Donegal: 16th to 20th November

Tuesday  16th November

Awoke to a very typical Donegal day! Rain and a strong wind heralded the morning and it remained that way for most of the day.

First stop was Mullaghderg. The waves were crashing into the bay and the rain was lashing down, other than Hooded Crow, Herring Gull and Starling, little else was around. Hopefully the strong winds might drive some interesting stuff into the day in the next day or so.

Carrickfinn Headland

Being a little more sheltered it was hoped that the area might have some interesting birds but other than a couple of Wigeon on the small lake there was little else.

Wigeon

and a single Chough just inside the airport perimeter fence there was little of interest other than the large numbers of Hooded Crow and Jackdaw.

Little Grebe

Keadue Strand

This area proved more beneficial with 75+ Ringed Plover, 50+ Sanderling and at least 23 Dunlin feeding well above the tide line. There was also a good number of Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull and Herring Gull. A small flock of Wigeon were down the Critch end of the strand along with a number of Curlew.

An Sparrowhawk (Male) put in a brief appearance before being driven off the a couple of  Hooded Crow.

Dungloe Estuary

Lunch in the car park watching a couple of Pied Wagtail feeding and listening to Curlew calling. The area withing the pier held a small flock of Teal and a couple of Mallard. Common Gull were mewing away as they rode the wind. Hooded Crow were again present as were Curlew.

Curlew

Hooded Crow

Teal (Female)

The lake at Maghery had three Whooper Swan amongst the small flock of Mute Swan.

Wednesday 17th November

Typical Donegal morning, blustery, grey and showers then bright sunshine! Four seasons in one day!

First stop Mullaghderg. The swell in the main bay was still very high and so little about. The pier bay held nothing but the Memorial Bay had a Great Northern Diver.

Great Northern Diver

Two Chough were in the car park area as was a single Meadow Pipit.

Chough

Moved on to Magherclogher Bay at Bunbeg, famous for its stranded fishing vessel now a decaying hulk.

A good collection of Ringed Plover and Sanderling were feeding near the water edge. A single Raven passed over.

Moving further along to Derrybeg and Maghera Strand had 127 Ringed Plover feeding along with over fifty Sandering. There was also two Greenshank feeding at the water edge which were a new species for my Donegal records. 

Greenshank

Redshank were also present. A group of Wigeon were feeding on the grass bank. 

While driving to Magheraroarty came across a small lough on which were seven Whooper Swan. At Magheraroarty Pier were five Bar-tailed Godwit

and a very nice group of Sanderling that were running back and forth in front of the waves until two dogs sent them off to the far end of the beach. Two Great Northern Diver were in the bay along with Shag and Cormorant.

There were a good number of Rock Pipit moving around but the nicest surprise was a Robin feeding around the washed up seaweed.

Robin

Meadow Pipit

Driving to The New Lake at Dunfanaghy I spotted a small flock of geese in a field at the side of the road. Checking them out showed that they were Greylag but in with them were two Pink-footed Goose.

The New Lake held a large number of Mute Swan (85 approx), Tufted Duck and a single Little Grebe. However the weather really took a turn for the worst and so I called it a day!

Thursday 18th 

Headed south for Killybegs and a bit of gull watching. Weather again, grey, rain and wind. Planned to visit Sheskinmore Lough on the way down but due to pretty constant roadworks I scrapped that idea. 

Arrived at Killybegs to find some boats in and the gulls out. Very few around the harbour, most being on the tidal mud up stream from the village. Parking at Supavalu I was able to check out the area locating Little Egret, Greenshank and Lapwing as well as the more common gulls. Sadly nothing to add to my gull list. 

Returned to the apartment via Glenties, Fintown Lough Barra. Spotted a family of Whooper Swan on the lough at Finntown.

Whooper Swan

Nothing to report other than an Sparrowhawk and a Stonechat at Lough Barra

Friday 19th

The grey morning gave way to a calm, still and sunny day. Stayed in the local area covering, Mullaghderg, Carrickfinn, Annagry Estuary and Keadue Strand. Located a Greenshank at Annagry Estuary which was a first for this location. 

Greenshank

I was surprised to spot and adult and juvenile Gannet fishing off Mullaghderg. 

Gannet (adult)

Gannet (Juv)

I also discovered five Chough feeding on the lawn of one of the houses near the GA ground.

Three of the five feeding Chough