Grey Phalarope x3 Kilkee

  Three very approachable Grey Phalarope were doing their thing in the west end corner of Kilkee beach.

The one I found yesterday at Liscannor never came as close

Juvenile Razorbill - Liscannor harbour

 We were just hanging out together for a small bit.

This juvenile Razorbill was feeding metres off Liscannor harbour and was giving underwater views from above and closeups if you went down the steps, a very tame individual , very busy chasing small shoals of fish 

September Waders

 September weather has brought a good selection of waders to the coast. 

Plenty of Knot with up to 60 birds at Seafield along with 10 plus Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint and the usual Dunlin/Sanderling/Turnstone flock.  Back beaches had Bart tailed and Black tailed Godwits while a Ruff was at Clahane for a week

Icterine Warbler in Kilbaha

After a busy summer of work and Leg injury rehab, there hasnt been much opportunity of much birding over the last few months.

The arrival of an Icterine Warbler in Kilbaha a few days previous was enough to revive the senses and Monday morning I found a few hours to head south.

Didnt need to much leg work as Murf was on site and knew where the bird would show, and it appeared out of the Sycamore Tree , fliitted into the Willows  in between showers for  short but good views

Red Kites

 Just passing through Wales from Swansea to Pembroke, always on the look out for Kites High in the sky.

 I managed to see 5 during my drive.

Red necked Phalarope

 I've waited a few years for an opportunity to get up country and look for Red necked Phalarope.

I was perched up with my Son very early at the viewing spot looking over a marsh alive with drumming Snipe and squeeling Lapwing. Afer a while I was starting to wonder if  I would get to find what I was looking for and then a splendid Male Red necked Phalarope showed at distance in the scope, gone.

I waited again, then as I was watching the Cygnuts, the male Phalarope past by them, gone.

One more show and it was time to settle on the views we had  and move on with a hatrick of all 3 Phalarope species now in the bag.

Ballyea forost Plantation

 A local walk up the road into Ballyea forest plantation would be a regular spring birdwatch for me to take , one of those places that no others sort of visit. 

Lesser Redpoll and Siskin are regular feature, as are  Whitethroat,  Grasshopper warbler, Sedgys and Willow warbler. 

 Handfuls of Cuckoo can be seen and heard.

Purple Herons -Ludo

 Over my couple of days birding in the Ludo I got to see 2 Purple Herons that were a target bird for me to see

My 1st dropped in to a grassy area and seemed to have an eye on airplanes ✈️  approaching the airport and just stayed.

Number 2 was at the early morning roosting near the Stork Heron rookery with Glossy Ibis and Egrets

Woodchat Shrike

A Woodchat Shrike . 

I was in the scrub behind the Sao Lorenco bird hide, Faro looking for Chameleon that inhabit the area, I'd love to find one but I found this Woodchat Shrike which was probably also looking for Chameleons, a wary bird that could stand out but I never got on the right side of the light and it gave me the slip.

Lesser spotted Woodpecker

 My first ever chance you get to take views of Lesser spotted Woodpeckers 

Early morning I came into the Ludo from the top forest road. The Heronry Dirt Road

I had knowledge of LSW could be seen within this area of Faro - but not common

An hour previously to finding this drumming bird I was tracking down Iberian Green Woodpecker which were calling in a Pine wood 🌲 I got to see two but they were always aware of me.

This little fella came out onto a dead tree to drum and call and was still hard to see and find.

As it hammered away another LSW came to an adjacent tree to check out the noise but didn't stay and flew off. This was all happening as Cettis Warbler  bombed me with calls only a few feet away

Iberian Yellow Wagtail .

 After catching up with the Yellow Wagtail (Flava) on my home patch this week at Clahane and what a stunning bird it was I Felt compelled to put out this post of a Yellow Wagtail (iberiae) that I found on a Golf coarse in Faro, Portugal  the week previous.  Two sub species of Yellow Wagtail within the week

Yellow Wagtail at Clahane

A roll of Sea mist came in offf the ocean during the morning which may have brought this migrating Yellow Wagtail to shore. It was feeding well with 3 White Wagtails in the corner at the river entrance.Next day it was gone 

Certainly brightened up the colours of Clahane