Dingle Peninsula

Birded Dingle with Tom. Usual result. Three Mediterranean Gulls in total (1st winter and two adults.) Also three Teal  and a couple each of Chiffchaffs and Choughs. We then began the slow drive back, beginning by going over the spectacular Connor Pass: It was covered in cloud. We then stopped at Brandon Point, the main seawatching point on the peninsula: It was calm; a few Gannets and Fulmars were seen, but that was about it. If I’d know how quickly I could have got there from Dingle I would have tried on better days rather than slogging around in the wind and rain.

Arrived in Dublin early evening (some House Mice were found – by the children – in the underground carpark of the “Premier Inn” hotel.) All over. No decent birds found at all. There must have been good yank birds on the peninsula, the weather conditions were reasonably favourable. Fair enough, it wasn’t a full-out birding trip, but I did average about four hours a day. There is just too much habitat to cover and I didn’t meet another birder all week apart from at the Mourning Dove twitch. Rare birds are rare and therefore difficult to find. I’m pretty sure I identified every passerine I saw - there weren’t that many; but being in the right place at the right time does involve a degree of luck! I will return!

No Birds!

Still no birds so gave up to take the kids surfing. Tried again later. Same result. Did see:

Mediterranean Gull – adult in Dingle and two first winters at Ballyferriter.
Chiffchaff – Slea Head.
Wigeon and Red-breasted Merganser – several  at Burnham Lagoon.
Irish Hare – a couple in Dingle

 

Killarney

Spent an hour birding with Tom at first light before heading with the family to Killarney. Not too much, several Red-breasted Mergansers, a Chiffchaff, and an adult Mediterranean Gull in the harbour. In Killarney, myself and Tom drove the Dunloe Pass. As well as several Ravens, we also had an immature White-tailed Eagle (probably third calendar year), part of the re-introduced birds to the national park. We also added Collared Dove as neither of us could remember seeing them before!

Barryferriter and Dingle

Not much birding today, mainly family stuff. I went out early on my own to Ballyferriter, but only got a pair of Chough and what must have been good candidates for wild Rock Doves. We then went on a successful boat trip to see Fungie the Bottle-nosed Dolphin. Three Black Guillemots were also seen on the trip, a new bird for Tom. The rest of the day was spent on Inch beach where the kids went surfing, and a walk into Dingle around the harbour, where we saw the dolphin again.

Wind and Rain!

Went out with Tom at first light but a strong south-westerly with squally showers made birding very difficult. We gave up mid-morning having seen little: Chiffchaff, Red-breasted Merganser, and hibernicus Coal Tit. I also probably saw "Fungie" the Bottle-nosed Dolphin in Dingle harbour.

By mid-afternoon the wind dropped and the rain stopped, so I went back out again, with a walk a around Ballyferriter (Tom had understandably had enough and went to Dingle aquarium with Michelle and Sam.) Saw little; a Snipe was flushed on the coastal path, a couple of Choughs were seen, and a Twite was found in a hedge; it's proving hard going!

No rare birds, so some Herring Gull pictures and nice views of Ballyferriter!

Dingle

Awoke late again. Birding was limited due to doing family things around Dingle. Resolved to start getting up early and giving it a proper try for the rest of the week! Two Choughs were seen near Slea Head, and an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen in Dingle harbour; Sparrowhawk and Goldcrest were additional birds for the week. Finally, an Irish Hare was seen in the evening.  

Mourning Dove dip

We awoke late and I went with Tom mid-morning to bird around the Ballyferriter area. We had a good time but saw little but were looking forward to the afternoon as we were sure we would turn up something. However, a Mourning Dove was reported at Garnish Point, Cork, so we decided to go. Despite being less than one hundred miles, the journey was horrendous and took over three hours. Upon arrival we found that the bird had departed before we'd set out! A complete waste of an afternoon. We hung around to dusk before the long drive home, seeing a couple of Red Deer in Killarney National Park. Birds new for the day:

Greater Black-backed Gull
Rock Pipit
Song Thrush
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Raven
House sparrow
Goldfinch
Linnet

Ireland

The start of just over a week's holiday in Ireland began aboard the 2:30am ferry from Holyhead to Dublin. The crossing was made in a moderate westerly, with drizzle for much of the way. Redwings could be heard and occasionally seen in the ship's lights, and a party of Meadow Pipits joined us for the voyage; as far as we could tell, they never alighted, but were obviously attracted to the ship's lights; at times they appeared perilously close to the water. The occasional Guillemot was also noted and Tom claimed a Puffin.

The drive to our home for the week, just outside Dingle, was made in torrential rain and gale force westerlies and a wrong turning somewhere meant we came through the spectacular Conor Pass.

After unloading, myself and Tom went birding, starting with a look out to sea at Slea Head as we didn't fancy leaving the car. We saw nothing apart from a few Gannets, but an improvement in the weather meant we could at least do some birding around Dingle and Ventry. We did, and saw nothing! List of other birds seen:

Mallard
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Hen Harrier
Kestrel
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Grey Plover
Curlew
Redshank
Greenshank
Turnstone
Kittiwake
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Guillemot
Rock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Stonechat
Blackbird
Mistle Thrush
Magie
Jackdaw
Rook
Hooded Crow
Starling
Chaffinch
Greenfinch

Wagtails

A Grey Wagtail was again in the Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, on the limestone rockery next to the water; perfect Grey Wagtail habitat. Two also went over Cambridge near to the station. A Migrant Hawker and a few Common Darters were also seen enjoying the late autumn sunshine.

Shepreth L-moor’s only bird of note in the evening was also a wagtail: Pied Wagtail, for some reason unusual at this site.

Crossbills

Five Crossbills flew over the Cambridge, near the station, at lunchtime today. Very little to see in the botanic gardens apart from a large female Sparrowhawk. New for the winter at Fowlmere this evening were five Siskins and two benches! Also several Pied Wagtails flying east somewhere to roost; a Buzzard (also one near Foxton), about two hundred Starlings swirling around the reedbed, and a Pipistrelle.

Ring-necked Parakeets

Tom apparently saw about fifteen this morning in Foxton, from the bus as it pulled out onto the A10 from Station Road

Red-flanked Bluetail

Along with Tom, I went to Minsmere to see the Red-flanked Bluetail that had been present for a few days. A first-winter, probably male, it was rather skulky, but good views were still obtained. Whilst Tom did some sketching, I went for a stroll towards Sizewell and managed to get two fly-over Twite, a Stonechat, and several Meadow Pipits. Returning to Tom, I scanned the Barnacle Goose flock and found a Red-breasted Goose, though I assume it to be feral.

On the way back to the car we checked out the scrape but it was very quiet (water levels still low.) The only waders were Lapwings and Snipes and just a single female Pintail could be found amongst the Wigeon and Teal. A Green Woodpecker was on the beach, a rather odd sight. Walking along the causeway, a Great White Egret flew over, landing out of view in the north scrape at the foot of Dunwich cliffs. Its large size and Yellow bill clearly separating it from the more common Little Egrets.

Finally, near the visitor centre, Tom found a very confiding Treecreeper, so I quickly rook a few shots.

At home in the evening a Tawny Owl was calling from the end of the garden. Unfortunately it managed to elude me yet again.

Red-flanked Bluetail by Tom

Brown Shrike and Gulls

After a morning at home, I left for the Brown Shrike at Staines Moor in Surrey. Seen well. Notes below:

Several Ring-necked Parakeets were also seen (or mostly heard.) I then travelled to Oxford on spec’ in the hope that the atlantis Yellow-legged Gull would be present. It was! On the way, several Red Kites and Buzzards were noted.

As well as the atlantis Yellow-legged, I found two Caspian Gulls (a near adult and a probable 4th calendar year) and two michahellis Yellow-legged Gulls. Detailed notes of all the gulls were made but they are virtually unreadable due to freezing hands! A large number of Red Kites were hanging around the area (double figures most of the time) feeding around the same landfill as the gulls.

Fowlmere and Foxton

About forty Redwings in Foxton first thing were my first of the year. Very little in a quick walk just before dark at Fowlmere; just a bat species.

Fowlmere

The Jack Snipe was again seen at dusk in a puddle to the left of the main hide. Two Common Snipes were also present on the other side of the mere and a Barn Owl was heard. A fox was seen in Melbourn shortly after dark.

Badger!

Whilst watching a very close young Fallow Deer (there were several others nearby as well as the usual Munjac), a Badger walked in to the open on the main track. Although it was seen for less than a minute it was at close range. The first I've seen (alive!) for a few years. A Barn Owl also flew over the same spot and was heard screeching later. At least three Tawny Owls were also heard.

Earlier in the day, several Common Darter and a single Migrant Hawker were seen in the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge.

Botanic Gardens, Foxton, and Shepreth

A single Emperor at the Botanic Gardens, Cambridge during a lunchtime walk. Two plovers (presumably Golden, but who knows, Dotterel?) were seen from the train as it pulled into Foxton. They couldn't be relocated once I'd got home to grab my 'scope. Shepreth had nothing but a Buzzard.

Trumpington and Fowlmere

About one thousand Golden Plovers were at Trumpington. I spent about half an h0ur going through them, but all seemed to be Eurasian as expected. A Buzzard was seen in Foxton on my return.

Fowlmere was extremely dull: A Teal pair and a Snipe.

Therfield Heath, Foxton, and Fowlmere

Therfield Heath was very quiet. Despite slogging around for about two hours I couldn't manage any more than a Buzzard. No winter thrushes, despite reports from elsewhere.

Driving home, about three hundred Black-headed Gulls were following two tractors in Foxton along with a handful of Common Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A large flock (over five hundred?) of Golden Plover also flew over distantly to the north.

Fowlmere at dusk held two Common Snipes (but no Jack) and two Tawny Owls (one seen well.)

Foxton and Fowlmere

A Skylark was in a display flight near the train station as I waited for my train to Cambridge at first light. Odd for October!

Fowlmere in the evening began with a Cormorant (over), a Gadwall, two Teals, and three Common Snipes as well as a Buzzard. A Peacock Butterfly was also flying in the drizzle. Heavy rain then kept me in the hide until dusk (I had cycled, so was awaiting a break in the rain) and during this wait, a Jack Snipe flew in, just long enough to positively identify before it became too dark!

Fowlmere

Similar to a couple of days ago. Skylarks still moving (though in no particular direction), four Teal, a single Snipe, and nine Grey Partridges. A juvenile Bank Vole was also seen.

Nearby on Fowlmere Road, Foxton, an impressive flock of at least two hundred Linnets was seen.

Fowlmere

Early in the day in Essex, I had noticed a reasonable number of Skylarks moving. This continued at Fowlmere during a late afternoon walk, with several flocks (up to nine birds.) Also, a large flock of Corn Buntings was seen (about forty birds.)

In addition to this, there was a Single Snipe, four Teal, two Buzzards, and a bevy of seven Grey Partridges.