frozen lake

Still baltic hereabouts, but the cold snap is starting to pay dividends on the lake, with upwards of 40 teal now in, plus 3 (count 'em) coot (all european, unfortunately), 21 lapwing and, best of all, a bar-tailed godwit (138). Have had them here once before in winter, presumably on away-days from Ross. Now just 1 off equalling my best year total ever...

birthday birds

Was reading el mackimmey's words of wisdom this morning (and every monday) and after coming across the bit about stopping reading his blog and getting in amongst it, I was suitably shamed into having a scan of the lake and the sea. Well worth it too (as tom told me it would be), with a shelduck on the sea (galley scarce!), and a fair selection of waders on the lake - well, a few curlew, 2 lapwing, redshank and 2 (count 'em) dunlin. No year ticks though, and it was feckin' freezing so I gave up and went back inside to surf the net in the warmth. Tom can shove his advice!

a trip east

Took a spin to Ballycotton this afternoon to see the semi-palmated sandpiper, which continues to survive, despite a mauling last week from a local raptor. It was quite approachable, so got a couple of "record shots".




Caught up with the Cobh house crow again, still sat in its drainpipe on the usual wall, and the iceland gull at Cuskinny too. Good preparation for January's bird race.

goldeneye

Flat calm and sunny this morning, and impressed by a wee run of stuff on Mizen I headed out to try my luck. A blackcap in Dirk and a chiffchaff in our garden wasn't quite what I had in mind, but looked like my lot, until a more intensive scan of the lake turned up a female goldeneye - ka-ching! (137). So now just 3 short of a new patch year list record, but the possibilities have all but dried up - just have to keep perservering!

what happened to October?

Not sure what happened to the rest of October - nothing much on the bird front, anyway, and the wind and rain continues unabated. Today's highlight was 2 med gulls in with the sheltering black-headed gulls at Long Strand - a winter plumage adult, and a second winter. Ho hum - its gonna be a long winter!