31 July 2011
Little Gull (2nd summer) at
Gormanstown Beach (Photo by Mark Carmody)
A Kingfisher at Cave's Marsh, Malahide. A male Kestrel
with prey on James Larkin Rd.GF
Juvenile Marsh Harrier,
Tacumshin (Photo by Neil O'Reilly)
30 July 2011
There were 3 Curlew Sandpipers in Summer plumage and
an Arctic Tern at Broadmeadows Estuary this morning.BK
Red Kite at Newbridge
Demesne Donabate (Photo by Shay Connolly)
27 July 2011
A sample of some photos from a trip to the Great Saltee Island,
Wexford on the sunniest day this summer...
Wheatear, Great Saltee Island
(Photo by Philip Clancy)
Gannet, Great Saltee Island
(Photo by John Fox)
Sedge Warbler, Great Saltee
Island (Photo by Ger Franck)
Cuckoo, Juvenile - Great
Saltee Island (Photo by John Fox)
Rock Pipit, Great Saltee
Island (Photo by John Fox)
Willow Warbler, Great Saltee Island (Photo by Rosemary Doyle)
Reed Bunting Juvenile - Great Saltee, Wexford (Photo by John Fox)
Cuckoo
on Great Saltee (Photo by Ger Franck)
A male Sparrowhawk on Winton Road (Ranelagh) and a pair of Ravens
flew over Leeson Park calling yesterday evening in the mist.MC
One of the 26 Red Kites at
Newbridge Demesne this morning (Photo by Brian Keogh)
25 July 2011
The Little Egrets at Broadmeadows this morning have
increased to seven. They are amongst the 20 Herons in the
long grass. I'm wondering if they could be a family group
returning from their breeding grounds?BK
Gormanstown Beach: Great Tern and Gull activity along the beach
today. Lots of adult and juvenile Common Tern, Arctic
Tern, Roseate Tern, Sandwich Tern. Small number
of waders including 25 Dunlin, 6 Greenshank, 1 Curlew
Sandpiper, Redshank, 20+ Ringed Plover, Curlew,
Black-tailed Godwit and Oystercatcher. Plenty of
Gulls as well, Black-headed Gull, Lesser and Great
Black-backed Gull and Common Gull all present along
with 1 adult winter Little Gull.BS
24 July 2011
Today at Broadmeadows Estuary : 20 Herons, 3 Little
Egrets, 3 Knot (2 in Summer Plumage), 2 Ringed
Plover and the usual Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank,
Dunlin, Lapwing etc.BK
Newcastle, County Wicklow: 3 juv Sedge Warblers;
also 2 Whitethroat.SC
Sedge Warbler, Juvenile -
Newcastle (Photo by Shay Connolly)
Whitethroat, Newcastle (Photo by Shay Connolly)
23 July 2011
While hill walking over War Hill (located just south of
Djouce) in Co. Wicklow at about 1.00pm I observed a juvenile White-tailed
Sea Eagle soaring high over War Hill while being mobbed
by 2 Peregines, I watched it for about 10 minutes before it
headed north toweards Glencullen.EM
A Heron taking the early
morning sun at St Annes, Raheny (Photo by Ger Franck)
Wheatear at Broadmeadows
(Photo by Brian Keogh)
Puffins on Skellig Michael,
Kerry (Photo by Rosemary Doyle)
Great Black-backed
Gull at Bray (Photo by Cian Merne)
21 July 2011
Heron near Wexford Wildfowl
Reserve (Photo by E Dolan)
20 July 2011
This morning a young Blue Tit came to the feeder at my
first floor office window in Leeson Street, as they have been
doing regularly for some years. This time the young bird flew
against the window and I thought there he is again attacking his
reflection as they did when they were younger, a few weeks ago. I
looked up when I heard a second thump against the window a few
seconds later, then I noticed that the young Blue Tit was
being pursued by a beautiful Sparrowhawk who swept against
the window balcony, wings outstretched. Its the first time I have
seen this happen in the city centre! The Blue Tit got away. More
than curious as to where the Sparrowhawk is nesting.GMC
19 July 2011
Along the Sluice River at Portmarnock, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Grey
Heron, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Kingfisher. A Buzzard
soaring and calling overhead. Out on Baldoyle Estuary , 4 more Little
Egrets, 8 Greenshank and a Whimbrel. 2 Mediterranean
Gulls and 20 Sandwich Terns in with a group of resting
gulls. 12 Common Sandpipers at Swords Estuary.GF
Naul: 4
newly fledged Swallows were being fed by their parents at
Naul today.JC
Swallow feeding young, Naul (Photo by
Joe Curtis)
17 July 2011
Wexford: a rare summer plumaged Spotted
Sandpiper from North America. Still presant at Ladys Island,
Wexford.PC
Spotted Sandpiper at Lady's Island,
Wexford (Photo by Philip Clancy)
11 July 2011
Common Tern
in Arklow (Photo by Philip Clancy)
Black Guillemot on the Liffey
(Photo by Philip Clancy)
14 July 2011
Mediterranean Gull at
Sandycove (Photo by Ger Franck)
13 July 2011
I had great views of Buzzard flying close to Kinsealy
Grange driving range, Old Portmarnock, at about 11am this morning
(13th). I think that it could have been a juvenile as it had a
very distinctive plaintive call as if it was begging to be fed.BQ
Santry Demense: 1 male Blackcap, 3 Bullfinches
(1 male, 1 female, 1 juvenile), lots of Great, Blue
and some Coal Tits. 10+ Long-tailed Tits, 2 Treecreepers,
10+ Wrens, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Little Grebe, 20+ Mallards,
2 Mute Swans, 3 Sparrowhawks together calling and
circling over some woodland. Lots of Blackbirds, Woodpigeon
and Black-headed Gulls and a few Herring Gulls.
Plenty of Moorhens and Coots also.EK
12 July 2011
Along the Grand Canal walk in Lucan this evening we saw 6-10 Yellowhammers,
6 Tree Sparrows, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Sedge
Warbler, plenty of Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers
and Blackcaps, 1 Buzzard as well as Goldfinch,
Linnet, Bullfinch and Greenfinch.IS&PV
Swallow harassing a
Peregrine at Curraghbristy mountains Co.Tipperary (Photo by Ciaran
Walsh)
11 July 2011
Sandycove: 81 Mediterranean Gulls at Sandycove
this evening, including 8 juveniles from 2011 and 3 colour ringed
French/Belgium birds.SK
Bull Island: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Golden
Plovers, 8 Teal and a Whimbrel.GK
Heron having supper at
Swords Estuary (Photo by Ger Franck)
10 July 2011
Along the Mayne River at Baldoyle today, Moorhens, Little
Egret, pair of Shelduck, Reed Buntings, Meadow
Pipits, Pheasants, Swallows, Stock Doves,
Redpolls and a Sandwich Tern. In the surrounding
scrubland, Linnets, Goldfinches, Greenfinches,
Dunnocks, Wrens, Willow Warblers, Whitethroats,
Song Thrushes and a juvenile Stonechat.GF
Botanic
Gardens: A Kingfisher flying up-river at speed,
several juvenile Greenfinches, Chaffinch and Goldcrests.
3 Bullfinches (2 males and one female) in trees just behind
the walled vegetable garden with a quick appearance from a Sparrowhawk.
Also plenty of Woodpigeon, Robins and Great
and Blue Tits.EK
Juvenile Chaffinch at
Botanic Gardens (Photo by Edd Kealy)
9 July 2011
Rogerstown: 3 Green Sandpiper at Rogerstown
(one from the south hide and two up river).
Skerries: 3 Mediterranean Gulls (One 1st Summer and
two 2nd. Summers) at Barnageeragh, Skerries.
Swords: Another Med. Gull (1st Summer) at Swords
estuary, as well as 8 Common Sandpipers.AK
Common Sandpiper at Swords
Estuary (Photo by Aidan Kelly)
Bullfinch at Howth
(Photo by Ger Franck)
7 July 2011
Jay in Co. Louth (Photo by
Joe Curtis)
6 July 2011
At Kilbride/Sallygap: 12 Red Grouse, 2 Raven,
1 Cuckoo.JO'B
Numbers of Mediterranean Gulls are building up at
Sandycove, with 76 counted this morning (6.7.11). These were in
four clusters, loafing on the rocks between the derelict baths
near Dun Laoghaire East Pier and the Forty-foot swimming place
near Sandycove Martello Tower. The flocks consisted of everything
from juveniles to adults in full summer plumage, so there's a good
opportunity to get to know the plumage phases. At least two birds
had colour rings -- one English and one French. Danish, German,
Dutch, Belgian and Hungarian gulls have been seen here before.
These gulls are very tame and will even come to pieces of bread --
so close views and good photos are guaranteed.OM
5 July 2011
At Killester: 12 Swifts flying around over the house
Tuesday 5/7/11. The most we ever had was 5.MH
4 July 2011
Spotted Flycatcher at Cahir, Co. Tipperary (Photo by Harry Bailey)
House Martin at Bull Island (Photo by Philip Clancy)
3 July 2011
Buzzard perched on a lamp post on the M6 at the Moate exit.
21:15hrs.MH
Today in Carton House 3 Jays, lots of Bulfinches, Blackcaps,
juv Buzzards calling, Spotted Flycatchers, Little
Grebe with chicks.SC
Bullfinch at Carton House (Photo by
Shay Connolly)
I was amazed to see a Song
Thrush crushing a snail shell on the patio. This was the first
time I have ever seen these species do such behaviour.FM
Song Thrush
crushing a snail (Photos by Francois Mullan)
1 July 2011
Wren at Santry Woods (Photo by
Harry Bailey)