December 29, 2021

Clahane reef birds and Sandfield Barnacle Goose

  

Outside the invasion of Gulls on the middle reef a few birds were to be found foraging on the south reef with 8 Purple Sandpiper , 2 Greenshank , 15 Oystercatcher and 6 Brent Geese

On the way back home a lone Barnacle Goose was in the field along the river creek at Sandfield


Purple Sandpipers


Golden Plover

Brent Goose

barnacle goose






December 26, 2021

An Xmas Swallow

 Strange but true, an off season Swallow was buzzing around the reef at Clahane  mainly along the cliff side sometimes rapidly circling the bay low and fast over the seaweed, late evening lack of light I stood no chance of much of a flight shot but great to see the day after xmas .







A busy month of Surfing

 Between a bit off work and parental duties ive been sneaking in regular to surf the the reefs of Lahinch during the recent swells.






November 18, 2021

Merlin at Clohnahinchy

 A very active Merlin was buzzing about Clohnahinchy beach area trying to catch anything small birds it could surprise, I watched the acrobatics as it chased all the small birds off the reef and field into the air.

 Now trying to photo this at low light is near impossible as the bird is just to quick at directional changes and you loose it, but its great fun






November 5, 2021

Eider on a Seaweed rock

 A beautifuI morning and I was right out on the sand on a very  low tide at Kilmacreedy end of Lahinch beach.

I could see the female Eider that has been around a few weeks, She was roosting on a rock of seaweed as the tide had retreated and somehow I was on the side of the light.

 I watched as she nibbled along the seaweed but didnt consume it, to me she was filtering organisms and small periwinkles that cling to the weed, maybe a midnight snack left for breakfast





November 3, 2021

The Twite time at Clahane

Around the first few weeks of November Twite have a habit of dropping into Clahane to feed on seed on the roadside and edges of the sea walls. Linnets also come here in good numbers to do the same thing, but rarely do the flocks mix, the Twite just seem a bit more wary and tend to feed off the road in among the grasses and stones 
Yesterday morning I seen a single Twite , today Clahane  produced 10 Twite that were feeding well along the roadside and boulder field but disappeared after a Kestrel came through .









October 31, 2021

Siberian Chiffchaff - Kilbaha

 Arrival in the morning at Kilbaha, driving through the village it was evident that that a few small birds were moving around the Pine at Sennis garden.

A few Goldcrest, Chaffinch,, Blackbird, Song Thrush were busy around the thicket as were 2 Chiffchaff, One of which was very dull grey/white in colour, but high up and all that could be seen was underbelly, a shower of rain caused the birds to go to cover, after a while this little fella gave himself up for a moment and identified as a Siberian Chiffchaff







October 30, 2021

Golden Plover -Loop Head

 Golden Plover at Loop Head.

GPs for short are a gregarious bird that flock into open areas of Plover fields and heather hill of Loop Head during the autumn days into which they blend and can see any approaching threat such as Merlins etc.

 Birdwatchers look into the GP flocks to check for any unusual migratory birds that may join them such as AGP,  Dotterel, Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff breasted Sandpiper etc, all of which has been found here this way in the past.








October 18, 2021

Juvenile Whitethroat and Chiffchaff

 I was checking a few  new areas of scrub and Sycamores around Hags Head looking for migrant passerine birds of which I managed Two 

At first sight at distance this little fella gave me a small heart rate and a wonder to what I had found .This sculky elusive late juvenile Common Whitethroat (not a bird that I would generally see in October) was with a calling Chiffchaff in a overgrown garden.







SparrowHawk Kill

I picked up this Sparrowhawk as it sounded up calls from a pair of Choughs I was watching, she was landing on posts hunting birds as I followed 

A Hawk overpowering its prey is one of natures spectacles, and trying following a Hawk may end up with the possibility of seeing a Kill.

Its a crazy noisy moment as a Starling is selected . The screeches as it is caught in the Talons, the panic of other birds. the Sparrowhawk does its best to over power and pin the bird to the ground, dragging and twisting and smothering the noise with its wings , all while keeping its face away from the Starlings pointed Bill. As the Starling dies it is then taken away to a quiet area to be plucked and eaten and that when we say goodbye.








Hunting along the posts

A quiet spot to eat


October 14, 2021

AGP at the Fodry

  After battling my way through the lands of the Fodry with only a Buzzard, a flock of Chough and a Snow Bunting flit by ,I was glad to follow in the Golden Plover Flock in as they arrived on the headland calling and circling the fields. I made my way to slightly higher ground so I could get a scope on them, the  juvenile American Golden Plover was with them..