Drake Goldeneye

 With not much else on Cullaun Lough this drake Goldeneye  was a pleasure to watch ducking and   diving and an opportunity to use the phone scope .. a new game in my life

 With not much else on Cullaun Lough this drake Goldeneye  was a pleasure to watch ducking and diving

Waders roost at Clahane

 On the high tide the short west facing coastline at Clahane has 4 reef pieces that secure a safe place to roost during the day. Up to 400 Golden Plover can be seen here along with Greenshank, Redshank, Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Curlew, Dunlin and Brent Geese can be seen on  what I call the middle roost.

Two Seal Pups resting at Clahane

  As I was leaving Clahane on the road out I could see Two Seal pups probably around 6 or 7 months old were resting up quite high up on the south side reef at Clahane.

 It had been a stormy week and Id say can be a tiring time for these fellas. I sat myself down on a lower level part of the reef up light  for a few shots and made my way. 

Hooded Merganzer

After a small wait, as the Teal and Wigeon moved out of the reeds and grasses for the open water the Hooded Merganzer came down from upstream were it moved in mingled for a short while before shooting off at speed down estuary.

it was time to move on for the White winged Scoter at Achill, that was a whole different story in crazy weather conditions

Gleninagh Coast

 On the right weather conditions during a cold winter morning, You couldnt find such a peaceful place to be. 

The schrubs are busy with churping Redwings and Blackbirds , but the coastline is hidden and quiet Black throated Divers may come in close to feed with Great northern Divers, Red breasted Merganzers, Shag, distant toward and up the Rhine a female Velvet Scoter was with a small flock of Common Scoter

A Frozen winter swell

A new swell arrives from out in the Atlantic that is met with a light east wind and cold land temperature.

Surfers. People born for extremety. They cant help but push the elements of the weather and ocean.

Lahinch bay birds

On a winters day of no swell and clean ocean due to cold easterly winds Lahinch bay can be at it optimum so see birdlife.

THE large flock of Common Scotor often attracts others such as Velvet Scoter , Scaup and Long tailed Duck. Eider Duck and Great Northern Diver can be seen crabbing while if your lucky a Red throated Diver may come close to shore chasing Dab.











Drake Eider in Lahinch bay

Well happy to come across a Drake Eider at Lahinch beach.

I spotted the bird while in the top car park it was way across the bay so I went over to Kilmacreedy to check it., after venturing down the beach the duck paddled up to Lahinch beach, so back around to the end of the prom to get a look. 

Spotted Redshank

There's only one place I know that I can consistently see Spotted Redshank and that's Corranroo wheres they feed up and down a certain gully and only ever two and you cant get in 100 yards or they just go.

Spot Shanks are a rare bird to the county , I've only seen others at Shannon Airport Lagoon and in a flooded field at Clahane.

Grey Phalarope up close

 As I was on the reef at Clahane I could see a Phal that was possibly photographable. As I approached and  observed up close it seemed unusually sluggish and slow and  I could have picked it up but ive stopped doing that since Bird Flu, now it may have been tired and justly so but it showed symptoms that Ive seen in many birds this year that maybe bird flu. Eventually the bird slowly walked off and sat in a puddle

Puddles of Phalarope

 As I came into Clahane I could see there were several Grey Phalarope feeding among the Black headed Gulls down in the puddles on a dropping tide , as I got there the council had turned up to clear the road of seaweed all with noisy Tractors with flashing lights and reverse warning noise. but after a few flighty moments I thought Id loose them to the ocean but they came together in and around the puddles for a count of 12.

 

Marsh Harrier - O`tooles lough

 I was cruising back toward Corofin , I hung out around O`tooles lough watching the the Fieldfares and Wigeon flocks around the Marsh . I walked further along the road chasing a Redpoll to a gate and caught sight of a male Marsh Harrier  but it was always downlight moving low beneath the tree line as it moved way at any height and it was mobbed by Crows.

 Through the binoculars it seemed to have a pale head and silvery parts through the upperwing and tail  as shown in photo 2 , but overall a dark bird. 

Fieldfares and Redwings in the Burren lowlands

 

I was around the lowland Burren areas from Corofin to Tubber and the shrubbery was packed in an explosion's of Fieldfares and Redwings that were feeding on the Berries of Mountain Ash , Yew Trees and every visible berry tree available, there certainly seems to be a good harvest out there and the winter thrushes are taken advantage.

The weather was generally warm, and Dragonflies were seen at lough Muchanagh,

 Yes winter thrush and draonflys did seem a bit off