September 18, 2006
Cleaning up on Cape Clear
On Friday i got news from HH that an Ortolan Bunting had been found on cape, giving good views. ortolan is a bogey bird for me.And a lifer. So i set off rather hastily.
I made the boat. But the bird was missing when i arrived. And remained so for the rest of the day. I decided to stay overnight and bird the island the next day.
I did get excellent views of HH's Greenish warbler in the campsite garden however which wa worth it alone.
I woke early on saturday morning and began tramping out towards the low road.
First up was a pretty little Imm. type Redstart on the waist. A yeartick.
Out to the low road, and staked out the ortolan spot for a while.
No joy. So i began walking the bogs. Central bog had 2 whinchats, a cork year tick, and whilst on West Bog I refound HH's Juv Rosecolored Starling up on the wires by the lake.
I moved up to this bird to get some shots.
Juvenile RoseColoured Starling - Owen Foley
Juvenile RoseColoured Starling - Owen Foley
Juvenile RoseColoured Starling - Owen Foley
Juvenile RoseColoured Starling - Owen Foley
Juvenile RoseColoured Starling - Owen Foley
Juvenile RoseColoured Starling - Owen Foley
Juvenile RoseColoured Starling - Owen Foley
Juvenile RoseColoured Starling - Owen Foley
Whilst at the lake a lesser WhiteThroat was at Mary Macs.
I then moved back towards West Bog and found a Barred Warbler on the stone wall at the end of the Olly Gully. This bird showed decently for circa 30 seconds and then hopped a good 20 meters into the foliage on the hill. Never to be seen again.
Back through central bog. Nada this time around. Up the track to the wheatear field. A good size flock of linnets here, a few wheatears and a tick in the form of a Lapland Bunting. At last! Little fecker flushed from infront of me, but not before i got a good view on the deck. Nice.
Chough - Owen Foley
Back down and through the bogs again. Nothing this time around. A quick view of the starling again and i went back up the high road and down to the campsite garden again. Here i got a good view of the Greenish again. very nice.
I then went for a well deserved lunch (having skipped breakfast) and sat into a nice meal just as the rain hit.
Did cotters again just before getting the boat off, and 3 pied flys showed well in here.
Definitely worth the stay over...and the hangover!
On sunday i went down to Ballycotton.
A juvenile black tern was present on the exit of the lake.
But i had forgotton to charge the camera after extensive use on cape.
Turned it on to see "Battery exhausted". Damn shame too! Bird was very obliging.
2 adult little terns were at pilmore.
And that was it. Knockadoon was dead.
Sin é
Pariah
Worth while links
Irish County yearlists page 2006