space hardware

Two male tufted ducks on the lake was this mornings excitement.  Two large basking sharks were off Galley this evening, with loads of manx shearwaters and a couple of great northern divers heading west.  A water rail heard at Long Strand tonight whilst watching the space shuttle whizz over was new for the year (96).

coasting up

Another collared dove was at shite lane this afternoon, but today's highlight was a female marsh harrier over Dirk Bay, giving good views as it drifted slowly west.  Only my third at Galley so a bonus year tick (95).

great white!

Didn't get further than checking the lake today on the patch, but did scoot over to Garretstown this pm for views of the great white egret there - a good irish & cork tick, and only my 3rd ever. The last one was at Stiffkey in Norfolk 10 years ago, so its been a while!

the return of the dove from above

Not much in the way of an obvious fall around Galley this morning, although 2 redpolls heading south (eh?), and a turtle dove at Shite Lane were both year ticks (94), while the only other migrants seen was a male wheatear amd heaps of hirundines, but couldn't get anything out of them.

bits 'n' bobs

Quiet at Shite Lane this morning with just yesterday's 2 chiffchaffs still knocking about. However, 3 new spotted flycatchers, and a new male wheatear in this afternoon gives hope of a bit of movement still happening.  A pair of tufted duck on Kilkeran Lake this evening were also new for the year (92).

a swift year tick

A swift at Long Strand this lunchtime was new for the year (90), while an unidentified owl after dusk this evening was more frustrating. It wasn't a small one though, so no need to panic too much!

vis mig (ish)

Four collared doves belting south to the lighthouse this morning was an odd sight - they appeared to then head west - biggest ever Galley flock, I'd say! A female wheatear was the only other mig around.

a decent mig at last

Quiet again at Galley today but did pick up a lesser whitethroat at the Shite Lane cross-roads - a worthy year tick and only my 4th on the patch, and first in spring (89).  Five sandwich terns were on the lake this afternoon.

sprawk

A flypast male sparrowhawk over Long Strand this afternoon was new for the year (88).