Ryan Air flight to Shannon then hire car to Letterfrack, County Galway, with Cris Freddi and John Murray. Nothing much on the way apart from Hooded Crows. Saw the Little Blue Heron as soon as we arrived, but very distant. Looking around the bay there were two Black Guillemots (one in winter plumage, the other transitionary) and four Red-breasted Mergansers. With the bird still far away we drove a short distance along the road to a suitable place to do some birding and get a celebratory pint at the local hotel (where John spent part of his honeymoon!) Nothing too exciting: Goldcrests, hibernicus Coal Tits, and a Treecreeper, as well as a Common Hawker.
We then managed closer views of the Heron before heading south to Shannon. A Raven was the only bird of note on the way, before stopping at Rahasane Turlough, where several American waders had been seen recently. Unfortunately non could be located (we were short of time), but we did see ten Greenland White-fronted Goose.
