Trip Report
Branch Outing to Kilcoole, Co Wicklow
18 November 2006

It was a very cold Saturday morning as we arrived in Killcole, but the rain had cleared up. The stormy conditions still prevailed and kept the birds very quiet. On the water from the station we could see many Shags fishing close inshore with some Guillemots further out. There was also a  fair number of Great Black-backed Gulls sitting on the water.

Walking along by the railway Stonechats were the first regular we came across, followed by numerous small flocks of Linnets, sometimes mixing with Pied Wagtails. The water was quite high in the reserve, but there were good numbers of Widgeon mixed in with the Mallard. Some Brent Geese were grazing on the west bank of the reserve.

As we walked towards the bushes we spotted a few Meadow Pipits. A few Cormorants were to be found by the water as well with just one Little Egret quite distant. On the grassier parts there were mixed flocks of Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Curlew and they were joined by a large flock of Golden Plover.

There were starlings everywhere, even over the sea which gave us the impression they were migrants arriving. The best find of the day was the rediscovery, after two weeks absence, of a White-rumped Sandpiper. It was a bit distant but the light was good so it could be clearly distinguished from the other waders.  The coldness of the wind finally forced us to retreat around 2:00pm.

 
 

 

 
     

 

© Copyright, Tolka Branch, Birdwatch Ireland 2006