(3) Records Comittee Decisions
December 1999
Franklin's Gull: One adult summer at Nutt's Corner near the International Airport (Antrim) on 5th June 1998. The first NI record was seen briefly but well in flight, but unforunately did not stay.
American "smithsonianus" Herring Gull: a juv/first winter at Culmore Tip near Derry on 13th February 1999.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: a juv at Bann Estuary (Londonderry) on 19th September 1999. NB It was later seen with an adult, but this has still to be accepted.
Green-winged Teal: a drake at Ballycarry (Larne Lough) on 8th November 1998. It stayed to February 1999. Probably the same returned in the winter of 1999.
Green-winged Teal: a drake at Lough Beg (Londonderry) on 19th April 1999.
American Golden Plover: an adult moulting out of summer plumage at Broighter Road near Myroe (Lough Foyle) on 25th September 1999. The third NI record. Two have been in Londonderry.
Red-necked Phalarope: a female at Paddy's Dub, Lough Beg (Londonderry) on 25th May 1999.
Lesser Whitethroat: One at Church Bay, Rathlin Island (Antrim) on 24th August.
Balearic Shearwater: One off Copeland Bird Observatory (Down) on 5th September 1999.
Red-necked Grebe: One juv/first winter at Dargan Bay, Belfast Lough (Antrim) from 21st to 29th November 1999.
Spoonbill: One juv RSPB Reserve, Belfast Harbour Estate (Down) from 25th to 30th October 1998.
Spoonbill: One juv Larne Lough (Antrim) from 15th October to 23rd November. NB On video evidence two birds were involved in these records.
Shore Lark: One Tyrella Beach (Down) from 3rd January to 1st March 1998.
American Wigeon: drake at Quoile Pondage NNR (Down) on 18th and 19th April 1999.
Booted Eagle: The identity of the bird at Bangor (Down) on 9th April, and Rathlin Island (Antrim) from 22nd to 24th August 1999 has been accepted, and it has been agreed that it is best to treat all the sightings in Ireland as involving one bird.
Spotted Crake Adult at RSPB Reserve in Belfast Harbour Estate (Down) on 16th and 17th August 1998 (A.McGeehan).
Balearic Shearwater Four at St John's Point (Down) on 6th September 1998, and one there on 9th September 1998 (A.McGeehan, E.Randall).
Blue Fulmar Singles at St John's Point (Down) on 31st August and 6th September 1998. One at Ramore Head (Antrim) on 13th September 1998 (A.McGeehan).
Temminck's Stint Adult at Sydenham Conservation Area in Belfast Harbour Estate (Down) on 8th and 9th July 1998 (E.Randall, A.McGeehan).
Semipalmated Sandpiper Adult at RSPB Reserve in Belfast Harbour Estate (Down) from 13th to 18th August 1998 (A.McGeehan). The second NI record.
Pectoral Sandpiper Four juveniles at RSPB Reserve in Belfast Harbour Estate (Down) from 27th September to 11th October 1998 (A.McGeehan).
American Wigeon Male at Quoile Pondage NNR (Down) on 7th November 1998 (D.Hadrick, O.Hadrick).
Kumlien's Gull Adult or near adult at Hillsborough Lake (Down) on 31st January 1998 (M.Garner).
Black Brant Adult at Greyabbey Bay (Strangford Lough) on 21st October 1998 (M.Garner).
Ring-necked Duck Female at Darkley Lake and Gentle Owen's Lake (Armagh) from 8th February to 15th March (J.Devlin).
Long-tailed Skua Dark juvenile at St John's Point (Down) on 31st August 1998 (A.McGeehan).
Kumlien's Gull A 1W at North Foreshore Tip in Belfast (Antrim) from 31st January to 5th March 1998 (A.McGeehan).
Ashy-headed Wagtail Adult at RSPB Reserve in Belfast Harbour Estate (Down) on 10th and 11th May 1998 (A.McGeehan). Accepted as same ringed on CBO on 9th.
Lapland Bunting Male at Briggs Rocks, Belfast Lough (Down) on 18th October 1998 (E.Randall, T.Rolston).
Goshawk Male at Ardilea (Down) on 30th August 1998 (E.Randall, W.Veale, T.Rolston).
Goshawk Female at Craigantlet (Down) on 24th April 1996 (E.Randall et al).
Dark-bellied Brent One at Floodgated (Strangford Lough) on 22nd November 1998 (E.Randall). Probably same at Greyabbey on 26th November (M.Garner).
American Wigeon Male at Kinturk Flat, Lough Neagh (Tyrone) on 13th March 1999 (G.McRoberts, C.Coney).
White-rumped Sandpiper One at Lough Beg (Londonderry) on 1st June 1999 (G.McRoberts).
Buff-breasted Sandpiper One at Lough Beg (Londonderry) on 1st June 1999 (G.McRoberts).
White-winged Black Tern Juvenile at Lough Beg (Londonderry) on 26th September 1999 (G.McRoberts).