County Louth (formerly Dundalk Bay) local patch. (1 Viewer)

[Gerry o Neill]

woodsand

Amazing how an untagged fairly mature red deer stag can turn up like that...I imagine that the fairly open country at Stabannon allows it to move around.

Seen the woodsand at Ballymac and got roseate tern at cruiestown now on 157 for year.

 

[Gerry o Neill]

Seen the woodsand at Ballymac and got roseate tern at cruiestown now on 157 for year.

No sign of woodsand today but did see a water rail.

 

[breffni]

For the record Enda and Peter found the wood sandpiper on saturday - i went looking for it on sunday but only ticked Frankie. Visitors to the area may notice an unusual looking club-rush with a triangular stem in flower along the margins...

 

[Enda]

For the record Enda and Peter found the wood sandpiper on saturday - i went looking for it on sunday but only ticked Frankie. Visitors to the area may notice an unusual looking club-rush with a triangular stem in flower along the margins...

for a more accurate record Enda & Peter R. found the wood sandpiper on sunday morning in flight.Gerry relocated it on sunday evening on the deck.

 

[breffni]

Aye, and the club rush is sea club rush, and not, the much more rare, triangular club rush....

 

[MargaretM]

Little Terns on RTE Radio 1 today.
Terry Flanagan from the Mooney show came out to Baltray and recorded an interview with Sandra. This is due to be broadcast today on the Mooney show which runs from 3pm until 4.30 pm on RTE Radio 1.

http://www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild/

 

[Peter Phillips]

South Africa

Hi All just back form a great 3 weeks in South Africa..almost too many birds to take in. Here ara a few shots.

 

[breffni]

Ostrey flying south towards dundak from balaggan pt about 8pm tomight

 

[Peter Phillips]

South Africa

and a few more...

 

[MargaretM]

Hi All just back form a great 3 weeks in South Africa..almost too many birds to take in. Here ara a few shots.

Fantastic photos Peter, are you sure they're not postcards!! You must be really happy with your camera.

 

[MargaretM]

Little Tern Conservation Project at Baltray.
All hatchings are complete so we have another 2 weeks until our chicks are flying well enough to escape predators, we will therefore continue the wardening for 2 more weeks

In first photo below are adult and chick, look towards the left side of the green plant to see chick hiding behind it. Second photo shows adult Little Tern in flight.

 

[Peter Phillips]

South Africa pics

and a few more.........

 

[Peter Phillips]

and more........

 

[nialltkeogh]

Any pelagic pics???

See Ya,
Niall

 

[Peter Phillips]

Any pelagic pics???

See Ya,
Niall

Hi Niall,

The pelagic was cancelled the evening before I was to go out. 'It was like a death in the family'.
Apparently cancellations are regular enough during the winter...but that was little comfort.
I did get to go cage diving with the Great White Sharks off Seal Island so that kind of made up for it.

 

[Peter Phillips]

Out and About

I managed to get out today for a stint at Baltray and up to Ballymac. The best at Baltray was a single Ruff.There were about 1000 Terns at Baltray mostly Common but also about 8 Roseate Terns. I had a sinlge Green Sandpiper at Ballymascanlan Esturay.

my list

148 Green Sandpiper

 

[Peter Phillips]

County Year List
162 Green Sandpiper
163 Wood Sandpiper

 

[MargaretM]

Probably drawn by the large numbers of Terns on the beach at Baltray, I have seen Arctic Skuas there yesterday and again this morning. There were 5 of them at one stage yesterday afternoon and 3 of them spent time on the beach in between harassing terns. There was a single Skua there this morning. The views of these birds yesterday would have been excellent but for the miserable weather conditions!

 

[breffni]

Disturbed a sparrowhawk who was cleaning out the third swallow brood in a barn down the road. The sparrowhawk had flown in the slightly ajar ground level door but couldn't figure out how to fly out . Meanwhile about 15 swallows going bezerk in the confined space. I opened the door wider to let him escape....

 

[MargaretM]

A couple of pics taken at Baltray yesterday showing the flocks of Terns.