Kilmore Gulls

Took a spin out to Kilmore Quay today for what was most likely my last trip of the year. The Sib. Chiff. that had been on show was unfortunately not showing itself when I got there so I headed of to the harbour to scan for gulls. There were plenty of Great Northern Diver inside and outside the harbour and I had a high count of 15. Moving towards the monument I picked up a 1st winter Glaucous Gull on the shore. Then on to the high car park where a few twitchers had collected and were watching a very graceful Kumliens Gull, also 1st winter. A cold and blustery day but worth it for the year tick Glaucous and the lifer Kumliens!

Great Northern Diver

Kumliens Gull

Kumliens Gull

Kumliens Gull

Kumliens Gull

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Kumliens (left) and Glaucous (right)

Kumliens Gull

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Red Squirrel

Headed for JFK Arboretum today in the hope of finding some Red Squirrel. Heavy rain and wind nearly cancelled the trip but sticking it out paid dividends as the weather eased and with the help of ranger Ken Foley I was able to find and photograph this amazing little animal.

    

  

Watch this space!

Took my sx50 with me today, as I was in wexford to take care of some business, just in case! On my way out of Ardcavan , from the car, I spotted a large white bird on its own in a reedy field . By the time I had stopped and gone back it had gone, but judging by its size (Grey Heron- (Albino? - surely not)) I am nearly sure it was a Great White Egret! I finished my business in town and walked back out to where I had spotted it but couldn't find it again. I continued out to the Wildfowl Reserve and informed the wardens and asked them to keep me posted if there are any more sightings so fingers crossed and as I say - watch this space!
My trip wasn't in vain however as on the way through Ardcavan I found two Buzzard, one of which posed with a magpie, giving a good indication of the size of these fantastic birds, and at the reserve I got a few nice pics of a very calm and confiding Kingfisher. The sx50 is great but the more distant shots are a bit grainy and I wish i'd had my d7000 for the close up kingfisher but still delighted.

Elusive Spoonbill at Dungarvan

I had to 'See a man about a dog' in Waterford today so I decided to leave early and travel on to Dungarvan first in the hoping of finding the resident/ returning Spoonbill. I had been in contact with Richard Zamora and he gave me a few pointers about its favoured location.
I arrived at ten thirty, just at high tide, and set up my scope, behind the pitch and putt, checking the roosting gulls on the Cunnigar as suggested. I stayed here for the best part of three hours but with the weather worsening and only a nice but distant pair of long-tailed duck and a passing peregrine to show for it I had all but given up hope and had even packed up my scope. I decided to cast a final eye over the Cunnigar with my bins and as I did I saw two people walking the shore.
I unpacked and reset the scope and followed the shoreline as the gulls, waders and cormorants scattered. With the tide now receding a few settled near me on the spit behind the pitch and putt. But still no spoonbill!!  Finally I spun the scope around to search the reed beds at the end of the track and at last my luck was in, the Spoonbill was there close to shore and giving great views before finally returning to roost with the gulls on the spit. A wet, windy and miserable day but another lifer for me and I certainly left with a spring in my step!

 

 

Ibis and a show

On my last trip to see the Isabelline Shrike with M.P. a quick visit was paid to tacumshin in the hopes of finding the Glossy Ibis that had been spotted recently. Time was a factor that day and unfortunately we missed it. Seeing news that it was still frequenting the east-end area we decided to take another spin down for a better look. We didn't have to wait long as just as we left the car at the high carpark the Ibis flew in. It was kind enough to let us set up the scope and get a few pics on the ground then a few nice, morning sun lit, shots before flying off towards the east-end pool.

We then left and crossed the lake and by the time we got back to the east end pool area the ibis had returned giving us a chance for a few more quick pics.

 

We then headed for the Forgotten Corner where we picked up a Kestrel, a Buzzard and a Hen Harrier. On our way back we stopped off at the monument for a snack where we witnessed an incredible performance from a peregrine hunting a blackwit. From its initial chase past us at the monument to its stoop and aerial manoeuvers high above us to the godwit finally ditching itself in the lake it truly was breath-taking.

 

 

W.W.R.

Had some time to kill so I took my first trip of the autumn to the wildfowl reserve today. thought a species list might be interesting so here it is!

Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Gadwall, Shelduck, Red-breasted Merganser, Shoveler.
Coot, Moorhen. Little Egret, Heron. Great Northern Diver, Cormorant.
Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe. Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier.
Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull.
Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Blackbird, Sparrow.
Hooded Crow, Jackdaw, Rook, Magpie. Starling. Wood Pigeon. Pheasant
Lapwing, Golden Plover, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe.
White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Brent Goose. Mute Swan.

49 Species in all, not too bad!

Shoveler

Hen Harrier

Another day, another tick

Mega news this week with the arrival of an Isabelline Shrike at Rostonstown in Wexford, only the fifth Irish record. Didn't make it out on Sunday but thankfully the little beauty decided to stay for a second day so myself and M.P. went down to try our luck. It had been frequenting the yard and horse paddock but wasn't showing. A number of other twitchers there thought it had moved slightly further north and it was picked up again, preening in the gorse opposite the farm. Thanks to Dave Daly who found it at its new location and allowed us use of his scope as it was quite distant. Other sightings on the day included a Kestrel and a Buzzard at Ladys Island and a female Hen-harrier  at Tacumshin.

Canon sx50

I recently purchased the sx50 from Canon after much deliberation. I was looking for a bridge camera to give me a bit more reach than my 300mm dslr. I wont be casting the nikon away just yet but the sx50 is a nice little camera with superb zoom and should come in handy for distant birds. Heres a couple of shots from a quick walk to bannow bay today which gave my first ever green sandpiper.

South Slob

Took a spin out to the South Slob in Wexford today to see if any summer birds were still here or any of our over-wintering birds had arrived. Luckily there was both. In the field by the small bridge near the lake I picked up two Wheatear and one late Swallow. Further out in the same field were a flock of 19 Whooper Swan and as I was watching them 6 Brent geese flew over towards the north slob.

Whooper Swan

There were large flocks of Reed Bunting and several flocks of up to twenty Goldfinch moving between thistle patches. These flocks came in useful as on two occasions when they rose up noisily they alerted me to the presence of a couple of raptors- firstly a Sparrowhawk near the causeway, then a Hen Harrier around the pines near the farm.

Sparrrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

Moving on, I headed for the bridge over the channel where I've seen Kingfisher before but haven't been able to get a pic. Today must have been my lucky day. Sneaking up at a near crawl I scanned the over-hanging branches and rocks. I found what I was hoping for and got a couple of decent shots before being noticed.



 

 

 

Moving on I found a lone Golden Plover in the field after the roofless barn and scanning the farm, fields and trees from the railway bridge I found 2 high circling Buzzard, 9 more Whooper and another Wheatear. Crossing the causeway on the way back I saw two Grey Plover, 6 Red-breasted Merganser and 13 more Brent.

 

Golden Plover