On the shore of Clahane

A few Purple sandpipers gather on the incoming tide. Pied wagtails pick of flys around a rotting Dolphin

Redpoll

All redpolls are northern breeding woodland species, associated with birch trees. They are small birds, brown or grey-brown above and with a red forehead patch. The adult male's breast is washed in red, but in females and young birds the buff breast and white belly are streaked with brown. The bill is small and yellow.

Spot the difference

Iceland gull on the left, Kumliens gull on the right... spot the differences..Kumliens gull a touch larger with pinker plumage.Bill a bit bulkier with dark blotch on the tip. Icelands bill tends to blend in from dark tip..(i believe this is correct)

3 top Gulls of Nimmos pier

Kumliens Gull

Iceland Gull

Ring billed Gull

Long distance travellers,these gulls have come to Ireland with the NW gales that have blown across the North Atlantic. Kumliens gulls are believed to be hybrid gulls between Iceland and Thayers Gulls from Canadian regions. Nimmos pier offers food and shelter for opportunistic gulls.

Grey Heron

A patient Grey Heron perched on a rock at Nimmo pier,Galway..approachable city bird

Eider on the Flaggyshore

A juvenile Eider chills in the low tide shallows of Flaggyshore, the Martello tower and the hills of the burren produce a nice backdrop. A nice afternoon birding a part of Galway bay,

Face to face with an Otter

This Otter came up to me on the shoreline of lough Inchiquin while i was watching it hunting Eels." Stay still", im having lunch with an Otter..Fantastic

Dungarvan Bay

Spoonbill

Chough

Brent geese

Black Redstart

Some good birding is to be had around 4 km-wide Dungarvan Bay, with Spoonbill ,Little Egret at the rivermouths,and thousands of Brent geese on the grass pastures,Choughs and Black redstart patrol the hightide shorelline.Its a busy day

Bluethroat -Clonea strand

The plump wintering Bluethroat  is still hopping around the shoreline near Clonea strand,Waterford enjoying being photod by every twitcher thats come to see it, Is this bird becoming a star?

Tundra Bean Goose

A Tundra Bean Goose and 3 Pink footed geese munching grass in the fields near Sandfield marsh, Liscannor,
The first Tundra Bean Goose in Clare in 100years.