Lapwing

Since the thaw after the frost and snow, Lapwings are making up for the weeks of starvation eating as many worms as they can find.

Taiga Bean Goose

On the 8th and 9th January I made a trip to County Wexford for a bit of birding.  I caught up with the Taiga Bean Goose on the slobs along with hundreds of White-fronted Geese, Pink-footed Geese, the female Smew, two Spotted Redshanks and one Slavonian Grebe. 

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpipers at Quilty

Began a quick trip of west Clare this morning by looking firstly at Lough Gash to find the Ring-necked Duck that was still in the same area of the Turlough with the Tufted Ducks.  I then headed west to Liscannor where the highlights were a small flock of Common Scoter and a Chough at Clahane.  Ended up in Seafield, Quilty counting waders which included 30 Purple Sandpipers some of which are above.  Ended up near Doonbeg, where there were seven barnacle geese in a small field near the White Strand.  Added seven new year species to my year list today that included Gannet and Fulmar.

Ring-necked Duck

Tufted Duck & Ring-necked Duck

First-winter drake Ring-necked Duck

Ring-neck Duck takes flight

Tufted Ducks & Ring-necked Duck in Flight

Ring-necked Duck in foreground

This first-winter drake Ring-necked Duck was found at Lough Gash, Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare on 13th January 2011.  Lough Gash is a small Turlough on the edge of the village and this bird is the third individual record for this site.