January 31, 2019

A Bird around the Corofin Loughs

I was on childminding duty, a morning with the sun out seemed like a good time for a round up of birds around the loughs of Corofin, so two small children accompanied me for the drive.
The Loughs were low in wildfowl, with small groups of Wigeon and Teal in corners of Lough Atedaun. 
Tufted Ducks, Little Grebes and 4 Gadwall were up the top of Lough Inchiquin
Lough Cullen only had a Great crested Grebe on it ,the Whoopers were in the usual field up the road.
A Hen Harrier was approaching Toulles Lough but was strictly seen off by Crows'
A lone Drake Goldeneye was the only bird on Lough Bunny.
32 Greenland white fronted Geese were in there winter field near Tubber









January 26, 2019

Glaucous Gull feeding upon kelp fly

By the end of January there is often white winged gulls to be seen along the coasts,
This 2nd CY Glaucous Gull was among the Black headed Gulls that feed here at Clahane on Kelp fly that are in the wash
I normally find these Gulls around dead washed up animals ,so it was nice to observe the fly picking.




January 1, 2019

Crested Tit - 1st bird of the year

I was doing my morning washing up at my holiday apartment as I looked out the glass doors a small silhouette landed on a plant outside. I knew what it was as I been looking for 1 for 2 weeks and havnt seen 1 in 25 years
Straight away I had to find my camera and rushed outside to find the Crested Tit up a palm tree then it went up high into pines for binocular views.
1st bird of the year!!  Happy New Year.




Quinto do Lago , Algarve

On arriving at 8am at the carpark on Ayrton Senna avenue , we were straight into a fishing Osprey and a Kingfisher at the main lake.
Along the track round the Quinto do Lago lakes we saw Spoonbills, Cormorants, Egrets, Redshank, Bluethroat and Black Redstarts
 Caspain Terns were in the air over the open waters
At the Soa Lourenco bird hide we saw Little Bittern, Purple Swamphen, Glossy Ibis, Pintail , Gadwall, and a few Tufted Duck
Azure winged Magpies House Sparrows and Hoopoes were abundant.