Sam Bayley

@NPWSIreland Conservation Ranger. SouthWest Ireland RG bird ringer, moth-er, general naturalist + ecologist. Ex-Warden of Cape Clear Bird Observatory 2016/17.

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

I am no longer posting on X, but will be continuing on Bluesky: https://t.co/YjEY2X2Qbq and Instagram: https://t.co/LxerwXXEKv or Facebook: https://t.co/VN8p1WgfK2

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

@Lufbrabird87910 @bomah @NPWSIreland @_BTO @BirdWatchIE No colour rings suitable at the time

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

As part of regular monitoring of birds at The Lough in Cork City, @bomah 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. Look forward to learning where it goes! @NPWSIreland @_BTO @BirdWatchIE

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

@JeremyG48563901 @bomah @NPWSIreland @_BTO @BirdWatchIE Was quite a surprise!

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

@bomah @RichardTMills BWW at Whites Marsh today so likely the same

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

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 @_BTO @BirdWatchIE @NPWSIreland

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

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!

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

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 @_BTO @BirdWatchIE

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

@mattthesparrow @robmhowe65 @NWDLT @WiltsBirdClub Cracking! Nice full adult too, so hopefully a few years ago

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

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! @_BTO @NPWSIreland @BirdWatchIE

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

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 @_BTO @BirdWatchIE

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

@BirdingGardener You will have to catch one of those one day! Merry Christmas mate

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

A gusty session at Clogheen Marsh with 47 just 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 @_BTO

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

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 @_BTO @BirdWatchIE

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

@BirdGuides Had the same with one in Ireland of a Kittiwake ringed on 21st June as a breeding adult on Skelligs, Kerry this year and shot for food 5km south of Nuuk on 20th Sept.

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

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 @_BTO @BirdWatchIE

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

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 @NPWSIreland @Jamesoneillii

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

@Crane_Spotter @NPWSIreland @_BTO @BirdWatchIE We get about 50/50 Scandi/icelandic down here, whilst mainly Icelandic further north.

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

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 @_BTO @BirdWatchIE

[Sam Bayley @SamBayley2]

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! @_BTO @BirdWatchIE @NPWSIreland