: Two, Malahide Estuary, 26th August (IECBR 2000 p.34, Irish Birds 7(1): 94). 2001 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 16th September (IECBR 2001 p.37, Irish Birds 7(2): 224). 2003 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 25th October (IECBR 2003 p.39, Irish Birds 7(4): 559). 2004 Six: Six, Rogerstown Estuary, one from 27th to 28th September, and, up to five juveniles, 30th September to 4th October. [Rattigan, p.274]. 2006 Two: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 13th to 14th September; One, Rogerstown Estu- ary, 21st September to 1st October. [Rattigan, p.275]. 2007 Two: One, Booterstown Marsh, 11th August (O’Donnell, p.429); One, North Bull Island, 1st October (per Birds of North Bull Island website). 2008 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 3rd September (per Irish Birding website).

Pectoral Sandpiper, Rogerstown Estuary, September 2020, Photo: Paul Lynch.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 66 2010 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 22nd September (per Irish Birding website). 2016 Two: Juvenile, Sandymount Strand, 29th August (per Irish Birding website); One, North Bull Island, 2nd September (Cooney 2016, p.18). 2017 One: One, North Bull Island, 22nd August (Cooney 2017, p.17), heard calling over the north saltmarsh; One, North Bull Island, 20th October (Cooney 2017, p.17); One, Rogerstown Estuary, 29th to 30th October (per Irish Birding website), reported to have an injured left leg and wing. 2018 One: One, North Bull Island, 24th September and 8th October (Cooney 2018, p.16), the October individual may have been a new bird but is treated here as the same as the September bird. 2020 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 18th to 22nd September (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Uncommon but regular vagrant. It is a very long distance migrant, so birds arriving on our shores could be from the east or the west. Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla Range: Western and northern Alaska and northern Canada. Winters on Pacific coast from south Mexico south to south Peru and from Yucatán (Mexico) and West Indies south to central Argentina. Known occurrences: Eight records. 1980 One: Immature, North Bull Island, 21st to (IECBR 1980 p.13) or 22nd to 25th September (Irish Birds 2(1): 100). This was the seventh Irish record. Note that the first date differs in reports cited for this record. 1983 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 12th to 16th October (IECBR 1983 p.13, Irish Birds 2(4): 557). 1986 One: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 30th September to 4th October (IECBR 1987 p.18, Irish Birds 3(4): 622). 1996 One: Juvenile, Sandymount Strand, 21st to 28th August (IECBR 1996 p.27, Irish Birds 6(1): 73). 1999 One: Adult, Sandymount Strand, 15th to 21st September (IECBR 1999 p.22, Irish Birds 6(4): 553). 2008 Two: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 16th September; Juvenile, North Bull Island, 25th September. [Irish Birds 9(1): 90]. 2011 One: Juvenile, North Bull Island, 26th September (Irish Birds 9(3): 464). A winter plumaged stint that was present at Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary on 14th June 2009 was probably a Semipalmated Sandpiper, however Western Sandpiper C. mauri was not completely ruled out. Regrettably it didn’t hang around and departed towards the outer estuary in the company of Knot and was not subsequently seen. It may well have been the same bird that was at Dawlish Warren and Turf End, Devon, England the previous 8th April to 29th May, and whose identity was never fully re- solved. It was eventually published as Western/Semipalmated Sandpiper in the 2012 BBRC report. Status in Ireland: Scarce with 250 records including a record 63 during 2011. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 67 Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Range: Northeast Siberia, Alaska and northern Canada. Winters southern USA to Cen- tral America. Known occurrences: Six records. 1984 One: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 6th to 11th October (IECBR 1984 p. 23, Irish Birds 3(1): 112). This was the 22nd Irish record. 1987 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 23rd September (IECBR 1987 p.21, Irish Birds 3(4): 624). 1992 One: First-winter, Rogerstown Estuary, 14th October (IECBR 1992 p.26) or 11th to 26th October (Irish Birds 5(1): 90), and, presumed same, Malahide Estuary, 31st Octo- ber to 7th November (IECBR 1992 p.26, Irish Birds 5(1): 90). Note that the Rogerstown Estuary dates differ in reports cited for this record.

Juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher, Rogerstown Estuary, November 2015, Photos: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 68 2003 Two: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 23rd September to 7th October (IECBR 2003 p.43, Irish Birds 7(4): 559), photograph Birding World 16: 401; Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 5th October (IECBR 2003 p.43), this record is not published in an Irish Bird Report. 2015 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 8th to 10th November (Irish Birds 10(3): 407). Status in Ireland: Rare with 152 records. Some remain for long periods with the aver- age stay almost 30 days. Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus Polytypic with three subspecies. Irish records probably involve the northeaster Canadi- an form griseus, however it is also possible the central Canadian hendersoni is involved as both are long distance migrants. Range: [ssp. griseus & hendersoni] South Alaska and northern, central and northeastern Canada. Winters Central and South America. Known occurrences: Two records. 2000 One: First-summer, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 24th July to 23rd September (IECBR 2000 p.36, Irish Birds 7(1): 95), also seen at the Boyne Estuary, Meath. This was the second Irish record. 2001 Zero: Adult, Malahide Estuary, 5th to 26th May (IECBR 2001 p.40, Irish Birds 7(2): 226, Kelly & Kelly 2004), presumed same individual from 2000 returning as an adult.

Adult Short-billed Dowitcher, Booterstown Marsh, Blackrock, April 2005, Photo: Paul Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 69 Adult Short-billed Dowitcher, Booterstown Marsh, Blackrock, April 2005, Photo: Pat Lonergan.

2004 One: Adult, North Bull Island, 31st October in to 2005 (Irish Birds 8(1): 113), photographs Birding World 17: 489, Dutch Birding 27: 142, Irish Birds 8: 112, also seen at Our Lady’s Island Lake, Wexford. This was the third Irish record. 2005 Zero: Adult, North Bull Island, from 31st October 2004, remained to 13th March 2005, then relocated to Booterstown Marsh, Blackrock, 25th March to 9th April (Irish Birds 8(3): 380), photographs Birding World 18: 139, Dutch Birding 27: 212, Irish Birds 8: 382. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with four records. The others was at Tacumshin Lake, Wexford in September and October 1985 and at Dundalk in late 2019. Dowitcher Sp. Limnodromus sp. These are birds that were not specifically identified as either Long-billed or Short-billed Dowitcher. Known occurrences: Two records. 1958 One: One, Kilbarrack, 19th October to 1st November (IBR 6: 11). 1969 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 3rd October to 7th December (IBR 17: 34). Status in Ireland: There are about 42 records of dowitcher that are not specifically identifiable, although in all probability the likelihood is they were Long-billed Dowitch- ers. Such is their similarity that both were thought to be the same species for many years.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 70 Great Snipe Gallinago media Range: Scandinavia east through the Baltic States, Poland and western Russia as far as the River Yenisey. Winters sub-Saharan Africa. Known occurrences: One record. 1925 One: One, North Bull Island, 15th November (Kennedy et al. 1954). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 21 records. Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus Range: Finland east through northern Siberia to the Kolyma River (northeastern Sibe- ria). Winters on tropical coasts in east Africa, south Asia and Australia. Known occurrences: Three records. 2009 One: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 9th July (Irish Birds 9(2): 264), photographs Birding World 22: 268, Birdwatch 207: 65. This was the third Irish record. 2010 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 21st to 25th June (Irish Birds 9(2): 298). This was the fifth Irish record. 2016 One: Adult, North Bull Island, 16th July (Irish Birds 10(4): 556). This was the eighth Irish record. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with nine records with three each in Wexford, Kerry and Dublin.

Adult Terek Sandpiper with Redshank, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, July 2009, Photo: Paul Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 71 Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Range: Prairie lands of western Canada and western USA. Winters on inland salt lakes near the Andes in Argentina. Known occurrences: Seven records. 1971 One: One, North Bull Island, 3rd to 4th September (IBR 19: 43). 1978 One: One, North Bull Island, 13th to 14th September (Irish Birds 1(3): 431). 1979 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 4th to 5th September (Irish Birds 1(4): 569). 1985 Two: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 12th to 19th September (IECBR 1985 p.28) or to 29th September (Irish Birds 3(2): 310), note that final date differs in reports cited for this record; Juvenile, North Bull Island, 23rd September (IECBR 1985 p.28, Irish Birds 3(2): 310). 1988 One: Adult female: Malahide Estuary, 11th to 12th June (IECBR 1988 p.27, Irish Birds 4(1): 95). 1998 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 11th September (IECBR 1998 p.32, Irish Birds 6(3): 393). Status in Ireland: Rare with 90 records. Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Range: Circumpolar in coastal regions of the Arctic Ocean south to Aleutian Islands and Britain. Winters at sea in tropical oceans. Known occurrences: Four records. 1954 One: One, Dun Laoghaire, 30th September (IBR 2: 15).

Female Red-necked Phalarope, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, June 2019, Photo: Victor Caschera. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 72 1956 One: One, North Bull Island, 19th December (IBR 5: 13). 1957 One: One, Booterstown Marsh, Blackrock, 8th to 10th September (IBR 5: 14). 2019 One: Female, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 22nd to 23rd June (Irish Birds 43: 86). Status in Ireland: Very rare and irregular summer visitor. Rare spring passage migrant with 61 records.

Spotted Sandpiper, near Balbriggan (left), December 2020, Rogerstown Estuary, August 2017 (below), Photos: Aidan G. Kelly (left), Brian Carruthers (below).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 73 Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Range: Most of North America. Winters southern USA south to South America. Known occurrences: One record and one pending. 2017 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 23rd to 24th August (Irish Birds 41: 67), found by Brian Carruthers. 2020 One pending: One, Bremore, near Balbriggan, 2nd to 6th December (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Rare with 54 records. Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Range: Alaska and Canada. Winters southern USA south to Tierra del Fuego. Known occurrences: 14 records and one pending. 1961 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 8th April (IBR 9: 13). This was the fourth Irish record. 1964 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 25th October to 10th December (IBR 12: 19). 1968 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 21st to 27th July (IBR 16: 27). 1983 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 12th October in to 1984 (IECBR 1983 p.15, Irish Birds 2(4): 560). 1984 Zero: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, from 12th October 1983, remained to 12th April (IECBR 1984 p.25). 2003 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 21st to 22nd August (Irish Birds 7(4): 559) or to 23rd August (IECBR 2003 p.47), note that final dates differ in reports cited for this record.

Juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, August 2016, Photo: Pat Lonergan.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 74 2005 Two: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 16th August; Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 25th September to 20th October, photograph Irish Birds 8: 382. [Irish Birds 8(3): 384]. 2007 Two: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 14th July to 12th August; One, Rogerstown Estu- ary, 14th October. [Irish Birds 8(4): 595]. 2012 One: Juvenile, North Bull Island, 7th to 23rd October (Irish Birds 9(4): 593), photograph Irish Birds 9: 593. 2014 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 1st October in to 2015 (Irish Birds 10(2): 247), photograph Birdwatch 271: 20. 2015 Zero: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, from 1st October 2014, remained to 14th April (Irish Birds 10(3): 406). 2016 Two: Juvenile, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 11th to 15th August; Adult, Rog- erstown Estuary, 23rd to 24th August. [Irish Birds 10(4): 555]. 2018 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 27th October, and, presumed same, Sand- ymount Strand and Booterstown Marsh, 29th October (Irish Birds 42: 81 & 43: 101). Treated as two birds in the 2018 IRBR but here counted as one. 2020 One pending: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 18th to 20th October (per Irish Bird- ing website). Status in Ireland: Scarce with 186 records. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Range: Eastern Europe to east Siberia and northeast China. Winters from Mediterra- nean and sub-Saharan Africa east to Indonesia and Australia. Known occurrences: One record. 2017 One: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 6th to 9th May (Irish Birds 41: 67). Found by Victor Caschera, this was the sixth Irish record. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with six records.

Marsh Sandpiper, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, May 2017, Photo: Victor Caschera.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 75 Adult Bonaparte’s Gull, Skerries, March 2013, Photo: James Hayes.

Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia Range: Southern Alaska and much of interior western Canada, as far east as central Quebec. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Known occurrences: Seven records. 1983 One: Adult, Sandymount Strand, 6th March to 3rd April (IECBR 1983 p.18 & 1995 p.36, Irish Birds 2(4): 564 & 5(4): 464). This was the sixth Irish record. 1995 One: Adult, Malahide Estuary, 1st to 10th April (IECBR 1995 p.36, Irish Birds 5(4): 464). 2000 One: First-winter, Malahide Estuary, 18th to 20th April, and, presumed same, North Bull Island, 24th April to 1st May (IECBR 2000 p.61, Irish Birds 7(1): 98). 2005 One: Adult, Skerries, 9th to 19th July (Irish Birds 8(3): 384), photograph Irish Birds 8: 386. 2009 One: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 10th April (Irish Birds 9(2): 267). 2012 One: Adult, Dun Laoghaire, 5th February (Irish Birds 9(4): 594). 2013 One: Adult winter, Skerries, 2nd to 18th March, and, presumed same, Rush, 17th October (Irish Birds 10(1): 86). Status in Ireland: Rare with 95 records.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 76 Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea Range: High Arctic regions of Siberia, Canada, Greenland, Spitsbergen & Svalbard. Win- ters mainly in the Arctic at the edge of the pack ice with some birds moving further south. Known occurrences: Three records. 1997 One: Adult, Bulloch Harbour, near Dalkey, 15th February to 29th March (IECBR 1997 p.56, Irish Birds 6(2): 303), photographs Birding World 10: 47, Dutch Birding 19: 34, Irish Birds 6: 298. Found by Eugene Archer, this was the 13th Irish record. 1998 One: Adult, Dun Laoghaire, 7th January (IECBR 1998 p.38, Irish Birds 6(3): 396). 2014 One: Adult winter, North Bull Island and Poolbeg, 15th January to 27th February (Irish Birds 10(2): 248), photographs Irish Birds 10: 249, Wings 73: 28. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 22 records.

Adult Ross’s Gull, Poolbeg, February 2014, Photo: Pat Lonergan.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 77 Adult winter Ross’s Gull, North Bull Island, January 2014, Photo: Victor Caschera.

Adult Laughing Gull, North Bull Island, December 2005, Photo: Paul Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 78 First-summer Laughing Gull, North Bull Island, July 2020, Photo: Victor Caschera.

Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla Polytypic with two subspecies. Range: North America. Winters Central America and northern coasts of South America. Known occurrences: Three records and one pending. 1984 One: First-year, Poolbeg and Dublin Bay, 10th June to 19th July (IECBR 1984 p.28, Irish Birds 3(1): 114 & 4(3): 444). 1992 One: First-winter, Rogerstown Estuary, 21st to 30th November (IECBR 1997 p.49, Irish Birds 6(2): 301). 2005 One: Adult, North Bull Island, 16th December in to 2006, and, presumed same, Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock, 25th December (Irish Birds 8(3): 384). 2006 Zero: Adult, North Bull Island, from 16th December 2005, remained to 3rd Janu- ary (Irish Birds 8(3): 403). 2020 One pending: First-summer, North Bull Island, 14th to 26th July (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 47 records. Franklin’s Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan Range: South-central Canada and north-central USA. Winters off western South Amer- ica coast south to Chile and Galapágos Islands. Known occurrences: One record. 1999 One: Second-year or adult, Malahide Estuary, 22nd September (IECBR 1999 p.36, Irish Birds 6(4): 560), also seen at Lurgangreen, Louth and Gormanston, Meath. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 19 records.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 79 Coloured field-sketch made by Killian Mullarney of the firstRing-billed Gull for Dublin at Sandymount Strand, May 1981.

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis Range: Southern Canada and northern USA. Winters southern USA, Mexico and West Indies. Occurrences: Rare and irregular winter visitor. The first record was a second-summer bird at Sandymount from 3rd to 16th May 1981, closely followed by a first-summer at the same location from 23rd May 1981 that remained in to 1982 (IECBR 1981 p.22, Irish Birds 2(2): 218). Status in Ireland: Uncommon vagrant or winter visitor from North America, with some remaining in to spring and summer. Has been recorded annually since the first in 1979. Kumlien’s Gull Larus glaucoides kumlieni Along with Thayer’s Gull, Kumlien’s is one of three subspecies of Iceland Gull. Thayer’s Gull has been recorded nine times in Ireland but not in Dublin and Iceland Gull is a rare and irregular winter visitor to Dublin. Range: Canadian Territory of Nunavut and northwest Quebec. Winters Gulf of Saint Lawrence and Newfoundland south to Virginia, Great Lakes region and Minnesota. Regular movements to northwest Europe. Known occurrences: Eight records. 1991 One: Adult, Skerries, 9th to 10th March (IECBR 1998 p.37, Irish Birds 4(4): 595). 1993 One: Third-winter, Skerries, 12th September in to 1994 (IECBR 1993 p.41, Irish Birds 5(2): 223), photographs IECBR 1993 p.41, Irish Birds 5: 227. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 80 Kumlien’s Gull, Dublin Bay, February 2014, Photos: Aidan G. Kelly.

1994 Zero: Third-winter, Skerries, from 12th September 1993, remained to 9th April (IECBR 1998 p.37, Irish Birds 5(3): 343). 1998 One: First-winter, Rogerstown Estuary, 28th March to 5th May (IECBR 1998 p.37, Irish Birds 6(3): 396). 1999 One: First-winter, Rogerstown Estuary, 28th December in to 2000 (IECBR 1999 p.38, Irish Birds 6(4): 562). 2000 One: First-winter, Rogerstown Estuary, from 28th December 1999, remained to 3rd January (IECBR 1999 p.38, Irish Birds 6(4): 562); A different first-winter, Rogers- town Estuary, 3rd January to 20th February (IECBR 2000 p.64, Irish Birds 7(1): 100). 2005 One: First-winter, Bulloch Harbour, 27th January to 12th February (Irish Birds 8(3): 385). 2007 One: Adult, Shanganagh Beach, 14th March, and, presumed same, Sandymount Strand, 22nd March, and, Blackrock, 28th March (Irish Birds 8(4): 599). 2014 One: Adult, Poolbeg, 2nd to 9th February (Irish Birds 10(2): 250), photograph Irish Birds 10: 250. Status in Ireland: Uncommon winter visitor with 357 records, including a record total of 84 in 2014. American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus Historically treated as a race of Herring Gull L. argentatus. Range: Central Alaska to Newfoundland and the Great Lakes. Known occurrences: Three records. 1998 One: First-winter, Rogerstown Estuary, 4th May (IECBR 1998 p.36, Irish Birds 6(3): 395). A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 81 2005 One: Second-winter, Sandymount Strand, 5th December (Irish Birds 8(3): 385). 2012 One: First-winter, Dublin Port, 30th January (Irish Birds 9(4): 595). Status in Ireland: Rare with 102 records. Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans Historically treated as a race of Herring Gull L. argentatus. Range: Central Eurasia to northeast China. Known occurrences: Two records. 1999 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 13th to 18th June (IECBR 1999 p.38) or to 2nd July (Irish Birds 6(4): 561), note that the final date differs in reports cited for this record. This was the fourth Irish record. 2002 One: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 13th to 17th February (Irish Birds 8(3): 385) or 17th February (IECBR 2002 p.59), note that dates differ in reports cited for this record. This was the fifth Irish record. A long-staying, well watched and photographed gull that frequented Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght on three occasions, from December 2013 to April 2014, November 2014 to January 2015 and October 2015 to January 2016, showed some features consistent with Caspian Gull, but not the full range required to be certain. A similar gull was at Sandymount Strand on 10th March 2018 and was possibly the same bird. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 17 records.

Field sketch made by Niall T. Keogh of the Atlantic Gull at Sandymount Strand, October 2004. This bird returned annually until 2007.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 82 Atlantic Gull Larus michahellis atlantis Atlantic Gull is a race of Yellow-legged Gull, which was historically treated as a race of Herring Gull L. argentatus. Range: Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands. Known occurrences: One record of (presumed to be) the same bird returning annually to the same location over four years. 2004 One: Adult, Sandymount Strand, 9th October (Irish Birds 10(1): 86). Found by Noel and Niall Keogh, this was the third Irish record. 2005 Zero: Adult, Sandymount Strand, 5th October (Irish Birds 8(3): 385), returning. 2006 Zero: Adult, Sandymount Strand, 6th December in to 2007 (Irish Birds 8(3): 404), returning. 2007 Zero: Adult, Sandymount Strand, from 6th December 2006, remained to 10th January, and, 20th September to 5th October (Irish Birds 8(4): 587), returning. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 15 records. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Polytypic with six subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe, north Africa through the Middle East and south-central Asia to west China and Thailand. Winters Africa and south Asia. Known occurrences: One record. 2005 One: One, Portrane, 26th July (Irish Birds 8(3): 387), last seen in flight heading north. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 23 records. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Range: Locally in North America, northern Europe, Africa, Madagascar, central and southern Asia and Australasia. Disperses widely in winter. Known occurrences: One record. 2009 One: Adult, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 22nd August (Irish Birds 9(3): 474). This was the tenth Irish record. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 11 records. Royal / West African Crested Tern Thalasseus maximus / albididorsalis Since this record Royal Tern has been split and is now treated as two full species, Royal Tern T. maxima of North America and West African Crested Tern T. albididorsalis. Range: North and South America and West Africa from Mauritania to Guinea. Known occurrences: One Category D record. 1954 One: One, North Bull Island, 24th March (IBR 2: 17, Kennedy 1955b), found dead on the tideline. It was too decomposed to be attributed to either form. This bird was discovered partly covered by sand at the high water mark by Redmond G. Wheeler. It was judged to have been there for a considerable time and most of the body feathers were gone, but the head, oiled wings, legs and feet were intact.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 83 It was examined by Mr. G.M. Spooner, of the Marine Biological Laboratory in Plymouth who concluded there was no evidence to suggest it drifted ashore and should be treated as a genuine vagrant, however as a tideline corpse it was assigned to Category D3. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with two Category A records. Least Tern Sternula antillarum Polytypic with three races. Range: USA south to Honduras, Caribbean and northern South America. Winters south to coasts of Brazil. Known occurrences: One pending. 2021 One pending: Male, Portrane Beach, 19th June to at least 31st July (per Irish Bird- ing website). Possibly was present at the same location in 2020. The distinctive call first attracted Noel and Niall Keogh to the bird’s presence as it fished on Rogerstown Estuary. They tracked the bird down to the Little Tern colony at nearby Portrane where it appeared to be displaying to the locals by presenting fish! The bird proved very co-operative and with patience could usually be found by visiting birders, especially at times of low water (Anon. 2021). If accepted by the IRBC it will be the first Irish record and just the second for the Western Palearctic following a bird found in June 1983 at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, East Sussex that returned to Rye each summer until 1992, which might raise the prospect of the Portrane bird returning, especially as the local tern wardens reported hearing a ‘funny-sounding’ bird at Portrane the previous year.

Least Tern, Portrane, June 2021, Photo: Victor Caschera.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 84 Side by side comparisons of Little and Least Terns, photographs taken a few seconds apart from the same spot looking in the same direction, Photos and annotations: Killian Mullarney.

Least Tern (above with Little Terns), Portrane, June 2021, Photos: Brian McCloskey (above). Aidan G. Kelly (left).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 85 Bridled Tern, Natural History Museum, Dublin. Photo: Brian McCloskey.

Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus Polytypic with four races. Range: [melanopterus ssp.] Mexico, Caribbean Sea and west Africa. Pelagic outside the breeding season. Known occurrences: One Category D record. 1953 One: Adult winter, North Bull Island, 29th November (IBR 1: 12, Kennedy 1955a), found dead. Found freshly dead by Lt.-Col. C.F. Scroope. The carcass was sent to the English orni- thologist Kenneth Williamson, who identified it to the Caribbean race melanoptera. This was the first, and to date only Irish record. As a tideline corpse it was assigned to Category D3. The mounted specimen is on display in the Natural History Museum. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 86 Sooty Tern, Balbriggan, August 2005 (left), in flight off Rockabill, Skerries, July 2005 (right), Photos: Paul Kelly (left), Gearoid O’Sullivan (right).

Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus Polytypic with seven races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Guinea and south Atlantic. Pelagic outside the breeding season. Known occurrences: One record. 2005 One: Off Rockabill and Shenick Islands, Skerries, 11th to 12th July and between Skerries and Balbriggan, 7th to 15th August (Irish Birds 8(3): 387, Papps 2005), photographs Birding World 18: 266, Irish Birds 8: 386. Also seen at Anglesey, Wales and Cockle Island, Groomsport, Down. This was the second Irish record. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with two records, the other was at the Bridges of Ross, Clare in July 2002. Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri Range: South-central Canada through USA to northeast Mexico. Winters south Califor- nia south to Panama and North Carolina south to Gulf of Honduras. Known occurrences: Six records. 1982 One: First-winter, locations around Dublin Bay, 21st November in to 1983 (IECBR 1982 p. 19, Irish Birds 2(3): 401). Found by Jim Fitzharris near Merrion Gates, Sand- ymount Strand, this was the first Irish record. 1983 Zero: First-winter, Dublin Bay, from 21st November 1982, remained to mid-Jan- uary (Irish Birds 2(4): 568) or early February (IECBR 1983 p. 20). Note that the final dates differ in reports cited for this record. 1985 One: Adult, North Bull Island, 16th November in to 1986 (IECBR 1985 p.34, Irish Birds 3(2): 317), also seen at various locations in Louth.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 87 Forster’s Tern, Rush, September 2015, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly.

Coloured field-sketch made by Killian Mullarney of the Forster’s Tern at Poolbeg, December 1982, the first Irish record.

1986 Zero: Adult, North Bull Island, from 16th November 1985, remained to 14th March (Irish Birds 6(1): 81). 1987 One: Adult, Sandymount Strand, 22nd March to 5th April (IECBR 1987 p.28, Irish Birds 3(4): 632). 2003 One: First-winter, Baldoyle, 5th January (IECBR 2003 p.58, Irish Birds 7(4): 561). 2004 One: Adult, Skerries, 9th to 26th December (Irish Birds 8(1): 117), photographs Birding World 17: 488, Irish Birds 8: 116. 2009 One: Adult, Balbriggan, 1st November (Irish Birds 9(2): 269). Also seen in Louth.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 88 2013 Zero: Adult winter, Rogerstown Estuary, Rush and Portrane, 29th September to 22nd October (Irish Birds 10(1): 86), presumed returning. Also seen in Meath in 2009 and Louth in 2011 and 2012. 2014 Zero: Adult winter, Rogerstown Estuary, 15th to 30th October (Irish Birds 10(2): 248), photograph Birdwatch 271: 15, presumed returning. Also seen in Louth. 2015 Zero: Adult winter, Rush and Rogerstown Estuary, 6th to 27th September (Irish Birds 10(3): 409), photographs Dutch Birding 37: 343, Irish Birds 10: 409, presumed returning. Also seen in Louth. 2016 Zero: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 8th to 9th October (Irish Birds 10(4): 564), presumed returning, also seen in Louth Status in Ireland: Very rare with 39 records, with some appearing to return to the same location over a number of years notably at various locations on along the east coast in Dublin, Meath and Louth and in the west in Galway and Clare. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Polytypic with three races. Range: [nominate ssp.] North Africa and southwest Europe to central Asia, China and southeast Asia. Winters Africa, southeast Asia to Sulawesi and the Philippines. Known occurrences: One 19th century record. 1839 One: Adult, River Liffey between Ringsend and the Pigeon House, September (Thompson vol. III, p.298), shot. This was the first Irish record. The mounted specimen is on display in the Natural History Museum. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 23 records.

The first IrishWhiskered Tern, Natural History Museum, Dublin. Photo: Brian McCloskey.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 89 White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Range: Europe to east Siberia and northeast China. Widespread in winter. Known occurrences: 12 records. 1841 One: One, River Liffey near the Pigeon House, October (Thompson vol.III, p.307), shot. This was the first Irish record. Bewteen 1841 and 1851 One: One, Dublin Bay, exact date not known (Thompson vol. III, p.307), shot. 1975 One: Immature, Malahide Estuary, 19th to 20th August (IBR 23: 20). 1976 One: One, Skerries, 19th September (Irish Birds 1(1): 87). 1996 One: Adult, Malahide Estuary, 4th to 7th August (IECBR 1996 p.49, Irish Birds 6(1): 81). 2000 Two: Adult summer, Malahide Estuary, 22nd to 26th May; Adult, Sandymount Strand, 10th August. [IECBR 2000 p.67, Irish Birds 7(1): 101]. 2003 One: Adult-winter, Sandymount Strand, 20th to 21st September (Doyle 2009b, IECBR 2003 p.59, Irish Birds 7(4): 563). 2005 One: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 3rd September (Irish Birds 8(3): 387). 2006 One: Adult, North Bull Island and Sandymount Strand, 21st July (Irish Birds 8(4): 404). 2011 One: Adult winter, North Bull Island, 24th September (Irish Birds 9(3): 474). 2015 One: Juvenile, North Bull Island, 23rd August (Irish Birds 10(3): 409). Status in Ireland: Rare with 112 records. American Black Tern Chlidonias niger surinamensis American Black Tern is a New World race of Black Tern. Range [ssp. surinamensis]: Canada and northern USA. Winters Central America and northern South America. Known occurrences: One record. 1999 One: Juvenile, Sandymount Strand, 3rd to 7th September (Adriaens 1999, IECBR 1999 p.42, Irish Birds 6(4): 563). Found by Peter Adriaens, this was the first Irish and fourth Western Palearctic record. Sandymount Strand is a good area to search for Black Terns in autumn. These are birds of the nominate race returning south from European breeding grounds for the winter. When Belgian birder Peter Adriaens arrived there during the afternoon of Friday, 3rd September 1999 it was not so unusual to find a group of seven Black Terns flying far out over the sea (later on, at least 18 Black Terns were present) (Adriaens 1999). While scanning this group in the hope of finding a White-winged Black Tern he noticed a juvenile that showed obviously dark grey flanks (ibid.). By a happy coincidence he had seen similar birds the previous week; but not in Ireland and not even in Europe but almost 3,000 miles away in Jamaica Bay, New York and he realised he was watching the first Black Tern of the North American race,surinamensis for Ireland. Fortunately it remained for a further four days allowing birders to catch up with this fascinating bird. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with six records.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 90 Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus Polytypic with two races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Arctic and subarctic uplands of Scandinavia and Russia east to the River Lena. Winters offshore of southern South America and southern Africa. Known occurrences: 36 records. 1832 One: Immature, Pigeon House, October (Thompson vol.III, p.401). Prior to 1900 Two: Ussher & Warren (1900) report two between 1832 and 1900 without giving further details. 1990 One: One, Rockabill, 5th August (Irish Birds 4(3): 443). 1991 Five: Adult, Howth Head, 11th September; Four juveniles, Skerries, 28th Septem- ber. [Irish Birds 4(4): 592]. 1993 Two: Juvenile, Howth Head, 7th September (Irish Birds 5(2): 221); Juvenile or first-summer, Skerries, 15th September Irish( Birds 5(3): 341). 1995 12: Six adults and two sub-adults, Rockabill, 8th to 14th August (Irish Birds 5(4): 463); Three adults, Dalkey, 11th to 17th August (Irish Birds 5(4): 463); Juvenile, Sker- ries, 20th August (Irish Birds 6(4): 559). 2002 One: Juvenile, Kish Bank, Dublin Bay, 2nd September (Irish Birds 7(3): 398). 2004 One: Juvenile, Howth Head, 22nd August (Irish Birds 8(1): 115). 2005 One: Juvenile, Sandymount Strand, 7th September (Irish Birds 8(3): 384). 2007 Two: Two juveniles, Bremore, near Balbriggan, 10th September (Irish Birds 8(4): 596). 2008 Three: Juvenile, Skerries, 5th September; Adult and juvenile, Skerries, 6th Sep- tember. [Irish Birds 9(1): 95]. 2011 One: Juvenile, Rockabill, 13th October (Irish Birds 9(3): 472). 2013 One: One, off Red Island, Skerries, 26th September per( Irish Birding website). 2014 Two: Two adults, Coliemore, near Dalkey, 19th May (per Irish Birding website). 2015 One: Adult, off the West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, 17th July (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Scarce but regular spring and autumn passage migrant. Pacific Diver Gavia pacifica Range: Extreme north and northwest Nearctic. Winters Pacific coast of North America. Known occurrences: One record. 2017 One: Adult, off Bremore, Balbriggan, 27th August to 1st September (Irish Birds 41: 59), found by AIdan G. Kelly, this was the third Irish record. Also seen off Gorman- ston, Meath on 27th August. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with four records. White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii Range: Arctic Ocean coasts to 78˚N. Winters in coastal waters to the south. Known occurrences: Two records. 1995 One: Adult, off the tip of the West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, 5th to 6th January 1995 (IECBR 1999 p.4, Irish Birds 6(4): 547), found by Noel Keogh, this was the fifth Irish record. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 91 Pacific Diver, Bremore, August 2017, White-billed Diver, Skerries, November 2005, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly. Photo: Paul Kelly.

2005 One: Adult, off shore between Skerries and Balbriggan, 5th to 9th November (Irish Birds 8(3): 376), photographs Birdwatch 163: 63, Irish Birds 8: 376. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 24 records. Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis Range: Berlengas Islands (off Portugal), Azores, Canary Islands, Almeria (southeast coast of Spain) and Chafarinas Islands in the Alboran Sea (north coast of Morocco). Non-breeding range extends to the north and south Atlantic and west Indian Oceans. Known occurrences: 1992 One: One, off Howth Head, 6th September IECBR( 1992 p.5, Irish Birds 5(1): 82). 2007 One: One, off Skerries, 22nd September (O’Donnell, p.425). 2020 One: One, off the Nose of Howth, 27th August (per Irish Birding website). A large shearwater observed from Sorento Point, Dalkey on 18th September 1999 may have been a Cory’s Shearwater, however the views obtained were not sufficient for a definitive identification (IECBR 1999 p.6). Status in Ireland: Autumn passage migrant mainly off the southwest coast from Atlan- tic breeding sites. Numbers vary annually with occasional strong movements. Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis Range: Nightingale Island and Inaccessible Island (Tristan da Cunha group), Gough Is- land (south Atlantic) and Kidney Island (Falkland Islands). Non-breeding range extends throughout north and south Atlantic. Known occurrences: In the case of this pelagic species the county boundaries have been extended up to 15 nautical miles off the coast. 1960 One: One, Dublin Bay, 22nd August (IBR 8: 5). A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 92 1968 Two: Two, eight miles east of Lambay Island in the Irish Sea, 19th August (IBR 16: 16). 1970 Five: At least five and possibly more, east of Lambay Island in the Irish Sea about 13 miles off the coast, 4th November IBR( 18: 18). 1989 Two: Two, about nine miles off the coast in the Irish Sea, one, 21st August, and another, 3rd September (IECBR 1989 p.8, Irish Birds 4(2): 234). 1993 One: One, off Rockabill, 1st August (IECBR 1993 p.6, Irish Birds 5(2): 211). 1999 At least 11: Three, Rockabill, 7th August, with four present on 8th August; Three, Kish Bank, 3rd September; Four, off Howth Head, 18th September; Two, off Sorrento Point, 18th September. [IECBR 2000 p.7]. 2008 Two: Two, off Skerries, 5th September (per Irish Birding website). 2016 One: One, just over five nautical miles east of Dalkey Island in the Irish Sea, 7th September (per Irish Birding website), this bird was observed in the company of a mixed flock of feeding Manx Shearwaters, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Sterna terns. In addition: single birds were observed on two occasions from the Dublin to Holyhead car-ferry; one on 23rd June 2012 (exact position not known) and another on 16th Sep- tember 2014 in a position about 30 nautical miles from the coast (per Irish Birding website). One, probably from a ferry, about 20 nautical miles east of Howth Head on 26th August 1977 (Dublin & Wicklow Bird Report 1977). Status in Ireland: Autumn passage migrant mainly off the southwest coast from the southern Atlantic. Numbers vary annually with occasional strong movements. Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus Range: Balearic Islands. Winters west Mediterranean, and coasts off northwest Africa and Portugal, Bay of Biscay, Ireland and Britain. Known occurrences: Irregular passage migrant in small numbers, usually in the company of Manx Shearwa- ter but at no time annual. The first record was a grouping of eight among a huge flock of Manx Shearwaters about eight nautical miles east of Lambay Island in the Irish Sea, 19th August 1968 (IBR 16: 15). The most recent records were single birds in 2015 (Balbriggan on 23rd August), 2014 (Colimore Harbour, Dalkey on 15th October), 2013 (Colimore Harbour, Dalkey on 31st December) and 2011 (Skerries and Balbriggan on 22nd September). [per Irish Birding website]. Status in Ireland: Uncommon autumn passage migrant. Black Stork Ciconia nigra Range: Widespread across much of middle latitude Palearctic with an isolated population in southern Africa. Winters Indian subcontinent and Africa. Known occurrences: One record. 1986 One: One, Foxrock, 16th August (IECBR 1987 p.6, Irish Birds 3(4):614, Johnson & Smiddy 1989), seen in flight only. This was the first Irish record.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 93 At about 16:30 Chris Johnson called his father Geoff out in to his garden at Foxrock to view some aircraft that were taking part in an airshow out of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnell. Also visible was a large bird, initially assumed to be a raptor, soaring at a height of about 180 metres. However, when viewed through 12 x 50 binoculars it became obvious it was a Black Stork. It came almost directly overhead and both Johnsons watched it for about five minutes as it first drifted north, then south, before finally turning and heading back north again in the direction of Dublin City, eventually becoming lost to sight (Johnson & Smiddy 1989). The possibility that it was an escape from Dublin Zoo was considered but soon dis- counted when it was established that the zoo had not held a Black Stork in recent years. The dominant weather system of the previous week had been a stationary anti- cyclone sitting to the southeast of Ireland pulling light winds off the Continent and was most likely responsible for the stork’s appearance. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with three records. White Stork Ciconia ciconia Polytypic with two subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Widespread in the Old World. Winters mainly in Africa. Known occurrences: Five records. 1988 One: One, Blackrock, 26th August (IECBR 1988 p.7, Irish Birds 4(1): 85). 1991 One: One, Phoenix Park, 12th July (IECBR 1991 p.7, Irish Birds 4(4): 577), in flight. 1999 One: One, Heuston Train Station, 18th April (IECBR 1999 p.9, Irish Birds 6(3): 549), in flight heading east. 2006 One: One, Rathfarnham, 28th April (Irish Birds 8(3): 398), in flight. 2017 One: One, Phoenix Park, 2nd April (Irish Birds 41: 61), in flight. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 35 records. Frigatebird sp. Fregata sp. None of the frigatebirds recorded in Ireland have been identified to species. It is assumed that Magnificent FrigatebirdF. magnificens was the most likely species involved, but Ascension Frigatebird F. aquila can not be completely ruled out. Known occurrences: Three records. 1988 One: Male, Fairview, 24th June (IECBR 1988 p.6, Irish Birds 4(1): 83), in flight heading southwest. Found by Eamonn O’Donnell, this was the second Irish record. 1989 One: Female, Dalkey, 18th June (IECBR 1991 p.6, Irish Birds 4(4): 557). Found by Declan Murphy, this was the third Irish record. 1995 One: Female or immature, Booterstown, 22nd June (IECBR 1996 p.8, Irish Birds 6(1): 66, Preston 1995), in flight heading northeast over Dublin Bay. Found by Bryan Preston, this was the fourth Irish record. Probably the same bird was seen in Cornwall and Skomer, Pembrokeshire earlier in the month. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with four records, the only other was off Cape Clear Island in August 1973.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 94 ‘Continental’ Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis Continental Cormorant is a subspecies of Cormorant. Range: Central and southern Europe east through much of central Asia to Far-eastern Russia, China and India. Winters Africa and southeast Asia. Known occurrences: Three records. 2013 Two: First-winter, Malahide Estuary, 4th to 30th January; A different first-winter, Malahide Estuary, 28th January to 16th May. [Irish Birds 10(1): 77]. 2014 One: Adult, Scotsman’s Bay, Dun Laoghaire, 1st February (Irish Birds 10(2): 241). Status in Ireland: Very rare and predominantly winter visitor with 67 records.

Two different first-summer Continental Cormorants, Malahide Estuary, January 2013 (above with a nominate bird on the right), Photos: Victor Caschera.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 95 Glossy Ibis, North Bull Island (left), August 2020, Balbriggan, September 2020 (below), Photos: Derek O’Reilly (left), Paul Lynch (below). Presumed to be the same wandering individual that was also at Swords.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 96 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Range: Widespread but scattered populations in both Old and New Worlds. Nomadic. Known occurrences: 23 records (included a flock of ten in 2010) and one pending. 1840 One: One, Balrothery, October or November (Thompson vol.II, p.182), obtained. 1864 One: One, Muglin Rock (aka the Muglins), near Dalkey Island, 15th November (Ussher & Warren). 1906 One: One, North Bull Island, 11th September (Kennedy et al. 1954), shot. 1944 One: One, North Bull Island, 23rd January (Kennedy 1961). 2010 Ten: Up to ten, adults and juveniles, Portmarnock, 23rd to 29th August, and, presumed one of these, Rogerstown Estuary, 3rd to 5th September (Irish Birds 9(2): 290), photograph Wings 59: 28. 2011 One: One, Turvey Parklands, 30th October (Irish Birds 9(3): 456). 2014 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 6th to 7th September (Irish Birds 10(2): 242). 2016 Five: One, North Bull Island, 29th April, also seen in Wicklow and Wexford; One, Lucan, 13th May; One, Rogerstown Estuary and Turvey Parklands, intermittently from 15th May to 18th December, photograph Irish Birds 10: 549, presumed to be the same individual at Lucan on 13th May; One, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 15th May, presumed to be the same individual at Lucan on 13th May; Three juveniles, Rogerstown Estuary, 10th October. [Irish Birds 10(4): 549]. 2017 Two: Two, Lucan, 2nd November (Irish Birds 41: 61). 2020 One pending: One, North Bull Island, Balbriggan Golf Course and Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 12th August to 29th September (per Irish Birding website), all records presumed to involve the same wandering individual. Status in Ireland: Uncommon with 504 records.

Glossy Ibis, Turvey Parklands, November 2016, Photos: James Hayes.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 97 Juvenile Glossy Ibis, Portmarnock, August 2010, This bird was colour-ringed at El Rocío on the Coto Doñana, Spain, Photo: Tom Shevlin.

Glossy Ibis, Rogerstown Estuary, May 2016, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 98 Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Polytypic with three subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Widespread in the Old World. Winters Africa and China. Known occurrences: 21 records and one pending. 1841 Two: Female plus another not aged or sexed, near Swords, 26th November (Thompson vol.II, p.179), female shot. 1864 Four: Four, unknown location that was ‘on the shore’, 10th March (Ussher & War- ren). 1953 One, One, Dollymount Strand, 30th August to 10th September (IBR 1: 8). 1958 One: Immature, North Bull Island, 15th October in to 1959 (IBR 6: 6). 1959 Zero: Immature, North Bull Island, from 15th October 1958, remained to 9th January (IBR 6: 6). 1967 Two: Two immatures, Brittas Ponds, 26th March (IBR 15: 19). 1972 Two: Immature, Malahide Estuary, 26th November, joined by a second sometime before 2nd December, both later moving to Rogerstown Estuary and North Bull Island, 8th December, remaining in to 1973 (IBR 20: 9). 1973 Zero: Two immatures, north Dublin locations, from November and December 1972, moved to Rogerstown Estuary in late January, both remaining to late February, and, one to 26th July; Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 29th September in to 1974, presumed one of the immature birds returning, now as an adult. [IBR 21: 8-9] 1974 Zero: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, from 29th September 1973 remained all year and in to 1975 (IBR 22: 7).

Spoonbill, North Bull Island, March 2013, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 99 1975 Zero: Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, from 1974, remained to 8th February (IBR 23: 8), this bringing to an end a largely uninterrupted stay that begun as far back as the end of 1972. 1988 One: First-year, North Bull Island, 27th November, was later at Rogerstown Estu- ary, commuting between both and remaining in to 1989 (IECBR 1988 p.7, Irish Birds 4(1): 85). 1989 Zero: First-year, North Bull Island and Rogerstown Estuary, from 27th November 1988, remained to 8th April (IECBR 1989 p.10). 1995 One: Juvenile, North Bull Island, 25th to 26th November (IECBR 1995 p.8, Irish Birds 5(4): 451). 2007 One: Second-summer, Balbriggan, 14th June, and, presumed same, Corballis, Outer Malahide Estuary, 16th to 17th June (Irish Birds 8(4): 588), later seen at Kilcoole, Wicklow. 2013 One: Adult, North Bull Island, 10th to 11th March, and, presumed same, over St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, 13th March (Irish Birds 10(1): 79). 2016 Three: Three immatures, Rogerstown Estuary, 6th to 17th October (Irish Birds 10(4): 550). 2019 Two: Second calendar-year, Bremore and North Bull Island, 26th April, and, presumed same, Rogerstown Estuary, 28th to 29th April; One, in flight heading east at Junction 9 on the M50 near the Red Cow, 23rd November. [Irish Birds 43: 76]. 2020 One pending: Adult or third calendar-year, Shenick Island (off Skerries), North Bull Island, Sutton Creek and Ireland’s Eye, 27th March to 21st August. All presumed to involve the same wandering individual that was also observed at Kilcoole and Broad Lough, Wicklow around the same time period (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Scarce with 283 records with some remaining for long periods. Ten juvenile birds were at Westport Quay, Mayo in October 2005, two of these had been colour-ringed in the Netherlands.

Spoonbill, North Bull Island, July 2020, Photo: James Hayes.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 100 Bittern, found dead on Hyde Road, Dalkey, January 2002, Photo: Eugene Archer.

Bittern Botaurus stellaris Polytypic with three subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Temperate parts of Europe and Asia with suitable breeding habitat from Britain to Japan. Known occurrences: At least six records. Prior to 1900: Ussher & Warren (1900) report the following 19th century records: • One obtained at Merrion some years before 1837. • One shot somewhere on the River Tolka sometime before 1894. • One shot at Skerries, no date. • More than one killed at Sandymount Marsh, no dates. 2002 One: Second calendar-year, Hyde Road, Dalkey, 22nd January (IECBR 2002 p.14, Irish Birds 43: 76), found dead by the postman while on his morning rounds, photograph published in IECBR 2002 p.14. The first for Dublin in over 100 years. This record was not published in Irish Birds until the 2019 Bird Report in 2021. Status in Ireland: Scarce winter visitor with 53 records since 1950. Historically it was a common resident, to such an extent that several place names are called after it. Breed- ing was last confirmed in the 1840s. Since then there have been occasional instances of booming without any proved breeding.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 101 American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Range: South and central Canada south through much of USA where suitable breeding habitat exists. Winters southern USA, Mexico and West Indies. Known occurrences: One record. 1970 One: Juvenile, Malahide, 4th October (IBR 18: 20), found in a garden dying. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 23 records. All but one of these met their demise on the day it arrived, either ‘shot’, ‘obtained’, ‘killed’, ‘found dying’ or ‘killed by a dog’. The sole survivor was the most recent, an immature bird at Castlefreke, Cork in November and December 2015. Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus Polytypic with three subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Central and southern Europe and north Africa east to western Siberia, northwest Iran and northwest India. Winters in Africa. Known occurrences: At least five records and one pending. Before 1837 One: One, Merrion, some years before 1837 (Thompson vol. II, p.159), obtained. Before 1850 Not known: More than one, Sandymount Marsh, before 1850 (Thompson vol. II, p.159), obtained. Before 1894 One: One, somewhere on the River Tolka, before 1894, (Ussher & War- ren), shot. Before 1900 One: One, Skerries, before 1900, (Ussher & Warren), shot. 2020 One pending: Adult female, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 17th May to 5th June (per Irish Birding website). Found by Larry Lenehan, this was the first for Dublin since the 19th century. Status in Ireland: Rare with 56 records, mainly occurs as a spring overshoot.

Little Bittern, Knock Lake, May 2020, Photo: Victor Caschera.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 102 Little Bittern, Knock Lake, May 2020, Photos: Brian Carruthers.

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Polytypic with four subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Widespread in saltwater wetlands across much of Europe, Asia and Africa. Some northerly populations migrate south to winter, others are sedentary. Known occurrences: Six records. 1865 One: Adult female, near Clondalkin, 8th November (Ussher & Warren), shot while perched on a hawthorn. 1876 One: Immature, Bulloch Harbour, near Dalkey, August (Ussher & Warren), obtained. 1888 One: Immature, in a quarry somewhere near Rathgar, 31st December (Ussher & Warren), shot. 1904 One: Immature, somewhere on the River Dodder, 31st March (Kennedy et al. 1954), taken. 1916 One: One, Bushy Park, Terenure, late April to September (Kennedy et al. 1954). This was the first Irish record not to be shot. 2017 One: First-summer, near the South Hide, Rogerstown Estuary, 18th June (Irish Birds 41: 61). Found by Holly Grogan, this was the first for Dublin in over 100 years. Status in Ireland: Rare with 86 records, mainly as a spring overshoot. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 103 First-summer Black-crowned Night Heron, Rogerstown Estuary, June 2017, Photo: Holly Grogan.

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Range: Southwest and central Europe and Morocco east to central Asia. Winters Medi- terranean area, Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Known occurrences: One record. 1967 One: Juvenile, Trinity College Dublin, 2nd October (IBR 15: 19), found injured in the college grounds and subsequently died. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 24 records, mainly as a spring overshoot. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Range: Widespread in New and Old Worlds with recent expansions, Europe to Caspian Sea, Africa and Canada south to the Guianas. Some populations are migratory, some are dispersive. Known occurrences: Three records and two pending. 2018 Three: One, Cabinteely Park, 31st January; One, Portmarnock, 25th November; One, Turvey Golf Course, 12th December. [Irish Birds 42: 77]. 2020 Two pending: One, Rolestown, 26th July; One, Santry River outflow, North Bull Island, 23rd October. [per Irish Birding website]. Status in Ireland: Uncommon with 522 records. Previously a very rare vagrant with just ten records between 1976 and 2005. There followed an unprecedented influx of 223 birds over two years beginning in late 2007, and apart from 2010 have been recorded in every year since then. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 104 Cattle Egret, Portmarnock, November 2018, Photo: James Hayes.

Cattle Egret, North Bull Island, July 2020, Photo: Derek O’Reilly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 105 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Polytypic with four subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Much of mainland Europe and parts of north Africa east to Ka- zakhstan and Iran in marshy areas with dense vegetation. Winters sub-Saharan Africa. Known occurrences: One record and one pending. 2013 One: One, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 28th April (Irish Birds 10(2): 242). 2020 One pending: One, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 17th May to 7th June (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 30 records, mainly as a spring overshoot, possibly under recorded due to its secretive nature.

Purple Heron, Knock Lake, May 2020, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 106 Purple Heron, Knock Lake, May 2020, Photo: Victor Caschera.

Great White Egret, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, June 2015, Photo: Victor Caschera.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 107 Great White Egret Ardea alba Polytypic with four subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe east to central Asia, Russian Far East, northeast China and Japan. Winters south-central Europe, Africa and Persian Gulf to south China and Korea. Known occurrences: Eight records and one pending. 2003 Two: Two, Skerries, 20th April (IECBR 2003 p.11), in flight heading north. This record is not published in an Irish Bird Report. 2005 One: One, Skerries, 16th August (Irish Birds 8(3): 377), seen flying in off the sea. 2008 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 11th June (Irish Birds 9(1): 87). 2012 One: One, Applegreen Service Station, Lusk, 14th December (Irish Birds 9(4): 584). 2013 One: One, Dublin City centre, 24th June (Irish Birds 10(1): 78). 2015 One: Adult summer, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 17th June (Irish Birds 10(3): 400). 2018 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 10th July (Irish Birds 42: 78). 2020 One pending: One, Flooded Field, Rogerstown Estuary, 21st to 22nd September, and, presumed same, Baldoyle Estuary at Portmarnock, 18th October (per Irish Bird- ing website). Status in Ireland: Rare with 157 records, many as spring overshoots and some have over-wintered.

Great White Egret, with Little Egret, Rogerstown Estuary, September 2020, Photo: Brian Carruthers.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 108 Osprey Pandion haliaetus Polytypic with three subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Eurasia. Winters sub-Saharan Africa. Known occurrences: 1839 Two: Two, at a pond near the Dun Laoghaire (then Kingstown) to Dublin railway line, 29th October (Thompson vol.I, p.30), procured. 1881 One: Immature, Clontarf, November (Ussher & Warren), shot. This or another was observed five miles south of Dublin at the end of the previous month. 1973 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 11th September (IBR 21: 13). Presumed same bird was at Broad Lough, Wicklow later in the month. 1976 One: One, Baldoyle, 29th October (Irish Birds 1(1): 78). 1986 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 26th April (IECBR 1986 p.18, Irish Birds 3(3): 464). 1991 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 12th May (IECBR 1991 p.17, Irish Birds 4(4): 584). 1994 One: One, Skerries and Balbriggan, 30th April (Irish Birds 6(1): 72). 1995 One: One, Balbriggan, 6th April (Irish Birds 6(1): 72). 1996 One: One, Skerries, 22nd May (IECBR 1996 p.21, Irish Birds 6(1): 72). 1997 Three: One, Balbriggan, 8th April; One, North Bull Island, 10th April; Juvenile, Sandymount, 29th August. [IECBR 1997 p.23, Irish Birds 6(2): 295]. 2000 Five: One, M1 motorway, and, presumed same, Skerries, 29th March; One, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 21st May; One, Rogerstown Estuary, 21st May; Adult, Swords, Coolock, Dublin City centre and Sandymount, 1st to 24th August; Juvenile, Swords, The Naul and North Bull Island, 3rd to 17th September. [IECBR 2000 p.26, Irish Birds 7(1): 92].

Osprey, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, September 2017, Photo: Victor Caschera.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 109 Osprey, Flooded Field, Rogerstown Estuary, August 2015, Photo: Aidan G. Kelly.

2001 One: One, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 26th May (IECBR 2001 p.28, Irish Birds 7(2): 222). 2002 Two: One, Skerries Island, 12th March (IECBR 2002 p.34); One, Stillorgan, 20th March (IECBR 2002 p.34, Irish Birds 7(3): 394). 2003 One: Juvenile, Malahide Estuary, 6th September (IECBR 2003 p.29). 2004 Five: One, Cabinteely, 16th May; One, Rogerstown Estuary, 14th August; One, Malahide Estuary, 29th August; Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 1st to 12th September; One, Dublin City centre, 12th October, in flight. [Rattigan, p.273]. 2005 Two: One, Fitzwilliam Square, 22nd March, in flight; Adult, Rogerstown Estuary, 14th August to 3rd September. [Rattigan, p.273]. 2007 One: One, Balbriggan, 21st April (O’Donnell, p.428). 2008 Three: One, Shennick’s Island, Skerries, 28th March; One, Skerries, 31st August; One, Howth Head, 31st September. [O’Donnell, p.428]. 2009 Two: One, Baldoyle Estuary, 20th May; One, Barnagera, near Skerries, 9th June [per Irish Birding website]. 2010 One: One, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 12th June (per Irish Birding website). 2011 Two: One, Dublin Bay, 27th April, in flight heading towards the South Wall; One, M1 motorway at Swords, 11th October, on a lamp post. [per Irish Birding website].

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 110 2013 Three: One, Balbriggan, 1st March, flying north; One, Rogerstown Estuary, 13th April; One, River Liffey near Palmerstown, 1st October. [per Irish Birding website]. 2014 Three: One, Turvey, 7th May; One, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 26th May; One, Rogerstown Estuary, 31st August, and, presumed same, Malahide Estuary, 1st September, observed to be carrying a blue leg-ring while at Rogerstown Estuary, but the views obtained the following day were too distant to pick out any details on the ring. [per Irish Birding website]. 2015 Four: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 30th April; Juvenile male, Rogerstown Estuary, Turvey and Malahide Estuary, 29th August to 13th September, previously ringed at Doune, Stilingshire, Scotland on 11th July 2015; One, Rogerstown Estuary, 2nd Sep- tember; One, North Bull Island, 13th September. [per Irish Birding website]. 2016 Three: One, Croke Park, 22nd April, in flight heading north; One, Rogerstown Estuary, 1st to 8th June; One, Ballymun, 21st August, and, presumed same, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 22nd August. [per Irish Birding website]. 2017 Two: One, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 12th to 14th September; One, Rog- erstown Estuary, 22nd October. [per Irish Birding website]. 2018 Three: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 24th April; One, Chapelizod and Phoenix Park, 26th to 29th April; One, Turvey and Rogerstown Estuary, 30th May. [per Irish Birding website]. 2020 One: One, Cabinteely, 1st June, in flight heading north (per Irish Birding website). 2021 Two: One, Malahide Golf Club, 24th May, flying north; One, Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely, 1st June, flying north. [per Irish Birding website]. Status in Ireland: Uncommon spring and autumn passage migrant. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Range: Southern Europe, North Africa, Asia and western South Africa. Some northern populations are migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. Known occurrences: One Category D record. 1999 One: Juvenile pale morph, Rogerstown Estuary, 5th to 6th March and 11th to 17th June, and, Lambay Island, early July (Irish Birds 7(1): 108, Pierce 1999), photographs Birding World 12: 95, Dutch Birding 21: 117. This bird was first observed by Eric Dempsey in February 1999 at the North Slob, Wex- ford, before it embarked on a grand tour of Ireland and Britain during 1999 and 2000, initially relocating to Rogerstown, where it was found and identified by Sean Pierce, then proceeding to Waterford (March), Wexford (March and April), Down (April), back to Wexford (April), back to Dublin (June and July), Rathlin Island, Antrim (August), then popped across the Irish Sea to England from September 1999 to April 2000 where it was observed at locations in Kent, Cornwall, Somerset, Devon and flying across the Thames Estuary in Essex and finally to Orkney, Scotland (June 2000). Status in Ireland: As the bird crossed national boundaries, this record was assessed by the IRBC, NIBARC (for Northern Ireland) and BBRC/BOU (for Britain) and all concluded that it was not a genuine vagrant and therefore not eligible for Category A status and was assigned to Category D1. More details are described on the IRBC website.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 111 Booted Eagle, Rogerstown Estuary, March 1999, Photos: Paul Kelly.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 112 Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Polytypic with ten subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Much of Europe and northern Morocco. Mainly sedentary. Known occurrences: Two records. 2003 Two: Male & female (pair?), Knocksedan, near Swords, 30th March (IECBR 2003 p.27, Irish Birds 7(4): 556). Status in Ireland: Resident in the northeast where there are probably only a dozen breeding pairs in mature woodland and, although there are no confirmed records, possibly in the southwest. Of the 102 records its not always possible to determine precisely if they are on passage, vagrants, wandering non-breeding birds or from the small breeding population. Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Polytypic with two subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe and Middle East to central Asia. Winters Africa. Known occurrences: Rutty (1772) reports that it had been shot in County Dublin. 1836 One: Newbridge House, near Swords, August (Thompson vol.I), trapped. William Thompson saw the bird while on a visit to Dublin. 1989 One: Female, Rogerstown Estuary, 2nd September (IECBR 1989 p.17, Irish Birds 4(2): 238). 2000 One: Female, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 21st May (IECBR 2000 p.23, Irish Birds 7(1): 91). 2004 One: Female, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 9th May (Rattigan, p.273). 2007 Two: Female or immature, Raheny, 14th April; One, Skerries, 10th to 11th May. [O’Donnell, p.428]. 2008 One: One, Walshestown, near Naul, 29th May (O’Donnell, p.428). 2009 One: Juvenile, Rogerstown Estuary, 14th November (per Irish Birding website). 2011 Two: Female, Balbriggan, 12th May, in flight over the sea heading in the direction of Drogheda; Male, Seapoint, Dun Laoghaire, 24th May. [per Irish Birding website]. 2012 One: Female, North Bull Island, 9th May (per Irish Birding website). 2014 Uncertain: Nine records are posted on the Irish Birding website at the north Dub- lin locations of Turvey Parklands, Rogerstown Estuary, Malahide Estuary and Balbrig- gan from 22nd January to 11th October. Six of these are described as female or female/immature with the remainder left blank. Just how many individuals are involved in this sequence is not clear and may involve just a few wandering birds observed on multiple occasions during 2014 and perhaps again in 2015. 2015 Two: Female, Turvey, 11th April; Female, Bremore, near Balbriggan, 16th May, in flight heading north along the coast. [per Irish Birding website] 2017 Two: Female, Rogerstown Estuary, 5th to 7th February; One, Rogerstown Estuary, 8th October. [per Irish Birding website]. Status in Ireland: Passage migrant, occasional summer and winter visitor. Historically a widespread resident up to the 19th century.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 113 Female Marsh Harrier, Rogerstown Estuary, February 2017, Photos: John Fields (below), Brian Carruthers (bottom).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 114 Third calendar-year female Montagu’s Harrier, Dublin Airport, Collinstown, June 2010, Photo: Michael Ward.

Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus Range: Northwest Africa, south and central Europe east to the Urals. Winters in sub- Saharan Africa, Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Known occurrences: Eight records and one pending. 1893 One: Second-year male, Glenasmole, 3rd July (Ussher & Warren), shot. This was the fifth Irish record. 1909 One: Immature male, Lambay Island, 16th September (Kennedy et al. 1954), captured. 1920 One: One, North Bull Island, 13th May (Humphreys 1937, Kennedy et al. 1954). 1922 One: One, North Bull Island, 25th August (Humphreys 1937, Kennedy et al. 1954). 1947 One: Adult male, Malahide Island, 21st June (Kennedy et al. 1954). 2000 One: One, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 21st May (various reports pers. comms.). This bird has never been published in the standard literature. 2010 One: Third calendar-year female, Dublin Airport, Collinstown, 2nd June (Irish Birds 9(2): 292), carrying wing-tags. 2013 One: Adult male, Dublin Airport, Collinstown, 8th August (Irish Birds 10(1): 80). 2021 One pending: Female, The Burrows, Portrane, 13th May (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Rare with 91 records, some on passage. Has bred in the past. Black Kite Milvus migrans Polytypic with five subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Cape Verde Islands, northwest Africa, south and central Europe east to west Pakistan. Winters mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Known occurrences: One record. 2008 One: One, Strawberry Beds, near Castleknock, 19th August (Irish Birds 9(2): 260). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 23 records. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 115 Wing-tagged White-tailed Sea Eagle and Buzzard, Saggart Hill, April 2015, Keep in mind just how big a Buzzard is! Photo: Stephen Lawlor.

White-tailed Sea Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Polytypic with two subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe, northern Asia to India and China. Some winter to the south of breeding range. Both Watters (1853) and Rutty (1772) were aware of an eyrie on Lambay Island in the 17th century. The last county record of an indigenous bird was one at Portrane in 1875 that was captured after it was shot (Hutchinson 1975). Nowadays there are occasional sightings of birds from the reintroduction scheme passing through rather than hanging about. These birds will usually carry wing-tags. One (that was being mobbed by a Buzzard) passed over Three Castles and Saggart Hill in the Dublin Mountains heading in the direction of Rathcoole and Newcastle on 18th April 2015, another was seen flying north over Killiney Bay, Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire on 18th March 2011. This bird was probably the same as one seen earlier in the day at Kilcoole, Wicklow. The most recent was an immature seen over Skerries, Malahide Es- tuary, Beaumont and Glasnevin on 3rd and 4th May 2021 and what is presumed to be the same bird over Stillorgan on the following 13th May. No wing-tags were detected and speculation was that it was a Scottish release bird wandering. [per Irish Birding website]. Status in Ireland: Historically resident in suitable habitat throughout much of Ireland. Since 2007 a naturalised population is becoming established in the southwest and west as a result of a reintroduction scheme managed by the Golden Eagle Trust in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Some of these have taken to wandering about the country well away from their reintroduction sites.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 116 White-tailed Sea Eagle, Swords, May 2021, Photo: Jan Rod.

Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus Polytypic with four subspecies. Range: [nominate ssp.] Northern Eurasia. Winters to the south of breeding grounds. Known occurrences: Seven records. 1907 One: One, Brittas, January (Kennedy et al. 1954), obtained. 1912 One: One, Rush, 2nd December (Kennedy et al. 1954), obtained. 1951 One: One, Old Connaught, near Shankill, 1st January (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1975 One: One, Howth Head, 1st October (IBR 23: 12). 1991 One: One, Swords, 16th to 22nd October (IECBR 1991 p.17, Irish Birds 4(4): 584). 1995 One: Juvenile, Knightstown, near Bog-of-the-Ring, late October to early Decem- ber, when it was picked up in a poor state and later died (IECBR 1995 p.20, Irish Birds 5(4): 457). 1999 One: One, St. Margaret’s, 22nd October in to 2000 (IECBR 1999 p.17, Irish Birds 6(4): 552). 2000 Zero: One, St. Margaret’s, from 22nd October 1999, remained to 9th January (IECBR 2000 p.26, Irish Birds 6(4): 552). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 47 records. Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus Range: Higher latitudes of the Holarctic. Nomadic movements during winter. Known occurrences: Two 19th century records. 1862 One: Female, Swords, taken alive sometime early in the year (Ussher & Warren). 1880 / 1881 One: North Bull Island, over winter (Ussher & Warren). Status in Ireland: Rare winter visitor or potential colonist mainly to northwestern counties with 90 records. There was a failed attempt at breeding in Donegal in 2001.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 117 Hoopoe, Howth, October 2013, Photo: James Hayes.

Hoopoe Upupa epops Polytypic with six races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Northwest Africa and Europe to southcentral Russia, northwest China and northwest India. Winters Africa. Known occurrences: 18 records. 1828 One: One, Balbriggan, February (Thompson vol.I, p.354), killed. 1886 One: One, Rockabill, 12th June (Barrington 1900). 1954 Two: One, near Rush, mid-March to to early April (IBR 2: 18); One, Ballybrack, 27th November to 6th October (IBR 2: 18), first date approximate. 1967 One: One, St. Anne’s Estate, Kilmacud, 8th to 15th November (IBR 15: 37). 1968 Three: Two together, Phoenix Park, 11th May; One, Baily, Howth, 19th to 21st July. [IBR 16: 39]. 1971 One: One, Killiney, 22nd December (IBR 19: 47). 1974 One: One, Clontarf, 19th May (IBR 22: 18). 1983 One: One, near the Baily Lighthouse, Howth, 23rd September (Irish Birds 2(4): 569) or 25th September (IECBR 1983 p.22), note that the dates differ in reports cited for this record. 1992 Two: One, Rathfarnham, 30th April to 1st May; One, Skerries, early May. [IECBR 1992 p.41, Irish Birds 5(1): 96]. 1993 One: One, Bohernabreena, April (IECBR 1993 p.47, Irish Birds 5(2): 224), found dead. 1997 One: One, Corduff, near Blanchardstown, 17th May (IECBR 1997 p.65, Irish Birds 6(2): 305). 2001 One: One, Selskar Road, Skerries, 2nd (Irish Birds 7(2): 232) or 3rd (IECBR 2001 p.62) to 7th October. Note that the first date differs in reports quoted for this record. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 118 Hoopoe, Howth, September 2013, Photos: Ursula Martin.

2010 One: One, Portrane Beach, 11th October (per Irish Birding website). 2013 One: One, Deerpark, Howth, 27th September to 1st October, and, presumed same, Sutton Cross, 4th October (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Uncommon spring overshoot from Europe, very rare at other times of the year. Bee-eater Merops apiaster Range: Northwest Africa, Europe to central Asia and South Africa. Winters Africa. Known occurrences: Five records. 1889 One: One, Balbriggan, 2nd May (Ussher & Warren). 1961 One: One, Howth Head, 15th May (IBR 9: 19). 1994 One: One, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 26th May (IECBR 1994 p.50, Irish Birds 5(3): 345), flying west along the south shore of the estuary. 2000 One: One, near ‘Estuary Kennels’, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 14th May (IEC- BR 2000 p.72, Irish Birds 7(1): 102). 2002 One: One, Howth, 19th May (Irish Birds 7(3): 405). Status in Ireland: Rare with 67 records. Wryneck Jynx torquilla Polytypic with six races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe east to the Caucasus. Winters Africa. Known occurrences: Four records. 1896 One: Adult, Rockabill Lighthouse, 8th September (IECBR 1998 p.45, Ussher & Warren), killed striking the lighthouse. 1961 One: One, North Bull Island, 7th September (IECBR 1998 p.45, IBR 9: 19). 1976 One: One, Howth Head, 26th September to 2nd October (IECBR 1998 p.45, Irish Birds 1(1): 88). 1998 One: One, The Featherbeds, near Glenasmole, 5th October (IECBR 1998 p.45, Irish Birds 6(3): 397), struck by a car, taken in to care but died the following day. Status in Ireland: Uncommon with 357 record mainly in autumn. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 119 Field-sketch made by Killian Mullarney of a Wryneck, at Howth Head, September 1976.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 120 Great Spotted Woodpecker: Saggart Hill, June 2014 (left); Phoenix Park, January 2011 (right), Photos: Stephen Lawlor.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Polytypic with 24 races. Range: [ssp. anglicus]: Great Britain and Ireland. Range: [nominate ssp.]: Scandinavia and northeast Poland to western Siberia. Known occurrences: Totals are usually estimated on the maximum recorded at a location over some time period but could very easily be many more. Some treated as new could be wandering individuals counted multiple times at different locations, however in general estimates are conservative, but reallyfrom 2010 on its mainly guess work. 1831 Two: Two, on the banks of an unspecified canal near Dublin city, sometime in December (Thompson vol.I, p.341), one shot. Before 1900 One: Location and date not known (Ussher & Warren). 1949 One: One, Booterstown, 16th October (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1950 One: One, Phoenix Park, 1st January (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1968 Three: Adult, Rockabill, 13th to 16th September; Juvenile, Shankill, 21st Septem- ber; One, Santry Woods, 28th December. [IBR 16: 39]. These were part of a nationwide influx that took place in 1968 and 1969 presumably of the nominate race. 1969 One: Adult male, near Blackrock, 3rd April (IBR 18: 43). 1972 One: Adult male, Dalkey, 18th November (IBR 21: 25). 1973 One: One, Rathdown Park, near Terenure, 8th April (IBR 21: 25). 2005 One: One, Sutton, early November to 28th November Irish( Birds 8(3): 389). 2006 One: Female, Deer Park Hotel and Evora Park, Howth, 12th to 25th February (Irish Birds 8(3): 407 & 8(4): 600). 2007 Zero: Female, near Deerpark, Howth, 26th November (Irish Birds 8(4): 600), presumed returning.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 121 2008 One: Female, near Deerpark, Howth, 20th April, presumed returning; Juvenile, Brittas, 25th July, presumed bred in the county. [Irish Birds 9(1): 96] 2009 One: Male, near Deerpark, Howth, 16th March (Irish Birds 9(2): 271), drumming. 2010 Five: Up to four, Phoenix Park, 22nd January and 22nd November in to 2011; Male, Cabinteely Park, 13th December in to 2011. [per Irish Birding website]. 2011 Zero: At least two of the four present at Phoenix Park from 22nd November 2010 remained throughout the year and in to 2012; Male, Cabinteely Park, from 13th De- cember 2010 remained until 2nd April. [per Irish Birding website]. 2012 Two: Two (but possibly more), Phoenix Park where there were two on 16th Janu- ary, one on 17th April, two on 11th November, one on 30th December, presumed to be some of those first recorded in 2010 remaining; One, Heuston Station, 23rd Febru- ary, presumed to be one of the Phoenix Park birds wandering; One, Massy’s Estate, Killakee, 12th November; One, Killiney Hill Park, 10th to 15th December. [per Irish Birding website]. 2013 Four: One (but possibly more), Phoenix Park where there was one on 23rd Febru- ary, one on 4th, 5th, 12th & 15th March and one on 25th December, presumed to be one of those first recorded in 2010 remaining; One, Santry Demesne, 6th March; Two, Castlefarm Woods, Shankill, 23rd March; One, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, 15th October. [per Irish Birding website]. 2014 Two: One, Phoenix Park, 8th April, presumed one from previous years remaining; Male, Tymon Park, Tallaght, 1st to 6th May; Male, Saggart Hill, near Sladevalley, 15th June. [per Irish Birding website].

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Deer Park Hotel, Howth, February 2006, Photo: Tom Shevlin.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 122 2015 Two: One*, Phoenix Park, 20th April, presumed one from previous years; One, Corkagh Park, Clondalkin, 25th May; One, Turvey Parklands, Rogerstown Estuary, 11th October, presumed the same bird had been heard but not seen for a few days previous. [per Irish Birding website, *per eBird records]. 2016 Four: Male, Killakee, 23rd April, and, presumed same, Massy’s Wood, Killakee, 22nd May; One, Mount Venus Cemetery, Rathfarnham, 27th May, in flight; One*, Fitzpatrick’s Castle Hotel, Killiney Hill, 27th July; One, Strawberry Beds, 25th Novem- ber, flew from Luttrellstown Castle towards the River Liffey. [per Irish Birding website, *per eBird records]. 2017 Five: One, Bohernabreena Reservoir, Glenasmole, 5th February, 22nd April & 7th May; Female, Rathmichael, 17th March; One, Saggart Hill, near Sladevalley, 28th May; One, Lucan, 28th May; One, Killiney Hill Park, 15th June; Male, Hell Fire Club, near Kil- lakee, presumed same as 2016 Massy’s Wood individual. [per Irish Birding website]. 2018 Nine: Male, Killakee, 11th January, Cruagh Wood, Killakee, 7th September and Kilmashogue Forest, 27th May, all presumed to be the 2017 Hell Fire Club individual; Female, Rathmichael, 15th January, 21st February & 8th April, presumed same as 2017 bird; Female, Cabinteely Park, 1st February; One, Kilcross Court, Sandyford, 5th February; One, near Ring Commons, Naul, 3rd March; Pair, Ticknock, 24th March; Female, Lambay Island, 30th to 31st March; At least two, Bohernabreena Reservoir, Glenasmole, one on 20th May, two on 2nd June and one on 4th June, presumed to include the 2017 individual; One, Highfield Road, Rathgar, 20th May, in flight; One, Ballinclea Heights, Killiney, 29th November. [per Irish Birding website].

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodbrook, November 2020, Photo: Paul Smith.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 123 2019 Ten: Two, Kishoge, 3rd January; Two, Old Conna Golf Course, Rathmichael, 17th February, assumed to include the 2017 female; At least two, Glenasmole, one 3rd March, 6th March, 10th March, 17th March, 24th March and 2nd November, a male*, between Bohernabreena and Glenasmole, 5th September and a pair, 28th May, all presumed to be from previous years; At least two, Phoenix Park, two 17th April, one 19th April; At least two, Massey’s Wood, one 21st April, 19th May, a pair 5th June, presumed to include the 2018 Killakee individual; One, Kilternan, 22nd April; One, Lu- can, 30th September; One*, Killiney Hill, 6th October; Male*, Barnaslingan Lane, 9th October, presumed one of the Wicklow birds wandering north; One*, Carrickgollogan Forest, 19th October, presumed same as Barnaslingan Lane bird. [per Irish Birding website, *per eBird records]. 2020 Seven: At least three, Glenasmole, one 25th January, one 15th March (drumming heard), two 21st March (drumming heard), one 25th March (drumming heard), female 19th May, male 21st May, two 26th May, one 27th May, two 29th & 30th May, two (including a juvenile) 10th June, one 14th June, female & juvenile 18th June, except juvenile presumed to be from previous years; Massey’s Wood, at least two 2nd Febru- ary (drumming heard), two 25th May, one 30th May, all presumed to be from previous years; Phoenix Park, one 22nd March (drumming heard), one 14th November, female 31st December, all presumed birds from previous years; Barnaslingan Lane, drumming heard*, 25th March, female* 17th April, male presumed from previous year; One, Stepaside, 10th April (drumming heard), treated as new but could just be one of the Dublin mountain birds wandering; Killakee, male & female 10th May, one 15th June, one 22nd October, probably the Glenasmole birds wandering; Cruagh Wood, one* 9th May, one 31st May, one* 17th October, presumed one of the Massey’s Wood birds wandering; One, Balbriggan, 11th June; Female, Ballybrack, 22nd November; Fe- male, Woodbrook, 22nd November, possibly the same bird that was at Ballybrack but treated as different in the statistics; One, Corkagh Park, Clondalkin, 30th November. [per Irish Birding website, *per eBird records]. 2021 (to the beginning of August) One: Corkagh Park, one 2nd January, one 6th Feb- ruary, presumed to be from the previous year; Female*, Carrickgollogan Forest, 3rd January, presumed same as at Barnaslingan Lane in previous years; One, Portraine Demesne, near Donabate, 17th January, treated as new; One, Glenasmole, 27th Feb- ruary (when drumming heard west of the upper reservoir), presumed to be from the previous year; One, Tibradden, heard calling in the forest near the Wicklow Way, 30th March, presumed a Glenasmole bird wandering; One, Pine Forest, hear drumming and seen in flight above the car park, 30th March, presumed a Glenasmole bird wandering and different to the individual seen earlier at Tibradden; Female, Ticknock Woods, 2nd April, possibly the same that was present in March 2018; One, Glenasmole, 27th May, heard drumming, presumed to be one from previous years [per Irish Birding website, *per eBird records]. Status in Ireland: Scarce resident. Genetic analysis of feathers recovered indicate the current population originated from birds arriving from Britain (Coombes & Wilson 2015). Older records probably of Scandinavian birds wintering.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 124 Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Range: Southern Europe and northwest Africa to north China. Winters Africa. Known occurrences: One 19th century record. 1890 One: Adult male, Glenamuck, near Kilternan, 8th or 10th November in to 1891 (Ussher & Warren). 1891 Zero: Adult male, Glenamuck, from November 1890, remained to 17th Febru- ary, when it was shot near Shankill while feeding on earthworms in a ploughed field (Ussher & Warren). This was the first, and to date, only Irish record, although there is a record pending from Kilkee, Clare in November 2020. Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus Range: Central Europe to central Asia. Winters Africa. Known occurrences: Two records. 1976 One: Female, Polo Grounds, Phoenix Park, 18th June (Irish Birds 1(1): 78). Ob- served hunting insects near a flock of Swifts. This was the fourth Irish record. 2008 One: Female, Junction 13 of the M50 motorway, near Sandyford, 15th May (Irish Birds 9(1): 88). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 41 records, mainly as a spring overshoot. Hobby Falco subbuteo Polytypic with two races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Africa, Europe and central and eastern Asia. Winters central and southern Africa and south Asia. Known occurrences: 21 records and four pending. 1875 One: Adult male, Balbriggan, 7th June (Ussher & Warren), shot. This was the seventh Irish record. 1968 One: Adult male, Malahide, 26th May (IBR 16: 24). 1973 One: Adult, Clontarf, 21st May (IBR 21: 13). 1987 Two: First-year, Castleknock, 18th May, 20th July and 2nd August (IECBR 1990 p.14, Irish Birds 4(3): 437), all sightings presumed to involve the same individual; One, Howth Head, 28th July (IECBR 1988 p.17, Irish Birds 4(1): 90). 1988 One: One, Lucan, 12th June (IECBR 1988 p.17, Irish Birds 4(1): 90). 1994 One: First-summer, Ballymun Avenue, Glasnevin (IECBR 1994 p.24, Irish Birds 5(3): 335), found resting on the porch of a suburban house beside a busy road. 1998 One: One, Ballybrack, 5th August (IECBR 1998 p.19, Irish Birds 6(3): 388). 1999 One: Adult, Killiney, 24th May (IECBR 2002 p.35, Irish Birds 7(3): 394). 2002 One: Adult or second-calendar year, North Bull Island, 16th September (Irish Birds 7(3): 394). 2006 One: Adult, Killiney, 13th June (Irish Birds 8(3): 398). 2008 One: One, Shankill, 13th July (Irish Birds 9(1): 88). 2012 One: One, Hollywood Great, Naul, 2nd July (Irish Birds 9(4): 586). 2013 Three: One, Chapelizod, 7th June; One, Skerries, 24th June; Immature, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 19th September. [Irish Birds 10(1): 90].

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 125 Hobby, Shanganagh Park, May 2020, Photos: Paul Smith.

2014 One: One, Balbriggan, 9th May (Irish Birds 10(2): 252). 2015 One: Probably an adult, Turvey Parklands, Rogerstown, 28th June (Irish Birds 10(3): 413). 2017 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 10th September (Irish Birds 41: 72). 2018 Two: One, flew west over the M1 about one mile south of Lusk Applegreen Ser- vices, 3rd July; One, Turvey Parklands, 16th September. [Irish Birds 42: 85]. 2019 One: One, Windgate Road, Hill of Howth, 2nd June (Irish Birds 43: 92). 2020 Three pending: One, Shanganagh Park, near Shankill, 9th May; One, Turvey Park- lands, 22nd July; Juvenile, Turvey Parklands, 23rd September. [per Irish Birding website]. 2021 One pending: Second calendar-year, Ballymadrough, Malahide Estate, 26th June (per Irish Birding website), found dead. Status in Ireland: Uncommon vagrant and spring passage migrant with 444 records. Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus Range: Arctic coasts and islands of Europe, Asia and North America. Disperses widely in winter. Known occurrences: Two records. 1920 One: One, Lambay Island, May (Kennedy et al. 1954, May 1920). 2000 One: White phase, Rogerstown Estuary, 10th December (IECBR 2000 p.26, Irish Birds 7(1): 92), also seen at Kilcoole, Wicklow. 2001 Zero: White phase, St. Margarets, 6th January (IECBR 2001 p.29, Irish Birds 7(1): 92), presumed to be the same individual that was at Rogerstown Estuary in December 2000. Status in Ireland: Rare vagrant and passage migrant with 133 records.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 126 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Range: Much of Europe east to western Siberia. Winters in Africa. Known occurrences: Four records. 1927 One: Immature, Rockabill, 26th August (Kennedy et al. 1954), obtained. This was the fourth Irish record. 1974 One: Immature, Clontarf, 24th September (IBR 22: 21). 2004 One: First-winter, North Bull Island, 2nd to 4th October (Irish Birds 8(1): 121). 2012 One: Male, Sutton, 26th May (Irish Birds 9(4): 598). Status in Ireland: Scarce with 201 records. Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Polytypic with two races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Temperate to subarctic Europe east to Siberia and southern Russia. Winters Europe to Asia Minor, Caucasus and Transcaspia. Occurrences: Eight records, mainly in the 19th century. 1822 or 1823 One: One, Shankill Mountain, date not known (Thompson vol. I, p.112), obtained. About 1830 One: One, Ballycorus Bog, near Kilternan, date not known (Thompson vol. III, p.436), killed. About 1831 One: One, Phoenix Park, date not known (Thompson vol. I, p.112), obtained. 1850 One: One, Montpelier Hill, Dublin Mountains, 10th August (Thompson vol. III, p.436). 1876 One: One, Ballybrack, date not known, (Kennedy et al. 1954), obtained. 1891 / 1892 One: One, near Dunsinea, winter (Ussher & Warren). 1968 One: One, Malahide Estuary, 12th March (IBR 16: 46). 1974 One: One, North Bull Island, 15th October (IBR 22: 20). Status in Ireland: Very rare and sometimes winter visitor with 48 records. There are also three records of undetermined grey shrikes that are were most probably Great Grey Shrikes. Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Polytypic with three races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Southern Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East. Winters Africa. Known occurrences: Two records. 1988 One: Adult female, Milltown, 5th to 18th May, on which date it was found dead (IECBR 1988 p.42, Irish Birds 4(1): 109). 1990 One: Male, Howth Head, 17th to 31st March (IECBR 1990 p.39, Irish Birds 4(3): 457). Status in Ireland: Rare with 116 records of the nominate race and two records of the Balearic Islands race badius.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 127 Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Range: Western Eurasia. Winters Africa. Known occurrences: Four records. About 1871 One: One, Glasnevin Gardens, about 1871 (Ussher & Warren). 1876 One: Female, Nutley, near Donnybrook, 30th April (Ussher & Warren), found dead. 1979 One: One, Rathfarnham, 14th May (Irish Birds 1(4): 576), found exhausted and cared for until 19th May when it was released near Laragh, Wicklow. 1993 One: Male, Corbawn Lane, Shankill, 16th June (IECBR 1993 p.54, Irish Birds 5(2): 228). Status in Ireland: Scarce with 224 records. Mainly occurs as a spring overshoot from Europe, almost unheard of in autumn. Woodlark Lullula arborea Polytypic with two races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Northern, western and central Europe to western Russia and Ukraine. Known occurrences: Four records since 1800. 1851 One: Male, Donnybrook, February to June (Ussher & Warren), in song. 1927 Two: Two, near Portmarnock, 4th September (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1960 One: One, near Swords, 3rd April (IBR 8: 20). Historically, Woodlark was known as a breeding species in Dublin. Rutty (1772) reports that it could be heard singing for nine months of the year, especially when the female was sitting on the nest. Thompson (1849-1851) described it as a very local resident in Dublin as well as some other counties. Hutchinson (1989) states that breeding was not recorded in Dublin after 1851 (although a nest was found in neighbouring Wicklow in 1894). Status in Ireland: Formally bred in at least six counties but had effectively become- ex tinct as an Irish breeding species by the turn of the 19th century. Very rare since 1950 with 19 records. Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris Polytypic with 42 races. Range: [ssp. flava] Northern Eurasia east to Anadyrland (northeast Russia) and south to southern Norway, Lake Baikal and northwest Amurland. Known occurrences: Three records. 1950 One: Male, West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, 2nd to 13th April (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1966 Two: Two, North Bull Island, 23rd to 25th October, and, presumed one of these, 9th November (IBR 14: 43). 1995 One: One, Howth Head, 22nd January, and, presumed same, 28th March to 2nd April (IECBR 1995 p.46, Irish Birds 5(4): 467), photograph Irish Birdwatching 4(2): 6. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 21 records.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 128 Purple Martin, Natural History Museum, Dublin. Photo: Brian McCloskey.

Purple Martin Progne subis Polytypic with three races. Range: [nominate ssp.] North America. Winters South America. Known occurrences: One Category D record. 1840 One: Female, Dun Laoghaire (then known as Kingstown), a short time previous to March (Quigley 2018/2019, Ussher & Warren), shot. This was the first, and to date, only Irish record. Not considered a genuine vagrant and assigned to Category D1. Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Polytypic with eight races. Range: [ssp. rufula] Southern Europe and north Africa east to Iran, Pakistan and northwest India. Winters Africa and southwest Asia. Known occurrences: Two records and two pending. 2007 One: One, Near Dublin Airport, Collinstown, 18th April (Irish Birds 8(4): 602). 2013 One: Adult, Dun Laoghaire, 30th April (Irish Birds 10(2): 253). 2020 One pending: One, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 10th to 11th May (per Irish Birding website), found by Victor Caschera. 2021 One pending: One, near the Baily Lighthouse, Howth, 26th April (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 60 records. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 129 Red-rumped Swallow, Swords, May 2020, Photos: Aidan G. Kelly (left), Victor Caschera (above).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Crumlin, March 2021, Photos: Pauline Doran.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 130 Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Range: Central to eastern Russia, Kazakhstan, northeast China and North Korea. Win- ters Nepal and Bangladesh east to southeast China, Hainan, Taiwan and Malaya. Known occurrences: 20 records. 1975 One: One, Balscadden, Howth, 23th to 24th October (IBR 23: 25), found by Kil- lian Mullarney. Note that the dates of occurrence are erroneously reported as 24th to 25th October in the Irish Bird Report. 1993 One: One, Howth Head, 5th October (IECBR 1993 p.53, Irish Birds 5(2): 226). 1994 One: One, Howth Head, 29th October (IECBR 1994 p.57, Irish Birds 5(3): 348). 2004 Two: Juvenile, Tymon Park, Tallaght, 3rd January to 4th February, found by Niall Hatch while taking part in the Dublin Bird Race; One, Howth Head, 31st October. [Rat- tigan, p.295]. 2013 One: One, Booterstown DART Station car park, 10th November (per Irish Birding website). 2015 One: One, Balscadden, Howth, 3rd November (per Irish Birding website). 2016 Four: One, Howth, 3rd October; One, Glasnevin, 17th October; Two, Irishtown, near Ringsend, one was heard but not seen from the coastal path between Sean Moore Park and Irishtown Nature Park, 19th October, and the second was at Irishtown Nature Park, 27th October. [per Irish Birding website]. 2018 Two: One, West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Harbour, 11th October; One, Inchicore, 18th October, near Garda Depot, Phoenix Park, 19th October and Farmleigh Estate, Phoe- nix Park, 9th December, all three occurrences presumed to involve the same wandering individual. [per Irish Birding website].

Field-sketch made by Killian Mullarney of a Yellow-browed Warbler, at Howth Head, October 1975, the first record for Dublin.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 131 2019 Two: Two, Balscaddan, Howth, 7th October (per Irish Birding website). 2020 Four: One, Balscaddan, Howth, 7th October, and, presumed same, Sutton, 11th October; One, Blackrock, 13th October; One, Balrothery, 21st to 22nd October; One, St. Stephen’s Green, 6th November. [per Irish Birding website]. 2021 One: One, Crumlin, 8th March (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Uncommon autumn vagrant that sometimes arrives in big numbers with some remaining to winter. Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Range: Central to far-eastern Asia. Winters southeast China and northern Indochina. Known occurrences: Two records. 1988 One: One, Howth Head, 13th to 14th October (Cooney & O’Donnell 1988, IEC- BR 1988 p.41, Irish Birds 4(1): 107). This was the sixth Irish record and along with a Radde’s Warbler, part of a Siberian duo at Howth on a never to be forgotten day for the finders. 2003 One: One, Howth Head, 17th October (IECBR 2003 p.75), this record is not published in an Irish Bird Report. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 43 records. Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi Range: Central and eastern Asia. Winters Indochina. Known occurrences: One record. 1988 One: One, Howth Head, 14th October (Cooney & O’Donnell 1988, IECBR 1988 p.41, Irish Birds 4(1): 107). This was the third Irish record and along with a Pallas’s Warbler, part of a Siberian duo at Howth on a never to be forgotten day for the finders. Status in Ireland: Very rare vagrant with 22 records.

Siberian Chiffchaff, North Bull Island, November 2012, Photo: Tom Cooney.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 132 Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita tristis Siberian Chiffchaff is a race of Common Chiffchaff. Range: West Siberia and northern Kazakhstan to western shore of Lake Baikal. Winters Iraq, Iran and Arabia to India and Bangladesh. Known occurrences: 11 records and one pending not yet published. 2012 Two: One, Clonkeen Park, Deansgrange, 29th March to 23rd April (Irish Birds 9(4): 601), heard calling and singing, photograph Irish Birds 9: 601; One, North Bull Island, 20th November (Cooney 2012, p.19). 2015 One: One, Ballymun, 9th February (Irish Birds 10(3): 417). 2016 Three: One, Irishtown Nature Park, 21st November; One, Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely, 29th December in to 2016; One, Tolka Valley Park, 31st December. [Irish Birds 10(4): 567]. 2017 One: One, Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely from 29th December 2016, remained to 13th April; One, Tolka Valley Park, from 31st December 2016, remained to 26th Janu- ary; One, Ranelagh Gardens, 11th February. [Irish Birds 41: 74]. 2018 One: One, Filter Beds, Inchicore Railway Works, 15th to 26th January (Irish Birds 42: 84). 2019 Three: One, Deer Park, Howth, 24th October; One, Lougshinny, 10th November; One, Baldoyle, 19th November. [Irish Birds 43: 95]. 2020 One pending: One, Shangannagh, near Shankill, 8th December (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Regular passage migrant, appearing in late autumn, some have remained for the winter.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Clonkeen Park, Deansgrange, April 2012, Photo: Dick Coombes.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 133 Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Polytypic with four races. Range: [ssp. viridanus] Eastern Europe to Siberia and China. Winters India. Known occurrences: One record. 1996 One: One, Rockabill, 3rd June (IECBR 1996 p.60, Irish Birds 6(1): 85), the second spring record for Ireland. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 43 records. Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta Range: Southwest and central Europe and northwest Africa. Winters west Africa. Known occurrences: One record. 1927 One: One, near Merrion Square, 29th August (Humphreys 1937). Kennedy et al. (1954) erroneously records the date as 20th August. Status in Ireland: Scarce with 220 records. Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina Range: Central Europe to Russia and Kazakhstan. Winters sub-Saharan tropical Africa. Known occurrences: Three records. 1856 One: One, Dunsinea, near Castlerock, 8th June (Ussher & Warren), obtained. 1982 One: One, Treasure Cove, Dalkey, 20th to 28th November (IECBR 1983 p.25, Irish Birds 2(3): 404). 2006 One: One, Howth Head, 24th September (Irish Birds 8(3): 408). Status in Ireland: Scarce with 226 records.

The Rockabill Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, British Birds vol. 2, p. 230. Photo courtesy of: British Birds magazine, with their permission.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 134 Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Helopsaltes certhiola Polytypic with five races. Previously Locustella certhiola. Range: East Asia. Winters India to Indonesia. Known occurrences: One record. 1908 One: Male, Rockabill Lighthouse, 28th September (Barrington 1909, Kennedy et al. 1954), picked up dead. This was the first Irish record and second for the Western Palearctic. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with two records. The other was at Cape Clear Island in October 1990. Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides Polytypic with three races. Range: [nominate ssp.] South Baltic south and east to central Urals, Crimea and Bal- kans and from north Morocco east to north Tunisia. Winters west Africa. Known occurrences: Two records. 1990 Two: One, Castleknock, mid-May to late-August, joined by a second for one day in August (IECBR 1991 p.42, Irish Birds 4(4): 602). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 12 records. Barred Warbler Curruca nisoria Polytypic with two races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe east to central Asia. Winters east Africa. Known occurrences: Four records. 1896 One: One, Rockabill, 25th September (Ussher & Warren), caught while injured. This was the second Irish record. 1912 One: One, Rockabill, 17th September (Barrington 1912, Kennedy et al. 1954), obtained. This was the third Irish record. 1913 One: One, Rockabill, 1st September (Kennedy et al. 1954), obtained. This was the fourth Irish record. 1946 One: One, near Raheny, 29th August (Kennedy et al. 1954). This was the sixth Irish record. Status in Ireland: Scarce with 224 records. Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca Polytypic with three races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe to Asia. Winters Africa and southern Asia. Known occurrences: 23 records. 1913 One: Male, Rockabill, 13th May (Kennedy et al. 1954), killed striking the lantern. This was the third Irish record. 1990 One: Male, Merrion Square, 17th May (IECBR 1990 p.34, Irish Birds 4(3): 455). 1998 One: One, Balbriggan, 23rd December in to 1999 (IECBR 1999 p.51, Irish Birds 6(4): 566).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 135 Lesser Whitethroat, Balscadden, Howth, October 2011, Photo: Tom Cooney.

1999 Four: One, Balbriggan, from 23rd December 1998, remained to 28th January; One, Northumberland Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, 8th February to early April; First-year, Sutton, 10th to 11th February, trapped on 10th February and was reported to have been seen nearby about a week previously; One, Rockabill, 17th October. [IECBR 1999 p.51, Irish Birds 6(4): 566]. 2000 One: One, Howth Head, 1st October (IECBR 2000 p.81, Irish Birds 7(1): 103). 2004 Five: One, Ballymun, 24th January to 7th April; Two, Howth Head, 4th Septem- ber; First calendar-year, near Cabinteely, 29th to 4th November; One, Dun Laoghaire, 30th October. [Rattigan, p.294]. 2005 One: One, Corpus Christi Graveyard, Drumcondra (Rattigan, p.294). 2008 One: One, Skerries, 1st December (per Irish Birding website). 2011 One: One, Balscadden, Howth, 2nd to 8th October (per Irish Birding website). 2013 One: One, Balscadden, Howth, 3rd September (per Irish Birding website). 2014 Two: One, Conquer Hill Road, Clontarf, 28th March; One, Howth, 17th Septem- ber. [per Irish Birding website]. 2015 One: One, Balscadden, Howth, 1st November (per Irish Birding website). 2018 One: One, Irishtown Nature Park, 19th April (per Irish Birding website). 2019 One: One, Drumcondra, 29th December (per Irish Birding website). 2020 One: One, Clontarf, 13th February, 30th March, 8th to 9th April, all sightings presumed to involve the same individual (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Spring and autumn passage migrant. Has bred on at least three occasions in Wicklow.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 136 Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla Polytypic with four races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Most of temperate Europe and northwest Africa. Known occurrences: 19 records. 1972 One: One, Rathfarnham, 17th January (IBR 20: 28). 1973 Two: One, Howth Head, 1st April; One, North Bull Island, 13th October. [Hutch- inson 1975, IBR 21: 29]. 1975 One: One, Belfield, 11th January (IBR 23: 26). 1980 One: One, Biscayne Estate, Malahide, 30th November (Irish Birds 2(1): 116), trapped. 1984 One: One, Howth, 6th November (IECBR 1984 p.42, Irish Birds 3(1): 118). 1988 One: One, Howth Head, 12th October (IECBR 1988 p.42, Irish Birds 4(1): 108). 1995 One: Male, Malahide, 2nd December (IECBR 1995 p.53, Irish Birds 5(4): 471). 2003 One: One, Dalkey Hill, 7th November (Doyle 2009a, IECBR 2003 p.77, Irish Birds 7(4): 568). 2016 Two: One, near Lissenhall Bridge, Broad Meadow River, 25th to 29th March; One, Dodder River Park, Milltown, 30th September. [per Irish Birding website]. 2017 Three: One, St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, 17th March; Two, Leopardstown Racecourse, 9th September. [per Irish Birding website]. 2018 Four: One, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, 14th April; One, Irishtown Na- ture Park, 24th October, heard only; Up to two, Woodbrook Golf Club, near Shankill, 4th to 10th December, two on 4th and possibly 5th with one to 10th December. [per Irish Birding website]. 2019 One: One, Shelly Beach, Irishtown Nature Reserve, 1st November (per Irish Bird- ing website). Status in Ireland: Spring and autumn passage migrant.

Firecrest, near Lissenhall Bridge, Broad Meadow River, March 2016, Photo: James Hayes.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 137 Rose-coloured Starling, Balscadden, Howth, November 2015, Photo: Tom Shevlin.

Rose-coloured Starling Pastor roseus Range: Southeast Europe to west-central Asia. Winters India and Sri Lanka. Known occurrences: Ten records and three pending. 1833 One: Female, near Dublin, 20th July (Thompson vol. I, p.295), shot. 1838 One: One, Newbarron, near Fieldstown, 7th or 8th July (Thompson vol. I, p.296), shot. 1854 One: Adult male, Ballsbridge, 20th July (Irby 1854, Irish Birds 9(4): 603), shot. Er- roneously dated as ‘about 1856’ in Ussher & Warren (1900) and Kennedy et al. (1954). About 1864 One: One, Blackrock, date not known (Ussher & Warren). 1937 One: One, Crowthorne, Sutton, early July (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1945 One: One, Howth, 18th June to 10th July (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1986 One: Sub-adult, Skerries, 4th to 11th September (Irish Birds 3(3): 484), photograph Irish Birds 3: 485. 2001 One: Adult, Bremore Point, near Balbriggan, 4th July (IECBR 2001 p.80), was probably in the area for longer than one day, photograph IECBR 2001 p.80, this record is not published in an Irish Bird Report. 2002 One: One, Howth Harbour, 19th June (IECBR 2002 p.90), this record is not published in an Irish Bird Report. 2015 One: Juvenile, Balscadden, Howth, 17th to 23rd November (Irish Birds 10(3): 419), photographs Birdwatch 283: 20, Irish Birds 10: 419, Wings 80: 29. 2021 Three pending: One, Rutland Avenue, Crumlin, 8th June; One, Stillorgan, 7th July; Male, Howth Yacht Club, 9th July. [per Irish Birding website]. Status in Ireland: Rare with 180 records. Rose-coloured Starlings tend to arrive in one of two distinct waves, i.e. adults and, to a lesser extent, first-years in summer and juveniles in autumn. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 138 Rose-coloured Starling, Howth, July 2021, Photos: Aidan G. Kelly.

The first Irish American Robin, Natural History Museum, Dublin. Photo: Brian McCloskey.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 139 American Robin Turdus migratorius Polytypic with three races. Range: Alaska and Canada south to Central America. Winters to the south of breeding grounds. Known occurrences: One 19th century record. 1891 One: Adult male, Springmount, near Shankill, 4th May (Ussher & Warren), shot. This was the first Irish and second Western Palearctic record. The mounted specimen is on display in the Natural History Museum. Status in Ireland: Very rare with ten records. All but the first and most recent were during winter months. Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva Range: Central and northern Europe to western Russia and Iran. Winters India. Known occurrences: Two records. 2005 One: One, Howth Head, 30th October (Irish Birds 8(2): 390). 2013 One: One, Lucan Village, 19th April (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Scarce vagrant with 264 records to the end of 2011, when removed from the IRBC rarity list. Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Polytypic with three races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Western Europe to the Ural Mountains. Winters Africa. Known occurrences: 14 records. 1928 One: One, Rockabill, 10th May (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1956 One: Female or immature, Glenageary, 13th September (IBR 4: 18). 1958 One: Female, near Swords, 25th May (IBR 6: 22). 1980 One: One, Howth Head, 31st October (IECBR 1981 p.29). Erroneously dated as 31st March in the East Coast Report for 1981. 1984 One: Female, Ireland’s Eye, 25th August (IECBR 1984 p.42). 1985 One: One, Blackrock, 9th September (IECBR 1985 p.40), taken by a cat. This bird had been ringed at the Isle of May, Scotland on the previous 30th August (IECBR 1985 p.51). 1989 One: Female, Rockabill, 3rd May (IECBR 1989 p.48), trapped and ringed. 1992 One: Female, Sutton, a few days during the first week of September (IECBR 1992 p.49, Irish Birds 5(1): 99), captured on home video in a suburban garden. 1994 Two: One, Howth Head, 12th September; One, Trinity College Dublin grounds, 22nd to 24th November. [IECBR 1994 p.58]. 2000 Two: One, Rockabill, 7th May; One, Howth Head, 1st October. [IECBR 2000 p.84, Irish Birds 7(1): 104]. 2008 Two: One, Howth, 20th April; One, Blanchardstown, 21st to 22nd September [O’Donnell, p.443]. Status in Ireland: Passage migrant. Has bred on at least three occasions.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 140 Desert Wheatear, North Bull Island, November 2011, Photo: Tom Shevlin.

Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti Polytypic with three races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Egypt and the Levant discontinuously east to Mongolia. Win- ters northeast Africa and southwest Asia. Known occurrences: One record. 2011 One: Male, North Bull Island, 20th to 21st November (Irish Birds 9(3): 484), photograph Irish Birds 9: 485. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with eight records, four of which occurred during a mini-influx in 2011. A week before the Bull Island bird turned up, two males were just over the border in Wicklow at Bray Head for three days. Black-bellied Dipper Cinclus cinclus cinclus The European race of Dipper. Range: Northern Europe, France, northern Spain, Corsica and Sardinia. Known occurrences: One record and one pending. 1956 One: One, somewhere on the Tolka River, 12th January to 3rd February (IBR 4: 16), found by Kerry birder Frank King. 2018 One pending: One, River Dodder at Rathfarnham Road, 1st March to 21st July (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: The Tolka bird is the only Irish record.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 141 Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava flava The nominate race of the polytypic Western Yellow Wagtail. Range: Southern Scandinavia west to France and central European mountain ranges east to the Urals. Winters sub-Saharan Africa. Known occurrences: One record. 1985 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 9th April (IECBR 1985 p.38, Irish Birds 3(2): 321). Status in Ireland: Rare with 82 records. Has bred on at least three occasions. Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi Range: Kazakhstan, Siberia, Mongolia and northern China. Winters Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia. Known occurrences: Three records. 1907 One: One, Lucan, 22nd November (Anon. 1908, Kennedy et al. 1954). Caught in a net by a bird-catcher and taken alive to Willie Williams (of Williams & Son, Taxi- dermists of 2 Dame Street, Dublin) who identified it from the description in Howard Saunders Illustrated Manual of British Birds. This was the first Irish record. 1911 One: One, near Kilbarrack Church, 23rd October (Kennedy et al. 1954), caught. This was the second Irish record. 2012 One: One, Balbriggan, 21st October (Irish Birds 9(4): 606). Status in Ireland: Rare with 136 records. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Polytypic with two races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Much of Europe east to China. Winters India and Africa. Known occurrences: Eight records. 1913 One: One, Rockabill, 3rd September (Kennedy et al. 1954), found dead. 1960 One: One, North Bull Island, 12th August (IBR 8: 23). 1990 One: One, Howth Head, 29th April (IECBR 1990 p.31 Irish Birds 4(3): 451). 1992 One: One, Howth Head, 18th May (IECBR 1994 p.52, Irish Birds 5(3): 346). 1998 One: One, Rockabill, 20th April (IECBR 1998 p.46, Irish Birds 6(3): 398). 2010 One: One, Oak Wood, Phoenix Park, 8th May (per Irish Birding website). 2011 One: One, Phoenix Park, 30th September (per Irish Birding website). 2012 One: One, Balscadden, Howth, 21st October (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Spring and autumn passage migrant. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Range: Northern Europe to northwest Alaska. Winters mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Known occurrences: One record. 2006 One: One, in a stubble field on the northern side of Rogerstown Estuary, 24th De- cember in to 2007 (Irish Birds 8(3): 407), photographs Birding World 19: 491, Irish Birds 8: 410. An early and unexpected Christmas present for Paul Kelly who was searching in the field for a calling Water Pipit when he found the much rarer pipit.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 142 Red-throated Pipit, Rogerstown Estuary, January 2007, Photo: Derek Charles.

2007 Zero: One, in a stubble field on the northern side of Rogerstown Estuary, from 24th December 2006, remained to 20th January (Irish Birds 8(4): 602). Status in Ireland: Rare with 59 records. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Polytypic with three races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Mountains of central and southern Europe. Winters western and southern Europe and northwest Africa. Known occurrences: Nine records. 1861 One: One, Rockabill, June (Kennedy et al. 1954), shot. This was the first Irish record. The mounted specimen is in the Natural History Museum 2000 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 26th to 28th December (IECBR 2000 p.74, Irish Birds 7(1): 102). 2005 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 9th April (Irish Birds 8(3): 389). 2006 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 24th December (Irish Birds 8(3): 407). 2007 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 11th November (Irish Birds 8(4): 602). 2008 One: One, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 27th February (Irish Birds 9(1): 101). 2009 Two: One, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, 28th December in to 2010; One, Corbal- lis, Outer Malahide Estuary, 31st December. [Irish Birds 9(2): 277]. 2010 One: One, Knock Lake, near Balbriggan, from 28th December 2009, remained to 9th January; One, Swords, Inner Malahide Estuary, 17th February to 19th March, photograph Birdwatch 214: 65. [Irish Birds 9(2): 309] A record of one at North Bull Island on 18th March 1943 (Kennedy 1947), was reviewed and subsequently considered not proven by the IRBC (Irish Birds 10(2): 257). Status in Ireland: Scarce with 204 records. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 143 Water Pipit, Inner Malahide Estuary, February 2010, Photo: Paul Kelly.

The first IrishWater Pipit, Natural History Museum, Dublin. Photo: Killian Mullarney.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 144 Scandinavian Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus littoralis Range: Denmark, Scandinavia to the Kola peninsula (Russia). Winters Sweden to Por- tugal. Known occurrences: Four records and two pending. 2009 One: One, Howth Head, 31st March (Irish Birds 9(2): 277). 2013 Two: One, North Bull Island, 20th March; One, Howth Head, 10th December. [Irish Birds 10(1): 96]. 2015 One: One, Dun Laoghaire, 13th to 28th November (Irish Birds 10(3): 422). 2019 One pending: Adult summer, Red Island, Skerries, 22nd April (per Irish Birding website). 2021 One pending: Balscadden Beach, Howth, 16th March (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Rare with 160 records.

Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Howth Head, December 2013 (top left), North Bull Island, March 2013 (top right), Dun Laoghaire, November 2015 (bottom left & right), Photos: James Hayes (top), Joe Proudfoot (bottom).

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 145 Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Polytypic with six races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe to central Siberia and northern Mongolia. Some populations move south or southwest in winter. Known occurrences: 1828 / 1829 13: One, Phoenix Park, 6th November, was joined by about 12 more during that winter (Thompson vol.I, p.260). 1830: In this year unknown numbers were killed in the Phoenix Park and sold at one schilling each (Thompson vol.I, p.260). 1831 Three: At least three, Phoenix Park, dates not known (Thompson vol.I, p.260). 1832 / 1833: Phoenix Park, several killed that winter (Thompson vol.I, p.260). 1837: Phoenix Park, several killed in January (Thompson vol.I, p.260). 1844: Phoenix Park, several killed in November (Thompson vol.I, p.260). 1888 Five: Five, Phoenix Park, dates not known (Ussher & Warren). 1889 25: 25, Phoenix Park, dates not known (Ussher & Warren). 1893 Three: Three, Phoenix Park, dates not known (Ussher & Warren). 1894 One: One, Phoenix Park, 4th October (Ussher & Warren). 1898 One: Adult male, Portmarnock, 13th February (Ussher & Warren), obtained. 1913 One: Female, Rockabill, 4th October (Kennedy et al. 1954), killed. 1914 One: Male, Balbriggan, 14th February (Kennedy et al. 1954), killed. 1934 One: One, Rathfarnham, 28th February (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1945 One: One, St. Stephen’s Green, 6th June (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1970 One: One, Blackrock, 4th December (IBR 18: 50). 2006 One: One, Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park, 11th March (Irish Birds 8(3): 414). 2018 One: One, Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely, 30th May (Irish Birds 42: 91), seen in flight and heard calling. 2021 One pending: One, Corkagh Park, Clondalkin, 2nd January (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Scarce and irregular winter visitor. Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Polytypic with five races. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe to central Siberia. Winters India and Indochina. Known occurrences: One record. 1996 One: Female or first-year, Rockabill, 31st May to 1st June (IECBR 1996 p.64, Irish Birds 6(1): 87). Status in Ireland: Scarce with 259 records. ‘Mealy’ Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea The nominate form of Common Redpoll. Range: [nominate ssp.] Europe east to Mongolia, Manchuria, Sakhalin and Aleutians, Alaska & northern Canada. Majority of population moves south in winter.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 146 Known occurrences: Three records and one pending. 1910 One: One, Ballychorus, 4th November (Kennedy et al. 1954), caught. 1948 One: One, Pigeon House, 16th February (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1959 One: One, Blackrock, 16th to 21st March (IBR 7: 22). 2021 One pending: One, near Cabinteely, 19th to 22nd March (per Irish Birding website). Status in Ireland: Rare with 126 records. ‘Coues’s’ Arctic Redpoll Acanthis hornemanni exilipes Polytypic with two races. Range: [ssp. exilipes] Tundra regions of northern North America and Eurasia. Known occurrences: One record. 2015 One: One, Lucan, 27th February to 1st March (Irish Birds 41: 80), found by Sean Geraty, this was the 12th and most recent record. Status in Ireland: Very rare with 12 records.

‘Coues’s’ Arctic Redpoll with Lesser Redpoll (left), Lucan, February 2015, Photos: Sean Geraty.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 147 Serin Serinus serinus Range: Central and southern Europe, north Africa and the Middle East. Known occurrences: Three records. 1893 One: Adult winter, south of Dublin, 2nd January (Ussher & Warren), taken by bird- catchers. This was the first Irish record. 1907 One: One, location not known, 1st February (Kennedyet al. 1954), taken by bird- catchers. This was the second Irish record. 2000 One: One, Fairview, 15th May (Irish Birds 7(1): 196). Status in Ireland: Very rare with ten records. Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos Polytypic with two races. Range: [nominate ssp.] European Russia to northeast China. Winters Asia. Known occurrences: One record. 1996 One: Adult male, Seatown Road, Swords, 3rd to 10th March (Irish Birds 6(1): 87). Found by Paddy O’Keeffe, this was the second, and to date, most recent Irish record. Status in Ireland: Extremely rare with two records, the other was at the Wexford Wild- fowl Reserve in January and February 1995. Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana Range: Most of Europe to western and central Asia. Winters north Africa and south Asia. Known occurrences: One record. 2015 One: Female, Rockabill, 26th May (Irish Birds 10(3): 424), photographs Birdwatch 277: 19, Irish Birds 10: 425. Status in Ireland: Rare with 134 records.

Female Ortolan Bunting, Rockabill, May 2015, Photo: Andrew Power.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 148 Rockabill’s Little Bunting and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Natural History Museum, Dublin, Photo: Brian McCloskey. Two first Irish records found on Rockabill in the same week.

Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Range: Taiga regions of Northern Finland east to Russian Far East. Winters south of breeding grounds. Known occurrences: Five records. 1908 One: Female, Rockabill, 2nd October (Kennedy et al. 1954), killed striking the lantern. This was the first Irish record and the second first Irish for Rockabill in a week following a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler there the previous 28th September. 1949 One: One, near Malahide, 5th December (Kennedy et al. 1954). 1954 One: One, Rogerstown Estuary, 24th October (Humphreys 1956, IBR 3: 24). 1957 One: One, Baldoyle, 20th February (IBR 5: 22). 1996 One: One, Howth Head, 21st to 22nd September (IECBR 1996 p.66, Irish Birds 6(1): 87). Status in Ireland: Very rare with 63 records. Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala Range: South-central Europe to Iran and Pakistan. Winters Indian Subcontinent. Known occurrences: One record. 1997 One: Adult male, Rockabill, 4th July (IECBR 1997 p.84, Irish Birds 6(2): 310), photographs Birding World 10: 287, Irish Birds 6: 310. This was the fifth Irish record. Status in Ireland: Very rare with ten records.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 149 Male Black-headed Bunting, Rockabill, July 1997 Photo: James Millet.

Pine Forest, Cruagh, Photo: Des Cannon. A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 150 References Adriaens, P. 1999. The American Black Tern in Co.Dublin. Birding World 12(9): 378-379. Anon. 1908. Richard’s Pipit in Co. Dublin. The Irish Naturalist 17(3): 59. Anon. 2021. Last but not least. Birdwatch 350: 10. Barrington, R.M. 1900. The Migration of Birds as observed at Irish lighthouses and lightships. London. Barrington, R.M. 1909. Pallas’s Grasshopper-Warbler (Locustella certhiola) in Ireland. A new British bird. British Birds 2(7): 230-231. Barrington, R.M. 1912. Barred Warbler at Rockabill. The Irish Naturalist 21: 207. Coombes, D. & Jordan, S. 1992. Alpine Swifts in Co. Dublin. Irish Birding News 2(3): 82. Coombes, R.H. & Wilson, F.R. 2015. Colonisation and breeding status of the Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopus major in the Republic of Ireland. Irish Birds 10(2): 183-196 Cooney, T. & O’Donnell, M. 1988. Passerine Migration on Howth Head County Dublin, October 1988. Irish East Coast Bird Report 1988 pp. 69-74. Doyle, P.J. 2009a. Firecrest on Dalkey Hill, Co. Dublin. Irish East Coast Bird Report 2003 pp. 107-110. Doyle, P.J. 2009b. White-winged Black Tern at Sandymount Strand, Co. Dublin. Irish East Coast Bird Report 2003 pp. 103-106. Fahy, K. 1992. Alpine Swifts in Co. Dublin. Irish Birding News 2(3): 83. Fahy, K. 2013. Irish Rare Bird Report 2012, Appendix 7: Black Brant analysis. Irish Birds 9(4): 611. Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (eds). 2021. IOC World Bird List (version 11.2). Available from www.worldbirdnames.org [Accessed June 2021]. Garner, M. & friends 2008. Frontiers in Birding. BirdGuides, Sheffield. Garner, M. & Millington, R. 2001. Grey-bellied Brant and the Dundrum conundrum. Birding World 14(4): 151-155. Humphreys, G.R. 1937. A List of the Birds showing the species contained in the Na- tional Collection. Dublin. Humphreys, G.R. 1956. Little Bunting in Co. Dublin. British Birds 49(5): 183. Hutchinson, C. (ed.) 1975. The Birds of Dublin and Wicklow. Irish Wildbird Conserv- ancy, Dublin. Hutchinson, C.D. 1989. Birds in Ireland. Poyser. IRBC 2003. Irish Rare Birds Committee Report. Irish Birds 7(2): 241-250. Irby, L.H. 1854. Occurrence of the Rose-coloured Pastor (Pastor roseus) near Dublin. Zoologist 12: 4439. Irish Rare Birds Committee 2013. Irish Rare Birds Committee review of presumed vagrant Canada Goose Branta canadensis records to ascertain the occurrence of Cack- ling Goose Branta hutchinsii. Irish Birds 9(4): 613-622. Johnson, G. & Smiddy, P. 1989. Black Stork in County Dublin - a species new to Ireland. Irish Birds 4(1): 69-70. Kelly, A. 1988. Little Ringed Plover at Swords Estuary, Dublin, 3rd May 1988. Irish East Coast Bird Report 1987 pp. 49-50. Kelly, A.G. 2019. Mega duck in Dublin. Birdwatch 324: 10. Kelly, P. & Kelly, A. 2004. Short-billed Dowitcher in Co. Dublin. Irish East Coast Bird Report 2001 pp. 107-109.

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs 151 Kennedy, P.G. 1947. Additional notes on the bird life of the North Bull.Irish Naturalists’ Journal 9: 1-9. Kennedy, P.G. 1955a. Bridled Tern in Dublin. British Birds 48(2): 89-90. Kennedy, P.G. 1955b. Royal Tern in Dublin, a new British Bird. British Birds 48(3): 116- 117. Kennedy, P.G. 1961. A List of the Birds of Ireland. Dublin. Kennedy, P.G., Ruttledge, R.F. & Scroope, C.F. 1954. Birds of Ireland. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh. King, F. 1955. Baldpate in Dublin. British Birds 48(2): 84. May, G.C. 1920. Jer or Greenland Falcon on Lambay. The Irish Naturalist 29: 60. Newton, S.F. 2017. An overview of Rare Breeding Birds in Ireland in 2017. Irish Birds 10(4): 541-544. O’Mahony, E. 1939. Turtle-Dove breeding in Ireland. British Birds 33(5): 140. O’Toole, S. 1994a. Pallid Swift in County Dublin. Irish Birds 5(2): 207-208. O’Toole, S. 1994b. Pallid Swift on Howth Head, Co. Dublin. Irish Birding News 3(4): 104-106. Papps, S. 2005. Sooty show on tour. Sooty Tern: Wales and Ireland, July and August 2005. Birdwatch 159: 64. Pierce, S. 1999. The Booted Eagle in County Dublin. Birding World 12(3): 102-105. Preston, B. 1995. The Flight of the Frigatebird. Irish Birdwatching 4(3): 21-22. Quigley, D.T.G. 2018 & 2019. An account of Purple Martin Progne subis records from Ireland and Britain during the 19th century. Irish Birds 41: 49-56. Rutty, J. 1772. An essay towards a natural history of the County of Dublin, accommo- dated to the noble designs of the Dublin Society. Dublin. Shields, G.F. 1990. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA of Pacific Black Brant. The Auk 107: 620-623. Thompson, W. 1849-1851. The Natural History of Ireland, volumes I to III. Reeve, Ben- ham & Reeve, London. Ussher, R.J. & Warren, R. 1900. Birds of Ireland. Gurney and Jackson, London. Watters, J.J. 1853. The Natural History of the Birds of Ireland. Dublin, London & Edin- burgh. Williams, W.J. 1928. Killdeer Plover in Co. Dublin. British Birds 21(12): 303. Abbreviations AERC: Association of European Rarity Committes. AOU: American Ornithologists’ Union. BOU: British Ornithologists’ Union IBR: Irish Bird Report. IECBR: Irish East Coast Bird Report. INJ: Irish Naturalists’ Journal. IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature. IRBC: Irish Rare Birds Committee. NP: Nature Park. WP: Western Palearctic.

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