31 May 2014
Tolka River Valley Park: Spotted Flycatcher, female Mandarin
with only 2 chicks & Treecreeper spotted at Ashtown
bridge area, Tolka River Valley Park, 7.30am. BC
28 May 2014
Glenasmole: Cuckoo and Spotted Flycatcher.SH
25 May 2014
Ballyfermot: See photo below of Blackbird with a
deformed upper mandible. This is her second year to
visit the garden and has adapted her eating style to turning her
head to scoop up food. She also prises worms out of
the soil between the flagstones quite readily with her hooked
bill. Needless to say, she has difficulty in picking at apples but
her partner feeds on these. I am not sure how she manages to
feed her young (and she does appear to be collecting and bringing
food to a nest). Let's hope her offspring haven't inherited her
genetic default.RD
Blackbird (f) with
decurved upper mandible in Ballyfermot garden (Photo by Rosemary
Doyle)
22 May 2014
Heron resting over the
river in the Botanic Gardens (Photo by Andy Friel)
21 May 2014
Killester: We had our first sighting of 2 Swifts
(flying silently) here in Killester this evening.MH
Baldoyle: 12 Sedge Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers,
1 Whitethroat, 2 families of Stonechats, 1 Yellowhammer,
8 Lapwing, 2 Stock Doves, 1 Kestrel. Lots of Greenfinch,
Meadow Pipit and Skylark also.EK
Sedge Warbler at Baldoyle (Photo by
Edd Kealy)
Grasshopper Warbler at Baldoyle (Photo by Edd Kealy)
Reed Bunting (f) at Bull Island (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
18 May 2014
A Mute Swan pair with 6 Cygnets hitching a ride
from mammy on the Royal Canal, Ashtown.BC
Mute Swan with 1 cygnet
on Royal Canal, Ashtown...but what's hanging out the
back?.... (Photos
by Brian Carruthers)
ahhh, that's where the other
five are hiding
17 May 2014
Tolka River Park: Noticeable birds... Kingfisher
fly-by, Blackcap (fm), Reed Bunting, Cormorant,
Sparrowhawk (fm), Goldcrest, Grey Heron
(ringed), Grey Wagtail holding territory from a Dipper.BC
Dipper at Tolka River Park (Photo by
Brian Carruthers)
15 May 2014
Celbridge: A Long-eared Owl hunting from 21:25pm
onwards outside of Celbridge.AR
House Martin collecting
mud for nest building in Lucan (Photo by Liam Kane)
Spotted Flycatcher at
Turvey Park (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
Goldcrest at Turvey Park (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
Dunnock at Turvey Park (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
Treecreeper at Turvey Park (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
13 May 2014
Dun Laoghaire: 2 Wheatear seen on the West Pier.JC
Wheatear on West Pier,
Dun Laoghaire (Photo by James Cavanagh)
12 May 2014
Phoenix Park: 2 Sparrowhawks & fleeting glimpse of
an adult Long-eared Owl.AR
Tolka Valley Park Finglas: 6 Buzzards, a female Sparrowhawk
& a Dipper.AR
Whitethroat at Howth,
near cliff path (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
8 May 2014
Howth: Four Swifts flying (silently) over the Baily
from 14.30 today.HQ
Tolka River Valley Park: Little Egrets are still
around, so hopefully they could be a nesting pair, and not just
resting. Small male Buzzard out hunting, Grey
Wagtails & Dipper fishing. 2 Kingfisher also
about.BC
Male Mandarin Duck on Tolka
River (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
6 May 2014
Clontarf: a Cuckoo in garden in Clontarf. Alas,
circumstances were a bit unfortunate in that the bird was dead and
lay semi-plucked on the lawn – I suspect that we may have
disturbed a Sparrowhawk who had taken the bird.DF
5 May 2014
Tolka River Valley Park Finglas: My early morning dog walk from 6am
to 8-30am, on a mild (12c) dry dull day, along the Tolka River
Bank Finglas, a total of 6.3 klms. Birds
spotted: Buzzard over Ashtown with female Mandarin
Duck with 6 chicks in river just east of Ashtown bridge, 2 Little
Egrets resting/nesting in tree with 2 Bullfinch and a Goldcrest
west of Scribblestown estate. 1 Mute Swan, 9 Swallows,
3 House Martins, 2 Swifts in-around the 'Three
ponds'. Numerous Mallards, Coots, a male Mandarin,
Little Grebes, Moorhens in East & West ponds
with a single Reed Bunting in reedbed. 2 Kingfisher
flybys, one @ the Marsh east of Ratoath Road Bridge with 2 Dippers
other @ the metal foot bridge west of Ratoath Road Bridge with a
hunting Sparrowhawk near by. Numerous Woodpigeons, Collared
Doves, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Wrens,
Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Jackdaws,
Rooks, Hooded Crows, Magpies, Starlings,
House Sparrows, Chaffinch, Greenfinch along
the walk. At least 8 Grey Wagtails along my full walk, with
3 Pied Wagtails & 3 Dunnocks with Pheasants
heard calling in the pitch & putt course 2 Mistle Thrush
feeding on the football pitches with a small flock of Linnets
& Goldfinch and more Swallows overhead. A single
Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcaps (pair seen) and Chiffchaffs
calling @ Tolka Vale wood, Glasnevin.BC
Grey Heron with ring at
Tolka River Valley Park (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
4 May 2014
Dublin 8: Five Swifts flying over Washington
Street, SCR @ 7.00p.m. MS
3 May 2014
Barnacle Goose at
Broadmeadows Estuary (Photo
by Ita Martin)
Great Northern Diver at Malahide (Photo by Ita Martin)
2 May 2014
Balbriggan and beyond: Walked from Balbriggan Station to
Laytown Station. The following birds were seen before reaching the
border with Meath: 1 singing Whitethroat, 12 Golden
Plovers in a crop field, 19 Whimbrel on the shoreline
and 1 Buzzard being mobbed by crows.LO'B
Collared Dove at Malahide
(Photo by Ita Martin)
Juvenile Robin at Malahide
(Photo by Ita Martin)
