Black Tern

Another day on and Ive caught up with the Black Tern at Ballyalia lake.

 The bird was acrobaticly dip feeding as Marsh Terns do, often joining Black headed Gulls fly catching in the air and a small enough bird for Swallows to chase.

Kingfisher at Ballyalia

I was up early and chanced my arm at seeing the Black Tern that was found yesterday. 

I was a bit early for many birds and without time and didnt see the Tern, but a call to my right gave away a showy Kingfisher that buzzed about looking for breakfast

White tailed Eagle - Drumcliffe

On my way home from town , My wife and I passed by Ballyalia and Drumcliffe just to see a few ducks etc and you never know there is a chance of a WTE.

Sure enough a WTE was perched on a post Drumcliffe end over looking the flock of Wigeon, it made a short flight over to a field wall were it searched the ground for Carrion.

Above all my Mrs got some good views and was well happy to see an Eagle.

Turns out that this is a young bird that was released at Lough Derg in 2020

Ring necked Duck at Ballyalia

I some how missed out on a Ring necked Duck in Limerick 4 days ago, I seen it as my best chance of getting a good photo of this Species but it wasnt to be.
So this morning  I took the chance of looking for the Ballyalia lake bird that had been around a while.It took me some time to find  and Im quite happy to settle with some record shots.

Turtle Dove -Ballyalia farm

I was passing through Ennis so I made a quick stop off at the farm on the south side of Ballyalia Lake to catch up with this Turtle Dove that was hanging out with 70 very flighty Collared Doves

White tailed Eagle perched up

 With a bright morning I was thinking of the White tailed Eagle at Ballyalia and possible better views than yesterday.
 I promised my friend Sheelagh Gleeson that I would take her out to see the Eagle if I was going.
When we arrived the bird was not to be seen, we took a stroll,
 The bird appeared low over the water and up into the dead tree on the island where we had splendid views for an hour, as we left the Eagle went to the air circling the area and out of site

White tailed Eagle - Ballyalia

A White tailed Eagle made an appearance at Ballyalia lake today.
A checked a few messages to find out this bird was seen at 2pm....it was 4pm , so I chanced my luck that it would sit in a tree for a while.
It was perched up on the Island where I watched for an hour.

Red throated Diver - Ballyalia

It was quite unusual to come across a Red throated Diver on Ballyalia yesterday,
This bird has come here from the coast to avoid the storms and winds of the last few days
Tom & Nuala Lynch also came out to see the bird and assured me a 1st record for the lake..cool👍

Great White Egret - Ballyalia lake

I was at Ballyalia lake near Ennis early to see if I could catch up with the Great white Egret that was seen yesterday. It  took me a while, checking the corners etc then I cast a scope out toward the island down lake that the Little Egrets roost on and this white head on long neck appeared in the reeds, found ya, now try to figure out how to go about getting a shot or 2.

Ballyalia Lake morning

On the shores and waters of Ballyalia lake ,Ennis, 32 Black-tailed Godwit rest up on a mudbank , Tufted Ducks are plentyful,, 3 White fronted Geese join a gaggle of Greylag and the Waterrail was seen well but remained impossible to photo

Waterrail

A first time for everything . While out walking with my 2 year old daughter at Ballyalia lake, Ennis,
We spotted this Waterrail tight in the cover of branches and weeds...."ssshhhhh" she said

Winter scene