Ardmore, Co Waterford

Ardmore Bay, Co.Waterford

A few weeks ago we went down to Ardmore for a weekend, it’s such an amazing place.

There were a couple of Med Gulls on the bay

There's a lovely circular cliff walk. A must, even on a misty morning.

Herring Gull on rock.

Yawning Herring Gull?

Late night last night.

Gannets flying by

Gannet

Some of the cliff walk around Ardmore

To the left we saw something which looked like a crane (not the bird), an actual metal crane

Apparently it was an old Crane Ship called Samson

‘Samson’ wrecked at Ardmore Head, County Waterford during a storm in
1987. Samson was a floating crane which was under tow from Liverpool to Malta when
the tow line broke. She is still an impressive sight with the crane still upright and can
easily accessed by taking a short walk along the cliff path from Ardmore village.

The area around the wreck is really popular with divers as there’s lots of other wreckages in the sea near the crane.

Linnet in breeding plumage

Linnet - Brilliant red colouring in summer

Another Linnet

Linnet

One of the streaky birds

This bird, I 'think' is a Meadow Pipit, the long hind claws, the streaking at the front, the long beak But I don't know what the black mark is on its breast - anyone?

No birding done in a top spot

This weekend I drove down to An Rinn (or Ring) near Dungarvan in Co.Waterford.

It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.

For some excellent tips on where to go birding around Dungarvan and Ring you better click on this link – Waterford Birds cos I did no decent birding at all!

Even though I had my scope and binoculars with me,  I was with 4 other nonbirders and it wasn’t really a weekend where I wanted to take off for an hour on my own.

So enjoy these pics instead – this weekend we had sunshine, but this place is amazing whatever the weather..

Ring, Co Waterford, Helvick Head in distance.

Dungarvan Bay, Co Waterford.

The sand spit on the left is called the Cunnigar. Last year I walked from the very right of the photo, along the Cunnigar to the very left of the photo.

Photo from last year - Proof I walked to the end! Thats the end of the Cunnigar. Its a long walk.

Back to July 2010, another one of the inlets near Ring. Herring Gull, top right.

Another inlet near Ring, Co Waterford.

Here I saw a Cormorant flying across

and 4 Gannets

On the rock on the right

I saw a Rock Pipit.

And to be honest, I didn’t get to see much else.

There were loads of House Martins and Swallows flying around nearly constantly, plus we heard a Song Thrush at dusk each night. Saw some House Sparrows and Greenfinches, Starlings, Herring Gulls, LBBacked Gulls and some Kittiwakes, but other than that I didn’t see or hear anything unusual.

That doesn’t mean its not there though, just look at the link I gave at the start of the post.

Go see for yourself, its well worth the drive.

All I’d say is if you do drive down to Ring/Dungarvan, do yourself a favour and take the N9, N10 (Kilkenny) and then the N25 and get there in 2hrs 15 mins instead of driving down the N11 and getting there in 3 hrs 30 mins.