Every new year we have a sort of family tradition to go to the beach. Ross Beach on the north-west coast of County Mayo is one of our favourites. It was a bit dull and damp. Wind and rain were forecast for later in the day and as you can see from the photograph below, the sea was already displaying some impressive waves.
I took some photographs of some of the sea birdlife as I continue with my 12 days of Christmas wild things. The oystercatchers seemed undisturbed by the wave crashing behind them.
There were also some delicate sanderling. You wonder how such small, beautiful birds can withstand the Atlantic storms, but these are obviously tough little things. They are winter visitors to Ireland and most are of Siberian origin.
And finally some Brent geese (light or pale-bellied). I love seeing these winter visitors from high-Arctic Canada. They were drinking some fresh water that was coming over the sand from a small stream.
Branta bernicla hrota
A lovely, exhilarating day.
Murtagh's Meadow 
What a wild weather day… the wind looks fierce! I think the beach is the one place that I don’t mind what the weather is like… it is always beautiful.
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So true. The beach is great any day 🙂
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A beach is much better during the winter months.
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There are certainly a lot less people. Though it was a bit cold for a swim, though we people people who had swum and we’re surfing 🙂
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Your photographs evoke the sound and smells of the beach.
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It was certainly a loud day with the waves crashing on the shore.
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Thank you for sharing your wild, I am living vicariously now I am stuck indoors with Covid.
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I hope you are only experiencing mild symptoms and you make a quick recovery
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Beautiful Winter images Karina and so lovely to see sanderlings and Brent geese visiting too 💚
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It is certainly a real treat to see them
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These are beautiful – light is special during winter. Love oystercatchers!
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Yes oystercatchers are really striking birds
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I can feel the wind in my hair and the cobwebs blowing away 🙂
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Yes it was one of those days 🙂
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