28 February 2013
Sandymount Strand: the 'regular' adult Ring-billed Gull
was seen at Merrion Gates, Sandymount Strand at 2pm this
afternoon. Also present: 10 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls,
4 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Greenshank, 86+ Sanderling,
24+ Ringed Plover, 33+ Grey Plover, c.210 Knot,
c.560 Bar-tailed Godwit, c.860 Oystercatchers &
c.1000 Dunlin. NTK
26 February 2013
Goldcrest at St Catherines Pk.
Lucan, Dublin (Photo by Liam Kane)
25 February 2013
Swords Estuary: 35 Teal, 1 Greenshank, >400 Brent
Geese, 23 Goldeneye (good views from road), 46 Red-breasted
Merganser and 5 Great-crested Grebe.CD
Phoenix Park (Pond opposite Ordinance Surv. Office): Wood
Duck, Mandarin Duck (2 male 1 female), many Mallard,
6 Coots, 3 Moorhen; plenty of Magpie and Jackdaw
around the pond.VH
24 February 2013
At this rate we will have to have a page dedicated to BOP
dining...
Kestrel at Turvey (Photo by John
Fields)
23 February 2013
Tolka Outing to County
Louth: Highlight of our trip and a first for
almost all of our party of 25, was the Richard's
Pipit which was incredibly busy foraging at
Templetown / Shelling Hill Beach. This is a rare visitor to
Ireland from Siberia and all the more for visiting in the
early Spring.
Dundalk Docks: Despite the snow flurries forecast, a
group of 25 well-layered birders converged at Dundalk Docks to
enjoy the great variety of waders, ducks and geese. Goods
views of a Buzzard patrolling the marshes and being mobbed
by Rooks distracted our wader-watch for a while.
Species seen at the docks were, Lapwing, Curlew, 1 Great-crested
Grebe, Golden Plover with a handful of Grey Plover,
Dunlin, Redshank, 1 Greenshank, Oystercatcher,
Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Little Egret, Brent Geese,
Shelduck, Teal, 3 Common Gull, Black-headed
Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. Cormorants
took up all spaces on the wooden posts in the marshes. Several Woodpigeon
slept in the trees, while a Kestrel hovered over
them. Before hypothermia set in, we decided to head to
Cooley Point...
Cooley Point: on Shelling Hill Beach at Templetown we were
delighted to find the Richard's
Pipit (mentioned above); however, he was not
dining alone. At least 7 Pied Wagtail, a Song
Thrush, Robin, Wren, male and female Stonechats,
and a Meadow Pipit all feasted on the beach's
smörgåsbord. At the tideline, Turnstone, Redshank,
Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover all flitted about for
the best spot after the receding tide. A couple of Curlew
arrived later. Further out to sea, were male and female Red-breasted
Mergansers, 1 Great Northern Diver and 1 Red-throated
Diver, Black Guillemot and several Shags and Cormorants.
Further along the beach Hooded Crows rummaged in the drying
seaweed amongst them a Hybrid Carrion Crow...
Giles Quay: From the car park at Giles Quay we had good views of
approx. 20 Red-breasted Mergansers and a raft of Common
Scoter, and from the Harbour we saw a Great Northern Diver
in the distance...
Soldier's Point: We were disappointed not to gain admittance
to the new hide at Soldier's Point due to it's restricted opening
hours of just 2 hours on a Saturday and therefore had no respite
from the elements. However, a Grey Heron which eyes
bigger than its belly kept us fascinated for a long while (perhaps
we too were hungry and envious it's huge catch). Luckily
when the pair of Goldeneye arrived we soon forgot about the
greedy Heron. Other species seen here were Red-breasted
Mergansers, Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck,
Redshank, Meadow Pipit and Rock Pipit...
Salterstown: We ended our journey at Salterstown and were
treated to extremely close views of Common Scoter in the
low spring tide. Golden Plover, Lapwing and
about 50 Knot were all feeding at the tideline to the
deafening chatter of the multitudinous Oystercatcher.
As the snow flurries turned into a snow shower, 25 satisfied, if
slightly blue, birders jumped into their warm cars and headed back
home...
Many
thanks to all who joined us on our trip to Louth and shared their
time and knowledge with everyone.RD
Botanic Road: 8 a.m. 5 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Blackbirds, 4
Blue Tits and a fly-past of 100 Brent Geese and 1 Grey
Heron.RD
Bull Island: 47 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Red-throated
Diver observed at high tide off Bull Wall. 5 Great-crested
Grebe feeding off beach.CD
22 February 2013
Dun Laoghaire: West Pier - close up views of a resting Black-necked
Grebe at base of pier, seaward side. Large rafts of Great-crested
Grebe further out to sea, at least 35 counted at 11.00hrs.;
and over at the...
South Wall - numerous Common Gulls feeding with 8 Teal.
3 Black Guillemot, 2 Razorbill, 2 Shag and 1 Great-crested
Grebe observed in Dublin Bay.
Sandymount: >400 Brent Geese feeding on GAA
pitches.CD
Cabinteely: Chiffchaff in Kilbogget Park,
Cabinteely this afternoon showing several features suggestive of
tristis (i.e. warm brown/rusty ear coverts, 'open' expression to
the face, bright white underparts, cold tones to upperparts, weak
wing bar etc.). Some features less 'classic' however (i.e. bill
& legs not particularly dark and green edges to flight &
tail feathers subtle at best). The bird was not heard calling so
best left as 'interesting' for now! Spent most of its time feeding
among the sedges & reeds in the wetland.NTK
Also present at Kilbogget Park: 1 Water Rail, 5 adult Mediterranean
Gulls, 10 Teal, 6 Coot, 2 Little Grebes,
43+ Moorhen, 1 Grey Wagtail, Siskin, Long-tailed
Tit, Goldcrest etc.NTK
20 February 2013
Buzzard at Turvey (Photo
by John Fields)
Mute Swans in Poppintree
Park (Photo by Mick Kelly)
Wren in Poppintree Park (Photo by Mick Kelly)
19 February 2013
Male and female Wigeon
at Clontarf Road this afternoon (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
A little late lunch - Kestrel with prey at Rogerstown early this
afternoon (Photo by Harry Bailey)
Cabinteely: In Kilbogget Park today - Moorhens, Coots,
Mallard, Teal, Little Grebes and a Grey
Wagtail. Water Rail calling from cover beside the
ponds.GF
Grey Wagtail at Kilbogget
Park, Cabinteely (Photo by Ger Franck)
Inchicore: 12+ Waxwings feeding in Inchicore.PH
Waxwing at Inchicore (Photo
by Paul Heneghan)
Waxwing at Inchicore (Photo
by Paul Heneghan)
18 February 2013
Ringed Plover at Dollymount
Strand - with a ring on right leg (Photo by Liam Kane)
Blackrock Park: Teal and number of Brent Geese with blue tags.JC
Teal at
Blackrock Park (Photo by James Cavanagh)
Buzzard at Rogerstown (Photo by Harry Bailey)
Linnet at Rogerstown (Photo by Harry Bailey)
17 February 2013
Female Blackcap in Clontarf
garden (Photo by Ger Franck)
Turnstone at Bray Harbour (Photo by
Cian Merne)
16 February 2013
Red-breasted Merganser at
Malahide (Photo by Ciaran Walsh)
15 February 2013
Broadmeadows: I attach a photo of the Continental
Cormorant at Broadmeadows (Swords estuary). I have been trying
to locate him in the last two weeks, and low and behold, luck was
on my side to catch him preening as I arrived. It lasted only a
minute before he was back in the water. It was interesting to see
him swimming, he kept his head only under water for some time as
he swam and then dived when he may have spotted something.
(p.c.sinensis Continental has more white on neck in breeding
plumage) as against our common one except for the yellow under the
lower mandible. VH
Continental Cormorant at
Broadmeadows (Photo by Vincent Hall)
Pintail at Bull Island (Photo by John Fields)
14 February 2013
Found this wee fella
sheltering under a car in city centre, an early fledgling
blackbird! (Photo by Patrick Veale)
13 February 2013
Baldoyle Bay: 3 Great-crested Grebe; and
Bull Island: 9 Red-breasted Merganser (males
displaying) and 1 Little Grebe close to Wooden Bridge
approx 2 hours before high tide; 23 Great-crested Grebe off
Bull Wall.CD
Can anyone identify the gull that is just in front of the water in
the middle of the picture below (cropped image beneath)? It
is moulting into its adult plumage and the feathers will be a
similar colour to those of a Lesser Black Backed Gull. It is
slightly smaller than a Herring Gull with a dark beak and eyes.
However, it's legs pink. I saw it in Bray Harbour on Tues 12th
February 2013.LO'B Answers to dublinbirding@gmail.com
Cropped image of mystery Gull
Initial suggestions are
3rd Winter Lesser Black-back Gull
Answer: 2nd Winter Lesser
Black-backed Gull (Photo by Graham Prole)
12 February 2013
Bull Island: 1 Red-throated Diver and 5 Great-crested
Grebe blown close to Bull Wall by bitter easterlies.CD
Waxwing at Willow Park
Avenue (Photo by Vincent Hall)
9 February 2013
Treecreepers at Turvey Park (Photos
by Brian Carruthers)
Sparrowhawk in Glasnevin garden (Photos
by Vincent Hall)
7 February 2013
Belfield at 5p.m.: Belfield 'Secret Lakes' Water
Rail seen. Local observers report a second bird in the area.SH
Glasnevin: 8 Lesser Redpolls today feeding on the nijer -
surely one of the rare subspecies should be around the area. Also
abundant the past few days is a Siskin - the first in our
garden for two years! FM
Lesser Redpoll in Glasnevin garden (Photo by
Francois Mullan)
6 February 2013
What looked so innocent on the 2nd February (see DMacP's photo
below) now shows it's true nature...
Kestrel at Bull Island this
morning...... probably a field mouse (Photo by Ger Franck)
Blanchardstown: 5 Siskins in garden in Blanchardstown
today.LK
Two Siskins in Blanchardstown
garden (Photo by Liam Kane)
Bullfinch at Rogerstown (Photo by
Vincent Hall)
5 February 2013
Naul: circa. 35 House Sparrows and 17 Tree Sparrows
at in a Naul garden.JC
Two Tree Sparrows at Naul, Co.
Dublin (Photo by Joe Curtis)
Three Sparrows - 2 House and 1 Tree Sparrows at Naul, Co. Dublin (Photo by
Joe Curtis)
Great Crested Grebe was in Baldoyle Estuary opposite Cush Point
this morning (Photo by Bill Quinn)
Glasnevin: Just as 180+ Waxwings
came in to attack a tree off berries for their evening meal, two Mistle
Thrush came down screaming at them to frighten them away.BC
Mistle Thrush threatening the Waxwings at Willow park Avenue
Glasnevin (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
4 February 2013
Blessington Basin, D.7: A wonderful sight this morning (Feb
4th) in Blessington Basin as the resident pair of Mute Swans
got amorous, with synchronised head dipping, bill touching, neck
crossing reminiscent of the GC Grebe mating ritual, also one Little
Grebe finally seen after four years of near daily visits.PV
Mute Swans at Blessington Basin (Photo by
Patrick Veale)
I attach photo of a Brent Goose which I took today (4th
February) at about 12:10 pm. This bird was part of a small flock
of about 55-60 geese. They were located on the first fairway of
Sutton Golf Club. The identification reference for this bird is 49RY.
There was another ringed bird present in the flock reference 32RY.
I have sent this information to Graham McElwaine.BQ We
look forward to hearing what details Graham has on this
bird.Editor - News so far on
this Goose...
Date
Ringed 12/02/2010 Ringing
Site Red
Arches Road, Baldoyle, Co. Dublin
With regard to the sightings of the ringed Brent Geese there are
sightings in Ireland each year from about mid October to mid
April. it is interesting that the bird referred to as 32RY was
sighted in Iceland in May 2010...more
information will follow.
Brent Goose with rings (Photo by
Bill Quinn)
Treecreeper at Farmleigh, Phoenix
Park (Photo by Ita Martin)
Robin with a touch of
Leucism at Farmleigh, Phoenix Park (Photo by Ita Martin)
3 February 2013
Siskin in Glasnevin Garden (Photo
by Ita Martin)
2 February 2013
Red Kite at Rogerstown (Photo by
Brian McDonnell)
Bullfinch at Rogerstown (Photo by Brian McDonnell)
Kestrel at Bull Island (Photo by
Dave MacPherson)
Glasnevin: 70+ Waxwing at Willow Park Avenue.HB
Waxwing at Willow Park Avenue
Glasnevin (Photo by Harry Bailey)
1 February 2013
Two Siskins in Clontarf garden (Photo by
Dave MacPherson)