Ring-billed Gull

I have been working in Mayo all week and this morning before leaving Ballina for the days work in North Mayo, I checked the River Moy near the Ice Hotel where I found this second-winter Ring-billed Gull feeding along the rivers edge.  A nice start to the day.

Great Cormorant

I was in Ballina, County Mayo during this week and a selection of Great Cormorants were gathering along the River Moy throughout the day to rest on pillars and preen.  Some birds had already developed their white breeding patch on the flanks. Other young birds born last summer were still in their white and brown plumage and will take another year or two before they started looking like the adults and then begin nesting.

Glaucous Gull

We held a local Birdwatch Ireland outing this morning to Liscannor Pier and Lahinch area of west Clare.  A first-winter Glaucous Gull was found feeding on a dead dolphin carcas on the shore at Liscannor.  We also got to see the Tundra Bean Goose and three Pink-footed Geese in the fields near Sandsfield.  Other birds seen today included Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Great & Red-throated Divers, Common Scoters and a good mix of wading birds.

Seafield Sunset

There was a spectacular low sunset in west Clare this evening.  The sky to the west of Mattle Island and Donegal Point near Doonbeg went orange towards the end of the day.

Great Northern Diver

Traveling the west Clare coast today there were numerous Great Northern Divers feeding close to shore from Liscannor down to Quilty.  This bird fed close to the pier at Seafield, Quilty.

Shag

This Shag was feeding on the sea just below the pier at Seafield Quilty today.

Tufted Duck

Water levels have risen dramatically on all the lakes near my home after the heavy rainfalls of the last few weeks.  Ballycar Lough in front of my house has now flooded the field adjacent to the road and the Tufted ducks have returned to dive down to the bottom to feed on fresh grass and vegetation growing below.