Yellow browed Warblers and a Chiffchaff

 Back down the Loop the next day .

Today was different , a much quieter feel to it and a lot less birds were about today compared to yesterday morning.

A few Yellow browed Warblers were still about around Tevlins garden with a specialty Bullfinch but the others gardens were quiet and empty....or little birds were playing skulky of a morning.

A Chiffchaff was in the Flax at the lighthouse and the only bird of note apart from the 2 Stonechat.

Siberian Lesser Whitethroat -Kilbaha

 I was hopeful of catching up with this Lesser Whitethroat that had been showing around a garden in Kilbaha over past few days.

 I hav`nt seen one in a long time and is the most interesting bird for me that we have had on the headland this autumn 

I got a brief show around 9am, then it just disappeared for almost 2 hours. I stayed around watching the Yellow browed Warblers on the chase and Goldcrests which were busy providing decent entertainment

Stubborn patience paid off as the Lesser Whitethroat came to view at the bottom end of the tree row, slowly moving closer always in cover of branches

A Yellow browed Warbler and Raptors in on the east winds

 A cold morning up around the headland didnt turn up much apart from Meadow Pipits , so the morning progressed to a few gardens in Kilbaha , a few small flocks Great, Blue and Coal Tits were showing and a Yellow browed Warbler showed for not long , a bit of an east wind and no better place than Kilbaha to see one, other wise the area was quiet, SparrowHawks, Kestrels and Buzzard were seen in the village also drawing on the easterly weather

Icterine Warbler in Kilbaha

After a busy summer of work and Leg injury rehab, there hasnt been much opportunity of much birding over the last few months.

The arrival of an Icterine Warbler in Kilbaha a few days previous was enough to revive the senses and Monday morning I found a few hours to head south.

Didnt need to much leg work as Murf was on site and knew where the bird would show, and it appeared out of the Sycamore Tree , fliitted into the Willows  in between showers for  short but good views

Yellow rumped Warbler- Kilbaha in Wet weather

The morning still dark with thunder and lightning from the SW.

With the Yellow rumped Warbler still available and weather condtions pretty bleak a stroll through the gardens with the company of Murf was on the cards, Thanks to sheds and pubs to escape the down pours of hail and rain.

A few Redpoll, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Blackbirds and Tits were about the village. Yellow rumped Warbler only showed for a few minutes for me and well enough too.

Yellow rumped Warbler - Kilbaha

I was in Wales but on my way home when news came through of a Myrtle/Yellow-rumped Warbler in Kilbaha. Ffs.

Well I had hoped to be down on the friday anyhow but another American warbler of such quality made sure I was early.  

As I arrived Ian Stevenson had a sighting and I missed it by a minute, then no sign for maybe 45 mins, then a quick feeding display to take the pressure off the 5 lads that also made the effort.

Again the bird went low into the leaf cover long enough to send lads walking the streets and headlands.

I came back later and for a minute ..the Myrtle popped up and it was still hard to see.

Back for more Baltimore Oriole

This morning I had to go back and chance some better views of the Baltimore Oriole.

I was in Kilbaha at 8am the REV showed briefly and the Baltimore Oriole was coming out from the cover of the garden to feed on Blackberries in the surrounding borders of the fields. Still elusive but you can't hide that Orange for to long.. an opportunity arose for a few photos but you had to be quick, this bird don't show for more than a few seconds before it seeks cover.

The lady next to me viewing was from Baltimore....meer garden bird to her, a few laughs 😃 

By 11am the street was busy with birders ,I moved off to the headland for Merlin and Hen Harrier..

Baltimore Oriole and Red eyed Vireo -Kilbaha

  Checked into the bing on the phone. and it was time to leave the Golden Plovers at Clahane and head to Loop Head for a Red eyed Vireo that young James Organ found during the outing.

Sure enough a few people were on site and the Vireo showed for small moments around the garden of the Rural resettlement for most of the day.

It was a bit of a surprise after midday as an Orange yoke showed in the same garden,, a bit of shuffling around between the lads and a Baltimore Oriole showed for a few snaps, I took an ID photo from the adjacent field...but.. "All I just seen was a can of Fanta",  and then the bird remained elusive, later I found the bird feeding on Blackberries below the garden down but it soon flew off and down toward Keatings.

A good vibe was made by all involved that added to good day

Siberian Chiffchaff - Kilbaha

 Arrival in the morning at Kilbaha, driving through the village it was evident that that a few small birds were moving around the Pine at Sennis garden.

A few Goldcrest, Chaffinch,, Blackbird, Song Thrush were busy around the thicket as were 2 Chiffchaff, One of which was very dull grey/white in colour, but high up and all that could be seen was underbelly, a shower of rain caused the birds to go to cover, after a while this little fella gave himself up for a moment and identified as a Siberian Chiffchaff

Yellow browed Warblers and Tits on Show

 Yellow browed Warblers are still getting around headlands and moving through the country. Birds have been found in and near coastal towns of County Clare and even on show in inner city Dublin.

They do get a little easier to see as the leaves are falling from the trees, I believe this bird has been in the same Kilbaha garden for over a week now, not much more in rarities in the village but still a good visible passage of  Chaffinch, Blue , Great and Coal Tits