August and September 2009

 
29 September, 2009
In Santry demense at 11.15am, 4 Buzzards seen together being harassed by a flock of rooks over Mortom stadium heading west towards Silloge golf course. At 5.30 a single buzzard was seen being chased by 2 Rooks over Homebase across from the enterance to Ikea on the Ballymun road heading up to the m50 roundabout. MK

Saturday 26 September, 2009
On the Bull the female Blue Winged Teal (see photos below) was still present as was the 2nd year Ring Billed Gull – both seen well from the Causeway. A juvenile Little Stint was at Swords and there were 3 juv. Curlew Sandpipers at Rogerstown. AK


Blue-winged Teal. Eric Dempsey


Blue-winged Teal with Shoveler. John Fox (the Blue-winged Teal associates with Shoveler so they are a good 
starting point when you are trying to find this bird .It is very difficult to pick her out but worth the effort!)

A hybrid Carrion X Hooded Crow & a White Wagtail were at Arklow ponds. NK At Malahide Estuary today:1 Ruff, 4 Buzzards,1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 15 Red Breasted Merganzers, 71 Brent (all adults) also present were  Swallows, Snipe, Golden Plover, Greenshanks, Grey Plover. CM

Tolka Branch members were at Tacumshin  today to see 1 Glossy Ibis, 5 Curlew Sandpiper. 2 Little Stint. 1 male Marsh Harrier. 1 Peregrine. 2 Water Rail. 2 Buzzards. 30 Gadwall. At Carnsore Point 2 White Wagtails also hundreds of Swallows & House Martins perched on a wind turbine and at Lady's Island 1 female Ruddy Duck. PC

 Other Tolka Branch members out of town for the weekend had a Pectoral Sandpiper at Ballyconeely,  Connemara and a Wheatear and 2 Chiffchaffs on Inishboffin. MH, HQ, ND, LB While up North in Belfast Lough, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Little Gull, a Mediterranean Gull, Yellow Legged Gull a Ring-billed Gull showed well.SK 

25 September, 2009
At Arklow, Co. Wicklow, a Long-eared Owl was flushed from its daytime roost in the scrub just north of Arklow town ponds. A steady passage of Swallows was noted throughout the day with birds moving south at a rate of 800-1000 per hour. Good numbers of southward moving Goldfinches, a male & a juv. Bullfinch & 2 Coot on the ponds were the only birds of note. NK NTK
 
At Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow, 7 Red Kites & 2 Buzzards were seen circling together overhead whilst 2 Hen Harriers & a Peregrine were also noted. (Michael Deveraux)

 22 September, 2009
One juvenile Little Gull and three Curlew Sandpipers at Rogerstown. PK


Shoveler (adult male, eclipse) . Shay Connolly

20 September, 2009
On the Bull  this morning good views of the Blue Winged Teal (on the south side of the the Causeway at the outflow) rewarded the early risers. The Bull is already teaming with water birds including 66 Brent, 38 Little Egrets, 1 Ring-billed Gull,  1 Whimbrel, 1 Little Stint, 1 Curlew Sandpiper,3 Arctic terns, 60 Grey Plover, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers. 11 Wheatear ( on the golf course). Small flocks of Redwing passed overhead between 8-9 am  PC, SK, LB,PK

At Corballis Donabate 68 Brent today 12 Grey Plover 1 Knot ( see Shay's useful ID shot below). Up to 20 Sandwich Terns between the Dunes hotel on Donabate beach.SC


Grey Plover in various stages of moult and 1 Knot ( second right), Donabate. Shay Connolly


Brent family ( 2 juvs centre) on the Bull today. Cian Merne

19 September, 2009
The Tolka outing to north Dublin today  enjoyed Ruff,  Common Sandpiper and four performing Buzzards at
Swords along with about 20 Greenshank. At Rogerstown we went to the pools near the entrance and had one Green Sandpiper.On to Knock Lake and then Skerries and Rogerstown Harbour which were all quiet. DMcC

At Hartwell Stud near Kill Village: 1 Buzzard and 1 Barn Owl just after midnight. SO'B

18 September, 2009
The 2 juv. Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still on show in Webb's field, Kilcoole. NK On the Grand Canal North of Sallins: 2 King Fishers, Buzzard and large numbers of young pheasents in newly mown barley field. SO'B

17 September, 2009
A male Yellow Wagtail was present in Webb's field, Kilcoole. NK

16 September, 2009:
The female/immature type Blue-winged Teal reported on the North Bull Island on 11th Sept was relocated again this morning at 10:00 (and present up until 12:30) giving excellent views with c.30 Eurasian Teal in the outflow just north of the causeway. A 2nd cal-yr Ring-billed Gull & a Curlew Sandpiper were also in the area. NK

At Dundalk Bay, Dunany Point - Clogher Head, and Swords Estuary -- doing I-WeBS counts, etc. At the former, from  Marsh South to Dunany Point 19,506 waterbirds. The most numerous were 10,099 OC, 2,900 KN, 2,596 BH, 780 BA, 701 RK, 540 MA. Also a Caspian Tern around Dunany Point, 17 Little Egrets, 55 Brents, 467 Wigeon.At Dunany Point to Clogher Head Caspian Tern seen again, and there were 695 BH, 795 CM, 200 HG, 389 OC, 45 RP and 86 Common Scoters, etc.At Swords Estuary (top end) were 80 MS, 1 Bar-headed Goose, 1 Shoveler, 71 Mallard, 467 BW, 195 RK, 56 KN, 485 BH, etc. OM

15 September, 2009
The juv. Buff-breasted Sandpiper found yesterday evening at Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow was on show again this morning in Webb's field although elusive at times [Note: later in the afternoon it was joined by a second bird and both gave excellent views! per. Pat & Stephen King]. Numbers of duck are beginning to increase with 210+ Teal, c.80 Wigeon, 19 Shoveler, 5 Pintail, a drake Gadwall & a drake Tufted Duck all present. 6 Buzzards were seen soaring over the hills inland from The Breaches. NK NTK


White Rumped Sandpiper. Eric Dempsey

This afternoon at Merrion Gates, Sandymount Strand, the moulting adult White-rumped Sandpiper (also found yesterday evening) was giving excellent views with Dunlin on the small pool between the outflow & the dune. A 2nd calendar-year (2nd winter) Ring-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gulls, Greenshank, Little Egrets, a male Kestrel & 2 Wheatears were also present. NTK



White Wagtail, Swords. Eric Dempsey

9 September, 2009
Six Buzzards "mewing" over Santry approx. 3.45pm today.BK

8 September, 2009
Along the canal walk from Inchicore towards City West there were 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Dunnock, 2      Chiffchaff,  Spotted   Flycatchers,1 Linnet,50-60 mixed flock of Swallows and House Martins,1 female Sparrowhawk, 250 – 300  Starlings doing an amazing acrobatic flyover.IS

7 September,  2009


A Kestrel about its serious business. Bull Island. Eric Dempsey

Sunday 6 September, 2009
At Rogerstown today there were 4 Green Sandpiper up channels, Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler in allotments, Chiffchaff at the hide, Peregrine & Buzzard over flooded field, Teal and Wigeon starting to build up.DO'M


White Wagtail Swords. John Fox

Saturday 5 September, 2009
1 Wheatear and a late Swift at Arklow Rock this morning. ER New arrivals on the Bull today included 200+Grey Plover , 60 Golden Plover, 1 Pintail 3 Shoveler 12 Teal 8 Snipe .CM

Kilcoole on Saturday afternoon:  60 -70 Curlews, 5 Little Egret, 10-15 Oysercatcher, 6 Dunlin ,  Mallard and a few Teal about ( no other ducks or geese present yet). A couple of Sandwich Terns still present as well. There was a large mixed flock (around 70 birds) of Swallows and Sand Martins about no doubt preparing to head south. Also 4 – 6 Wheatear present as well as large flocks of Linnet (around 25 birds). Around the car park there was Goldfinch, House Sparrow and a couple of Collared Dove. Also sighted was 1 Willow Warbler and 3 or 4 Spotted Flycatcher . Also heard in the reeds were at least 2 Water Rails.IS

4 September, 2009
Black Tern at Arklow ( photo below). ER At Merrion Strand this evening there were 2170 Terns and 5750 Black Headed Gulls at the evening roost.OM Kestrel flying around the corner of Parnell and Gardiner street at 07:00hrs. MH 


Black Tern. Arklow. Emmett Rees

3 September, 2009
Pectoral Sandpiper in the flooded field at Rogerstown seen from the North hide . PK 5 Shoveler on the Bull this morning.DMcC 6 White Wagtails at the Broad Meadow Estuary this morning .Also several at Balaggan Point, Co Louth as well as several  Wheatears and 6 Tree Sparrows.JG

Sunday, 30 August, 2009
12 White Wagtails and 10 Ruff at  Swords. AK. One Brent Goose on the Bull near the Wooden bridge. MH  We hear that there were 5 Brent in Dungarvan and 2 in Union Hall, 14 at the Bridges of Ross and 25 at Melmore Head, Donegal.

Saturday 29 August, 2009
47 Mistle Thrushes over Leeson Park, Ranelagh this morning. MC

 
Gorgeous Swallow at Gormanstown  - looking forward to the sub Sahara? Eric Dempsey

26 August, 2009
2 Brent Geese flying down the Liffey over the Ha'penny Bridge at lunchtime today. LB Carrion Crow with three Hoodies about 16.00 at the Bull Causeway.DMcC


Ruff and Reeve. Eric Dempsey.. Which is which and why??!!!

25 August, 2009
1 Brent Goose on the North Bull alongside  Wongs restaurant. KG A Swift at Swords Estuary yesterday, also 9 Ruff and 3 Common Sandpipers.GF

Sanderlings on the Bull. John Fox

24 August, 2009
120 Sanderling fresh in today on Dollymount Beach on the Bull Island some still in nice summer plumage.NH This group included  two colour ringed Sanderlings and a colour ringed Bar-tailed Godwit also. 1 Brent Goose and c.30 Med. Gulls at Sandycove, several with colour bands.OM SH Hundreds of Ringed Plovers on the north Co. Dublin beaches, and nearly 1,000 Sandwich Terns up there too.JL  Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits roosting in Bootertown.OM



Bar-tailed Godwits. Bull Island. Photos. Eric Dempsey

Sunday 23 August, 2009
94 Housmartins on the move at Malahide this evening  plus two Swallows and a late Swift. DOM

Saturday 22 August, 2009
 6,800 Terns at Sandymount Strand at low tide at 8pm.  The Caspian Tern as reported on BINS earlier in the day was not seen with the Tern roost this evening. Alongside the sea wall in front of Oddbins on the Bull at 3pm there were 110 Turnstones with one fresh juvenile Knot. We hear that 15 Brent Geese have arrived already in Strangford Lough.CM LB

21 August, 2009
A Spotted Redshank on the Bull Island this morning, at the junction of Howth Road and James Larkin Road (fresh water outflow) at the Sutton side of the causeway. 8 Ruff feeding together under the bridge at Swords Estuary.JF

20 August, 2009
One Swift at Seagrange Park, JD

 19 August, 2009
Swift flying east over Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas today at 16.30.DMcC Another one seen entering the roof space of a house in Fairview Dublin 3.JF Female Ruddy Shelduck at Rogerstown this morning - see photo below, BK



Ruddy Shelduck, Rogerstown. Brian Keogh

18 August, 2009
1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 16 Lapwing, 16 Coot and a number of Tufted and Mallard ducks at the Punchestown Sand Pits. SO'B

17 August, 2009
5 Swifts gliding over and around the 15 acres in the Phoenix Park this evening at 7 p.m.RD 3 Arctic Skuas chasing terns off Bremore Point. One Juvenile Mediterrranean Gull also in the area. AK

16 August, 2009
1 Swift at Malahide today. DO'M


Resident juvenile Robin at the Sinnott household got fed up waiting for the Sparrows to throw him/her a few crumbs so after a few practice flights he/she finally made it onto the fat ball! Marie Sinnott

15 August, 2009
3 Swifts  over the coast road Kilbarrack and 2 of the usual 8 at Heather's place Howth this morning.HQ

14 August, 2009
Balearic Shearwater of Bremore Point also 100 Manx Shearwater and one Arctic Skua chasing Terns.AK (I dont know why some of us bother to sit on the Bridges when we could be at Bremore Point!! -Editor ) 1 female Northern Wheatear on the Seawall, Tolka Basin, Fairview JG

13 August, 2009
1 Wheatear at Waterside Hotel Dublin Portrane & Donabate (photo below)Also 2 more at Corballis Donabate on strand 
2 juv Sparrowhawks at Newbridge House to the back of main house. SC

Wheatear. Shay Connolly 

11 August, 2009
4 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper at Rogerstown this evening. Also c 20 Swifts with House Martin at Skerries Mills DO'M

10 August, 2009
 Maiden's Rock, Dalkey a moulting adult Black Tern flew past and a pale phase Arctic Skua was off shore. 30 Roseate Terns were resting and feeding young and many more flew past towards Sandymount. NK.

8 August, 2009
 Up to 15 Swifts still around Dublin 8. MS Most of the the Bray Swifts departed last night. OM Dublin ringers at Mayo this weekend had over 800 Storm Petrels and two Leach's Petrels!! SK

7 August, 2009
3 First Summer Little Gulls at Gormanston Beach tonight. AK At Hartwell Stud, Kill, Co. Kildare 5 Tree Sparrows, 3 Yellowhammers and 1 Barn Owl just before midnight. SO' B


Juvenile Arctic Tern on Gormanston Beach. Paul Kelly

6 August, 2009
3 Little Gulls at  Gormanston beach. PK 4 Swifts in Merrion Square.KG

5 August, 2009
8 Swifts circling over the city centre today.LB Let us know if you see Swifts about as they leave about now every year.

3 August, 2009
 This morning at Sandymount: Ring-billed Gull (a 1st summer/2nd winter type); Curlew (45); Oystercatcher (523); Black-tailed Godwit (28); Whimbrel (2); Dunlin (87); Arctic Skua (1 off shore flying north); Roseate Tern (22).   Brown Hawker Dragonfly in the Dartmouth Road/Leeson Park area for a week now. MC Adult summer Little Gull at Bremore, Balbriggan.AK

2 August, 2009
3 Arctic Skuas at Bremore, Balbriggan chasing Terns and taking breaks sitting on the sea. AK 3 Chiffchaffs and a pair of Sparrowhawks today at Dartmouth Square.MC A Peregrine Falcon was on the Central Bank for most of the day. A family of Greenfinches are new arrivals in Temple Bar. LB


Spotted Redshank on the Bull Island this morning. Michael Nolan

1 August, 2009
 4 Eider Ducks at Skerries. 3 First Summer Little Gulls and 6 Mediteranean Gulls at Gormanston also plenty of adult and juvenile Roseate Terns . AK 

27 July, 2009
Little Gull this morning (low tide) , at the outflow at the end of the Clontarf Promenade, beside Alfie Byrne Rd. At Swords 12 Common Sandpipers , a Ruff and a single Mute Swan cygnet.GF


Sunday 26 July, 2009
 At Rogerstown today there were 24 Lapwings , 300+ Bar Tailed Godwits, 250+ Oyster Catchers ,300+ Curlews , 500+ Redshanks, 1 Common Sandpiper, 20+ Dunlin .A crèche of 2 adult Shelducks with 40 juveniles 2 Stock Doves 1 Kestrel. At the Burrow Strand, Malahide Estuary, a pair of hunting Kestrels.CM 500+  Redshank on the Bull. There were also Black-ailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, Dunlin, and a couple of summer plumage Turnstones - very beautiful birds at this time of year!.  Also Oystercatchers and Curlew. GF 20 Crossbills in Carlingford