last gasp

A final thrash around Galley today but couldn't do better than 2 bar-tailed godwits in with the oystercatchers at Long Strand. Finished the year 1 ahead of my 2005 total, but languishing in 4th in de Year List Challenge. Hopefully I'll do better in 2007!!

peewits

Four lapwings over Long Strand this afternoon was only the second sighting of the year.  Nothing else doing at Galley although the plastic owl in Baltimore was showing well this morning!!

double scotch

A weekend in the homeland paid dividends with two scottish ticks! Just happened to be in the area for both the barrow's goldeneye at Callander and the hume's yellow-browed warbler on the Don - result!

another cork tick!

Just happened to be within twitching distance of Cobh today and managed to pick up 6 leach's petrels offshore, which was nice!

crap seawatch

One late manx shearwater off Galley this morning was the only bird of note in a brief seawatch between bouts of heavy rain.

isn't birding in Cork in the autumn great?

With the memories of autumn rares fading rapidly here's a quick reminder of some of the great rares on Cape this autumn - an early christmas present for our japanese reader, if you like!  All images courtesy of C Cronin.

 

Juvenile rosy starling, Cape Clear, September 2006

 

 

Juvenile red backed shrike, Cape Clear, October 2006

 

 

Male red-breasted flycatcher, Cape Clear October 2006

 

 

eastern olivaceous warbler, Cape Clear, September 2006

 

hermit thrush, Cape Clear, October 2006

 

Hope next autumn is as good, and that some of it finds its way to Galley!!