Yellow Wagtail

This blue headed Yellow Wagtail has been in Tacumschin for the last two weeks.

Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail at Tacumschin © John N Murphy

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Yet another trip to Wexford this year, yesterday 10th August where there were three adult Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Tacumschin, the blue headed Yellow Wagtail, a Little Stint and the hundreds of other supporting waders. One Gull-billed Tern was still lingering at Lady's Island and thousands of Terns were gathering at Nethertown beach. 

Adult Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Tacumschin, Wexford © John N Murphy

Whinchat

Over a month ago I made a couple of visits to the Coronation Plantation in Wicklow.  There were numerous breeding pairs of Whinchats throughout the area and I spent a couple of hours early one morning trying to get close enough to grab a few shots.  They were very wary birds and not too confiding.  While there I came upon lots of Fallow Deer and a few foxes.  Lovely place.

Whinchat and Fallow Deer at Cornation Plantation, Wicklow © John N Murphy

Terns

I was delighted to see the arrival of the latest series in 'The New Naturalist Library" No.123 book on the 'Terns by David Cabot and Ian Nisbet".  I was more delighted when a selection of my own shots made the publication and a signed copy arrived in the post from the authors.  It looks fantastic and well worth the money.  Here are a few shots that did not make the grade.

 Adult Gull-billed Tern © John N Murphy

 Royal Tern in winter © John N Murphy

Adult breeding Arctic Tern © John N Murphy

Forster's Tern in winter © John N Murphy

Adult Roseate Tern in breeding plumage © John N Murphy

 Adult Gull-billed Tern © John N Murphy

 Adult Little Tern in summer © John N Murphy

 Adult Common Tern in full summer plumage © John N Murphy

 Adult summer Common Tern © John N Murphy

 Two adult summer Common Terns © John N Murphy

 Royal Terns in winter, November, Florida © John N Murphy

 White-winged Black Terns © John N Murphy

 Arctic Tern ? South Africa November 2004, winter plumage © John N Murphy

Juvenile Sandwich Tern fresh out of nest © John N Murphy

Adult summer Sandwich Tern with Sand Eel © John N Murphy

Crested Tern in November, Africa © John N Murphy

Adult Whiskered Tern in April © John N Murphy

Adult Common Tern in summer © John N Murphy

Sandwich Terns and Black Headed Gull colony © John N Murphy

 Sandwich Tern and Crested Tern in winter November 2004 South Africa © John N Murphy

 Cabots Tern in winter, USA, November © John N Murphy

 Sandwich Terns unite © John N Murphy

Sandwich Tern in winter, Galway Bay © John N Murphy

Adult Roseate Tern with Sand Eel © John N Murphy

Mongolian Plover

A five o clock start from the house this morning to Pilmore Strand near Youghal in Cork was rewarding with Irelands first Lesser (Mongolian) Sand Plover, found there yesterday by Denis O Sullivan.  Attached are a few distant shots of the bird.

Lesser Sand Plover at Pilmore, Cork © John N Murphy

Red Deer

I was working in Killarney National Park, Kerry last week and came across these and other Red Deer feeding out in open fields on lush grass and daisies.

 Red Deer in Killarney © John N Murphy