Took a spin up to Louisburgh today to see the Baird's Sandpiper that Paul Troake found on Friday. It's feeding along a stretch of shoreline between Cross and Roonah Lough. I initially flushed it from the uppermost shore which consisted of boulders with some seaweed. This is a typical location for this species and they are often not afraid to feed completely by themselves. This individual wasn't particularly easy to approach as all the waders on the shoreline were very flighty for some reason. I later had it roosting beside Roonah Lough. This will be tenth county record if accepted. The majority of the records come from the Mullet peninsula and this is a new addition to the growing American wader list for this section of South West Mayo.
I also had a female and cub Otter along the shoreline here also.
I also had a female and cub Otter along the shoreline here also.
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| Ringed Plover, Baird's Sandpiper and Curlew Sandpiper |
Hi Dermot, really enjoyed the otter photos. Just wondering what one of them was eating?
ReplyDeleteLooked like a flatfish of some description Therese.
DeleteThanks Dermot. On closer squinting I can see the fish now.
DeleteHi Dermot, cracking Bairds and the Otters must have made for a top day ! I've not done a huge amount in the UK, as work is pretty full on, but did get up to Norfolk for the Steppe Grey Shrike at the weekend which showed really well... Our neck of the woods has been really thin for American waders, and I can barely remember any Bairds or White-rumps being reported this Autumn, so you did well to get one ! Cheers, Steve.
ReplyDeleteHi Steve, yeah the only other Yank wader that I've seen this Autumn has been around four Pec Sands which is very poor for here. Definitely the worst year for them in recent times. Looks like that Steppe Grey is giving good views, nice looking bird.
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