Brambling

Grab a coffee,

St Flannans collage,  pull up in carpark, 

Look into the leaf litter under the Beech trees,

 Find Brambling

Tidy.

Our Ladys Black Redstart

I try to visit the site around Our Ladys Hospital building when I am in Ennis, in hope of seeing the Black Redstart that is often seen in the area over winter but it has evaded me every time.
Today ,just as I got out of the car, a small elusive black bird hopped across the path, way down in the corner under the large trees . I took cover and waited till the bird past my view in the bins . A flash of Orange and out of site.
I settled for a while in the corner by the fence and the typically elusive Black Redstart appeared in a thicket off the path for 20 seconds with a Blackcap

Ringed Brent Goose

A ringed Brent Goose was among a small flock grazing on the slipway at Ballyvaughan Harbour. 

I sent the sighting in to Graham McElwaine of The Irish Brent Goose and he was kind enough to send me back a little info :

1st ringed in Iceland on 16/05/2015, being observed each year in October returned to Ireland at Strangford lough and has been recorded in winter within Galway bay now over 4 times.

I fine looking bird too.

Early morning Gulls around Liscannor

The morning was still as I headed out early in search of a surf , but it wasnt very good, so I went over to my local birdwatching patch at Liscannor harbour to see if the Gulls were still around due to the pilot whale carcass further along the shore. They were , and showing very well I must say.
  5 Glaucous Gulls were in the area along with a stunning adult Iceland Gull Chilling on the harbour wall with many Great black backed and Herring Gulls.

Herring Gull

Iceland Gull

Herring, Iceland,  Great Black backed Gull

Pair of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls

Glaucous Gull

Adult Iceland Gull - liscannor harbour

It was a night of heavy hail and sleet that carried into early morning, by 11am it cleared an the sun came out.
Driving into the harbour I always check the Gulls along the wall. A nice looking  Iceland Gull was preening on the wall, Geoff Pearson turned up before it then flew down to the small gull roost behind the harbour allowing me some nice light for photos.

Dromore woods NP

I had a few hours to myself after the early school drop off on an amazing clear blue sky morning. at 8am a White tailed Eagle was reported at Ruan, so it was an easy decision to where I was going.
9;10 and I was at Dromore NP.The water levels were high and into the woods making viewing spots to the lake unpassable.
A Treecreeper showed well for me as did a Goldcrest, but the morning was made when a pair of Buzzards produced a courtship display over walk bridge spoilt by the usual Crow which disturbed a Kestrel pair that were also courting at the lake.

Later on to find out that the Eagle was a fly over report,,but the morning was not lost.

Glaucous Gull and Leatherback Turtle

Glaucous Gull and Leatherback Turtle an interesting combination.
At Liscannor coast a washed up Leatherback Turtle is an unusual find on the shoreline plus a Pilot Whale 200m further along , both dead creatures have been in the area over a week and have been lifted to the high tide line by the  recent full moon tides and are attracting the large Gulls.