November 01, 2006
Rares in the Mist
Saturday was an extremely quiet day, with no migrants of note at Knockadoon, although plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs knocking about (bad bad pun, I apologize).
A flock of about 2000 Golden Plover at Ring strand had what appeared to be a probable American Golden Plover in with them, but these birds were not obliging whatsoever, and I could never get a clear view of the bird, just his sleeping head every now and again.
On Sunday I went down to Ballymacrown. It was an incredibly misty dreary day, and at times visibility was nil! There were definitely birds about however…I could hear them at least! It became a bird listening day really as I walked about the various spots of cover.
“speee speee speee” – Goldcrests.
“pooweet” – Chiffchaff
“spink spink” – Chaffinches (lots of them moving through)
Then I heard a dry little rattle coming from the pines to my right.
“That sounded like an RB fly”, Red Breasted Flycatcher for the non birdy types, a finders tick.
The bird continued to call for a good five minutes before it popped out and gave stunning views for about 45 minutes, a lovely warm looking first year bird.
It was really nice to be able to just stand there watching it (under some convenient shelter) without other people talking or wanting to move on etc.
And the bird really performed, fly catching, cocking and flaring the tail, chasing a chiffer around for some reason, and always vocal.
I then moved on checking other gardens in the valley, but there was nothing to compare to that flycatcher.
I then drove around to Baltimore for some lunch, bumping into Dan Ballard in the restaurant. Apparently mizen was quiet with just a Yellow Browed and a Wryneck, long stayers straggling around.
Dan proceeded to tell me all about Pallas’s warblers…grrrr…
I then worked Baltimore, digging out a tree sparrow for my trouble…..good bird for cork that!
On Monday I walked out of the house to find a flat tire waiting for me….so that scuttled any plans I had of finding another rare. A quick trip down the gearagh produced a ruddy duck, a dozen whooper swans (love those birds) and single golden plover in with over 1000 lapwing.
Sin e
Pariah
Worth while links
Irish County yearlists page 2006