Birds from the wind. Clahane

 The strong westerlies persist bring birds in off the ocean to find shelter and food along the shoreline.

The juvenile Sabines Gull has been feeding up here for over a week with the Black headed Gulls .

A Grey Phalarope came in doing laps of the bay before heading to the reef for shelter from the heavy rain.

Wilsons Phalarope and AGP at Doonbeg

 I had an hour or two left on a morning off , birding had been good coming down the coast, I made a decision  to go to Doonbeg to catch up with the American Golden Plover for the year that had been loitering all week.

Murf and Sean were at the roadside  , I got to see the AGP and had a quick chat with the lads before heading back up along the coast quite content with the mornings birding..

 Its that phone call  , turn the car around.. a Wilsons Phalarope has just been found on the beach at Doonbeg, I was only a few miles away so headed back where the Wilsons Phalarope (my 1st for Clare ) was on the shoreline with 4 Ruff and a Grey Phalarope..

Shorebirds with Grey Phalaropes at Seafield

 I was back down to Seafield during the morning to see the Curlew Sandpiper flock which is now in the 100s.A Little Stint was still available , The shorebird numbers has risen also with more Sanderling, Dunlin showing. A few Black tailed and Bar tailed Godwit were coming in off the sea as were 5 Grey Phalarope that joined in on the high tide feeding showing well.

Glossy Ibis at Lahinch Marsh

 With the influx of Glossy Ibis throughout the counties and plenty being seen on the loughs.

I fancied my chances of finding one locally at Lahinch marsh and after a while two birds were showing next to a flock of Mallard but they didnt take long to walk into the Tussock grass and disappear.

Seafield. The start of a new season

 Summers over and the shoreline belongs to the birds.

Dunlin

Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint

Sandwich Tern

Curlew Sandpiper

The flock of Curlew Sandpipers at Seafield

The arrival of a flock of Curlew Sandpipers that increased during the day to around 80 birds was not to be missed and was a delight to see at high tide in good light during the late afternoon. 

I`ve never seen such a flock and for once Seafield was peaceful and I was able to enjoy a great bit of birdwatching with my kids 

 

Black Tern -Seafield

 Just sitting on the grass bank watching through the wader flock when a few birds go up and in the confusion this unexpected Black Tern started doing a few swoops over the seaweed a few times and headed south

Arctic Terns and Grey Phalarope Liscannor Pier

 I was on the pier at Liscannor watching the birds acrosss the bay.

I was enjoying the Arctic and Sandwich Terns that were passing by into the wind and was hoping for a Skua , instead I picked up a Grey Phalarope which was`nt easy to see down light,. it was picking away in the rip current behind the pier.

Sabines Gulls on the coast

 Storm Erin wipped up some windy weather and high seas.

Sabines Gulls were reported in their hundreds off the headlands of  Loop Head.

Then a few started to show up from Clahane , Liscannor,.Quilty, and Carrigaholt 

A immature bird was approachable on the Clahane road where it spent the whole day picking for food..

I got to see a few myself within the mixed Gull flock at Quilty ,Saturday produced 3 Juveniles while Sunday saw a stunning adult Sabines dip feeding along the shore and close to the slipway.

Black Tern & Osprey at Lough Atedaun

A warm day at  Lough Atedaun.

As I turned up within seconds the birds were up , 200 Mallard a few Little Egret.  Waders of different sizes, Gulls all in the air, then it calms.

3:20 pm an Osprey began hovering over the east side taking one dive which seemed successful , up over the trees and gone.

The Black headed Gulls syarted to arrive back as did the Black Tern which continued to be here for the 3rd day.