`The field` above the lagoon

After a few days observing the lagoon area I passed the viewing hide and continued walking north into the scrub.

I came a cross a mud-stoney field that had been worked. It was busy with birds.

A Bluethroat was on the hop, loads of Crested Larks, Spotless Starlings, Waxbill,  White Wagtails, a good few Red legged Partridge were out in the open but always close to the borders where they can scurry into foliage when the Marsh Harrier comes. A nice male Black Redstart was showing well

Then bird of the week came onto a post, an Iberian Grey Shrike and that makes the day!

Bluethroat

Black Redstart

Iberian Grey Shrike

Crested Lark

                                                            Waxbill

Black Redstart - Lahinch

 Happy Xmas to all.

Yesterday I took a morning stroll along Lahinch prom to see if the Black Redstart that was seen the day before was about

I could see just along the rocks and outside the Celtic T shirt shop a few Stonechats, Wagtails and  Rock Pipits were feeding  in a certain area, sure enough the Black Redstart was with them.

A very approachable bird that showed no sense of fear toward me, normally these birds just shy away out of sight and return when your gone, either that being over a dune or wall into other gardens.

Black Redstarts, Sardinian Warbler and Chiffchaffs- 3 little birds of Ilha de Faro

 Around the hotel and most of the beach front of Praia de Faro that shows shrubbery you could find one of 3 birds. Black Redstarts (Iberian type) flit around rooftops and gardens, Chiffchaffs seemed to be everywhere in most available shrubbery and Sardinian Warblers that are real locals.

A male Black Redstart will always catch the eye, and these Iberian types are very Black, but as usual they are always at a safe distance and if not they will just  leave, come back later ,they like a favorite perch.

                                       

Black Redstart - Clahane

 This Black Redstart has been along the Cliff at Clahane for over a week feeding up on Flies, as usual this species can be quite elusive , but seems to appear when the suns out.

Sunday morning in Liscannor Bay

 Nothing like a sunday morning walk along Lahinch prom at high tide on a calm day

9 Red throated Divers were spaced out along the beach and seem to be coming in closer since the new sea wall, a few Great northern Divers and Shags about and the Common Scoter flock was far out.

A Black Redstart was  along the erosion defence wall at Liscannor harbour otherwise it was quiet.

A lone Whooper Swan was in the flooded field at Clahane

Birds of Saint Eulalia , Algarve Portugal

The first few days of my xmas family holiday in the Algarve
I have stayed local with a morning walk to myself along the beach to find local birds seen around St Eualia beach area.
A dried flood run off that goes aroung the carpark was useful with Hoopoes , Common Waxbills, Black Redstarts and Chiffchaff were on show.
Serins were tweeting away in the Pines and Red legged Partridge, Fan-tailed Warbler were seen in the scrub area around the headland.
Not a bad start

Hoopoe

Common Waxbill

Red legged Partridge

Serin

Black Redstart

Fan-tailed Warbler

Our Ladys Black Redstart

I try to visit the site around Our Ladys Hospital building when I am in Ennis, in hope of seeing the Black Redstart that is often seen in the area over winter but it has evaded me every time.
Today ,just as I got out of the car, a small elusive black bird hopped across the path, way down in the corner under the large trees . I took cover and waited till the bird past my view in the bins . A flash of Orange and out of site.
I settled for a while in the corner by the fence and the typically elusive Black Redstart appeared in a thicket off the path for 20 seconds with a Blackcap

Black Redstart at Clonahinchy

A female  Black Redstart has been seen in the corner of Clonahinchy ,the beach south of Seafield for a weeks .

It was very flighty and was onto me straight as i arrived, not allowing me time to get any good photos, but I enjoyed my time watching the bird feeding along the boulder wall and seaweed

Dungarvan Bay

Spoonbill

Chough

Brent geese

Black Redstart

Some good birding is to be had around 4 km-wide Dungarvan Bay, with Spoonbill ,Little Egret at the rivermouths,and thousands of Brent geese on the grass pastures,Choughs and Black redstart patrol the hightide shorelline.Its a busy day

Black Redstarts at Clonea strand

5 Black Redstarts were hanging along the shoreline of Clonea strand, Waterford, flitting between the hightide line and the gardens