Spring/early Summer 2016 pics

Just a roundup of a few random shots from the last few months. I didn't taken a huge amount of photographs between April to June.

Second calendar Glaucous Gull

Second calendar Glaucous Gull

Third-calendar/second-summer Ring-billed Gull

Mistle Thrush

Male Siskin

Second-calendar male Common Crossbill

Adult female Common Crossbill, relatively narrow billed.

Helicopter with Bambi Bucket collecting water.

Helicopter with empty Bambi Bucket.

Eurasian Skylark

Migrating Lesser Black-backed Gulls, probably on their way up to Iceland.

Common Sandpiper, quite a common breeder in Connemara.

Black Guillemot

Common Guillemots

Gate submerged in cobbles.

Stone causeway near Screebe.

Clare - Mayo - Galway

A small selection of shots taken over the last fortnight or so.

Common Tern, Mountshannon, Co. Clare, 11th May 2012.



Common Tern, Mountshannon, Co. Clare, 11th May 2012.

Lapwing, Roonagh Lough, Co. Mayo, 7th May 2012. 



Whimbrel, Roonagh Lough, Co. Mayo, 7th May 2012. 



Pink-footed Geese, Roonagh Lough, Co. Mayo, 7th May 2012.

Mistle Thrush, Glenlo, Co. Galway, 5th May 2012.

Moorhen, Meno, 5th May 2012.

Past Week

A few pictures from the last week in Connemara. Best bird of the week was a male Gadwall at Lough Anillaun just before Cleggan. The first Gadwall I've seen West of the Corrib since I started out here in 2008.  Just to show how exciting it gets in this part of the world in winter!

Fulmars and Shags back on the nest out on Renvyle Head (latter on eggs already).

Have been busy the last fortnight monitoring the local Raven nests. Have checked out around 20 nests so far but only about half are currently occupied which is a little odd as most should be well on the way with nesting by now. I had chicks hatched by late February last year. I have had seven eggs in one nest which above the average 4 - 6 eggs. I had one nest with 7 also last year.