Whimbrel

Whimbrel numbers are building at the present. Everyday more and more of these small waders are sifting through the country, as they make their way from South Africa to breeding grounds in Iceland and the high Arctic.  This evening there were 50 at the Shannon Airport Lagoon, and from here on in this bird (better known as the May bird), will build up in numbers and large flocks will be seen and heard flying over the county on a daily basis, as they fly in a North-west direction for Iceland.  Listen out for their seven note whistle.

The Lackey Moth Caterpillars

I went to the Shannon Airport Lagoon this evening in search of rare birds but to no avail.  On the track near the embankment I came across these Lackey Moth Malacosoma neustria caterpillars on a small sallow living as they do in a large community until they pupate and change to adult moths.  The site of these clustered together always fascinate me no matter how many times you come across them.

Yellow Wagtail

This Yellow Wagtail was at Tacumshin, in Wexford for the past few days.  There were lots of other good birds about, and I managed to pick up the Kentish Plover, the White-billed Diver and a drake Garganey to add to my year tick list.

Green Hairstreak Butterfly

This week saw the hatch of Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi Butterflies in many parts of the country.  They like slightly higher ground where there is a mixture of pasture with some heather, bilberry, gorse, rock rose and other low growing shrubs.

Barnacle Goose

This Barnacle Goose was on Great Saltee Island last Saturday.  At this time of the year our over-wintering birds should be making their way back to cliffs in Arctic Greenland.  One wonders what this individual is up to, staying so late in the season.

Atlantic Grey Seal

These adult Atlantic Grey Seals were basking in the sunshine on the western end of Great Saltee Island last Saturday.  The island has a large breeding population and pups are generally born here in September and October.

Cormorant

I was back on the Saltee Islands in Wexford again last Saturday.  It was fairly quiet for migrants and I managed to miss the only decent bird of the day a Red-rumped Swallow.  There were other migrants and I got my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year and did a quick run around the island where I managed to photograph these nesting Cormorants near the Heavenly Gate.