Winter jacket in June!

Very cold weather for past few days and the summer solstice is next week. Strange wearing the winter jacket on Saturday and a little strange to see a pair of Tufted Duck at Waterside. Tired a few flight shots at Waterside but the light was poor. The Sparrow was enjoying the small bit of sunshine on Sunday.

Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Lacha bhadánach

Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Lacha bhadánach

Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Lacha bhadánach

Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Eala bhalbh

Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
Droimneach beag

House Martin
Delichon urbicum
Gabhlán Binne

House Martin
Delichon urbicum
Gabhlán Binne

Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
Gabhlán Gainimh

House Martin
Delichon urbicum
Gabhlán Binne

House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Gealbhan binne

Stonechats are back

Went out to Coursefield on Sunday just for a general look around. Was delighted to see a family of Stonechats about 300 meters down the road. This is my first sighting at Coarsefield for 2 years all due to the recent hard winters of 2010 and 2011.

I got a new digiscoping camera Lumix GH2 so was testing it out. Great camera with video and touch screen. All shots below are taken with the GH2 with 20mm lens on a Nikon Fieldscope 82ED 30x.

Stonechat
Saxicola torquata
Caislín cloch

Stonechat
Saxicola torquata
Caislín cloch

Stonechat
Saxicola torquata
Caislín cloch

Stonechat
Saxicola torquata
Caislín cloch

Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Fáinleog

Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalus caudatus
Meantán earrfhada

Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
Riabhóg Mhóna

Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
Riabhóg Mhóna