Migration through and over the Loop

 The day was nice with little wind, I arrived in Kilbaha just before midday , I could see there was a few extra Chaffinch and Great Tit around the harbour , as I made my way up the lane it was evident that a migration of Tits was coming through and over the village from the west, certainly to many to count and photo, just watch as they skip through the bushes and trees and past me, soon each garden was holding numbers of Blue Tits, Coal Tits and Great Tits, Chaffinches were also gathering in numbers.  2 Yellow browed Warblers , 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap and a Goldcrest were in the gardens as was my 1st for the autumn Redwing 

Dromore woods NP

I had a few hours to myself after the early school drop off on an amazing clear blue sky morning. at 8am a White tailed Eagle was reported at Ruan, so it was an easy decision to where I was going.
9;10 and I was at Dromore NP.The water levels were high and into the woods making viewing spots to the lake unpassable.
A Treecreeper showed well for me as did a Goldcrest, but the morning was made when a pair of Buzzards produced a courtship display over walk bridge spoilt by the usual Crow which disturbed a Kestrel pair that were also courting at the lake.

Later on to find out that the Eagle was a fly over report,,but the morning was not lost.

November morning in Kilbaha

A early morning at Loop Head Lighthouse grounds was quiet with only a few Redwing and Song Thrush around, a Great northern Diver flew over the Headland

I quickly returned back to the gardens where earlier I saw a Yellow browed Warbler, Goldcrest and Great Tit opposite Keatings on my drive through,which  after a short while I relocated the same three birds in the trees behind The Rural Resettlement, but they remained within the treetops and were elusive.
I stayed around the gardens for a few hours and more numbers Finches ,Robins, Tits and Thrushes were coming through, all on the move

Birdwatching in the Kilbaha Gardens

I finished work around 1pm and with news of a few scarce birds in Kilbaha I headed down.

2 Yellow browed Warblers were around the trees to the rear of Rural resettlement with Goldcrest.

2 Chiffchaffs were further up the village a tired looking Turtle Dove made a show 

Goldcrest

Ive always found Goldcrests hard to photograph. These tiny birds are usualy high up in the shades of  a spruce tree , but this fella came down to check me out, quite a bold little individual.

Goldcrest

Now this is a species i have had difficulty photographing, being the smallest bird ,always moving and generally above you  making subject backlit..one day luck will be with me.