winter is upon us!

A 1st winter iceland gull, 4 whooper swans and 1 lapwing were on Kilkeran Lake this lunchtime. Up to 10 fin whales were blowing off Galley Head this morning.

level pegging

A buzzard thermalling around over Long Strand this lunchtime was a great patch year tick bonus (137), which equals my best ever patch score set in 2006.  It soared for a bit, before heading off north towards Rathbarry.

lesser legs

Took in the 1st winter lesser yellowlegs on the estuary by the railway village on the way to Clon this morning. News late pm of a rival patch-lister finding a male desert 'ear north of Aberdeen fairly got me out of the house but didn't do better than a black-tailed godwit flying over with c.30 curlew - unusual here but not a year tick!

nice day for it

A sunny calm morning so I dragged myself up to the head, and into Dirk, on the off chance of something rare (or even just a year tick). Not much doing though, with just a party of 12 long-tailed tits in Dirk. A lesser yellowlegs is on the estuary at Clonakilty, by the model railway place, with an adult ring-billed gull nearby.

clutching at straws

Tried seawatching  this morning, in a desperate attempt to glean some more year ticks. No luck though, with just 1 bonxie, 1 manx shearwater, 1 great northern diver, 1 red-throated diver and 300 kittiwakes west in an hour. Dirk had 1 chiffchaff and 1 coal tit lingering.