December 14, 2023

Dartford Warbler .Gower Wales

 I was visiting family and friends during the morning when suddenly I was granted a few hours to my self.

I headed to Cefn Bryn on the Gower, an upland heath with Gorse patches that was up behind a friends home, where I believed I could find Dartford Warbler,  a species that has re established residency in south Wales but still remains one of Wales rarest breeding birds

   I had tried looking in other locations where they have been seen previous over the last few visits home to Wales with no joy.

The !Bryn! was quiet, wet, yet the day had improved. I geared up and took a walk into the horse tracks watching for movement, listening for any calls.

My path opened up and I stopped as I found some impenetrable low fresh Gorse , this time movement caught my eye, and set back  in the thicket a Male Dartford Warbler showed a few times for me as he checked me out.. I adjusted my light angle.

This time I was fortunate to come across a pair holding Territory . Once I was checked out they both moved back deep into the Gorse thicket.

 



female




December 13, 2023

Dark bellied Brent Geese Crofty Marsh

A nice 400 strong flock of Dark bellied Brent Geese were at the Crofty end of the estuary.
A flocks were further out on the cockle beds but the weather was not helping with views.










1st winter Red Kites Llanridian Marsh

Drifting along the road, fields, woods and marsh of Lllanridian Marsh Gower Wales a count of over 5 1st winter Red Kites were in the air on a dark start to the morning and seemed very successful in finding scraps all over the area.

December 3, 2023

Grey Plover and Ringed Rockies

 A cold morning had Rock Pipits busy all over Clahane

 I was going through them as one took my eye that seemed a bit paler than the others and it happened to be ringed. I posted it up as to help the ringer [im awful at names] that I met here a few months back that checks my blog.

A Grey Plover was a nice surprise along the shoreline even if they are the world most boring bird ever but  I believe it to be my 1st for Clahane .






November 30, 2023

Waxwing in Ennistymon

 A Waxwing  was frequenting a garden berry bush in Ennistymon, always a welcome vistor.

Back and forth the surrounding few trees it would quietly sit for 20 minutes, fly down munch 5 or 6 berries and back up into the trees where it was hard to see.

Two birds have been seen but Ive only seen the one myself, many thanks to Joe and Joan who kindly let me hang out in thier garden







November 14, 2023

Whimbrel and Hooded Crow attracted to the seaweed

Two Whimbrel were attracted to the seaweed that was along the high tide mark along Clahane shoreline.

Other birds such as Gulls, Redshank, Turnstone and Hooded Crows also were crwling through the seaweed wash up








November 8, 2023

Little Egret at Clahane

   Little Egrets can be seen all along our shorelines and are now a common species to see on the marshes, reefs and joining fields. Nevertheless a stunning bird with beautiful feathers that blow up in the wind and stand out yellow feet.

I remember a long way back in the late 80s in Wales where 4 birds were on Llanridian marsh near a friends house since then Ive witnessed their spread west

 I was watching the Gulls when this fella was walking around the reef at pace it came quiet close while on a major search for food






November 3, 2023

During a storm at Clahane

 Clahane is a good place to visit during a storm, Birds get blown in off the sea and Clahane offers various types of shelter and access to food and water . Today a hungry Redwing was feeding behind the shelter of the sea walls and seaweed corner

An adult Great northern Diver was  blown in and overhead by a strong west.

A pale bellied Brent Goose was feeling alone and looking very tired on the reef.











October 25, 2023

Brambling at Clahane

They come with the cold, and a cold morning it was.
A Brambling was a surprise to see around the seaweed washup over in the river corner at Clahane.
Quite elusive it would hide in the small reeds appearing perched on a washed up branch not socialising with the Linnet flock that contained Greenfinch and Goldfinch.













 

Cattle Egret near Lahinch Marsh

Cattle Egret remains a very rare bird within the county and I have only missed a few records

Ive seen them throughout Europe, in County Limerick and Wexford but its been a long time coming know I finally caught up with a Cattle Egret in Clare down near Lahinch marsh during the school run. It was feeding around Cattle in a field just above the marsh

Poor quality photos from scope camera video








Red throated Diver Lahinch Marsh

 This juvenile Red throated Diver has been up and down the river in Lahinch Marsh finally it came over to the ballyyellery corner just passing me in silence. There is plenty of these to be seen out in Lahinch bay but not often seen up the river.