Many thanks to our photo contributors - Paul Archer, Eric Dempsey, Mary Duggan, Stephen Foster, Paul Kelly, Mike Meidlinger, Killian Mullarney, John Murphy, Tony Murray, Michael O'Clery, Michael O'Keeffe, Tom Shevlin, Dave Steele, Paul Walsh & Paul Woodlock.

(Above) Temminck's Stint, Paddy's Dub, Lough Beg, 23rd May 2004 (Photo: Dave Steele).

(Above) Greater Yellowlegs, Quoile Pondage, Co.Down, 24th May 2004 (Photo: Dave Steele).

(Above) Greater Yellowlegs, Quoile Pondage, Co.Down, 26th May 2004 (Photo: Tom Shevlin).

(Above) Greater Yellowlegs, Quoile Pondage, Co.Down, 26th May 2004 (Photo: Mike Meidlinger).

(Above) Greater Yellowlegs, Quoile Pondage, Co.Down, 26th May 2004 (Photo: Tom Shevlin).

(Above) Turtle Dove, Belfast Harbour Lagoon, Co.Down, 25th May 2004 (Photo: Mike Meidlinger).

(Above) Spoonbill and Black-tailed Godwit, Quoile Pondage, Co.Down, 26th May 2004 (Photo: Tom Shevlin).

(Above) Little Egret, Nanny River, Laytown, Co.Meath, 24th May 2004 (Photo: Paul Woodlock).

(Above) First-summer Glaucous Gull, Sandy Bay, Co.Kerry, 25th May 2004 (Photo: Michael O'Clery).

(Above) Dotterel, Trostan, Antrim Plateau, 17th May 2004 (Photo: Dave Steele).

(Above) Dotterel, Trostan, Antrim Plateau, 17th May 2004 (Photo: Dave Steele).

(Above) Snow Bunting, Great Saltee, Co.Wexford, 16th May 2004 (Photo: Eric Dempsey).

(Above) Wood Warbler, Brownstown Head, Co.Waterford, 8th May 2004 (Photo: Paul Walsh/Mary Duggan).

(Above) Nightingale, Great Saltee, Co.Wexford, 7th May 2004 (Photo: John Murphy).

(Above) Reed Warbler, Great Saltee, Co.Wexford, 7th May 2004 (Photo: John Murphy).

(Above) Semipalmated Sandpiper, Ballycotton, Co.Cork, 12th May 2004 (Photo: Michael O'Keeffe).

(Above) Immature Spoonbill, Clonakilty, Co.Cork, 11th May 2004 (Photo: Michael O'Keeffe).

(Above) Immature Spoonbill and Little Egret, Clonakilty, Co.Cork, 11th May 2004 (Photo: Michael O'Keeffe).

(Above) Nightingale, Great Saltee, Co.Wexford, 7th May 2004 (Photo: Tony Murray).

(Above) Nightingale, Great Saltee, Co.Wexford, 7th May 2004 (Photo: Tony Murray).

Click here for a 'popup' larger image of the above photo.

(Above) Second calendar-year male Marsh Harrier, Tacumshin, Co.Wexford, 6th May 2004 (Photo: Killian Mullarney).

The same individual is shown below.

Though superficially resembling a female/juvenile, the bird has acquired a single new tail feather, (only clearly seen from below and not visible in either of these shots) which looks paler (almost whitish), shorter (because it is still growing) and has a darker grey sub-terminal smudge, typical of second generation male tail feathers. From above the feather is not so obvious, just a shade greyer.

(Above) Second calendar-year male Marsh Harrier, Tacumshin, Co.Wexford, 6th May 2004 (Photo: Killian Mullarney).

(Above) Male Snow Bunting, Achill Island, Co.Mayo, 5th May 2004 (Photo: Stephen Foster).

One of a series of unusually late records on the west coast around this time.

(Above) Immature Spoonbill, Clonakilty, Co.Cork, 7th May 2004 (Photo: Michael O'Keeffe).

(Above) Immature Spoonbill, Clonakilty, Co.Cork, 7th May 2004 (Photo: Michael O'Keeffe).

(Above) Female Montagu's Harrier, Tacumshin, Co.Wexford, 3rd May 2004 (Photo: Paul Archer).

(Above) Female Montagu's Harrier, Tacumshin, Co.Wexford, 3rd May 2004 (Photo: Paul Archer).

(Above) Immature male Eider, Brandon, Co.Kerry, 5th May 2004 (Photo: Michael O'Clery).

(Above) Male Montagu's Harrier, Tacumshin, Co.Wexford, 3rd May 2004 (Photo: Paul Kelly - more photos of this bird at www.irishbirdimages.com).

(Above) Female Montagu's Harrier, Tacumshin, Co.Wexford, 3rd May 2004 (Photo: Paul Kelly - more photos of this bird at www.irishbirdimages.com).

(Above) Female Marsh Harrier, Tacumshin, Co.Wexford, 3rd May 2004 (Photo: Paul Kelly www.irishbirdimages.com).

(Above) Tawny Pipit, Ballycotton, Co.Cork, 1st May 2004 (Photo: Michael O'Keeffe).

(Above) Tawny Pipit, Ballycotton, Co.Cork, 1st May 2004 (Photo: Michael O'Keeffe).

(Above) Tawny Pipit, Ballycotton, Co.Cork, 1st May 2004 (Photo: Michael O'Keeffe).

Photo features:

November 2004
October 2004
September 2004

August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003

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Photo features:

November 2004
October 2004
September 2004

August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003

Compiled by the Birds of Ireland News Service,
46 Claremont Court,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 11,
Ireland.

Telephone:
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