Spring arrivals at Doolin

A short walk down the `Black hole`, the name given to the bay by surfers where Doolin reef  meets the Cliffs of Moher. 

Wheatear and Sand Martins have arrived to join the Meadow Pipits, Stonechat and Linnets that are already building homes along the small patch along where the Aille river meets the sea.

A surprise overhead call gave away a Black tailed Godwit that came off the sea

 

Wheatears at Quilty

 A few Wheatear were on the hightide line on Quilty beach.

 Beautiful birds that are travelling to Africa for winter and one of our first that we will see arrive back in spring. 

With the Wheatears was a much darker bird, a probably a Female  or Greenland Wheatear type that has joined in the extra miles

Time for a Stint around Loop Head

 After a busy summer schedule it was good to find a morning back at Loop head for a bit of birding

I was at the lighthouse at Loop Head early, the headland was very busy in Meadow Pipits and Linnets. 2 juvenile Wheatear were on the wall.

 A Buzzard was on a post near the heather hill, 12 Golden Plover were at the Plover fields.

The gardens showed a sculky Blackcap that was harassed by 1 of 2 Chiffchaff around side of Gibsons 

A Little Stint was at Cloghaun Lough travelling with 2 Dunlin, 2 Snipe were also at the Lough

Green Island

Green Island is a beautiful peace of coastline found at the southside of Lahinch Bay , a great place for a reef walk on a calm evening.

The last of the Whimbrels continue to pass through during the end of May.

A male Wheatear showed on his outlook post.

Spring at Loop Head with Dolphins

Surprisingly it was quiet on The Loop for a Sunday morning.

I wandered behind the lighthouse checking for birds.

While watching a Chiffchaff and a Robin along the fence a Lesser Whitethroat flew over my shoulder and into the bracken beside briefly, moving off ,after 20 mins it came back but stayed low and was impossible to get a shot of.

I sat at the tip of Loop enjoying the peace and a calming ocean with a pod of Bottle nose Dolphins for viewing."magical".

A few Wheatear were about as the song of the Skylark, A Peregrine was on a post surveying the Fodry .

A Purple Sandpiper was a Ross bay

Stormys follow the boat along The Rhine

It was wet and windy from the south, It felt like Autumn.

I was in Ballyvaughan with not much on, I put the weather gear on and headed out to The Rhine.

I watched the Gulls following the Crab Boat from my bit of shelter.

I picked up a Storm Petrel that was following the brown rip current between the island and the boat, It soon joined in on the activity and I got a count of 4.

Whitethroat

Adult Arctic Tern -Clahane

 In the morning I dropped in at Clahane for a hours birdwatch before work.
Delighted to see a Adult Arctic Tern resting up on the reef below the steps with Black headed Gulls.
The Common Sandpiper was still present as were a few Curlew and 30+ Oystercatcher as were the growing numbers of Kelp fly eating road birds(Pied Wag, Rock&Meadow Pipits , Wheatears and Starlings)

A change on the coast at Clahane

A day or so ago Clahane was quite of birdlife apart from the usuals.
An overnight storm with heavy rain wind and lightning passed from the Atlantic over the country.
I like to visit Clahane and Liscannor for birds after these storms.
The high tide encloses the kelp flies high on the shoreline , Gulls feed in the sea wash and seaweed while numbers of Swallows and House Martins hawk along the road and high tide mark.
Wagtails both Pied and Grey have their young here to feed. Juvenile Wheatears and Linnets are now being seen here ,as so was a Common Sandpiper.

Wheatears

Small numbers of Wheatear can still be seen on headlands and coasts as these birds move south on to warmer climates for the winter