Purple Sandpipers

I was back at Seafield, Quilty yesterday in west Clare.  There were 50 Purple Sandpipers on the rising tide picking amongst the rising seaweed with lots of other waders.  There was also on first-winter Ring-billed gull and a couple of Wheatears.

 

 

Purple Sandpipers at Seafield John N Murphy

 Turnstones John N Murphy

First-winter Ring-billed Gull John N Murphy

Purple Sandpiper

While searching for the Red-necked Grebe on Saturday at Dun Laoghaire Pier a couple of Purple Sandpipers were feeding along the edge of the breakwater.  At this time of the year Purple Sandpipers are slowly drifting Northwards and fattening up for their return journeys to Greenland and Siberia to nest.  Below is a photo of a colour ringed bird from Seafield, Quilty where recently 80 birds were banded with yellow and blue colour rings and a yellow flag with a red X .  If you come across any of these birds then please let me know.

Purple Sandpiper

Saturday 15th January. I began the day viewing the Ring-necked Duck at Lough Gash before heading west for Liscannor.  At Liscannor things were quiet with only a handful of Great Northern Divers and a small flock of Common Scoter far out on the bay.  Moving on to Seafield, Quilty to check out wades on the beach, produced only 30 Purple Sandpipers but lots of Turnstone and other waders.  From here I headed to Doonbeg, where there were seven Barnacle Geese and four Great Northern Divers at the White Strand.  Clocked up bout seven new years ticks on todays trip that included Gannet, Fulmar and Chough.