THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS  and ADVISERS DURING  February 2013...

  Harry Bailey, Brian Carruthers, James Cavanagh, Joe Curtis, Rosemary Doyle, Ciaran Dunne, John Fields, Ger Franck, Vincent Hall, 
Paul Heneghan, Sean Hogan, Liam Kane, Mick Kelly, Niall T. Keogh, Dave MacPherson, Brian McDonnell, Ita Martin, Cian Merne, 
Francois Mullan, Liam O'Brien, Graham Prole, Bill Quinn, Patrick Veale, Ciaran Walsh

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.

 
 



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)


 
 

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