Skua b4 work

The next morning we called in to The bridges of ross for a morning seawatch before work
There was a good passage of Manx and Sooty Shearwater and this Arctic Skua came in close  under the headland for a photo.

A few shoreline waders

Dunlin and Knot were quite showy and tame along the shoreline of Tacumshin lake

An Adult summer Grey Plover showed out in the shallows near the sluice

Dunlin

Grey Plover

Knot

Hen Harrier -East End

I was in Wexford for monday and as always I visit Tacumshin lake.

After a long walk around the lake and the heat upto 24` (we dont get that in Clare) I arrived back at the car park for a rest ,sandwich and drink.

It was in my mind that a Harrier could pass through, and sure enough this bird came gliding over the swamp and reed beds of the East end pond.

Birds In the Doonbeg corner

Along the coast of Doonbeg Harbour the road runs right along the shore to a small corner of tidal mudflat and boulder reef that attracts many bird species.

A few Greenshank, Redshank ,Curlew, Dunlin and Little Egret were to be seen  with a little gem of a Green Sandpiper making a show at distance

Oystercather, Greenshank & Green Sandpiper

kingfisher -Lahinch Marsh

Juvenile Lesser black backed Gull

 Juvenile Lesser black backed Gull.

8 Little Egret behind the fence. Moyasta

I pulled in at Moyasta Creek to find the bridge area completely fenced off to cars ,walkers and visitors, im disappointed as its a good birdwatching spot.

A got a good distant views of 8 Little Egrets preening on the banks of the creek from up river.

Adult Arctic Tern -Clahane

 In the morning I dropped in at Clahane for a hours birdwatch before work.
Delighted to see a Adult Arctic Tern resting up on the reef below the steps with Black headed Gulls.
The Common Sandpiper was still present as were a few Curlew and 30+ Oystercatcher as were the growing numbers of Kelp fly eating road birds(Pied Wag, Rock&Meadow Pipits , Wheatears and Starlings)

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

 In the rain near the car park of the surfers entrance of Doughmore beach, Doonbeg.

I was watching a busy Sedge Warbler continually gathering insects in a long meadow patch of Reed and Willow herb, 

It kept returning to this Juvenile who was in much better looking shape than its parent.

Adult Sedge Warbler

Common Sandpiper - Clahane

A single Common Sandpiper was along the  high tide shoreline of Clahane .

A change on the coast at Clahane

A day or so ago Clahane was quite of birdlife apart from the usuals.
An overnight storm with heavy rain wind and lightning passed from the Atlantic over the country.
I like to visit Clahane and Liscannor for birds after these storms.
The high tide encloses the kelp flies high on the shoreline , Gulls feed in the sea wash and seaweed while numbers of Swallows and House Martins hawk along the road and high tide mark.
Wagtails both Pied and Grey have their young here to feed. Juvenile Wheatears and Linnets are now being seen here ,as so was a Common Sandpiper.

Ringed Plover - Clahane

The Ringed Plovers can be seen all year along on our shorelines, strictly a coastal bird

A few pair nest here at Clahane every year, this adult bird was keeping an eye on me as the juveniles roamed the reef.

Pollen faced Starlings

In a garden at Ballyellery,
 A few Starlings were feeding on on New Zealand flax and were covered in Orange pollen.
New Zealand Flax uses birds to pollinate and the Starlings bill shape seems to fit nicely.