Wednesday 30 October 2013

Slyne Head 29th October 2013

I had a quick look down around Slyne Head yesterday lunchtime in the hope that the recent storm may have dropped something nice in from across the pond. Most of the action was around the Trident garden with one tristis Chiffchaff, 1-2 Chiffchaffs, Spotted Flycatcher and a Pied Flycatcher (last two very late migrants) in the area.
The tristis kept company with a collybita calling Chiffchaff. Both looked extremely similar to each other (the Chiffchaff possibly had a yellower supercillium) and weren't readily easy to separate. Thankfully the Siberian Chiffchaff gave the characteristic call of that race. Another very Siberian-like Chiffchaff in a garden across the road was also heard to call like a typical collybita. The exposure of most of the Siberian shots wasn't quite right as it was very overcast at the time. They are heavily cropped which doesn't help the quality either.
There was a Long-eared Owl (possibly a resident bird as opposed to a migrant), Crossbill, 2 more Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap nearby also.
Nothing with the flock of 250 Golden Plovers at Truska. It's looking like 2013 may be the first time I haven't found at least a Pectoral Sandpiper or American Golden Plover in this area, the first time in the six Autumns I've been checking it.

Siberian Chiffchaff.

Siberian Chiffchaff, almost Booted Warbler like in colour tones.

Siberian Chiffchaff

Siberian Chiffchaff

Siberian Chiffchaff

Siberian Chiffhcaff

collybita Chiffchaff (on call).

collybita Chiffchaff (on call).

Pied Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Raven
 

Monday 28 October 2013

Snow Bunting to Red Deer

A few shots from the last week or so. Again things continuing to be a little quiet in these parts.

Snow Bunting, Mannin Beg, Ballyconneely.

Snow Bunting, Mannin Beg, Ballyconneely.

Female Red-breasted Merganser, Barnaderg Bay (no sign of the Little Blue ;-) )

Ringed Plover, Omey Strand.

Dunlin, Omey Strand.

Dunlin and Sanderlings, Omey Strand.

Greenshank, Oranmore.

Stag Red Deer, Connemara National Park.

One year old stag Red Deer, Connemara National Park, taken in the rain.



 

Friday 25 October 2013

Fungi

I think this post say it all. Its mid to late October apart from Blue-winged Teal, 2 Pecs (my first ones of the Autumn!) and the remaining American Golden Plover at Rahasane last Saturday, the most exciting thing I've seen locally are fungi!!
Anyway does anyone have any ideas as what species these may be? I've numbered most of them in the meanwhile and will hopefully get a few names for them in due time.

Post-script A few suggestions from Nick Trichia from Birdforum.

Possibly Cantherellus cibarius.


Leccinum scabrum

3

Hypholoma fasciculare

Mycena sp.


6

Hygrocybe virginea

Common Puffball

Common Puffballs

Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea

9

Armillaria mellea


11

12


13

Lactarius torminosus

Trametes versicolor

Hedgehog Mushroom Hydum rufescens

Boletus erythropus (aka B.luridiformis)

Lactarius torminosus

19

20

Piptoporus betulinus

22

23

Leccinum sp. maybe L.holopus

Pholiota squarrosa