Merlin at Clohnahinchy

 A very active Merlin was buzzing about Clohnahinchy beach area trying to catch anything small birds it could surprise, I watched the acrobatics as it chased all the small birds off the reef and field into the air.

 Now trying to photo this at low light is near impossible as the bird is just to quick at directional changes and you loose it, but its great fun

Eider on a Seaweed rock

 A beautifuI morning and I was right out on the sand on a very  low tide at Kilmacreedy end of Lahinch beach.

I could see the female Eider that has been around a few weeks, She was roosting on a rock of seaweed as the tide had retreated and somehow I was on the side of the light.

 I watched as she nibbled along the seaweed but didnt consume it, to me she was filtering organisms and small periwinkles that cling to the weed, maybe a midnight snack left for breakfast

The Twite time at Clahane

Around the first few weeks of November Twite have a habit of dropping into Clahane to feed on seed on the roadside and edges of the sea walls. Linnets also come here in good numbers to do the same thing, but rarely do the flocks mix, the Twite just seem a bit more wary and tend to feed off the road in among the grasses and stones 

Yesterday morning I seen a single Twite , today Clahane  produced 10 Twite that were feeding well along the roadside and boulder field but disappeared after a Kestrel came through .

Siberian Chiffchaff - Kilbaha

 Arrival in the morning at Kilbaha, driving through the village it was evident that that a few small birds were moving around the Pine at Sennis garden.

A few Goldcrest, Chaffinch,, Blackbird, Song Thrush were busy around the thicket as were 2 Chiffchaff, One of which was very dull grey/white in colour, but high up and all that could be seen was underbelly, a shower of rain caused the birds to go to cover, after a while this little fella gave himself up for a moment and identified as a Siberian Chiffchaff

Golden Plover -Loop Head

 Golden Plover at Loop Head.

GPs for short are a gregarious bird that flock into open areas of Plover fields and heather hill of Loop Head during the autumn days into which they blend and can see any approaching threat such as Merlins etc.

 Birdwatchers look into the GP flocks to check for any unusual migratory birds that may join them such as AGP,  Dotterel, Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff breasted Sandpiper etc, all of which has been found here this way in the past.

Juvenile Whitethroat and Chiffchaff

 I was checking a few  new areas of scrub and Sycamores around Hags Head looking for migrant passerine birds of which I managed Two 

At first sight at distance this little fella gave me a small heart rate and a wonder to what I had found .This sculky elusive late juvenile Common Whitethroat (not a bird that I would generally see in October) was with a calling Chiffchaff in a overgrown garden.

SparrowHawk Kill

I picked up this Sparrowhawk as it sounded up calls from a pair of Choughs I was watching, she was landing on posts hunting birds as I followed 

A Hawk overpowering its prey is one of natures spectacles, and trying following a Hawk may end up with the possibility of seeing a Kill.

Its a crazy noisy moment as a Starling is selected . The screeches as it is caught in the Talons, the panic of other birds. the Sparrowhawk does its best to over power and pin the bird to the ground, dragging and twisting and smothering the noise with its wings , all while keeping its face away from the Starlings pointed Bill. As the Starling dies it is then taken away to a quiet area to be plucked and eaten and that when we say goodbye.

Hunting along the posts

A quiet spot to eat

AGP at the Fodry

  After battling my way through the lands of the Fodry with only a Buzzard, a flock of Chough and a Snow Bunting flit by ,I was glad to follow in the Golden Plover Flock in as they arrived on the headland calling and circling the fields. I made my way to slightly higher ground so I could get a scope on them, the  juvenile American Golden Plover was with them..

Quick birdwatch around Lahinch Bay

 A glassy sea within Lahinch bay gave an opportunity to see what was out there.

Viewing from the top car park an Eider Duck was alone , 5 Red throated Divers were also around the area with a few more out in deeper water with a juvenile Dolphin.

Across the bay the Common Scotor flock were back in their wintering area with a count of 40, small numbers of Razorbill were also scattered around the bay.

Later on in the day a Hen Harrier past by sandfield

American Mink at Clahane

 Not the sort of American animal I was looking for  at Clahane but I dont see many Mink.

 The reason I got to see this creature was because it was disturbed by a guy foraging the high tide line next to the river and the Mink took cover under a rock on the reef. I got to watch the stealth of this animal as it watched the man that was 10 ft way ( he didnt see it) even finding time to come out and sniff a washed up gum shield

one crafty animal is all I can say