Sam Bayley
@sambayley.bsky.social
NPWS Conservation Ranger Cork. SouthWest Ireland Ringing Group bird ringer, moth-er, general naturalist + ecologist. Irish Cuckoo Tagging Project. Ex-Warden of Cape Clear Bird Observatory 2016/17.
Amazing session at Clogheen Marsh today. 142 birds of 19 species. Huge Chiffchaff fall with 39 ringed inc 3 Siberian. Highlights were 2 Redwing, Scandinavian Blackbird, 2 Yellow-b Warbler, 4 Firecrest, Treecreeper (rare here) and a cracking Greenland Common Redpoll @npwsireland.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Amazing session at Clogheen Marsh today. 142 birds of 19 species. Huge Chiffchaff fall with 39 ringed inc 3 Siberian. Highlights were 2 Redwing, Scandinavian Blackbird, 2 Yellow-b Warbler, 4 Firecrest, Treecreeper (rare here) and a cracking Greenland Common Redpoll @npwsireland.bsky.social
Nice session showing some farmers on on the edge of Lough Ree in Roscommon the benefits of monitoring nocturnal activity on farmland. A very unforecast still night but managed 2 out of 30 Golden Plover and a Skylark @npwsireland.bsky.social @breedingwaderseip.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
October 21, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Nice session showing some farmers on on the edge of Lough Ree in Roscommon the benefits of monitoring nocturnal activity on farmland. A very unforecast still night but managed 2 out of 30 Golden Plover and a Skylark @npwsireland.bsky.social @breedingwaderseip.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
Absolutely amazing day at Kildare Biodiversity Conference organised by @kildarecoco.bsky.social and @kildare. Great to share info on @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social Cuckoo Project. Amazing series of talks especially Ruby-Jo Cowdell of There is No Planet B Club! A rising star!
October 18, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Absolutely amazing day at Kildare Biodiversity Conference organised by @kildarecoco.bsky.social and @kildare. Great to share info on @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social Cuckoo Project. Amazing series of talks especially Ruby-Jo Cowdell of There is No Planet B Club! A rising star!
Quality over quantity at Clogheen yesterday morning with just 63 birds of 19 species.
Highlights were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff (one being a @btobirds.bsky.social control) and a Moorhen @npwsireland.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social
Highlights were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff (one being a @btobirds.bsky.social control) and a Moorhen @npwsireland.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Quality over quantity at Clogheen yesterday morning with just 63 birds of 19 species.
Highlights were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff (one being a @btobirds.bsky.social control) and a Moorhen @npwsireland.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social
Highlights were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff (one being a @btobirds.bsky.social control) and a Moorhen @npwsireland.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social
Clogheen Marsh wader catching last night with 18 birds of 8 species. Highlights 3 adult Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Redshank inc 2024 retrap, a retrap LE Owl that was first caught here on 18 Feb 2023 and our 2nd Curlew Sandpiper for autumn @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
October 12, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Clogheen Marsh wader catching last night with 18 birds of 8 species. Highlights 3 adult Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Redshank inc 2024 retrap, a retrap LE Owl that was first caught here on 18 Feb 2023 and our 2nd Curlew Sandpiper for autumn @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
Fantastic recovery of one of this year’s Chough nestlings. Ringed at Ballybranigan, East Cork, ‘SIT’ was seen yesterday 72km east near Tramore in Waterford. The furthest east one of our birds have ventured, but also the biggest juvenile dispersal @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Fantastic recovery of one of this year’s Chough nestlings. Ringed at Ballybranigan, East Cork, ‘SIT’ was seen yesterday 72km east near Tramore in Waterford. The furthest east one of our birds have ventured, but also the biggest juvenile dispersal @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
Another good session today at Clogheen Marsh. 146 birds of 17 species in great conditions. Highlight was 2 Redpoll and a Siskin and Garden Warbler (both 2nd for the site). c30 Crossbill around and large numbers of Wigeon and Lapwing on flooded marsh @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
October 5, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Another good session today at Clogheen Marsh. 146 birds of 17 species in great conditions. Highlight was 2 Redpoll and a Siskin and Garden Warbler (both 2nd for the site). c30 Crossbill around and large numbers of Wigeon and Lapwing on flooded marsh @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
First Clogheen Marsh wader mist netting session of the autumn was not as successful as hoped with 2 Mallard, 3 Snipe, 4 Redshank and 2 Black-tailed Godwit, but all adds to the data! @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social 🪶
September 29, 2025 at 9:36 PM
First Clogheen Marsh wader mist netting session of the autumn was not as successful as hoped with 2 Mallard, 3 Snipe, 4 Redshank and 2 Black-tailed Godwit, but all adds to the data! @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social 🪶
Irish Cuckoo Update - Cores is still in eastern Chad, where he has been for over a month, Inchi is somewhere in Africa (won’t find out where until returns next spring) and Glen has been jumping around from Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and now Hungary @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Irish Cuckoo Update - Cores is still in eastern Chad, where he has been for over a month, Inchi is somewhere in Africa (won’t find out where until returns next spring) and Glen has been jumping around from Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and now Hungary @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
Clogheen Marsh autumn migration monitoring. 2000 Swallows came to roost last night, caught 196 plus a Sand Martin. Today, 179 birds caught of 27 species inc 28 Blackcap, 12 Chiff, 2 Reed + 2 Sedge also 6 Mallard, 50 Chaffinch, Grey Wag + Siskin @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
September 22, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Clogheen Marsh autumn migration monitoring. 2000 Swallows came to roost last night, caught 196 plus a Sand Martin. Today, 179 birds caught of 27 species inc 28 Blackcap, 12 Chiff, 2 Reed + 2 Sedge also 6 Mallard, 50 Chaffinch, Grey Wag + Siskin @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
First wader session of the season at Harbour View beach, Kilbrittain and caught 19 Dunlin, an adult Greenshank and a lovely Curlew Sandpiper. Also had a juvenile Manx Shearwater, seem to be lots turning up inland this year @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
September 13, 2025 at 10:01 AM
First wader session of the season at Harbour View beach, Kilbrittain and caught 19 Dunlin, an adult Greenshank and a lovely Curlew Sandpiper. Also had a juvenile Manx Shearwater, seem to be lots turning up inland this year @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
Last Clogheen CES visit yesterday produced a rather low 41 birds of 14 species. Highlights included 5 species of warbler, of the 9 Sedge Warbler, one was so heavily covered in fat for migration it was almost twice its normal weight at 18g! @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
August 25, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Last Clogheen CES visit yesterday produced a rather low 41 birds of 14 species. Highlights included 5 species of warbler, of the 9 Sedge Warbler, one was so heavily covered in fat for migration it was almost twice its normal weight at 18g! @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
Few gull sightings. 534:C and 02U:C were nestlings from West Cork in 2021 and 2024 respectively and in Faro and Cadiz. Whilst 2 rehabs from Wildlife Rescue Cork - 18U:C was in Portugal for winter and now in Limerick and 28H:C already in Kinsale from Cork City 3 weeks ago @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
August 6, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Few gull sightings. 534:C and 02U:C were nestlings from West Cork in 2021 and 2024 respectively and in Faro and Cadiz. Whilst 2 rehabs from Wildlife Rescue Cork - 18U:C was in Portugal for winter and now in Limerick and 28H:C already in Kinsale from Cork City 3 weeks ago @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
Irish Cuckoo Update - after spending a number of weeks on the French/Italian border Cores has now jumped the Mediterranean and Sahara and on the Sudan/Chad border. Living up to the tradition of migrating furthest east of @btobirds.bsky.social. @npwsireland.bsky.social 1/2 🪶
August 1, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Irish Cuckoo Update - after spending a number of weeks on the French/Italian border Cores has now jumped the Mediterranean and Sahara and on the Sudan/Chad border. Living up to the tradition of migrating furthest east of @btobirds.bsky.social. @npwsireland.bsky.social 1/2 🪶
Great opportunity to catch and ring a juvenile Little Grebe at Native Species weekend @fotawildlife.bsky.social and share its amazing features with visitors. A common species with almost nothing known about their movements or longevity in Ireland! @btobirds.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social
July 29, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Great opportunity to catch and ring a juvenile Little Grebe at Native Species weekend @fotawildlife.bsky.social and share its amazing features with visitors. A common species with almost nothing known about their movements or longevity in Ireland! @btobirds.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social
Another successful Storm Petrel catching session at Galley Head, Cork. 286 in total including 4 controls over 3 1/2 hours. Never tire of these wonderful little birds about the size of a Robin but live out on the open sea! @btobirds.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social
July 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Another successful Storm Petrel catching session at Galley Head, Cork. 286 in total including 4 controls over 3 1/2 hours. Never tire of these wonderful little birds about the size of a Robin but live out on the open sea! @btobirds.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social
First Swallow roost catch of the year at Clogheen Marsh last night. About 300 birds came into roost and we caught 114 inc a retrap adult from last year plus 2 Sand Martin. Surprised to get so many this early, but migration seems early @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 9:07 PM
First Swallow roost catch of the year at Clogheen Marsh last night. About 300 birds came into roost and we caught 114 inc a retrap adult from last year plus 2 Sand Martin. Surprised to get so many this early, but migration seems early @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
Great weekend at @ccbowarden.bsky.social for the Lavender Festival. Ringing Demo with a good mix of passerines, 163 Stormies caught at night inc 3 controls (1 we caught at Galley Head on Wednesday night) and 20 Rock Doves for RAS project inc 9 new! @btobirds.bsky.social @willjsmith.bsky.social
July 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Great weekend at @ccbowarden.bsky.social for the Lavender Festival. Ringing Demo with a good mix of passerines, 163 Stormies caught at night inc 3 controls (1 we caught at Galley Head on Wednesday night) and 20 Rock Doves for RAS project inc 9 new! @btobirds.bsky.social @willjsmith.bsky.social
A rather quiet Clogheen CES 8 with virtually no bird song. Felt rather like some adult birds have already left! Still managed to catch 49 birds. Highlights were two very contrasting male Swallow, 3 juvenile Bullfinch, a Mallard and a Water Rail @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
July 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
A rather quiet Clogheen CES 8 with virtually no bird song. Felt rather like some adult birds have already left! Still managed to catch 49 birds. Highlights were two very contrasting male Swallow, 3 juvenile Bullfinch, a Mallard and a Water Rail @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
Great clear full moon night at Galley Head catching Storm Petrels with a good team. 264 caught including 3 controls from elsewhere in 3 hours @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
July 9, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Great clear full moon night at Galley Head catching Storm Petrels with a good team. 264 caught including 3 controls from elsewhere in 3 hours @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
Rather quiet Killarney NP CES 7 yesterday with just 25 birds from 13 species. Although adult female and a very dark juv G-s Woodpecker and a juv Reed Bunting can’t be sniffed at. Also did the two Barn Owl nest sites with broods of 4 and 3 chicks @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
July 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Rather quiet Killarney NP CES 7 yesterday with just 25 birds from 13 species. Although adult female and a very dark juv G-s Woodpecker and a juv Reed Bunting can’t be sniffed at. Also did the two Barn Owl nest sites with broods of 4 and 3 chicks @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
Lesser Black-backed Gull project work today in Roaringwater Bay. 204 colour ringed from 3 islands including @ccbowarden.bsky.social and 14 Herring Gull. Seems to be a productive season here and a fabulous day to be island hopping! @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
July 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Lesser Black-backed Gull project work today in Roaringwater Bay. 204 colour ringed from 3 islands including @ccbowarden.bsky.social and 14 Herring Gull. Seems to be a productive season here and a fabulous day to be island hopping! @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
CES 7 at Clogheen Marsh was steady with 54 birds of 15 species. Highlight was the first bird of the morning - a retrap Long-eared Owl from last November. Over 2/3 of the rest was warblers including the first juvenile Sedge @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
July 1, 2025 at 9:02 PM
CES 7 at Clogheen Marsh was steady with 54 birds of 15 species. Highlight was the first bird of the morning - a retrap Long-eared Owl from last November. Over 2/3 of the rest was warblers including the first juvenile Sedge @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶
Wonderful day giving budding Canadian ringer Adam Ross a flavour of some Cork projects. Firstly, Rook ringing as part of a RAS, ringing 99 Common Tern chicks as part of @portofcork.bsky.social project and lastly a nest of 3 Buzzard chicks @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
June 27, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Wonderful day giving budding Canadian ringer Adam Ross a flavour of some Cork projects. Firstly, Rook ringing as part of a RAS, ringing 99 Common Tern chicks as part of @portofcork.bsky.social project and lastly a nest of 3 Buzzard chicks @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
Our last Peregrine nest site of the year, followed by our first few West Cork Barn Owl nest sites checked this week. Seems to be a decent year with a good number of healthy chicks, also a pair of Stock Dove chicks @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Our last Peregrine nest site of the year, followed by our first few West Cork Barn Owl nest sites checked this week. Seems to be a decent year with a good number of healthy chicks, also a pair of Stock Dove chicks @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social