IRBC - Irish Rare Bird Report 2020
Introduction
In what was an exceptional year for vagrants two new species were added to the Irish list in 2020 with a Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris (Waterford) in June followed by a Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrine (Galway)
A further four species were recorded for just the second time. A Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus (Cork) in January was followed by a Brown Booby Sula leucogaster (Wicklow) in July with Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni (Clare) and Double-crested Cormorant Phalocrocorax auritus (Kerry) both recorded in November. Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus (Galway) and Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus (Cork) both occurred for the third time while a stellar supporting cast included the fourth Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Donegal), the fourth Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis (Galway), the fifth Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon (Cork) and Pacific Diver Gavia pacifica (Mayo) and the fifth and sixth records of Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola (Cork and Waterford). This report alsolists the second Irish record of Baikal Teal Sibirionetta formosa (Wexford) from 2013
Records of both Cabot’s (Cayenne) Tern Thalasseus acuflavidus eurygnathus (Wexford) and Trindade Petrel Pterodroma arminjoniana (Cork) reported in 2020 remain under review by the Committee.
The backbone of the IRBC’s system for recording occurrences of rare birds in the Republic of Ireland is the Provisional List, published online at , which is updated regularly. Most of the data in this report were taken directly from the 2020 Provisional List. The IRBC expresses its sincere gratitude to all those who provided information during 2020, either directly or indirectly. The Committee also extends its grateful thanks to Joe Hobbs for proof-reading this report and to Kieran Fahy for keeping track of the statistics. In addition, the Committee would like to thank Killian Mullarney for his input and assistance.
C.Flynn and A.O’Donaill (on behalf of the Irish Rare Birds Committee)
BirdWatch Ireland, Unit 20, Block D, Bullford Business Campus, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow.