2 more for the list!

Last Saturday as i was walking up through the land trying to get a bit of sun i noticed an unusual bird sitting on a low branch of the large tree in the middle of the field. I had just been thinking about how I should’ve brought my bins just incase i saw something strange as it was a beautiful day with lots of bird activity but even without the bins i was nearly certain that the bird was a Spotted Flycatcher. I got closer and sure enough it flew off but i made it my mission to find out for sure what it was and hopefully get a few pictures also. 

So a few hours later I returned with my camera and binoculars. First no sign but then i said I’d check the surrounding willow trees and just as i was about to give up what landed on one of the trees only the Spotted Flycatcher. Its quite a basic ordinary looking bird at a first glance but there is something about it that i love. I’m pretty sure shortly after a second individual flew over my head and out of sight too which could mean they are breeding. Regardless it was my first time seeing a Spotted Flycatcher and i was over the moon with seeing it. Got some decent pics too!

                            Spotted  Flycatcher

The day was not over yet however as after going for a swim at Seafield Beach, Quilty i said i would check out the breeding tree sparrows just over the road which was another species i had never seen before. I had been to this area before but wasn’t aware that Tree Sparrows were nesting here. In fact this is the only known breeding site of Tree Sparrow in county Clare which is quite cool but also very sad and worrying as this species was once a lot more common in Clare and Ireland but sadly their population is continuing to decline throughout Ireland and Europe partially due to the lack of insects to feed their young due to the widespread use of pesticides.

Almost instantly upon arrival i saw my first tree sparrow and got a few pics from a distance before looking down and realising my battery had just died. A quick run back to the car and another battery that was also on its last legs later i returned to my Tree Sparrows and thankfully the sun came just at the right time for me to get these shots of this beautiful adult that sat in the reeds in front of me. I saw atleast 5 individuals many of whom were carrying nestling material and food preparing well for the busy nesting season ahead.

                              Tree Sparrow 

Other birds of note were a few sulky sedge warblers calling from the scrub, reed buntings and some stunning summer plumaged Dunlin i saw at Seafield earlier along with a white wagtail and hundreds of sand martins.

                 Sedge warbler in the scrub

It was a great day and I returned home with 2 new species and an Irish oral to study for. Ill let you decide which one i enjoyed the most 😬