sheesh, its a long time till spring

A colour ringed adult winter mediterranean gull was at Long Strand this afternoon, with a second winter bird.  Two redshanks and the long staying whimbrel were in Dirk Bay, where a female/imm blackcap was also seen.  A male merlin flew east over Long Strand late afternoon.

playing away

Great views of the white-rumped sandpiper at Ballycotton this morning, in with c.100 dunlin. It showed very well, down to 10 feet or so - nice! A seawatch off Galley this afternoon produced 2 little auks, 2 manx shearwaters and a storm petrel.

ross

The juvenile american golden plover and the lesser yellowlegs were both still at Rosscarbery today, showing well early afternoon.

fin whales from the window

Two fin whales were blowing in Rosscarbery Bay this morning, approximately 2 miles offshore from Long Strand, with a large feeding flock of gannets.  Four mediterranean gulls were on Kilkeran Lake, with 3 scaup, 3 tufted duck, 2 greenshank and a little egret also there.  A late sooty shearwater was seen off Galley this evening, with 1 puffin and 1 common scoter also seen.  The american golden plover was seen again at Rosscarbery today.

its gonna be a long winter!

The 3 scaup and 3 tufted duck remained on Kilkeran Lake today, with 2 greenshank at Long Strand.

chilly but

The little stint was still present at Kilkeran today, with 2 greenshanks. A male merlin was seen near the lighthouse, with 3 blackcaps and a chiffchaff in Dirk Bay.

little progress

No sign of the ring-necked duck on Kilkeran today but a little stint found there this afternoon brought the patch year list to one ahead of last year's total (137).

a yank at last!

My first yank of the autumn at Galley arrived in the form of a female ring-necked duck in with the scaup flock on Kilkeran Lake this morning (136) - 17 years to the day since I found my first ever one!

 

 

A tremendously bad record shot of the ring-necked duck on Kilkeran Lake today - any tips Carmo?

 

A few finches were also knocking about, with c.12 chaffinches, c.10 redpoll, and 1 siskin seen around Galley this morning. The juvenile american golden plover and the lesser yellowlegs were seen again at Rosscarbery today.

 

 

Lesser Yellowlegs - Rosscarbery

 

more wildfowl

Two barnacle geese were seen flying over Galley this lunchtime. The scaup flock on Kilkeran Lake had increased to a whopping six this evening.