Otter at lunch at Lough Atedaun

 I was out at Lough Atedaun just after midday with my 2yr old daughter having a snack, there is a gap in between the trees on the west side of the carpark that I birdwatch through. I could see 4 Mute Swans were staring at the same swampy flood patch then an Otter climbed a rock  `sniffing``....

It entered back into the water and headed in our direction moving through the submerged grasses and reeds, the  Mute Swans moved off togeher..checking behind ( they reminded me of 4 surfers that had seen a Shark on the inside).

Again the Otter came out up on a rock in front of us..sniffing...sniffing, it seemed to have no problem with us, and I was talking to a child! with a few "sshhhhhss and "Come heres" put in. The Otter then swam straight under me , to close to photo made its way to land where it sniffed out a dead bird ,which I think was a Lapwing. I devoured it bones and all in front of me, before being scared of by a Spaniel.  

Migration through and over the Loop

 The day was nice with little wind, I arrived in Kilbaha just before midday , I could see there was a few extra Chaffinch and Great Tit around the harbour , as I made my way up the lane it was evident that a migration of Tits was coming through and over the village from the west, certainly to many to count and photo, just watch as they skip through the bushes and trees and past me, soon each garden was holding numbers of Blue Tits, Coal Tits and Great Tits, Chaffinches were also gathering in numbers.  2 Yellow browed Warblers , 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap and a Goldcrest were in the gardens as was my 1st for the autumn Redwing 

Hen Harrier and Chiffchaffs at Loop

 Its October and every keen birder wants to find a rarity. News of rare birds from headlands and islands makes me get up early and head for Loop Head.

There wasnt much in the way of rare birds or birds for that matter anywhere between the lighthouse and Kilbaha gardens, Ill settle on female Hen Harrier which I found perched on a clump of mud at the west bank, but as soon as the camera was lifted the bird was on the wing and gliding past me.

The weather showed up for an hour and 2 Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap were in Senis Garden with some Blue Tits, Great Tits and Goldfinches

A single Pink footed Goose

 On my way home from Clahane when I was delighted  to spot this Pink footed Goose alone and feeling lost in Sandfield Marsh Liscannor. Its the 3rd time Ive seen this species at this site.

Yellow-browed Warbler. A Call of Autumn

 When your walking the lanes and gardens of Kilbaha on a change of weather looking for small passerine birds, your local senses become aware ,sort of trance`y ...looking for movement in undergrowth and trees and reacting to any calls that might give away a bird.

One such call is that of the Yellow browed Warbler that be heard most years on our headlands during the month of October, If you know what to listen for it helps distinguish the bird from other small hard to see species that like to sculk and hide behind leaves and scrub that are hard to see let alone photograph 

Ruffs, Choughs and Turtle Dove

 

A cold morning on Loop Head with a switch of wind to the NW, not much to see at the lighthouse grounds even Meadow Pipits were in short numbers.

 Choughs seemed to be all over the headland and were in flocks.

The gardens were quiet a mixed flock of Tits and Chaffinch were around Seni`s, then a Turtle Dove flew past me and over a  farm shed onto a wire with Starlings.

Three Ruff were at the Lough with Curlews, Redshanks, GreenShank and a  tame Oystercatcher.

Quilty`s Peregrine Falcon

 Ive seen this Peregrine a few times over the past week hunting the shorebirds between Seafield and Quilty quite successfully. Today at Quilty beach it snatched a Sanderling in front of me  and flew off with it over the reef but never reappeared , so I took a short walk over to the point. As I got there 2 Raven flew in and the Peregrine flew off straight across the bay to the reef under the church carpark. I chanced the bird would sit ,a walk back along the beach keeping an eye on the bird through the bins..when I got to the carpark I got my photos

Basking Sharks Breaching off Loop Head

 I was out on the coast when I bumped into a friend that said she was going to Loop Head to see Breaching Basking Sharks, and I was showed a video of  the event yesterday where 61 breaches were counted in 4 hours...ummming a arring for 10 minutes I was heading south. I decided to go to the tip of Loop Head and  I got to see 5 breaches of the massive sharks

Not my video just a link to show the action

Yellow Wagtail at the lighthouse

Early morning at the lighthouse, a promise of a warm day with East winds. Of coarse theres a morning cloud at Loop.

A Yellow Wagtail made a brief appearance on the lighthouse building, as did 1 Goldcrest among 100z of Mipits, a Buzzard was on a post  along the road soon being harrased by Crows

Merlin , Gnats and a sunset

 I was on Loop head late afternoon with hope of catching up with the Buff breasted Sandpipers that were seen a few hours earlier but it wasnt to be....1 Golden Plover flew over

I could see a bird perched along the cliff top down below the fields and guessed on it being a Merlin and could see cover that I could use to get quite close. I underestimated the midgdy Gnat mix of flies involved in using this cover. No shit it was intense,but the views were unreal and I settle for that ...happily . On my walk back a Starling murmuration was taking place as a Merlin rose up and plucked one. 

Time to watch the sun go down at the lighthouse.