The Tree Sparrow families

While wandering the coast looking for birds, I checked a local castle to see if the Tree Sparrows were there, they were not.

I had an idea that they would be around the horse fields close to the coast.

I came across a flock of Linnets that contained a few Tree Sparrows, at a closer look though it was several families of Tree Sparrows with a few Linnets and all were were feeding young among the grass seed and bails,highest count I had was 18 birds all in the same area of field feeding.

Tree Sparrows with young are forever on the watch and always keep their distance.

They are Great!

Gleninagh Mt , North Burren

When a report of a Snowy Owl sighting comes from the Burren ,I generally try to make an effort to go to the area and hope to see Her.

Ive seen Her in the past and will always have the desire to find and experience  her again.

I stick to my old quote:

 "If you dont go, You dont see

If you dont look , You cant find"

Here are some photos and views of area of Gleninagh mt at the north of the Burren.

Snowy Owl habitat. 

 Its hard going on the loose wet limestone rocks, its a silent world, Goats appear in the Mist, mad selections of wildflowers, a Silver washed Fritilary  floats past .

A family of Wheatear and a few Whitethroat were the best of the small birds

 A Sparrowhawk was carrying prey to a nest in low hazel, a pair of Kestrels were hunting together. Silence was broken by my steps and the Croaks from the Raven, but no Owl was seen today.

Falcon fly over Lickeen Lake

On my way back from the Burren, I was driving near Lickeen Lake on the high rd to the south.

This Falcon circled above me, I managed to get 2 shots off before I lost the bird.

I pulled the shadows out of the photo to show what I believed to a Hobby and that I believe to be a 2nd CY or 3rd Summer bird.

Could it be my 2nd for the county and 5th Hobby this year.

Or is it some other species of Falcon???

 
  UPDATE.

Now, a day later and through the help and interest from friends, Mentors and outside influences we have a conclusion that the bird is of Generel Kestrel shape and in active primary moult, making it odd,weird looking, yet interesting to say the least.

Heading update from Hobby to Falcon.

Birds at the Martello tower pool at Auganish Island

A hot day on a lengthy spell of good weather.

The pool at the Martello tower on Auganish Island was low in water,

quite busy and noisy.

Sandwich Terns and Gulls were using the saftey of the mudbanks for the juveniles.

A few Common Tern use the rocky outcrops , 7 Little Egrets fished the shallow water, a few Ringed Plover were also present.

All birds were expected but.....where were the Greenfinches that are usually here??

House Sparrow ringed

I was watching the Sparrows at the Graveyard near Liscannor when I noticed this Male with a white ring on its right leg

Willow Warblers

Familys of Willow Warblers are moving through the vegetation , adults calling between themselves as they quickly search for grubs.

Seabird colony at Loop Head

The seabird colony at Loop Head seems to be thriving.

Large numbers of Guillemot pack the ledges and the sea below.

Some Razorbills were higher up in more peaceful areas of the Cliff face.

Bridled Guillemot in the bottom right of this photo

Razorbills

Secrets of a small Castle.

Throughout the countryside are small Castles, Holds, Towers and Keeps that stand alone in a quiet  timeless fashion out in open fields devoid of Human life that once depended on them.
I made a visit to this castle in the dark early hours.
Barn Owls, Kestrels, Tree Sparrows, Swifts and Starlings were all nesting in the old building with a  pair of roosting Ravens
 Night singing birds such as the Cuckoo, Skylark, Sedge Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler were singing from surrounding reed and borders
Stonechat, Blackbird, Reed Buntings and Tree Sparrows were roosting together in a  nearby thicket of Willows and all showed at 1st light
A black Fox was in the next field and the Gulls and Woodpigeon arrived early to the fresh mowed fields

Sedge Warbler

Tree Sparrows

A terrible photo taken at night of my 1st confirmed Barn Owl sighting.

Myself and my son collected a few Barn Owl pellets to check out what we could find within.
We believe legs from Starling and skull from a Vole.