Plovers R Us

A few more shots of the adult American Golden Plover from last Friday and a few record shots of the juvenile American Golden Plover at Aillebrack on Monday. The adult AGP was also with the same plover flock at Aillebrack on the same day. Quite difficult to view the plover at Aillebrack at the moment. The commonage here has only been grazed by a small herd of cattle which results in a much more diverse make-up of flora with a resulting higher sward unlike the close cropped sheep grazed Truska. Aillebrack almost looks potentially good for an Upland Sandpiper... Almost expecting a Dotterel to some up at some stage on either Aillebrack or Truska.
I checked the two small marshes yet again at Truska on Monday without turning up anything. Will 2012 be the first year since 2008 that I fail to have any Pectoral Sandpipers in there?
Did have at least one Lapland Bunting typically flying over. Adult Peregrine also sitting up on the high area between the two marshes on the east side of the machair where the Buff-bellied Pipit showed up in 2010. Massive turn out of three Galway birders for this bird at the time, all of which dipped! Just goes to show the massive change in the species' status in Ireland since 2007. 14 of the 16 Irish records have occurred since 2007.
I ran into a local farmer here a while back who told me about the big white owl that used to sit up on the hill during the day watching the rabbits years ago, wonder what that could have been?!

Adult American Golden Plover, Truska, 21st September 2012.

Adult American Golden Plover, Truska, 21st September 2012.

Adult American Golden Plover, Truska, 21st September 2012.

Adult American Golden Plover, Truska, 21st September 2012.

Juvenile Grey Plover, Truska, 21st September 2012.

Juvenile American Golden Plover, Aillebrack, 24th September 2012.

Juvenile American Golden Plover, Aillebrack, 24th September 2012.