Rosslare via Our Lady’s Island - 5 June 2023

5 June 2023 - Rosslare via Our Lady’s Island

Whilst looking for a rubbish bin last night, had a look around the park area. It’s a great space - kids areas, a sensory garden, skateboard park, wildlife pond, football pitch… The first bin I found said there was a €150 fine if general rubbish was dumped. I went out later and found a big wheelie bin - with no restrictions!

I’d had a bit of a headache for a few hours, so went to bed early - however, turned into a migraine - freezing cold, boiling hot, was sick - and generally didn’t sleep too well. Who knows what triggers it. Glad to say it doesn’t happen too often these days.

Tintin isn’t too bad today after parting company with his bike yesterday - just a bit sore…

We both went for a walk around the park this morning. Best forecast ever today - on our last full day in Ireland!

We were a bit concerned that a dog had been left in a car nearby - windows opened a little - but the man was gone for at least 30/40 minutes. Went over to the cafe to see if he knew whose car it was - he didn’t seem that concerned. A couple with their own dogs came, the lady even tried the handles on the car! Eventually the owner who had been jogging around the park came back - the lady gave him short shrift about leaving his dog (she said she helps out with RSPCA), and he mumbled about having taken the dog for a walk already, and would take him again. I’m just pleased he returned before we left! And the seemingly unconcerned man came back to check too.

We serviced Dave - best Aire yet with a sensible easy to drive over drain! Tintin drove today, as I’m not at optimum (!), plus he likes driving - and last drive in Ireland and all that…

About an hour later we arrived, after a smooth drive on the motorway! Plan A was for Rosslare Strand. However, bank holiday, and nowhere to park - there was just one car abandoned where we could have parked - so just jumped out to take a couple of photos. Plan B about 20 minutes drive away was much better anyway! It’s a bird reserve at Our Lady’s Island - which is also a pilgrimage place.

It was a lovely little walk - so many swans! Only a few cygnets though.

We also saw our first sedge warbler.

Quite a few meadow pipets.

As for the terns - well, could have been Sandwich, Arctic, Common or Roseate - they look similar - and we couldn’t get close enough photos!

Dean went up for a quick fly, but remained high up above.

I put out some bread - we had black headed gulls and rooks fighting in front of us! Saw the rook feeding a youngster afterwards too.

We’re due to go to the pub for our last night, and Tintin’s last pint of the real black stuff! - and then up at stupid o’clock to check in at Rosslare for 6am Stena ferry tomorrow.

As it’s all just a ferry from here to Fishguard, more driving, and then a ferry from Portsmouth to Guernsey - this will be our last blog for a while.

Thanks for reading - and we’ll probably do it all again in September 🙂