Delighted to come across this amazing Orange Peel Fungus this afternoon close to the observatory, the latest new addition to the list of wildlife of Cape Clear.

The cold front brought us a rare visitor to Cape this morning, located by local resident birder Mary Cadogan, a fine male Gadwall at the lake. Photo JH.

A late in the year Lesser Whitethroat was ringed this afternoon. Field sightings today included 8 Sooty Shearwaters, Arctic Skua, Black Redstart and Short eared Owl.

A Merlin was amongst the ringing this morning, the first ringed here in over 20yrs. We have recorded up 3 individuals about the island almost daily for several weeks now, looks like a good year for them.

October thus far, records include Black browed Albatross, Hobby, Jack Snipe, Grey Phalarope, Sabines Gull, Pomarine Skua, Wryneck, Tawny Pipit, Common Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Yellow browed, Pallas's, & Radde's warbler, Crossbill, Rosefinch, Ortolan & Rustic Bunting. Photo today's Pallas's.

Fewer migrants today against yesterday, no sign of the Rustic Bunting. This morning a Common Rosefinch was ringed at Michael Vincent's garden, in the afternoon a Wryneck was found and photographed by David O' Connor at central bog. Also today, Merlin, Garden Warbler and Common Crossbill.

Todays highlights; Merlin, Hen Harrier, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, a late moving Sand Martin. Also a flurry Swallows (24) & a flock of 9 Common Buzzards. A Coal Tit, Irish ssp hibernicus, was an addiction to this year's species ringed (see photo).

Yesterday morning's Marsh Warbler was relocated singing in Cotter's garden during the afternoon. Apparently this is the first one ever ringed in Ireland.

Highlights of a PM pelagic trip for our residential bird course attendees were Sooty Shearwater, 10 Storm Petrels, Pomarine Skua, 2 Bonxie, Arctic Tern & Grey Phalarope but the show stoppers were 2 Humpback Whale with a supporting cast of 2 Minke Whale & 100+ Common Dolphin. Photos Humpback Whale.

Visiting Copeland bird observatory warden Adam Ringland was delighted to ring one of two adult Choughs that surprisingly ventured into our mist nets this morning.

A Common Crane briefly visited the east end of the island & the search to find it produced a rarity for Ireland; a Honey Buzzard in off the sea headed along the east coast. Few grounded migrants today but still a couple of Spotted and a single Pied Flycatcher at Cotter's garden. Photo today's HB

2 Sabine's Gulls offshore were the pick of the bird records today. The moth trap held the first Pink-barred Sallow of the autumn.

The calm after storm brought an influx of passerine migrants today, particularly Robins and Willow Warblers, 35 House Martins at the lake, Common Sandpiper and 7 Grey Wagtails 4 of which were ringed including the juvenile shown here.

Irish biology students staying at the observatory this weekend were keen to take part in a sea-watch this afternoon. Over 4 hours some 12,000 Manx Shearwaters, 1200 Cory's, 80 Great, 2 Sooty Shearwaters and 1 Pomarine Skua were recorded.

Flycatchers again featured in the ringing, today 3 Pied & 1 Spotted, also a locally rare & very recently fledged Bullfinch (see image) suggesting evidence of this species breeding on Cape for the first time in many years. Balearic Shearwater & Common Scoter were recorded during an early seawatch.

Today's highlights were 2 Tree Pipits, 5 Pied Flycatchers, 4 Spotted Flycatchers and a Greenshank amongst an influx of more common migrant birds across the island. Images, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers amongst the ringing this morning.

Our first autumn movement of Swallows and a few Sand Martin's through the island today with gathered flocks reported from several locations, some 220 on power lines at the lake this evening.

This morning our first pelagic out of Cape this year, wind SSW, a little choppy & sporadic mist but fabulous views of all our target species. Totals; Sooty Shearwater 4, Corys 7, Great 6, Storm Petrel 80+, Wilson's Petrel 12, Arctic Tern 3.

Petrel ringing into the early hours, always a wonderful experience. Photo (JH).

Our third 'Wildlife Course ' of the year this weekend included moth trapping, guided walks, presentations & Storm Petrel ringing. Amongst a wide variety of species we recorded was this 3ft long European Eel present in North Harbour on Friday afternoon; video by course participant Alicia Bertrand.

A bumper day for butterflies, good numbers of Wall Brown, Dark Green Fritillary & Painted Lady. A Lesser Clouded Knot horn was the pick of the moth trap. Today's highlight was a 3ft long European Eel in North Harbour, a rare treat to see this critically endangered species. Photo Painted Lady (JH).

Flying the flag for Bird Observatories this weekend at the Global bird Fair, promoting our research and facilities ( especially Cape Clear & Ireland!). Also giving a presentation on Sunday 1530hrs in the ' Curlew ' tent. Come and see us at the stand.

CES No.7 this morning & recently fledged Sedge Warblers dominating proceedings. The OBS moth trap contained a 1st for the island; Ochreous Pearl. Brown veined Wainscot & Blue bordered Carpet were new for year. As I packed up the ringing nets a Dark Green Fritillary showed unusually well, see photo.

A fair increase in Manx Shearwaters this morning in Roaring Water Bay with around 700 birds present along with a Minke Whale, and some 30 Common Dolphins including several calves. The OBS moth trap produced our first Garden Tiger moths of the year. Photo JH.

The Bird Observatory teamed up with NPWS staff today to carry out the Lesser black-backed Gull chick colour ringing program.

Several fields are laden with Orchids, Irish Marsh, Heath Spotted and Common Spotted, well over a thousand plants across the island.

Snipe was a nice addition this morning to the Constant Effort Site ( CES) monitoring the breeding birds of East Bog .

Spring roundup. Eastern subalpine Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Red-rumped Swallow, Corncrake, 15 Hoopoe, Hawfinch, 2 Wryneck, 2 Iceland Gull, Hobby, 7 Ring Ouzel, 8 Tree Pipit, 3 Pied Fly, 2 Turtle Dove, 14 Brambling, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Merlin. Total flora & fauna species this year 507 species.

Hundreds of Marsh Orchids springing up across the island.

Three sessions into our 2025 Constant Effort Site (CES) situated at East Bog, this data contributes to a Europe wide standardised research program monitoring the status of breeding birds. Today's highlight was a French ringed Sedge Warbler.

A bumper moth trap this morning held 967 moths (33 species). 687 were Cinnabar 92 Brown silverlines. New for year were Buff Arches, Brown Rustic, Large Groundling, & Blackberry skeletoniser. A Cyclamen Tortrix was the first record for Cape.

A big shout out to the corporate weekend volunteers who moved all the old beds out of the observatory and constructed all the new ones ( affording them somewhere to sleep!) See before and after images of one of the accommodation rooms. Also a rare Green Sea Urchin spotted during our beach clean.

A beautiful day on Saturday facilitated a gathering of islander's, birders from across the emerald Isle, colleagues, friends & family members all gathered at the observatory to remember CCBO Warden Steve Wing who sadly passed last autumn.

Catching up, yesterday our visiting birder's recorded a very late moving Fieldfare along with 3 Spotted Flycatchers, Merlin and a Green Hairstreak butterfly. This morning we had a locally rare spring record of Reed Warbler, ringed at Micheal Vincents garden, see photo.

A trip out to the Fastnet lighthouse yesterday evening, plenty of Manx Shearwaters, a single Puffin and very obligatory Minke Whale made for a marvellous evening. Today's highlights; a Garden Warbler this morning and a Blue-headed wagtail found by our incoming birders this afternoon.

A fab day for the residential birdwatching course as they came across a spring male Eastern Subalpine Warbler ( 1st record for Cape). No sign of the Red rumped Swallow today. Garden Warbler was amongst the birds ringed. Photo (JH) - Common Green Lizard on the stone wall near to the CDM.

Surprisingly the Red-rumped Swallow was present at the lake this morning along with a Yellow Wagtail and a Whimbrel. A busy overnight moth trap produced another first record for the island by way of a Feathered Cutter - Incurvaria masculella. Basking Shark was only seen today.

A Red-rumped Swallow (7th Cape record) amongst a flock of House Martins performed well at North harbour for a couple of hours after being found at 1515hrs. Black Redstart was spotted at the graveyard. Photo by Dich Coombes.

The overnight SE winds brought us a fresh wave of migrants, Garden Warbler & Spotted Flycatcher both showed well near to West bog for our residential birdwatching course group led by Dick Coombes. Around 30 House Martins at North harbour was a fine sight to end a super day. Pic Wall butterfly (JH).

Our brand new moth trap was deployed last night for the first time, a heavy mist dampened expectations this morning but as it turned out we recorded Cape Clear's 440th moth species, the new addition a Golden-rod Pug. (Image JH).

North winds = very few birds but plenty to be getting on with, the OBS is scheduled for a fairly major overhaul. We have started by removing the front benches, ( planks balanced on breeze blocks circa 2017) with some serious weeding, cleaning and new chunky benches.

Our visiting volunteer group were delighted to see 2 Basking Sharks from the ferry ahead of getting stuck into gardening and assembly of our new benches at the observatory. Today's sightings, a fair fall of Willow Warblers along with our first Swift and Common Sandpiper of the year.

Minke Whale, Basking Shark, Common Dolphin & Grey Seal today. One obs guest, a keen canadian birder was delighted to record his first Sedge Warbler. A scarce visitor until recent years, sightings suggest these Buzzards may nest. Orange-tip butterfly was new for year. Photo 2 Buzzards (JH).

A single Black Redstart today featured amongst a light fall of migrant birds, our 2nd Belgian ringed bird of the spring was a Chiffchaff. Painted Lady & Large White Butterfly were new for year. Headlining were least 3 Minke Whales performing in the mouth of North Harbour for about an hour. Pic (JH).

Visiting ringer Lorraine Benson caught our first Sedge Warbler of the year. Pretty quiet overall, a chance for me to explore new areas as I continue to get a feel for the island's birding hotspots (today cold spots). A handful of Cowslips have sprung up on the verge right in front of the obs.

Today's highlights; another Ring Ouzel, this one at The Bill headland, a pair of Shoveler (locally scarce) on the lake and 3 Puffins flying west passing The Bill. Female Shoveler image provided by OBS guest Dara Fitzpatrick.

Todays well attended Cape Clear Biodiversity conference was a great success well done all involved. I had the opportunity to represent Birdwatch Ireland & give a presentation about the work undertaken by bird observatories. Long eared Owl, Ring Ouzel & 4 Bramblings were the pick of the sightings.

After 20 consecutive days recording Hoopoe it appears the last one has now left us. Our busiest day total was 8 and we estimate that at least 15 different birds have made landfall here. A Ring Ouzel was spotted west of the lake this afternoon. Two smart male Reed Buntings were ringed at East Bog.

Still at least one Hoopoe, a trickle of migrants saw an increase in Willow Warblers. A Jackdaw was the pick of the birds ringed. Insects are beginning to show themselves in the warmer temperatures & sunshine, a ' leaf beetle' Chrysolina banksii (pictured here) is possibly the first record for Cape