Slow Spring

As regular visitors to my site can see, it has been weeks since I last updated any pictures or info on trips that I have made around the country.  I have manged to get out most weekends but have not had the chance to do much photography.  I was in Skerries for the Bonaparte's Gull a couple of weeks ago and managed to clock up on the same day Eiders and a fantastic looking drake Surf Scoter of Ben Head in County Meath.  I have been to Wexford on a couple of occasions and this weekend I made it to the Great Saltees my first trip of the year where I was lucky enough to find a male firecrest and see Short-eared Owl and other common migrants.  Tacumschin also produced Northern, Marsh and Hen  Harriers, I got a few Black Redstarts at Hook Head and Carnsore Point.  I eventually got to see one Slavonian Grebe off Curraghcloe and saw another first-year male Surf Scoter off Rosslare, along with Velvets, a pair of Eiders and a Long-tailed Duck.  Hopefully I will get some better shots over the coming weeks of Spring once the temperatures rise to normal for this time of the year. We can only hope for a good warm southerly wind would be more than welcome to push the odd rarity northwards and then hope that it happens on a weekend.

Black Redstarts male & female at Hook Head © John N Murphy

Distant record shots of the Bonaparte's Gull in Skerries, Dublin © John N Murphy

Chiffchaff ,one of 25 to 30 feeding along the landing beach on Great Saltee © John N Murphy

Male Wheatear, Great Saltee Island © John N Murphy