Friday 22 November 2013

Birding at Floodgates and Killynether Wood

Last Monday my birding group decided to go to the Floodgates at Newtownards which is 5 miles from my home, and once again the tide was out!  Even though, there were a lot of birds and we were able to see them well through the telescope.  There was Curlew, Black tailed Godwit, flocks of Lapwing, Redshank, flocks of Dunlin, Turnstone, Gulls, 1 Greenshank, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron and about 30 Pintail ducks.  However the best birds seen were the 500+ Golden Plover. At the end of this post I videoed them lifting off the mudflats.
 
 
Golden Plover
 
 
These were the congregation of Golden Plover.
 
 
Then we decided to go to Killynether Wood and on the way we saw a collection of birds in a field.  So we parked the cars, got the telescope out and discovered there were about 200 + Black tailed Godwit with at least the same amount of mostly Black headed Gulls.  Can you even see them in this shot?
 

Again, I managed to get them on video taking flight.
 
 
 
At last we arrived at Killynether Wood.  It was a beautiful sunny day and we were so glad we came here as there still were many trees showing their
autumn glory.
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In Killynether Wood we followed the path to the rear of the old Walled Garden into the woodland. The path ahead passes impressive beech trees on the right, through mixed woodland and then climbs through a hazel wood. From here, we followed the path before descending through the beech wood to finish at the car park once more.
We stopped for coffee and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings of this former estate woodland which is the result of planting in the mid nineteenth century.

We saw, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Rook and Jackdaws.

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 


Some of the bird watching group as we were nearing our cars before heading off to see if we could find the Yellowhammers. (we didn't).  However one our way, we stopped to see these horses below as they were galloping up and down this field.

 
 

I decided to take a video and while I was doing this my bird group spied something else and indeed it was the reason the horses were acting this way.  In tomorrow's post, all will become clear when I show you what we found! 

I wonder if you can guess what it will be?

The video can be accessed at
 
 
If there is a black space below,click it and the video will appear.
 


Once again I hope you enjoyed coming out with us today to see the birds around my area.

Many thanks visiting and leaving comments on my posts yesterday.

48 comments:

  1. A superb congregation of Plover. They are beautiful in the sunshine.
    Now to the quiz. The horses spotted an elephant.

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    1. HI Adrian Well you did give me a great laugh this morning at your answer. NOT AN ELLEPHNAT! However,many thanks for the laugh and comment.

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  2. How amazing to see a plague of plovers... And the autumnal colour is very special too. Thank you.

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  3. HI EC Glad yu liked the plovers and thanks for comment.

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  4. That is a crazy amount of birds! A telescope would definitely be necessary to sort through that mess! :-)

    I'm going to say that the Horses were spooked by... a fox?

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    1. HI Christian Yes it was a fantastic ampun of birds but wecould see them with our bins bit it is awalsy beter and closer using the telescope especially for birders that are not as fmiliar with some species. NO, A FOX IS NOT THE ANSWER! However, thanks for guessing, comments and glad you liked the birds today.

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  5. Amazing video. I love seeing these large flocks of birds taking off. Very cool. Your photos are lovely, the trees are gorgeous. Have a happy weekend!

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  6. HI Eileen I am glad you liked the images and video and thanks for comment.

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  7. Lovely images of the Golden Plover and the Autumn colours glowing in the sunshine Margaret.

    Could it be the owner of those horses turned up with a bag of oats and some carrots?...[;o)
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    or maybe it was the knackers yard wagon driving past on the road? (sorry!)

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    1. Hi Margaret, I've just had a thought...It wasn't an unruly mob of over excited birders, jumping up and down and poking their bino's and scopes over the hedge, that was getting those horses uptight?...lol!...[;o)

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    2. Hi Trevor. Us unruly!!! Never!! you are NOT on the right track! But keep working on it!

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  8. HI Trevor Well I am getting a real laugh today. NO THE OWNER DID NOT TURN UP WITH FOOD FOR THE HORSES NOR WAS THE KNACKERS VAN ON THE ROAD!! As Dick Emery used to say, " You are awful, but I like it!" Anyhow, thanks for your your comments and I am glad you liked the Plovers and Autumn colours. Have a great weekend.

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  9. Wow - they make my Plover flock look TINY! Great video Margaret. Lovely to see those horses all together like that. A herd is what they should be in.

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    1. HI Em They are not wild horses but gald you liked them adn the Plovers. Thanks for comment.

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  10. I love large groups of birds, wonderful shots, great video. Food is my uninspired guess.

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    1. HI Lynn Glad you enjoyed the post adn FOOD IS NOT THE ANSWER but thanks for your guss and comment.

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  11. Love watching the adventures of your bird group, and what fun you must have together. Your video is lovely, and think it is so interesting to watch how birds fly around together in a group... almost like one big body. A wonder they do not have many mid air colisions when someone turns around. Looks as if there is alot of lovely fall colors there also. Our trees are just gorgeous, but a big storm last night and today, so probably leaves will all depart!

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    1. HI Jeanne Glad you liked the birds, video adn autumn coloured trees. Thanks for comment adn have a great weekend.

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  12. A great post Margaret! Very enjoyable photos. Thank you for a lovely start to my day :)

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    1. HI Denise Many thanks for your commenta nd i am glad you enjooyed the post and that is gave you a great start to the day.

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  13. LOVE the colour of the leaves! So many plovers!!

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    1. HI EG Glad you enjoyed the Plovers and the autmn colours and thannks for comment.

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  14. a beautiful area made even more so by the autumn colors.

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    1. HI Tex Glad you liked the area adn autumn colours. Thanks for comment.

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  15. What a bounty of birds! I love stuff like this...so many to take photos of. Love the fall color, too. Ours is pretty much all gone now. I see a rare tree that still has its colorful leaves and wonder why they haven't fallen yet, when most are down on the ground. Our yard is full of maple leaves to be mulched up.

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  16. Hi Mary. This place is a great place for birds and I am glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for comment and don,t work too hard brushing up your leaves.

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  17. Those fall colors were spectacular! Your really got some beautiful shots. I see the horses looking up toward the tree line, so I'll be interested to see what you caught on your video.

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    1. Hi Linda. Your comment is quite apt so watch tomorrow for the answer. Yes the colours this year are great. thanks for comment.

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  18. I looks like you still have some color on your trees! Lovely.

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  19. HI Steve. Glad you liked the colours in the autumn images and thanks for comment

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  20. That fall colour is amazing. I just never get tired of seeing that.

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    1. HI Ruth Glad you liked the autumn colours adn thanks for your comment.

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  21. your images are lovely!! i especially enjoyed seeing all the fall colors and the horse on the move!!

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  22. Those Golden Plover are an amazing sight, Margaret, but I'm really knocked out again by your fabulous images of autumn colours. They're stunning!

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  23. Oh MY, these trees are stunning! I want to go to these places!!! They are my very favorite here today!!!

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  24. Wow- an impressive group of birds- all great shots Margaret!

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  25. Not only did you capture a screen full of Plovers, you captured some beautiful autumn colors as well.

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  26. HI GEORGE, TERRI GINNY, RICHARD, & DEBBIE
    I AM glad you all liked the plovers and autumn colours. MANY THANKS FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS.

    NO ONE YESTERDAY GUESSED WHAT SPOOKED THE HORSES!

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  27. Que de belles photos d'automne et d'oiseaux, merci.

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  28. Amy Merci de votre commentaire. Je suis heureux que vous avez apprécié les oiseaux et les couleurs d'automne.

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  29. Beautiful autumnal images Margaret and an amazing sight to see all those Golden Plover.

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  30. Superb autumnal colours - really beautiful :) Love the golden plovers as well - wonderful to see such a large flock. Great video :)

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  31. From one retired nhs professional, come birder, come photographer, to another .. congratulations on some truly splendid images of autumn colour Margaret. I'm blogging from Spain at the moment .... big road trip and as well as many good birds, the autumn colours up in the Pyrenees were equally impressive!

    Tim @ Timbobaggins Abroad

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  32. You had a beautiful day for your birding and photography Margaret. I enjoyed your video too. Golden Plovers are very special birds.

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  33. You still have gorgeous autumn colours. Here the branches are bare and everything is brown.

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  34. What a nice day you had over there, Golden Plovers, Black-tailed Godwits and the Horses, beautiful images.

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