Our Golden Plovers

Between Lahinch and the fields of Hags Head is an ideal place to see Golden Plover at this time of year.

Upto 400 birds can be seen roosting on the river banks near Lahinch bridge.

Other GPs join the Lapwing on the pitch and putt and the flooded field at Sandfield

Possibly best viewed at Clahane where a 100+ roost up on the reefs during the day.

During the evening they spread out in small feeding flocks in the fields close to Hags Head.

Secluded reef

Strong atlantic winter storm swells with irregular wind patterns and large tides produce breaking waves on secluded reefs

 ` if you know  where to look`.

All  surfers throughout the world have this local knowledge of their coastline.

Rich Brangwin

Ring billed Gull v Common Gull -Ennis

While doing the xmas shopping in Ennis I caught up with the 3cy Ring billed Gull at the post office field.

I thought I had two , but at a closer look the other is a 3cy Common Gull (in disguise).☯

Ring billed Gull

Ring billed Gull 

Common Gull

Ring billed Gull

Common Gull + Ring billed Gull 

The ambience that is a Mute Swan

Mute Swans for me have an ambience about them .
Small calls and snorts , Bright white , effortless behaviour , Grace and flying wing beats.

Red throated Diver - Lahinch beach

Taking a stroll along Lahinch prom with the baby in the push chair at high tide when we stopped to watch a Red throated Diver as it came in close to chase small bait fish.
A grey and white bird on a grey and white background with a grey and white sky was never a prospect of good photography , but a nice sighting to say the least.

Twites still at Clahane

The joys of Clahane, as you walk along the sea road Rock Pipits and Pied Wagtails feed on the road and wall to the West on the beach and reefs shorebirds such as Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Redshanks, Divers  and Gulls  - to the East stoney semi flooded fields contain Skylarks, Curlew, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Stonechat and if you are lucky a Twite or 4

Dunlin

A  Dunlin shifts through the seaweed on the high tide line at Clahane.

A reef at Peace

A reef at peace. Cold east winds and a step into winter . The people have gone.
A west swell enjoys making perfect shapes and throwing perfect tubes on an offfshore island.

Bonaparte`s Gull - Clonahinchy

I came across a Bonaparte`s Gull on the small patch of beach at Clonahinchy with a rising tide that was close to the stones , the bird was not easy to approach as is wary and flighty. Not long after clocking me it went up ,south toward Lough Donnell
When we observed this bird last back in October we decided it was in late moult and losing a lot of primary feathers,this bird today is missing P 3&4 and still has a bit of moult on the nape and forehead suggesting it is the same bird that has been seen since september.

Little Egret

A Little Egret just off the road side on Tawin .

Lots of these beautiful birds in this area of Galway bay

Slavonian Grebe - Ardfry

I had planned all week to go around Galway bay and do a bit of birding. I was only saying to a fellow birder that this week could be good to checking Tawin for a returning Pacific Diver. Sure enough it showed up and was seen yesterday .

I caught up with the Diver at long range , I walked and followed but the bird was always way ahead of me, I gave up with an hour of light to spare.

I headed over to Ardfy to catch up on a Slavonian Grebe, i was losing light , the Grebe was across the water and also moving away but I was chuffed as Id never seen one before.👌✔

Twite at Clahane

I was walking along the sea road at Clahane on a crisp clear morning.

A colourful finch landed in the road and quickly flew over a garden wall." I swear that was a Twite"

I approached the wall looked over to see a Chaffinch.

I stuck around and sure enough a Twite landed on the sea wall and then headed into the rough ground along the roads and gardens, exactly the same spot where I saw one in 2009

Great White Egret

I was at Ballyalia lake near Ennis early to see if I could catch up with the Great white Egret that was seen yesterday. It  took me a while, checking the corners etc then I cast a scope out toward the island down lake that the Little Egrets roost on and this white head on long neck appeared in the reeds, found ya, now try to figure out how to go about getting a shot or 2.

Start of the winter birds

You can feel the cold coming , November showers mixed with chilly winds.
Winter visiting birds are now flooding in to the country as the north starts to enter winter.
Great Northern Divers are entering the bays and a few colour ringed  Purple Sandpipers start to turn up at Seafield.

Tawny Pipit - Loop Head

A beautiful morning at Loop Head lighthouse , I walked round the garden wall to find Tony Mee near the cliff edge looking into a scope , as I walked over to say Hello, his finger touched his lips and he pointed  >> 3 metres away a  very pale, large Pipit with long legs and tail  was standing on the grass .

For the next few hours we followed the bird, A very difficult bird to ID in the field, but we narrowed it down to be a Richardsons or Tawny Pipit.

The photos were  sent in, and Murf arrived and it was confirmed as a Tawny Pipit, a Clare 1st record