Osprey in the bag

Got a text and phone call from Aonghus O'Donaill on Friday about an Osprey at Coolanillaun, Lough Corrib. Made my way there on Friday but no luck. Went again on Saturday after abandoning the 1st Saturday of the month outing at Nimmo's Pier. A few regulars at Nimmo's also went Osprey hunting with no luck. On Sunday while working on some school stuff at home, Aonghus rang to say he had the bird again. 10mins later I was looking at the Osprey at approx 600m away and got a digiscope shot below. Yet another life tick this year magic.

Osprey
Pandion haliatus
Coirneach

A few shots from the week-end

A few shots from the week-end which are very regular stuff compared to the rare birds arriving down the south of the country. The Black Curlew was still at Moylough over the week-end.
Dunnock was in full song at Anglingham. Same regular birds at Nimmo's.

Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Íbis Niamhrach

Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Éigrit bheag

Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Éigrit bheag

Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoides
Faoileán Íoslannach

Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Eala bhalbh

Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Donnóg

Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Donnóg

Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Donnóg

Black Curlew

Got an email about a Glossy Ibis at Moylough. So went to have a look. Pulled up outside a house near the turlough and looked out and it was right beside the road. I was almost afraid to get out as I would surely spook it. Camera was in the boot so had to get out. It kept on feeding and was not bother about me. It did get spooked a little while later and went about 50m along the shore, but return to feed very close, so got some reasonable shots. Local man Martin Mannion asked if I was there to look for the Glossy Ibis for which I replied yes. He told me they were calling it the Black Curlew. He also told me it was there about this time last year also and he first noticed it this time about 2 weeks ago. New tick for me.

Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus 
Íbis Niamhrach

Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus 
Íbis Niamhrach

Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus 
Íbis Niamhrach

Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus 
Íbis Niamhrach

Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus 
Íbis Niamhrach

Great Tit
Parus major
Meantán mór

Mullaghmore, Moylough,

Kumlien's No More

A few shots from the week-end at my usual haunt at Nimmo's. Including a Gull which is getting a bit of a complex. It start out life at Nimmo's as a Kumliens then was relegated to a Kumlien's/Iceland and now further relegated to a plain old Iceland. It still looks good to me for a Kumlien's. The 1st winter Iceland is the smallest I have ever seen, similar to Common Gull

Kumlien's Gull
Kumlien's/Iceland Gull
Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Linnet
Carduelis cannabina
Gleoiseach

Linnet
Carduelis cannabina
Gleoiseach

Ring-billed close up

Usual fair at Nimmo's early today. Ring-billed Gull was getting it's fill of bread and was veyry close. At least 6 Iceland Gulls 1st and 2nd winter.