Crossbills -Slieve Elva

 I was passing by Lisdooonvarna with a small bit of time to use ,so I detored my self up the mountain for the forest tracks of Slieve Elva to see if there was a chance of Crossbills.

Burren Choughs

 It was a pleasent surprise to come across 15 Choughs around the Carpark and Dune restoration area at Fanore beach on the Burren westside

 Noisy , highly sociable birds that were cetainly out making the most of this time in the fine weather

Whoopers in the Mist

 Three Whooper Swan were the only visible wildfowl on Lough Atedaun from the car park .

The mist was so thick that the lough could not be seen but the calls of Wigeon could be heard.

White rumped Sandpipers at Seafield

 Great to see some Waders back at Seafield after a very quiet autum here.

2 White rumped Sandpipers and a Little Stint were along the high tide shoreline with Purple Sandpipers, Sanderling and Dunlin. The high tide had brought the birds up close onto the seaweed.

A few disturbances, eg: a Kestrel was putting the birds up and you could see the 3 odd birds out among the flocks as they take off ,do the rounds and return.

Pacific Diver at Black Head

 No wind  but Very misty and due to lift was the weather prediction.

Early morning along Black Head before the coast road traffic and before the sun comes out would be my best opportunity to get decent views of the Pacific Diver, 

Feeding Common Dolhins and Porpoise drew my attention as I rounded Black Head, The Black Guillemots were spooked by the frenzy

I carried on along the coast road checking the Great northen Divers till one caught my eye close enough in at Carnsafin.

I need not go any further.

Black Redstart at Clahane

 My old friend and fellow local birdwatcher Geoff found this lovely, busy  Black Redstart over in the corner at Clahane.

I got down late afternoon after school and the bird was flitting atound the rocks and ledges.

Yellow browed Warblers and a Chiffchaff

 Back down the Loop the next day .

Today was different , a much quieter feel to it and a lot less birds were about today compared to yesterday morning.

A few Yellow browed Warblers were still about around Tevlins garden with a specialty Bullfinch but the others gardens were quiet and empty....or little birds were playing skulky of a morning.

A Chiffchaff was in the Flax at the lighthouse and the only bird of note apart from the 2 Stonechat.

Siberian Lesser Whitethroat -Kilbaha

 I was hopeful of catching up with this Lesser Whitethroat that had been showing around a garden in Kilbaha over past few days.

 I hav`nt seen one in a long time and is the most interesting bird for me that we have had on the headland this autumn 

I got a brief show around 9am, then it just disappeared for almost 2 hours. I stayed around watching the Yellow browed Warblers on the chase and Goldcrests which were busy providing decent entertainment

Stubborn patience paid off as the Lesser Whitethroat came to view at the bottom end of the tree row, slowly moving closer always in cover of branches