tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87024633979520420892024-02-19T00:04:58.250-08:00KerrysWildSideAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-26712795853476924502015-09-13T09:51:00.001-07:002015-09-13T09:51:48.447-07:00Seabird Salvaging SaturdayYesterday I decided to pay a local sand spit a visit, for a very specific purpose: to find and collect any intact dead seabirds,<br />
Now you may think this morbid task is a bit out of the ordinary (and to be fair it is to an extent) but it's for science, you see a researcher is doing her PhD to assess the impact of marine litter on seabirds up in GMIT (where I am currently in second year of the colleges applied freshwater and marine biology course). This project requires dead seabird specimens as the researcher does a necropsy (animal autopsy) on the bird specifically checking it's stomach contents and intestinal track for any man made refuse the bird may have mistakenly have viewed as food and ingested. If the bird swallows a piece of plastic, it will likely remain within it for the rest of it's life as it will not be broken down and if the worst comes to the worse, the bird may die either by it;s stomach eventually becoming full of refuse where there is no longer any room for real food resulting in starvation or the bird may choke while swallowing a piece of litter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmNxJK0PKS3NdImUmvF7ADKTEUBHbGGK9YQVro8xQory-ColVxTp3Iir2T2dbNVxUnrXJC9HTXIIIN_g5G50-toW8Jk4GvHiKBjd7UAaZPiyyd6rKMo7Rg8W6ZJhh4T7wDtCHULMhVMM/s1600/Inch+fulmar+21-9-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmNxJK0PKS3NdImUmvF7ADKTEUBHbGGK9YQVro8xQory-ColVxTp3Iir2T2dbNVxUnrXJC9HTXIIIN_g5G50-toW8Jk4GvHiKBjd7UAaZPiyyd6rKMo7Rg8W6ZJhh4T7wDtCHULMhVMM/s400/Inch+fulmar+21-9-15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fulmar.</td></tr>
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The North Atlantic is loaded with human waste be it deliberately dumped into the environment or that it managed to get to sea by accident our actions on land have dire consequences for the species living off our waters, this project is a great means of evaluating just how much of an impact our marine litter has on our birds.<br />
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Back to yesterday, I arrived a Inch strand, one of the counties finest stretches of sand joined to the mainland on the Dingle peninsula, it juts southward dividing the shallow mudflats of Castlemaine harbour and the deeper, more open water of Dingle bay almost touching Rossbeigh strand on the opposite side of the bay.<br />
I haven't walked this beach in a long time, probably because my dog died back in May suddenly, he loved Inch and it's never ending scents revealing spots worth marking his territory on!<br />
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It's dry, sometimes sunny with a slight wind wisping in from the Atlantic. The smell of the coast hits me immediately and my nostrils feel as though they have been filled with sand as various wafts from the spit hit me at once. I begin my search to the right of the car park (where no cars are allowed) I have often found cetacean remains literally where the sand bank gives way having being eroded by many visitors opting to traverse it rather than going around it's perimeter. No sign of cetaceans. I follow the mounds of seaweed cast ashore and intricately scan them for any signs of an unfortunate bird: feathers, beaks, legs, wings, anything. The drying remains of bladderack and kelp are inundated with various forms of man made material, as if we as a species were marking our territory just like my dog did. Fishing line, rope fragments and salmon tag from Scotland all piled in amongst the natural debris that the North Atlantic had thrown up during the last hide tide.<br />
Then I spot something feathered, as I approach (beleaguered holidaymakers on the nearby rocks watching on) it becomes apparent that it is indeed a bird but it looks to be half buried, I don't have my gloves on me so I vow to return later for a more detailed look.<br />
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I returned to the car to continue the search a lazier way (by driving). After leaving the mini village of beach users cars, abandoned while their owners strolled the sand or splashed in the surf, I renewed my search.<br />
I have to say it's not easy to maintain complete and utter attention while critiquing ever white object or flickering piece of material but that's exactly what I did all the while moving along the strand slowly.<br />
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It didn't take long before I spotted something peculiar, I got out of the car to discover it was the almost skeletal remains of a fulmar, part of the tubenose family which includes the much larger and iconic albatrosses. This bird was crow size, it's left eye socket was clearly visible and it still retained some ragged feathers, a strand of rope was also visible tapering away from its body (possibly impairing it in life?). It looked like a worthy candidate for the project as it's chest appeared to be intact, no doubt its contents still remained, so I marked its location by grabbing the closest, sturdy stick and stabbed int into the sand to resemble an awkward flagpole for the return visit.<br />
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Continuing the search I spotted a white object towards the spits dunes, half buried it was a gannet, our largest seabird with a six foot wingspan. It too looked like a good candidate for collection so I made a mental note of the nearby landmarks, a warped piece of black netting that'll do. I found a second gannet up the strand before we turned around to begin the collection process.<br />
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The first birds white feathers were speckled with the black bodies of the flies attracted to the opportunistic feast facilitated by the sea. Donning the green gloves supplied by the researcher and ditching the clear resealable plastic bags also supplied for the much larger black plastic bags I keep on hand for bigger jobs, I had my doubts about actually taking this bird. I moved it to assess it's condition, flicking sand out of the way in the process I was hit by a rank musky smell, the flies flew skyward. The birds body was intact and I was able to maneuver its wings as they were not stiff however somewhat peculiarly, its head was missing, never the less the bird was quickly placed in a black plastic bag and tied tightly. Job done, onto the next one.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gannet.</td></tr>
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The second gannet was in a much worse condition than the last one as it's vertebrae was clearly visible where it's tail feathers would have been, after lifting the carcass it became clear that the bird was a no-go as it's rib cage emerged from the sand there was no chance of it's stomach still being intact so I let the bird be. On the way back to the fulmar I spotted another gannet I had previously missed but it too was in the same condition as the last bird.<br />
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Arriving back at the fulamr after carefully scanning the sand for the low standing stick I had propped up, we successfully found the bird but a couple of walkers had decided to spark up a conversation just feet away from it, so I waited a minute or two until they moved on and got to work. This time the clear plastic bags supplied to me were more than suitable. After picking up the bird I carefully brought it's wings up against it's body and craned it's neck back tight against it's chest for it to fit comfortably into the waiting bag. it went it without a hitch and the resealable top was duly closed.<br />
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Finally I returned to the feathered remains I had spotted before setting off in the car. In two seconds with a gloved hand I discovered it was only a birds wing, the body had departed from it some time ago, I think it was an Manx shearwaters left wing because of its pointed tip, jet black colouration on top and white contrasting colour underneath. I did consider taking it away with me but I just placed it back where I had found it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both birds ready to go.</td></tr>
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And that was that, I went to Inch with the sole purpose of finding and recovering and salvageable seabirds and that task was more than achieved, it's not everyday that such plans actually work out especially when your depending heavily on many factors in the natural world, but it did for me yesterday. It will be interesting to see if anything abnormal is found within the fulmar and gannet and I will endeavor to find out the results but right now I am scheming a way to smuggle a gannet and a frozen fulmar from Limerick to Galway in my buses undercarriage later on this evening, but one things for sure, the hard work is done and these birds will get up to Galway tonight!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-53090421738437716972015-08-10T04:57:00.001-07:002015-08-10T04:59:09.781-07:00A very diverse Wednesday! 17/7/15Below are a series of images I took on the 17th July within Killarney National Park and at the coast from Bray Head, Valentia island.<br />
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Highlights from the day for me were three probable Humpback Whales, a blonde Red squirrel, Red deer stags in velvet and of course finding the parks resident male White-Tailed Eagle!<br />
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I have already written up the day over on the facebook page so you can see the text here:<br />
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https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.746686138790977.1073741842.519160311543562&type=3<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A red deer stag taking it easy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nosey Sika deer hind has a look at the stag!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swallow fledgling being fed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two swallows clash mid air!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blonde Red squirrel, I have never seen such a distinctive squirrel!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only its distinguishable tail scan be seen while in amongst the grass.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoV3m1OnRgKMxTXAYi0qN1XeDpMxamfbF3OxN85xLbWzVQo7zeR7bU23MHAbuArjZ1yEbUZwGNc6E54gAVxgS5My0RBAfYt4eBG6OfKfpUMvLdTuCi1RtDsBQkJIGXW0T13y5wn_zsk8/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoV3m1OnRgKMxTXAYi0qN1XeDpMxamfbF3OxN85xLbWzVQo7zeR7bU23MHAbuArjZ1yEbUZwGNc6E54gAVxgS5My0RBAfYt4eBG6OfKfpUMvLdTuCi1RtDsBQkJIGXW0T13y5wn_zsk8/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSFk1_iyz0F84tDUnk-bgvkvQ-GSL9veUlplR5dQotR5nGEWoqsTcIyig_HknqRtcIvbu4uEuWChOHLfjcGPqiYSo0Iavhk_kLvINU0LCPj32vIC1JkV46078h1XT2g_qvoKBG-l0a1A/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSFk1_iyz0F84tDUnk-bgvkvQ-GSL9veUlplR5dQotR5nGEWoqsTcIyig_HknqRtcIvbu4uEuWChOHLfjcGPqiYSo0Iavhk_kLvINU0LCPj32vIC1JkV46078h1XT2g_qvoKBG-l0a1A/s400/16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The location of the Common dolphins who passed underneath the headlands cliffs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jBtIqFFE5qFs4YN7c4SI5si19h3j6pmhpL4Dgel_KpevqfwkutnpSvnIIDKKv6zoChKw8sU2bNUDuPrzeCnkh_G0DwSyXWMRjh0kE7Gj4stmY8Whp3Y0dhbCgFVO2qUhS0bCKDvD3QQ/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jBtIqFFE5qFs4YN7c4SI5si19h3j6pmhpL4Dgel_KpevqfwkutnpSvnIIDKKv6zoChKw8sU2bNUDuPrzeCnkh_G0DwSyXWMRjh0kE7Gj4stmY8Whp3Y0dhbCgFVO2qUhS0bCKDvD3QQ/s400/17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A heavily cropped version of the above photo clearly showing tow dolphins surface.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPTaNlhTBoLMPr4imWs4ADk0pTty6gZ01tNskWKlBhnbWMAGKo_f5hTJagS-WhuHKw1_lh5Va8mCabvnbKjGJ61XJpFkIrRCWlLtbtuUtej00UKPZaPCGP-eP_50Nsz8FRRsyRlSMJTo/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPTaNlhTBoLMPr4imWs4ADk0pTty6gZ01tNskWKlBhnbWMAGKo_f5hTJagS-WhuHKw1_lh5Va8mCabvnbKjGJ61XJpFkIrRCWlLtbtuUtej00UKPZaPCGP-eP_50Nsz8FRRsyRlSMJTo/s400/18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Skellig, the largest gannetery off Ireland!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojm1vRBDl_N_um7rhOv_UQ26wacA1cKdENmPLQgWTMo80vvowwKOTmnzo4qQa5E0c0S-9Au4y4uqHAefN1M-E1MPJYglyvw7ruUUhjQgjxVOKdLAvn-Eh3hKpUKK3aU8fEU1l0OvRVYI/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojm1vRBDl_N_um7rhOv_UQ26wacA1cKdENmPLQgWTMo80vvowwKOTmnzo4qQa5E0c0S-9Au4y4uqHAefN1M-E1MPJYglyvw7ruUUhjQgjxVOKdLAvn-Eh3hKpUKK3aU8fEU1l0OvRVYI/s400/19.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An adult male White-Tailed Eagle, Killarney National Parks resident male!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSSb97cyonkpRc_LYDmwN_LOVQTnb8QzprTRXhYsKWsvI5lOEuIug0rzm39uO8cWjFFAVCOKyqr_hFBBvSooIeMx3M7I8PyPIKYul_DQbAB0cfYBRHb2FOA6AM9qZz-yEkb6VtoDxCzw/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSSb97cyonkpRc_LYDmwN_LOVQTnb8QzprTRXhYsKWsvI5lOEuIug0rzm39uO8cWjFFAVCOKyqr_hFBBvSooIeMx3M7I8PyPIKYul_DQbAB0cfYBRHb2FOA6AM9qZz-yEkb6VtoDxCzw/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Goldfinch.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-22358119330295083992015-06-29T03:36:00.000-07:002015-06-29T03:36:06.408-07:00On the trail of the white tail<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj82uzSTrjBEd5xA_erVtClv3VoYiGDU2k2QHy6ueg405GlwxK4ObMKbQcIImZpNHuiIp0KwWs20NcEueYhAOYp0IwW3W-1Zrt9pqGRwhCC-1No5T-YN-GqmbWXc-D4e30IkBRkNWtjlw/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj82uzSTrjBEd5xA_erVtClv3VoYiGDU2k2QHy6ueg405GlwxK4ObMKbQcIImZpNHuiIp0KwWs20NcEueYhAOYp0IwW3W-1Zrt9pqGRwhCC-1No5T-YN-GqmbWXc-D4e30IkBRkNWtjlw/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recognise this location? read on for more.</td></tr>
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About a month ago this video was sent onto the facebook page by Kerryclimbing.ie.<br />
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https://www.facebook.com/KerryClimbing/videos/vb.110552822352912/851786784896175/?type=2&theater<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQX41Btm64cf-fVvy6sf5wpOq5DbHueWfrJvia2qQDLf0w2ZMH-nYBSv_0MbLyEBRC_MYHSq8UesIif8H9cWUx1gLYcG1G2UDkWLx9ScJgLw8Lgspk8KNATropIcea2aLf5jDkCLhB4s/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQX41Btm64cf-fVvy6sf5wpOq5DbHueWfrJvia2qQDLf0w2ZMH-nYBSv_0MbLyEBRC_MYHSq8UesIif8H9cWUx1gLYcG1G2UDkWLx9ScJgLw8Lgspk8KNATropIcea2aLf5jDkCLhB4s/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eagles Nest.</td></tr>
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It features an adult (7 year old as indicated by its red wing tags), male White-tailed eagle feeding on what appears to be a young deer along the Long range in Killarney National park, the bird is then spooked and flies to a nearby rocky outcrop to assess his surroundings dwarfing the accompanying raven in the process!<br />
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After seeing this video I was interested in locating this site for the oppertunity to spot the feeding eagle and positivlty identify its lunch!<br />
It took me another week to find the time to acually venture out into the park and by this time I really didn't expect to come across and feeding eagles as there would surely be no meat left for the birds to strip.<br />
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In the build up to my mini expedition I went about reviewing aerial images of the area the above clip was filmed at, which just so happened to be Eagles nest mountain, the location where the last pair of Golden eagles nested in the park a century ago. Back then it has been reported that a blunderbuss would be fired while passing by boat to flush any eagles for the delight of any visitors. Times have changed as the cameraman in the featured film keeps his distance from the eagle while he had his fill of food.<br />
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Back to the trek, after singling down the likley location that the eagle had fed on by means of locating the rocky outcrop I gathered my gear and got a lift out there. Admittedly I went into the bogland far sooner than I should have and this added alot of time onto the walk, the soft grround underfoot often rose up to knee height so I had to choose my footholds carefully and I eventually managed to reach higher (and dryier) ground. I was near the old weir bridge which was far too downriver to where I reckoned the location was but in any event I took out the binoculars and scanned the dead grass banks and bare rock for any sign of the parks avian giant.<br />
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Moving down from the high patch I stumbled upon a small isolated woodland with very evident schorch marks. The wood was some distance from where the massive fire burned its way into the park a few months ago so it may or may not have been deliberitaly been started in this secluded section of the park, regardless the damage appeared to be minimal, thankfully.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUnxvHFhyCJtY_BTBf-SL3xwgL4QV8HOGt5KtYJjq-ZwVm4LdV-HskcP2r6XVi8AVt864reNR5am08Rp88IBn6gqq-6aexfgmC4HAJTbUNNu3L_Mi08nZI89iE6769BBy4MZlw_iX4jU/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUnxvHFhyCJtY_BTBf-SL3xwgL4QV8HOGt5KtYJjq-ZwVm4LdV-HskcP2r6XVi8AVt864reNR5am08Rp88IBn6gqq-6aexfgmC4HAJTbUNNu3L_Mi08nZI89iE6769BBy4MZlw_iX4jU/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dire damage in the park.</td></tr>
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Back to the task, I opted to wade through the various deer paths crisscrossing the Long ranges banks rather than my origional strategy of trudgine through the mounds of dead vegetation along the waters edge.<br />
Meandering my way along the river I opted to avoid a section of the river near the mountain as I could see a rocky area that resembled the area the film was taken at. But I was wrong and I had to wade back the way I came and out onto the area of land flanked on three sides by the river.<br />
Ascending aother patch of high ground, the terrain seemed failiiar but in an inverted senxe as I was up on top of where the eagle had landed!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECHUJkywAStHKhL7vPJ180945LetbXPQI9XzTwwwTZVOqgVJ4oZWR3wGnJ6ba_brpA6V3EC-zH4ZZ90k05gGgoTPVLoYkqIPLF7QpB8KMRhfhomsVDI8iyyW23PmH9pc60kM3017P9Wc/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECHUJkywAStHKhL7vPJ180945LetbXPQI9XzTwwwTZVOqgVJ4oZWR3wGnJ6ba_brpA6V3EC-zH4ZZ90k05gGgoTPVLoYkqIPLF7QpB8KMRhfhomsVDI8iyyW23PmH9pc60kM3017P9Wc/s320/6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A road less travelled!</td></tr>
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I moved down to rivers side once more and weaved my way through the tussuks of grass towering above the kneehigh water overflowing from a much higher Long range than a week previous when the eagle fed on its shoreline. Following a thorough search of the area where the prey item would have been I came to the conclusion that it had either been swallowed up by the deeper river or had been taken away by a scavenger be it terrestrial of aerial.<br />
Returning to the rocky outcrop I searched for any evidence left behind by the eagle and wasent disappointed ass I uncovered a white downy feather tipped by a brown colouration tangled in a clump of heather growning from the outcrop, sucess!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqncoPHRYzlZcF8Dwt2atWG11YCu9cfE_132DL9p-pPpbwJM_4A8jroAJE5szaLw1_tnLJ5FDnCret_EiTRC_yFI9uodftfJkGfXaeUSCfv30B1tpPUdCl0-kjVChQxJHJ9HgWPw4pnI8/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqncoPHRYzlZcF8Dwt2atWG11YCu9cfE_132DL9p-pPpbwJM_4A8jroAJE5szaLw1_tnLJ5FDnCret_EiTRC_yFI9uodftfJkGfXaeUSCfv30B1tpPUdCl0-kjVChQxJHJ9HgWPw4pnI8/s400/2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eagles downy feather.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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This find was worth getting well drenched for and while I didn't find the carcass I know the eagle was well fed after discovering it, and thats what really matters!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZDLwFgQKpD9WGQm1jpJdLE1WdRXzXBb74dF5O6sKM8p4cpvEvZCx1-U7TA46sFTSp2jGxhOgzNwcxYRKOOlhTlQM4UvriZKyuEUVjJZYhtfB3yMlgA3iBvi7bFz9tFbWlSKCkueoqDs/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZDLwFgQKpD9WGQm1jpJdLE1WdRXzXBb74dF5O6sKM8p4cpvEvZCx1-U7TA46sFTSp2jGxhOgzNwcxYRKOOlhTlQM4UvriZKyuEUVjJZYhtfB3yMlgA3iBvi7bFz9tFbWlSKCkueoqDs/s400/8.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Eagles view and Eagles nest!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-54041958291702752832015-06-16T05:51:00.003-07:002015-06-16T05:51:53.800-07:00Plight of a Pilot<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV_iG8e-30b20Qo_ZoCPzvxsWNUym8jZwIFbdgayVm7sOaKjCuT9ANSfAi6sZTBnbeVzLfDzLPcqAUAb3S0javhe5CO642YcZe5y7lDaPN8TgEdUTUOf6FzpKRK_2NBlAA4XTtMW2aaU/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV_iG8e-30b20Qo_ZoCPzvxsWNUym8jZwIFbdgayVm7sOaKjCuT9ANSfAi6sZTBnbeVzLfDzLPcqAUAb3S0javhe5CO642YcZe5y7lDaPN8TgEdUTUOf6FzpKRK_2NBlAA4XTtMW2aaU/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Over a week ago I came across a video on Facebook of a half submerged, half floating carcass of an as yet unidentifiable toothed whale.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I correctly identified this animal for the unsure person as a Long-finned Pilot whale going by its bulbous head, muscular demeanor, well rounded dorsal fin and of course it's long pectoral fins or flippers. The animal was rather well rotten in the video and it also appeared to be the same carcass reported floating near the Lemon rock to the North of Lambs head days earlier before managing to manoeuvre itself into a well protected natural harbour at Lambs head. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was dead over two weeks and resembled melted cheese in some spots, it was also largely yellow as its black skin had peeled away since its death somewhere at sea, probably miles offshore in the deeper waters in which this sociable species is commonly sighted.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_SqrUQyQ6FbgyUy2R7fJafdt9mIZkI5K2e2aqfDCHVnRzS8yzJa5j1rhDwSQwNSNA8Mdm_T0E5ifaEkJ51HuT2Gf3Iya_WS3WvDBjmJFEADwSbGZ0QApfserfR4ttJffrf1Y7bIlTQU/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_SqrUQyQ6FbgyUy2R7fJafdt9mIZkI5K2e2aqfDCHVnRzS8yzJa5j1rhDwSQwNSNA8Mdm_T0E5ifaEkJ51HuT2Gf3Iya_WS3WvDBjmJFEADwSbGZ0QApfserfR4ttJffrf1Y7bIlTQU/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whales white oil/blubber underwater looking like drying paint.</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After seeing the video and subsequent still shots of this bull Pilot whales teeth I decided to take a trip back to Derrynane to possibly obtain a tooth to figure out how old this whale was.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That Saturday was a dreary affair inundated with thick misty rain that could soak you considerably in very little time.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It took no time at all to find the whales carcass as it was at the side of the pier but set Hong was up, quite literally... The tide.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The whales bloated body floated in the narrow cove over some ten foot of water, and I didn't fancy a swim in the whale oil filled waters so all I could do was watch from above of this animals bizarre yet amazingly streamlined body bob in the calm provided in the rocky cove. It was my second ever encounter with a Pilot but both individuals were dead.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I was asked how did it die but there's no way of telling when a whale is in the state that bull was. Interestingly the rock face opposite the carcass appeared as if it had been painted recently by a white substance which rolled downwards as if it were excess bits of paint all while being underwater!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0TD9CGipyY3GF47IuggSNuaBzT6TnJg_G7Ta5zZErSWKVlnhS-VHKxaug2beB9AJ2iy4H2gzrMOcUmD-DATlTzdCc8qPtGBYpV4BZXLvvuU-RNtUNWWPuJc2UdXaHqt6DR0AlcnQorc/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0TD9CGipyY3GF47IuggSNuaBzT6TnJg_G7Ta5zZErSWKVlnhS-VHKxaug2beB9AJ2iy4H2gzrMOcUmD-DATlTzdCc8qPtGBYpV4BZXLvvuU-RNtUNWWPuJc2UdXaHqt6DR0AlcnQorc/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the fence post that was probably used to take the whales teeth.</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I returned the following day on the second low tide, the whale was once again in place but this time it was land bound. It's carcass looked like a twenty foot rag doll just tossed onto the rocks in an untimely manner. After dining a pair of wellies I made my way down the grassy trail to the whales shingle beach. Being careful not to touch anything and picking my footholds carefully to avoid slipping on the whales oil I passed both the unknown paint like substance plastered on the rock face to my right which was not clearly a combination of oil,flesh and blubber a refreshing combination! While doing so I passed a fence post with a noticeable wet patch near its point, then it was upon me. Despite being right next to a fairground well rotten carcass I didn't get effected by its faint smell or displeasing look. Angling my head so as to gaze into its mouth without touching the rocks right by it, it was clear that the teeth were gone most likely because the nearby fence post was used by some one to prop the whales mouth open during the previous low tide earlier that morning, alas the teeth were gone but the carpals or finger bones on one of the Pilot whales flippers were strewn across the narrow strand like white shells.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9H1bEKxPa54KERG9CyocGavmTvEqs8nIhqXsNrpW-vKrRQLReIVOsgS97XVeQNxad_iKBvu662q0rbfFjG8w8nhyphenhyphentUNFi3HMCtAZ9FimM6_y5P7OCnAuFdBiUc9G1w9oE2Va2zIV55c/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9H1bEKxPa54KERG9CyocGavmTvEqs8nIhqXsNrpW-vKrRQLReIVOsgS97XVeQNxad_iKBvu662q0rbfFjG8w8nhyphenhyphentUNFi3HMCtAZ9FimM6_y5P7OCnAuFdBiUc9G1w9oE2Va2zIV55c/s320/3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of one of the Pilot's pectoral fins skeletal structure.</td></tr>
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Climbing up from the strand and looking down on the carcass it's amazing how many species are out there beyond the horizon but tragic that such encounters are often the only way you might experience such a mammal for yourself in the flesh!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A somewhat graphic view of the bulls head.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-50252269998336338512015-06-09T16:00:00.001-07:002015-06-09T18:07:19.175-07:00Swift Spotting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier today I took it upon myself to scout my town for Swift colonies, this summer bird has captivated me ever since my early days. My very first bird field guide stated that this small blade-like winged bird could sleep while flying and would only land while at their nest, such facts fascinated me at an early age but it was years before I sighted these blackened sky slicers for myself.<br>
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Reading about the birds of Killarney National park in a publication of the same name I was dismayed by the apparent low breeding pairs in the park back in the 1980's standing at around four pairs residing at Killarney house at that time.<br>
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It was a cloudy school day and I was out in the schools pitch half heartdly participating in some sport or activity I didn't care for when I heard a series of unusual schreeches approaching from overhead at speed from the cathedral, moments later my eyes caught sight of the small streamlined birds enroute, they were too big for a swallow or martin and flapped their sharply edged wings with less frequency than the latter and former species, by using my powers of deduction and factoring in the fact that these screeching birds were coloured black there was no doubt that I was watching my first swifts wizz by! in all (if I recall correctly) there was about thirteen which thankfully is a vast improvement in about twenty years by some margin.<br>
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Back to today I went for a spin on the bike around various spots around Killarney to see if Swifts were present. Starting on the hill lingering above Fitzgeralds stadium and then down to St Columbanus's where I took all of the images displayed in this post. Six birds were definitely present but there was likley to be more as I was watching the one side of this widespread old stone building. There was a nest site or nest in development by a gutter and two birds whixxed past me by a couple of centimeteres at one stage! Its hard to describe the speed these birds travel and swevel at so just try to imagine a giabt, hyperactive swallow. Needless to say its a tricky job trying to follow and photograph swifts, who for the most part fly at high altitudes but I was fortunate today at my first attempt at capturing these birds on the wing.<br>
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After counting (as best I could) the swifts around St Columbanus's I cycled into town wgere I could hear swifts in numbers over head being masked by the cencrete environment. The highest numbers I encountered were near the town centre where 8 or more birds were circling high up near the direction of the sun which made counting harder.<br>
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Based on todays first skim over look at some the swifts of Killarney they seem to be faring well with some 26 birds across four distinct areas but there may well be more locations I've overlooked.<br>
I have some ideas that will be of benifit to this African migrant in the town but it may be awhile until they might become a reality, regardless the numbers encountered today were well above what I had imagined in areas I wouldn't have considered but this was a preliminary scouting excercise that will likley be of benefit for any developments in the near future.<br>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-21374679841316029602015-05-20T15:39:00.000-07:002015-05-20T15:39:25.775-07:00Circumnavigating Killarneys lakesToday inpreparation for cycling the 180km ring of Kerry in the coming months I decided to head through the Macgillycuddy's reeks and onto the National Park.<br />
After leaving the house the first port of call was the Gap of Dunloe, a glacial valley characterized by some expansive interlocking spurs. There are three lakes up the gap but I encountered no interesting wildlife while passing through. The valley is a popular spot for tourists and lies near the western boundary of Killarney National Park.<br />
Today was sunny and the gap became a giant steam room as I cycled upwards onto the crest of the valleys main ridge, only grinding to a halt at one time. I only took a handful of images in the gap as I opted for speed of up to some 47km as I descended into the Black Valley.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1LagGButf61cGApxIJvNe6O3qQdY9rw41sFmSnrl1CZSezU61hsUiuGYTrbGUDye4JLNszLBaaqw7q4Vif3O4x7bu8rvBNW8x_tohwjvO26wdIx8XqfTe84WO6p5t2tnQWTzbBpkPOU/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1LagGButf61cGApxIJvNe6O3qQdY9rw41sFmSnrl1CZSezU61hsUiuGYTrbGUDye4JLNszLBaaqw7q4Vif3O4x7bu8rvBNW8x_tohwjvO26wdIx8XqfTe84WO6p5t2tnQWTzbBpkPOU/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Within the Gap of Dunloe.</td></tr>
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It didn't take long for me to reach the park after leaving the gap and I was soon along the shores of the Upper Lake which is nestled within the regions mountains.<br />
It's an area I haven't visited in about three years and is also not frequented by tourists as often as other parts of the park. The lake is inundated by a series of islands covered by native flora.<br />
The track was not suitable for cycling at times but that suited me as I stopped on numerous occasions to take photos.<br />
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After leaving the open, flat ground adjacent to the lake I came into the areas oak woods which were on higher ground over a series of small hills.<br />
Derrycunnighy beckoned next where I stopped to have a look at a little-known waterfall just off the path.<br />
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Next stop was the main Kenmare road that would bring me back to Killarney which was still within the park but provided me with a better surface to cycle on.<br />
Approaching Eagles Nest mountain a very small mammal scurried across the road in front of me with something in its mouth. I applied the back brake duly and it gave out a screech which startled the Stoat causing it to release its prey and hop over the wall it was heading towards, its prey ran for cover next to the wall. I stayed around for a few minutes to see if I could get a half decent shot of the Stoat that was hanging around with the ipod.<br />
The Stoat let out the occasional concerned call as it bound back and forth on the opposite side of the wall while I was near his prey so I moved away and it returned to move in to dispatch its prey which was a young rabbit that screamed for about a minute as the Stoat killed it, I then moved on to leave the Stoat be with its food, this sighting was the best I've ever had of a mammal you can't plan on encountering.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXl9Xv4RGo63RIcBVHGi72lTNMPfSnz5GDgdQQecwX5u8URWX3tVqvQflq2_z8VnwlFa6OfU85NSzLycU4IOS3XCRY2s0w9ILRUgqpymaz4T85K8JhQ99SwPMM5BgNtTZhSZU_VGxC7Vw/s1600/39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXl9Xv4RGo63RIcBVHGi72lTNMPfSnz5GDgdQQecwX5u8URWX3tVqvQflq2_z8VnwlFa6OfU85NSzLycU4IOS3XCRY2s0w9ILRUgqpymaz4T85K8JhQ99SwPMM5BgNtTZhSZU_VGxC7Vw/s400/39.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A heavily cropped image showing the Stoat before it moved in for the kill.</td></tr>
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Next brief stop on the cycle was at the smallest of the Killarney lakes, Muckross and then onto Lough Leane and then back to Killarney itself.<br />
All in all it was a decent day but I should have brought the proper camera with me as the Stoat came within FEET of me but theres always next time.<br />
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Here are some more images from the cycle.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Upper lake.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxsPC49LaJ610JZ3bvOkyv0864yltDPIGwBHLPKHrrrqNCqECwLV7KA1l1SzoPRznNwdcIxzMUjd2MRR8Lp48MqiI7GWlHJvHaM-G8J8r8DrHelxiOuwzJPdPq70A31bRZ71lQ1UsYEE/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxsPC49LaJ610JZ3bvOkyv0864yltDPIGwBHLPKHrrrqNCqECwLV7KA1l1SzoPRznNwdcIxzMUjd2MRR8Lp48MqiI7GWlHJvHaM-G8J8r8DrHelxiOuwzJPdPq70A31bRZ71lQ1UsYEE/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Upper lake again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxLtJu-I4a9WR6XmP6z0V1QryNDvayEebnrDZpauuIXkJjPnMMvEU5SEaagOAoH2HwoFfz10U-634yxR9S0Pujiz90-aSGGIek9505y6qo8t3wAe6PsT1UafdB5Ud3XJLHhNwCGlEnQk/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxLtJu-I4a9WR6XmP6z0V1QryNDvayEebnrDZpauuIXkJjPnMMvEU5SEaagOAoH2HwoFfz10U-634yxR9S0Pujiz90-aSGGIek9505y6qo8t3wAe6PsT1UafdB5Ud3XJLHhNwCGlEnQk/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol5Fy0sTa6V7hYKGDrbb8jW6kFujxZECjw7cE2vfr_5AbkUg0ycZnBaBBmPxiuAhHVO3oMszDIUiiiJyxn5duv_8YyIf-bl89AUNwISu7LkUypwZVd3K0CqUYYy7_IE-_pZmP3GMCZIY/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol5Fy0sTa6V7hYKGDrbb8jW6kFujxZECjw7cE2vfr_5AbkUg0ycZnBaBBmPxiuAhHVO3oMszDIUiiiJyxn5duv_8YyIf-bl89AUNwISu7LkUypwZVd3K0CqUYYy7_IE-_pZmP3GMCZIY/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Oak canopy.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_i5XhcZZkdeEWFBRrEkOK7Bkfla6upiYhjOhtBrwe23XIVsK_e4xkdFJFz0EVlfaT9WQygs64jGmD-Ye_QtYkOqNNBYPFGulpXlSSwGkgQPcolc6pknxBGZVaBOTK1kXmomBiyO0tiho/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_i5XhcZZkdeEWFBRrEkOK7Bkfla6upiYhjOhtBrwe23XIVsK_e4xkdFJFz0EVlfaT9WQygs64jGmD-Ye_QtYkOqNNBYPFGulpXlSSwGkgQPcolc6pknxBGZVaBOTK1kXmomBiyO0tiho/s640/12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A panoramic of the Upper lake.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAoAKeD_tHvesvUKCQqNqFs8g_FAlMEbAo9HLcbVluFdDcwVkvKsLTAEkwfVjcZwz2exWpzyjZ3RDqPusZi0QESPOfm6vfEERkA_QloRYbQSW0N70MViYQgrRqG0kJ19O8lbrFymqZzU/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAoAKeD_tHvesvUKCQqNqFs8g_FAlMEbAo9HLcbVluFdDcwVkvKsLTAEkwfVjcZwz2exWpzyjZ3RDqPusZi0QESPOfm6vfEERkA_QloRYbQSW0N70MViYQgrRqG0kJ19O8lbrFymqZzU/s400/17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss covered rocks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9v4Pb4efmk_f8SStQQgKbM-9OrgrFuF4j8XAgaLDnU75T95oWOg5DFUvs4XVuHpkW9JxNepTvru8UlOoS8n0-VOYKrOrS_EBWgecqMmGh45fWPumRMTlHx7cc6CM8gvaG7ePYAyECFGk/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9v4Pb4efmk_f8SStQQgKbM-9OrgrFuF4j8XAgaLDnU75T95oWOg5DFUvs4XVuHpkW9JxNepTvru8UlOoS8n0-VOYKrOrS_EBWgecqMmGh45fWPumRMTlHx7cc6CM8gvaG7ePYAyECFGk/s400/19.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dead and living!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFeXvNJ-azussb-93b3Wh6rDF9hyb18NO-3pyn7yVJqyFNTAgSxzxEuTv9NncMBhdeDR0gl2nPmVWZyA6J8IxjHJ6LO1gFEM3jrhUChO9Bm-z8S8BV02kAIakxjHs3zfwnIlBbh_AEklU/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFeXvNJ-azussb-93b3Wh6rDF9hyb18NO-3pyn7yVJqyFNTAgSxzxEuTv9NncMBhdeDR0gl2nPmVWZyA6J8IxjHJ6LO1gFEM3jrhUChO9Bm-z8S8BV02kAIakxjHs3zfwnIlBbh_AEklU/s400/20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The native white flowering of the Hawthorn and pink of the introduced rhododendron.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzYn5hMr1R-LuO5f7pc2Fv_NGxP8B1uNaFn9xd8AJHtjr8Ho7bWDFqhXTcSh1JHb81WbxFHwlHNjz3GZ19_QL2uU-2SN7REt_7O2nkA2v2jORQCHZkpDZNbeS9kOKpJaCs0hTKFWfHTk/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzYn5hMr1R-LuO5f7pc2Fv_NGxP8B1uNaFn9xd8AJHtjr8Ho7bWDFqhXTcSh1JHb81WbxFHwlHNjz3GZ19_QL2uU-2SN7REt_7O2nkA2v2jORQCHZkpDZNbeS9kOKpJaCs0hTKFWfHTk/s400/27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcDJfBG2y9x5K5wQ67v0lLTrpvjpf9FkK4CglnP2Pe1zhZ5O0jaaN7qTAHOpxtHmuFoqYFMU9-maBzNvqSiZqSvYpsYzKH3SOG9l6pU1ETkjCQvCBrhvUrWNQihD4a7ZYrmn6in6WWQg/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcDJfBG2y9x5K5wQ67v0lLTrpvjpf9FkK4CglnP2Pe1zhZ5O0jaaN7qTAHOpxtHmuFoqYFMU9-maBzNvqSiZqSvYpsYzKH3SOG9l6pU1ETkjCQvCBrhvUrWNQihD4a7ZYrmn6in6WWQg/s400/25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SHBU388f8w2ztuRWGGl9uVf0XXPhpX_gOdD1YXcnRKmCbyiE-tf20mcHMEc9LF1hMHQaE51-ZTFz25fYEdXMvfQsCuxaRWOLPe91HD7lLOKclgu2zrxk1JVxCtmDy27wKzYwVe_pBU0/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SHBU388f8w2ztuRWGGl9uVf0XXPhpX_gOdD1YXcnRKmCbyiE-tf20mcHMEc9LF1hMHQaE51-ZTFz25fYEdXMvfQsCuxaRWOLPe91HD7lLOKclgu2zrxk1JVxCtmDy27wKzYwVe_pBU0/s400/28.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mountain side burned recently, now recovering.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hlVS2qSiKxzwaupkB7ENrH-zM95gkG6IMlhmxYM6Ejlm83oP8NwbbOS8ULv_6KF158cNhclYotkVpNjpBNQ8IZ0socmIiTWcStIESAYa00_6UZpMESxroo4-hOq-KMcpq8LMsRC1Ab0/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hlVS2qSiKxzwaupkB7ENrH-zM95gkG6IMlhmxYM6Ejlm83oP8NwbbOS8ULv_6KF158cNhclYotkVpNjpBNQ8IZ0socmIiTWcStIESAYa00_6UZpMESxroo4-hOq-KMcpq8LMsRC1Ab0/s400/29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some "artwork".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgvnYIH1ZBr6ECLq8BA8mzJr3ccMTqFEG0I2fl8ejMx6Jtui-NNq_SJwpFlxwg_7HbIQqCeUtLkWQuD06RxnZbRhzEyKQaHYFRXs8Y9H9vM9zh2-KIlqwK79PVF9orDuCemIbaQNZT1s/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgvnYIH1ZBr6ECLq8BA8mzJr3ccMTqFEG0I2fl8ejMx6Jtui-NNq_SJwpFlxwg_7HbIQqCeUtLkWQuD06RxnZbRhzEyKQaHYFRXs8Y9H9vM9zh2-KIlqwK79PVF9orDuCemIbaQNZT1s/s400/31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGAwqKQsbcMhre-1RLiEIBsojyOPg3aqvIE8izp9IwVzw7Lnh2r0IxmXguMhjAhK2VgoG-5gOZDwob38X9ZVmfyfyVn0CL47k2Jl-nFgCbGY2rG2zhC5fgTrGMKLxVjqg9Ya6ztL8tMI/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGAwqKQsbcMhre-1RLiEIBsojyOPg3aqvIE8izp9IwVzw7Lnh2r0IxmXguMhjAhK2VgoG-5gOZDwob38X9ZVmfyfyVn0CL47k2Jl-nFgCbGY2rG2zhC5fgTrGMKLxVjqg9Ya6ztL8tMI/s640/36.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Upper lake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />,<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P51ZImItuAI6w9KKa4QZjG4Ghc79cMKIMv2zMKibZJPr0ZvLWVvY8eS-u-yktHpH1FXoiFvJ7DpOI2IWXaFatVmmw06Yod7Uu0egohhw3kL8-lel3RgsajHAtHI1Vg8SkZ2GhkvnGVo/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P51ZImItuAI6w9KKa4QZjG4Ghc79cMKIMv2zMKibZJPr0ZvLWVvY8eS-u-yktHpH1FXoiFvJ7DpOI2IWXaFatVmmw06Yod7Uu0egohhw3kL8-lel3RgsajHAtHI1Vg8SkZ2GhkvnGVo/s400/40.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original Stoat shot, see if you can spot it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
,<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7omyDWqahARu49bXryqhWBQaNrqFkkZgrKDSRkX1Zk_0WlXYI_IItnBGoK9Pqv74Kxlsjl8cz6tobUoMfjhBaJoQk3Oki6LFEHA7GD1n7RhL6vi8VPyRgZqIfmdwNeLI0eeiAI8hWL0/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7omyDWqahARu49bXryqhWBQaNrqFkkZgrKDSRkX1Zk_0WlXYI_IItnBGoK9Pqv74Kxlsjl8cz6tobUoMfjhBaJoQk3Oki6LFEHA7GD1n7RhL6vi8VPyRgZqIfmdwNeLI0eeiAI8hWL0/s400/41.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muckross lake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
,<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NFK4O0b20DmmGkCCsAJ0iQ5LyRRdn-0GYbOzBzxTf86o4R8X9Pz1slgsaVOPVHO4w1paOrZ5SdRFhSXtUXU2hOKaqb2mAZE3Lb9jS6Hr-oJLnZCtHFWD40jnCQ6ON2dJDf30em8BVVk/s1600/42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NFK4O0b20DmmGkCCsAJ0iQ5LyRRdn-0GYbOzBzxTf86o4R8X9Pz1slgsaVOPVHO4w1paOrZ5SdRFhSXtUXU2hOKaqb2mAZE3Lb9jS6Hr-oJLnZCtHFWD40jnCQ6ON2dJDf30em8BVVk/s400/42.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heeding the nearby signs message....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
,<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0W5h8KoT55O6ItVAu3Xd90oXj-AJ2IHfiUmWettu6qEym4j0G6UHhs58Y9j6gE5zKCW5GOTPi8WTAaSbk4Ju8lFed9MtejN9Xz9Xo-MKq4U7rthpXUl0VsJJPnh8LShbYMpRbqjzovA/s1600/43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0W5h8KoT55O6ItVAu3Xd90oXj-AJ2IHfiUmWettu6qEym4j0G6UHhs58Y9j6gE5zKCW5GOTPi8WTAaSbk4Ju8lFed9MtejN9Xz9Xo-MKq4U7rthpXUl0VsJJPnh8LShbYMpRbqjzovA/s400/43.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowering invasive rhododendron.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
,<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRKNxsGyVX57fuZEkFCSxb109IGyEDs_wZPmKaF3lz0c-uGGSSsHPdiiBAU_00LqNlMiapk9GoRJlTdysqUTE2xBWdNgNKZa2iWud5bSnevhbclTHxTN5yTA6mUphuUiZAoWBto7-z1o/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRKNxsGyVX57fuZEkFCSxb109IGyEDs_wZPmKaF3lz0c-uGGSSsHPdiiBAU_00LqNlMiapk9GoRJlTdysqUTE2xBWdNgNKZa2iWud5bSnevhbclTHxTN5yTA6mUphuUiZAoWBto7-z1o/s400/44.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebells</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW8KNIsiS91xeqnOkR4njdEYs1xtOpJ9bNRWQt73vP5YueT2mMjza44blK5p7OFOXKadj5QqWut0qK4VuE1pRyc5alZfCDNrX56lPSjRRgHpDwpAt0TY97BLNGHQDQ4by0JAV0jc0Tmw/s1600/45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW8KNIsiS91xeqnOkR4njdEYs1xtOpJ9bNRWQt73vP5YueT2mMjza44blK5p7OFOXKadj5QqWut0qK4VuE1pRyc5alZfCDNrX56lPSjRRgHpDwpAt0TY97BLNGHQDQ4by0JAV0jc0Tmw/s400/45.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqZ9vhs6K5gALscUXg04Kgiqauyy5EqdjCkytOeOmPBEBva7ZL4YBCaqlBwezzBIU88qUEe2L1NuGJ7VywATl_4eQbCxfeg2XRvUbJpQ_XHy6Q6uGZ2jsCVcVdkRVA_YpJvAltN1IlLM/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqZ9vhs6K5gALscUXg04Kgiqauyy5EqdjCkytOeOmPBEBva7ZL4YBCaqlBwezzBIU88qUEe2L1NuGJ7VywATl_4eQbCxfeg2XRvUbJpQ_XHy6Q6uGZ2jsCVcVdkRVA_YpJvAltN1IlLM/s400/46.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And finally Lough Leane, Killarney's largest lake.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-73928770926414097952015-05-10T07:51:00.002-07:002015-05-10T07:51:37.817-07:00Aerial acrobats turned feathery torpedoes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUbXSh4fKdAHAuM53cdZ1pe1cATIDn2w9k7fagFXNfDUhRVJtdF4JGoFu3oYE_hlrziMgyewDzXwVdV47f5zoZJdLkKcKjHMLzGgmjngDqsdebePkvohh5dE97EpGxjCliryDA4dcx34/s1600/106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUbXSh4fKdAHAuM53cdZ1pe1cATIDn2w9k7fagFXNfDUhRVJtdF4JGoFu3oYE_hlrziMgyewDzXwVdV47f5zoZJdLkKcKjHMLzGgmjngDqsdebePkvohh5dE97EpGxjCliryDA4dcx34/s640/106.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dingle hatbours outskirts.</td></tr>
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Last Saturday (2nd) while out searching for a Harbour Porpoise carcass around Dingle harbour that had been reported only a day before, I noticed a familiar sight just outside the mouth of the harbour, that of falling shard-like birds as they plunged into the Atlantic trough.<br />
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Continuing my search further South from the town of Dingle itself (while losing hope of finding this particular Porpoise) I began to climb the Eastern cliffs that guard the harbours only entrance. To my right lay a relatively calm patch of Atlantic surf compared to the churning body of the adjacent Dingle bay which was feeling the full wrath of the North Eastern Atlantic. In this area of calm three boats emerged from the sheltered harbour on a mission: to find Fungie.<br />
Fungie is an adult solitary Bottlenose dolphin who has made this harbour his home since the eighties and as such he has become a source of revenue for a collection of boat bearing residents. Two of the boats I could see before me were packed with tourists while the smallest (a dinghy) was a private boat. All they wanted was to catch sight of this resident dolphin.<br />
After about five minutes I spotted him as his back sliced through the surface at speed, he was closer to my side of this narrow body of water than there's! Once spotted the boats began they're pursuit and I merely moved on.<br />
Approaching a prominent point along the increasingly rising cliffs I spotted the seabirds I had witnessed earlier at a greater distance, now slightly closer, the gannets really put on a natural spectacle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe7fmNQxhEK8uKfXtMQldHmrTMiizLZGfXOtUsBJZpRMOYTaMAdhJkNSNyU-HY86GfxPUnNS-udcNYgaIVsXEuzQijmBOID2FO0s3e0Zl46ePQFH2STPMVg5o2RVvuOiV3meSzGfY32k/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe7fmNQxhEK8uKfXtMQldHmrTMiizLZGfXOtUsBJZpRMOYTaMAdhJkNSNyU-HY86GfxPUnNS-udcNYgaIVsXEuzQijmBOID2FO0s3e0Zl46ePQFH2STPMVg5o2RVvuOiV3meSzGfY32k/s640/40.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Gannet searching for a fish supper!</td></tr>
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Gannets are our largest ocean going seabirds with a six-foot wingspan coloured largely with snow white weathers, a golden crown and with black wingtips. At close range their bluish beak can also be distinguished. They are superbly adapted to enter the sea from a height after spotting fish from the air as they have thickened skulls and even an airbag like system present within their chest to protect the internal organs from the strain that hitting a wall of water at around 100kmph at times!<br />
Occasionally one would dive close by to which I would have to reassess my efforts in capturing this bird transform into a six-foot dart aiming to snag a fish supper under the surface. After some time and effort capturing mediocre shots from afar I decided to move on to a spot which seemed to attract various gannets to dive closer to shore much more consistently.<br />
On rounding the next corner however I encountered yet another seabird at much closer quarters!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwZ1sY3-dj28ErRZ2EXU4ldHvLOrR-hF3r20DBqYhsZblsA1R6WEg6BG8Lk9MmSxlG3bsDQ9ivPLl9p-1hgs10S87EuFmEXorBSF0URq18hFspWRQoFjDN-OK3vCgjq6w_OMm3BzXhMk/s1600/50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwZ1sY3-dj28ErRZ2EXU4ldHvLOrR-hF3r20DBqYhsZblsA1R6WEg6BG8Lk9MmSxlG3bsDQ9ivPLl9p-1hgs10S87EuFmEXorBSF0URq18hFspWRQoFjDN-OK3vCgjq6w_OMm3BzXhMk/s320/50.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Fulmar gliding within millimeters of the cliff face.</td></tr>
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Fulmars were the clifftop kings of this corner cove and they showed little fear of me while gliding around on a combination of thermals and oceanic wind, even when they were literally withing a few feet of me. The fulmar resemble a gull to a point but they can be distinguished easily enough due to their square head and most crucially tubenose laying along the top of they're beak. The latter feature allows this bird to desalinate sea water in order to provide itself with drinking water while out at sea, it also identifies this bird as a relative of the albatross! The benefits of being a light weight bird really were on show as various fulmars swooped sometimes precariously close to the cliffs but the cons however, were apparent too. When a bird decided to land the updraft from the seas surface provided a stiff resistance to this individuals plans which were often abandoned to reattempt a landing which if successful was usually a very awkward affair.<br />
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After awhile I decided I had taken enough photos of these charismatic birds and moved on to the larger cluster of gannets diving nearby, who had split into two groups now. The new one was directly in front of where I had positioned myself last time! I quickly descended to take advantage of the birds close proximity but they decided to disperse so I returned to my original plan.<br />
Upon reaching the highest part of the cliffs I was met by some hundred or so gannets either lounging on the surface in rafts or actively foraging, some very close to the cliffs. I duly began tracking birds close to the cliffs all the while keeping an eye out for any potential divers (which is not as easy as you'd think) after a few minutes I captured the final moments of a dive as I had intended. The gannets dive is something everyone should have up high on the bucket list, it begins and ends in seconds transpiring in one medium going into another and returning to the former. The gannet begins this process by gliding over the the sea, largely at height. Upon spotting fish below the surface it banks sharply on whatever side it chooses and starts to descend at speed,<br />
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moments before entering the water it folds both its wings straight back along its bodies length usually crossing its black wingtips to form an X,<br />
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Then it hits the water and becomes a water bird at depth having lead a tail of bubbles in its wake as it descended here it uses its folded wings to propel it to its prey. Once caught within the gannets beak the prey item is swallowed whole and the gannet makes a fast-paced ascent to the surface where it usually launches itself skyward after a running start.<br />
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I was fortunate to observe this behavior so close to land last weekend but these birds do on occasion feed close to shore and you won't have too much trouble spotting this large seabird plunge headfirst into the Atlantic should it occur while your seaside!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-73981826426626494572015-04-25T16:49:00.004-07:002015-04-25T16:49:58.889-07:00Encountering the "Kerry" ToadToday I was out around Castlegregory in search of an amphibian I have wanted to come across for some time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Natterjack toad pond today.</td></tr>
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The Natterjack Toad is the only native Toad species found in Ireland. It was first observed in 1805 around Castlemaine harbour, the tidal body of water found between the Dingle and Iveragh peninsulas just East of Inch strand. Since then there has been some localized extinctions and as such the Natterjack population now resides in a few heavens to the North and South of the Dingle peninsula.<br />
This Toad species is believed to have colonized the country naturally after the last ice age which ended in and around 11,000 years ago as they share some genetic similarities with the nearest Toad population over in England.<br />
Now you might be thinking, whats so great about this Toad?<br />
Well it is unlike any of the three other amphibian species found on this island nation. The more widely known frog might on its preface seem similar to the Toad but its not by a long shot!<br />
Physically the Natterjack is a much broader beast than the streamlined frog, they crawl along like four legged cowboys in stark contrast to the frogs fondness of leaping and they are also coloured differently with the toad possessing a diagnostic white line running along the top of its back. Even the toads tadpoles differ from the frogs, the latter being inundated by varying shades of browns where as the former is jet black and also a much broader built bundle of flesh.<br />
The habitat of choice for this amphibian is a very surprising one for a freshwater inhabitant.. by the coast! They utilize the small freshwater ponds nestled in amongst the dune systems of Castlegregory along with and suitable bodies of water within their range.<br />
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The Natterjack's home-range has probably become reduced due to the increase in agriculture over the past century BUT there is a scheme in place nowadays encouraging local land owners where the toad is present to dig ponds, maintain them and not use any chemicals which could effect the toads which would also forage on land. The areas around the ponds are usually grazed by cattle in particular and this system has yielded results as last year was a bumper year for the counties population.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGWrfoOP9nInqC4QjkJPDbirHWqSTy05QidaxR4loK_sTW9j04UvtY2U_3CnaX60k9YsxsuJSuQsgpJEBFvBcVp9WKlvP76MR73Mmhun6Bi0WJuwO7FIFKN-m475e5qSCIPhE_F4BLDU/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGWrfoOP9nInqC4QjkJPDbirHWqSTy05QidaxR4loK_sTW9j04UvtY2U_3CnaX60k9YsxsuJSuQsgpJEBFvBcVp9WKlvP76MR73Mmhun6Bi0WJuwO7FIFKN-m475e5qSCIPhE_F4BLDU/s1600/10.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the waters edge where the smaller tadpoles were.</td></tr>
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Back to today, I discovered where to find some of these ponds and decided to chance my arm. April is the peak time for breeding and I initially wished to head back to Castlegregory's dune system to hear the chorus of Toads in the ponds and maybe catch sight of one or two in the flesh. This plan changed however and I arrived during the day where I could actually see where a pond was positioned.<br />
Judging from the map of the ponds I obtained this morning, the roads position and the local geography of a particular stretch of dunes I quickly identified the position of a pond which was evidently the cause of a sudden submergence of the ground between two dunes.<br />
On further inspection the pond itself was located. I found it very odd that such a body of freshwater could be found so close to the sea to both the East and West along with being lined by sand blown in from either of the two surrounding bays, it was akin to the surface of Mars!<br />
It didn't take long to find the first signs of the toads as I peered into the ponds shallow waters for the first time I spotted some relatively small toad tadpoles near the waters edge. Once they could see my figure towering above them most made a break for the safety of some nearby submerged vegetation while others played dead. These tadpoles are loaded with toxins which do not agree with the micro predators found cruising our bodies of water and as such they have an advantage early on in life.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some small tadpoles over the sandy bottom.</td></tr>
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Carefully stepping forwards along the left side of the pond I kept a careful eye out for any lingering adult toads both on land and in water, t didn't take long to stumble upon my first toad albeit a bit more static than what I was going for but I'll take it. The thin and slightly wrinkled body of a Natterjack lay outstretched just at the waters edge. It's dark green back blotched by darker polka dots was raised skywards while it's unique back stripe remained clearly visible. Its left fore limb was tucked underneath its body and its eyes were shut. I think this individual was a female as evident by some strands of spawn near its hind legs, in the water nearby, wrapped around some vegetation lay even more coiled spawn so it appears this individual has done it's bit for the next generation. I do not know what happened to it but there was evidence of an even more toasted toad further up the shore line which may suggest that some animals expire after spawning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAp11NgE1nqR-nIO6hTa7vte_6ICyJqBU5wWbzdaAoA8oh3WR6y_iutWPQYyYdc-iTusxhH4xDS-b3Sgv8M0xiRt5IhMUT2mVi1rNFnXrg4WTRQCpMEBBpdbjUavU3bmsy-yXeGyW5Fds/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAp11NgE1nqR-nIO6hTa7vte_6ICyJqBU5wWbzdaAoA8oh3WR6y_iutWPQYyYdc-iTusxhH4xDS-b3Sgv8M0xiRt5IhMUT2mVi1rNFnXrg4WTRQCpMEBBpdbjUavU3bmsy-yXeGyW5Fds/s1600/6.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first rather lifeless Natterjack</td></tr>
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Continuing the tour around this hidden oasis I came across far more developed tadpoles, one of which may even be in the early stages of developing legs!<br />
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While watching these larger tadpoles I heard a call completely out of tune to the circling gulls and singing skylarks. I left off short raspy sounds all of which came from a patch of marrm grass of the closest dune over looking the pond. I inspected the area to no avail due to the grasses thick coverage and while doing so must have spooked this individual which was undoubtedly a male toad calling out to any potential suitors.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhw5SwdlVIrlw9Q-tRyzp9CL4XGKOR3NdxRQnjESzJXUxD7y17NebRaK21CTkpAh9hAhn9Dwbu4wi2cxKeWegsR9sVIeVFzzL5uWeqRm_FcE220cVor8g_s-z779U1ogcqGOKRCyldmg/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhw5SwdlVIrlw9Q-tRyzp9CL4XGKOR3NdxRQnjESzJXUxD7y17NebRaK21CTkpAh9hAhn9Dwbu4wi2cxKeWegsR9sVIeVFzzL5uWeqRm_FcE220cVor8g_s-z779U1ogcqGOKRCyldmg/s1600/5.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some strands of spawn weaving between the vegetation.</td></tr>
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I doubled back around the pond for a final look before leaving to discover vast strains of spawn intermingled with the grasses and water mint amongst other vegetation present in the pond. The individuals occupying the spawn were at different stages of development so they were laid on different occasions which I find to be very unusual to the system used by frogs where they all congregate at once, Natterjacks however seem to be more particular in they're ways.<br />
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All in all I can't complain with the days results but I will be back for more very, very soon!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYbP0_ekMmJSxYoU95AsN6qcEBZwDhUw83pTgkaxi-xoSGZd74BrVtzR2AvODfjMpCVDOzhJWBPIaeM45VZ_Wkj_G4D7ZP_m4TB7x2UA8oi_wHx3uCKRMP7s3WnRpzR9s3ahO1i-VUvA/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYbP0_ekMmJSxYoU95AsN6qcEBZwDhUw83pTgkaxi-xoSGZd74BrVtzR2AvODfjMpCVDOzhJWBPIaeM45VZ_Wkj_G4D7ZP_m4TB7x2UA8oi_wHx3uCKRMP7s3WnRpzR9s3ahO1i-VUvA/s1600/9.jpg" height="499" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down to the pond and on the Brandon bay further West.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-19172164135929478912015-02-07T15:47:00.000-08:002015-02-14T16:04:48.914-08:00Sighting a Sea King<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSeLYDv08aoO02oatE6aBy41HpBQwNFNFdr_VX39XJKUjboEeSYuCUlRYfD8DgVFzdURs3zHInsOFIzXWSWRshXBubFTAJKRVH4-z5IGgNXgOJ7uHyJh333LdbaLcKTitBFUILnBo-uw/s1600/IMG_1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSeLYDv08aoO02oatE6aBy41HpBQwNFNFdr_VX39XJKUjboEeSYuCUlRYfD8DgVFzdURs3zHInsOFIzXWSWRshXBubFTAJKRVH4-z5IGgNXgOJ7uHyJh333LdbaLcKTitBFUILnBo-uw/s1600/IMG_1948.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a>Today while out around Rossbeigh I decided to pay a visit to the mountain stage stretch of road to the West of the strand. The road is positioned (somewhat precariously) above a stretch of dirt cliffs which tower above Dingle bay below. The base of the cliffs has hosted some interesting guests over the past few years in particular a young male Sperm Whale which was them pummeled to pieces by the swell over the course of two to three weeks. But a rather special visitor has also made an appearance off those cliffs in recent weeks.<br />
As an Irish first, the Black Scoter (a sea Duck from America) enticed many twitcher's (people who flock to rare bird sightings) from all corners of Ireland to catch a glimpse of this slightly larger black duck to the numerous and native Common Scoter.<br />
I on the other hand did not rush to see this "lifer" due to college commitments and also the fact that I would have great difficulty spotting a single black duck in among a raft of 60 or so other black ducks with only the defining characteristics of this first visitor being is larger size and yellow bulge above its beak, these features over 1-2 km away are exceptionally difficult to pinpoint for a budding seawatcher such as myself!<br />
Truth be told I may easily have spotted the Black Scoter either last weekend, today or even on both occasions without even really knowing it so I may or may not have my first "lifer" under the belt!<br />
However sightings of another sea duck did secure my interest and beckoned me to try and locate it, a Common Eider. Most people would associate Eider with the downy feathers used in pillows etc but there's more to the Norther hemispheres largest duck than just our commercial uses for them.<br />
The males are perhaps the most striking looking bird in Ireland with an overall snow white coloration along the birds back wings and neck, its underside is dark black along with a cap of black on top of its head, the male Eiders beak is creamy yellow to add to the birds appearance.<br />
On the other hand female Eiders are colored in a less dramatic way than their counterparts, they are a combination of light browns, greys and blacks mottled by a light outline of white and finished off with a dark beak to boot.<br />
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The Eider feeds in shallow water down to 20m/65ft on crustaceans, molluscs and echinoderms <span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">on the sea floor.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Eiders are encountered occasionally around the counties coast but are scarce winter visitors this far South in Ireland. I have always wanted to see this duck for myself since being enthralled by images of the males ghostly appearance in bird identification guides a few years ago and thankfully today was the day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Once I </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">reached the mountain stage I </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">scanned the water for the rafts of Scoters which rest at the surface when they take a break from feeding in the depths with the naked eye and then I set up the scope to easily observe the birds up close and to hopefully find the Eider that was reported to be with the Common Scoters and single Black Scoter. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">I briefly scoped the nearest raft to no avail so I turned my sights to the larger one further out. While taking a break from the eye piece I noticed a much purer source of white than the occasional lapping whitecaps near the Scoters and swiveled the scope upon it for further scrutiny.. there it was the Eider and it lived up to its sharp appearance, it was a male and then it was gone, gone below the surf in search of food.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlw6H7FKV_r5P1cUvW-eObF2xYM2weox-ivhP5HZCqbDa36hpyXoCcZgcq90vNuoKduSY1XGfOZoKRWoikGkxESF1RO8ADl2roghaDMC31fbCFA_8ueV8EgyGra7bgzQxloAgzRtlkzHo/s1600/e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlw6H7FKV_r5P1cUvW-eObF2xYM2weox-ivhP5HZCqbDa36hpyXoCcZgcq90vNuoKduSY1XGfOZoKRWoikGkxESF1RO8ADl2roghaDMC31fbCFA_8ueV8EgyGra7bgzQxloAgzRtlkzHo/s1600/e1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Eider to the left of the main Scoter raft.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">I quickly tightened the tripods relevant adjustment points and retrieved the camera adapter from the car which after removing the scopes eyepiece cover went into place easily, then the camera was attached and I was ready to record this elusive duck.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">The waiting game then in sued where I had to consistently keep the cameras LCD screen on to see what was happening while trying to find a white bird on a very limited view of a grayish green canvas. After a few minutes in the cold with slightly numb finger I finally found him again and the clip I captured can be seen below, after just locating him he decided to dive once more which resulted in trying to relocate it again once he was topside once more. One clip which I have now reviewed captures the Eider chasing after a Scoter for no particular reason, the Scoter certainly wasn't too keen on staying around when the Eider was upset!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">The video captured is to be honest rubbish quality but it does clearly show this Eider which as over a kilometer to the North of me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Today was a good day and it was great to finally encounter one of the Sea's Kings at last!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">The Eider itself!</span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-39946402411522292622014-05-05T17:51:00.001-07:002014-05-05T17:51:47.469-07:00Toothed Whales<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ_o1bUU71alTp0_4Kwm8nmdE9RSdziaxhJlX5VA5hx4tK3oTbi9HP-lzKcJXqK2L9cXt44sI0OEZ6ILNWB8e6jhOkJ5q04qh16LR7mqNGRmru0u6_AY795LRci3T4O3Pv1B5mMasFTU/s1600/sperm+whale+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ_o1bUU71alTp0_4Kwm8nmdE9RSdziaxhJlX5VA5hx4tK3oTbi9HP-lzKcJXqK2L9cXt44sI0OEZ6ILNWB8e6jhOkJ5q04qh16LR7mqNGRmru0u6_AY795LRci3T4O3Pv1B5mMasFTU/s1600/sperm+whale+head.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A female Sperm Whale </td></tr>
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The Odontoceti family of Whales comprises of various species of toothed Cetaceans, from the humble Harbour Porpoise all the way the the behemoth that is the Sperm Whale. Overall these toothed animals outnumber the baleen Whales by miles in the Cetacean families found across the globe. They are perhaps the most diverse cohort of mammals in the world and Kerry plays host to a diverse variety of these animals from the shallow bays eaten into the coastline by the Atlantic to the vast expanse of open ocean beyond the continental shelf to the West, defined by undersea canyons.<br />
Toothed Whales are categorised by not surprisingly having teeth!, a single blowhole or nasal passage, a dorsal fin half way along the animals back in the case of Dolphins and Porpoises (not the larger Sperm Whale) and a specialised organ on top/ to the front of the animals head called the melon (the spermaceti organ in Sperm Whales) used almost entirely for specialist feeding techniques but also for communication. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCAiG51YJgC7PNp0TxPrOnOuRGpHXvn9OJke1PIPfI8qXS4v7HG6tMx8ZTGlnBwpzxBQ7YnfHvym-3714Z8AZwLds_ZEwpWHRd9Hokl8sVy43mFTCuZ0gvJ1LNH020nzgZIVlvcLLD34/s1600/teeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCAiG51YJgC7PNp0TxPrOnOuRGpHXvn9OJke1PIPfI8qXS4v7HG6tMx8ZTGlnBwpzxBQ7YnfHvym-3714Z8AZwLds_ZEwpWHRd9Hokl8sVy43mFTCuZ0gvJ1LNH020nzgZIVlvcLLD34/s1600/teeth.jpg" height="255" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sperm Whale and Common Dolphin tooth comparison</td></tr>
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Interestingly the two teeth featured on the left show just how drastic a size difference there is between the largest carnivore on earth and our smallest dolphin species. One preys upon Giant Squid alone in the bleak, blacked out abysses of the continental shelf while the other organises itself and others into efficient groups to corral fish such as Herring in the inshore waters of Ireland. Both animals could not be more physically different but they both exploit their own biological niche amazingly efficiently.<br />
A bout of D.I.Y C.S.I with these teeth can uncover the animals age by simply slicing the tooth in half, then smearing the slightly serrated inner grooves of the tooth with ink to count these grooves just as you would with a tree and its growth rings!<br />
As eluded to above, these animals have developed a sophisticated sound system over Milena. This system is composed of the melon/ spermaceti organ, fine tuned hearing and adapted bone structure, The animal would emmit a series of clicks from just below its blowhole, these clicks then pass through the acoustic lens that is the melon or spermaceti organ and bounce off the skulls curved centrepiece which resembles a satellite dish in my view. This sound is then shot out of the animals head towards whatever the animal wants to identify. The sound rebounds off of the object or prey and returns to the animal via its elongated lower jaw bones and directed towards its ears. Using this method the animal can see with sound and efficiently pinpoint their prey.<br />
These toothed Cetaceans are highly evolved to take advantage of prey sources and as such are regarded to be classed as second in intelligence only behind ourselves! Bottle nose Dolphins like Fungi in Dingle harbour are particularly credited as being highly intelligent due to their ingenuitive hunting techniques, ability to recognise themselves in a mirror and have their own form of language or advanced communication system. The mighty Sperm Whale is the holder of the largest brain of any animal so it's not surprising that these highly sophisticated species are only second to homo sapiens.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-12628067831124962512014-03-25T16:29:00.000-07:002014-04-10T13:20:19.537-07:00Baleen Whales<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhVWaYeyXNu92V3sTqIQvEOKwqUgKifsFs5UbR_gYsErsumz0qIA1l1HBNXpCeGK7AoljKos-k44E-Co_5nYkK5nZLmxin0GdqDpYcU3SHVIPgdlztMUUdfFKAf1t_ttfSWYWhOeY_4U/s1600/Minke+baleen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhVWaYeyXNu92V3sTqIQvEOKwqUgKifsFs5UbR_gYsErsumz0qIA1l1HBNXpCeGK7AoljKos-k44E-Co_5nYkK5nZLmxin0GdqDpYcU3SHVIPgdlztMUUdfFKAf1t_ttfSWYWhOeY_4U/s1600/Minke+baleen.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A young Minke Whale showing it's baleen and throat grooves.</td></tr>
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Otherwise known as the Mysticeti suborder group of the Whale family system, these animals include the largest species that have ever lived. This of course includes the mighty Blue Whale,Fin,Sei,Northern Right and Minke Whales. Although all of these Irish species look somewhat different, they all share the same body plan, just altered to maximise the animals efficiency at sea.<br />
These animals adapted to return to the sea rather than live on land like the majority of species choose to do after spending Milena undersea, the Cetacean family did this to take advantage of the plentiful supply of food found in the oceans.<br />
In doing so these animals underwent extreme physical changes, most notable the loss of their hind legs which are now only recognisable as minute twig like vestigial bones found around the back half of the animals stuck in place by a mass of flesh. Cetaceans also manoeuvred their nostrils to the top of their heads to improve efficiency while at the surface to intake more air. These animals also became extremely streamlined in the form of a more pointed head, hairless body and horizontal tail fluke (unlike a fishes vertical tail).<br />
Now with all these changes to a once land animal did result in the split of the Cetacean family between baleen Whales and the more common toothed Whales that I will go into more detail at a later date.<br />
So baleen Whales have all of the above features except for the following: baleen (or whalebone as the whalers referred to it as), throat grooves (not found on the North Atlantic Right Whale due to this animals massive mouth and feeding strategy which made such an adaptation redundant) and a double blowhole.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWzNieAPE5FK-0o2sEEzO7qCBtJ4nVwZ4K6kJ55rRZTBrdK_kpeiaPRA96UXdSqovAtdeZ5yEqTDhtBvdgFoFCrkCLQYDHjDTEp2JAGgaLhZoiibhiG6-RGldOWr6-WQwa8WxJJvu-_g/s1600/F+baleen+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWzNieAPE5FK-0o2sEEzO7qCBtJ4nVwZ4K6kJ55rRZTBrdK_kpeiaPRA96UXdSqovAtdeZ5yEqTDhtBvdgFoFCrkCLQYDHjDTEp2JAGgaLhZoiibhiG6-RGldOWr6-WQwa8WxJJvu-_g/s1600/F+baleen+front.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inward bristles of baleen</td></tr>
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Baleen is a unique feeding adaptation only found in the Mysticeti suborder of the Cetacean family group. It comprises of Keratin which is then made up of protein. It is the exact same as our own finger nails and hair, it's just a combination of the two!. It is a very flexible substance while living but once disconnected from a Whale it becomes rigid and begins to taper inwards. A single Whale can have hundreds of these baleen plates, they are only found on the roof of the animals mouth and are triangular in shape when seen from the side.<br />
It was known to whalers as 'Whalebone' as it is only derived from these animals. Baleen truly was the plastic of it's day, the most acknowledged use of it was in the creation of corsets in the fashion industry!, but baleen also had a niche in the production of brushes, to stiffen silk fabrics and even in judges wigs to name a few.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnZPtbz4q39G2YstYzxD1T9eC1hQkF1e0hQvzoRcTJhBKw4rGnxqzwM7Qdbp_Cv6a-GG8Ngvq9fexwRbOQ4LDer4PDxvVL8yq9cYi0nYFXw1k_q0DVdcAlVp2etYzykepgxz7rx1UMT4/s1600/F+baleen+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnZPtbz4q39G2YstYzxD1T9eC1hQkF1e0hQvzoRcTJhBKw4rGnxqzwM7Qdbp_Cv6a-GG8Ngvq9fexwRbOQ4LDer4PDxvVL8yq9cYi0nYFXw1k_q0DVdcAlVp2etYzykepgxz7rx1UMT4/s1600/F+baleen+back.jpg" height="320" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside view of baleen</td></tr>
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Baleen works on a very simple premises, to ensure that virtually no prey items escape the clutches of a Whales massive mouths. It works synchrony with the Whales throat grooves, when the animal opens it's mouth just before swimming through a school of it's prey, it's throat grooves expand to accommodate a higher water intake thus engulfing more prey. Upon closing it's mouth the Whale then uses it's tongue to push all of the seawater it has taken in. This forces it's prey into the inward facing bristles of it's baleen while allowing the sea water to escape and this simple syphoning system has allowed Whales to grow to the enormous sizes they are today... all fuelled by unsuspecting prey that alone would barely support ourselves let alone a Whale! but due to such a large intake of these animals using an efficient system there really was no size limit in these animals weightless world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1aCr-bEgYLjEaZgaTdbC2iNK2WUMCS2JnSl625dAFMsHoJ5t4lwiwsKq3c1VynKQwCDmkROooRJKa1rGY1Qcf7dq_73S57QrtROk5qGwsj6G5G3c2pGzxIrAoi7ex2wA-FK_hlCJYlA/s1600/Baleen+comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1aCr-bEgYLjEaZgaTdbC2iNK2WUMCS2JnSl625dAFMsHoJ5t4lwiwsKq3c1VynKQwCDmkROooRJKa1rGY1Qcf7dq_73S57QrtROk5qGwsj6G5G3c2pGzxIrAoi7ex2wA-FK_hlCJYlA/s1600/Baleen+comparison.jpg" height="640" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fin and Minke Whale baleen plate comparison</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-7679636951242669672014-03-21T16:38:00.000-07:002014-03-21T16:45:12.754-07:00CSI: Cetacean Stranding Investigations I am involved in the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group's stranding scheme where as much information as possible is gathered from the carcass of a Cetacean. Now what does this really mean?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFB0YeFc-gjoplXFRwntAu4IVWUh5wyVKiYlJJYr1OvYTAGS7bEsVdhXq0uu-xoKA-bNoQEhUSXw0s-jfpAQWbLFpbBaj6xm9f9kY1zP45MhrD0OZsJlogRiskIicUa0sR5fM5Otyx50/s1600/cd+rossbeigh+proper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFB0YeFc-gjoplXFRwntAu4IVWUh5wyVKiYlJJYr1OvYTAGS7bEsVdhXq0uu-xoKA-bNoQEhUSXw0s-jfpAQWbLFpbBaj6xm9f9kY1zP45MhrD0OZsJlogRiskIicUa0sR5fM5Otyx50/s1600/cd+rossbeigh+proper.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Dolphin stranded at Rossbeigh</td></tr>
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Well the basis of this scheme revolves around most crucially obtaining a skin sample from a fresh animal which is sliced approximately into two thin 5mm long and 1mm wide strips without any blubber attached with a disposable scalpel to ensure that it can fit into a minute vial filled with ethanol to preserve the specimen. This sample is then accompanied by a card displaying relevant information on the samples date of collection,location along with its own unique code to keep track of every individual sample. The sample is then packed into a padded (pre-paid) envelope and sent directly to the Natural History Museum on Merrion Street in Dublin and placed in the national Cetacean genetic tissue bank which is run by the IWDG so that a substantial genetic collection of Ireland's Cetaceans is readily available to researchers in the future likelihood that a wide spread research project will be under taken in the coming years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoZctqPFoLx-qyNotXUAv85GNXwMt7fF08wOThNDGXbCA0reDOynAX5Kk0QMkqiGu7kuL6mZwG-nQRhSmEA1D8zSaCAOqXOwCUe59k5nPG0HqZmMOy2hVMialb0wKe9dN1tN4E004nlo/s1600/cd+skin+cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoZctqPFoLx-qyNotXUAv85GNXwMt7fF08wOThNDGXbCA0reDOynAX5Kk0QMkqiGu7kuL6mZwG-nQRhSmEA1D8zSaCAOqXOwCUe59k5nPG0HqZmMOy2hVMialb0wKe9dN1tN4E004nlo/s1600/cd+skin+cut.jpg" height="423" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skin sample taken from the above Common Dolphin</td></tr>
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Other than taking a skin sample (where possible) I also measure the animal from the tip of its lower jaw to the tip of its tail fluke and also the animals girth/waistline which tells us whether the animal was fully mature and roughly if it was at a healthy weight and not malnourished which may signal that there were some issues limiting the animals capacity to feed it self which could have eventually had led to its death, now if a Cetacean does not feed it also does not take in water which is ironic for an animal that spends its entire life in a weightless world of water so the only way for the animal to stay hydrated is to feed so if this is diminished in any way it can be detrimental to the animals health.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Harbour Porpoise skin sample ready to go.</td></tr>
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Now this abnormality may come about for a number of reasons, firstly the animal may have been too old and weak to catch prey, it may have been sick and injured either by one another or due to an altercation with man be it directly in the form of a collision with a boat or indirectly with fishing gear among many other factors which many have led to any one of the deaths of such animals that end up stranded along the counties coast be it already dead or still alive these issues are only theories unless proven beyond doubt but this highlights just how important this stranding scheme is even though it only covers very minute, specific data there is always room for more direct actions if more funding was made available such important initiatives.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-52052556708662889902014-03-17T15:14:00.001-07:002014-03-17T15:14:37.606-07:00The Irish White Tailed Sea Eagle reintroduction project: Early years In 2007 perhaps the most captivating conservation story of the past decade began to become a reality, bringing back the biggest bird in Europe to soar over it's former haunts, the White Tailed Sea eagle.<br />
I first heard of the project over the radio on my way home from school early in 2007 and was immediately perplexed with the concept that EAGLES would be released into my locality in the coming Summer months.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiring the pens view.</td></tr>
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In preparation for the birds arrival the NPWS (National parks and wildlife service) constructed holding pens complete with a artificial nest which composed of a ply sheet lined with moss and boxed off to avoid any accidents. This provided the birds with some form of home comforts with an additional level of shelter. The pens also had a wide open area which was cris-crossed by burly branches to take the birds weight while they would eventually test their wing muscles in anticipation of their release in the end of August, to coincide with when the chicks would fledge from the nest in the wild. To top the pens off they were divided into at least four separate sections to divide the birds into smaller groups and even had fist sized holes covered over with a sleeve or leg from an old pair of pants! to ensure that the birds would not associate people with food as this would cause problems for the birds in the later years. The location of these pens remain a secret but are firmly in the heart of Killarney National park.</div>
In the early years of the project the birds were fed an exquisite mixture of 'surf n turf' which consisted of Red Deer hearts among other parts and the remains of Cod, Monk fish and other fish depending on availability. But this varied diet turned to mainly fish orientated menu in the latter years of the project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff7bhaNCQEGB8lMjs6yT79cFZ5G5hjWaXbDaF3dzn8VP2_NfMxbURw_0i914jicPPLOxdQTz_PL5In4ISY_e4R4d5ZZEcL1cAY2RbEw41QVIZ0s0v9MxjLgce3txfXwZn0lJpltRgXB8/s1600/WTE+pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff7bhaNCQEGB8lMjs6yT79cFZ5G5hjWaXbDaF3dzn8VP2_NfMxbURw_0i914jicPPLOxdQTz_PL5In4ISY_e4R4d5ZZEcL1cAY2RbEw41QVIZ0s0v9MxjLgce3txfXwZn0lJpltRgXB8/s1600/WTE+pair.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Two chicks on a makeshift nest.</span><br />
As already mentioned the birds would be released by mid to late August to coincide with when a wild chick would leave the nest. This is due largely to the fact that it takes the entire Summer for each chick to build up enough strength in their wings to support their body weight during flight.<br />
In the first year of the project 15 chicks were taken from various nests around the Norwegian coastline and surrounding islands. Each chick or eaglet was taken from nests that housed two chicks, a harsh reality in the natural world is if things come in twos or more it simply is a strategy to ensure that at least one individual survives especially in predatory birds where the larger sibling uses it's size to have the first go at any food brought into the nest, this results in the smaller chick becoming more feeble and unable to take in enough food which results in the bird being unable to fend for itself, so in a sense because one young bird was removed from per availing nest, the likely hood of both chicks surviving was greatly heightened!. A key concept during this phase was to maintain a 50/50 ratio between males and the larger females to avoid any future issues of having too many birds of the same gender as this would be of no use during the wild breeding stage of the project.<br />
The chicks were kept in a converted Norwegian barn during the collecting stage and once the quota of birds was reached they were carefully loaded into individual dog carriers and flown to Kerry on the projects own chartered plane!<br />
Once in the Kingdom the birds were met in 2007 with a placard of farmers showing their opposition towards the project at Kerry airport with the unwarranted fear that these large birds would pluck young lambs off of the counties countryside. But beyond this minor negativity the birds were ushered to the park in a convoy of vehicle and aptly placed in their new home in anticipation of their eventual freedom in the following months.<br />
I will follow on from this with the further trials and tribulations of this captivating project and my own experiences with these mighty birds over the past few years.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-46020226882618373822014-03-05T15:40:00.000-08:002014-03-05T15:40:20.134-08:00My Summer office Over the course of the year I make my way back West to Valentia island's Bray Head as soon as a decent spell of settled weather rolls in from the Atlantic, this combined with the sudden influx of large Whale activity in Dingle bay from mid-July running through to September in recent years that has been recorded from both Slea head and the Blasket islands further incentives me to intensify my efforts. This in a way dilutes the information obtained from the site as it is only consistent for some section of the year but due to the distance involved in travelling back to Valentia, I tend to go back when both of the above are in sync as it's better to observe some Cetacean activity rather than none at all!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16nKGJZulFKRIyAbQD2ztcBBbzLNBXtpwvPkRr6ZkXNLcv4Z_Iky8BWs4dhjZfDUqO-6cdbJN3j2H0NNvzDtt3Fuh990l0zNlUgRzcNdqEvtQeEb4mlCgXcaq176qGPpaJDnt1WN7nQI/s1600/ms+bray+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16nKGJZulFKRIyAbQD2ztcBBbzLNBXtpwvPkRr6ZkXNLcv4Z_Iky8BWs4dhjZfDUqO-6cdbJN3j2H0NNvzDtt3Fuh990l0zNlUgRzcNdqEvtQeEb4mlCgXcaq176qGPpaJDnt1WN7nQI/s1600/ms+bray+head.jpg" height="241" width="400" /></a><br />
<span id="goog_990468123"><span style="color: black;">Bray head is the western most point of Valentia island this prominent piece of landmass juts out into the North Atlantic and is flanked from the North and South by two varying seascapes, the outer Dingle bay to the North and by the highest cliffs in the county followed by the steeped sided Puffin island further out to the South. Immediately in front of the headland however is perhaps the most iconic sight in the country, the twin (although not identical!) rocky pinnacle peaks known as the Skellig islands.</span><br />
I chose Bray Head as a vantage point to spot Cetaceans because from the Southern half of Dingle bay right along the coastline until you reach West Cork there is a massive "black spot" as I call it where virtually nothing is known about the Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises that frequent and use these productive waters. There had been a few watches conducted from Bray head in the years running up to my own watches and these proved worthwhile as various species were recorded over the years even though they were not continued.</span><br />
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For those of you who have never ventured up to the head, the 40 minute walk over the continuously inclined dirt road is well worth tackling as once you finally reach the Bray head tower, in my view you are rewarded with the finest view in Ireland due to the spectacular features as mentioned above.<br /> All of my sightings are officially validated via the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group's sighting scheme where they are put into the countries online database, by doing this I contribute some data towards a scheme that over time will allow us to piece together the movement's and uses Cetaceans have of the South-West coastline of Kerry, even though I set out deliberately to locate these marine mammals if you by chance spot what you deem to be either a Whale, Dolphin or Porpoise you can too add to our ever growing bank of information by filling out your own sighting report on the site.<br />
I will delve into how I've located Cetaceans from land in my next post and go through why this past year has been my most productive to date.<br />
Watch this space.<br />
SeanAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702463397952042089.post-67939419280123844502014-03-02T14:26:00.003-08:002014-03-02T14:26:50.443-08:00And so it begins..Hello<br />
My name is Sean O'Callaghan and I have created this blog to achieve a very simple goal, to reveal Kerry's wilder side (hint in the title!). The county of Kerry is famous for it's sporting triumphs and stunning landscape's which has made this rugged area of the west coast world famous with it's varied vistas ranging from rolling mountains to jagged coastal cliffs with golden miles of beaches in between, but amongst all of this natural splender a major component has been overlooked almost entirely... the species that live on and off the landscapes we are so familiar with.<br />
I am currently in the build up to my leaving cert and throughout my school years I have only once been exposed to this counties multitude of species other than the stereotypical "nature table" which would consist of various leaves and the odd feather that most teachers wouldn't have a clue whats on display other than Oak leaves, Horse Chestnuts etc. But coming back to the time I was directly taught about the wild animals of Kerry, it was second class in primary and we had our own nature copy, our lessen consisted of us taking down a brief overview of the animal we were looking at which would include it's diet, where it lived, what it looked like and so on, we always finished with my favourite part.. drawing the animal and although both our attempts and the teachers were crude at best, the fact that I had an image to go with the information we had meticulously taken down and for me this made the lessen come to life and feel "real". Now even though this direct approach did introduce us to a somewhat unknown subject matter our teacher never strayed from the woodland critters that most of us would think of when the word 'Wildlife' is mentioned these included Badgers, Hedgehogs, Foxes, Bats and the animal synonymous with Killarney, the Red Deer.Now bear in mind my primary school was literally across the road from the countries oldest and most varied wild areas Killarney National Park we never once were brought on a "world famous" 'nature walk' we had become familiar with as a means to have an easy day while we were brought around a convents grounds when we were younger!. The teacher's tendency to select these animals limited our understanding of the species that share this county with us, but to be fair perhaps the most interesting species that frequent the county have only been noted in the past number of years, these are of course our marine-mega fauna be it the second largest fish in the world the Basking Shark or the largest of all animal's the Cetaceans (Whales,Dolphins and Porpoises) we have only begun to scratch the surface and so we live in very interesting times, since the eighties the only Cetacean associated with the county was Fungi, an adult Bottlenose dolphin now world famous with his own bustling tourist industry, but now the county is beginning to become known as a Whale hotspot with a year on year increase in large Whale activity around our inshore waters as our Whale population increases n the wake of the worldwide ban of commercial whaling, Humpback Whale numbers have increased greatly off of Kerry with Fin Whale's (the second largest living animal) following in toe.<br />
So to improve the general public's knowledge of our wild neighbours and to boost the counties reputation on these wild matters in the wake of the deplorable actions of certain individuals in respect to the spate of White Tailed Sea Eagle poisonings in recent years and the callous case involving the Grey and Common Seal beheadings the county and it's people as a whole are and have been unfairly tainted with indiscriminate criticism which is mostly undeserving. <br />
This initiative will be a long term project of mine to both uncover a wild side all too often overlooked in the county and as a basis to show those outspoken and undisclosed critics of the county that we are not all mindless killers like they think, when in fact we value our natural heritage more than most we just don't express it as others would. I will achieve my aims through the use of my own knowledge of Cetaceans, White Tailed Sea Eagles, Killarney National Park and other areas I know well, I will also feature videos of the counties wild landscapes and inhabitants via youtube and in time I hope to build up a circle of experts to explore their own specific fields to add a varied depth on my future website which I hope will encompass all aspects of Kerry's truly Wilder Side.<br />
Thanks for taking the time to read this, more will follow<br />
SeanAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16563352337936873102noreply@blogger.com0