Turtle Dove -Cregg Lahinch

 An evening text message from a local B&B owner that a Turtle dove was at his feeders.

I arrived in the morning and was invited into the kitchen to observe the Turtle Dove along with 50 Collared Doves and 50 House Sparrows with a lovely cup of tea .

Buff breasted Sandpipers at the Fodry 19-9-26

 Checking out the Plover fields from the Loop head lighthouse road , I could see a few smaller birds distant within the grasses. I sort of guessed that they would be Buff breasted sandpipers but needed to trudge the fields to get a more accurate ID . The flock of Golden \Plover were flighty and the 3 Buff sands followed.. Unable to get close.

A Hen Harrier passed over just making them more jumpy

 

Black tailed Godwits -Lough Atedaun

The autumn of 2026 was a great year for waders around the Lough, 

Little Stint , Green Sandpiper, |Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin, Spotted Redshank , Bar tailed Godwit, Black tailed Godwit , Ruffs

With water levels low there was a good opportunity for these shorebirds to feed .

These Black tailed Godwit were feeding very close to the carpark and allowed to sit and observe them at only a few metres.

 

The Kingfishers secret on the Fergus

 While taking the kids to a secret spot for Dragonflies in a beautiful spot on the River Fergus at Inchiquin. As we walked the river bank I missed a Kingfisher, its played on me but another passed and shot up river

I came back up onto the bridge. While I watched the birds chase each other up river, quite busy on the stones and branches, visible but distant.....

 A lady in a car pulled up beside me and offered me her private secret garden along the river to photo the birds

A chance I excepted....enter the secret domain of the Kingfisher 

Spotted Redshanks and Waterrail

 With good day of North east winds and a very low water level , Lough Atedaun is showing a lot of Birdlife. 2 Spotted Redshanks a rarety at this site were with a small flock of 8 Ruff.

The low water also tempted Waterrails out into the open, a bird we often  listen to but seldom see.

I came back the next day ! Spotted Redshank remained with Ruff but distant a Green Sandpiper made its way along the southside and 2 Kingfishers were on chase

Dads Great spotted Woodpeckers

 While over in Wales its great to take time on Dads feeders to watch the birds ,you can grab a cup of tea , turn on the TV and watch the world cup while viewing Great spotted Woodpeckers

Marsh Tit and a post in the woods

 I was in Wales on family matters, not birding as such.

I asked my father Paul Copner that if we got an hour or so early morning what were the chances of finding a Marsh Tit? I aint seen one since I was about 12 years of ago

I know of a place just on the Gower within 5 miles he says confidently.

By 8am we had rambled our way into a quiet damp feeling woodland till we came to some empty feeders by a logging shed, We sat , and yes I left the bird feed in the car. Dad put his apple core on a post .

A Coal Tit appeared, then within minutes a Marsh Tit.

Nuthatch, Blue Tits and Great Tit also came to the Apple core on the post

Common Rosefinch - Lampėdžio-Nemuno

 The !st Common Rosefinch I picked up in Lampėdžio-Nemuno pralaida was a singing female to my surprise but along the track a stand out male in full Rose colours was out singing away. "Pleased to meet you"...... nice song and a cracking species to have caught up with

Little Bittern -Lampedis lake Kaunas day 5

 Last evening I dropped my binoculars snatching for the camera to photo a Redstart, game over I felt blind.

It was our final morning in Lithuania and I decided instead of heading off I would sit at the lake with my son..6:16am on a peaceful warm morning listening to my Great Reed Warbler.

Just sitting......this Little Bittern started climbing the reeds just to my left...

I felt touched by nature. Once again I had made my own opportunity. Nature has a way of wanting me, eyes open wide...

Sometimes the world throws you a piece of magic when you need it most

Thrush Nightingale

 Before I came to Lithuania Thrush Nightingale was one of my target birds.

Its a song that catches you....but from where? it seems to throw. Is it up, down or over there...then movement deep in the cover of the shrubs ,I waited, I was`nt giving up this one. Then for a quick moment it showed..just......enough time to get 3 shots off the camera

Birding Kaunas. Lampedis lake . The full loop walk day 4

 This morning I set out early with intention to walk from my apartment around the full loop of Lampedis lake, approx 8km and about 4 hours through Lampėdžio-with stops for reeds , meadows, rivers, ponds and forest...it offers so much . Weather was amazing.

As I came into the nature reserve  Nemuno pralaida birds were singing, Great Reed Warblers, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Skylarks, Yellowhammer, Whinchat and male Rosefinch was well out in the open and was very Pleased to meet you.

I carried on through  the meadows , A Grey Partridge scuttled off the path, as a White Stork crossed the rive and a Corncrake was calling.....I carried on to a well overgrown piece of scrub near the lake edge here I got Icterine Warbler, Blackcap and a cracking Thrush Nightingale which took a little time and another male Rosefinch.....

I carried on and entered the forest, here I saw Icterine Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Wood Warblers, Stock dove and a Great spotted Woodpecker.. Nesting Fieldfares were going mad attacking Crows....I passed through the forest and got a Black Redstart before I got back.

Overall a really good days birding

Common Rosefinch

Grey Partridge

Thrush Nightingale