Killybegs

I was working up in Limavady, Derry just on the run up to the Christmas break and on the way home I got an hour in Killybegs to look for the Thayer's Gull.  No sign of it but there were three Iceland Gulls (one first-winter, one second-winter and a sub adult), along with one first-winter Glaucous Gull.

A small selection of gulls from Killybegs © John N Murphy

Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth

I was on Arranmore Island in Donegal last Friday and Saturday.  While waiting for the boat to push off on the Saturday morning, I came upon these two Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moths feeding on scented plants in the harbour next to Bru Hostel.  I first took them to be Hummingbird Hawkmoths but on further inspected they turned out to be Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth. There have been 13 previous sightings in Donegal, but non for the island.  Throughout the country there have been 191 records with the majority coming from county Fermanagh, (see http://www.mothsireland.com/specieslist.htm).

 Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth © John N Murphy

Pig Egret

I was up in Donegal Friday and Saturday of this week 18th & 19th January to try and catch up on a few New year species.  I got all my target birds Snow goose at Sheskin Mor, Bittern and Smew at Inch Island and this Cattle Egret feeding amongst the pigs at St.Johnston.  I have never seen a cattle Egret following pigs before and it was great to observe this hungry little bird wait patiently next to the Tamsworth and Saddle-backed pigs as they flung mud and worms out of the ground with their powerful snouts.

Cattle Egret at St. Johnston © John N Murphy