Ringed Plover or Not?

I spent over two hours last Monday at Poulnasherry Bay, in west Clare chasing down this plover, as it showed strong characteristics of Semipalmated Plover.  Can anyone shed some light on this bird for me. It appeared slighter than the other Ringed Plovers on the mudflats and the bill, lores and structure were very close in my opinion to SP Plover. I did not see any webs on the feet due to the fact that it walked for the majority of it's time feeding in wet little puddles. The set of shots below were the best I could manage on the day and birds were eventually dispersed by a hunting Peregrine. Why is this not a SemiP Plover? Please leave your comments. Thanks. Murf.

Plover Poulasherry John N Murphy

Glaucous-winged Gull

I got down to Castletownbere to view the Glaucous-winged Gull?, found there over the weekend. Here are a few shots. The bird appeared smaller than any I have seen in California and Vancouver. At times the amount of dark in the primaries varied from looking dark grey to almost black. I must admit, I came away a little confused even though the bird appeared GWGull in many other ways, but did lack in my opinion the bulk I associate with this species.

 Glaucous-winged Gull at Castletownbere John N Murphy

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