Let us know what birds you see in your area. Anything new in your garden?
Interesting bird behaviour? Increased or decreased numbers of birds?
What have you seen lately around Dublin or on you day trips from Dublin?
Email us with your sightings and photos to
dublinbirding@gmail.com and we will publish suitable photos and news on this website.

 
 

THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS  and ADVISERS DURING   October 2010...

 Louise Barnewall, Kristina Braz, Mark Carmody, Philip Clancy, Eric Dempsey, Rosemary Doyle, Des Fay, John Fox, Ger Franck, Tom Gregan, 
Mir Harris, Mary Jennings, Michael Keating, Aidan G. Kelly, Niall Keogh, Niall T. Keogh, Stephen Lawlor, Dermot McCabe, Siobhan McNamara, 
Oscar Merne, John Murphy, Dermot O'Mahony, Bill Quinn, Julie Roe, Adrian Rooney,  Brendan Sheils, Marie Sinnott, Ian Stevenson, Frank Turpin, 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 October 2010
Plenty of Fieldfares calling overhead at 10pm on the 30th over Ranelagh, mixed in with some Redwing calls. MC

On the Bull today the Blue-winged Teal south of the causeway and the Garganey about half a mile north of the causeway. The Curlew Sandpiper still at Swords.  Juv. Long-tailed Duck at Rogerstown on the outer estuary.AK

30 October 2010
At Newcastle:  Merlin near air field, later seen fly over in direction of hide.  Merlin also at Five Mile Point - perhaps the same bird.SC

One Short-eared Owl at Bremore, Balbriggan today, flying around and eventually flew southwards over the sea being mobbed by gulls. Single Sandwich Tern at both Skerries and Portmarnock. Curlew Sandpiper at Swords. Female/imm. Garganey North Bull Island, off the northside of the causeway.AK

One male Wood Duck on Quarry Lake, Phoenix Park this afternoon. DMcC 

At Carne Harbour Wexford: we had a Buff-Bellied Pipit, a very rare vagrant from North America (found
by Eric Dempsey is the 5th Wexford record) and a Grey Phalarope. Also in the Wexford area were 1 Black Redstart, 1 Whinchat, 2 Merlin, 1 Glossy Ibis, 1 Hen Harrier and some Little Stint.PC, ED, JF  

Buff-bellied Pipit at Carne Harbour, Wexford (Photo by John Fox)                                     Grey Phalarope at Carne Harbour, Wexford (Photo by Philip Clancy)
   

Black Redstart at Carne, Wexford (Photo by John Fox)

28 October 2010
Finglas:   Dipper seen this evening in Tolka river under bridge on Finglas Road.

26 October 2010
A Peregrine Falcon flying over the Millennium bridge today at lunchtime.IS    


25 October 2010
Two Ravens over Ranelagh today, calling loudly and being mobbed by magpies. Plenty of Redwings going over at night now.MC 

Five Buzzards on N4 between Maynooth & Celbridge this afternoon, 2 perched, 2 in flight & 1 hovering.AR

24 October 2010
Bull island 12noon:  Amazing views of Short-eared Owl flying over the salt-field from Wooden Bridge to Causeway - at one stage being mobbed by Rooks. Beautiful bird. Couple of Merlin and Kestrel.SMcN


23 October 2010
This evening at Kilcoole, a Pink-footed Goose was in Webb's Field along with 19 Greylag Geese, 2 juv. Tufted Ducks, 23 Shoveler & good numbers of Wigeon & Teal. A late Wheatear & a Carrion Crow were on the beach, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flew north & a Merlin was seen hunting the area. In The Breaches, 9 Black-tailed Godwits & a Greenshank were present whilst a flock of 11 Gadwall (incl. one drake) in Stringer's Channels was a notable count for the site. 10 Whooper Swans (incl. 2 1st calendar-years) were also seen here. A Short-eared Owl was hunting around Newcastle Airfield at 18:00. NK & NTK

At Kilcoole today: Red-throated Diver; Greglay Geese; a Pink-footed Goose; Whooper Swan; a Merlin; and Northern Wheatear. SL

Whooper Swan at Kilcoole  (Photo by Stephen Lawlor)

Water Rail at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve  (Photo by Kristina Braz)




   

Hen Harrier at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve  (Photo by Kristina Braz)   
     

21 October 2010
Howth garden: 4 Long-tailed Tits arrived on feeder this morning after a long summer break.BQ 

Long-tailed Tits (Photo by Bill Quinn)   


Kilcoole: 1 Pink-footed Goose in Webbs field with the Greylag Geese, 7 Whooper Swans, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Wheatears, 1 Kestrel and 1 Merlin. No sign of the two Short-eared Owls today.PC

Merlin at Kilcoole (Photo by Philip Clancy)   

20 October 2010
Portmarnock:  222 Great-crested Grebes counted in half an hour this evening between the Martello tower and south along Portmarnock strand. No sign of the Black-necked Grebe.DO'M


19 October 2010
Sandymount Strand: 120 Brent Geese landed on Sandymount Strand 6.30pm, at least 4 juvs but only one tag (WY27).SMcN

Rogerstown: 3 Buzzards, 3 Curlew Sandpipers and a Sparrowhawk.GF

Four Whooper Swans seen at Portmarnock.  Also see from the beach were some Brent Geese, Common Scoter, Red-throated Divers, a single Black-necked Grebe and good numbers of Great-crested Grebes.JF&GF

Black-necked Grebe at Portmarnock (Photo by John Fox)                                                            Whooper Swans at Portmarnock (Photo by John Fox)
                

Morning of 19th October. 32 Brent Geese at Sutton Golf Club in Baldoyle Estuary including 8 Juveniles.BQ

Kestrel at Blackditch nature reserve, Co.Wicklow (Photo by Ciaran Walsh)   


18 October 2010
Today at The Cunnigar Co Waterford the Long-billed Dowitcher was still showing very well. Also 50 Brent Geese, 1 Jack Snipe, and 8 Red-breasted Merganser.  At Clonea strand there were about 25 Chough and a Buff-bellied Pipit. PC

       Buff-bellied Pipit (Photo by Philip Clancy)                                                                                       Chough (Photo by Philip Clancy)
                                       

                                                                                Long-billed Dowitcher (Photo by Philip Clancy)
                                                                        


Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Rogerstown (Photos by Eric Dempsey)
  


There are now 10 Mandarin Ducks in Bushy Park 6 male & 4 female.DF

17 October 2010
Blessington Street Basin: 3 male Mandarin Duck, 2 male and 1 female Wood Duck, 2 White-cheeked Bahama Pintail, 1 Silver Bahama Pintail, 1 male and 1 female Ringed Teal.LB

The 2nd-cal year Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was showing well (but often disappearing for some time) in front of the south hide at Rogerstown from 08:10 this morning. This excellent find by Liam Feeney is the 5th Irish record and the first for the East Coast recording area. Also at Rogerstown was a Spotted Redshank, 4 juv. Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Whimbrel & 3 Buzzards. At Swords there was no sign of the juv. White-rumped Sandpiper which was found yesterday evening but there was an adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Ruff & c.1,020 Black-tailed Godwits present. A juv. Curlew Sandpiper was at Baldoyle whilst on The North Bull, large numbers of Teal & gulls have arrived along with a few Light-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Peregrines, 2 Merlins & a hybrid Carrion X Hooded Crow. At Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely, a juv. Wigeon is present along with 80 Mallard which is a notable record for this suburban park. NK & NTK


Portmarnock today: approx. 100 Knot, 60 Ringed Plover, 20 Turnstone, 3 Sandwich Terns still hanging around and 2 Common Gull at the top of Paddy's field.
At Rogerstown Hide we saw the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper!!
At Bull, down along the walk where the orchids grow I saw 10 Brent Geese on the grass, 3 of which were juveniles!  Then back on the path there was a Reed Bunting.SMcN

Sandwich Tern at Portmarnock (Photo by Siobhan McNamara)                                           Reed Bunting at Bull Island (Photo by Siobhan McNamara)
                       


There were 26 Brent Geese at Sutton Golf Club this afternoon. Some Juveniles were present but I did not get a count. This time they were at the water's edge on the seaward, or Eastern side, of Cush Point.BQ

Brent Geese at Sutton (Photo by Bill Quinn)

16 October 2010
At the East Point end of Clontarf (Tolka Basin) there were 15 Herons, circa 52 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Great-crested Grebes.  Further up at the Causeway there were 3 Greenshank and 8 Little Egrets, plus all the usual suspects.MH

The Brent Geese have finally arrived at Sutton Golf Club. I saw 16 Brent Geese at low tide. They were in the Baldoyle Estuary at the Golf Club or Southern end.BQ

Clogherhead: Over 40 Meadow Pipits in a large flock with lots of Linnets, Redpoll, Stonechats up on the headland foraging in the brambles. 
Also a large flock of Blue Tits, Great Tits and Skylarks flew in from the sea and landed on the berry bushes looking exhausted.
Cruisetown Strand: lots of Linnets, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Meadow Pipits, Starlings and Reed Buntings landed in the stubble fields after flying in from the sea. 
Only 2 Brent Geese on the Strand. BS

12 October 2010
Here's a great chance to hone your identification skills with comparison photos of a Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher.

 
Pied Flycatcher (Photo by John Fox)                                                                                         Spotted Flycatcher (Photo by John Fox)

12 October 2010
Phoenix park this evening:  I saw my first Fieldfares and Redwings. There were also a couple of Jays, a Mistle Thrush and about 20 Swallows.SMcN

Fieldfare in Phoenix Park (Photo by Siobhan McNamara)


Bushy Park: 4 Mandarin Ducks (2 male, 2 female).TG 

Mandarin Duck (m) in Bushy Park (Photo by Tom Gregan)

11 October 2010
Julie Roe and Oscar Merne carried out I-WeBS counts at Dundalk Bay on 11th October. A total of 22,168 waterbirds were counted, of 37 species. The "top ten" species were 6,848 Oystercatchers, 2,710 Knot, 2,559 Black-headed Gulls, 2,086 Black-tailed Godwits, 1,294 Redshanks, 1,101 Wigeon, 843 Herring Gulls,729 Curlews, 688 Dunlin, 600 Mallard.    Also seen were 7 Greylags, 96 Brent Geese, 1 Ruff , 1 Buzzard, 1 White Wagtail, and 6 Swallows.OM&JR

Two Mandarin Duck at Quarry Pond, Phoenix Park, an eclipse male and a female, along with a female Teal this afternoon.DMcC

10 October 2010
Dollymount:  9 Little Egrets, hundreds of Golden Plover, Teal and Widgeon with a good smattering of Pintail, Shelduck and Shoveller.
Saw an young Black Guillemot from the wooden bridge and eventually saw a few Brent Geese at Sutton.MH

Rathdrum, County Wicklow: 7 Goosander (2 adults and 5 juvenile).MS&RD

Wicklow:  4 Redwing, 2 Dipper and lots of Thrush and Blackbirds. Presumed migrants.PC

Dipper at Wicklow (Photo by Philip Clancy)


SPOT THE DIFFERENCE:  
Dunlin, Wilson's Phalarope and Little Stint (Photo by John Fox)



 

9 October 2010
I heard my first Redwings of the Autumn calling at around 10pm on 9th October 2010 over Ranelagh.MC

8 October 2010
A female and grotty eclipse male Mandarin Duck at Busy Park on 8th October.MC

7 October 2010
At Dollymount near the Wooden Bridge:  4 Brent Geese feeding on the sands.MJ 

6 October 2010
11 am Bull Island just North of Causeway:  Buzzard being mobbed by 10 Hooded Crows for about 10 minutes. He eventually soared and headed inland pursued his tormentors. Buzzard who showed quite pale undersides was tagged with a pale yellow or white tag on his right wing.FT

5 October 2010
Female Sparrowhawk being mobbed by Crows over Harcourt Road D2 yesterday afternoon.AR

I had a Kingfisher fly from the west low along the water, under the Millennium Bridge and east up towards the Ha'penny Bridge this morning at 7.30am. The bird alighted at the edge of the south quay wall just and proceeded to dive for fish, albeit unsuccessfully.MC 

3 October 2010
Nice sighting of Long-eared Owl on the M1 just after the airport roundabout heading south bound at 9.30pm tonight.MK

At Howth today: Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Bullfinch, 2 Ravens and a Kestrel.GF

Kestrel at Howth (Photo by Ger Franck)


Bremore, Balbriggan: 3 White Wagtails along the beach; 16 Mediterranean Gulls in a stubble field with gull flock.AGK

Bull Island: Lots of Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Redshank, Curlew and Common Gulls on the north side of the causeway.  No Brent Geese present. Also 16 Little Egrets roosting near the Wooden Bridge. 
Swords: 8 Snipe showing well. 1000's of Black-tailed Godwits and lots of Dunlin, Lapwing present. No Golden Plover or Brent here either.
Skerries: Great views of Purple Sandpiper and Turnstones on Red Island. Very Approachable. BS

Purple Sandpiper at Skerries (Photo by Brendan Sheils)

2 October 2010
Bremore, Balbriggan: 1 juv. Black Tern flew south;  1 Arctic Skua flew south;  2 Buzzards;  8 Mediterranean Gulls in a stubble field with gull flock.AGK

On Saturday evening 2nd Oct I happened on a sizeable community of Mandarin Duck in Herbert Park in Ballsbridge.  There were about 5 or six males and quite a few juveniles and females present.JM

Mandarin Duck at Herbert Park, Dublin (Photo by John Murphy)




 
 


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