September 12, 2006
Skiving, Mig and wader hunting and best laid Plans.
Had to pop down to the VW dealership in Lissarda as the one at turners cross didnt have the wing mirror I needed in stock. (some bollox smashed my right wing mirror).
As i was down there I said id check the gearagh.
A green sandpiper was cautiously grilled at lissarda itself and the gearagh was full of quacks, all looking manky this time of year.
The place was incredibly dried out. Looked perfect for waders, but besides a few curlews and Lapwing nothing special.
Thats not saying much tho...habitat is extensive and looks perfect for buffs, temmincks etc. who knows?
As i was out and enjoying the birding i just nipped down from macroom to rosscarberry. I felt compelled to check it for waders after missing the low tide on saturday. Nada here. Not even a ruff.
So i went down to galley to try and see Cols yellow wag and whinchats.
Didnt see any of these on the way out.
So i went up to the lighthouse and had a gawk out.
Almost straight away i picked up a juv sabs gull at about 1/4 distance.
Jumped out and got it in the scope.Very nice bird.
Saw that there was stuff moving ok so i decided to do a seawatch proper.
Bonxie up next and then arctic skua.
Up until now it had been a tshirt seawatch, but i could see a squall coming in so i was going to head away.
Until the matrix freeze frame moment happened.
FEAS PETREL. Underside view as it came into my scope, just a little closer than the manx stream. Tracked it from 11 to 2.30 for a good 2-3 minutes.
Utterly class! And really relaxed viewing conditions.
Then the rain hit and i bailed into the car....to spread the news.
hee.
Them locals....they aint happy!;)
I moved on to the estuaries after this, doing Clon, Timolegue, kilbritain and Garretstown.
A ruff was at timolegue and a yellow wagtail on the beach at garretstown with waders and pied wags.
Garretstown beach had quite a few smalls, i was sure that would be the place to have my bairds or semi p. But alas just dunlin, sanderlings and ringed plovers.
None the less.....I shall be keeping an eye on the place.
What an evening!...and all due to a duff wing mirror.
Sin e.
Pariah
Worth while links
Irish County yearlists page 2006