Arctic Skua x Four

After watching the Skua`s in action yesterday and gaining a little knowledge of their hunting stragety, with patience i fancied my chances at better photo`s..If they were they were there?
Four Arctic Skua`s were buzzing the bay chasing Sandwich and Arctic Terns for 3 hours.
Also an Otter and Common Seal were a good sight and i managed a few photo`s of the pale phase
Arctic Skua.

Arctic Skua chase - Lahinch Bay

Two Arctic Skua were stalking Sandwich terns around Lahinch bay.

The birds sat out in the bay approached low toward the Terns that were fishing shallower water the returned to sit in the bay, again and again they used this tactic.

Both Dark and Light phases were present but i only got to photo the dark phase

Summer Dunlin

A single summer plumage Dunlin  was with a small flock of Ringed Plover among stones on the north side of Lahinch , this Dunlin appears to be of the Schinzii variation, hense the dull red brown back and non pure black belly.

Long tailed tits at Inchiquin

A small team of Long tailed tits flutter trough the shrubs and a few Blackcaps are singing in the tops around Inchiquin bridge

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatchers have returned to Inchiquin bridge. A woodland river with plenty of flies is always a good place to look for these summer visitors.

Velella jellyfish

Something different on Lahinch beach today.
Velella is a genus of free-floating Hydrozoans that lives on the surface of the open ocean, worldwide, and is commonly known by the names by-the-wind sailor, purple sail, little sail, or simply Velella. The most common, and perhaps the only species encountered is Velella velella.
These small cnidarians are part of a specialised ocean surface community that includes the cnidarian siphonophore Portuguese Man o' War and some specialised molluscan nudibranchs (sea slugs), including Glaucus and the purple snails Janthina, that prey on them. Each Velella is a hydroid colony, and most are less than about 7 cm long. They are usually deep blue in colour, but their most obvious feature is a small stiff sail that catches the wind and propels them over the surface of the sea. Under certain wind conditions, they can become stranded on beaches in the thousands.

Ennistymon cascades

Meadow Pipit collecting grubs

 

This Meadow Pipit  was collecting grubs for its young in a near by nest, the bird would not return to the nest while i was in the area, so best left alone

Chaffinch

A male Chaffinch has become very tame around our house, even coming into the kitchen. The children love this bird ,i suppose because they are an attractive species.
Being a common bird they are often overlooked , but on its day the Chaffinch is striking in colour

Glaucous gull

I went down to seafield to see if i could find the 2nd summer Glaucous gull, very easy ,right out in front of the carpark. A little later a Hobby chased Sand martins up into the sky lasted for 2 minutes and vanished

Whimbrel

Whimbrel numbers have increased with small parties of these migrants on most reefs and coves along the west coast , good birds to view in the evening; prepairing to move onwards at night?

Lahinch Surfing Otter

This Otter has been seen regularly on early mornings fishing along the reefs at Lahinch. A busy Otter that has been eating all morning. I waited at the shoreline for her to come to shore ,patience , stealth and opportunity allowed me a few shots , still the Otter always knew i was at distance and stayed aware. I enjoy that the animals awareness is one step ahead of my own. Go the Otter!

A Burren spring

Spring is underway! and in remote areas of loughs and scrub of the Burren , Cormorants are ready for the arrival of young , Burren flowers are colourful , Cuckoos are busy harrasing each other on there arrival, calling and moving between the tops of bushes and trees, Warblers , such as the Whitehroat have arrived also with their song