Ross`s Gull at Galway

 A few days ago during storm Franklin a  Mega rare Ross`s Gull was seen off Mutton island Galway. Yesterday in better weather it was seen again in the area. Id waited a few years to see one so I headed to Galway hoping to beat the weather and see the Gull.

OMG! the walk out along the causeway to Mutton was horrendous, 60mph SW wind and rain blizzard, waves crashing on the walk out, an Otter was eating on the sea 10 m away but no hope of getting the camera out. By the time  I reached the sheltered side of the island even my coat pockets were full of water.

I searched the Gulls and found a Little Gull among the Black headed Gulls that were also roosting on the east side, an Iceland Gull or 2 were also present, tidy but not what I came for, I sat watching.

Distant a Ross`s Gull approached the Island from out near the east Bouy, maybe it was the flight pattern or wing pattern but instantly I said " Gotcha "!  as I followed it in, then it came right passed me and back out into the bay where it gave distant views

Little Gull

Little Gull

Birdwatching on Inisheer ,a small guide

Birdwatching on Inisheer.

My reason for going to Inisheer was to search in hope for some migratory birds on an island where there isnt much, if any information on birdswatching at all

Inishmore the more western of the three Aran Islands over the past years has been quite remarkable for migrants, so why not Inisheer, after all it is an island in the atlantic that has a lighthouse,a lough and a pub on it

All week a steady easterly weather flow has bought small passerine birds west.

Today a SE breeze,dry with high cloud cover , we caught the Doolin -Aran ferry at 10;00 with arrival on the island at 10:40

A short 30 minute walk brings you to the north end of the lough.

2 Mute Swans, 12 Wigeon,1 Moorhen we on the water ,a Jack Snipe was flushed.Song Thrush ,Blackbirds, Mipits and small finch flocks feed on wildflower seeds in the surounding paddocks

The Lough looking south

A the south end of the Lough a Willow gorge runs along a small valley that links the lighthouse all the way to the lough offering some if not the only cover on the island (apart from walls).

A Rabbit Warren starts the opening to the Gorge,Brambles run down into the gorge joined with Willows and dead wildflower patches, the walls of the gorge offer a thick ivy cover, the Willows thicken then blend into a reed bed on the lough shore

We made our way along the ridge looking down.

We were delighted to find 2 Yellow browed Warblers ,2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap along with Blackbirds ,Wrens,Dunnock ,Stonechats and Robins.

The Willow Gorge looking north

At the lighthouse (an hours walk from harbour) a Wheatear showed , a few Gulls and a Turnstone flock and a few Cormorant and Curlew were on the reef, small flocks of Starlings were swirling around, a Kestrel was in the area, otherwise it was quiet

We were thinking maybe that this area with a westerly air flow may suit American migrants better

American Coot

We arrived at Murlach Lough ,Ballyconeely early morning to find a rare American Coot. I started searching through the flooded fields to the west ,where after an hour I spotted the bird on the north end but it was elusive,after another hour I found it in a corner on the south near a few walls ,where we got some photos.
We also got to see the Green winged  Teal on the lough

Spoonbill

A Spoonbill roosting in a remote part of Galway bay , A rare site in this part of the world, maybe the warm recent weather invited the bird a bit further north than usual..