Recent Bird News from our Dublin contributors
Let us know what birds you see in your area.
Anything new in your garden?
Interesting bird behaviour? Increased or decreased numbers of birds?
What have you seen lately around Dublin or on you day trips from Dublin?
Email us with you sightings and photos dublinbirding@gmail.com
and we will publish suitable photos and news on this website.
For National News - to report sightings of rare birds in Ireland including Dublin call the Birds of Ireland News Service (BINS) 01 8307364. To hear the most recent updates on rare bird sightings call 1550 111 700 (premium rates apply).
THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS and ADVISERS DURING JANUARY /FEBRUARY 2008
Lorraine Benson, Shay Connolly, Manus Curran, Eric Dempsey, Dave Dillon, Andrew Flemming, Ger Fisk, John Fox, Gerald Frank, Sean Geraty, Kieran Grace, Mir Harris, Aidan Kelly, Paul Kelly, Brian Keogh, Niall T Keogh, Noel Keogh, Pat Lenihan, Valerie Mc Carthy, Eanna O'Flynn , Dermot O'Mahoney, Oscar Merne, Brian Porter, Heather Quinn, Adrian Rooney, Moray Souter, Robert Vaughan
We have received an unprecedented number of wonderful photos this month. Thanks to you all. We simply do not have space for them but we hope to use the photos in due course. As you see, our policy is to primarily illustrate birds that have been seen in the area and which form part of the sightings record. We stress, however, that it is not necessary to have a photo to submit a sightings record.
Saturday 1 March, 2008
The new Dublin Swallow over James Terrace, Malahide is being faithful to that area.DdeB29 February, 2008
A fine adult Mediterranean Gull was on the playing pitch beside the bus terminus at UCD early this morning.LB Redpoll on the peanut feeder in Howth garden. HQ ( a bird friendly prize winning garden of course!!)
Golden Plover at Swords today. John Fox28 February 2008
Two Buzzards seen yesterday at Newbridge House (photo one individual below).JF
27 February, 2008
A lovely spring day in Dublin and at least one lucky birder was out while the rest of us were at work!!!. One Twite was seen with Linnets and 7 Lapland Buntings were at north-east end of the field at Lowtherstown. At least 3 Yellowhammers were singing in the area with over 40 Tree Sparrows on the track down. 1 adult Peregrine chased a Redshank into the water and then caught it as it tried to take off again! Large numbers of Common Scoter were close in. A Water Pipit was under the M50 bridge on the north side of the estuary at Swords while a Ruff was on the south side. 5 Brambling at Rogerstown together with a pair of Bullfinches showing well and another 10 Yellowhammers. No sign of the Black Redstart or Glaucous Gull at Balbriggan but 1 Great Northern Diver was close in at Skerries. Rob Vaughan had a very good day today!! One Swallow does not a summer make .... But there was one hawking flies over the town of Malahide at 17.00 hrs! Also at Swords Estuary 940 Brents, 210 Black-tailed and 110 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1645 Golden Plovers, 185 Redshanks, 580 Black-headed Gulls, 17 fine adult Lesser Black-backs, 85 Dunlin, 41 Knot, etc.
Up at Lurgan Green in the morning were 390 Greylags feeding on the saltmarsh -- possibly with a few Pink-feet and Greenland White-fronts -- but long range into sun glare made it difficult to be sure.OM
Grey Wagtail, Balscadden. Bill Quinn
Sunday 24 February, 2008
Little Egret at Tymon Park on Limekiln Road and still reported present up to 26 February. Rob's Mom.( Mrs Vaughan). A few Tolka Branchers ventured to Co Fermanagh today and were very pleased to see the spectacularly colourful male Red Crested Pochard at Lough Barry which was reported on BINS. One Waxwing was reported in a north facing garden in Churchtown, Dublin 14. VMc C
Iceland Gull, Bullock Harbour. John Fox
Adult Mediterranean Gull, Sandycove. Eric DempseySaturday 23 February, 2008
A great day with 22 people enjoying the mild weather on todays Tolka Branch outing to south Dublin. Gannets diving at Sandymount strand and Mediterranean Gulls at Sandycove obligingly showing 1st yr., 2nd yr. and adult plumages in various hood stages too. Iceland Gull was at Bullock Harbour and a Raven at Vico Road completed the birding. This was followed by lunch at the Queens in Dalkey. DMcC One adult Mediterranean Gull was on the green behind Crumlin childrens hospital at lunchtime today. RV 8 Lapland Bunting, flock of 29 Yellowhammer at Lowtherstown & large rafts of Common Scoter offshore.DOM20 February, 2008
Scandinavian type Jackdaw seen at Belgard today. RV In Co Louth a flock of 73 Greylags in a grass field beside the Commons road (between Lurgangreen and the railway line).A very nice and obliging first winter Glaucous Gull feeding on the beach at Cruisetown, with four Tree Sparrows in a bramble nearby. In Dublin , a Reeve was at at the top of Swords Estuary, with 945 Brents, 97 Mute Swans, 80 Lapwing, 30 Black-tailed Godwits, etc. Very high water so few waders about -- probably at Malahide, where the tide was out.OM
Redpoll in Stillorgan today 19 Feb. Manus Curran
Treecreeper, Botanic Gardens 18 Feb. John Fox
Female Blackcap yesterday in Fingal.Dave DillonSunday 17 February, 2008
Twite seen again at Rogerstown. HQ Also Brambling below. PL 1 Short- eared Owl 1 female Kestrel,1 female Merlin at Newcastle airfield today. AR.
Brambling at Rogerstown today. Pat LenihanSaturday 16 February, 2008
Glaucous Gull and Black Redstart still at Balbriggan. AK Big news today from Rogerstown, a Twite was seen with the finches at Rogerstown. Rare on the east coast we believe that it is 12 years since this species was observed in Rogerstown. Two Jack Snipe at Portmarnock Marsh this afternoon DD
Photo John Fox
14 February, 2008
We could not let the day go by. Happy Valentines Day boys and girls!In Dundalk , numbers of waterbirds are starting to go down, with a total of just over 21,000 (excluding the Cooley Peninsula). The main species were Brents (404), Shelduck (214), Teal (351), Pintail (187), Oystercatcher (4350), Golden Plover (3035), Lapwing (905), Knot (4190), Dunlin (3940), Black-tailed Godwit (440), Bar-tailed Godwit (1040), Curlew (210), Redshank (825), and three Ruffs in Dundalk Harbour.OM
Goosanders at Glendalough. John Fox
Fieldfare at Glendalough. John Fox
13 February, 2008
Serious Tolka Branch birders were up before dawn today at Glendalough! ( we are sooo impressed) There were 13 Goosanders on the upper lake when the sun came up, 4 male and 9 female, 3 Jays, many Longtailed, Coal and Blue Tits, a few Song and Mistle Thrush a single Redpoll and a Treecreeper near the upper car park. A Peregrine Falcon was seen on the dead trees above the lake to the north and a Raven with nesting material flew over.A Grey Wagtail was seen on the stream to the south of the lake. A single Yellowhammer near the Mottee stone at Croneban above the Vale of Avoca but no Red Kite. 3 Fieldfare were near Redcross.JF,GFi GFr See photos above.
Scaup with Pochard. John Fox
12 February, 2008
What a beautiful day in Dublin! A pair of Juvenile Scaup from the North side of Swords Estuary seen with the Pochard. A mixed flock of finches seen at Rogerstown South Side in the field of flax before the hide, 5 Brambling. Greenfinches, Chaffinches, and Goldfinches. Linnet and Reed Bunting were also seen. A number of Yellowhammers were seen on Saturday but not today. A male Sparrow Hawk which was observed chasing the finches without success at that time.JF There was a Carrion Crow on the Bull.A "flock" of ten Red Kites using a gentle updraught were seen on the hills about 7 km north of Arklow town -- along with a Buzzard and a Kestrel. A wonderful sight. A local farmer told Oscar he thought they were feeding on squashed frogs and rats on the road.OM
11 February, 2008
A second year Glaucous Gull was seen today opposite the Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh between 1-3pm today. RV ( what next ... a Tolka Branch outing to Drimnagh instead of Bullock Harbour???"!!)1 Siskin this p.m. in Howth on the feeder in Heather's garden. Phew! 2 Long Tailed Tits still around.HQ At Bullock Harbour 5 Little Gulls (1 ad & 4 first winter ) were off shore.Further south in Killiney Bay at the Shanganagh outflow 10 Little Gulls ( 5 ad & 5 first winter), c80 Fulmars & 2 Med Gulls fed with the gull flock in a fresh SE wind.A flock of 45 Hooded Crows were on the beach & 2 Ravens flew over. NK.
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Record shots of Black-throated Diver found inland at Lough Sheelin.
( note the thigh patch in above shot). Aidan Kelly
Sunday 10 February, 2008
Male Blackcap and 2 Siskins at Castleknock garden. At Kilcoole numerous Shags displaying their crests, small number of Red- throated Divers and a group of approx 40 Whooper Swans.AL Now for some out- of- town news, there was a very interestng record of a Black-throated Diver together with a redhead Smew.in the Co. Meath section of Lough Sheelin at Derrysheridan today. The Diver was seen in both the Meath and Cavan sections of the lake last month on the I-WeBS count, and was then a first record for Co. Cavan! AK See record shots above
Siskin, Lucan. Shay Connolly
Saturday, 9 February 2008
1 Black Redstart, 1 Grey Wagtail still showing at Balscadden.HQ 40+ Siskins in Lucan garden. SC At Declan Manley's Ringing Station in Edenderry this morning, there was an unusually high number of Siskins caught in the mist nets and ringed. LB 1 male Blackcap 2 Ravens 8 Great Northern Divers and the Glaucous Gull still at Balbriggan Harbour seen from Aidan's Bremore Apartment.AK.
Siskin at Lucan, Shay Connolly
8 February, 2008
Circa 20 Mediterranean Gulls in Scotsman's Bay, Sandycove along with large numbers of gulls feeding on the upwelling due to high tide and strong winds. No further sign of the Red-necked Grebe at the Poolbeg, but two 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls were feeding in the River Liffey from here. NK
Just got a ringing report from the BTO - a Cormorant chick ringed by Tolka Branch members on Ireland's Eye in June 2007 was found off the coast of Spain, 1850 km away from Dublin after 135 days!.LB7 February, 2008
A winter plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was at the head of Swords estuary - almost under the Motorway bridge. Also two first winter Scaup on the open water - one in with the Pochard flock.DOM
6 February, 2008
The Poolbeg Red-necked Grebe was again present throughout the day. NK, NTK, EOF Glaucous Gull still present today at Balbriggan Pier.AK 7 Long-Tailed Tits on feeders this p.m. in Howth. HQ 20 Redwing present near the Zoo.SG
Redwing in Phoenix Park. Sean Geraty5 February, 2008
Adult Ring-billed Gull with 2 Common Gulls and a few Black-headed Gulls on a green behind Crumlin Childrens Hospital . RV A Red-necked Grebe was found off the Poolbeg this evening. NK
View from the base of the pier beside the large square concrete hut. Look north towards the Bull Wall and right of the green lighthouse in the middle of the River Liffey. Present with several Great Crested Grebes. The use of a zoom eye-piece is advised for adequate views. The bird dives in quick succession and may "disappear" for extended periods.
Siskin in Lucan. Sean GeratySunday 3 February, 2008
Today at Rogerstown there was a 1st.wn. Little Gull. Also the Spotted Redshank, a Peregrine and a Buzzard. At least 12 Bramblings were with the large finch flock, some males getting into Summer plumage. 3 Little Gulls (2 ad, 1 1st. wn.) at Swords and 200 Pink-footed Geese in Malahide area . AK, PK One ad. and the 1st. wn. Little Gull were still there this evening. AK 3 Siskins (2 male and 1 female) in Glasnevin garden.GFi 20 Goldfinches, 6 Redpolls and 3 Siskins at Lucan garden. SG
Little Gull at Swords today. Eric Dempsey
Saturday 2 February, 2008
1st W. Glaucous Gull showing very well today in Balbrigan Harbour. Black Redstart still there too. At least
5 Lapland Buntings still with the Skylarks at Lowtherstown/Bremore.AK. Out of town there were 4 Long- tailed Ducks off Salterstown on the Co Louth coast with a flock of 8 Common Scoters, 2 Great Northern Divers, 2 small unidentifiable grebes (probably Slavonian) and 20 Great-crested Grebes some of which were coming into breeding plumage. Excellent close fly-by over the road of a magnificent Buzzard between Hermitage and Cruisetown. 12 Whooper Swans ( 3 adults and 9 juveniles) in a flooded field in the same area.LB (for directions pp 105-109 Finding Birds in Ireland, Dempsey and O Clery,2007)
Glaucous Gull, Balbriggan. Aidan Kelly1 February, 2008
Two Blackcaps at Shankill this morning. KG31 January, 2008
A first winter male Scaup was with the Pochard flock at Swords estuary. DOM30 January, 2008
Female Siskin in Glasnevin garden. GFi 71 Mute Swans , 72 Mallard, 5200 Golden Plover, 620 Lapwing, 500 Black-headed Gulls, 230 Brents, 160 Dunlin, 110 Bar-tailed Godwits, 210 Black-tailed Godwits. OM
Golden Plover Flock, Swords. Brian Keogh
28 January, 2008
A flock of c.150+ finches and 3 Buzzards were present between Windgates and Greystones today. The finch flock consisted of 42+ Brambling and 26+ Tree Sparrows with the remainder comprised of Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Linnets. Directions : heading south from Bray on the coast road, go up and over the hill at Windgates and continue downhill towards Greystones. The birds are present in a harvested maize field behind the first bus stop with a lay-by on the right. NK Drake Mandarin, a pair of Dippers, a Kingfisher and a Jay on the Dargle River upstream of Bray Town Bridge. OM
Glaucous Gull, Balbriggan. Aidan KellySunday 27 January, 2008 Super Sunday - great birds about for short listers - no excuse!!
A sunny, calm day in Dublin and plenty of birdwatchers out this morning on the Bull Island causeway with thousands of ducks, gulls, geese and waders on show! At Sandymount this evening there was a Slavonian Grebe, a first winter Yellow-legged Gull, 12+ Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Ring-billed Gulls. At Sandycove there were 18 more Mediterranean Gulls. ED,PK At Balscadden, Howth a Chiffchaff was seen and the Black Redstart was also present.GFr 1st Winter Glaucous Gull (amazing creature - see Aidan's photo above) at Balbriggan pier today and later at the rocks below the Martello tower. Male Black Redstart still at Balbriggan Harbour too today.AK 1 Buzzard at Kilcoole.2 Kestrels, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Merlin & 2 Short- eared Owls at Newcastle. ARAt Rogerstown there was 1 female Merlin, 1 imm Peregrine, 1 Spotted Redshank c 10 Redpoll c20 Siskin 74 Greylag Geese plus a further 28 flew over in the morning. In with the big mixed big mixed flock of Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch & Linnet were 4 Brambling, 4 Bullfinch, 2 Yellowhammer.DOM
Also three birders had nice views of 3 Stoats in various parts of the reserve.Saturday 26 January, 2008
Female Blackcap, Santry. Brian Keogh
Linnet at Dun Laoghaire. Manus Curran
25 January, 2008
A 1st-winter Glaucous Gull was at the Poolbeg. It looks similar to the bird seen recently around the Killiney Bay area.NK22 January, 2008
Bramblings today at Phoenix Park. Sean GeratySunday 20 January, 2008
3 Lapland Buntings showing well on the ground at Lowtherstown with the Skylarks. At sea 6 Great Northern Divers and the Pink-footed Goose is still at Bremore. Adult male Black Redstart still at Balbriggan Harbour. About 12 Fulmars are back inspecting breeding sites on the cliffs along the beach just south of Balbriggan Harbour. AK One Short- eared Owl at Newcastle airfield .ARSaturday 19 January, 2008
At a flooded Kilcoole today the following were the highlights:2 Short-eared Owls over Newcastle airfield. A female Common Pochard was among the Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Whooper Swans, Mute Swans, Lapwing, Curlew and Coot and around 20 Northern Shovelers. Four Bewick's Swans (two adults and two juveniles) over flew heading south. Among the Pale-bellied Brent were two Dark-bellied specimens, one of which had some characteristics of a Black Brant. Offshore, many Shags and Red-throated Divers were supplemented by three Great Northern Divers. A Peregrine was also present.MS
Snipe on the Bull, John Fox
15 January, 2008
Climate change news. We dont generally do environment news . There are many others who do. But in case you missed the headline elsewhere today " Pintails and Common Scoter facing extinction" Yikes.. Not good ...You may wish to look at the new BTO Atlas survey http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/birdsonthemove_tcm9-180310.pdfLooks like we should set the table for more than just Cattle Egrets escaping changing environments . More space perhaps needed for Scops Owl, Purple Heron, Serin and Hoopoe? They may be looking for new territory in Ireland??
A search for the Lapland Buntings in Lotherstown was not productive today but there were 200+ Brent with the Pink-footed Goose, good numbers of Chaffinch and Goldfinch, 15+ Yellowhammer, 25+ Tree Sparrow, a few Reed Bunting, and an interesting record of 75+ Skylarks, 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Kestrel, , 100+ Lapwing. Offshore there were 20+ Common Scoter, 5 Red- throated Diver, 1 Guillemot with good numbers of Shag, Cormorant, Oyster Catcher and Turnstone.GFi JF GFr14 January, 2008
A 1st winter Glaucous Gull, 2 Little Gulls, 4 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Kittiwakes were
with the gull flock at the Shanganagh outflow in Killiney Bay. NK.
13 January, 2008
An enormous high spring tide in Dublin Bay today (earth and moon at their closest, low atmospheric pressure, seiche effect of SE gales, etc.) and all the flats at Sandymount/Merrion were covered for nearly three hours either side of high tide. All the south side waders were crammed on what little of the Merrion/Booterstown spit remained above water -- 290 Oystercatchers, 125 Ringed Plovers, 2,710 Knots, 1,415 Dunlins, 435 Bar-tailed Godwits, 50 Turnstones, etc. Booterstown Marsh was very flooded, but the new islands held 225 Redshanks.OMThe possible Twite on the Bull Island causeway may be a Mealy Redpoll. MH Worth checking this bird out if you are on the Bull over the next few days.
12 January, 2008
2 Red Grouse at Sally Gap/Luggala.ARThere were 760 Common Scoters offshore at Dundalk Bay today and flocks of 56 and 27 Whooper Swans onshore. OM
26,000 waterbirds in the main part of Dundalk Bay of which the following were the main species: Brent Goose (690), Shelduck (285), Mallard (525), Teal (600), Wigeon (245), Pintail (380), Oystercatcher (4,810), Lapwing (2,035), Knot (6,450), Dunlin (4,050),Curlew (320), Black-tailed Godwit (1,320), Bar-tailed Godwit (2,625), Redshank (395). Strangely, there were only 340 Golden Plover, 360 Black-headed Gulls and 40 Common Gulls. However, the "missing" gulls were on the shore north of Clogher Head, where 3,500 Common Gulls and 1,000 Black-headed Gulls (along with 250 Herring Gulls, 760 Knot and 780 Oystercatchers) were feasting in a feeding frenzy on hundreds of thousands of freshly dead Common Otter Shells Lutraria lutraria washed up on the tide line. These are big bivalves, up to 130 mm long, from burrows in muddy sands in the lower shore and the sublittoral, with syphons that can extend over 200 mm to the sediment surface. Plenty of meat for the birds to eat! I don't know what caused the mass mortality -- perhaps the severe storm on Tuesday night churned up the sediments and washed them ashore.
We are grateful to Oscar Merne for these interesting observations from his iWebs count.
Black Redstart, Balscadden. John Fox11 January, 2008
Blackcaps also appearing in Rathmines garden over past few days. AF10 January, 2008
Large mobile flocks of winter thrushes are currently present in the fields northeast of the Vartry Reservoir. One field held c.200+ thrushes of which c.80% were Fieldfare with the rest being made up of Redwing and a few Mistle Thrushes. 2 Little Egrets making use of the very low water levels in the mid-section of the reservoir is an interesting record for the site. NK NTK
The finch flock is still feeding at the north end of Blackditch ECNR but there is no sign of the Brambling. A hybrid Carrion X Hooded Crow is present here. A 1st-winter Greenland White-fronted Goose was with c.65 Greylag Geese in the back fields just north of Newcastle Airfield. Large numbers of Wigeon and c.20 Shoveler are present in the flooded channels south of The Breaches. Webb's field is inundated with water and as a result the Whooper Swans and Brent Geese are feeding out of sight in the fields inland from here. Lapwing and Golden Plover are present in good numbers along with a few Black-tailed Godwits and singles each of Grey Plover and Knot which are scarce birds in Wicklow. A minimum of 35 Red-throated Divers are offshore along with a single Great Northern Diver. NTK9 January, 2008
An adult Carrion Crow is at Cabinteely Park. NK
(This bird is different to the one seen recently in Keogh's garden, which we believe to be a 1st-winter.)
7 January, 2008:
A large adult Ring-billed Gull was at the Poolbeg. NK
6 January, 2008
The Pink-footed Goose has now moved in with the Brent flock in the fields at Bremore, just south of Lowtherstown.AK Also remember that 5-6 Lapland Buntings have been seen up to recently in the big field at
Lowtherstown over recent days /weeks so chances are they are still there!.5 January, 2008
Tolka Branch's HOT NEW bird race team - the Northside Nightjars - scored well today with 86 birds seen in the day. Congrats to Ger, Mir, Gerald and John!! Well done.Thanks to Niall Keogh we are delighted this year to once again bring you this special report of the Bird Race sightings.
Dublin Bird Race 2008
6 teams took part with a grand total of 118 species seen on the day. The winning team (Raving Loons) set a new record with 110 species!
Some notable sightings reported on the day include :
Pink-footed Goose at Cardy Rocks near Balbriggan.
2 Lapland Buntings and a Merlin at Lowtherstown.
The female Blue-winged Teal was again on the Bull, seen south of the causeway at the outflow with the Shoveler flock. A Gadwall, a Peregrine and a Carrion Crow were also seen north of the causeway.
(Note : The Carrion Crow has a hint of grey on the 'trousers'...indicating some Hooded Crow genes?)
Great Northern Divers were seen at both Skerries and Howth.
Single Black Redstarts were seen at Balbriggan and Balscadden.- see photo above
A 1st winter Glaucous Gull and 2nd winter Iceland Gull were at Skerries.
c.10 Brambling are still present at Rogerstown with 2 Ruff and the Spotted Redshank being seen from the hide.
Treecreepers were reported from Cabinteely Park, St. Anne's Park and the Botanic Gardens.
2 Fulmars were seen off Howth, 2 Gannets were flying north at Sorrento Point and Kittiwakes were seen at Howth and Killiney Bay.
Kingfishers were seen at Deansgrange and the Botanic Gardens.
Adult Ring-billed Gulls were seen at Merrion Gates and Irishtown.
A Water Rail was seen at dusk at Knock Lake.
Tree Sparrow flocks were present on the north side of Rogerstown and on the back roads between Baldoyle and Swords.
A Buzzard at Lehaunstown was a notable sighting for the southside.
Jay was seen at Hellfire Wood.
A Ruff, a Mediterranean Gull and a Little Egret were at Swords along with a nice flock of Pochard with some Tufted Duck in the estuary.
2 Little Gulls were at the outflow at Shanganagh with another seen nearby at Coliemore Harbour.
Purple Sandpipers were seen at the East Pier, Dun Laoghaire.
No Greylag Geese were seen and both Dunnock and Collard Dove were hard to find on the day!!!
4 January, 2008
c.30 Little Gulls (2 1st winters), c.50 Kittiwakes, a dozen Fulmars and a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were in Killiney Bay sheltering from the strong SW gales. NK
3 January, 2008
Springtime already in Glasnevin?! Male and female Blackcaps in Eric's garden. A Carrion Crow visited the Keogh's garden at Johnstown near Cabinteely. NK NTK2 January, 2008
18 Mediterranean Gulls were seen in Kilbogget Park. The group comprised of 11 adults, 3 2nd winters and 4 1st winters. NK A Ruff was present at Swords and a 1st winter Glaucous Gull was seen late evening flying over Red Island at Skerries going to roost on Colt Island. Several Brambling were still to be found at Rogerstown. NTK & B P1 January, 2008
Jack Snipe at Swords on 1st Jan, scoped from the seat on the southside of the estuary. It was seen doing its characteristic "bouncing" action at the edge of the vegetation. Unfortunately the tide was a little bit high for Snipe on Saturday 5 January so this bird was not seen on the Bird Race. AK Large numbers of Teal and Lapwing were present in Webbs' field, Kilcoole this afternoon. Smaller numbers of Wigeon, Brent Geese and Golden Plover added to the masses utilizing the now nicely flooded pasture. A drake Green-winged Teal was seen well here and is most likely a returning individual. Also of note were 19 Shoveler (a high count for the site), 100+ Greylag Geese in the back fields and 3 Little Egrets.
At Blackditch ECNR there is a large flock of Greenfinches feeding in the seed patch at the north end of the reserve, by the road. A female Brambling, Chaffinches, Linnets, Goldfinches and a Redpoll were also with the flock. A small group of Siskin and a Kestrel were also seen here. NTK31 December, 2007
On the last day of 2007 at Rogerstown the Spotted Redshank was showing well. There was a flock of Brambling, Reed Bunting, and all the finches also Long tailed Tits, a Buzzard and Peregrine Falcon. GF 120 Brent Geese on the soccer pitches next to the Ashleaf Centre in Walkinstown.RV Black Redstart at Balscadden today. AK30 December , 2007
The winter gulls are in Dublin now so great opportunity to see them over the holiday period. First winter Glaucous Gull and sub-adult Iceland Gulls at Sandymount this evening.AK
Rare shot of Snipe on the Bull. Mir Harris
Male Blackcap in Santry. Brian Keogh
28 December, 2007
An adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose was with the Brent flock at Sean Moore Park. NK At least 5 Lapland Buntings at Lowtherstown. AK27 December, 2008
Female Blackcap in Ger's garden in Glasnevin. GF 2 Snipe were seen on the Bull on the north side of the Causeway - see Mir Harris' photo above. Black Redstart at Balscadden today. AK
26 December, 2008
Hen Harrier over rough ground beside the hangars at Newcastle.AR
Christmas Day, 2007
Blackcaps are beginning to come into gardens now with cooler weather and less food about. A beautiful Christmas day photo of a welcome visitor to Brian's garden in Santry is above. BK 4 Black Guillemots chasing each other and calling in squeaky insistent fashion at the Sean O Casey Bridge, beside the Docklands offices in the early morning sunshine today. LB
Who said ducks were boring?? We love Pintails and there are well over 200 at the Bull, north of the causeway, at the moment. Photo, Cian Merne.
Christmas Eve, 2007
At the Glen of the Downs and Delgany this morning nice to find Jays, lots of Long-tailed Tits, a couple Treecreepers, a flock of Siskins and Redpolls. Blackbirds were the most numerous birds at these locations. OM One male Kestrel on the N3 Mulhuddart, 54 Mute Swans on the Grand Canal at Harold's Cross bridge.ARSunday 23 December, 2007
A Black Redstart has been seen on and off over the past few weeks in Balscadden, Howth. HQ The bird seems to prefer sunny conditions and an empty beach (dont we all...). The bird has been seen on the left of the beach under the apartments. Nice bird to get if you are out birding in Howth over Christmas. There were 410 Brents feeding on the playing fields at Sean Moore Park, Irishtown.OM 2 Ravens at the top of Powerscourt waterfall.AR Adult male Black Redstart at Balbriggan Habour. AK
Goldcrest, Botanic Gardens. John Fox19 December, 2007
Male Blackcap singing at Shankill this morning. KG18 December, 2007
Female Blackcap in a Santry garden this morning eating the remains of the Pyracantha berries.BK A Little Egret flew east-southeast at Johnstown, near Cabinteely this morning. Most likely heading for Kilbogget Park where they occur occasionally during the winter months. Female Blackcap still present at Johnstown, Cabinteely, although not taking to apples provided just yet. Still foraging in trees and shrubs.NTK17 December, 2007
350 Brent Geese flew up the Liffey this morning in spectacular V formation turning south-west at the Four Courts.LB. After a very good breeding season these may be adventurous juveniles leaving the parents on the Bull to seek new feeding grounds of their own.Sunday 16 December, 2007
An northern/eastern race Jackdaw was seen in Cabra near Quarry Road junction this morning.KG This bird has a white patches on the side of the neck looking like a shawl.Overall the bird is more grey than our local Jackdaws.Saturday 15 December, 2007
At Dundalk Bay today there were c.31,000 birds, the main species being Great Northern Diver (18), Brent Goose (339), Shelduck (193), Wigeon (356), Teal (383), Mallard (512), Pintail (80), Oystercatcher (5,700), Ringed Plover (130), Golden Plover (7,044), Lapwing (2,739), Knot (4,323), Dunlin (1,760), Black-tailed Godwit (1,401), Bar-tailed Godwit (811), Curlew (290), Redshank (243), Black-headed Gull (3,552), Common Gull (251), and Herring Gull (393). Nice to see Little Egrets, Merlin, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk too.OMAt Arklow earlier this week a Peregrine, a Buzzard and a Red Kite were present.OM 2 Male Blackcaps in a Mulhuddart garden AR.
14 December, 2007
12 Brent Geese seen over Kildare Street at 8.30am flying inland.LB 30 Brent Geese flying inland over Harolds Cross early today and yesterday. Would be interesting to know where they are going? 2 Cormorants and 8 or 9 Tufted Duck are new in to the canal also at Harrolds Cross.RV
Whooper Swan at Swords. Brian Keogh
