October 23, 2006
Cape strikes again and a finders tick!
On thursday evening i went down to see the isabelline shrike again, on the old head of kinsale.
Bird was once again giving itself up.
Isabelline Shrike - Owen Foley
Isabelline Shrike - Owen Foley
That evening news broke of a hermit thrush on cape (at the post office).
And a boat was organized for 7.30am friday morning.
We left baltimore at 7.45 and got the taxi up to the post office.
The bird was giving itself up, feeding just a few feet away.
Absolutely stunning!
Hermit Thrush - Owen Foley
Hermit Thrush - Owen Foley
Hermit Thrush - Owen Foley
Hermit Thrush - Owen Foley
After about an hour or so we set off up the east end in search of the little bunting.
No luck with this, but a wryneck and a black redstart were good compensation.
Wryneck - Owen Foley
A common rosefinch was in the waist, and a Firecrest and Yellowbrowed warbler were in cotters. A very tame turtle dove was also at cotters.
Turtle Dove- Owen Foley
When we came off HH and PR followed me to Ballymacrown, Baltimore,...where i found a gorgeous Juvenile Woodchat shrike. A particularly cold individual. Very nice to watch.
Juv. Woodchat Shrike (Ballymacrown) - Owen Foley
Juv. Woodchat Shrike (Ballymacrown) - Owen Foley
Juv. Woodchat Shrike (Ballymacrown) - Owen Foley
Juv. Woodchat Shrike (Ballymacrown) - Owen Foley
Juv. Woodchat Shrike (Ballymacrown) - Owen Foley
Juv. Woodchat Shrike (Ballymacrown) - Owen Foley
A wryneck was also in the same general area.
On saturday I went down galley way. Very windy, so i decided to quit with the mig searching and do a seawatch.
A good number of skuas were passing with the tallies being
1 juvenile long-tailed skua
4 pomarine skuas
12 arctic skuas
7 bonxies
2 little auks
3 leach's petrels
6 sooty shearwaters
1 grey phalarope
1 velvet scoter.
The lesser yellowlegs was still at rosscarbery.
On sunday I took shop down the old head. The woodchat shrike was still present in the first gully, and a garden warbler was on the boreen.
I found a yellowbrowed warbler in the last garden on the right.
We then went on to rosscarberry to see the AGP. So 3 ticks him.
Excellent weekend!
Pariah
Worth while links
Irish County yearlists page 2006