Wednesday 29 October 2014

Red-flanked Bluetail

Took the day off today and went on one of my first twitch this year outside of county Galway for Dave Suddaby's Red-flanked Bluetail up on Belmullet. It was also a lifer for me which was added incentive. It initially took me an hour and a half to see the bird as it proved very elusive first thing in the morning. As the day warmed up it showed very well on two occasions. One the first I was very close to the bird. As I pressed down on the shutter button the battery gave out after only 3 or 4 shots - bugger! On the second close encounter I was on the other side of the shelter belt and missed it entirely - double bugger!! It did give prolonged views on the sheltered side of the shelter belt later on but it was just too distant to get anything usable. Most of the shots are heavily cropped record shots but it was brilliant to see such a great little bird, well worth the five hour round trip and a fantastic bird to finish up (almost) the Autumn.



 



 

Saturday 25 October 2014

Last of the Poms

Last post on the skuas from last Saturday at Barna with a few more juvenile Pomarines to conclude. Nice to get two pale birds which can be seen down near the end of the post. Thanks to everyone for the helpful comments, Klaus Malling Olsen in particular.

Juvenile Pomarine Skua

Juvenile Pomarine Skua

Juvenile Pomarine Skua

Juvenile Pomarine Skua

Juvenile Pomarine Skua

Juvenile Pomarine Skua

Juvenile Pomarine Skua


Juvenile Pomarine Skua


Juvenile Pomarine Skua

Juvenile Pomarine Skua

Pomarine and Arctic Skua

Light juvenile Pomarine Skua, first individual.

Light juvenile Pomarine Skua, first individual.

Light juvenile Pomarine Skua, second individual.

Light juvenile Pomarine Skua, second individual.

Light juvenile Pomarine Skua, second individual.

Light juvenile Pomarine Skua, second individual.

 

Thursday 23 October 2014

Random October 2014 pics

A collection of shots taken over the last two or three weeks mostly on Inishmore.

Common Sandpiper, Inishmore, 5th October 2014.

Rock Pipit, Inishmore, 7th October 2014.

Dunnock, Inishmore, 9th October 2014.

Dunnock, Inishmore, 9th October 2014.
 
Robin, Inishmore, 10th October 2014.

Robin, Inishmore, 10th October 2014.

Wren, Inishmore, 9th October 2014.

Wren, Inishmore, 9th October 2014.

Hooded Crow, Inishmore, 9th October 2014.

Hooded Crow mobbing Kestrel, Inishmore, 9th October 2014.

Hooded Crow mobbing Kestrel, Inishmore, 9th October 2014.

Hooded Crow mobbing Kestrel, Inishmore, 9th October 2014.

Hooded Crow mobbing Kestrel, Inishmore, 9th October 2014.

Hooded Crow mobbing Kestrel, Inishmore, 9th October 2014.

Grey looking juvenile Little Stint, Rusheen Bay, 12th October 2014 (no palmations seen in the field).

More typical bright juvenile Little Stint, Rusheen Bay, 12th October 2014.

Adult Kittiwake with what looks like a red seaweed of sorts, Barna, 18th October 2014.

First-winter Kittiwake with Sprat, Barna, 18th October 2014.
 

Wednesday 22 October 2014

Pomarine, Arctic & Bonxie

A few more from last Saturday at Barna. Interesting to see the variation amongst just three sub-adult type Arctic and Pom Skuas photographed. Some with noticeable barring on the head, neck, breast, underparts and undertail coverts and some with white barring to the underwing.
Only the one Bonxie which had lovely warm uniform orange underparts and a dark head.


Pomarine Skua

Pom Skua, same as above.


Pomarine Skua same as above

Sub-adult Arctic Skua, first individual.
 
Sub-adult Arctic Skua, second individual.
Juvenile Bonxie
Juvenile Bonxie

Juvenile Bonxie

 

Tuesday 21 October 2014

AGP 21st October 2014

I found this juvenile American Golden Plover down on the  Aillebrack machair commonage today. It was associating with the usual flock of Eurasian Golden Plovers that move between here and Truska. There were about 160 present there today. There have been sixteen accepted county records to date, eight of which have turned up between these two close-by sites. Considering these sites have only been checked in the last decade or so it's fair to say this location has been and should remain the most regular spot for the species in the county. Both Inishbofin and Inishmore strangely have no records to date however.
A few shots of a first-winter Greenshank in a small pool by the edge of the adjacent golf course also, trying its best to look like a Nearctic mega but alas not to be!