Distant dodgy ducks

 Yes, indeedy, on a weekend tip-off, I had a go at scanning for a pair of long-tailed ducks yesterday evening, as it had become sunny and calm. They had been seen from Cloghna Head at the other end of the beach, which is about 2ish km away....

Took a while, but I picked them up in the end. Hardly giving themselves up but they looked the part, honest guv! The ID was clinched when they upped and flew miles out to sea as it got closer to dusk, to roost in deeper water, as previously documented by Hope-Jones (1979). #ScienceInaction

In other news the gull-billed tern is still alternating between sitting on its humph in a field beside kilkeran lake or else pouncing on eart-worms up in the ploughed field. Here's the best pic that I've managed of it.

A gull-billed tern yesterday

Onwards and upwards - the dugbirds will be back soon!

Full Fat Ahoy!

 Yes indeedy - there I was, carefully scoping the gull flock on the lake for anything decent at all, when all of a sudden I noticed a big, cigar-shaped duck type thing flying around - Goosander ya bas! Amayzing! Lost it behind the annoying pine tree and couldn't pick it up again, but a quick scoot down the road to check more closely didn't reveal any further sign. Total jam - just happened to be in the right place at the right time! That plus the pair of wigeon this am moves me up to 73 or 52.02% for the year - first full fat patch tick since the pink-footed goose last October - now on 226 for the Galley list, which is the most important list of the lot!

Not done yet

Yes indeedy - just as a certain Mr Faulty was languishing on his laurels, settling comfortably into 2nd place on the podium, and indeed repeatedly trying out the "Best of the Irish" moniker, I managed to strike back this very am with a fine long-tailed duck just off the beach - excellent! I probably manage to see one of these on patch every 2 or 3 years, and they do sometimes hang out on the lake over winter. Regardless if this one hangs about, it was there today and that was the main thing! 

Actually, I just took a look at my patch stats spreadsheet, and it has revealed that said species is actually much rarer then I realised, with only three previous records; 2013, 2016 and 2020. So only my 4th record for the patch! Bingo Bango! Just need one more to put me back into second now....

Lake of Fire

 Yes indeedy, for in the last 2 or 3 weeks I've barely looked beyond the lakes shores, yet have added five (count 'em) year ticks. Lapwing fell first, a lone bird flying over the garden heading to the lake. Next up were two brief whopper schwanns that all too quickly were scared off or eaten by the local mute pair. Fast forward to last monday and there was a male tufted duck and an imm male shoveler frolicking in the shallows, along with a whopping 21 (count 'em again to be sure) wigeon, albeit these weren't a year tick. And now today, to top it off, three fine gadwall have been added to the mix - where will it all end?

Inching closer

A fine long-tailed duck was vigorously diving over the far side of the lake this very am. Indeed, if it wasn't for my thoroughness, I'd have overlooked it! Luckily I didn't. A quick perusal of the rather mediocre records database appears to indicate that this is only my second record on the patch, with the first being in 2013 - see here for more.

Sadly Mr Faulty has not yet furnished me with a fonescope adaptor meaning that there are no record shots to support the record. You'll just have to trust me innit!

Duck games

So called spring continues to drag by on Boghall. Willow warbler and swallow were misplaced harbingers a couple of weeks ago, while mallard have undergone a population explosion on the patch, and are on every bit of water they can find. But highlight has been the very welcome return of whitethroats - welcome back boys, I've missed ya. All this bring us to a paltry 64, or 68.1% to those who can do maths (that's you Statto).

duck season

Despite it being spring, there's feck all proper migs at Galley but did net these two today (not the little egret!)

Fool's (patch) Gold!

4th ever gadwall record & 2nd ever shoveler (for me) - Oooof!

Velveteen

Finally glimpsed the velvet scoter from de patch this am, which was a full fat patch tick (up to 194 now!), plus got iceland gull from de hoose this eve - 2 year tick day - gotta love it!

Triple crown

We took advantage of a brief dry spell yesterday afternoon to do Boghall, and were rewarded with a fine peregrine and then a flock of snow buntings in the snow at the back of Caerketton.  Second record of Snobs from the patch, and a fine find for us inland boys. Pleased with that haul we went home to work on some new songs, but better was to come when we looked out of the recording studio window and saw a cracking male goosander haul itself out of the burn that goes through the garden, waddle across the bridge and sit down on the path. It decided that the garden was not suitable for nesting pretty quick though, before we could get any photos. Shame, but a cracking patch and garden tick. 3 new for the year means 75.67%. Bring it!

tuftie

Not much to report over the weekend but a male tufted duck on de lake was new for de year - whoop!

pissing on shakey's chips

Not one to be outdone by an overweight and over-hyped 50's throwback, I too have been pushing the patch envelope as it were, by finding my own patch tick in the form of a fine female long-tailed duck on de lake, and from the comfort of my own patio too! I give you Exhibit A:

A long-tailed duck yesterday

Cute eh? Only me 2nd in Cork I think - rare bird on the south coast and all that! First patch tick of the year, but hopefully not the last. I too am currently doing better than last year - 10 species better in fact!    And last year was a record year!

green-veined white

Was having a casual check on the gadwall situation this morning when, lo! A male green-winged teal swam past! Ker-chow! Only my 2nd at Galley - first was in Dec '05, lingering into Jan '06 so its been a while! And then grey heron finally fell too! 67 species - dizzy heights!

sunday scores

Actually had a walk round Galley today! First time this year! Amaze-balls! Got 8 year ticks too, cashing in such goodies as whimbrel, goldcrest, raven & grey wag. Still, have to get them some time! However, back on the patio things livened up considerably when 2 (count 'em) gadwall were noticed on the edge of the lake reeds by my good self - kwality patch score! Think thats the 4th record in the last 5 years so they is very nearly annual! So now 65 species up, which is one better than the whole January total for 2011 and 2012 - and I'm back in the medals in 3rd place - good going!

ducking responsibilities

Last week was all about the spring migs. Even up till Fri pm when I snuck out for a quick look at shite and scored spot fly, plus jammed sanderling on de way home. This weekend has all been about ducks on the lake! 4 tufties there yesterday was bettered by 5 tufties & 2 pochard today, only to be superceded by 4 tufties, 2 pochard and 1 scaup once i'd worked out what i should be stringing! Missed spot fly, scaup & pochard last year so thats a triple whammy breakback! Also just realised that I omitted pheasant up till now - score! All of which means that 109 (on which I am now on) is my highest ever total by this date, beating my record breaking 2010 score by 2 species & 3 days!! Impressed? I was!