Dotterel at Loop

I was back to Loop Head again this afternoon in search of waders. I met up with Neal Warnock and we both walked the Fodry at Loop Head in search of North American vagrants.  On the small Lough there was a Spotted Redshank which is unusual in itself. We did manage to dig out this adult Dotterel which showed well in a field close to the Lighthouse. Hard to believe this is only a 7th county record.

 

Dotterel at Fodry Loop Head John N Murphy

Dotterels

I darted down to Reenore, Ballinskellig, County Kerry after work this evening to catch up with the four Dotterels found there yesterday evening.  Directions from local birder Ed Carty brought me straight to the spot where the birds were in a small field adjacent to the beach.  Within minutes of arriving I had the birds. They were feeding in short grass close to a small herd of cattle. Delighted they stayed long enough for me to tick them off my year list.  This time last year three birds turned up in Connemara and I was also lucky on that occasion to be not too far away and I got to see them.

 Dotterels, County Kerry © John N Murphy

Dotterels

Just as I was finishing up work today at a site in Connemara, I got texts from two of the local Conservation Rangers with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to say that there were three Dotterels out at Ballyconneely, west of Clifden.  As soon as my paperwork was completed I booted out the road and was delighted to find that the trip of three Dotterels were still present.  They allowed my to drive fairly close in my jeep and the shots below are the results.