The very loud Croaky call of the Great Reed Warbler seems to come from every reed bed surrounding Lampadis lake . The call of one individual could be heard from our apartment and with weather like this its time to sit at the lake and take it in
At least 10 of these birds were bellowing out song in the small patches of Reed beds .
Within these woodlands Wood Warblers are numerous, easy to see once you follow their song. tricky to photo within the shade of the woods.
Also within the woods Icterine Warblers are heard with there song that sounds like a squeeky dog toy, but can be quite high up, making them difficult to observe through the branches
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| Wood Warbler |
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| Icterine Warbler |
I was out early for a 6km walk along the shoreline of Lampedis lake upto Nemuno ir Nevezio santakos Krastovaizdzio draustinis nature preserve.
Abundant Great Reed Warblers stood out with loud calls among the reed patches. along the route.
As I came to the meadows , Whinchat , Yellowhammer, Wheatear , Rosefinch, Goldfinches.
A White winged Tern made a brief apperance over a fish pond that a Goldeneye was hanging out in.
Also close to the fish pond was a Red backed Shrike which got away to the otherside.
A Deer made a splash and crossed a river in front of me.
A really good morning of birding.
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| Whinchat |
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| Common Rosefinch |
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| Red backed Shrike |
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| Great Reed Warbler |
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| Whinchat |
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| Goldeneye |
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| Icterine Warbler |
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| White winged Black Tern |
Toward the evening I took the kids down to the lake for a paddle after a long hot afternoon.
I was sitting around listening to Reed Warblers when I called "Look lads an Otter"....big ,I thought to myself...." OMG its a Beaver" and it was carrying a kit..
It swam past me 3 times to my amazment
We arrive in Kaunas airport at 1.45 pm. An easy bus ride and short Taxi took us to our apartment alongside Lampedis lake.
I was straight out for a short river walk.
Tree Sparrows are common , a few Lesser Whitethoat were to be had as were a few noisy Great Reed Warblers that were within the small patches of Reed along the lake shore.
A surprise Little Bittern made a quick fly by between reed beds
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| reed warbler |
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| Little Bittern |
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| Lesser Whitethroat |
I got up early to catch up with Murf who had found s pair of Blue winged Teal in a swampy field across from his home.
There they were,
Beautiful day, really nice views of a pair of North American Duck , a catch up and chat , a few ID shots .....great.
I moved the car for better views and photos, the ducks vanished and didn't re appear as they had been up all morning feeding.
I checked my camera to find all my settings off and photos dark
I managed yo lighten a few photos on the computer
You live you learn.
I was down a Spanish point doing a bit of Surfing, The Easterly wind had blown up and the ocean became un-surfable.
I was making my way back to Lahinch along the coast road near Reneen when birds in the air along the coast caught my eye and one was massive, I knew instantly it was a White Stork. It was being mobbed by Hooded Crows and Starlings as it struggled to stay overland .
I pulled the car in as I followed and got a few photos as the bird battled the wind, again we moved along a few hundred metres to the next pull in as the Stork lifted banked back over my self and over Moyhill.
An incidental sighting and a County Clare 1st record
For a few nights they were calling across the field. Ive had them close on my land but never seen .
My young daughter exited to stay up for a midnight walk and listen to the calls of the wild.
With contact with the local farmer we put up a Trail cam to see what box could be possibly be being used.
