Trametes versicolor, Turkeytail fungus

Trametes versicolor, Turkeytail fungus (Meaning 'of several colours', versicolor reliably describes this mushroom found in different colors) can be found all through the year, but it is most obvious in the winter months when deciduous trees are bare. This very variable fungus grows mainly on dead hardwood, including stumps and standing dead trees as well as fallen branches.
These annual bracket fungi can be found all the year round, but they are at their best in autumn and winter, which is when they release their spores.

 

Evening Sunset at Doolin reef

Three days of quality waves at Doolin shared with three fantastic sunsets.

Cold evenings in a crisp clear sky.

Richard Brangwin

An Evening at Lahinch Bay

An evening at Lahinch Bay.

Many of us use the beach and `prom`.

Some walk and swim at sunlight, some walk the dogs during the day, some bring the children to the park

It can be a place to share a moment with a family member, or a place to be alone and gather your thoughts.

Its a blip on the map...but its our blip and we love it.

We all start our walk at village end , we breathe the sea air as we walk north.

Its becomes a peaceful area as the sun goes down.

                                                The dropping tide leaves the slipways

Fieldfare

A flock of Fieldfares gather in trees before decending into the fields surrounding my home.

These nomadic, winteringThrushes will soon return to Scandanavia to breed.

Never an easy bird to get close to.

Great northern Diver - Liscannor Harbour

A quick visit to the harbour gave a chance of a Great Northern Diver photo.

One of 3 Divers here today all in winter plumage.

A few Gulls were on the harbour walls facing the wind

  

Lahinch Marsh. The unknown

Due to inaccessibility Lahinch salt marsh is a unknown to many local people. 

An untouched wildlife refuge,stretching from Lahinch rivermouth all the way up to the Cascades in Ennistymon

Over the years Ive seen Osprey ,Glossy Ibis ,Hen Harriers, Peregrine Falcons, Otters, Kingfishers, Goosanders and various Geese just to mention a few.

 Waders, Terns & Gulls roost on the open sandbanks above the rivermouth , while all the way up the marsh Cormorants and Little Egrets roosts in the wood that overhangs the river.

The marsh is subject to good flooding which fertilizes grass patches,wild flowers such as  Bee Orchids, Pyramidal Orchids, Yellow Rattle and Eye Bright flourish.

Green Sandpiper - Ennistymon

During the winter floods a Green Sandpiper has frequented a pool in a field alongside the main road into Ennistymon.

Ive seen the bird on various days as im doing the school run.

Today the sun was out and the traffic wasnt busy.

I managed a couple of shots out of the car window.

The Rivermouth Bank

A very decent swell was entering Lahinch bay.

I got an early surf at Cregg and my day was done, later on I left the house for a short coast drive.

A very rare sandbank out from the rivermouth was producing top quality rights with just a few lucky surfers out.

This wave may never be seen again.

Jeff (me) at Cregg in the morning

Chaffinch

When the weather is agaist you and time is not on your side , its nice to practice a few photographs in the garden.

To me the male Chaffinch is our most colourful and obliging bird

Pumping Surf

The swells of January continue with a solid swell on the increase after low tide.

The cold month keeps the crowds down as the hardy locals take the the cherry from the pie.

Its our time .

 A lahinch local wouldn`t want to be anywhere else in winter.

morning lines

Breaking January

The waves break all though the first few weeks of January.

Some days the sun would break to heavy rain clouds producing rainbows.

Some days the wind would batter.

The rivers filled.

 Life goes on along the coast,

Herring Gull

As the sun rises

Lahinch salt marsh

Empty beaches  

Shags -Killard Point

Glossy Ibis about

This morning I really wanted to catch up with the 2 Glossy Ibis that had been seen at Lahinch marsh over the last few days.
I scoped the 2 birds in a flooded field across the other side of the marsh below the cattle sheds, so I drove around hoping to get some closer views

Glosy Ibis - Lahinch marsh

Later on in the day I was up along the north coast of Clare , As I approached the Flaggy shore a wader caught my eye in a floded field , I took a quick photo and it was gone.
Later on when checking the photo a Glossy Ibis was in the field next to it...
How did I miss that one?

Glossy Ibis in a flooded fieeld with what is presumed to be a juvenile Greenshank

Happy New Year surfers

Lahinch kicked off the New year with a 4m swell out of the west,with stiff SE winds
The local crew were on it.
Happy New Year

Dexter

Ollie Fla

George Karbus

James Monaghan