American Bittern

For once, I was almost in the right place at the right time.  When news broke yesterday of the American Bittern I was working in west Kerry and new I'd never make it down to Castle Freke in Cork to see this fantastic looking bird.  But knowing that I was in south west Cork today and with my work meeting ending one hour ahead of plan, and the fact that I was passing through Rosscarbery on my way home, I popped down the five minute drive off the main road to see this bird.  When I got there I was lucky enough that the sun was just shinning and the bird was showing well.  Here are a few of the 300 shots that I got.  Would like to get back over the weekend for more if the bird sticks around.

 

American Bittern, Castle Freke John N Murphy

Pink-footed Geese

Two Pink-footed Geese flew in of the sea today and landed on fields at the Fodry Loop Head where they looked tired and rested for a long period on the side of the small pond close to the cliff edge.

Two Pink-footed Geese at the Fodry, Loop Head John N Murphy

Yellow-browed Warblers

So far this season we have had ten Yellow-browed Warblers at Loop Head and here are a few of the ones I managed to catch on camera.  Four birds were also trapped and ringed a good tally for the season.

 

Yellow-browed Warblers at Kilbaha, Loop Head John N Murphy

Chough'd

I have spent so much time at Loop Head over the last two weeks searching for rareties that I have neglected local birds like Chough.  But we have had a few nice birds at Loop this year like the Richards's Pipits, Bluethroat, Yellow-browed Warblers and the controlled Red-breasted Flycatcher from Skokholm Island in Wales.  But I am Chough'd with these shots of Red-billed Chough at the tip of the peninsula.

 

Chough at Loop Head Lighthouse John N Murphy

Lapland Bunting

This Lapland Bunting was feeding around the Bee-hive Monastic settlements on Skellig Michael Island for the last few weeks.

 

Lapland Bunting on Skellig Michael John N Murphy

Humpback Whales

If Carlsberg did Humpback Whales this is how they would look.  Coming off Skellig Michael Island last Thursday afternoon there were 8 of these stunning creatures feeding, breaching and hanging around the calm waters of south Kerry.  The first series of shots are of a humpback eating a shoal of sprat.

Humpback Whales off Skelligs John N Murphy