bufflehead

Just happened to be in the area (ish) of Lough Atedaun in County Clare this lunchtime and went to see the female Bufflehead there. Got good views though it was a bit distant and very active, diving nearly all the time. Still, puts me just 1 behind carmo for the emerald isle!

iceland gull at Long Strand

A 1st winter iceland gull flew past the house this lunchtime and settled on the beach briefly - a good one for the patch year list (76).

not much doing

Two whimbrel were in Dirk Bay this afternoon and 7 turnstones were at Long Strand.  A brief sighting of a water rail running across the road near Shite Lane was my first one seen at Galley, and 3 moorhen were on Kilkeran Lake.

iceland gulls are in

A quick visit to Unionhall this afternoon was rewarded by good views of 5 iceland gulls - 1 2nd winter and 4 1st winters were on the shore.

fieldfares

A flock of 20 fieldfares in the fields above Kilkeran Lake this morning were just visible from the house, so made it on to the patch year list.  A flyover golden plover tonight was also new for the year (75).

brent

A flyover brent goose at Long Strand this lunchtime was a welcome addition to the patch year list (73).