2013 Birding Round-Up

What a year that was! I had decided at the start of the year do try my first 'year list'. I tried to travel around as much as possible but with no car that wasn't always possible but for the majority of my findings, thankfully, it looks like Wexford was the place to be. Three separate Shrike species, one of which (the Red-backed) I found myself and am very proud of, a long waited for Long-eared Owl, a very elusive Corncrake, a very distant but scoped and tickable Golden Eagle, and a rather curious looking bird, the Wryneck, are perhaps my highlights but it was a great year birding so its very hard to choose. My tally finished, on Dec 30th, with a Kumliens Gull at Kilmore Quay. That put me up to 177 species for the year (a staggering 39 of which were 'lifers' for me - that list now stands at 201!). Here's a few of my favourite photos from during the year. I hope, kind reader, you like my blog. I appreciate the page views and who knows what 2014 has in store.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Citrine Wagtail

Great Skua

Glossy Ibis

Kumlien's Gull

Kingfisher

Little Stint

Blue-headed Wagtail

Waxwing

Red Kite (untagged)

Long-eared Owl

Osprey

Corncrake

Great Skua

Bearded Reedling

Red-backed Shrike

Cuckoo

Red-backed Shrike (phonescoped)

Gull-billed Tern (phonescoped)

Pectoral Sandpiper

Wryneck

Spoonbill
 

Woodchat Shrike

 

Mediterranean Gull

 

 

 

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!