THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS  and ADVISERS DURING  July/August  2008

Paul Archer, Lorraine Benson, Denis Carrick, Tommy Cooke, Hugh Delaney, Eric Dempsey, Rosemary Doyle, Sinead Duffy, Shane Farrell, Ger Fisk, John Gallagher, Kieran Grace, Ger Fisk, John Fox, Gerald Frank, Mir Harris, Sean Hogan, Stewart Holohan, Heather Quinn, Michael Keating, Aidan Kelly, Brian Keogh, Niall T Keogh, Noel Keogh, Stephen Mc Avoy, Dermot Mc Cabe, Coilin Mac Loughlainn, Chris Martin, Oscar Merne, Stephen O Byrne, Neil O Reilly, Emmett Rees, Adrian Rooney, Moray Souter, Robert Vaughan, Ciaran Walsh

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Large files take too much time to download, convert, resize and are expensive for us to store!

NEW SEABIRD GALLERY here 

Brent geese have arrived. We have also received reports of sightings of Brent in Co Mayo 
and Co Clare on 29 August and 500 reported at Strangford Lough.
 Observers are invited to report ring readings to grahammcelwaine@btinternet.com

Saturday 30 August, 2008
4 Brent Geese have arrived already on the Bull Island. See Mir's photo below. At Gormanstown  Mediterranean Gulls 9 - 7 adults and 2juvs/1st winters Little Egret - 1 Terns: c. 400 with about 40 Roseates. At  Swords  1 Kingfisher under the bridge Ruff: 4 Spotted Redshank: 1 Med Gull: 1 - 1st winter see Erics photo below. Swifts seem to have departed. Last seen in Bray on 26 August. OM Any later sightings would be of interest.  

First Brent of the season.Mir Harris

Juv Mediterranean Gull  today. Eric Dempsey

29 August, 2008
6 Brent at Sandymount Strand this evening. Sean H Stewart Holohan counted 111  Little Egrets on North Bull Island today. 

28 August, 2008
6 Brent Geese, one adult summer Black Tern,  and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, also several thousand  ( ??) Terns on Sandymount Strand. SMcA 10 Little Egrets roosting in Booterstown Marsh. There appears to be a significant influx from S. Britain/Europe, as numbers in Ireland this autumn seem higher than the breeding population could account for -- unless they've had a bumper year in spite of the awful weather.OM

27 August, 2008
This morning in Swords there was no sign of the Little Ringed Plover. However, there were 3 Ruff, a Kingfisher and a Buzzard. Good numbers of Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits.GFi Two Ravens in the Phoenix Park near the Ordinance Survey this morning.D Mc C 2 possibly 3 Buzzards over Palmerstown Demense near Kill Co. Kildare.SO'B

26 August, 2008
Little Ringed Plover seen at Swords today. John Fox

25 August, 2008
Tonight at Swords there were 2 male Ruddy Ducks visible from the first lay-by down from the kennels or from the point on the northern shore. Also 4 Ruff. AK 1 Swift flying south low over the sea c.10 KM east of Dunany Point, Louth. 2 Juvenile Black Terns in a roost of about 4,800 Common, Arctic & Roseate's at Sandymount with considerably more waders around including  89 Black-tailed Godwits in Booterstown Marsh including the 11 juveniles, 1st of the year.

Sunday 24 August, 2008
In Wicklow there was a large flock of Crossbills in the Conifer wood at the north end of Broadlough (over 120 birds). Also a female Marsh Harrier between Killoughter and 5-Mile Point. AK

Saturday 23 August, 2008
 5 Ruff at Swords and 2 Juv. Med Gulls. Also a Green Sandpiper showing well from the southern hide at Rogerstown.AK 3 Swifts and a Willow Warbler in Killester today. MH

Willow Warbler, Killester. Mir Harris

22 August, 2008
Good variety of waterbirds at Kilcoole today, including 66 Cormorants, 13 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 12 Little Grebes, 187 Mallard (a lot for this site), 20 Mute Swans (incl. families of 1 and 5 cygnets), 8 Coots, 9 Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwings, 53 Dunlin, 10 Curlews, 110 Black-headed Gulls, 7 Sandwich Terns, and a very large female Peregrine. Also 4 Wheatears, flocks of Linnets, a couple of Stonechat families, and a northward trickle of c.110 Swallows, with a few Sand and House Martins. Lots of Common Blues (>25) and small number of Large and Small Whites, Small Tortoiseshells and Meadow Browns. OM
Crosbills heard flying over Glassnevin. ED and there was a Willow Warbler and a Buzzard in Mulhuddard. AR

21 August, 2008
There was a group of eight Buzzards at Kilteel, Co Kildare. We  presume this was two pairs with their newly fledged
young. CMacL

20 August, 2008
Crossbill heard flying over Caninteely. Over 4,300 birds in the Tern roost at Sandymount together with 2 Black Terns, one adult and one juvenile. 5 Swifts were hawking over Booterstown Marsh and in the south bay there were 118 Great Crested Grebes.HD.   At Dundalk Bay there were 17,000 birds (excluding Ballymascanlan Bay and south side of Cooley Peninsula), mainly the  following: Little Egret 25, Mallard 372, Oystercatcher 5310, Knot 529, Dunlin 660, Ruff 1, Black-tailed Godwit 1150, Curlew 400,Redshank 2074, Mediterranean Gull 1, Black-headed Gull 5487, Common Gull 145, Herring Gull 575, Great Black-backed Gull 71 . 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult) also  at Delvin River mouth.OM

19 August, 2008
Large flock of Swifts screaming and gathering over Balbriggan late lthis evening, between 35 and 40 birds. Would expect them to be heading off very soon. AK 

18 August, 2008
2 Arctic Skuas chasing terns off Bremore/Cardy Rocks, and settling on the water occasionally, before finally heading off south. AK 1 Juvenile Black Tern in the Tern roost ( c.6,200 Common, Arctic & Roseate's). 260 Kittiwake roosting were very unusual for Sandymount, indicative no doubt of the weather we're having, or going to be having! HD Ringed Plover also nesting in the area.

Juvenile Robin, Blessington Street. Denis Carrick 

Sunday 17 August, 2008
The juvenile Black Tern came in again at 20.15 to the evening roost at Gormanston, also there were 4 Mediterranean Gulls ( 2 adults and 2 juveniles). Earlier today there were 60 Little Egrets on the Bull. AK .At Swords today 2 pairs of Shoveler in  eclipse plumage, also a  lone Kingfisher was scooting up and down the river.  There were plenty of recently fledged  Long- tailed Tits and Great Tits in the trees along the road.MH North of Arklow,  2 Red Kites(and possibly a 3rd), 2 Kestrels and an amazing aerial fight between a Sparrowhawk and a Hooded Crow. ER

Juvenile Cuckoo. Emmett Rees

Saturday 16 August, 2008
At Kilmichael Point(south of Arklow), a Cuckoo  gave very good close-up views as it hunted for food after a downpour, with great success.ER See photo above. 

15 August, 2008
A juvenile Black Tern came in to roost at Gormanston this evening also a first year Little Gull and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls. AK

14 August, 2008
At least 3,400 Terns were present in the Sandymount roost at 9pm this evening as the moon rose over Dunlaoghaire. The roosting seabird event is is a spectacular sight not to be missed these evenings. LB HD At Gormanston large numbers of Terns gathering also here including some lovely adult and juv Roseates also were three Little Terns including a nice young bird (a Baltray bird?). At Swords there were four Ruff also a  lovely Green Sandpiper and a Kingfisher was perched below the bridge .Also at Swords 2 Common Sandpiper, 8 Lapwing, 5 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, and good numbers of Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit ED JF

2 Ruff at Swords today. John Fox

13 August, 2008
2,500 Terns in the evening roost at Sandymount, including a near full-summer Black Tern. Terns comprised fairly evenly of Common and Arctic (with slightly more Common), at least 250 Roseate's and  1 Whimbrel also.
Female Sparrowhawk again hunting the area along the Sea Wall Path, Tolka Basin, Fairview giving good views perched out on steel fences.JG

12 August, 2008
Continuing our Tern roost count recording at Sanymount from last year,  this evening there were 2800 Terns with good numbers of Roseates (estimated at 275), including lots of juveniles, 34 Mediterranean Gulls and a female Tufted Duck in Booterstown Marsh.HD A minimum of 76 Mediterranean Gulls (52 adults, 5 2nd years, 4 1st years and 15 juveniles) were in Kilbogget Park this afternoon, between Ballybrack and Cabinteely. These birds were part of a large flock of gulls feeding on worms driven up to the surface of the football pitches by the rain. The flock also consisted of c.400 Black-headed Gulls and c.20 Herring Gulls. NK NTK 

At Swords today there were 5 Common Sandpipers, 1 crisp, buffy juvenile Ruff also 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Greenshanks, 3 Knots, 2 Dunlin, 1 Gray Wagtail, and good numbers of Black -Tailed Godwits and Redshanks. JF, GFi, BK

11 August, 2008
There were 3 Red Kites North of Avoca around 11am this morning, one remained in the sky despite heavy rain showers.ER

 Sunday 10 August, 2008
Red Kite at 7.30 this morning North West of Arklow. ER Reports of Swifts still around Dublin. They will be gone any day now so enjoy! 5 Tufted Ducks, 1 eclipse male, 2 females and 2 small chicks outside the Portabello College on the Grand Canal, the female and 2 chicks were present since last Tuesday.RV

Willow Warbler, Santry. Brian Keogh

Saturday 9 August, 2008
Three Buzzards, (2Ad. 1 Juv.) flying around Clearwater on the N2 just past 50 interchange this morning. The pair have been observed for some months but the Juvenile seems to suggest breeding in the Tolka Area.TC

8 August, 2008
1 Female Northern Wheatear on the Sea Wall, Tolka Basin also 1 Greenshank and 1 Female Sparrowhawk patrolling the area around the Tolka Bridge. JG

5 August, 2008
At Kilcoole today there were 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Peregrine Falcons, 1 Merlin and 1 Sparrowhawk, all around Webbs field, while a single Greenland White-fronted Goose (a new return or just forgot to go back home?? Ed) was in the channels south of the Breaches and a juvenile Long-eared Owl was noted in the Birdwatch Ireland reserve.MS 200 Sanderling on Dollymount Strand today ( in the rain!). SH

Green Sandpipers, Rogerstown. John Fox

4 August, 2008
An amazing total of 54 Little Egrets were seen on the Bull today including the colour ringed individual which has been seen around for the past month.SF

Sunday 3 August, 2008
61 Mediterranean Gulls ( we received a separate late report of 75 SH) in and around Dun Laoghaire Baths, including at least 9 juveniles.HD 2 Red Kites today at Pollaphuca/Ballinastraw (near Glenteige - see photo below).ER 

Red Kite. Emmett Rees

Saturday 2 August, 2008
Long eared Owl in a Larch plantation on the Curragh(Kildare Town end) Barn Owl in same area on the 20th of July. Another Barn Owl seen flying over the Portlaoise bypass on the 21st of July. SO'B Redkites showing well North West of Arklow today. NO'R 30 Crossbills seen flying over Cabinteely Avenue. HD Is there a bit of an invasion going on? 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 adults and a 2nd year on the field by the Kylemore road. In the evening Sparrowhawks were calling in Mount Argus church grounds with a male seen flying in with some prey item.RV Two juvenile Buzzards showing very well today in Kilruddery estate (near Bray); also a juvenile Kingfisher on one of the woodland ponds.CMacL

1 August, 2008
2 Sparrowhawks, an adult female and a probable juv female in lakelands behind Terenure college. Across the road in Bushy Park, atl east 2 juvs were heard in the woods with a female Kingfisher also present. RV At Rogerstown today there were 4 Green Sandpipers, 2 Kestrels, 17 Little Egrets and 4 Bullfinches. At Swords there were 10 Common Sandpipers. JF,GFr 

31 July, 2008
A juvenile Mediterranean Gull with a green darvic ring (ringed in France) has been seen around Sandycove and Dalkey in the past few days. NK

Cormorants, Howth. Eric Doggett

29 July, 2008
At Kilcoole there was no sign of the Orange-billed Tern sp. seen here the previous day. The gull and tern flock in Webb's Field contained c.50 Sandwich Terns, 2 Arctic & a Common Tern, plenty of Black-headed Gulls and a few Herring Gulls. 41 Cormorants, an eclipse male Wigeon, 3 Teal & 10 fledged Shelduck were also in Webb's. There were 10 or so Little Egrets in the general area with several juveniles seen. Returning waders included at least 6 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, a female Ruff (both in Webb's), 10 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstone, a few Curlew, Oystercatchers, Lapwing and 2 juvenile Redshank. An immature type Marsh Harrier was hunting the fields between the Breaches and Newcastle. The Little Tern colony has done well despite the many setbacks earlier in the year. It is estimated that upto 115 chicks have fledged with a further 10 still unfledged and 2 eggs yet to hatch! NTK

( Note :for Atlas records - there may be some overlap in the following sightings).A Buzzard, a juvenile Peregrine and 2 Stock Doves were seen at the Motte Stone near Redcross. A single Red Kite was seen at Glenteige. Yellowhammers were noted singing in good numbers in the Redcross/Motte Stone/Glenteige area. NK NTK Nrth West of Arklow today raptor fans will be delighted to hear today there were 4 Red kites -- to far away to ID any tags, 2 Peregrines, 1 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel. Also numerous Yellowhammers. NO'R Very good to see these Yellowhammer sightings which have been scarce in recent years. The Bird survey may tell us if they are on the increase. Ed. ( see Tolka events page for Autumn talk on this subject)

Yellowhammer, Arklow. Neil O Reilly

28 July, 2008
A beautiful warm evening at Dollymount Strand at full tide where there were 15 Manx Shearwaters and 17 Great Crested Grebes off the beach lazing on the calm water. Common Terns in abundance feeding offshore and performing aerial acrobatics overhead. LB JF

We dont usually publish out of town birds but this was a special rarity exception. A Glossy Ibis, in Ennis Co Clare taken today by Tolka Branch member John Fox.  

25 July, 2008
2 Yellowhammers at the Grange Driving Range in Kinsealy. HQ 5 Crossbills seen flying over the Royal Canal at Blanchardstown. SF

 
Mediterranean Gull at Gormanstown. Eric Dempsey

23 July, 2008
Great Skua seen sitting on the beach north of the Martello Tower from Balbriggan Railway Station this evening. AK This is a great opportunity to see one of these sea birds close to Dublin. 

Grasshopper Warbler, Portumna Forest Park on 22 July. Chris Martin

22 July, 2008
Great viewing of two Gannets diving just off Red Island and Colt Island in Skerries today,also 22 Common Terns seen diving. Rock Pipit feeding young in same area.MK

21 July, 2008
Where in the world would you get this list of sightings on a single day?!

5 species of Tern feeding off Bremore, Balbriggan including a few Roseate Terns  and 4 Little Terns, one of which was a fledged juvenile, possibly from Baltray?. ( If you dont know the other three email us and we will let you know discretely!!) Single Little Egret also present along the shore line. A few Common Scoter and Manx Shearwaters moving offshore. AK A near-adult Glaucous Gull was seen from the Poolbeg looking south towards Sandymount Strand in the evening. NK Sparrowhawk fledgling calling in Bushypark. Along the Dodder there was a Kingfisher, 2 Dippers and several Long-tailed Tits. RV
Adult Mediterranean Gull bathing in the Tolka at East Point Business Park Bridge with Black-Headed Gulls, this evening about 7pm. JG

Little Tern, Kilcoole today. John Fox

Sunday 20 July, 2008
On the Bull 1st summer Little Gull also an Adult Mediterranean Gull and 11 Little Egrets. SF 58 Mediterranean Gulls at Sandycove today. Largest count this year. ED

2 Mediterranean  Gulls at Gormanston ( 1 adult and  1 2nd Summer bird.). Also good to see a very large flock of about 250 House Sparrows feeding around the hedges at Lowtherstown/Bremore with a few Tree Sparrows present with them. House Sparrows seem to be making a major come-back here.AK In the city centre the original Temple Bar 12 (House Sparrows) have now expanded their numbers to 18 emptying feeders rapidly. LB  Also 3 Common Sandpipers along the shore at Bremore.AK
 

Male House Sparrow and Greenfinch. Finglas. Denis Carrick

Saturday 19 July, 2008
Peregrine Falcon flying low over Lighthouse Apartments, Church Road, East Wall around 8pm. JG Red-throated Diver at Dun Laoghaire harbour today in winter plumage, slightly oiled and apparently unwell. Wheatear and Mediterranean  Gull on West Pier.CmC L This  Buzzard was spotted hunting very low, about 30ft in the air at St.Margerets at the back of Dublin airport.CW

Airport Buzzard, Ciaran Walsh

18 July, 2008
3 Common Sandpipers evening at the Tolka basin opposite Fairview Park.JG 

15 July, 2008
Rosemary correctly reminds us that we must be careful not to cut hedges at this time of year. There are still young birds about like the Ballyfermot Wren below and new broods on the way .RD

Fledgling Wren, Ballyfermot. Rosemary Doyle

14 July, 2008
Ruff at Swords also  up to 30 Dunlin and a summer Greenshank. ED Kingfisher on the Tolka in Tolka Valley Park near Broombridge Gate this evening.DMcC

Sunday 13 July, 2008
Hobby seen over Shankill this evening with over 100 Swifts. KG  Another  Hobby was sighted near the Curragh race course stand. SO'B

 In the Slieve Blooms 2 Hen Harriers, one male & one ringtail, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kestrel. AR

Spotted Flycatcher. Glendalough. John Fox

11 July, 2008
Barn Owl was seen flying from the Curragh into some fields near Kildare Town. SO'B North of Arklow today four Red Kites and a pair of Buzzards. Also two pairs of Spotted Flycatchers. 50-60 Swifts wheeling over Bray this week, in the evenings with low cloud (i.e. most evenings). They'll be off to Africa soon! OM

Buzzard over Tallaght Village seen heading towards the Square at 18.30. RV

A nice selection of birds around Dalkey & Killiney this morning. The pair of Roseate Terns on Maidens rock have two well grown young who are busy exercising their wings. The Common Terns are well behind however with just two small chicks seen being fed. Five other Common Terns are still sitting on nests, out in the open and not in the nest boxes provided! The Arctic Tern colony on Lamb Island is still at 3 pairs (two terns sitting on nests and another pair with a small chick). The five juvenile Herring Gulls are still on the rocks at Lamb Island (three broods consisting of 2, 2 and 1.). Another four large but unfledged Herring Gull chicks are on Muglins (two broods consisting of 3 and 1). At least 24 Black Guillemots were loafing around Colliemore Harbour (including 1st-summer birds as well as birds coming in with fish, perhaps nesting in the walls?). A summer plumaged Knot, a 2nd-summer Mediterranean Gull and a Storm Petrel flew north at sea. At the Vico Road, the female Peregrine is still present with her two juveniles. A Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff were singing here also. Other sightings of interest include 16 Grey Seals hauled up on the rocks at Dalkey and 2 Harbour Porpoises feeding in Killiney Bay. NK NTK

10 July, 2008
A Long-eared Owl flew over Johnstown road in Cabinteely at 01.46 a.m, flying from Pottery Road direction. HD A female Sparrowhawk seen carrying prey over the Stillorgan dual carriageway early in the morning. RV

9 July, 2008
As things are quite at the moment we thought we would bring you some interesting recent news about the age of birds. Here is the list from the latest edition of the BTOs publication Ringing and Migration;

1. Razorbill M23170, 41 years (recaught at its home colony in Gwynedd).
2. Curlew FS408787, 31 years (ringed in Clwyd, seen breeding in Germany).
3. Black-headed Gull EH42857, 27 years (ringed in Hyde Park and seen in St James’ Park, London).
4. Canada Goose 5084137, 27 years (ringed in Nottinghamshire and found dead at the same site).
5. Knot CE25745, 27 years (ringed in Highland, seen in The Netherlands).
6. Turnstone XS56243, 20 years (ringed and recaught at the same site in Clywd).
7. Little Tern NV41214, 17 years (ringed in Suffolk, recaught in Belgium).
8. Mediterranean Gull EN84043, 15 years (ringed in Kent, recaught in The Netherlands).
9. Carrion Crow FR82480, 15 years (ringed in Nottinghamshire and found dead 10km away).
10. Common Sandpiper NV54164, 14 years (recaught 3km from where it was originally ringed in Derbyshire).
11. Barn Owl GH72337, 13 years (ringed on the Isle of Wight and found dead 12km away).
12. Lesser Whitethroat N439903, 7 years (ringed and recaught at the same site in Norfolk).

BTO, Wednesday 9th July 2008

7 July, 2008
First Autumn flock of Golden Plovers(12 approx)  wheeling above the Curragh(a tradtional wintering ground). SO'B

Saturday 5 July, 2008
 Kingfisher and a Sparrowhawk in Bushypark.RV

3 Kestrels & numerous Sedge Warblers at Pollardstown Fen today.Buzzard, a Kestrel, a male Sparowhawk & a couple of Redpolls at Ballinafagh Lake Co.Kildare.Numerous common blue damselflies, froglets & orchids too.AR

Little Egret at the N. Bull Is. causeway with a red plastic ring above the "knee" was seen a few days ago.If anyone is in the area and sees this bird can you try to read the number of the ring with you telescope or any other details and let us know.  

4 July , 2008
Adult Summer Mediterranean Gull at Bremore, Balbriggan this evening. Also 4 Common Scoter seen flying south.AK

3 July, 2008
At Casement, Baldonnel, 2 Buzzards,  a Kestrel and a large female Peregrine. Later in the evening at around 11. 20pm a Barn Owl was seen near the church.SD

2 July, 2008
On Gormanstown beach two full adult summer Mediteranean Gulls and lots of Roseate Terns. Also present were two Little Terns which have not to our knowledge  been recorded there up to now. ED. 2 Storm Petrels off Bremore/Cardy rocks at Balbriggan this evening. AK Seen at Swords Estuary today were 4 Common Sandpiper, ( see photo below) 34 Blacktailed Godwit, 5 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egret, 12 Sandwich Terns, several Lapwing, good numbers of Mute Swans, Black Headed Gulls together with a few Common, Great Black Backed, and a Lesser Blackbacked Gull but no sign of the Sabine's Gull reported yesterday. Swift, Swallow, House and Sand Martin all hawking about low down. 4 Grey and 2 Pied Wagtails along the road north side of the Estuary.JF

Common Sandpiper, Swords. John Fox

1 July, 2008
1st summer Sabines Gull at Swords. PA 6 Strom Petrels in the distance off Bremore, Balbriggan this evening as well as  20 + Roseate Terns and an adult Mediterranean Gull.  AK 1 Mediterranean Gull on the Mudflats about 200 metres opposite Bilash Tandoori on Clontarf Road. JG This evening at Dalkey there was plenty of seabird activity off Collimore Harbour. A pair of Roseate Terns and c.40 Common Terns were at Maidens Rock with two small Common Tern chicks  seen clambering around here. 3 pairs of Arctic Terns are nesting on Lamb Island and there were 5 well grown Herring Gull chicks there also. A 1st-summer Arctic Tern was also in the area. At sea there was a steady passage of Manx Shearwaters, Gannets, 19 Common Scoter, a Storm Petrel, a Whimbrel, 2 adult summer Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich Terns going south. At the Vico Road, Killiney Hill a female Peregrine with 2 fledged juveniles were in the area. One of the juvs. was feeding on a passerine in the tall trees above White Rock whilst the other youngster was flying around with the adult. NK NTK

Moorhen on the canal, Mespil Road - the Victoria Beckham of the waterfowl set! Rosemary Doyle 

30 June, 2008
Common Terns hawking in the Tolka basin between East Point and Fairview also juvenile Linnets around the footpath. JG

Sunday 29 June, 2008
Adult Peregrine Falcon present on a ledge at the top of the east side of the Central bank on Dame Street for an hour this evening. LB  

Male Ruff at Swords. Eric Dempsey

Saturday 28 June, 2008
At Swords today were two adult Ruffs...a male and female.ED See Eric's photo of moulting male above. A tercel Peregrine flew south-east over our garden near Cabinteely. NK NTK

 Good news from the Kilcoole Little Tern colony. 41 chicks have hatched so far and there are still 106 eggs from a total of 67 nests. 140 adults altogether. Numbers of Sandwich Terns resting in Webb's field have been building up with 130+ there today. There was a 1st-summer Little Gull with them also. The Lapwings nesting in Webb's have successfully raised 2 juveniles. A Common Sandpiper and 2 Black-tailed Godwits were the only waders of note. At Broadlough there was 15+ Little Egrets, 4 Common Sandpipers, 45+ Sandwich Terns and the regular hybrid Carrion X Hooded Crow. There were plenty of Viviparous Lizards about the dunes today also. NTK Marsh Harrier hunting between Five Mile Point & Killoughter yesterday.Also 2 Cuckoos. One Buzzard over N11 near Glen of the Downs.AR

26 June, 2008
2 Arctic Skuas (a dark phase adult and a pale sub-adult type) were harassing terns trying to enter the Liffey at  Poolbeg. NK

At Swords today a first summer Greenland White-fronted Goose, possibly a feral bird?Also 3 Common Sandpipers. RV   At Bremore this morning early there were at least 3 Storm Petrels feeding fairly close in offshore. This evening 3 Arctic Skuas together offshore at Bremore chasing Terns for a while, before drifting south. Also 1 Storm Petrel, 1 Roseate Tern and the Little Egret still in the area.AK Sand Martins are nesting in cliffs along the beach North of the Martello Tower at Ballbrigan.Tree Sparrow seen a little further north west of the beach.Shellduck family with ten chicks seen from the hide at Rogerstown. JF GFr

Tree Sparrow. John Fox

25 June, 2008
Baltray Little Terns got hit badly early this morning by avian predators...gulls are main suspect. From an impressive colony total of 34 nests (up from last year's 21 nests), they've lost 44 eggs and 2 chicks. Only 21 eggs left.HB At Bremore/Cardy Rocks an adult summer Mediterranean Gull flew south. An adult winter plumage Red-throated Diver was offshore and the Little Egret was still present.AK

Shelduck Family Party. John Fox

24 June, 2008
A herd of 8 Mute Swans under the Ha'penny bridge in the gloaming this evening. LB Two juvenile Dippers on the Dodder near the Blue Haven pub being fed by adults. Blackcaps still singing there also . RV

Its all about colour - love your Linnets!

Linnet at Howth. One of a pair nesting. More colour from Bill Quinn

23 June, 2008
Male Sparrowhawk flew into Tolka Valley Park at Mulhuddart. AR At Dublin Port today 183 Common Terns ringed (182 chicks, 1 adult)   64 chicks found dead (mainly under one week, due to recent very heavy rain and gales). OM

 

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