Drake Eider in Lahinch bay

Well happy to come across a Drake Eider at Lahinch beach.

I spotted the bird while in the top car park it was way across the bay so I went over to Kilmacreedy to check it., after venturing down the beach the duck paddled up to Lahinch beach, so back around to the end of the prom to get a look. 

Eiders and Divers at Moy beach

I was down on Moy beach checking the surf which was small, a nice day with an offshore wind I checked the birds within the bay of the  TVseries `Smother`.

The  two Eiders that had over wintered the otherside of Lahinch bay were here as were 3 Red throated Divers, 6 Great northern Divers, a few new spring Lesser Black backed Gulls. 

Velvet Scoter

   It was low tide and I walked down along the beach at Kilmacreedy side of Lahinch beach to get a bit closer to two Eider that I found in the scope from the harbour at Liscannor, the birds were down light but close to shore as they moved toward 3 Scoter that were also close in, but 100 yards away toward the inagh river entry. 

This female Velvet Scoter was with two Common Scoter and all 5 birds were together at one point, so the walk was worth while

Eider on a Seaweed rock

 A beautifuI morning and I was right out on the sand on a very  low tide at Kilmacreedy end of Lahinch beach.

I could see the female Eider that has been around a few weeks, She was roosting on a rock of seaweed as the tide had retreated and somehow I was on the side of the light.

 I watched as she nibbled along the seaweed but didnt consume it, to me she was filtering organisms and small periwinkles that cling to the weed, maybe a midnight snack left for breakfast

Quick birdwatch around Lahinch Bay

 A glassy sea within Lahinch bay gave an opportunity to see what was out there.

Viewing from the top car park an Eider Duck was alone , 5 Red throated Divers were also around the area with a few more out in deeper water with a juvenile Dolphin.

Across the bay the Common Scotor flock were back in their wintering area with a count of 40, small numbers of Razorbill were also scattered around the bay.

Later on in the day a Hen Harrier past by sandfield

Eider and the Long tailed Duck

 I was cruising the Clare coast looking for birds , I knew of an Eider that has been seen in Kilkee so I parked up and checked the bay.
 The Eider was only a few metres off the beach ,as I walked down to get some photos  a Long tailed Duck joined the Eider whom at 1st wasnt to impressed and hunted the LtD which gave me some flight shots, but it all soon calmed down

Eiders and the Shore Crab

A dark cloudy morning.I took an hour at my local  harbour of Liscannor to watch the Eiders that have been here for a few weeks. The bond between these two birds is very strong and they stay close to one another , during there foraging moments they dive together and the adult female always surfaced first with intention  to attempt a pirate on the juvenile.. He was`nt going giving this crab up and the chase brought him close to the harbour wall for cover where he stripped the claws off and swallowed the lot.

 

Eider down the harbour mouth

These two Eiders have been have been in Lahinch bay most of the week ,moving up and down the quiet shoreline of Liscannor ....just out of reach.

Today they were feeding  right in the mouth of the harbour at Liscannor at low tide.

 Mamma should be teaching son how to find molluscs in the shallows, but rotting smelly seaweed was on the menu.

1st winter Male

Female Eider

Eider on the Flaggyshore

A juvenile Eider chills in the low tide shallows of Flaggyshore, the Martello tower and the hills of the burren produce a nice backdrop. A nice afternoon birding a part of Galway bay,