I was sharing a house with Rosemary, Michael and Brendan as accommodation was at a premium because of the UK Bank Holiday and the Taste of Carlingford Festival.
Friday evening we met in the Four Seasons hotel and Eric talked through the birds that we could be expected to see over the weekend in the Cooley Mountains.
Saturday Morning we got up Early (5:30am) to meet at 7pm to head up at the mountains in hope of Cuckoos, White Throats etc... however it was LASHING I mean really really raining - as we crept up the mountain we were under cloud covering so after standing looking over a prime birding sight and hearing a pretty mournful sounding Willow Warbler and a fleeting glance of a very brave White Throat we headed for the coast and hopefully some shelter.
1st stop was Rocky Marshall on the Carlingford road (I think that the right name) where it was not as miserable - here we saw - White Throat, Swallows, Blackbirds, House Martins (collecting mud), Shelduck, Ringed Plover, Little Egret, Wood Pigeon and Feral Pigeon. Singing in the trees was a Chiffchaff (Eric had a good conversation with him) and the king of the birds - the Wren.
No pictures as it was still raining and I didn't want to damage the camera also I was having enough trouble with my scope and bins being out in the rain haha.
After this came a very well needed sojourn to the nearest petrol station which had a cafe (Thank you Mr Bus Driver Larry) where tea and provisions were taken.
Once provisions have been taken onboard we headed to Giles Quay to the Black Guillemots, who nest in the quay wall in pipes placed there by Breffni.
A black Guillemot can you see the rain drops on his back?
Love the red mouth and check out the claws!!! Bit Goth eh?
Keeping an eye on the neighbours below
Sleeping with one eye open.
Peak a boo
We were able to get quite close up under a careful watch mind but still we were only feet away.
We were able to get quite close up under a careful watch mind but still we were only feet away.
Philip clicking some shots of the Guillemots
As you can see from the photos below we were still feeling a bit miserable as the weather was wet and wind was quite strong.
I'm not sure these photos quite show how wet and icky it really was!!!
After this we headed to Balagan Point and got beautiful views of Gannets and I spotted my 1st Manx Shearwater and Sandwich Tern. We didn't spent too long there and the time we did was spent using the bus as Shelter - even the Meadow Pipits were looking water logged and miserable.
We headed back to Carlingford to have a look at the two pairs of Fulmars who are nesting in St. Johns Castle Carlingford. This brought us up to 12.30pm and was time for a beautiful well deserved Fry (thank you Rosemary) and buckets of tea. This then lead to a well needed nap - oh this was so decadent.
Rosemary, Brendan and I enjoyed a quick birding walk around Carlingford before we met up with the rest of the Gang to head back to the Mountain for the Dusk Chorus and chance to see the Roding Woodcock. The chorus was a little thin on the ground due to the wet cold day however we were rewarded by the Woodcock and whilst we where waiting a few Stags calling each other in the trees.
We then moved to try and hear the Grasshopper Warbler - which we found and stood listening to for a while - it really does not sound like a bird - I got a fleeting glance of him in the dusk light.
This was the end of the evening and we all piled into the bus and back to Carlingford.
Tea, glass of wine then Bed.
Sunday morning we met at 10 to head back up to the spot we had baled on because of the wet - it was dry however a strong wind so we didn't stay there too long and moved up to a higher mountain point (yeah sorry didn't catch the names of the mountains opps!!!).
Where there was plenty of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks about, however VERY cold so after a look around (the scenery was fantastic) we headed back down to where a very pale Wheatear is breeding and were rewarded with great views (and SUN!!!).
We headed back to Carlingford to have a look at the two pairs of Fulmars who are nesting in St. Johns Castle Carlingford. This brought us up to 12.30pm and was time for a beautiful well deserved Fry (thank you Rosemary) and buckets of tea. This then lead to a well needed nap - oh this was so decadent.
Rosemary, Brendan and I enjoyed a quick birding walk around Carlingford before we met up with the rest of the Gang to head back to the Mountain for the Dusk Chorus and chance to see the Roding Woodcock. The chorus was a little thin on the ground due to the wet cold day however we were rewarded by the Woodcock and whilst we where waiting a few Stags calling each other in the trees.
We then moved to try and hear the Grasshopper Warbler - which we found and stood listening to for a while - it really does not sound like a bird - I got a fleeting glance of him in the dusk light.
This was the end of the evening and we all piled into the bus and back to Carlingford.
Tea, glass of wine then Bed.
Sunday morning we met at 10 to head back up to the spot we had baled on because of the wet - it was dry however a strong wind so we didn't stay there too long and moved up to a higher mountain point (yeah sorry didn't catch the names of the mountains opps!!!).
Where there was plenty of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks about, however VERY cold so after a look around (the scenery was fantastic) we headed back down to where a very pale Wheatear is breeding and were rewarded with great views (and SUN!!!).
Mr Pale Wheatear - very active - at one point being mobbed by a Meadow Pipit.(Photo BS)
With a mouthful (Photo BS)
Back to the area we had been listening to the place where the Grasshopper Warbler had been singing to try and get a view of him however we didn't but we did see a beautiful Jay flying.
This was the final bird of the weekend and home we went.
It was a great weekend and I would recommend the Carlingford area for birdwatching.
Back to the area we had been listening to the place where the Grasshopper Warbler had been singing to try and get a view of him however we didn't but we did see a beautiful Jay flying.
This was the final bird of the weekend and home we went.
It was a great weekend and I would recommend the Carlingford area for birdwatching.
1 comment:
Hey Rhona, great post - sounds like a great weekend, despite the rain.Great photos of the Guillemots and the Wheatear - Wheatears have many guises don't they?
You're amazingly lucky you saw the Woodcock and the Grasshopper Warbler, I'd love to hear either one of them. GHW's are supposed to be Very difficult to see - so you did well to even get a glimpse - do they sound like someone reeling in a fishing rod reel? Thats what they sound like on my app anyway!
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