Wader migration has begun

The last few weeks has seen the start of Trans Atlantic waders arriving from Arctic Canada and North America. Short-billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper and the sixth country record of Western Sandpiper at Dungarvan in Waterford. At the same time Wood Sandpipers and Little Stints are the beginning of waders starting to pour south out of  Scandinavian and Siberia. Here are some shots of Little Stints (the first shot with a Dunlin), which are sometimes confused for the rare North American Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Juvenile Little Stints in west Clare, Autumn 2020 John N Murphy

Red Kites of Wicklow

 I have travelled through Wicklow in the last few weeks on three occasions and managed to see up to 18 to 20 Red Kites on all of my trips in the Red Kite capital of Red Cross to Avoca. Here are a few snap shots.

Red Kites at Avoca John N Murphy