THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS  and ADVISERS DURING  September 2013...

  Harry Bailey, Brian Carruthers, James Cavanagh, Joe Curtis, Eugene Dolan, Jenny Elvin, John Fields, Ger Franck, Luke Geraty, Joe Geraty, 
Mir Harris, Liam Kane, Dave MacPherson, T Plunkett, Bill Quinn, Brian McDonnell, Ita Martin, 
Cian Merne, Adrian Rooney, Brendan Sheils, Frank Turpin   

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.

 
 



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)

 
 

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