The Bishops Curlew

It happened to be a mega low tide while I was in Ballyvaughan and even though birdlife was busy, it was mainly Gulls on show, not many small waders to be seen.
I went to Bishops quarter beach and caught up with the returning  Albino Curlew that habits the shore here (I think about 8 years now...must find out).
This season it seems to have a few marks , certainly on the left wing where it seems to have a normal coloured Curlew feather, a spot on the right wing and a bit of wear on the breast, maybe due to moult I wouldnt know.
For me its still a striking bird and brightens any dull day.

Juvenile Lesser black backed Gull

I was birdwatching at Liscannor Harbour watching a dark Gull some distance out on the sea, the light wasnt the best ,but the bird was busy harassing Herring gulls.
After a while the Gull flew passed the harbour and down toward the reef to where other Gulls were feeding on the high tide.
I felt compelled to not give up and headed over to get better views of what turned out to be a dark juvenile Lesser black backed Gull

Playful Juvenile Shags

At the mouth of Ballyvaughan harbour over a 100 juvenile Shags were hanging out and they seemed to be in a playful mood giving great views

Morning of Manx and Skua from The Bridges of Ross

An endless stream of Manx Shearwaters really, would some up this mornings seawatch at The Bridges of Ross.
A few dozen Sooty Shearwater , 3 Great Shearwater, 3 Pomarine Skua , 5 Bonxies and 1 Arctic Skua were the best of it for myself.

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

Juvenile Med Gull

This juvenile med Gull has been around Clahane for over 10 days now.
Still mixing it up on the reef with Black headed Gulls, making chick like mewing calls for food.

Sandwich Terns and shorebirds

An afternoon wander in the sun took me to Aughinish.

A Stoat was hunting the sea wall on the causeway, but even with a few sightings i never got the camera on it.

50 Sandwich Terns gathered on the exposed rocks and dry sandbanks of the pool that is low in water

Shorebirds around the pool and seashore included Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Redshank, Turnstone, Little Egret and Shelduck

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Clahane 18 \7 \18

Its been a while since I have had anytime to get out along the coast and birdwatch. So I stopped in at Clahane back a few days ago to check my local patch.
A juv Kittiwake along with a Med Gull were feeding the high tide among 200 Black headed Gull
The other side of the road Reed Buntings , Rock Pipits and Stonechats all with young kept busy,
Further up the reef on the middle roost a few Sandwich Terns one with a silver ring on right leg

Kittiwake imm

Med Gull

Reed Bunting

Stonechat

Sandwitch Tern