Whimbrel and Hooded Crow attracted to the seaweed

Two Whimbrel were attracted to the seaweed that was along the high tide mark along Clahane shoreline.

Other birds such as Gulls, Redshank, Turnstone and Hooded Crows also were crwling through the seaweed wash up

Fox and cubs

 Within the fields a Fox watches over her 3 cubs as they explore , She rested as they roamed giving out calls to any threats such as Magpies, Jackdaws and 2 juvenile Ravens that would often show interest in bothering her, She was aware of me but I was at a good distance enjoying the views

Linnet

Linnet is a species of Finch common to our fields.

 Considered a boring little brown job of a bird they can be easy overlooked and a male singing in a tree is well worth a watch .

 The Linnet may have got its name from the fondness of Linseed.

 

Reed Bunting

A Reed Bunting was showing off on his chirping perch on a local walk in the forestry of Ballyea

Slavonian Grebe - Poulnasherry

 I went down to Poulnasherry bay to try and catch up with a few birds that had been seen during the week. I was at the east side of the mouth of the bay at low tide, I was searching the edges of the shores in my scope where an Otter was running along a mudbank, Wigeon, Brent Geese, Great crested Grebe and a few Great northern  Divers were into the bay, a search out on the water outside the mouth produced the Slavonian Grebe but it was far out past the depth Bouys.....I waited , but the Grebe remained deep.

I left to go round to the west side of the mouth of Poulnasherry bay at Moughna where the light was better.... again I waited...and a pushing tide brought the Slavonian Grebe in toward the mouth of the bay where it and I spent the afternoon in the sun, Offshore in calm conditions the male Velvet Scoter made an appearance, an impressive duck that.

A busy month of Surfing

 Between a bit off work and parental duties ive been sneaking in regular to surf the the reefs of Lahinch during the recent swells.

Buzzard at Willowbrook

 I was traveling back home from Corofin passing through Willowbroook, I tend to slow down here as the clearing next to the forest is full of singing Warblers and Ive seen Red Squirrel here also.

Further up I could see a brown Raptor moving over the creek and back into the forest. It came out and onto a perch. I watched as a very busy hunting Buzzard was eying up a few juvenile Goldfinches but they were proving to be tricky to catch.

Black Brant at Clahane

At this time of year over 100 plus Pale bellied Brent Geese can be found along the north end of Liscannor Bay along the reefs and river outflows where the Eel grass grows on the rocks. They gather here feed up before they head north

 I was checking through the 90+ Pale Brent Geese at my favorite  patch at Clahane with my lad Harry I was hoping to find a bird with a ring as I have found many here at Clahane over the years.

 A Black Brant stood out in the crowd of Pale bellied Brent Geese and was a nice find personally as I always believed I had a good chance that Id find one one day among these flocks

PIne Marten at Home

 Since discovering that we had a Pine Marten visiting our garden this winter I was overjoyed..

A lockdown project for myself, similar to the Owls back in spring.

 I have been putting out some chopped Apples, Rasberry Jam & Peanut butter  (It does like Cinnamon Bagels) and setting up the Trail Camera at different locations hoping for a good angle.

 You can only try to film Rare Wild Animals at night.

But if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need!

Pied Flycatcher - Kilbaha

 Turned out a nice morning and the Robins were singing

A Pied Flycatcher was a nice bird to find , it was frequenting the Rusty Barn near Costellos , next to the barn is an Elderberry Bush that is attracting the juvenile Blackbirds and Song Thrush.

9 Snipe were at the pond 

Bonaparte`s Gull at Clahane

The morning was wet and westerly.

I wasnt bothered in going far and decided to grab an hour locally before work.

Clahane on the high tide has always been my favorite spot for Gulls and today did not disappoint with this Bonaparte`s Gull.

It was windy with squalls, but surprisingly got a few good photos in between.