I parked up at Dun Laoghaire and headed down the steps off the East pier to the old baths where a large flock of mixed gulls were sunning themselves on the rocks and rafting just yards offshore. There were lots of Pipits, Wagtails and other smalls in and around the shrubs and bushes behind me, however it was the flighty behaviour of one of the smalls that caught my attention.
The flighty bird turned out to be a Black Redstart, and soon it became apparent that there were in fact two individuals present. Now you don't get to see Black Redstarts in Ireland too often. We get regular enough visitors most Winters but in very small numbers and always to rocky coastal sites. There are many years when I never manage to catch up on these fantastic birds so to get two at the one site is about as good as it should get.
An hour later and just a mile down the road at Bullock Harbour I was setting up the tripod when another Black Redstart made an appearance on the pier. Three in a day, now that's never happened me before and if previous years are anything to go by unlikely to happen to me again anytime soon.
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| Black Redstart - Dun Laoghaire |
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| Winter colours on show. |
