Buzzards in the skies

When I was growing up as a young bird in Clare in the 1970's and 80's, Buzzards extremely rare. I recall on more than one occasion once I was on the road and driving in my late teens, travelling all the way up to the Mourne Mountains in county Down to see Buzzards. This and the main road to Belfast were few of the places on the island of Ireland where one was guaranteed to see Buzzard in the early 1980's.  Now of course they are a common bird of prey throughout the country with up to 30 pairs nesting in Clare every year. I still hold a fondness for them and any day I see one I'm reminded of how rare they were in the not so distant past.

Buzzards John N Murphy

Fox mating season

The last few weeks our local foxes have become extremely vocal at night, especially during the still frosty weather where their barks and screech's echo over the landscape. Everywhere I go lately they are out in the open running around like headless chickens as they seek out partners or large dog foxes are killing each other over territories.  Here are a few photos of animals during this weeks outings.

Foxes John N Murphy

Sony RX10 Mark IV

 

This is the Sony RX10 Mark IV. It retails at anywhere between €1200 to €2000.  Conn's Cameras in Dublin are advertising it at under €2000 on their Web Site but if you phone them up they will give you a Price match cost at €1700. This camera can be bought online at this price with a Kit that provides a Bag and a 32GB SD Card. But for the money you spend you are getting an extremely good bridge camera with a built in 600mm Zeiss lense (really excellent quality) and the camera is 21Mega pixel.

I've attached a few shots that I obtained during the week from my car window on the first two days after receiving the camera.

Brent Geese, Curlew, Glaucous Gull, Teal & Little Egret with Greenshank John N Murphy

Great Northern Divers

After years of talking up the Sony RX10 Mark IV and lots of my friends purchasing one, I eventually splashed the cash and bought one during the week. The first shots I got were of a few Great Northern Divers off Seafield Pier at Quilty. I am very pleased with what I have seen from the camera so far. You can judge for yourselves what you think. More shots to follower over the weekend.

Great Northern Divers John N Murphy

Pintail Ducks

 During my visit to Marafield Lake there were a pair of Pintail, an unusual visitor to this part of south Tipperary.

Pintail Ducks John N Murphy

Mandarin Duck

While passing through Clonmel in Tipperary today, I popped into Marafield Lake on the outskirts of the town. As soon as I arrived and started looking through the ducks, a drake Mandarin swam out of the low tree lined edge to the east. Mandarin Duck are normally kept in collections in this country and first started popping up in the wild in the late 1970's.  Later after photographing all the ducks and while watching a Chiffchaff and Long-tailed Tits, I met local birder Rosemary who informed me that this individual has been on the lake for the last three winter's but disappears during the summer. A feral bird but it did brighten up the day.

Drake Mandarin Duck John N Murphy

Snow Bunting Season

It has been another good season for Snow Bunting with up to 30 in a flock at the tip of Loop Head close to the Eire sign. See some birds below from before Christmas.

Snow Buntings John N Murphy