The branch outing to Dundalk was held on a
crispy midday meet at the docks. It was about mid tide but a good number of
waders were feeding away on the mud flats. This area is great for close up
views of teal which are there in abundance. Other species included redshank,
greenshank, bar tailed and black tailed godwits, grey heron, cormorant, grey
plover, curlew, lapwing, mallard, shelduck and even mute swans. A seal pup
popped up every now and then.
We went up river to the other side of the
bridge where the prize was seven snipe feeding away along with gulls galore at
various stages in their maturity. A challenge for even experienced birdwatchers
!!.There was definitely black headed gulls and common gulls. The little egret
and ruff added to the list.
Out at Giles Quay the red breasted
mergansers, great northern diver, common scoter, guillemot and a razorbill were
good sightings on a nice calm sea.On the shore a small flock of ringed plover
with some sanderling and dunlin kept moving about. The turnstones were busy and
well camouflaged. There were linnets in the nearby fields and the starling was
also enjoying a bath. Lots of brent geese and other birds were on the move.
As the tide was reaching its peak we went
to Lurgangreen. The number of birds here were extraordinary, I would not
envy anyone trying to count them. They included oystercatchers, brent geese, greylag
geese, godwits, lapwing and golden plover. Some shelduck,wigeon and a few
goldeneye. A buzzard kept an eye on things and a hunting peregrine resulted in
great numbers of birds on the wing. Watching the flocks twist and turn in the
evening sunset was spectacular.
While the glossy ibis and long billed
dowitcher were not around, overall a very enjoyable day was had by all.A special
thanks to our very knowledgeable guide for the day – Elizabeth. Without her a
few species would have went undetected.
photos: Elizabeth Mc Kenna
Redshank
Grey heron and little egret
Teal
Mallard
Lapwing
Dundalk docks
Sanderling and ringed plover at Gyles Quay
Dundalk docks
Sunset at Gyles quay
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