December 29, 2017

Forest Redpolls

Coming through the Pine forest near Willowbrook I edged up upon 5 Redpoll that were feeding on Grass seeds in the open dry areas.
Always a bird I see in barren places




December 28, 2017

Little Grebe


The Little Grebe is a common bird in County Clare, found on most Loughs and ponds, sometimes in their 100s.
This little fella was at the small pond near Drumcliffe cemetery,




December 22, 2017

Lahinch Misty morning

In the morning during  a surf check , we left Doolin to a clear sky , as we passed `over the hill` back to Lahinch the area was under a a thick moving mist.
The photo light was challenging in the white atmosphere


Lahinch bay
ennistymon mast


December 18, 2017

A weathered birdwatch through the lowlands

Pure miserable weather in the morning took us away from Drumcliffe ,where plenty of  Black tailed Godwits, Lapwing, Shoveler, Wigeon & Teal were in the flooded field...we headed for the Corofin loughs
The best of birdlife was the 120 Whooper Swans wintering in their usual  flooded fields near Lough Cullen, plenty of Fieldfare and Redwing like this area also. 16 Greylag Geese came down in the fields near Muchanagh
We also spent a short while in the horse field at Roo lough looking for the car keys 👀



 We got all the way to the Martello Tower on Auganish island North Clare, the weather cleared somewhat and a cold wind was now coming off the sea
 5 Male Long tailed Duck along with 4 Black throated Divers, 2Black Guillemots and Red breasted Merganzers were in the deep water off the causway.
A  hardy 50 strong Greenfinch flock were on the coast at the Tower.
12 Grey Plover, Oystercatchers and Dunlin were on the shores of the pool





December 9, 2017

Shaws Wood


A special little woodland in the heart of Gowerton, Swansea and just down the road from my fathers home
Great spotted Woodpecker , Nuthatch hang out high within the branches while Marsh/Willow Tit move with Great & Blue Tits through the shrubbery, the place is hopping with local wildlife.






Along the Salt marsh

Back in Wales visiting.
A morning drive along Wenffrdd salt marsh gave us Great white Egret. Green Sandpiper, Merlin, Little Egrets and plenty more.
The tide was a mega low and could not even be seen on this flat open Marsh land. Not the place for close photos, but the viewing is always really good.




November 29, 2017

Black throated Divers - Corsiva

I called in to Corsiva harbour on the north clare coast to catch up with the Surf Scoter thats been around all week, a bitterly cold North wind was up and no luck on the Scoter ,,but 3 Black throated Divers came in close to give a rare  photo










November 25, 2017

Back into the Forest for Hawfinch

I arrived at Curragh Chase forest park before light.
-1` it was a fresh walk in, the light breaking through the trees, the morning forest noises, a Buzzard,the occasional down pour 
8:30 am 9 Hawfinch arrived high in trees near the park, flighty, they`ll come and go all morning not settling, staying high in the branches ,warming in the sunlight
A few Brambling were among the Chaffinch flock around the bottom playground
The usual Jays were squarking in the leaf litter

Hawfinch



brambling

Jay



November 18, 2017

The Albino Curlew of Bishops quarter beach

I last photoed this bird in May 2015.
Its made the small inlet at Bishops quarter beach, Ballyvaughan its wintering home and can be regularly seen here feeding as the tide drops
A social outcast, I have noticed that other Curlews chase it 






Common Buzzard -Finvarra N Clare

Driving down the lane from Finvarra  a Buzzard swooped of  the post and hovered over a bank somewhat down light , it then moved onto a post within the old coast tracks.
A pale dull colored bird above but very nicely marked bird on the underwing and body
Buzzard are certainly turning up more often and I believe areas such as the Burren  these birds may become common place within the decade.