THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS and ADVISERS DURING MAY, JUNE 2007
Eric Dempsey, John Fox, Gerald Frank, Sean Geraty, Brian M Gormley, Kieran Grace, John Hammond, Sean Hogan, Noel Keogh, Niall T Keogh, Aidan Kelly, Pat Lenihan, Oscar Merne, Pirmin Nietlisbach, Dermot O Mahony, Heather Quinn, Adrian Rooney, Moray Souter, Robert Vaughan, David Walsh.
Saturday
30 June 2007
A first year Little Gull was again seen off Balbriggan.
AK 5 first summer Mediterranean Gull was at Scotsman Bay, Dun
Laoghaire. Two
more 1st summers and a 2nd summer bird were at Merrion Gates.ED At
Rogerstown there were 15 Greenshank and 5 Stock Doves. GF
Common Sandpiper at Swords. Pat Lenihan
29
June, 2007
At Malahide Estuary there was one Adult Little Gull
and one Common Sandpiper. GFOffshore at the Poolbeg a minimum of 7
Bottlenose Dolphins and a pale adult Arctic Skua
were seen. A Little Tern was seen with some roosting terns off
Shelly Beach. (NK)
28
June, 2007
20 Sandmartins and 4 Housemartins were at Booterstown Marsh this
morning.SH 2 Bottlenose Dolphins were seen off the Poolbeg. (NK)
27
June, 2007
A 1st. Yr. Little Gull was seen this morning at Bremore,
Balbriggan. AK
26
June, 2007
At the Poolbeg there were 2 Arctic Skuas (a
dark phase adult and a light phase sub-adult) offshore harassing terns.
Also : 1 Common Scoter was seen in Dublin
Bay, 2 juvenile Peregrines were on the Pigeon House chimneys (with
2 adults seen there the previous day), and 2 hybrid Carrion X Hooded
Crows were at Shelly Beach. (NK)
25
June, 2007
Two adult summer Little Gulls at Swords this evening.AK
Puffin at Ireland's Eye, Bill Quinn
Saturday
23 June, 2007
Highlights from today's Tolka Branch outing to Ireland's Eye included
12 Puffins on the water with 7 more visible in their burrows, a
pair of Peregrine Falcons and hunderds of other breeding seabirds.
A separate trip report with photos will be posted on the Trip Report
section later.LB At Kilcoole there were 2 Common Sandpipers in The
Breaches, 11 Common Scoter flying north at sea, 2 male Wigeon
in the channels and a juvenile Peregrine. At Newcastle Sea Road
there was a hepatic female Cuckoo. (NK)
20
June, 2007
At Kilcoole the sub-adult Spoonbill is still present and
showing well in Webb's field. This is the same bird as that seen in North
Dublin over the weekend and looks like a 2nd summer bird. The
south-easterly wind, accompanied by a heavy shower of rain blew a
sub-adult Pomarine Skua into Webb's field where it rested in the
grass for c.20 minutes up until 09:10am when it got up and flew north
over the BWI reserve and out to sea. A female Wigeon, 2 Little
Egrets and 18 Cormorants were also present. At the north end of
Broadlough there were 12 Little Egrets, a pair of Bullfinches
and several singing Whitethroats. NTK et al
19
June, 2007
A Black Guillemot was seen in front of the IFSC at lunchtime today. In the afternoon
there was a family of 5 Grey Wagtails on the Dodder behind
Rathfarnham shopping centre - no sign of the Rathfarnham Dippers -
wonder where they are breeding??? In Bushy Park there were a pair of Little
Grebes, 5 pairs of Tufted Duck and at least 4 singing Blackcaps.
RV
Little Grebe with Chicks in Phoenix Park this week. Photos John Fox
Sunday
17 June, 2007
1 Red-throated Diver in non-breeding plumage was seen offshore
at Balbriggan also 1 Arctic Skua. AK
Saturday
16 June, 2007
The Spoonbill was refound this evening at
Corballis, northside of the outer Malahide estuary and was present until
Sunday morning 17 June.
AK An Adult Glaucous Gull was seen on the beach and
offshore just south of 6 mile point at Newcastle, Co Wicklow.MS At
Balbriggan 24 Common Scoter were seen flying south and there
was 1 Arctic Skua offshore.AK Little Grebes, both
parents and two chicks were seen today at
the Phoenix Park. Also on the same pond, 4 Moor
Hens, 4 Coots and 2 Chicks.
Spoonbill, Corballis. Aidan Kelly
14 June, 2007
A Spoonbill was seen flying south
at Balbriggan this evening. AK We haven't consulted him yet but we
feel that the next branch meeting should be held in AKs apartment!!!
13
June, 2007
Pale phase Pomarine Skua with full
tail seen at a distance flying south from Bremore, Balbriggan this
evening. AK In the Newcastle-Kilcoole
area today the drake Garganey is still present and showing well in
the channels south of the Breaches. This bird has been present for over a
month now, and is starting to moult into eclipse plumage. A drake Wigeon,
a pair of Gadwall and a Coot with 2 chicks were also
seen in the channels. c.80 Little Terns are
present at the colony. Breeding pairs of Skylarks and Ringed
Plover are also availing of the protection afforded to the Terns, with
young of both species seen on the beach. On the marsh, 10 Little
Egrets and c.20 Dunlin were seen, along with 4 pairs of Shelduck
with 9, 7, 5 and 11 chicks respectively.NTK A Stock Dove was seen yesterday evening at the national basketball arena in
Tallaght. RV
12
June, 2007
At Merrion Strand, 7 Manx Shearwaters seen flying south towards Dun Laoire
at 8.30 this evening. SH
Red-necked Phalarope, Eric Dempsey Boora Parkland, Co Offaly |
Sunday
10 June, 2007
Its all happening on the East Cost but the star bird of the day within the commuter belt was a gorgeous
female Red-Necked Phalarope at
Boora Parkland (formerly known as Boora Bog). Also noted in the area was 1
Snipe, 1 Hen Harrier, 3 Ravens, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Mistle Thrush.
Sedge Warblers, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Reed Buntings, Skylarks,
Lapwing, Tufted Duck were all plentiful this morning in sun-drenched
Co Offaly. HQ
Meanwhile in Swords today 4 Avocets were observed. KG And on Ireland's Eye today 20+ pairs of Puffins were seen at their nesting burrows. OM
8
June, 2007
1st. Sm. Little Gull feeding
offshore around the Cardy Rocks, Bremore, Balbriggan at 18.45. AK
2 Sparrowhawks seen on the main road in Phoenix Park this
morning.AR
7
June, 2007
27 species and nearly 300 individual birds were seen in the Phoenix Park
between 6 and 9 am this morning. Blackcaps, Jays, Long-tailed Tits, Treecreepers,
among the highlights. OM
See what's in store for
you on the next Tolka Branch outing to Ireland's Eye on 23 June
2007!
The Gannet Stack, Ireland's Eye. Photo Oscar Merne |
Monday
4 June, 2007
What appears to be an albino Shag was seen on the cliffs at Bray Head
on 4 June. The bird was totally cream coloured with some very light
streaking of brown.MS
On Ireland's Eye today there were very good numbers of breeding
seabirds including circa 350 apparently occupied Gannet nests -
see photo above. Also
present were a pair of Peregrine Falcons over the main Gannet
stack, 12 Linnets, 6 Swallows, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Brent
Goose (this flightless individual has been present for a few years), 1
Reed Bunting, 1 Blackbird,1 Wheatear. OM LB
31
May, 2007
In this otherwise very quiet week......city centre workers, visitors
and readers of our nest news page may be interested to know that three
pairs of Herring Gulls have built nests on the rooftops around
Kildare Street, Molesworth Street and Schoolhouse Lane in Dublin 2 and we
have in the last week seen fledged young gulls in the area. LB
Sunday
27 May 2007
4 Lesser Black- backed Gulls, two adults and two sub-adults have been
seen around the Ha'penny Bridge area in the city centre area all week. LB
Saturday
26 May 2007
12 Tufted Ducks on the Dodder this evening in Ballsbridge. LB
23
May 2007
2 Great Northern Divers in full summer plumage seen off Bremore,
Balbriggan this evening. AK
22
May 2007
At Knock Lake this evening there was a single male Garganey.
This rare summer visitor is an excellent record for Dublin. DOM
Saturday
19 May 2007
At this morning's Tolka Branch outing to Glendalough the early birders
got good views of the Redstart before
the rain started. Good numbers of Treecreepers coming and going from their nests.
Willow Warblers were also
present lower down the valley. There were several Whinchats at Coronation Wood,
also a hyperactive Raven. No luck with Crossbills and Raptors
although we did get a brief glimpse of a Sparrowhawk. The weather really kept everything sitting tight.JH
Redstart, Glendalough. Robert Vaughan
17
May, 2007
A flock of 9 Little Terns flew south at Bremore, Balbriggan
this evening. AK
16
May 2007
On Rockabill Island from 10th to 16th May there were very few migrants -- just
Willow Warblers (up to 6 per day), a few Swallows, a Sand Martin, a Sedge Warbler, a Wheatear.
By yesterday, 15 May, Tern numbers were up to 2,700, and there was
a peak of 188 Black Guillemots. 96 Mute Swans at Swords Estuary but very little
else. Along 8km of the Tolka River Valley from the Meath border towards
Dublin there was a nice variety of birds seen - 52 species and good numbers, including 20 singing male
Blackcaps.OM A 1st. Winter Mediterranean Gull was seen
offshore at Bremore, Balbriggan.AK A lonely Brent Goose was at
Sandymount this morning - seen from the Dart. 6 Tufted Ducks were below the bridge at
Lansdowne Dart station which was an unusual place for them.RV
Tufted Ducks, Grand Canal. John Fox
14
May 2007
A 1st summer Mediterranean Gull was seen at Swords today. Also there was an beautiful adult
Yellow-legged Gull. At Rogerstown there were 3 Little Egrets and a
Whimbrel. Wonderful Kingfisher also at Swords. ED
First Summer Mediterranean Gull. Swords. Eric
Saturday
12 May, 2007
There was 1 Arctic Skua, 5 Red-throated
Divers and a winter plumaged Great Northern Diver off Bremore,
Balbriggan.AK The Spotted Sandpiper was still in the channels at
Blackditch this evening.LB
11
May, 2007
Marsh Harrier
seen leaving Colt
Island, Skerries very early this morning. AK
10
May, 2007
Marsh Harrier seen going to roost on Colt
Island off Skerries this evening. 2 Arctic Skuas offshore at
Bremore, Balbriggan this morning.This evening a few distant divers present
incl. 3 Red-throated Divers and 2 Summer plumaged Great Northern
Divers. AK The adult summer plumaged Spotted
Sandpiper was present all day at Blackditch East Coast Nature
Reserve. A pair of Buzzards, a Stock Dove, 2 Little Egrets, singing Blackcap and Whitethroat were
also at the reserve. A female White Wagtail, 2 Wheatears and c.60 Little
Terns were on the beach at Six-mile-point. At Kilcoole a drake Garganey
was seen in the first section of channels just south of The Breaches.
A pale phase Arctic Skua flew north offshore, a 1st-summer Mediterranean
Gull was in The Breaches and a Grasshopper Warbler was flushed
from some scrub at the railway bridge. A Yellowhammer was heard
singing along Kilcoole Sea Road. NTK, PN
9 May, 2007
A Cuckoo was seen along the Newcastle Sea Road this morning. At
Kilcoole, a dark phase Arctic Skua flew south at sea off The
Breaches. Plenty of Little Terns were present on the beach. A male Wheatear,
30+ Whimbrel, a male Gadwall and a male Wigeon were
also seen. NTK , PN
Whimbrel ( Sligo) , John Fox
7 May, 2007
At
Kilcoole today one Wigeon still present, 23 Little
Tern and 1 Red-Throated Diver, with a Whitethroat and
nine Sedge Warblers singing in the shrub.BMG
5 May 2007
At Glen Mallure a single Spotted Flycatcher was noted to the
west of the Youth Hostel.MS
4
May 2007
At Kilcoole in addition to the arriving migrants (Sedge Warbler,
Whitethroat, Barn Swallow, House and Sand Martin) a Tree Sparrow
was seen at the station. MS Along the
Featherbeds near Killakee, Co.Dublin, a Red Grouse was observed near the
road.Photo below.DW
Red Grouse, Kilakee, Co Dublin. David Walsh |
3
May, 2007
On Bull Island 6 Little Egrets, 30 Grey Herons, 1 Brent
Goose, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Lesser
Black-backed Gulls, 20 Sandwich Terns, 4 Common Terns
and 1 Kestrel flying around inside the forest in in the neighbouring
park.In Howth 1 Puffin and 1
Bottle-nosed Dolphin among the common seabirds.PN
1
May, 2007
At Kilcoole this morning still one Brent and one Wigeon
present and 44 Dunlin -- most in summer plumage. Nine Whimbrels flew north, and also a total of 24
Swallows. 13 Sandwich Terns were feeding along the shore, and
9 Little Terns excitedly flying about, courting, etc. over the usual colony site. At Kilcoole village 10
House Martins were exploring the eaves of the buildings.OM
Sedge Warbler.Wintering in Senegal this long haul tiny 12 gram migrant flies
fast, direct to Ireland in April. The males tend to be site
faithful but not the females!
A Kilcoole Sedge Warbler, Sean Geraty |