29
November 2010
Travelling on coast road this morning at 07:30 approximately 2,000 - 2,500
Brent Geese feeding at the waters edge (2 hours after high water) between Blue Lagoon Texaco garage and
wooden
bridge.RS&JS
Phoenix
Park: 2 Jays.DG
Glasnevin Garden: 30+ Goldfinches and single Siskin feeding
today at 2.30.RW
28
November 2010
Scotsmans Bay, Sandycove:
Mediterranean Gull (Adult Male
winter) and a Purple Sandpiper (Adult Male winter). SL
Purple Sandpiper (Adult
Male, winter) at
Sandycove (Photo by Stephen Lawlor)
Mediterranean Gull (Adult
Male winter) at
Sandycove (Photo by Stephen Lawlor)
Out on the Bull.. freezing but
gorgeous: 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Greenshank, plenty of
Wigeon, Teal and Shoveller. Hundreds of
Knot and Golden Plover and of course thousands of Brent
Geese. Plus all the other usual suspects. All of the birds look good and
didn't have any difficulty accessing food despite the ice and snow.M&MH
If the snow is preventing you visiting the usual birding
haunts, just look out your window...
In
a Naul garden, County Dublin today...1 Mistle Thrush, 30+ Chaffinch,
3 male Blackcap (see 3 photos below of the winter
visitors).JC
Mistle Thrush eating Cordyline seed,
Naul (Photo by Joe Curtis)
One of over 20 Chaffinch,
Naul (Photo by Joe Curtis)
One of 3 Male Blackcap, Naul (Photo by
Joe Curtis)
Drogheda garden: 6 Redpolls, 12 Goldfinch, 7 Linnets, 8
Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch and lots of House
Sparrows, Starlings, Blue Tits and Robins and Dunnocks all feeding throughout the day on the
feeders. 1 Meadow Pipit,1 Pied Wagtail in garden and a Female
Merlin in the field behind my house.BS
Redpoll (one of 6 in garden)
(Photo by Brendan Sheils)
27
November 2010
It has been a great day for garden visitors:
-
Surprise Meadow
Pipit in my back garden in Ballymun this morning.
The last time it visited the garden was the 19th December last year, so nearly the same time.MK
-
In garden today: 2
Bramblings feeding alongside the Greenfinch and
Chaffinch, plus two Goldfinches.FM
-
Flock of about 15 Linnets feeding on
Pyracantha bush in Mulhuddart garden.AR
-
Grey Wagtail
checking out his reflection in back door window in small
Ballyfermot garden.RD
-
A vision in
Killester: A Woodcock few out from under our
Witch Hazel tree in garden today.MH
Elsewhere...
At Rogerstown
hide: 1 Whopper Swan, 1 Ruff, Spotted Redshank, dozens of
Teal and Wigeon very few Brent Geese, pair of
Reed Bunting, no finches about.RS
Greenshank at Swords (Photo by
Eric Dempsey)
26
November 2010
Brambling in Sandyford garden today.CMcL
A female Sparrowhawk over Harcourt Road at 3:30pm this afternoon.AR
I saw this Mediterranean Gull on Nov 13 2010 at Sandycove. It was flagged in Pas-de-Calais, France, in 2008
Mediterranean Gull at
Sandycove (Photo by Stephen Lawlor)
25
November 2010
Sanderlings at Carna Harbour, Co. Wexford: See
photo below. The ringed bird was ringed in Iceland in Spring 2009, seen again in Iceland on migration this Spring and is now spending its second Winter in Carna Harbour, Co. Wexford.CM
Sanderlings at Carna
Harbour, County Wexford (Photo by
Cian Merne)
A brilliant new park has been opened in Poppintree Ballymun since
May. It has a new pond and flood plain areas. This morning 2
Redshank were present on the pond edge and a single Oystercatcher on the flood plain.
Also present were Mallards, Moorhen, 2 Mute Swan,
Coots, 1 Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Black-headed
Gulls, Lesser black-backed Gulls, Great black-backed
Gulls, Common Gull and our usual woodland species.
This park is well worth a visit if your in the area.MK
Treecreeper near Ballynafagh Lake,
County Kildare (Photo by Stephen Lawlor)
23 November
2010
Present in Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely on Tuesday were: 1 Scaup (pic of first-winter attached),
28 Mediterranean Gulls, 64 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret,
1 Peregrine.SMcE
Scaup at Kilbogget Park (Photo by
Stephen McEvoy)
22
November 2010
A nice flock of 20+ Greenfinches at the back of
Homebase in Santry demense today. This is the first time I've seen
Greenfinches in this area since before the snowy weather last
Christmas! MK
The 1st cal-year Scaup was present for its 7th day at Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely along with a
Kingfisher, 65 Oystercatchers & 36 Mediterranean Gulls (28 adults, 3 2nd cal-years & 5 1st cal-years). NTK
21
November 2010
A good day for raptors in Santry Demense this morning: 2 Buzzard, 1
Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel; also 10 Fieldfare and 12
Redwing.MK
20
November 2010
Tolka
Trip to Northern Ireland: a party of 26 birders
headed up north for the day. Although it was dull and cold, a most enjoyable day was had.
Mir&Michael started off in Loughbrickland Lake and saw
Scaup, plenty of Snipe, Little Grebe, Pochard, Teal, Wigeon,
Lapwing, Mallard, Cormorant, Blackcap, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen
and Herring Gull.
They joined the rest of us at Corbet Lough for the great viewing of the
Ferruginous Duck
(see photo below) and Whooper Swans. Also present were Mute
Swans, Coot, Pheasant, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull and House
Sparrows.
When then mosied on to Oxford Island where we saw a few Goldeneye,
Ruddy Duck, Pochard, Cormorant, on the Lough. Amongst the
surrounding vegetation we saw Goldcrest, Buzzard, plenty of Long-tailed
Tits and Bluetits. The shy retiring Jay was spotted despite its hiding away!! Other birds seen at Oxford Island include
Reed Bunting, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Grey Heron, Wren, Robin,
Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and Grey Wagtail.
After refreshments we drove to Belfast Lough where we saw
Eider, Red-breasted Mergansers, Great-crested Grebe, Mediterranean
Gull, Black Gulliemot, Great Black-backed Gull, Redshank, Curlew;
Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed
Godwit, Knot, Common Scoter, Shellduck and Common Gull. Moving
further along the Lough we found Greylag Geese, Dunlin, Gadwell,
Shoveller, Ring Plover, Linnet and Kingfisher.
We dropped into the RSPB wildlife reserve at Belfast Lough
before returning home and had unobstructed views of a roosting
Snipe.
While heading out on the trip the following were seen. Rook,
Magpie, Wood pigeon, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Hooded Crow, Pied Wagtail,
Starling, Blackbird, House Sparrow and Meadow Pippit.MH&RD
Ferruginous Duck and Coot at
Corbet Lough, Banbridge, Co. Down (Photo by John Fox)
The Blue-winged Teal still at Bull Island, south of the Causeway. Pair of
Gadwall here too. Another pair of Gadwall at Knock Lake.
Immature Long-tailed Duck at Malahide, at the mouth of the outer estuary, near the Grand Hotel.AK
Sparrowhaw
seen at westernmost hide in Newcastle(Blackditch), Co.Wicklow (Photo by
Stephen Lawlor)
19
November 2010
At Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely, the 1st cal-year Scaup was still present (first seen on Monday 15th). A
Kingfisher, 9 Mediterranean Gulls (8 adults & a 2nd cal-year) & 62
Oystercatchers were also seen. NTK
Friday 19th
November seems to have been the perfect day for
"reflective" photography at Broadmeadow
& Swords Estuary as seen from the following photos from
John Fox and Joe Curtis...
Red-breasted Merganser at
Swords Estuary (Photo by John Fox)
Red-breasted
Mergansers displaying at Broadmeadow (Photo by Joe Curtis)
Great-crested
Grebe at Broadmeadow (Photo by Joe Curtis)
Black-headed
Gull at Broadmeadow (Photo by Joe Curtis)
16
November 2010
Male and Female Bearded Reedlings
at Lingstown,
County Wexford (Photo by Eric Dempsey)
At
Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely this morning, a 1st cal-year Scaup, a 1st cal-year male
Wigeon, 2 drake Teal, 60 Mallard, a Kingfisher, 5
Little Grebes, 13 Moorhen, a Grey Wagtail & a
Grey Heron were present on the re-profiled section of the Deansgrange river which flows through the park. 6 adult
Mediterranean Gulls & 49 Oystercatchers were also seen on the football pitches out from Seapoint Rugby Club. NTK
Kestrel at Bull Island (Photo by
Eric Doggett)
Kestrel at Bull Island (Photo by
Eric Doggett)
15
November 2010
Today at Lingstown County Wexford we had 1 Short-eared Owl, 2
Hen Harriers, a Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus hudsonius),
Merlin and Kestrel and stunning views of 4
Bearded Reedlings (2 male and 2 female). PC
Bearded Reedling Lingstown,
County Wexford (Photo by Philip Clancy)
Four Bearded Reedlings Lingstown,
County Wexford (Photo by Philip Clancy)
14
November 2010
Birding along The Murrough today between Six Mile Point & Kilcoole produced a total of 64 species. A flock of c.120
Greylag Geese, a Barnacle Goose, c.35 Whooper Swans & c.100
Black-tailed Godwits were seen in the back fields between Newcastle Airfield & The Breaches. A female
Scaup & 2 Gadwall were in Stringer's channel whilst a
Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank & 12 Light-bellied Brent Geese were in The Breaches. 2 ringtail Hen Harriers (incl. a wing-tagged bird, possibly from Wales), a
Merlin, a Buzzard & a Kestrel were seen throughout. A male
Snow Bunting gave excellent views feeding on the path & on the beach alongside Webb's field. Nearby, an adult
Little Gull was seen hawking insects over the Buckthorn bushes. Good numbers of
Red-throated Divers were present offshore along with a Great-crested Grebe (a good bird locally). Four
Otters were also seen at Kilcoole. A video of the Snow Bunting can be found
here.
NTK&SK
Snow Bunting at Kilcoole (Photo by
Stephen Lawlor)
Today at Rogerstown: 1
Kestrel, 2 Buzzards, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Goldeneye, 5
Greylag Geese, 1 Female Blackcap, large flocks of Linnet and
Goldfinch. All of the common waterfowl and wader species present in good numbers.CM
A Buzzard circled over Kinvara Rd. at lunchtime with an escort of 12
Hooded Crows and Jackdaws.DMcC
Along the Strawberry Beds today were 2 separate Buzzards;
in St. Catherine's Park in Lucan a Buzzard, a Jay, a
Greenfinch & a male Bullfinch; and a Sparrowhawk over Mulhuddart.AR
Bull
Island: Usual suspects including 4 Red-breasted Merganser and 2
Great-crested Grebe at the wooden bridge. There was a Juvenile
Black Redstart flitting around the gutters of the houses on the
wooden bridge also.M&MH
Black Redstart at the wooden
bridge (Photo by Siobhan McNamara)
13
November 2010
Kilcoole: one Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus
hudsonius)
- this find was the third documented C.C.Hudsonius for Europe.SL
Northern Harrier c.c.
hudsonius at Kilcoole (Photo by Stephen Lawlor)
Swords
Estuary: 100's of Great-crested Grebes, large
flock of Goldeneye, couple of pairs of Red-breasted
Merganser, 4 Snipe, 7 Greenshank, Lapwing,
Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and the usual other suspects.
Also, the park beside Parkvale in Baldoyle had a HUGE flock of feeding
Black-tailed Godwit and a handful of Brent Geese.RB
Three Snow Buntings present on the beach between Seapoint and Baltray.
Also feeding on the beach were several Stonechats, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Wagtails.BS
Linnet at
Mulhuddart (Photo by Adrian Rooney)
11
November 2010
Bull
Island: 1 Greenshank.JF
Greenshank
at Bull Island (Photo by John Fox)
10
November 2010
A Woodcock flew into our back garden in Raheny on the 10th November waddled around for a while and flew off again.BOB
One Semipalmated Sandpiper in Ballycotton, Co. Cork.MC
Semipalmated
Sandpiper at Ballycotton (Photo by Mark Carmody)
7 November 2010
Rogerstown Estuary: Amazing sight of approx 40 Goldfinch bathing in puddles near old allotments on the road down to south hide.
2 Buzzards in the fields to the left of south hide, one later resting on top of a tree.
Around 200 Greylag Geese in estuary.RS&JS
A pair of Brambling in a Dun Laoghaire garden today.RA
On the North
Bull, the Blue-winged Teal was north of the causeway. Also the
Garganey was still present north of
the
causeway (record shot
attached). A pair of Gadwall were south of the
causeway. A Short-eared Owl flew north over Sutton being mobbed by
Crows. At Portmarnock the Black-necked Grebe was about 700m south of the
Martello off the strand. Also present offshore were c. 200 Great-crested Grebes and 80
Red-throated Divers.AK
In a Glasnevin garden at 2.30pm: 6 Goldfinches
feeding - attracting a Sparrowhawk - leaving 5
Goldfinches.RW
A Kestrel hovering over Ballycoolin Ind Est. At Rogerstown (north
hide): 1 Buzzard & a female type Merlin. Kestrel hovering over N1 at Lusk exit.
Buzzard perched in a tree on the M50 just north of Swords
Estuary.AR
Cruisetown Louth: 3 Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1
Kestrel,1 Merlin all hunting in one field at 10am this morning.
Great Views of Buzzards and Kestrel hunting and catching voles in field.
No Hen Harriers, but there is some birds present in the fields over the past few
weeks. And there is a female Merlin up on Clogherhead which allows great views at the moment.(Recieved this info from Dunleer Photo Club).
Lots of Skylark, Linnets and winter Thrushes and 2
Reed Buntings present in the Stubble fields.BS
Buzzard at Cruisetown (Photo by
Brendan Sheils)
6 November 2010
Kilcoole: 1 Kingfisher showing brilliantly on a post for at least ten minutes.
1 Short-eared Owl near car park - being mobbed by rooks.FM
Wicklow: 11 Red Kites at Redcross area today - 2 Buzzards with them.SC
Red Kite at Wicklow (Photo by Shay
Connolly)
5 November 2010
Buzzard perched on street light at exit 15 on the M50 Cornelscourt at 10am & 1pm.
Peregrine being mobbed by Crows over N11 at Newcastle/Newtown Mount Kennedy exit.
Female Kestrel hunting at Five Mile Point. 26 Whooper
Swans in Webb's field. No sign of any Merlin or
Short-eared Owl.AR
3 November 2010
Total of 61 Mediterranean Gulls at Scotsman's Bay, Sandycove
today, including four with colour bands from France and Germany.OM
Late Wheatear at Bray Harbour on 30th October.OM
1 November 2010
Today at Rogerstown outer estuary there were 200 Brent Geese, 1 Spotted Redshank, 300 Golden Plover,
1 Merlin, 2 Buzzard and a good few winter Thrushes.PC
A Buzzard being chased by a Crow at 5:15pm in semi darkness over Chesterfield Avenue in
Phoenix Park this evening.AR