Hawfinches Return

It was 1988/89 when I first saw Hawfinch in Ireland.  That winter Gerry Butler found a flock of 92 at the Curraghchase in Limerick. At the time I was ringing lots of birds and Tom Tarpey set up nets early one winters morn and we managed to catch a couple of these chunky finches.  I subsequently had one visit my bird table when I lived in Shannon Town two years after the mass invasion of the late 80's.  Since then birds have been found on and off at the Curraghchase with possible  breeding suspected.  This year with the masses coming through Britain and western Europe, it was only a matter of time before they showed up at the Curraghchase. I'm delighted they have done so as they really are a mighty bird.  We still only have three records for Clare, but given the numbers about this year, I'm sure one or two will pop up in gardens over the winter. Here are a few long range shots of birds in the Curraghcahse from last week.

 

Hawfinch at the Curraghchase John N Murphy

Greater White-toothed Shrew

I met up with Tom Tarpey to head down to the Curraghchase in Limerick to try and relocate the Great Spotted Woodpecker that was heard there recently.  We also searched for Hawfinch, but the woodland was fairly empty with few birds of note except some thrushes. We did see one Red Squirrel and this Greater White-toothed Shrew that was very confiding and even walked under Tom's feet at one stage.

Greater White-toothed Shrew © John N Murphy

Iceland Gull

This first-winter Iceland Gull was with the flock of Black-headed, Commoms and Ring-billed Gull at Glin in Limerick today.

Iceland Gull at Glin, Limerick © John N Murphy

Ring-billed Gull

This adult Ring-billed Gull was in the middle of Glin village today in County Limerick on the rising tide.

Adult Ring-billed Gull with Common Gull at Glin © John N Murphy

Red Squirrel

I stopped for a few minutes this morning at the Curraghchase in Limerick on my way to work to see could I get a few shots of the Hawfinches.  One bird was present in the trees around the car park of the Curraghchase, but I was delighted to get a few snaps of the Red Squirrels that were feeding on the ground in the same area where the finches were coming down to feed.

Red Squirrels at the Curraghchase © John N Murphy

Hawfinch

I was on my way to a site in west Limerick this morning for ecology work when I got a call to say that the site was closed for the day due to adverse weather.  As I was near the Curraghchase I detoured off the main road to have a quick look for the Hawfinches.  Sure enough there were two or three birds feeding in and around the Car Park, out in snowy grass with thrushes and a few Chaffinches.  The temp was - 3℃ with frost, fog and really dull light conditions.  Below are just a few record shots of these rare birds to Ireland.

Hawfinches at the Curraghchase, Limerick © John N Murphy

Grey Wagtail

On my way home from Thurles, in Tipperary this afternoon, I made a detour to Abington Bridge on the Mulkear River near Cappamore in Limerick.  I knew that Grey Wagtails were nesting under the five arch bridge there, so I sat on the river bank for about 35 minutes as I watched the parents gather craneflies (Daddylonglegs) and bring them back to the nest for their chicks. It is amazing how many they can hold in their beaks as they keep catching more in mid air and piling them in on top of previously caught flies.

Redshank

This morning I stopped off at Glin in County Limerick to check the shore in the village for waders and gulls.  This Redshank was busy feeding along the edge of the dropping tide.

Freshwater Crayfish

I have been doing some Otter Survey work on rivers throughout Limerick and Tipperary over the last two weeks.  Yesterday while surveying a small tributary of the Mulkear River, I came across loads of freshly half eaten Caryfish on rocks and on banks along the riverside.  These have obviously been eaten by Mink and Otters and when I checked under a few small boulders in the river, I found many live Freshwater Crayfish like this one below.

Rabbit

On my way home from Kerry yesterday evening, I stopped near Foynes in County Limerick to photograph a few Rabbits in a field outside the village on the side of the main road.