The last day of the year saw me back at Blackrock saltmarsh, the spot I visited on 1st January this year. The waders roost was fantastic, with huge flocks of a number of species. Most numerous was
European Golden Plover, with at least 10,000 birds. There were also large flocks of
Lapwing, Red Knot, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and
Dunlin. Other waders included
Common Redshank, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and
Little Stint. The roosts had attracted predators with singles of both
Merlin and
Eurasian Sparrowhawk seen.
Ducks and geese were mainly represented by
Brent Goose, with quite a few
Common Shelduck and a small group of
Common Goldeneye. A group of 10
Pink-footed Geese passed overhead but didn't stop.
Bird of the day was a 2nd winter
Ring-billed Gull on the main beach in front of Blackrock town. Other gulls included a couple of
Lesser Black-backed, half a dozen
Greater Black-backed,
Herring, Common and
Black-headed.
2nd winter
Ring-billed Gull. Quite a surprise finding this little beauty. The first one of these I saw was in Galway in 1998, but I've seen plenty since then!
Adult winter
argenteus Herring Gull to compare with the Caspian Gull in Tallaght. Much shorter primary projection, pale eye, pink legs and pale mantle
3rd winter
graellsii Lesser Black-backed Gull
1st winter
Herring Gull
Common Gull
Part of a huge flock of
European Golden Plover that roost on the flats at Blackrock
Bar-tailed Godwit with a ring, sadly unreadable!
Part of a flock of 10
Pink-footed Geese that passed overhead while I was gull-watching at the seafront of Blackrock town.
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