Little Ringed Plovers and Avocet

This last weekend has thrown Dublin 3 nice birds. Broadmeadows in Swords always gives you a nice bird or two ever year and this was no exception as not one but two Little Ringed Plovers were picked out from a mass of Godwits, Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sands, Dunlin and so on by 2 great birders AGK and Niall Griffin. I got up the following day and got to see both birds. Distant but they gave excellent views and always a joy to see them. I also had a bit of luck while checking one of my own stomping grounds. Within seconds of getting out of the car I had picked out an Avocet. This is a Dublin first for me as well as as being a first ever Avocet found by myself in Ireland. I have two other recorded Avocet sightings in Ireland (Co Wexford and Co Louth) but they were found by other birdwatchers, so making my Dublin bird all the more sweeter given the little amount of birding I'm actually getting done these day. So a cracking weekend all around.

Wexford a given at anytime.

I am restricted in my birding these days due to family commitments and an on going injury I have so to get out birding at any stage is a bonus. I had a day and a half to spend on my own recently so I had to go to Wexford and visit the wildfowl reserve. It is a special place and one of the best to see wintering wildfowl. The pick of the birds there had to be the Canada Goose (Very distant but good views through the scope) the Bewick Swans also gave excellent views as did a Water Rail swimming across the pond below the tower hide. There was plenty of other Geese on view as well with Barnacle, Greylag (in their thousands) Brent (also in their thousands) and a few Pink footed Geese. Out in the bay there was some views of Slavonian, Little and Great Crested Grebes and a nice view of a Kingfisher. While in land Tacumshin never fails to throw up the odd (or not so odd) rarity as in the Long Billed Dowitcher and Lapland Buntings all good for the year list. Just down the road at Tomhaggard I got to see and photo some of the 6 cattle Egrets that were feeding around the cattle at the back of the hideout pub. The birds of prey gave in a showing as well with Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Sparrow Hawk, Kestrel and 2 Peregrine Falcons (one of which looked huge) all give lovely views. I will be back again and again as you could never trier of this place. On my way back I stopped at Dun Laoghaire to have a look and got lovely views of a Black Redstart (I also had one in Rosslare Euro Port) and some Med Gulls. So happy out so far this year.

                                         Bewicks feeding in the Wildfowl Reserve

                                         Buzzard being mobbed by a Crow

                                         The Black Redstart from Dun Laoghaire

                                         Cattle Egret in Flight

                                         Cattle and Little Egrets feeding in around the Cows.

                                         Sunrise over the river Slaney.