Possible Corncrake

River Shannon at Shannonbridge, Co Offaly.

This weekend I missed out on the birding weekend in Carlingford with Eric and drove over to Kiltormer in Galway for my friend’s 40th birthday do. I headed off early to stop off at Shannonbridge first, hoping to hear or even see a Corncrake as Eric’s book suggests for the area.

Bridge going over the river Shannon = Shannonbridge.

I saw Swifts, Swallows, House martins and Sand Martins here. It felt good to be able to tell the difference between the four of them without needing to refer to my guide anymore. Got to admit that when I see the white rump I imagine white bum and associate it with the fact that the Housemartins (band from Hull) were all white and so had white bums. One day I’m hoping I won’t need this imagery to remember the difference between House and Sand martins.

Along from the river I found a lovely walk over a stile.

Along this walk I saw a Goldcrest really clearly, was happy to recognise the song too before I saw it. Also heard a far off Cuckoo, plenty of Blackbirds, Tits, Chaffinches, Wood Pigeons, a really loud Robin, Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush.

I went for quite a way along this walk until I felt nervous I was on private property (even though I hadn’t crossed any fences) so headed back to the bridge. I took another little turn up at the top and amazingly before I knew it, I caught a glance of what I think was a Corncrake. It was either a Corncrake or a young pheasant, but I didn’t see any adult pheasants (though I did hear some) and the way it skuttled off I felt I hadn’t seen before.

It must have seen me seeing it and skuttled off really quickly along a wall and was out of sight in about 10 seconds and I didn’t see it again, but I really think that was my first Corncrake sighting.

It was getting late and so I headed off to T’s Do in Kiltormer.

The next morning with a few hours sleep, I set off for the Clonfert Callows to see if I could get a definite sighting of a Corncrake.

Very impressive gateway to an estate in Kiltormer, Co Galway

Unusual statue things at the top - I'll ask T the history of this estate.

Chaffinch (very fake looking) singing from the top of the entrance.

The area surrounding Kiltormer was lovely, going to have to ask T if we can spend a day walking around.

After about 200 wrong turns I finally saw Clonfert Cathedral and realised I was on the right track.

From this bridge, Eric's book says that if you can be here at dusk you will hear (and probably see) Woodcock. It was about 2pm.

I've been to the curry mile in Manchester and the golden mile in Blackpool (cos I'm a classy bird) but I'm not sure what Golden Mile has just ended here.

Willow Warbler singing away.

Confert Callows - this sign is in the middle of a road which is right on the edge of the Callows. You should walk the whole road for all the sights and sounds.

The Callows, with the power station in the distance. I listened really hard all day but didn't once hear a Corncrake.

River Shannon in the distance.I could hear a Cuckoo in the trees in the fields the other side of the road, I didn't see it though.

The bushes and reeds along the road were heaving with birds. This is the back of a ...

Reed Bunting - with food for chicks.

Also heard this fella before I saw him. He was giving it socks.

Sedge Warbler, Clonfert Callows, Co Galway.

For such a small bird he had such a powerful song - amazing to hear so clearly and to see him in action.

Eventually I had to head back, I could have stayed much longer and would definitely like to go back here. it was cool to hear the Cuckoo so clearly, I was sure I was going to get my first sighting, but it didn’t happen.

I got this photo of the female and male bullfinch back at the bridge where I stopped again just in case there was a chance of a Woodcock sighting, but again, not today.

Female and male Bullfinches but no Woodcock back at the bridge before heading home.