During a storm at Clahane

 Clahane is a good place to visit during a storm, Birds get blown in off the sea and Clahane offers various types of shelter and access to food and water . Today a hungry Redwing was feeding behind the shelter of the sea walls and seaweed corner

An adult Great northern Diver was  blown in and overhead by a strong west.

A pale bellied Brent Goose was feeling alone and looking very tired on the reef.

Great Northern Diver in Summer plumage

It's May and most of the Great Northern Divers have migrated North,  but a handful of birds can still be seen within Lahinch bay and they are in spectacular summer plumage.

Eiders and Divers at Moy beach

I was down on Moy beach checking the surf which was small, a nice day with an offshore wind I checked the birds within the bay of the  TVseries `Smother`.

The  two Eiders that had over wintered the otherside of Lahinch bay were here as were 3 Red throated Divers, 6 Great northern Divers, a few new spring Lesser Black backed Gulls. 

Great northern Diver

That dull greyish bird that floats around beaches and harbours during winter

 moults into summer plumage during April and May and becomes a striking elegant bird.

Every year at this time I chance seeing a full summer plumage bird before they head off up the North to breed.

There is still a few birds left in Lahinch bay,  but the next wind from the south will see them off till next winter

Great Northern Diver in early morning light

 Early morning at Corsiva Harbour on a windless glassy sea , for me there is no better place to observe Divers.
This bird was nearly in full summer plumage ,I watched why it fished the shallows for crabs.
There were plenty more Divers further offshore moulting winter feathers in rafts readying to make there way north  to breed

The Raft of Loons

On the Flaggyshore searching the cold choppy waters far offshore for Sea Ducks, a nice raft of Great northern Divers drift passed by with the wind

November morning in Kilbaha

A early morning at Loop Head Lighthouse grounds was quiet with only a few Redwing and Song Thrush around, a Great northern Diver flew over the Headland

I quickly returned back to the gardens where earlier I saw a Yellow browed Warbler, Goldcrest and Great Tit opposite Keatings on my drive through,which  after a short while I relocated the same three birds in the trees behind The Rural Resettlement, but they remained within the treetops and were elusive.
I stayed around the gardens for a few hours and more numbers Finches ,Robins, Tits and Thrushes were coming through, all on the move

Great northern Diver `The submarine`

This elegant Great northern Diver was fishing the incoming tide at Liscannor harbour

It wasnt to bothered that I was sitted on the harbour steps at water level, as long as I kept still.

I wonder if JP Holland back in 1875 sat on these steps while he invented the Submarine.

Start of the winter birds

You can feel the cold coming , November showers mixed with chilly winds.
Winter visiting birds are now flooding in to the country as the north starts to enter winter.
Great Northern Divers are entering the bays and a few colour ringed  Purple Sandpipers start to turn up at Seafield.

Great northern Diver - Liscannor Harbour

A quick visit to the harbour gave a chance of a Great Northern Diver photo.

One of 3 Divers here today all in winter plumage.

A few Gulls were on the harbour walls facing the wind

  

GND B&W in the rain

A Great northern Diver was fishing of Seafield Pier.

The weather was again awful , windy ,no light . You could even get out of the car due to heavy rain.