Dundalk Bay Sunday 2th February

Watching roosting waders at Dundalk Docks

A branch outing to Dundalk Bay was held on 2nd February. We luckily chanced upon a dry and bright morning, which was unexpected after the recent spate of stormy weather! We met up at Dundalk docks at 10.30am. Here we enjoyed views of teal, lapwing, golden plover and various gull species before the rising tide levels meant it was time to move on.

 Oystercatchers. photo: Michael Mc Nulty

  Teal at Dundalk Docks photo: Clare Donoghue

 Black-headed gull photo: Clare Donoghue

Photo: Michael Mc Nulty

 Our next stop was Lurgangreen, where large numbers of roosting waders were present. Among the waders, we spotted a few goldeneye and a pair of pintail ducks.

 

Lurgangreen. photo: Freddy Mc Gavin 

Giles Quay photo: Freddy Mc Gavin

Before finishing up for the day, we visited Gyles' Quay. Here we watched ringed plover and turnstone feeding on the beach, as well as good numbers of gull species. Although the sea was very choppy we did manage to get  some close-up views of a great northern diver and a group of red-breasted mergansers feeding in the harbour, which made for a great end to the day's birding.

 Great northern diver photo: Clare Donoghue

stonechat photo: Clare Donoghue