Spotted Redshanks and Waterrail

 With good day of North east winds and a very low water level , Lough Atedaun is showing a lot of Birdlife. 2 Spotted Redshanks a rarety at this site were with a small flock of 8 Ruff.

The low water also tempted Waterrails out into the open, a bird we often  listen to but seldom see.

I came back the next day ! Spotted Redshank remained with Ruff but distant a Green Sandpiper made its way along the southside and 2 Kingfishers were on chase

September Waders

 September weather has brought a good selection of waders to the coast. 

Plenty of Knot with up to 60 birds at Seafield along with 10 plus Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint and the usual Dunlin/Sanderling/Turnstone flock.  Back beaches had Bart tailed and Black tailed Godwits while a Ruff was at Clahane for a week

Ruff with Purple Sandpipers

 After mugging around lough Donnell trying to catch up with better views of the Black winged Stilt which we didnt see,, a call into Seafield produced a Ruff with 30 Purple Sandpipers and a 50 flock of Turnstone. Lots of Easter disturbance moving the birds along the beach 

Wilsons Phalarope, SemiP & Pectoral Sandpiper

With not much movement of birds out west here in Clare and with a day off and the promise of good weather I Twithed and hit the road at 4am and headed across country to Tacumshin Wexford , not long after 7am I was wading through the swamp.
I caught up with two local lads KG & AMcM who were looking at a Pectoral Sandpiper on the east side and we headed out past the Patches to find the Wilsons Phalarope up in the Forgotten corner. A Marsh Harrier past over the reeds
On my way back I got good views of the Semipalmated Sandpiper and easy 10 Curlew Sandpiper.
And that was just up to 10;30 am

Pectoral Sandpiper

Star of the show the Wilsons Phalarope

SemiP in with Dunlin

Curlew Sandpipers a little deeper than the Dunlin

Ruff

After mid day I did a short spell along the eastside,came back and headed over to The Forgotten corner from the other side,
I easily approached looked over the reeds to see the Wilsons Phalarope on a small mud patch with a stack of Redshank and Knot, not exactly what you want due to Redshank panic attacks, add the back light and WaterRails pig squeeling around me and Peregrine Bombs it was some challenge to obtain shots.

Lough Donell

Very rareley is Lough Donnel low in water.When this happens it opens up a new wetlands area .

This afternoon I got to see 2 Spotted Redshank,1 Little Stint,3 Ruff ,12 Knot and plenty of more common wading birds.

Ruff

               

Ruffs at Seafield

 A dull overcast morning at Seafield
A few Ruff  and a single Curlew Sandpiper wade through the shoreline with the smaller peeps ,the busy feeding allowed me quite close in on the wet sand.

Ruff,
Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin and Sanderling

Ruff Justice

The Bird in the middle..........
While back at Quilty beach again , birds were continuing to stop off and pass through.
Some Redshanks and Knot were feeding at lowtide that i noticed were joined by a Ruff, but what was the small pink bird ?
 At distance I thought the bird was a Buff breasted sandpiper , with its colour and smaller size ,especially while standing next to the Ruff..I was convinced."Tell the world".
Later on ..while checking the photos..i now believe this maybe a juvenile Ruff ..

Ruff

A Ruff was eyeing up insects near to the run off tunnel on Quilty beach.....This bird walked into my sight while i was taking a Dunlin photo,.. i was quite suprised, but it did`nt stay long.

Buff breasted sandpiper ,Lough donell

Buff breasted sandpiper with Dunlin

Ruff

Lough donell on a monday morning containing one Buff breasted sandpiper two Ruff and over 50 Snipe, nice to see a vagrant from the americas early in the season , a hard bird to see ,blends in well with the soroundings ,aggresive towards the Snipe