Checking in on the Bishops Curlew

 It seems every winter (for how many winters now i dont know maybe 6) you call into Bishops Quarter beach to check in on the Albino Curlew that frequents the rocky cove.

As I pulled in to the carpark it flew off round the corner out of sight , I took the short walk over but It didnt stay long and flew up into the field above the reef.

 Once a Curlew is on to you, you aint getting any shots

This year looking a bit untidy with a few black spots showing. 

Curlews

The fields that border our coastline on the west coast of Ireland support so many Curlew that are on migration at this time of year.

September morning on the Loop

A typical morning on The Loop.

The lighthouse carpark was a bit busy for me  so I came back 

1\2 mile and walked the fields around The west bank, the usual Stonechats on the field borders, a few Skylark ,plenty of Meadow Pipits , a small flock of 12 Snipe flew over.

The Choughs were entertaining, They boss the fields.

Back at the Gardens in Kilbaha was very quiet for small birds, a good few Blue Tits, Robins and Wrens were the song while Swallows were active feeding along the road.

Red Admiral Butterflys were around Blackberrys

A Curlew and 7 Teal were on the Pond with a Grey Heron and those horrible funky Mallards

The Bishops Curlew

It happened to be a mega low tide while I was in Ballyvaughan and even though birdlife was busy, it was mainly Gulls on show, not many small waders to be seen.
I went to Bishops quarter beach and caught up with the returning  Albino Curlew that habits the shore here (I think about 8 years now...must find out).
This season it seems to have a few marks , certainly on the left wing where it seems to have a normal coloured Curlew feather, a spot on the right wing and a bit of wear on the breast, maybe due to moult I wouldnt know.
For me its still a striking bird and brightens any dull day.

The Albino Curlew of Bishops quarter beach

I last photoed this bird in May 2015.

Its made the small inlet at Bishops quarter beach, Ballyvaughan its wintering home and can be regularly seen here feeding as the tide drops

A social outcast, I have noticed that other Curlews chase it 

Birds In the Doonbeg corner

Along the coast of Doonbeg Harbour the road runs right along the shore to a small corner of tidal mudflat and boulder reef that attracts many bird species.

A few Greenshank, Redshank ,Curlew, Dunlin and Little Egret were to be seen  with a little gem of a Green Sandpiper making a show at distance

Oystercather, Greenshank & Green Sandpiper

Adult Arctic Tern -Clahane

 In the morning I dropped in at Clahane for a hours birdwatch before work.
Delighted to see a Adult Arctic Tern resting up on the reef below the steps with Black headed Gulls.
The Common Sandpiper was still present as were a few Curlew and 30+ Oystercatcher as were the growing numbers of Kelp fly eating road birds(Pied Wag, Rock&Meadow Pipits , Wheatears and Starlings)

A Curlew walk off

Over the years I have never had much luck in getting any decent Curlew photos.
Such a wary species of bird , they dont seem to take to any human activity whatsoever.
This fella was close to the road at Doonbeg , still by the time you stop,window down ,camera up it was already walking off

Albino Curlew

I stopped in at Bishops quarter beach  to see the Albino Curlew that had been frequenting the muddy cove over winter.

I never have had any luck in getting good photos of Curlew , and this was never going to be any different, but the bird turned out to be worth the visit and quite a striking individual to see.

Curlew

Plenty of Curlews in and around the coastline of County Clare