Category Archives: County Mayo

The end of 2020

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And so we reach the end of 2020. A challenging year on so many levels. Usually we try and get a beach walk in on the 31st December or the 1st of January. But knowing we were heading back into a new covid 19 level five lockdown today (our highest level lockdown here in Ireland), which includes a 5km travel restriction – we made the most of yesterday and went to Ross Beach.

  • Ross Beach, Co Mayo

A visit to the beach, no matter what time of year, brings cheer. The tide was out and the low winter light perfect.


I want to thank all those who have stopped by over the last year, particularly those that have taken time to comment. I know I haven’t been as good as other years in reading and commenting and I will try to do more in 2021. I do value this wordpress community, the support, inspiration and kindness you all offer.

I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I hope 2021 brings you some magic.

Autumn Walk

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We love to go for walks and I have many to choose from, for this week’s lens-artist photo challenge – photo walk. I decided to share a recent walk along the little roads near Ballintubber, Co Mayo. The first thing that was obvious was all the berries.

Some end of summer honeysuckle still remained.

  • Honeysuckle

We were also saw some geese flying overhead.

  • Geese

Curious cattle in the fields.

  • Cattle

And some hoverfiles.

  • Hoverfily

And butterflies.

  • Butterfly

And finally enjoyed the lovely views.

Wild Atlantic waves

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Inspiration comes from so many places. For me though nature is my muse. It can be wild flora or fauna or just wild places. A couple of weekends ago we had to opportunity to visit the coast on a very windy day. While it wasn’t cold the strong wind meant warm hats were required and raincoats, to keep the worst of the chill out. The waves were awe inspiring. The power of them electrifying. I could have stood there and watched them all day.

Cross Beach. Mullet Peninsula

The gulls appear almost to be playing in the wind – enjoying it’s strength and force as much as we were.

These small sanderling (photo below) were just looking for their dinner though, and seemed oblivious to the waves thundering around them.

Sanderling

And the greatest surprise of all was this frog. A stream, swelled with recent rainwater and therefore gushing down the strand had obviously swept this poor hapless amphibian onto the shore. Needless to say we rescued it – for it would surely have become dinner for a hungry gull or at least been washed into the sea by the next big wave. And we returned it hopefully to the safety of the dunes further up shore.

Stranded frog

An awe-inspiring day. And humbling to see the power of nature.

Waves

Tuscan blue

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The Belmullet Peninsula on the west of Ireland may not be Tuscany, but under the sun it can be a little bit of paradise too. We had the chance to enjoy a sunny Sunday there recently.

  • Sailing

The Peninsula lies on the north western tip of County Mayo, and is part of the Wild Atlantic Way.

  • Looking across to Achill Island from tip of the Peninsula

Farming and fishing are important. And while there are quite a lot of houses many are holiday homes.

  • Pier at Blacksod Point

There are many long and sandy beaches to explore……………………….

  • beach

Plenty of water to have some fun in.

……………..with only a few islands between you and the wide Atlantic ocean.

  • Looking out to Inishkea islands

Stunning scenery all around.

  • Looking across to Achill Island