Red crested Pochard - belated

A Red crested Pochard from back in October 2019 in Wales.

Didnt have one on the blog and people enjoy them.

 They are a good looking species, a reason why there are so many collections at Wildlife parks and Zoos

Glaucous Gull, Storm Dennis

Storm Dennis at 60mph crashes into Clahane,
 A Glaucous Gull is caught in the wind and blown over the flooded fields.
It made its way back to the cover of sea wall crashing into the seaweed that covered the road.
For some stupid reason I wanted a photo and made it to the cover of the wall. This Gull wasnt scared of me and looked very hungry but wanted to stand his ground, I didnt stick around as I was soaked and had to make it back to the car

Hen Harrier cruising Lickeen

I was making my way toward a local Hen Harrier roost for the evening with time to spare and being a little early I was cruising slowly upto the top of the (dodgy Kestrel) hill not far from home south of Lickeen lake when this Adult male Hen Harrier cruised across the bog road. I stopped the car got out and managed some good views.

An hour later at an undisclosed location  15 minutes north I had another 4 sightings of 2 more Males , one being a possible 3cy bird..

5 sightings 3 birds in 2 hours from home. plus a few Woodcock 

Abbey Hill

I somehow had the morning to myself, wondering what to do, looking at my phone when bing ...a report of a Snowy Owl came through. The bird had been seen and photo`d at Abbey Hill, North Clare yesterday afternoon.

No better excuse to get out, nice weather and a south breeze.

Abbey Hill has a designated car parking area at the start of  a very popular walk and with views from these North Burren Hilltops that are second to none.

The only wildlife of note on the hill top was a small flock of 28 Golden Plover.

View of Bell Harbour from Abbey Hill westside

Burren Landscape looking North over Aughanish and on toard Galway and bay

Corranroo to the North East

Rose ringed Parakeets -Hyde Park London

I spent a morning in Hyde Park London.

Now for me being a very rural birdwatcher living out in the country,Urban birding felt very strange thing for me to doing, then you come across these fellows the feral Rose ringed Parakeet.

So like it or hate it?
On personal note, they captivated me for a morning and I really enjoyed the spectacle they put on.
The calls from the tree tops, small flocks flying over head, individuals being hand fed, the colours and cheeky Parrot syndrome.
I Enjoy them, but at a guess Id say they could be quite destructive.
With a obvious stable population and being non migratory they are there to stay and increasing
They are now in the same class with Collared Dove, Little Owl, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Feral Pigeon etc.

Fog bog Crows

I was on the bog for a Hen Harrier roost watch but the Fog was thick and the visibility was very poor.

This pair of Hooded Crow came to check me out, even they were wet and miserable, but somehow they make a make a living up here.

But thats life on top of a bog.

Pink footed Goose with Greylags

A Pink footed Goose was with 3 Greylag Geese in the marshland opposite the Pitch n put along Liscannor road. A good chance that they blew in on the previous storm this weekend.

Greylag Goose

Pink footed Goose

Iceland Gull. As the weather changes

The morning was clear and the tide was approaching high.

As I passed Lahinch on my way south along the coast a low heavy sea mist came in.

It was now wet with a stiff breeze and a real winter feeling.

 I passed Quilty on the road to Seafield.

Plenty of Gulls were in the air and around the hightide wash,

This Iceland Gull popped up on the wall with a few Herring Gulls

Eider and the Long tailed Duck

 I was cruising the Clare coast looking for birds , I knew of an Eider that has been seen in Kilkee so I parked up and checked the bay.
 The Eider was only a few metres off the beach ,as I walked down to get some photos  a Long tailed Duck joined the Eider whom at 1st wasnt to impressed and hunted the LtD which gave me some flight shots, but it all soon calmed down