Finders-in-the-Field: Harlequin Ducks in Co.Donegal, an Irish first
Having been away for a few days coinciding with a Blackpoll Warbler and Grey-cheeked Thrush being found in Donegal, both county firsts, I was eager to get out into the field. With boats confirmed, I set my sights on Tory Island, where the Thrush, and a Red-backed Shrike seemed settled, and I hoped to give the island a thorough search myself.
Meeting Aaron Long and Ian Young on the pier, we set off on a fairly rough crossing. A spectacular Pomarine Skua with full spoons flew past the bow, along with an Arctic Skua, a few Sooty Shearwaters and a couple of blip views of petrels in the deep troughs.
On the island, things appeared very quiet, West Town didn't seem to have any migrants. Aaron and Ian had made their way east straight away, and they quickly saw the Thrush found by Anton Meenan 5 days earlier. I slowly meandered up, checking all the usual migrant spots along the way with scant reward. The Grey-cheeked showed well for me after a long wait, albeit briefly and the gathered birders slowly filtered off. My plan to walk the fields for pipits (and lancies ) was interrupted when Aaron rang to say that they had found a Red-eyed Vireo while looking for the Shrike, another county first! It transpired that he and Ian were sure they had 2 birds, but couldn't fully believe it themselves, but all birders on the island were soon enjoying wonderful views of one bird.
Elated, I slowly worked my way back to West Town with Paul Keating when a Red-eyed Vireo shot out past us, circled a ruined house and flew back into Anton's famous garden, so quickly Paul didn't even see it! We were soon joined by all other birders, and we presumed that this was the original bird relocating from just over a kilometre away. Things then went a bit surreal when we all repeatedly appeared to see 2 Vireos, darting in and out of cover being chased by a Robin. After one Vireo began to feed on the football pitch with pipits, even perching up on the goal posts, a second was eventually seen simultaneously in the garden. With time to spare before the boat departed, Anton offered me a lift back to check on the original bird, just out of curiosity, more than expectation. I could hardly believe it when a Vireo shot out onto the fence after some pishing. I was completely dumbstruck, 3 Red-eyed Vireos! What ever about missing one in the morning, I am sure these 3 birds were fresh in as we couldn't have missed all of them. From zero to 3 county records in little over an hour, all within a kilometre of each other was just crazy, and at this stage we thought that the day couldn't get any better!
The return ferry was quieter, with just a single Great Skua, a couple of Sooty Shearwaters and a large distant flock of Geese over the islands, likely to be the usual Barnacles. With Aaron and Ian walking just ahead of me on the pier, I was scanning the regular Eider in the harbour, always hoping for something scarce among them. Right at the base of the pier by the slipway, two small, dark ducks sleeping showed glowing white face patterns. I can't really repeat the expletives I shouted to Ian and Aaron, but my immediate thoughts were that they were Harlequin Ducks, a long overdue first for Ireland! The birds bobbed and spun in the water, barely 10 metres in front of us, but resolutely refused to raise their heads. The giddy excitement from the Vireos was still strong, and while we waited in the rain for them to raise their heads, I tried to calm down and rule out more likely options. We spoke about them being maybe Velvet types, joking they must be American White-winged brought in on the same winds as the Vireos. But the head shape just wasn't right, and what we could see of the face pattern seemed off.
It felt like an eternity for them to raise their heads, as they ignored people walking the pier and footpath beside them. A group of Eider approached and we readied our selves for them to rouse, but the Eider came and went with out a reaction. But, it did emphasise the small size of these birds. After what felt like an eternity, the birds suddenly woke up, camera shutters rattled and Aaron shouted 'They are f****n Harlequins!'.
We immediately released news, but with less than an hour of light left we knew that the chances were that no one would make it in time. The birds look settled, calmly diving, preening and dosing within feet of the shore and we enjoyed spectacular views of what was a lifer for all of us. But, after only 15 minutes from first finding them, they suddenly flew strongly out of the harbour and were lost behind the pier. We spread out along the coast but failed to find them before dark. Fortunately for a small group of twitchers, both birds returned to the harbour at first light the following morning.
A big thank you to Anton again for a mega thrush, and for his hospitality in his garden as always. And a big thanks to Aaron and Ian, and the birders on Tory for a truly unforgettable day!
Robert Vaughan
10 Oct 2025
robertvaughanillustrations.com
bsky.app/profile/robertvaughani.bsky.social
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