@NPWSIreland Conservation Ranger. SouthWest Ireland RG bird ringer, moth-er, general naturalist ecologist. Ex-Warden of Cape Clear Bird Observatory 2016/17.
Joined November 2013
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1,177 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
Jan 24
I am no longer posting on X, but will be continuing on Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/sambayley.b… and Instagram: instagram.com/bayley1576?igs… or Facebook: facebook.com/share/1CGeotRag…
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Jan 18
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
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Jan 14
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
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Jan 10
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!
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31 Dec 2025
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
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28 Dec 2025
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
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27 Dec 2025
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
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24 Dec 2025
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
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22 Dec 2025
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
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16 Dec 2025
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
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12 Dec 2025
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
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5 Dec 2025
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
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2 Dec 2025
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
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Sam Bayley retweeted
1 Dec 2025
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25 Nov 2025
Smaller session at Clogheen Marsh today with 98 birds of 15 species. Highlights, lots of Chiffchaffs around again, caught 15 and saw at least 3 Siberians, 4 Blackcaps, 6 Redpolls and of the 19 new Chaffinch 9 were large Scandinavian birds @NPWSIreland @_BTO @BirdWatchIE
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17 Nov 2025
Amazing session at Clogheen Marsh today. 142 birds of 19 species. Huge Chiffchaff fall with 39 ringed inc 3 Siberian. Highlights were 2 Redwing, Scandinavian Blackbird, 2 Yellow-b Warbler, 4 Firecrest, Treecreeper (rare here) and a cracking Greenland Common Redpoll @NPWSIreland
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21 Oct 2025
Nice session showing some farmers on on the edge of Lough Ree in Roscommon the benefits of monitoring nocturnal activity on farmland. A very unforecast still night but managed to catch 2 out of 30 Golden Plover and a Skylark @NPWSIreland @_BTO @BreedingWaders @BirdWatchIE
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18 Oct 2025
Absolutely amazing day at Kildare Biodiversity Conference organised by @KildareCoCo and Kildare Wildlife Rescue. Great to share info on @NPWSIreland @_BTO Cuckoo Project. Amazing series of talks especially Ruby-Jo Cowdell of There is No Planet B Club! A rising star!
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17 Oct 2025
Quality over quantity at Clogheen yesterday morning with just 63 birds of 19 species.
Highlights were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff (one being a @_BTO control) and a Moorhen @NPWSIreland @BirdWatchIE
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12 Oct 2025
Clogheen Marsh wader catching last night with 18 birds of 8 species. Highlights 3 adult Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Redshank inc 2024 retrap, a retrap LE Owl that was first caught here on 18 Feb 2023 and our 2nd Curlew Sandpiper for autumn @NPWSIreland @_BTO @BirdWatchIE
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