Little Egret at Clahane

   Little Egrets can be seen all along our shorelines and are now a common species to see on the marshes, reefs and joining fields. Nevertheless a stunning bird with beautiful feathers that blow up in the wind and stand out yellow feet.

I remember a long way back in the late 80s in Wales where 4 birds were on Llanridian marsh near a friends house since then Ive witnessed their spread west

 I was watching the Gulls when this fella was walking around the reef at pace it came quiet close while on a major search for food

Little Egret fishing at Bell Harbour

 I pulled into the car park at Bell Harbour nice and slowly as not to disturb any wildfowl that maybe in the mud creeks.

 A Little Egret was having a slice of luck in the channels  knabbing 2 Flounders on the bounce , it was on a hot streak and didnt care to much for me watching it fishing. 

Little Egret -Doonbeg

A Little Egret was giving good views from the road at Doonbeg bay

Birds In the Doonbeg corner

Along the coast of Doonbeg Harbour the road runs right along the shore to a small corner of tidal mudflat and boulder reef that attracts many bird species.

A few Greenshank, Redshank ,Curlew, Dunlin and Little Egret were to be seen  with a little gem of a Green Sandpiper making a show at distance

Oystercather, Greenshank & Green Sandpiper

8 Little Egret behind the fence. Moyasta

I pulled in at Moyasta Creek to find the bridge area completely fenced off to cars ,walkers and visitors, im disappointed as its a good birdwatching spot.

A got a good distant views of 8 Little Egrets preening on the banks of the creek from up river.

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

Little Egret

A Little Egret just off the road side on Tawin .

Lots of these beautiful birds in this area of Galway bay

Little Gull and Med Gull at the Gull roost. Lahinch Marsh

 At this time of year Gulls of all ages are around the coasts,
The sandbanks at the west end of Lahinch Marsh offer a safe place for Gulls and waders to roost up from the busy beach and dog walkers.
While checking out the roost today , 1 juvenile Little Gull, 1 Juvenile Med Gull which was ringed ,10 Lesser Black backed Gulls , 40 Black headed and 15Common Gull and a Little Egret,a Ruff flew over head and a few Curlew were in the area.

Little Gull (juv) a bird that tends to breed far up in Northern Europe through to russia and Asia

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull ringed at Ladys Island Lake in Wexford on the south eastern tip of Ireland this summer. The breeding colony there is the largest in Ireland and expanded to over 70 pairs this year.
 It is the first sighting of any of the juveniles any distance away from Wexford and it is the first sighting of a UK/Irish ringed Med that I have had from the West of Ireland.

Little Egrets are a regular now on the marsh

Little Egret

In Ireland, the species bred for the first time in 1997 at a site in county Cork and the population has also expanded rapidly since, breeding in most Irish counties by 2010.

Corra-gheal-bheag / Little Egret

In Gaelic Corra-gheal-bheag, In welsh Creyr bach .
Back in times before the 16th century when these languages were spoken as first languages The Little Egret would have been a bird fit for table banquet ,between 16-20th century the birds disappeared in GB and Ireland, hunted for food and feather Plumes for hat fashion .
After seen as an Exotic bird of the Meditereanean and Europe.

In 2002 a pair nested in Wales not far from where i lived . they were the first in a rapid increase of Little Egret to over 750 pairs in 2008. In  1997 a pair bred in Cork  and now they breed in most  Irish counties

Little Egret

A Little Egret searches for food in a flooded field

Wenffrdd Marsh,...morning 2 & the Great White Egret

On our 2nd morning we  were greeted to the marsh by 5 Little Egret and a Great White Egret.
 With the tide being out Photography was difficult

 

 

Great white Egret

 

 

 

 

Little Egret

Common Gull

 We also saw 2 Ruff,a flock of Golden Plover and plenty of Shelduck and Carrion crow ,Lesser black backed gulls and a not so common Common gull

Egret Art

These two pieces ive been working on this week.
Graphical art composed from a pair of photographs taken of a Little Egret.
Not my usual style of art but it seems affective.

Saleen Creek

Saleen creek was interesting even in heavy rain,Med & Black headed gulls,Godwits,Little Egrets, etc, a Canada goose became interested in the crisps i was trying bait the gulls closer to the car with, anyhow didnt stay long