Mandarin Duck

While passing through Clonmel in Tipperary today, I popped into Marafield Lake on the outskirts of the town. As soon as I arrived and started looking through the ducks, a drake Mandarin swam out of the low tree lined edge to the east. Mandarin Duck are normally kept in collections in this country and first started popping up in the wild in the late 1970's.  Later after photographing all the ducks and while watching a Chiffchaff and Long-tailed Tits, I met local birder Rosemary who informed me that this individual has been on the lake for the last three winter's but disappears during the summer. A feral bird but it did brighten up the day.

Drake Mandarin Duck John N Murphy

Snow Bunting Season

It has been another good season for Snow Bunting with up to 30 in a flock at the tip of Loop Head close to the Eire sign. See some birds below from before Christmas.

Snow Buntings John N Murphy

Penduline Tits

It's great to see that Ireland's first three Penduline Tits, found at the Gearagh in County Cork, are still surviving the winter. Well so far anyway. It took me three attempts to catch up with them and I did so on Friday 13th January 2023. The last ones I saw were on the Greek Island of Lesvos about 13 years ago, where there was a nest in willows trees on a dried up riverbed to the west of the island near Skala Erosou.

One of the three Penduline Tits at the Gearagh, Cork John N Murphy

Greater Yellowlegs

I was in Waterford just before the Christmas and managed to go through Tallow Bridge in the east of the county where there was a very confiding  North American Greater Yellowlegs. The first and only bird that I had ever seen in Ireland prior to this was one I found at Poulnasherry Bay, County Clare, way back in September 1990.

Greater Yellowlegs with a Green Sandpiper John N Murphy

Grey Phalarope Invasion

During the late autumn and the early part of this winter, strong storms blew in off the sea large numbers of Grey/Red Phalaropes along the west coast of Ireland.  It is always a great delight to see these delicate little waders as they bob around on rough seas or small pools picking off tiny insects or fish/invertebrate eggs disturbed by rough waters.  In the series of shots below there are three different birds with one from Liscannor Bay and the other two birds at Loop Head. 

Immature Grey Phalarope at Clahane, Liscannor Bay JNM

Adult winter Grey Phalarope at Ross Bay, Loop Head JNM

Immature Grey Phalaropes at a small pool at Laragen Bay, Loop Head John N Murphy

Oystercatchers Move In

With all the recent stormy weather and some very large swells and rough seas, hundreds of Oystercatchers that normally feed along the rocks are shorelines, have moved up on to grassy fields to dig out worms. Here are some shots of a small flock of 22 birds on coastal cliff fields west of Kilkee during the week in late afternoon sunshine.

Oystercatchers John N Murphy

Peregrine Hunting

I was back at Loop Head during the week and while observing a mixed flock of waders feeding in a field down by the shore a Peregrine came through the field and scattered birds right, left and centre. I just got the camera up in time as the Peregrine flew off with a Starling in its talons. See below. 

Peregrine with a Starling in its grasp John N Murphy