February 16, 2024

Green winged Teal

 I havnt seen a Green winged Teal since 2010 at Bell Harbour.

Yet again Bell Harbour turns up another 14 years later, I dipped on  the bird last week and turned up again early morning at high tide yesterday to no birds in the estuary......i went wandering but returned as the tide was dropping to find hundreds of ducks had come in, and there over to the left was this busy fella.








February 15, 2024

Crossbills and Red Squirrells

 Up in Pine forest not far from Maurice Mills and a new place to walk the dog.

I was watching a Male Crossbill high in the tree tops when it dipped down I was trying to find the bird as I started to see Red Squirells feeding on the Pine cones, very hard to see , but once found easy to follow.





Tree Sparrows at the Horse fields

 Its always worth checking the grain spillage around the Horse fields near Seafield ,  plenty of Chaffinch, Linnet, Skylark and Reed Bunting can be seen but the gems are the Tree Sparrows that mix with the flock.







January 18, 2024

Winter birds - Top of Clare

 Starting at Blackhead with just some Great northern Diver and Black Guillemot, the next stop is into the shade of Gleninagh hills at Coolsiva Harbour where birds can be seen offshore with the scope, 8 Black throated Divet, plenty of Great nothern divers and around 80 Common Scotor.

Round to Ballyvaughn where pairs of Red breasted Merganzer, flocks of Wigeon and Brent Geese. 2 Long tailed Duck were being follow by a Herring Gull







January 11, 2024

1st Winter Swell of 2024

 The 1st Swell of 2024 was around 2M 14 secs and West,A four day swell with very light offshore winds, some mornings were icy ay -2'c .

Im proud to find my injury problems behind me and an opportunity to get some consistant, surfing done locally around home.



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January 10, 2024

The Ludo Jan 2024

 I love to come into the Ludo NP in the Ria Formosa , every time I come it shares a wildlife moment me.

A fantastic place to get close to water birds and miles of good walking in predominantly good weather.

Flamongos, |Spoonbill, Avocet, Black winged Stilt, Black tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Sanderling , Common Sandpiper and Caspain Terns.

 Raptors were here too with Osprey, Booted Eagles, Marsh Harriers and Peregrine all seen within the walk.

Pochard, Pintail, Shovelar and Gadwall made up the ducks and a I found a 1st winter Red-rumped Swallow that has overstayed hawking the pond with Crag Martins

Osprey



Spoonbill




1st winter Red-rumped Swallow
Crag Martin
Pochard

Peregrine  Falcon



Black Redstarts, Sardinian Warbler and Chiffchaffs- 3 little birds of Ilha de Faro

 Around the hotel and most of the beach front of Praia de Faro that shows shrubbery you could find one of 3 birds. Black Redstarts flit around rooftops and gardens, Chiffchaffs seemed to be everywhere in most available shrubbery and Sardinian Warblers that are real locals.

A male Black Redstart will always catch the eye, but as usual they are always at a safe distance and if not they will just  leave, come back later ,they like a favorite perch.