Early September 14 at Slyne Head

Continuing on from the previous post the Truska area has proved to be very good site for Snipe in recent weeks. I had 32 Snipe here a week ago while on Monday I had a minimum of 70 birds. All of these were flushed and are generally never seen on the deck. Given its location and with the number of snipe that pass through the area, one has imagine that Wilson's Snipe must be a regular vagrant here, if only we could actually manage to get some proper views of them! I've included a few record flight shots here of some of the birds from yesterday to give an idea of the variation in the underwing barring.
A few other shots taken in the area also.



The bird on the bottom looks interesting, however it's the same two birds in the shot below. Just goes to show how they vary with light, angle, camera settings, etc.

 

Not as interesting..

 



Eurasian Teal

Eurasian Teal

Eurasian Teal

Eurasian Teal

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler

By-the-wind Sailor before and after.

By-the-wind Sailor

 

Roundstone Bog 5th July 2012

Another day out on Roundstone Bog while doing more Merlin work. Great to have some half decent weather at last.



Volucella bombylans a Hoverfly which mimics Bumblebees (thanks Brian).




Volucella bombylans a Hoverfly which mimics Bumblebees (thanks Brian).



Large Heaths

Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilneata bilneata

Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilneata hibernica. This form is supposed to only occur along sea cliffs in Cork and Kerry?

Immature male Keeled Skimmer

Mature male Keeled Skimmer



Male Merlin skull. This was the last thing I had expected to find while checking Merlin plucking spots! Could only have been killed by a Peregrine I reckon. I had a male Merlin less than a kilometre away from where I found it.

 

Possible White-tailed Eagle pellet

White Waterlily

Teal

Golden Plover egg

Rounstone Bog 11th/12th June 2012

Spent the last two days in at Roundstone Bog trying to get the tags on the unknown female White-tailed Eagle that has been knocking around with male Star. No sign of herself but Star was present giving great views, what a sight!


Common Gull. Looks like a third-summer due to the dark markings on the alula and primary coverts. The black/grey border along p7 & 8 aren't very well defined either.



Adult Common Gull

Great Black-backed Gull. Two pairs breeding next to Cormorant colony.

Cormorant colony. Only 40 sitting birds present. 160 sitting birds recorded during the Seabird 2000 survey. I think someone pictured below may be having an effect on them...



Four-spotted Chaser



Four-spotted Chaser with Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Teal family, I was surprised to see the male in attendance.

There was a seventh duckling nearby also.

Female Merlin just finishing up mobbing a roaming family party of Ravens. She would only weigh a fifth of an average Raven but they were still terrified of her!

Redshank, first time I've come across breeding Redshank this far West. Right beside the main road.

Male star White-tailed Eagle

Getting a bit of grief from the local GBB Gulls, probably not the first time, he's been here since late March.