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






Saltees Trip

Having seen reports of migrant Wryneck around the Irish coast and on the Saltees in particular I couldn't resist a trip over to chance my luck at another lifer. Two yellow-browed warbler had been spotted on Saturday but were a no show on Sunday unfortunately.
Just as the boat landed I noticed a few seal pups on the shore, with their mothers paying close attention from the water.

 

Heading towards 'the throne' I picked up a kestrel hunting near the far gannet colony as well as a hen harrier hunting along the hedges and bracken along the northern coast. I had a was a possible lesser whitethroat near 'the throne' but I only got a fleeting glance in poor light so no tick there for me i'm sorry to say. Two chough, a couple of whinchat -my first in Ireland this year- and a single wheatear (not forgetting the hundreds of swallow and large numbers of meadow pipit) were the best from the south side of the island.
I had been given directions for where the wryneck was previously spotted but, after more than an hour searching it was nowhere to be found, however as I headed back towards the house, just as the house/boat paths diverged I noticed movement in the bracken and there it was- feeding along the old stone wall near the path.

 

I headed back towards the house and garden through the palms where I found Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Spotted Flycatcher.

 

I was told there had been a garden warbler seen to the right of the house so went to check it out. Ten minutes in and around the house yielded nothing so I headed down the path towards the boat. Scanning the elderberry trees  I noticed a few more blackcap and then, there, low in the bush was the garden warbler. It stayed here for a time before moving into the sycamores, a nice end to the day and a second lifer!

Barn Owl

Myself and M.P. were given a great opportunity tonight to go and view (and hopefully photograph) three Barn Owl before they were released into the wild. This was my first attempt at manual focus in the dark and it proved quite tricky but I managed to get a couple of shots. What a fantastic bird!