Pallid Harrier fly over 3rd day

 I had been out walking the dogs and had passed through and around Lahinch marsh a few times to see if another view of the Pallid Harrier could be got

A few birders were out and about enjoying the weather and Harriers. some had seen it some had`not

I was trailing my way toward Ennistymon on the back road when luck came my way again, the Pallid Harrier passed over the car being chased by Rooks, it was brief but the bird had entered the marsh just before midday for the 3rd day.

Pallid Harrier - Lahinch marsh

 So after a night of getting confirmation on the Harrier its turned out to be a juvenile Pallid Harrier and a County Clare  1st record. Very exiting.

More exiting was that we returned to the marsh the very next day at the same time and got really good views of the Pallid Harrier as it made its way around the marsh 

Pallid Harrier candidate

 This afternoon I was at Lahinch marsh when a odd Harrier crossed my path, I proceeded to follow the bird for over a mile grabbing a few photo opportunities when possible with help from my daughter who scrambled through the car for the camera.

In the field I thought I had picked up the hybrid NH x HH  that had been seen over shannon a few weeks back but that was ruled out, thanks to be .

I reached out for help with the ID

 The bird seems consistent with a juvenile Pallid Harrier

The rufous-cinnamon underparts that appear to be un-streaked with a four fingered wing structure with dark contrasting secondaries. 

A slim tail look with a small white rump

A good head pattern with THAT FACE .

Hen Harrier ringtail. Lahinch marsh

  A rintail Hen harrier was doing its rounds of Lahinch marsh  in a miserable misty day around 11am.

It visited all patches of marsh crossing the roads and fields but back to another plot of marsh

Follow in the car and guess which plot

Snow Bunting Thrift Hunting

Two small flocks of Snow Bunting were along the coastal cliffs at Clahane south

The Snow Bunting is a migrating bird and the sea thrift is a native perennial flower, their paths cross directly in coastal habitat. When sea thrift blooms fade and drop their seeds along cliffs and wintering flocks of Snow buntings rely on these thrift seeds as a vital food source.

The Thrift hunters

White rumped Sandpiper at Seafield

 Kids into school,  a planned surf at Lahinch didnt go to plan due to wind and news that the WRP was just seen at Seafield ,...well I take a look ,i ve an hour.

It was dark and cloudy , The birds were flighty , every time I found the bird in question up goes the flock.

I sat on the high tide line below the bank patiently and got a little luck

A few larger waders locally at Clahane

A juvenile Bar tailed Godwit was tucking in from the weather along the Clahane reef.

A Whimbrel has been here over a week  and the Curlew numbers are on the increase in the fields

 

Choughs and Linnets -Seafield

The Choughs at Seafield are spectacular. 

The noise of the calls as they approach in the the seaweed dump is hard to ignore.

. Upto 10 Choughs can be seen here on a given day.

Another flock that inhabits the area is the Linnet flock.

 Never still they move along the high tide mark and flush at the calls of the Choughs

 

Bairds Sandpiper -Seafield

 At last a Bairds Sandptper for Seafield . I didnt see the last reported bird here and havn`t seen a Bairds in over 10 years. There had been a good few about the country this autumn and hopes were high.

The bird was found yesterday by Murf  and I was up early along with James who was like minded.

The morning was unproductive  at high tide, even though I had a short  90% sighting of the bird with Sanderling flock it just wasnt enough. 

News was out that afternoon the Bairds was re found so it was a car chase to get down late before the sun goes down