Kilcoole March, 2007

With stunning conditions on a  clear sunny calm  Spring day 25 birdwatchers joined the Tolka Branch March outing to Kilcoole. Although birders will focus on the highlights of the day viz, Garganey, Green-winged Teal and the dark-bellied Brent Goose, there were remarkable numbers of the more familiar birds on this much visited site.

 

The following are the wetland birds seen and their numbers:-

Red-throated Diver 6 , Little Grebe 5, Cormorant 11, Shag 3, Little Egret 5, Grey Heron 4,Mute Swan 17, Whooper Swan 20+,,Greylag Goose 140 . Brent Goose 511, Shelduck 16 ,Wigeon 333, Teal 201,  Garganey 1 male, Green-winged teal 1 male, dark-bellied Brent Goose 1,Mallard 14 Shoveler 8,Moorhen 9, Coot 7 ,Oystercatcher 8 ,Ringed Plover 22, Golden Plover 730 ,Lapwing 14 (7 pairs),Dunlin 38, Black-tailed Godwit 32, Curlew 21, Redshank 22, Turnstone 24, Black-headed Gull 78, Common Gull 40, Herring Gull 11, Great Black-backed Gull 4, Glaucous Gull 1 (1st winter).

The following 23 non-wetland species along the coast and at the car-park: Woodpigeon, Skylark (lots of pairs), Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Magpie, Rook, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Redpoll, Reed Bunting.

A few birdwatchers continued on to the Black Wood area ( off the N11) where one Woodcock was seen ( flushed from the dry clearing near the wood) and two Fieldfares.