September 30, 2013

Loop Head, Spot Flys and Deja vu






Sunday I made the 1 hour drive back down to Loop Head in hope of  finding some birds with the steady Easterly winds blowing. In the Willows opposite Gibsons The 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were calling and 1 made a brief show but they stayed hidden ...Deja vu ...it was the same as situation as on friday, same Willows ,same time of day,same birds. A Spotted Flycatcher was in the trees opposite.
At the Lighthouse hundreds of Meadow pipits ,lots of Wheatear,Reed Buntings and a Spotted Flycatcher.
The last of the flowering  Sea Aster gave a sense of Autumn.

September 21, 2013

AGP at Kilkee





This American Golden Plover has been hanging out on the shoreline at the SWcorner of Kilkee beach for over a week feeding around the rocks and seaweed with Sanderlings,Dunlin and Oystercatchers. Glad it stayed about for me to catch up with it.

September 17, 2013

Arctic Skuas off Lurga Point

Stormy conditions at Seafield , wind, rain , kelp and a Kite boarder made watching the waders on the beach difficult.
Of Lurga Point  4 Arctic Skuas and a Pomarine were harassing the Terns that were fishing the waters between Mutton Island. They really put on a show.
I managed a few distant shots of the action.





September 14, 2013

Dunlin / back to basics

Tamping all day with the lack of quality photos lately I went back down to Liscannor at lowtide with some tidy afternoon light and 3 obliging Dunlin for subject.
When in doubt go back to basics..






Clahane to the bridge

A morning scratching for photos. For weeks it seems  I have not been able get any decent bird photos, this morning was no different.
I started  my morning at Clahane where a few Whimbrel were on the high tide and an unexpected Little Egret was on the reef with the gulls. A couple of juvenile Shelduck were on the south end also with Gulls and Oystercatchers.
On my way back a small flock of Golden Plover/Lapwings circled and landed at the Rivermouth at lahinch bridge also on the far bank were 2 Curlew Sandpiper





September 9, 2013

Curlew


Plenty of Curlews in and around the coastline of County Clare