I rarely get the opportunity to photograph Knot, so while in Ballycotton, Cork yesterday looking at the Temminck's Stint a small group of nine birds allowed me to get close enough to capture the following set of images.

Red Knot John N Murphy

Morocco Spring 2022

I was back in Morocco last April for a quick spring holiday north of Agadir. Here are a selection of some of the images obtained on this trip. I always enjoy a week in north Africa.

Taghazout north of Agadir © John N Murphy

Audouin's Gulls top bird wearing a colour ring probably from southern Spain © John N Murphy

Laughing Dove © John N Murphy

Woodchat Shrike  © John N Murphy

Crested Larks  © John N Murphy

Western Subalphine Warbler  © John N Murphy

Southern Great Grey Shrike  © John N Murphy

 Crested Lark © John N Murphy

Otter Time

We have come to that time of the year when Eurasian Otters are starting to spring back to life.  Over the past month I have encountered Otters every other day actively searching for food along the Shannon River and many other small lakes and ponds. This dog Otter was on the river Shannon near Killimer, in west Clare.  He was not too worried about my presence as you can see. He caught many small fish along the shore on the dropping tide. Thankfully they have made a great comeback since the banning of hunting these incredible mammals.

Dog Otter on the Shannon River John N Murphy

Velvet Scoter

I have not seen a Velvet Scoter in a couple of years so it was great to find this first-winter male at Poulnasherry Bay, west Clare during the week. Nice to see lots of Scandinavian wildfowl and seabirds so far south this winter.

Velvet Scoter John N Murphy