Autumn Waders

Most of my wader watching this Autumn was in the Seafield, Quilty and Lahinch areas in Co. Clare.

Curlew Sandpipers, which breed in the Siberian Arctic, were the first of the scarcer waders to arrive at Seafield beach in early September. These two juvenile birds were present on 5/9/2020.

The first Little Stints, which breed in northern most extremities of Scandinavia and Russia, arrived later in the month. This bird was one of three present on 18/9/2020.

This lone juvenile Knot below was also in the wader flock on 18/9/2020 along with the Dunlin, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and one remaining Curlew Sandpiper.

Juvenile Dunlin

Adult Turnstone with juvenile Knot 

Juvenile Sanderling

The Loop Head peninsula also provided some wader watching opportunities. It usually holds a flock of Golden Plover in the Autumn.  While counting the flock of 35 birds on 14/9/21 I came across these two Buff-breasted Sandpipers.  These transatlantic vagrants are usually fairly approachable, but unfortunately not in the company of the nervy Goldies.

Ruff is another scarce wader in West Clare and I spotted this one on the 17th fairway at Lahinch Golf Club as I was driving past it on 6/9/2020.

Winter Waders in Limerick City

The city stretch of the Shannon is not noted for waders. Apart from the 100 or so Oystercatchers that routinely feed on the open area in King's Island and small numbers of Snipe in the wetlands adjoining the river, there is usually very little else to see.    In some years very small numbers of Redshank can occur along the river anywhere between Corbally and Barrington's Pier.  The occasional wintering Common Sandpiper may also be found.   We went one better last Saturday (8/12/2018) when with a fine winter plumaged Dunlin showing up at O'Callaghan's Strand in close proximity to a Common Sandpiper and a lone Redshank.  The Dunlin and the Common Sandpiper were new recruits since the previous week.

Dunlin

 

Common Sandpiper

    The Redshank wasn't as obliging when it came to posing for the camera!

American Golden Plover

I made a trip to the Loop Head peninsula in Co. Clare today and stopped off in Kilkee to see the American Golden Plover that has been on the beach there for just over week now. The bird, an adult moulting out of summer plumage, was feeding on the tide line with a mix of other waders at the western end of the beach.

American Golden Plover ©Tom Tarpey

The were small numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and a lone juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit along with Sanderling and Turnestone also feeding in the same area.

Juvenile Dunlin acquiring winter plumage.

Juvenile Ringed Plover

1st Summer Oystercatcher

Juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit