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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

First @btobirds.bsky.social CES session at Clogheen Marsh produced 64 birds of 16 species. Lots of returning migrants including our long staying male Cetti’s Warbler - now a new longevity record for Ireland. Also caught a 2nd CY female that was obviously not the female he was paired with last year!🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Started the Raven ringing season with two nest sites yesterday. A nest of 5 chicks, one of the largest broods we have ever had, and the other a single chick. Each weighing just over 1 kilo, this is the largest passerine species in the world @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Irish Cuckoo Update - Cores is back! We lost contact after he crossed the Sahara in southern Chad in October. We assumed that was the last of him, but last weekend he transmitted from Ghana. Hopefully he will be on the move again soon and return to Ireland for his 4th summer of data collecting. 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Our last Clogheen Marsh wader mist netting session of the winter last night. A Short-eared Owl that was hunting the marsh put off a good few of the waders coming in. We still managed 12 birds, a Mallard, 4 Redshank, a Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Curlew. The Curlew were all 2nd year birds!🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

This weekend has the great opportunity to join in with an @npwsireland.bsky.social and @universityofgalway.bsky.social project looking at breeding locations of Greenland White-fronted Geese with the use of satellite trackers. Great team effort and look forward to for the results.

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Did a bird ringing demonstration to 50 @ucc.ie zoology students yesterday on the North Mall campus. Great discussions and a nice selection of birds @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

I caught this bird the day the day it arrived (17th) and it stayed until 25th. It was then seen on 28th 289km away in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. It would seem that the regular wintering bird at both locations is actually the same bird….🤯 🪶📷 Ronan Owens @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

1st AGM celebrating a year of South-West Ireland Ringing Group (SWIRG). Starting with catch of Teal and gardening session by a hardy team at Clogheen Marsh, before lunch and official business. Lots of developments and projects ahead. Watch this space! @btobirds.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

As part of regular monitoring at The Lough in Cork City, Barry O’Mahony and I ringed an adult Ring-billed Gull yesterday. Didn’t realise, but seems to be the first to be ringed in Britain or Ireland. Where will it go? @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Challenging night surveying farmland and marsh. Lots of birds present, but a complete lack of wind. Just three birds caught were 2 Snipe and a Golden Plover that gave a long run around @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Cracking couple of recovery details back recently. A Black-headed Gull seen at @fotawildlife on 22nd Dec was ringed as a nestling in Gotaland, Sweden in 2001 24yrs! A Barn Owl found dead at Roscarberry, Cork on 5th Jan was ringed as a nestling just outside Kildare last year! @btobirds.bsky.social

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

The last session of the year at Clogheen Marsh with 71 birds. Highlights being 2 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, 9 Chiffchaff including another Siberian, a Sparrowhawk, a 3 year old Goldcrest, a Mallard and a retrap Pintail from December last year @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

Visit to Killarney NP today and managed to find two metal ringed Black-headed Gull at Ross Castle. Both first seen here in 2022. A 2014 chick from Poland and a 2019 chick from Finland. Not a bad 30 minutes! @btobirds.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Dazzling season last night was quiet with just 2 Ringed Plover. Amazingly one of the birds had already been ringed as a chick in Wales in 2020 and I had caught this bird before in exactly the same spot in 2021! Hopefully now find where it breeds @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Gusty session at Clogheen Marsh with 47 birds of 15 species. Highlights included 3 Snipe, a Grey Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff inc a Siberian, a Scandi Blackbird and biggest surprise of a Barn Owl as well as seeing one of the ringed Firecrests from early Nov @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

First dazzling session in what seems like ages due to the bad weather. Managed 9 birds of 6 species across a few locations - a Dunlin, 2 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, a Snipe, a Dipper and a Stonechat @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Clogheen Marsh winter ringing session today ended with 106 birds of 16 species. Highlights were 5 Redwing, 2 Scandi Chaffinch, 11 Chiffchaff and a Water Rail. Amazingly though, one of the Redwing was already wearing an Icelandic ring! @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

A ‘Red’ week for me. Assisting with the start of two fantastic Irish research projects - one on Red-billed Chough and one on Red Grouse. Really looking forward to seeing how these develop over the next few years @ucc.ie @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Latest session at Clogheen Marsh was a small net set but still 67 birds of 13 species, with ridiculous number of Chiffchaff still present! 16 ringed inc a classic Siberian, also two Redwing (Scandi and Icelandic) and a retrap Firecrest from 17/11 @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Great recovery! Orphaned Herring Gull 24N:C from Cork City was taken in by Wildlife Rescue Cork and released on 20th August. On 27th Nov it was seen on San Lorenzo beach in Gijon, Spain. Just the 7th Irish Herring Gull to be seen in Spain! 🪶 @btobirds.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Smaller session at Clogheen Marsh today with 98 birds of 15 species. Highlights, lots of Chiffchaffs around again, caught 15 and saw at least 3 Siberians, 4 Blackcaps, 6 Redpolls and of the 19 new Chaffinch 9 were large Scandinavian birds @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

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 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

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!

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

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 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

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 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

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 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

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 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

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 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

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 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

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 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

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 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

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 🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

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

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

CES 6 at Clogheen Marsh was only just manageable between the various weather fronts, but a decent session with 61 birds of 15 species. Lots of fledglings including the first juvenile Reed Warbler @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Irish Cuckoo Update - Cores has now moved to near Limoges in central France, but the big news is that there are now two extra tagged Cuckoos out there both from Cork. These two are wearing a different device that send data via mobile phone network @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 1/3🪶

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Sam Bayley @sambayley.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

CES session 5 at Killarney NP was rather quiet, but a couple of notable individuals amongst the 22 birds. Our first ever juvenile Reed Bunting, seem to get flooded out most years and a retrap Reed Bunting originally ringed in 2022! @npwsireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶

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