29 September 2013
Records for Swallows at my home at Naul, Co. Dublin, by Joe
Curtis: This morning I updated my Swallow
records as the last of this year’s crop departed in mid-week.
This year we had only one nest with two clutches (from same pair)
and they successfully fledged 8 chicks. (5+3). A far cry from 10
years ago when 30 to 40 young fledged from the same stables each
year. One or two clutches per pair now seem to have become a ‘norm’
in our area where in the late 1990’s or early 2000’s some
pairs had 3 clutches and stayed later in the year. In 2000 and
2001 I had Swallows stay to 1st week November in the same building
with three clutches fledged. I suppose I might add that 8
fledglings this year is an improvement when last year the resident
pair worked flat out for nothing to survive. I have just noticed
the record hits 20 years now! My god, time flies.JC
28 September 2013
Sparrowhawk awaiting
breakfast by the nyger feeder in a Malahide garden (Photo by Ita
Martin)
27 September 2013
Pied Wagtail at Dun
Laoghaire (Photo by James Cavanagh)
Stonechat at Dun
Laoghaire (Photo by James Cavanagh)
22 September 2013
Rogerstown: 1 Common
Crane; a Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawks,
3 Kestrels & 5 Buzzards all seen from Rogerstown
South hide. Most of the raptors were over
Baleally Dump.AR
21 September 2013 - Tolka Branch outing
Another fabulous weather day to ease the branch back into the
birding new year, but the warmth has perhaps delayed the
arrival of large numbers of our winter visitors compared to
previous years. For example, in previous September outings
we would have a higher count for Brent Geese than today.
Nevertheless on the positive side, a Common Crane has mistaken
Rogerstown for Spain. We started our North County Dublin
birding at...
Swords Estuary: from the south side of the estuary we
first spotted 2 Ruff preening and sparring at the edge of
the central sandbar. There were plenty of Black-headed
Gulls, Lapwing, Redshank and Black-tailed
Godwit (still in various degrees of breeding plumage).
Also spotted were 2 Greenshank, Dunlin, several
motionless Grey Heron, a few moorhen and a Cormorant.
There were only 2 Teal and a handful of Mallard not
to mention numerous Mute Swan.
Rogerstown: on arrival we were greeted by a large
flock of Goldfinch; further on the path a couple of Stock
Dove flew past; at a clearing on the final approach to the
South Hide, the lone Common
Crane was
espied out preening at the bend in the river opposite the North
Hide. We got better views, albeit a little blurry due
to the heat haze. From the South Hide we saw a couple
of Curlew Sandpiper, lots of Dunlin, Redshank,
Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, several Curlew
and Little Egret. On leaving the hide we had great
views of a Buzzard who came quite close and took its time
taking in the great views of us. At the pond, approx. 20 Swallows
swooped for a drink or midge and continued their aerial
display. Just as we were about to leave the car park a Red
Kite flew past - we couldn't see any wing tags, however, we
did spot the aerial of a radio transmitter on its back.
Bull Island: 6 Shoveler Duck; 6 Pintail
(at least two male in eclipse plumage); 20 Shelduck; 15 Little
Egret; only 2 adult Brent Geese; and all the usual
waders.
Many thanks to all who joined us on the
day. If I have omitted any sighting for the trip, please
email me at dublinbirding@gmail.com
[Editor]
Common
Crane at Rogerstown (Photo by Luke Geraty)
Black-headed Gull at
Swords (Photo by Joe Geraty)
Redshank at Rogerstown
(Photo by Joe Geraty)
Common
Crane at Rogerstown (Photo by John Fields) -
also a Little Egret and a Curlew
20 September 2013
Jackdaw with a ruffled
bib at Howth Harbour (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
Great Black-backed Gull
at Howth Harbour (Photo by Bill Quinn)
19 September 2013
Dublin 8: Peregrine chasing flock racing pigeons as
seen from Guinness Gravity Bar.JE
18 September 2013
Howth: sighted a Wheatear on Howth summit walk today,
also 2 Raven and 1 Kestrel; also a lot of Swallow
still about.LK
Wheatear at Howth Summit (Photo
by Liam Kane)
Little Egrets at Bull Island (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
17 September 2013
These birds were in our
Howth garden. They are Blackbirds moulting into adult plumage
(Photos by Bill Quinn)
16 September 2013
Sandymount: I saw seven Brent Geese at twilight
on the sea near the shore at high tide in Sandymount on 16
September 2013. No rings visible. GPS: 53°19'56" N
6°11'55" W Time: 16-Sep-2013 at 19:42. This is 7 days later
than first brent sighting for 2012-2013 (on 9 Sep 2012).TP
Brent Geese at Sandymount (Photo
by T Plunkett)
15 September 2013
North Bull Island: We saw tiny smattering of 6 Brent Geese
at the Bull to day.MH
14 September 2013
North Bull Wall: 11 Wheatear plus lots of Little
Egrets and plenty of other waders.BMcD
30 Little Egrets at North
Bull Island (Photo by Brian McDonnell)
Wheatear at North Bull Island (Photo by Brian McDonnell)
Curlew at North Bull Island (Photo by Brian McDonnell)
13 September 2013
Donaghmede: Spotted a Barn Owl flying low over
the N32 at Donaghmede at night.CM
10 September 2013
Sparrowhawk in a
Clontarf Garden (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
Grey Wagtail in St. Anne's Park, Raheny (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
Juvenile Moorhen in St. Anne's Park, Raheny (Photo by Dave
MacPherson)
9 September 2013
North
Bull Island: Birdwatchers on the causeway today were
fortunate to be in just the right place when a Sabine's Gull
put in an appearance. This High Arctic breeder is a very rare
record for the island. Three returning Brent Geese were the
first to be recorded on the Bull this autumn. A Ruff, a Curlew
Sandpiper and a flock of Sandwich Terns also seen.GF
Sandwich Terns flying over North Bull Island (Photo
by Ger Franck)
Three Brent Geese at North Bull Island (Photo
by Ger Franck)
Sabine's Gull at North Bull Island (Photo
by Ger Franck)
Rogerstown: 1 Crane
(Grus grus), flew into Flooded
field at North hide; showed very well and was present throughout
afternoon up till 3pm. Also 1 Juvenile Buff-breasted
Sandpiper flushed several times by Crane in same field. Other
birds of note include 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Little Stint,
1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Gadwall, 80+ Curlew, 1 Kingfisher.BS
Crane
at Rogerstown (Photo
by Brendan Sheils)
8 September 2013
Young Robin in Baldoyle
Garden (Photos
by Cian Merne)
It fledged from one of our
nest boxes earlier this Summer and has taken up residence in the
garden.CM
7 September 2013
Turnstone at Bray Harbour (Photo
by Cian Merne)
Tolka Valley Park: Nice to see 3 individual Kingfishers
at dawn & a Sparrowhawk, on the Finglas Tolka River,
while out walking the 'Mutt' between the Ashtown bridge &
Finglaswood Bridge, along with the usual suspects... 11 Grey
Herons, 15 Chaffinch, 9 Little Grebe (ad+juvs),
6 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 7 Tufted Duck,
2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 3 Mute Swan, 7 Dunnock,
3 Swallows, 2 Reed Buntings on the reed bed, 2 Mandarin
(juv), 2 Goldcrest, 1 Cormorant, 5 Greenfinch,
1 Little Egret, House Sparrows, Mistle & Song
Thrush, Great + Blue + Coal & 5
Long-tailed Tits, Woodpigeons, Collard Doves, Great
& Lesser BB + BH + Common + Herring
Gulls, singing Wrens galore, Robins, Moorhens,
Goldfinches, Coots, Linnets, Rooks, Jackdaws,
Hooded Crows, Magpies, Mallards, Blackbirds,
Starlings, Pheasants calling, No Dippers to be
seen.BC
6 September 2013
Kingfisher taken at Old Swords Road
(Photo
by Harry Bailey)
5 September 2013
Buzzard at Rogerstown (Photo
by Eugene Dolan)
3 September 2013
Bull Island: A Little Stint and a Curlew
Sandpiper this morning seen from causeway of Bull Island.GF&FT
Little Stint at Bull Island (Photo
by Ger Franck)