Grasshopper Warbler on Lockdown

Another beautiful morning on Lockdown.

A morning stroll through the lanes around my home to an open felled area where a few Grasshopper Warblers were Trilling away.

One of my favorite Warblers to follow find and photograph

Grasshopper Warblers down in Ballyellery

Down in the  northern corner of Lahinch Marsh in Ballyellery is a small reed bed and swamp.
Several Male Grasshopper Warblers were singing again as were Sedgys , Reed Buntings and Waterrail
I caught sight of a Grasshopper Warbler low in a thicket , it showed briefly and im pretty sure it was a juvenile, not a common sight and possibly my 1st.

Songs of a Sunny morning on a old road

I was on an old back road, on my way over to Doolin from Ennistymon.

There was`nt a cloud in the sky and the countryside was alive with birdsong. Cuckoo`s were abundant  (I got to see 8 in total , all at distance) , as were Grasshopper Warblers, Willow Warblers, SkyLarks, Mipits, Blackbirds,Pheasant and many more.

Cuckoo

grasshopper warbler

Willow warbler

Grasshopper warbler over Lickeen

Its become an annual thing to head over the hill in April to Lickeen Lake to search for Grasshopper Warblers, I visit the area along the Ballymacken river, its rich in a variety of birdlife.

Willow Warblers, Groppers , Sedgys, Grey Wagtails, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Mipits.

(no Cuckoo yet).

Its taken many years to be able to get consistant photos of Grasshopper Warblers, you really only get a week or two before they go quiet and into the Tussock Grass. I may get a chance later this week or toward July as some Males may sing again.

Warblers at Lickeen

Grasshopper warblers ,Sedge Warblers and Whitethroat are showing within and around brambles Tusack grass and hedgerows in and around Lickeen Lough area .

Early Morning Grasshopper Warbler

My Cockerel had woke me early at 5:30 so I took a early morning drive over the hill to  Lickeen Lake to see if any Grassshopper warblers had arrived.
A dark damp morning I headed into the fields of tussock grass that i visit every year alongside the Ballymacken river and 4 birds were calling.
I believe the birds had arrived here over night with the partial eclipse of the moon as I heard none yesterday on a short visit ,They start a singing display as soon as they arrive,claiming there territory .

Lough Warblings

Whitethroat

Grasshopper Warbler

With a morning off ,a new lense ,a touch of sun and my garden birds busy,which makes me feel like it could be a good morning birds, I headed over the hill to  Lickeen lough.
Lots of birds were busy around the fields, the sound of a singing Grasshopper warbler gained my attention but was hard to approach, but a close visit by a Whitethroat was nice.
Sedge and Willow warblers were also seen

Arrival time

Willow warbler

Blackcap

Grasshopper Warbler

Mute swan

A change in the winds to the East has given migrants a lift into the county .
The weather is fine and warm.The song of the cuckoo is in the air, all warblers are singing ,, hedgerows are busy with new arrivals..birds are on the move.
But a resident Mute swan ...can catch the eye

Grasshopper call

	- Grasshopper Warbler Song.mp3

A Grashopper Warbler  shrilling song from the Brambles. These birds stay in the cover ,very rarely are they seen out in the open and are difficult to find.

The change of weather has finally brought the warblers

Re-singing Grasshopper warbler

 

 

	- Grasshopper Warbler Song.mp3

A few male Grasshopper warblers were singing in the late evening around Lickeen lake. One bird was in the exact perch on which i photographed one a two months ago to the day, its a good chance of it being the same bird.
Chased every female that showed.

The Grasshopper warbler

	- Grasshopper Warbler Song.mp3

Theres a special few corners around a lough just over hill from my house, ive always visited here  for Warblers and Cuckkoo every year for about 7 years.
This now happens to be my route  to my new job,..i will be late a few times i dare say.
Seven Grasshopper warblers this morning...