Common Seal Pup

Merlin

A took a quick visit to Loop Head again this morning.
The weather wasnt the best, with strong East winds and rain.
I was lucky just to get these distance shots of a Merlin in the bad light.
I always enjoy seeing Merlins they`re magic.

Shorebirds at Seafield

The tide was dropping from high ,and the exposed shoreline was being exploited by the small waders. One Little Stint was feeding with the Dunlin and Sanderling.
They were to busy to take much interest in me.

Little Stint

Dunlin

Sanderling vs Dunlin

Sanderling vs Dunlin

Little Stint

Sanderling

Rock Pipit

Sanderling

Back at the Loop

On arrival in Kilbaha village a bunch of Chiffchaffs and a Willow warbler were feeding and singing in the gardens.

I made my way to the headland where  6 Barnacle Geese past over, and a Brambling has seen  and chased off by the Pipits

The usual gathering of Robins and Pipits scattered the headland , There were plenty of Choughs about and the Raven as usual harassed the peregrine.

Back down to the harbour a Brambling was with Chaffinchs in the trees above The Pandas Cottage

Willow warbler

Brambling

Chiffchaff

Barnacle Geese

Swainsons Thrush -Loop Head

4-10-2014    Swainsons Thrush -  Loop Head, Clare, Ireland

I had arrived at Loop Head at 16:30 pm in hope of seeing the Dotterel that had been found earlier in the day.I met up with Dave Mcnamara who had seen the bird earlier with Golden Plover

The weather was warm and dry ,the wind was approx 10- 15 mph out of the west with clouds building.

We searched the heather hill with no luck, we decide to walk the north side of the headland to the pond below the fodry , there were not many birds to be seen ,One Peregrine ,Two Raven ,five Teal ,Two Wheatear a few Chough and Pipits.We moved to search a few fields on the south side but still no sign of The Dotterel or the Golden Plovers..

At 18:15 we parted and I returned back to the lighthouse carpark.

A Raven had landed on the heather hill and I could hear the calls Of The Golden Plover. I knew I did not have much time before I would run out of daylight and a clouded sky full of colour filled the air.  I walked over to the hill to the sounds of the Plovers ,18:40 I set my scope and found the Dotterel with them . It began to rain heavy and  the wind increased. I packed up and headed for the car.

The rain past as I left the car park , I drove slowly down the road in hope of seeing a late Merlin or something.

Original uncropped photo

19:00. A small bird came off the sea and out of the clouds ,It passed across the front of my view and hit the bank on my right ,it fluttered around and then flew low and direct for 30 metres down the road before landing on the low bank to my left. I rolled the car forward.

The bird was  facing me.

I scrambled for the binoculars not knowing what I was looking at. I knew I needed an ID shot. I grabbed the camera, set the ISO to 3200 because of the lack of light and took a photograph through the car  windscreen. It was the only photograph I got as the bird flew into a nearby thicket just off the road.

I got out of the car and searched around but it was just to dark.

That evening it was confirmed as a Swainsons Thrush.
A North American species, a 5th Irish record and a 1st for the county.

In the words of Eminem
Look if you had one shot ,one opportunity
To seize everything you ever in one wantdone moment
Would you capture it or let it slip?
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
Opportunity comes once in a lifetime.

Little Stint

I was back at Seafield again this morning to see the waders .
A single Little Stint was feeding along  the shoreline with Dunlin and Turnstone.

          

Curlew Sandpipers -Quilty

A few Curlew sandpipers are still to be seen on the shorelines of Quilty and Seafield

Speckled Wood Butterfly

Plenty of Speckled Wood Butterflys can be seen at The Glebe woodland walk, Ennistymon

Burren Goats

While taking a few family members through a tour of the Burren , we came across a herd of 22 Feral Goats in the Caher valley , the `bucks` or Billy Goats were quite impressive creatures and approachable from down wind.

Clahane

A nice morning at Clahane, the warm spell continues 

Several juvenile Wheatears were feeding along the wall and seaweed,with Rock Pipits and wagtails

Three Chough were still around the field and small flocks of juvenile Linnet were roaming the high reef and roadside for seed and water

Morning at The Loop

Early morning scenery at Loop Head

Back at Seafield

I was back at Seafield again this morning on the high tide.
Hundreds of juvenile Ringed Plover mixed with Dunlin, Sanderling and small numbers of Curlew Sandpiper were running the shoreline wash.

Curlew Sandpipers at Seafield

  On the dropping tide at Seafield this morning .

 3 Curlew Sandpipers and a Ruff joined the parties of Ringed Plover,Dunlin ,Sanderling and other local waders to rumage for food in the seaweed that covers the shoreline