Black throated Divers - Flaggyshore

 There was four Black throated Divers along the Flaggyshore in North Clare . 

Two moved out , but two travelled  close in all the way along the Flaggy before crossing around Auganish Island

The Raft of Loons

On the Flaggyshore searching the cold choppy waters far offshore for Sea Ducks, a nice raft of Great northern Divers drift passed by with the wind

spin about the top

 I started my day in Kinvarra where I got to see the Green winged Teal. I moved back to Clare and headed to Doorus Pier and Auganish isle  where on a calm day is a good place to see waterbirds such as Long tailed Duck, Red breasted Merganzers, Black Guillemots, Great northern Divers and Black throated Diver.
At Corranroo 2 Spotted Redshank were busy feeding among the Wigeon and Gulls between the high tide rocks.




5 Little Egrets were on the reef near to Newquay harbour, and the usual Greenfinch flock was along the Flaggy shore. 220 Brent Geese were in the fields below Mt Vernon and a few juvenile Whooper Swan were with 2 adults on the Burrin pond

Little Egret showing injury to the neck

A quick stop into Bell harbour for the usual Teal, Shelduck and Redshank and it was a spin over the burren to home

Glossy Ibis about

This morning I really wanted to catch up with the 2 Glossy Ibis that had been seen at Lahinch marsh over the last few days.
I scoped the 2 birds in a flooded field across the other side of the marsh below the cattle sheds, so I drove around hoping to get some closer views

Glosy Ibis - Lahinch marsh

Later on in the day I was up along the north coast of Clare , As I approached the Flaggy shore a wader caught my eye in a floded field , I took a quick photo and it was gone.
Later on when checking the photo a Glossy Ibis was in the field next to it...
How did I miss that one?

Glossy Ibis in a flooded fieeld with what is presumed to be a juvenile Greenshank

Last of the GND`s

Many Great northern Divers have now moved out of Galway bay and have headed to breeding grounds along Greenland to the US, the ones that are lefts behind seem to be moulting their  winter feathers and are gaining their spectacular breeding plumage,they will soon follow 

I seen only 2 of these birds today along the Flaggyshore.

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,

Flaggy-shoreline Waders

High tide Flaggyshore , a small few Sanderling & Dunlin make haste in the only piece of sand available