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THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS and ADVISERS DURING April, 2009
Eric Dempsey, Nicola Dunphy, Robert Enright, Chris Evans, Shane Farrell, John Fox, Kieran Grace, Mir Harris, Michael Keating, Aidan Kelly, Paul Kelly, Brian Keogh, Noel Keogh, Dermot Mc Cabe,Coilin Mac Louchlainn, Cian Merne, Gerry Power, Heather Quinn, Emmett Rees, Robert Vaughan
The named authors hold the copyright for all photographs published on this website. Authors permission must be sought for copying, publishing or reproduction for any purpose other than for personal archives.
Remember to record migrants on www.birdtrack.net. As an indication of the usefulness of BirdTrack data, you can view a list of species recorded for any given location: http://blx1.bto.org/birdtrack/anon-portal.jsp.
The Atlas work has now started again recording breeding birds. Be sure to
enter your data to the Atlas on the link below.
You will fine very useful information here about the area you visit. Well
worth a few extra minutes at your computer!
http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/taking_part/index.htm
30 April, 2009
5 Swifts over Tolka Park, Drumcondra. MH29 April, 2009
3 Crossbills seen at Shankill this evening. KG Buzzard at the Cherrywood exit on the m50 yesterday evening. Down the Dodder there was 1 Dipper today, 3 Blackcaps, a Treecreeper and a few Chiffers were the best in Bushy Park.RV28 April, 2009
Immature Iceland Gull at Balbriggan this evening making its way towards Swords. AK Buzzard was seen over FitzSimon’s Wood, Sandyford, at 2pm also 10+ Blackcaps, 15+ Willow Warblers, 4+ Chiffchaffs, 10+ Redpolls and a Raven was also present . CMac L27 April, 2009
Waxwings still about with 108 seen today on Dolphin Rd, Rialto. RV At the Strawberry Beds 6 Chiffchaff and 7 Blackcaps singing, and 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Buzzard soaring. Also Sand Martins showing interest in the nest holes in the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park.CE
Waxwings in Rialto today. Oisin O' Brannagain26 April 2009
Osprey seen over Aughrim, Co Wicklow. A Cuckoo also heard in the area.ER At Kilcoole were 6 late male Wigeon, a Water Rail, a single Golden Plover in summer plumage, 4 Whimbrels, 23 Sandwich Terns and 8 Little Terns. A "brown" Merlin chased a Skylark while no attempt by the Lark to dive for cover, and indeed it kept singing in the short gaps between the Merlin's attempts to catch it. Finally, the Merlin gave up and switched its attentions to a Swallow.There was quite a good trickle of Swallows and Sand Martins northwards over the marshes at Kilcoole...and a couple of Sedge Warblers were singing in the reeds.OM
Osprey over Aughrim, Co Wicklow. Emmett Rees
Swifts have arrived – 1 at Kilcoole and 1 over Bray head today. CM 10 Swallows in a chaotic group flew around Temple Bar this afternoon. LB Did you know that The Central Bank have put up a nest box for the raptors in the area! At least we presume its for the raptors......!25 April, 2009
Adult Little Gull in Swords today. AK24 April, 2009
40 Waxwings at St James Hospital. MH20 April, 2009
A Sparrowhawk is the latest raptor to make a regular appearance in Temple Bar surprising inner city residents today as it devoured a member of the small House Sparrow population in the area. REMore beauty from the Dodder. John Fox
Sunday 19 April, 2009 Just your average day on the Dodder! Take a look at these photos!
Dipper and Kingfisher above Eric Dempsey.
Kingfisher on the Dodder. Shay ConnollySaturday 18 April, 2009
The Tolka Branch trip to Monaghan fulfilled all expectations with exciting displays from our target birds and some! First up was a fabulous aerial courtship display by a male Hen Harrier attempting to impress 3 females. 2 Buzzards in the air at the same time contributed to the raptorous excitement!! On the moorland we were lucky to see the normally elusive Red Grouse and a Cuckoo was calling in the mid distance. Other summer migrants included numerous Swallows, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. On our way back we stopped at Ashbourne Rugby Club where 2 Short-Eared owls were showing well in the evening sunlight. Another inspiring Tolka trip on a fabulous sunny spring day.
Red Grouse and Willow Warbler below. Eric Dempsey
Hen Harriers below. John Fox
Short-Eared Owl seen on the Tolka trip. Nicola Dunphy
17 April, 2009
3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Ruff, 1 Red-Throated Diver ( this bird has been here for some time and may have a damaged wing) at Swords today. GP 2 Eider ducks seen briefly off Bremore Point this evening.AK16 April, 2009
7 Waxwings at Brandon Rd, Drimnagh. RV14 April, 2009
Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling at Ballinafagh, Co Kildare. SF 3 Ruff and 2 Spotted Redshanks at Swords this evening. AK, JF2 of the 3 Ruff at Swords. Photo John Fox
Easter Sunday, 12 April, 2009
A pair Swallows this morning dive bombing a Sparrowhawk over North Brunswick Street early this morning!. DMcC Between Anglers Rest and Motorway 6 Chiffchaff singing. 5 Blackcap. 2 Willow warblers,1 Buzzard flew low over the road. At the Phoenix Park, looking back towards the Strawberry Beds a Buzzard soaring very high. At the Magazine Fort 3 Sand Martins and several Swallows.CESaturday 11 April, 2009
A beautiful sunny spring day in Dublin with an unusual sighting of a Buzzard over the Bull and Shelbourne Rd moving south west at midday and being helped along by a corvid.SF, LB On the Sutton side of Howth Head there were 50 + Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, 5 Swallows, 1 Wheatear, 10 Sandwich Terns, 2 Crossbills in the Pines above the Martello tower . 2 White Wagtails on the salt marsh at the Bull also 11 Wheatears, 3 Swallows,1 Sand Martin, 7 Sandwich Terns, 7 Willow Warblers.SF Nice views of singing Blackcap at the m50 roundabout Ballymun this evening from 6.30pm till 9.30pm.MK
10 April, 2009
Bonaparte's Gull at Swords this morning also 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank moulting into summer plumage, 3 Buzzards and 2 Ruff . RV 9 Sandwich Terns at Malahide- Portmarnock. 6 singing Willow Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs at Ballinafagh Co Kildare. LB8 April, 2009
Male Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tinahely, Co Wicklow. Photo below . John Fox
And we thought winter was over. Not for the Brambling in Portmarnock ( see Dave;s photo below )and the 40 Waxwings in Inchicore. Also the Iceland Gull is still around Heuston Station. PK A touch of Spring however with singing Willow Warblers in Shankill and Killiney. RV KG
Brambling today in Portmarnock. Dave Dillon5 April, 2009
Short-eared Owl seen over the Bull heading for St Anne's this afternoon. SF At Swords, 3 Ruff including displaying pair also 7 Buzzards and a Dark-bellied Brent. RV4 April, 2009
Sandwich Tern just south of Arklow at Kilmichael Point, Co. Wexford this morning, also present was a Sand Martin.ER
Sandwich Tern . Arklow. Emmett Rees
Dipper on the Dodder,. Shay Connolly3 April, 2009
By now you should all have seen the Short-eared owls in Ashbourne? Waxwings (20) still in Inchicore. PK At the Poolbeg this evening in misty conditions a Manx Shearwater flew past & an ad. Ring-billed Gull was at the outflow with c200 Kittiwakes. On the sandbar south of Irishtown there was a 3rd summer type Glaucous Gull and 3 Sandwich Terns.NK.
That time of year already? Summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit. John Fox
Our friend with a Rook. John Fox
Eric
Nicola2 April, 2009
2 Woodpeckers heard drumming in Tomnafinogue Co Wicklow. Also present in the woods were several singing Stock Doves, Chiffchaffs Song and Mistle thrushes and a single Willow Warbler. Along the Avoca river just outside Arklow, there was a minumum of 3 Red Kites, 6 Buzzards and a pair of Sparrowhawks. Another 2 Red Kites were seen along the main Dublin/Wexford road a few miles north of Arklow. At Blackhill there were 8 Crossbills along with several singing Siskin, a willow warbler and several Chiffchaffs, 7 Buzzards circling together in the valley below was some sight. A Swallow also flew over singing away. At Kilcoole there was 1 Swallow, a few Whimbrel and the Green- winged Teal was just south of the breaches showing very well. At Ashbourne the 3 Short- eared Owls eventually showed very well again this evening from shortly after 630 pm. RV 5 Gannets and 1 Wheatear seen at the Baily Lighthouse to-day. A pair of Siskins continue to feed daily on the peanut feeder in Heather's garden in Howth. HQ. 1 Chiffchaff at Rogerstown today.BK At the Punchestown Sand Pits, Naas, Co. Kildare; 4 pairs of Coots, 2 pairs of displaying Lapwing along with an unattached flock of 6 others, one Buzzard being mobbed by a large number of crows.SO@B
Chiffchaff. Rogerstown. Brian Keogh
1 April, 2009
3 Short -Eared owls put in an appearance, a buzzard, 2 sparrowhawks and 2 swallows were all in the rugby club area in Ashbourne. RV a single Swallow seen flying over silloge golf course this morning at 10.30 beside the airport.also two Buzzards soaring together over harristown bus depot in same area. MK30 March,2009
2 Swallows at Arklow train station this morning and also 3 Waxwings on the southside of Arklow.ER
Short-Eared Owl. Eric DempseySunday 29 March, 2009
4 Buzzards soaring together between the bridges at Strawberry Beds. A little interaction and small display dives. 2 Sparrowhawks soaring near them as well.CE 6 Red-Throated Divers at Kilmichael Point, south of Arklow today.ER 2 Short eared Owls present in Ashbourne at teatime today.AR One Redwing in Inchicore . IS
Above and below:Rock Pipit "littoralis". Howth. Bill Quinn
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