Some pictures I took recently

Lambsbread

Fox by AindriuH, on Flickr

splish

Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum

Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum by Ciarán Byrne, on Flickr

keps

hooded crow

GreyEagle

I took this shot of some Brent Geese on the Boyne on Thurs, fattening up for the long trip to the high Arctic in Canada. I guess they should be all gone in a few days.

keps

GreyEagle wrote: »

I took this shot of some Brent Geese on the Boyne on Thurs, fattening up for the long trip to the high Arctic in Canada. I guess they should be all gone in a few days.

wow that is a long trip -- any idea how many miles/kms they fly? And will they take a break/rest on the way-?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

keps wrote: »

wow that is a long trip -- any idea how many miles/kms they fly? And will they take a break/rest on the way-?

Those bound for Canada stop over in Iceland to fatten up.

They cover over 3000km but in stages. It's not the greatest distance by birds but they are the most northerly breeding goose.

GreyEagle

Total migration distance is about 4,000kms. They stop in western Iceland, after about 850Kms for two weeks and then across the Denmark Strait to Greenland and on to Ellesmere and Baffin Island, Canada.

sumtings

Black Oil Beetle.

Lambsbread

Kingfisher by AindriuH, on Flickr

I see you by AindriuH, on Flickr

Mandarin Duck by AindriuH, on Flickr

Grey Heron by AindriuHH, on Flickr

Nightforce 65X55

Great photos Lambsbread. Well done especially the fox.....

Lambsbread

Nightforce 65X55 wrote: »

Great photos Lambsbread. Well done especially the fox.....

Thanks! I was lucky today with the sunshine. It made for some great light.

Flying Abruptly

Hoopoe

I've seen it around the garden a few times but have never had my camera. Got lucky when it landed on a tree close-by. I'm in France by the way.

keps

A few from today


grey wagtail


cock pheasant


hen pheasant

pheasants


Robins

keps

Flying Abruptly wrote: »

Hoopoe

I've seen it around the garden a few times but have never had my camera. Got lucky when it landed on a tree close-by. I'm in France by the way.

Lovely to see the Hoopoe:)

splish

@sumtings Your flowers are Alexanders (pic 1), Greater Stitchwort (pic 3), Selfheal (pic 4), Herb-robert (pic 5) & Thrift (pic 6)

Nightforce 65X55

@Keps. Nice shot of the cock pheasant.

GreyEagle

Brent Geese still on the Boyne today, although in fewer numbers.

There are already reports from Iceland of Irish wintering geese arriving so the rest will be on the move soon (http://irishbrentgoose.blogspot.ie/).

Azza89

Was sitting in Stephens Green having lunch and this cheeky chap flew up and started chirping at me for some food. I've never seen a Robin to be so tame before, was lovely to see one up so close.

Robin 6 by , on Flickr

Robin 5 by , on Flickr

sumtings

splish wrote: »

@sumtings Your flowers are Alexanders (pic 1), Greater Stitchwort (pic 3), Selfheal (pic 4), Herb-robert (pic 5) & Thrift (pic 6)

It's my third year with the wildflowers, took a bit of debate with the selfheal with it at that stage, so good to have it confirmed.

Anyone know the flies on the Alexander's?

Thrift

splish

sumtings wrote: »

It's my third year with the wildflowers, took a bit of debate with the selfheal with it at that stage, so good to have it confirmed.

Anyone know the flies on the Alexander's

Eristalis sp hoverfly top right.

Flying Abruptly

Long-eared owl...again

Spotted the long-eared owl again this evening. Nearly took my head off when I passed by its tree. Ran back inside to grab the camera and it was still sitting on the same branch.

keps

The Cormorant is a bit out of focus as the birds were 30metres or so apart-


But what a pleasant scene to come across on a Monday morning.




Heron & Cormorant

Hotei

Early Dog Violet Viola reichbachiana






Common Dog Violet Viola riviniana




Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium






Blackthorn blossom






Willow catkins




Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum




Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara




Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella

Nightforce 65X55

Hotei

Great shots Nightforce.

Nightforce 65X55

Hotei wrote: »

Great shots Nightforce.

Thanks. I was literally at the bottom of the pole he landed on. Luck has a big part in photography....

Hotei

Nightforce 65X55 wrote: »

Luck has a big part in photography....

It sure does!
I see Buzzards practically everyday, but rarely get that close to them.

GreyEagle

I was at Port Oriel, Clogherhead today and saw what I think is a Kittiwake feeding around the harbour


Then it alighted on a harbour lighting post

Can someone confirm the ID?

sumtings

Goldfinch


Sandmartins picking up grass by boatclub in Limerick.




And a crop at high ISO

keps

After seeing those truly fantastic Buzzard photos by Nightforce - feel slightly embarrassed about posting a cormorant photo