Monday 8 October 2012

6th-8th October

Well I got the weekend right but the american birds stopped short in Galway. 4 on Inishmore- Eastern Kingbird, 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Blackpoll Warbler.  and a long over due Belted Kingfisher on the mainland.Unprecedented on the western seaboard? I think so.




Dawn at the harbour



There was plenty of expectation on cape as the news rolled in but it was to be a pleasent if not spectacular couple of days.

Bird Obs

Early morning in Cotters



Coal Tits dominated with about 400-500 roaming in packs around the island.There were few warblers around with small numbers of phyllocs, Blackcaps and up to 4-5 Yellow browed Warblers including this showy bird in Michael Vincents

Yellow-browed Warbler

Goldcrest
The Lake

Central Bog

Saturday was warm and sunny before rain on sunday
Paul Kelly got the ball rolling on saturday with an elusive Barred Warbler in Central Bog.

PiedWagtail

Paddy O'Keefe "The bird man of Cape"

Tame jackdaw
Sunday improved slightly with an elusive Common Rosefinch found by Mary Cadagin on her feeders. Eamonn O'Donnell found another elusive bird, this time a Hobby at the lake and later seen over the waist.

Still despite a few good birds I could'nt help leaving feeling a little disappointed. I left early on moday morning.

EOD says goodbye.
I stopped off at Rosscarbary to twitch the Bairds Sandpiper which showed ok in the mist


Baird's Sandpiper with Dunlin
On my way through the Curragh I spotted a large flock of Golden Plover and managed to pick out an American Golden Plover among them. Honest!

Left of middle at the back, head up!
Until next year...............

Wednesday 26 September 2012

2008 all over again?

Jet Stream prediction for the first weekend in October
See you all on Cape?

Saturday 2 June 2012

Becky and Lornas golden moments

Becky and Lorna were on Cape in early May. Apart from organising the Pelagic, they were keen birders and phographers (Beckys brothers  pioneered birding on Foula in Scotland)  http://www.foundonfoula.co.uk/



Golden Oriole in West Bog


Sedge Warbler

Lorna in Cotter's Bar for evening bird log

Bluebells over South harbour



Seawatching; "The sea is behind you!"

Becky and Lorna in West Bog

Youth Hostel in South Harbour

Monday 28 May 2012

Hermit Thrush

 On 19th October 2006 Ciaran Cronin found a Hermit Thrush near the Post Office. It was feeding in a small paddock and had damage to its right side possibly caused by a run in with a predator. This was Irelands second record of Hermit Thrush and was also twitched the next day by Birders from the UK. As the last 3 photos show the damage to its side had almost disappeared on 20th October and the bird looked fit and healthy. It was observed feeding right up to dusk and no doubt left the island that evening as it wasnt seen on 21st October








Sunday 27 May 2012

October 2011 Alan Dalton

Cape Clear Bird Observatory in North Harbour


Chough

Sedge Warbler

Wryneck

Red-eyed Vireo

Short-toed Lark


Rose-coloured Starling

Lesser Whitethroat

Rose-coloured Starling

Spotted Flycatcher

Red-eyed Vireo

Pied and White Wagtail




Chiffchaff

Garden Warbler

Gannet

Chough

Lesser Whitethroat

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Great Black-backed Gull


'Northern type' Willow Warbler

Olly Gully

Reed Warbler

Red-backed Shrike

Ring Ouzel

Song Thrush


Rose-coloured Starling

Starling and Rose-coloured Starling


Short-toed Lark

Red-eyed Vireo

Stonechat

Short-toed Lark

West Bog

White Wagtail

Wryneck on patio

Yellow-browed Warbler

Wryneck

Yellow-browed Warbler
Above are some of Alan Daltons photos. Alan was on Cape last October during a good fall or scarce and rare birds.