Dipper

I came upon these Dippers nesting in a small tributary stream of the Owenmore River near Bellacorrick in Mayo this afternoon.  The chicks in the nest were almost big enough to be leaving their home which I'm sure they will do over the next day or so.

Dipper

I was back in the Kingdom over the past few days.  While staying in Kenmare I managed to photograph this male Dipper at the Water Fall at the Sheen Falls Hotel.  Other birds of note over the weekend were an adult Ring-billed Gull at Blennerville, Tralee.  I also saw the White-winged Scoter again at Rossbeigh and the Spoonbill at Cromane.  I did the Ring of Kerry from Kenmare to Killorglin, and the Beara Way from Kenmare over the Caha Mountain and Pass down to Dursey and back the west loop through Aillihies and Eyries.  While in Castletownbere I came across a second year Mediterranean Gull and another Ring-billed Gull.

Sheen Falls at Kenmare where Dippers are nesting

Dipper

I was giving a lecture in Limerick City today, so afterwards I headed out to Corbally and the Mill Road to search for the Goosanders that have been at Shannon Banks on the Shannon River for over a week.  While searching for the Goosanders, both of which were there, this male Dipper was singing on a small tributary flowing into the main river.