Red-flanked Bluetail Lifer

I took today off work to go to Bellmullet to see the Red-flanked Bluetail that Dave Suddaby found there yesterday in his back garden.   After missing the last three in Ireland, I promised myself that I would try to make it for the next one and as I did not see a pair that were nesting in Finland during a visit there to the Finnish/Russian border in 2010, I was anxious to get this on my Life List.  Here are the results of todays trip to Mayo. 

Red-flanked Bluetail, Bellmullet, Mayo John N Murphy

Brambling

Last Saturday 11th October 2014, I was back at Loop Head.  There were good numbers of migrants passing through the headland with three Turtle Dove, one Lesser Whitethroat, two Lapland Buntings, one Snow Bunting, one Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs and at least 7 Bramblings.  Below are some of the shots of Bramblings in Kilbaha since last Saturday.

 Bramblings in Lillis's Garden Kilbaha, Loop Head John N Murphy

 

Barnacle Geese

I was back west at Loop Head again today, there were a few migrants about, 16 Crossbills over the lighthouse, two Lapland and one Snow Bunting around the headland and lighthouse, 7 Chiffchaffs, one Bonxie and these six Barnacle Geese flew over the headland around lunchtime.  These are the first birds recorded in the county this year and it was lovely to watch them fly overhead as they made their way towards Kerry.

 

 

 

Barnacle Geese migrating over Loop Head John N Murphy

Solitary Sandpiper

I had today booked off work, so I decided to make the run to Wexford to try and catch up with the Solitary Sandpiper.  Killian Mullarney's fantastic photos of the bird spurred me, on as I was green with envy. I got to Mattie Maddock's house after 9.00 and immediately met Mattie who told me the bird did not arrive at his pond this morning.  With that he gave me directions to John Lamberts farm where the bird was originally found by John himself.  I got there met John and spent over one hour waiting for the bird to arrive back to his pool, but it never happened.  John arrived back and brought me off on his quad to a small wet corner of a field that remains wet most of the year round.. When we got there we immediately saw the Solitary Sandpiper and two Green Sandpipers (both of these flew off calling).  Here are the shots I managed to shoot before the bird flew off without either of us seeing it leave the field.  Thanks to John and the lads for all their help.  I was delighted to eventually get this bird on my Irish List.

Solitary Sandpiper near Duncormick, Wexford John N Murphy

Poms away

Got back west to Loop Head this morning as I had to lead a local Birdwatch Ireland walk in Kilbaha. In the late afternoon I got a couple of hours sea watching in where there was a decent passage of Pomarine Skuas.  Here are a selection of some of the birds that flew over the watching Point.

 

Pomarine Skuas off the Bridges of Ross John N Murphy