31 March 2012
N4 at Liffey Valley: A Buzzard at 09:30am.AR&PH
Kilcoole nature reserve: Low numbers of Shelduck, Teal
& Mallard, large flock of Brent Geese, Mute
Swan, 1 Little Grebe, and Skylark. Waders:
Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit,
roosting 'flock' of Shags with 1 Little Egret, Great
Northern Diver. Others, not 100% confident about id: Small
groups Common Terns heading north, 3 Goosander.EMcC
Tachumshin, Co. Wexford: Black-Winged
Stilt still present at Tacumshin today.PC
Black-winged
Stilt at
Tachumshin (Photo by Philip Clancy)
Greenfinch in Dundalk garden (Photo
by Brendan Shiels)
30 March 2012
Deansgrange: A Siberian
Chiffchaff (subspecies tristis) gave
excellent views this afternoon as it fed in the trees along the
stream that runs through Clonkeen Park, between Supervalu
Deansgrange & Meadowvale Tennis Club from 14:15 to 15:00. It
was very vocal, repeatedly giving the distinctive, plaintive
'(h)eep' or '(s)eep' call which was useful in locating the bird as
it flit about. This call is markedly different to that of our own
Chiffchaffs (subspecies collybita) which gives a more
drawn out, di-syllabic 'hu-weet' call. It is also in active moult,
looking rather messy around the face, is growing its central tail
feathers & looks set to drop some of its upper tertials. This
state of moult for the time of year is another feature which can
help distinguish tristis from collybita.
The bird is a much colder grey-brown overall, with green edged
flight feathers, jet black legs & feet, a very dark bill &
strikingly pale underparts compared to collybita. A little
cracker! NTK & NK
29 March 2012
This morning at Poolbeg along the Great South Wall in addition
to the usual Brent Geese, Kittiwakes and Black
Guillemots(10), we were treated to a feeding frenzy just
south-east of the Half Moon swimming club. We counted 30 Great-crested
Grebes in all their summer finery, 30+ Sandwich Terns
and 5 Gannets. A little further on there were 2 Razorbills
and a Red-throated Diver coming into summer
plumage.AT&FT
Bunnmahon, Co. Waterford: saw a Purple
Heron that was found by Daniel Weldon (1st
county record). Other birds seen on the day included an untagged
Redkite (1st in 31years in Waterford), 2 Green Sandpiper,
2 Whimbrel, Kingfisher, Water Rail and 2 Swallows.PC
Hen Harrier at Rogerstown
(Photo by Harry Bailey)
28 March 2012
Wicklow: 20 Sandmartins digging at nest holes and
1 Willow Warbler singing in west Wicklow today.PC
Malahide private garden: We have seen today a Wren,
our usual pair of Collared Doves, pair of Goldfinches,
Sparrows, Greenfinch, Robin, Blackbird,
Magpies, Chaffinch, Blue Tit and Coal Tit.MaryannH
Curlew flying over Bull
Island (Photo by Eric Doggett)
Short-eared Owl at
Rogerstown (Photo by Harry Bailey)
27 March 2012
ECNR news: I spent the day
birding around the BirdWatch Ireland East Coast Nature Reserve,
Six Mile Point & Five Mile Point area along the Wicklow
coastline, clocking up a list of 64 species in 10 hours. ECNR
produced a single Swallow flying north, 3 Willow
Warblers, a Chiffchaff & a Blackcap all in
song, 3 Buzzards, a singing Yellowhammer, 16 Stock
Doves, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Little Grebes, 21 Teal,
a pair of Shoveler, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Water Rail,
6 Ravens & a male Stonechat. Good numbers of
divers were present offshore from Six Mile Point consisting of 35+
Red-throated (including many in full summer plumage) &
a single Great Northern. 9 Sandwich Terns, 7 Turnstone
& a Lesser Black-backed Gull were also seen migrating
north along the coast. A further 5 Buzzards, a Kestrel
& 2 pairs of Stonechats were seen at the reedbed south
of Five Mile Point. Highlight of the day however was the rather
unexpected finding of a Siberian
Chiffchaff that spent two hours (10:45-12:45)
ranging between the reedbed boardwalk in ECNR & the garden at
Six Mile Point. It showed very well at times, called frequently
& gave some snatches of song allowing for the identification
to be confirmed. NTK
Male Linnet
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Female Linnet
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26 March 2012
A touch of winter and summer in west Wicklow today with 40 Fieldfare
and 1 Swallow seen.PC
Bull Island: 13 Sandwich Terns at the South Lagoon. A Snipe
in the Reed Marsh near the Bull Wall.GF
25 March 2012
County Wicklow: Willow Warblers were singing at
Trooperstown (Laragh) and Kilmacanogue, this afternoon.OM
County Wicklow: Avoca & Meeting of the Waters: 2 Red
Kites, 2 Raven, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk
& 6 Buzzards; also N11/Redcross: 5 Red Kites
over N11 close to “The Tap” pub, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel
& 4 Buzzards.AR&GdeL
Clogerhead, Co. Louth: 20+ Chiffchaff, 20+ Willow
Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit (showing well at garden hedgerow
beside Car Park), 5 Stonechat, 10 Whimbrel
passing south. Also a possible 1 female Ring Ouzel
(possible flushed along headland track), when bird flushed it
showed quite pale wings which stood out quite distinctivley in
contrast to dark body in flight.BS
In Wexford today: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Black Redstart,
10 Swallows & 1 House Martin at Churchtown;
Lady's Island: 50 Mediterranean Gulls, 200+ Sandwich
Terns; Also seen at
Lingstown in the evening: 4 Hen Harrier and then the
best birds of the day flew by, 2 Spoonbill
flying over the reed bed heading inland.PC
Reed Bunting at The Royal
Canal near Enfield (Photo by Jenny Ryan)
24 March 2012
Rogerstown: 1 Hen Harrier (female), 1 Kestrel, 1
Chiffchaff in song, 2 Ruff, 1 Greenshank;
Baltray: 1 Ruff present out on the estuary, 2 Rock
Pipit. Baltray. Scarce bird for this area. My first sighting
of Rock Pipit at Baltray Estuary; and
Drogheda: Had a Swift flying over my house during the
afternoon.BS
Strawberry Beds: A female Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, a Jay
& 5 Buzzards soaring over Liffey; also
Leixlip Confey: 2 Buzzards.AR&GdeL
Rock Pipit at Baltray (Photo
by Brendan Sheils)
23 March 2012
Rogerstown: 5 Avocets
at Rogerstown today (first spotted by Sean Cullen) as well as 1 Short-Eared Owl, 3 Swallows;
also
Howth: 2 Snow Bunting at Howth.PC,GF,EK
Four of the 5
Avocets
at Rogerstown (Photo by Philip Clancy)
Snow Bunting at Howth (Photo
by Edd Kealy)
Grey Partridge at Rogerstown
(Photo by Philip Clancy)
Inchicore: Nice sighting of a male Kingfisher
this morning along the Camac River in Inchicore. This river has
made a remarkable recovery over the last 3 years after years of
pollution; there are now regular sightings of Grey Wagtails,
plenty of trout and even an otter and now a lovely Kingfisher.IS
Kestrel at Sutton Dart station.CM
Flock of 500-600 Black-tailed Godwits at Baldoyle being
harassed by a male Peregrine Falcon. Flock included 4
colour ringed birds.CM
Black-tailed Godwits at
Baldoyle (Photo by Cian Merne)
Sparrowhawk with Blue
Tit(-bit) at the Naul (Photo by Joe Curtis)
Wren in Rathgar Garden (Photo by
Tom Gregan)
Heron at Rogerstown (Photo by Harry
Bailey)
22 March 2012
Little Egret at Ballinteer,
Dublin (Photo by Gerard Keogh)
21 March 2012
Deerpark, Howth: 2 Chiffchaffs singing.GF
Chiffchaff at Howth Head
(Photo by Ger Franck)
Grey Wagtail at Tolka Valley
Park (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
20 March 2012
Black-tailed Godwits at
Baldoyle including a colour ringed one (Photo by Cian Merne)
Bullfinch at Rogerstown (Photo by Vincent Hall)
19 March 2012
Rogerstown: 3 Kestrels, 4 Buzzards & a
ringtail Hen Harrier at Rogerstown today.AR
Drogheda: Common
Crane showing well at Beaulieu Pond, Drogheda. Bird
showing well in Stubble field at rear of the pond throughtout the
morning and also viewed out on the estuary, giving superb views.BS
Common Crane seen in
Drogheda (Photo by Brendan Sheils)
Grey Heron at Grand Canal Naas (Photo by Marie O'Brien)
18 March 2012
Howth Harbour: 2 Snow Buntings at Howth Harbour.DMacP
Snow Bunting at Howth
Harbour (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
Stonechat (f) at Howth Head
cliff walk (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
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Short-eared Owl at Rogerstown (Photo by Neil O'Reilly)
17 March 2012
Slieve Blooms, Co. Laois: Flock of 10 Raven in Glendine
Gap; also 2 male Hen Harriers (one skydancing), 3 Buzzards,
2 Kestrels & a Sparrowhawk at Ridge of Capard.
AR
Ballinclamper, Co. Waterford: 1 Black Redstart,
1 Northern Wheater, 22 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Greenshank,
46 Brent Geese. RD
Bray Harbour: A fine adult Ring-billed Gull (nearly
finished coming out of winter plumage, with just a few grey
feathers at the back of its head) at Bray Harbour at half tide
(10.00 hrs).OM
Newcastle Nature Reserve, Co. Wicklow: Several Buzzards,
6 Shoveler, 20+Teal, 1 Wigeon, 2 Little
Egret, 8 Mallard, 5 Chaffinch,2 Bullfinch,
1 Songthrush.BS
Buzzard at Newcastle Nature
Reserve (Photo by Brendan Sheils)
16 March 2012
Broadmeadows estuary in Swords: Sightings of note were 1 Jack
Snipe (feeding briefly in the open), 1 Snipe, 1
1st-winter Iceland Gull, 1 Buzzard. Also lots of Redshank,
30 Brent Geese, 4 Greenshank, 5 Great-crested
Grebes, Dunlin, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits.ED,
JF, GF
Iceland Gull, 1st
Winter, see at Broadmeadows estuary (Photo by Edd Kealy)
14 March 2012
Reed Bunting seen at
Bull Island near St. Annes Golf Club (Photo by Vincent Hall)
Skylark seen at Bull
Island near St. Annes Golf Club (Photo by Vincent Hall)
13 March 2012
Dublin Garden: Blackcap
singing in my garden this am, I thought my Robin had upgraded.
Blackbird and Robin nestbuilding is very advanced.DMcC
Dipper in Tolka Valley Park,
on the Tolka River (Photo by Vincent Hall)
11 March 2012
Drumcondra: I saw a Little Egret on the bank of the Tolka
river at Drumcondra to day.MirH
Hen Harrier hunting at
Turvey (Photo by Neil O'Reilly)
Rogerstown - Turvey Hide: Brian Carruthers wardening
was joined by Ann Hegerty & Friends, John Fields, Adrian
Rooney & Liam Kane
Some of the birds we spotted from hide & two walks were Water
Rail, Grey Plover, Starlings, Magpies, Long-tailed
& Blue & Coal & Great Tits, Song
Thrush, Goldcrest, Linnets, Dunnocks, Jackdaws,
Hoodies, Rooks, House Sparrows, Moorhen, Black-tailed
& Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank & Greenshanks, Lapwing,
Sanderling, Gulls, Cormorants, Fieldfare, Blackbird, Grey
Partridge, Brent Geese, Curlew, Wigeon, Teals, Little Egrets,
Shelduck, Mallard, Pheasants, Heron, Hen Harrier, Buzzards,
Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, Oystercatchers, Chaffinch &
Greenfinch & Bullfinch & Goldfinche, 60+Redpolls,
Collard Doves, Woodies, Mipits, Pied Wagtails, Wrens, Robins, Reed
Buntings, Yellowhammers. With the two stand out sightings of a
male Wheatear & a great display by a hunting Short-eared
Owl and the 3 birds that were seen, but not by me, where Red
Kites, Bramblings & Ruffs.BC
Skylark at Bull Island
(Photo by Brian Carruthers)
10 March 2012
Arklow: One Chiffchaff singing beside Arklow Pond.OM
M50 at Finglas: A Kestrel. AR
Strawberry Beds: A Buzzard. AR
Rogerstown: A ringtail Hen Harrier, a Kestrel, 5 Buzzards
over Baleally Dump, a Peregrine & 2 released Red
Kites in flooded field.AR
Also at Rogerstown while Adrian was looking at the Peregrine...a Short-eared
Owl at 11:15am west of north hide.VT & SM
Kestrel at North Bull Island
(Photo by Brian McDonnell)
Merlin at Bull Island (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
8 March 2012
Tolka Valley Park: 1 Yellowhammer in Tolka Valley
Park near the Ashtown end. Also 1 Little Egret right near
the ponds at the Dublin City parks depot in Tolka Valley and also,
our resident Grey Heron.MH
Mirror, Mirror on the garden wall....
Long-tailed Tit in Dublin
garden (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
Blue Tit in Dublin garden
(Photo by Dave MacPherson)
Wren at Oldtown Wood,
Phoenix Park (Photo by
Harry Bailey)
7 March 2012
Chough at Barley Cove,
Co.Cork (Photo by Ciaran Walsh)
6 March 2012
Bull Island: Seen this morning around 8-15am at northern
saltmarsh, Bull Island 2 Stonechats (pair), 1 Merlin,
1 Peregrine, 200+ Golden Plovers, and 2 Short-eared
Owls.BC&TC
Short-eared Owl at North
Bull Island (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
5 March 2012
Robin at Howth Head (Photo by
Harry Bailey)
4 March 2012
Bull Island: 2 Short-eared Owls & a Merlin
at northern saltmarsh this afternoon.AR&PH
Baldoyle: 2 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 10 Reed
Buntings, 2 Greenshank, 2 Stonechat.EK
Buzzard - neck turned for
better view at Baldoyle (Photo by Edd Kealy)
Blackrock, County Louth: 8 Twite showing very well along
the beach. Dunlin and Golden Plover with some summer
plumaged adults. Giles Quay: 15 Black Guillemot in full
summer Plumage. Clogherhead + Baltay: Skylark, Reed
Bunting and Meadow Pipit in Song.BS
Twite at Blackrock County Louth
(Photo by Brendan Sheils)
Glasnevin: Last year, in our garden, we had up to six
resident Collared Doves. Now, we have only two.FM
Collared Dove in Glasnevin
Garden (Photo by Francois Mullan)
Blackbird basking in the
Spring sunshine in a Glasnevin Garden (Photo by Francois Mullan)
3 March 2012
Strawberry Beds: 3 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk
& 1 Kestrel in the Stawberry Beds around the West Link
Toll Bridge area.AR
Water Rail at Turvey hide
Rogerstown (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
Grey Partridges at Rogerstown
(Photo by Dave MacPherson)
Blackcap (female) at Blackrock (Photo
by Colin Rigney)
1 March 2012
Brent Geese at Rogerstown
Estuary (Photo by Jenny Ryan)
Yellowhammer at Rogerstown
Estuary (Photo by Jenny Ryan)
Tree Sparrow in Swords Garden
(Photo by Harry Bailey)
Greenfinch in Swords Garden (Photo by
Harry Bailey)
Chaffinch
in Swords Garden (Photo by Harry Bailey)
