3 days R & R on Inis Bó Finne

Spent 3 days on Inis Bó Finne just of Cleggan. A beautiful Island, great walks, great food and brilliant sessions and the Guinness went down so smooth. Also done a bit of birding.

Stonechat
(Saxicola torquata)
Caislín cloch

 

Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
Clochrán

Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
Clochrán

Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
Clochrán

Chough
(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
Cág cosdearg

Chough
(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
Cág cosdearg

Chough
(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
Cág cosdearg

Chough
(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
Cág cosdearg

Oystercatcher
(Haematopus ostralegus)
Roilleach

Cormorant
(Phalacrocorax carbo)
Broigheall

Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
Clochrán

Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
Clochrán

Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
Clochrán

Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
Clochrán

Pied Wagtail
(Motacilla alba yarrellii)
Glasóg shráide

Ballyloughane Beach

A few pics today from Ballyloughane Beach and when the sun comes out the difference it makes to what you looking at and the shots taken. The usual lunatic dog owners on this beach and there is a beach ban on dog during the summer months.

Dunlin
(Calidris alpina)
Breacóg

Bar-tailed Godwit
(Limosa lapponica)
Guilbneach stríocearrach

Bar-tailed Godwit
(Limosa lapponica)
Guilbneach stríocearrach

Dunlin
(Calidris alpina)
Breacóg

Ringed Plover
(Charadrius hiaticula)
Feadóg chladaigh

Meadow Brown
(Maniola jurtina)
Donnóg fhéir  

Meadow Brown
(Maniola jurtina)
Donnóg fhéir   

Rock Pipit at Claddagh

I have tried several times to digiscope a Rock Pipit but they very rarely stay still long enough to get the shot. For some reason they were very cooperative this morning. Shot today with the Lumix G1 and the Coolpix P6000. Also got a shot of an Oystercatcher with a mussel stuck round its bill, future does not look good for this bird.

P6000

Rock Pipit
(Anthus petrosus)
Riabhóg Chladaigh

Lumix G1

Rock Pipit
(Anthus petrosus)
Riabhóg Chladaigh 

Rock Pipit
(Anthus petrosus)
Riabhóg Chladaigh

Oystercatcher
(Haematopus ostralegus)
Roilleach

Oystercatcher
(Haematopus ostralegus)
Roilleach

American Golden Plover

Got a message from Aonghus O'Donaill today about a Stone Curlew out at Inveran. However the bird was only seen for a short while. The American Golden Plover was still there. AGP was found by AOD during the week. This is my third tick this week.

American Golden-Plover
(Pluvialis dominica)
Feadóg Bhuí Mheiriceánach

American Golden-Plover
(Pluvialis dominica)
Feadóg Bhuí Mheiriceánach

  

American Golden-Plover
(Pluvialis dominica)
Feadóg Bhuí Mheiriceánach

Hobby and Wilsons Phalarope up North

My daughter was arriving into Belfast International airport from the US of A this morning so made the journey north yesterday. Had a quick scan at Joe Dolan's site Irishbirds.com to see if there was anything worth while seeing. A Hobby was present for 9 days at Montiaghs Moss, Aghagallon and a Wilsons Phalarope at Belfast Lough, RSPB Reserve. Both birds would be nice ticks to the very short list. Got some great views of the Hobby and just OK views of the Wilsons at the far side of the lough. It was a bit  smash and grab birding but enjoyable. 750km round trip two birds in the bag and the daughter home safe. 

Hobby
(Falco subbuteo)
Fabhcún Coille

Hobby
(Falco subbuteo)
Fabhcún Coille

Hobby
(Falco subbuteo)
Fabhcún Coille

Hobby
(Falco subbuteo)
Fabhcún Coille

Hobby
(Falco subbuteo)
Fabhcún Coille

Hobby
(Falco subbuteo)
Fabhcún Coille

Wilsons Phalarope

(Phalaropus tricolor)

Falaróp Wilsons

A few flight shots etc

Light still very poor for getting some decent shots, good job there's photoshop to lend a helping hand.
Flight shot Sony DSLR A700 70-400 G Lens.

Sandwich Tern
(Sterna sandvicensis)
Geabhróg scothdhubh

Sandwich Tern
(Sterna sandvicensis)
Geabhróg scothdhubh

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg

 Lumix G1

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg

 P6000

Lapwing                                                                          Redshank(Vanellus vanellus)                                                  (Tringa totanus)Pilibín                                                                           Cosdeargán

God helps us with some dog owners

Went out to Claddagh beach over the weekend for a few more Tern shots with the digiscoping rig. But could not get over the amount of dogs allowed by their owners to gallop and chase birds up and down the beach. One lady must have had 6 dogs and not a leash in sight. There is a law whereby a dog must be on a leash in public area. Of course there were some responsibly dog owners.

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg

Sandwich Tern
(Sterna sandvicensis)
Geabhróg scothdhubh

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg

Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Geabhróg