THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS  and ADVISERS DURING   May 2011...

 Philip Clancy, Shay Connolly, Rosemary Doyle, Nicola Dunphy, Shane Farrell, John Fox, Ger Franck, Tom Gregan,
Sean Harrington, Michael Harris, Mir Harris, Edd Kealy, Aidan Kelly, Gary De Lacy, Francois Mullan, Conor Nolan, 
Jimmy O'Byrne, Neil O'Reilly, Adrian Rooney, Brendan Sheils, Marie Sinnott, 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.

 
 



31 May 2011

Dublin 6 at 7.40 a.m.:  1 Kestrel and 12 Swifts vying for airspace over Dartmouth Square early this morning.RD

In the evening there were two Cuckoos together along the hedgerows and bushes at Bremore, Balbriggan, at least one of which seemed to be looking for Meadow Pipit nests. My first Cuckoo sightings in this area.AK


30 May 2011
Walking between Bray and Greystones today I got some great sightings of lots Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Black-backed Gulls. There were also many Black Guillemots, Guillemots and Razorbills.  I also spotted a Merlin and 2 Peregrine.  From the dart on the way home just outside Dalkey, I spotted a pod of at least 6 Dolphins.EK

Fulmar at Greystones (Photo by Edd Kealy)


Peregrine at Greystones (Photo by Edd Kealy)






27 May 2011
A Buzzard being mobbed by a crow over Castlecurragh estate in Mulhuddart at noon today.AR

Black Pheasant seen near junction 10 on the M8 (Tipperary).CW

Black Pheasant (Photo by Ciaran Walsh)




26 May 2011

Leucistic Blackbird at Bushy Park (Photo by Tom Gregan)





24 May 2011
A Kestrel hovering over St.Mochta's soccer pitch in Carpenterstown, Dublin 15 on Tuesday afternoon.AR



22 May 2011
At Rogerstown today there was a Cuckoo, being chased by a Hooded Crow. Two Brent Geese were in the flooded field, one of which has an injured wing.AK


Tolka Trip to Wicklow Woodlands:  at Glendalough Upper Lake we saw several Blue, Great and Coal Tits, 1 Blackcap, 1 Treecreeper, several Spotted Flycatcher and Chaffinch, but the highlight was a Wood Warbler showing very well (see photo below).   Further on we saw brief glimpses of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, which was lovely to see after Dick Coombes informative talk on the subject on Thursday last.  On the road toward Sally's gap we saw a family of at least five Crossbills (1 male, 1 female and 3 juveniles).  At Coronation Wood we had at a male and female Whinchat,  1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 2 Raven, and lots of the usual woodland passerines.RD 


Wood Warbler at Glendalough (Photo by Philip Clancy)


Swallow in the rain at Glendalough (Photo by Edd Kealy)




19 May 2011
Cupidstown Hill, Kilteel:  2 calling male Whitethroats, 2 Buzzards, 3 Ravens, 4 Mistle Thrush, 4 Linnets and 1 Song Thrush.JO'B


17 May 2011
I was walking today by the Royal Canal near Phibsboro and I got a spectacular display from some Tufted Ducks. Two males were fighting over a single female and having driven off his competition the victorious male claimed his reward. There were six Tufted ducks in all, 4 males and 2 females with a previously estabilished pair. Overhead 12+ Swifts and numerous Swallows.EK 

Tufted Duck in a hurry at Phibsboro (Photo by Edd Kealy)




15 May 2011:     National Dawn Chorus Day
We are delighted to say that 50 bright-eyed and bushy people joined us at the Botanic Gardens this morning at 5 a.m.  Some of the birds, namely the Blackbird and Song Thrush, were already awake and had started singing before our arrival and it wasn't long before Robin and Woodpigeon joined in.  Wren, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, Hooded Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Great Tit and Chaffinch were the most vocal participants in the concert with a Pheasant chipping in the odd unexpected note.   Down by the river we saw, a Juvenille Dipper, Mallard with 4 ducklings and a Grey Heron.  Many thanks to Dr Matthew Jebb for permitting us entry into the gardens at such an early time.RD


Peregrine at Dalkey (Photo by Neil O'Reilly)







13 May 2011

One of five fledged Blackbirds in Drogheda garden (Photo by Brendan Sheils)





12 May 2011
A female Marsh Harrier was watched for over 15 minutes tonight from Balbriggan apartment, as it flew north over the sea, fairly close to shore, along the coast at Balbriggan. It flew past Bremore Point and was eventually lost to sight, heading west and flying quite high, towards the Julianstown/Drogheda direction.AK



9 May 2011

More sightings of Swifts today.  

Leeson Street:  8 Swifts seen at Leeson Street at 8 a.m. this morning.RD     
Fairview:  6 Swifts present this evening at 6.30.JF

Swift at Fairview (Photo by John Fox)




Meanwhile, while we in the east are revelling in all the signs of Spring, Mir and Michael have started their Christmas countdown and sent us 2 Turtle Doves from Clifden.

Turtle Dove in a Clifden garden (Photo by Michael Harris)

Turtle Dove in a Clifden garden (Photo by Michael Harris)



8 May 2011
S.C.R. Dublin:  4 Swifts seen in the morning.MS


7 May 2011

Ranelagh:  7 Swifts circling over Ranelagh this evening.ND

Single Swift over Harmonstown DART station (4pm).CN

Clogherhead: Lots of migrants on headland. 1 Tree Pipit (perched on posts).  Lots of singing Skylark, Linnet, Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler.  Down along shoreline, plenty of Whimbrels, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern and 2 Kittiwake.BS


4 May 2011
A Whimbrel today on the Bull Island between the Wooden Bridge and the Causeway.GF

Whimbrel at the Bull Island (Photo by Ger Franck)







3 May 2011
At 7.30 a.m. one Black Guillemot on the Liffey at Arran Quay.RD

Whitethroat (ringed) at Howth (Photo by John Fox)

Stonechat (male) at Howth (Photo by John Fox)





2 May 2011

Kingfisher (female) at Rathfarnham (Photo by Shay Connolly)



Corkagh Park:  Carrion Crow x 2, Widgeon x 2, Mute Swan on nest, Coot on nest. My first sighting of Mallard ducklings this year (1 x 5 & 1 x 4), Treecreeper x 1, Reed Bunting x 2, Kestrel x 1 being mobbed by Starlings.SH


Blessington Basin:  No Smew, but Mandarin Duck, Wood Duck, Silver Bahama and White-cheeked Bahama Pintail all present.

White-cheeked Bahama Pintail                                                                                           Silver Bahama Pintail    (Photos by Francois Mullan)




Acrobatic Wren at Red Rock, Howth (Photo by Ger Franck)
      





1 May 2011 
On M3 near Dunshaughlin: 2 separate Kestrels. AR & GdeL

A Cuckoo was present for several hours yesterday feeding in Oldtown Wood, Phoenix Park.  No sign of the Woodpecker.SF

Night Heron at Bunmahon, County Waterford (Photo by Philip Clancy)





 
 


Back to Recent Sightings