Young Clare Photographer: Coonagh Nature Reserve

The Coonagh settlement ponds are a unique spot located right on the edge of Limerick City. The ponds attract a wide array of waterbirds year round and are surrounded by reed bed and scrub which is great for birds such as warblers, tits, and lots more.

While the rest of the family were doing some shopping i said I’d spend an hour or two at the reserve and see what i could find.

The highlight of the day had to be my first ever Grasshopper Warbler which i found just before i was about to leave calling from some scrub. I had to play the waiting game for it to come out of hiding and show its face but it eventually did and i managed a few shots before it was gone again.

9 Pochard were in the far over pond which is a beautiful duck that i rarely see and have only seen at this site. 3 Gadwall joined them along with Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebes, Coot, Mallards, Cormorants, Mute Swans, Herons, and a single Greylag Goose while Moorhen and a Water Rail were calling from the dense reed beds.

A pair of Wigeon were on the near pond who with any luck might stay and breed aswell as many of the other ducks currently at the site.

There was lots of warbler activity too with Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Sedge Warblers singing throughout the reserve aswell as the Grasshopper warbler and other more common birds such as Stonechats, Long tailed tits, Reed Buntings and many more such as a Male Kestrel which spent the afternoon hovering over the banks looking for any unsuspecting rodents to catch for dinner.

To top it off a herd of goats were grazing on the reserve with loads of adorable little kids who were amazing to watch as they hopped around the place after their mothers.