Brambling

Grab a coffee,

St Flannans collage,  pull up in carpark, 

Look into the leaf litter under the Beech trees,

 Find Brambling

Tidy.

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

Waxwing

Ive been back and forth to these Berry Trees in Ennis for a few weeks while shopping etc without any sighting of a Waxwing,  I said to my wife " one last time , thats it then".

I turned into the estate at 16:25 and a single bird flew off the 3rd berry tree into a dark high tree next to it.

I parked up a bit further, I was loosing light.

The lone Waxwing perched still up against the trunk not moving for 15 mins. we watched each other even had a chat..but it wasnt coming down.  I went back to the car and I approached slowly, parking near the berry tree..the stunning bird did eventually come back to the berrys..🙋

Waxwings can be very tame in winter, entering towns and gardens in search of food, rowan berries being a particular favourite. They can metabolise alcohol produced in fermenting fruit, but can still become intoxicated, sometimes fatally. Other hazards include predation by birds of prey, infestation by parasites and collisions with cars or windows.

Ring billed Gull v Common Gull -Ennis

While doing the xmas shopping in Ennis I caught up with the 3cy Ring billed Gull at the post office field.

I thought I had two , but at a closer look the other is a 3cy Common Gull (in disguise).☯

Ring billed Gull

Ring billed Gull 

Common Gull

Ring billed Gull

Common Gull + Ring billed Gull 

Kingfisher in the town

A Kingfisher was on show ,dashing among the Willows and trees on the other side of the river fergus in Ennis.

Ennis Riverside

Plenty of birds on show along the banks of the River Fergus in Ennis town ,The 5 Canada Geese have made it home ,a Kingfisher was around the larger Willows and trees, Feral Pidgeons courting,loads of hungry Black-headed Gulls,a Song Thrush was on the path with a Little Grebe close to the Post Office and much more to see.
Now back to the shopping I came to do.

Riverside Ennis

While in town....A quick look over the river wall in Ennis town gave me a surprise 5 Canada Geese. The geese were feeding on the aquatic grasses that grow along the river bed,shared with the local ducks and of coarse our ever friendly Pigeons that patrol the riverside walls and paths.

Bramblings in town

Bramblings rumaging the leave litter under trees in gardens and parks around Ennis, gathering fallen seed with Chaffinches

Wood sandpipers

A pair of Wood sandpipers at Ennis attuation pond , visable from the side of Ennis bypass.. good call!