Burren Spotted Flycatchers

 A small corner of woodland off a limestone path within the Burren lands near Carron I came a cross a pair of Spotted Flycatchers in an ideal habitat. Somewhere around the back of a bush they were feeding young. As usual they return to a favored perch and give good views.

Yellowhammer haven

 It was a beautiful day in the quiet countryside around the Burren lowlands of  North Clare.

 There is still few very rural traditional Cattle farming areas where the song of  Yellowhammers can be heard.

A song that not that long ago would have been part of country learning. A song of spring and forward looking to new seasons and harvest

Buzzard and Kestrel in the Burren

 A Buzzard was perched up on the flag posts of Caherconnell fort , dead still, surveying the damp field below itself, its mood reflected the damp weather.

As I came through the Burren toward Ballyvaughan a male Kestrel was on the bends at the Corkscrew hill.

White tailed Eagles at Muchanangh

 These tagged White tailed Eagles have been wandering around the Burren loughs all week.

Ive seen plenty of these Eagles over the years and most of the time they dont do much. but never have I seen a show as this day. Even at a distance it was quite a wonderful display in the air, on the trees and on the ground

Marsh Harriers on the Burren lowland Loughs

 There have been regular sightings this winter of Marsh Harriers within County Clare and Limerick. Last winter was very simular.

Marsh Harriers have a massive area of vagrancy so its hard to say how many we have , sure they follow the water coarses with good established reedbeds and are well able to travel distance with British tagged birds showing up north of Scotland and  far south as Senegal.

All I know is that its great that we have them and be able to get good observations of a wonderful Raptor that has chose to inhabit our Loughs around the Burren.

Fieldfares and Redwings in the Burren lowlands

 

I was around the lowland Burren areas from Corofin to Tubber and the shrubbery was packed in an explosion's of Fieldfares and Redwings that were feeding on the Berries of Mountain Ash , Yew Trees and every visible berry tree available, there certainly seems to be a good harvest out there and the winter thrushes are taken advantage.

The weather was generally warm, and Dragonflies were seen at lough Muchanagh,

 Yes winter thrush and draonflys did seem a bit off

Lesser Butterfly Orchid

While walking the Mullaghmore trail on the Burren with my children we came across 3 Lesser Butterfly Orchid, one of the rarer gems found within the Burren wildflowers .

Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Mullagmore

 I was hoping that one day I come across these little Burren specialists.

This Pearl-bordered Fritillary flutterbied passed me and came down just off the road near the Mullagmore cross, where 3 bus loads of people happened to walk by, not one person noticed I was photographing Irelands rarest butterfly.

 I hope they enjoyed there visit as much as I did.

Gleninagh Mt , North Burren

When a report of a Snowy Owl sighting comes from the Burren ,I generally try to make an effort to go to the area and hope to see Her.

Ive seen Her in the past and will always have the desire to find and experience  her again.

I stick to my old quote:

 "If you dont go, You dont see

If you dont look , You cant find"

Here are some photos and views of area of Gleninagh mt at the north of the Burren.

Snowy Owl habitat. 

 Its hard going on the loose wet limestone rocks, its a silent world, Goats appear in the Mist, mad selections of wildflowers, a Silver washed Fritilary  floats past .

A family of Wheatear and a few Whitethroat were the best of the small birds

 A Sparrowhawk was carrying prey to a nest in low hazel, a pair of Kestrels were hunting together. Silence was broken by my steps and the Croaks from the Raven, but no Owl was seen today.