Mute Swans at Castle Ross

These beautiful Mute Swans (mature and immature) might be from a Pennsylvania lake, but this photo was taken at a marshy inlet of Lough Leane, the largest of the three lakes in Killarney (Co. Kerry, Ireland). In fact, Mute Swans, natives of Europe and Asia, were introduced, in the 1800s, to this country for their beauty. And you can see why.

I saw this graceful pair near the shore when visiting Castle Ross, one of hundreds of stone "tower houses" built by the Normans during the middle ages. Often during my visit to Ireland I saw Mute Swans. These birds are highly territorial and so a small lake will support only one mated pair. The parents will raise their chicks, called cygnets, until young adults and then send them away to find their own territories. However, Mute Swans will colonize in larger lakes. Lough Leane, which is a huge lake (five miles long by two miles wide) supported many colonies.

Check back soon for more birds of Ireland!

Till then . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

Pied Wagtail

Before traveling to Ireland, I read a book called Shore Birds of Ireland (text by Jim Wilson; images by Mark Carmody), which bestowed honorary shorebird status to this garden bird who "will sometimes feed on insects on seaweed." The authors conveyed the honor rightly so, I think, because wherever water met shoreline, I found this spunky white and black bird scouting. In fact, so often did I see (and photograph) the Pied Wagtail that I found a friend in him and felt less a stranger.

Of course, the Atlantic Ocean now separates us, so I must confine my encounters to online sources like British Garden Birds--

http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/piedwagtail.htm

--which describes the differences in plumage between males and females and provides various photos. From the descriptions provided I think (but am far from sure) that the "seaweed" wagtail is a female and the "water" wagtail a male. But why not check out the resource for yourself and decide what you think?

Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne Butler

The Jackdaw: First bird to greet me in Ireland

Driving from the Shannon Airport (on the River Shannon), I noticed a range of shorebirds wading in that river's estuary. Trying to get a knack for driving on the "wrong" side of the road--not to mention the roundabouts--I didn't take the opportunity to see what waders dotted the not too distant landscape. Instead, I kept my hands gripped to the steering wheel and eyes glued to the road and its signs written in both English and Gaelic.

I didn't dare look anywhere else other than to dart appreciative glances at the lovely landscape through which I drove. Not until arriving at my first destination, the village of Kinvara in Co. Galway, did I take a deep breath and open my eyes to the surrounding sights.

Parked opposite Castle Dunguaire, a small castle known as a "tower house," I stopped to look up at the ruins of stone wall and there saw a shiny black bird with pale blue eyes looking back at me. Noting my interest, he withdrew his head farther into the hole but not so far that I couldn't catch a photo of his handsome face and pretty blue eyes.

Later in the week, when at an Irish pub, I asked a couple local men what bird in Ireland I should choose as my main bird character (for book 3) in the trilogy Of the Wing. One gentlemen was quite insistent that it be the jackdaw "because he's a good thief." I must say the quality of being a thief is an attractive one to me for my bird character. Too, I've read that jackdaws are good mimics, even of human speech, yet another intriguing characteristic.

Hmm . . . I think I'm convinced.

Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

Back from Ireland: First up--the Black-headed Gull

I've been away from this blog for well over two weeks--during my trip to Ireland--so it's high time I share my "catch" of birds (photographed or seen) from that Emerald Isle, beginning with the Black-headed Gull.

Despite evidence to the contrary, this is a photograph of a Black-headed Gull, though here he sports his winter plumage. Read more here:

http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=61039#

I took this image of said gull in Lough Leane, one of three beautiful adjoining lakes in Killarney, County Kerry. And throughout my trip (to several different counties), I saw him again and again.

Traveling to Ireland, I've added more birds to my "life list," that being a list of all the birds I've ever seen and identified. I'm also checking each "new" bird against those listed in my favorite bird web site All About Birds to learn if these are birds I might also see here in the USA. Thus, of the Black-headed Gull, I've learned the following: "A common gull of the Old World, Black-headed Gull is a rare, but regular visitor to eastern North America."

Check back soon for more photos of both birds and Ireland!

Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne