THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS  and ADVISERS DURING  January 2012...

 John Brennan, Miriam Brennan, Brian Carruthers, Charlie Curtis, Daithi De Brun, Gary De Lacy, Eugene Dolan, Rosemary Doyle, Nicola Dunphy, 
Ciaran Dunne, Des Fay, Ger Franck, Vincent Hall, Mir Harris, Paul Heneghan, Edd Kealy, Niall T Keogh, Noel Keogh, Dave MacPherson, Dermot McCabe, 
Eoin McCumiskey, Cian Merne, Oscar Merne, Conor Nolan, Brian Porter, Adrian Rooney, Brendan Sheils, Matthew Silk, Mark Swords, Ian Stevenson

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 January 2012

Crimson Rosella (escapee) at Poppintree Park (Photo by Vincent Hall)


30 January 2012
Blackrock:   09:45 Peregrine female harassing pigeons over the car park at Blackrock Dart Station, circling and returning a number of times. Drew feathers from one bird. Fantastic view from the DART station bridge.CN


28 January 2012

A Buzzard at exit 15 on the M50 perched on a streetlight.AR

Ardglass Harbour Co. Down:   Full of great Gulls, 20 Iceland Gull, 12 Glaucous Gull, 5 Kittiwake, 2 Kumlien's Gull all showing well at the Harbour wall. No sign of the Ross's Gull.BS

Kumlien's Gull at Ardglass (Photo by Brendan Sheils)


Rogerstown:  Highlights were a Redwing, male Ruff, Water Rail which showed beside the hide at 4pm and Hen Harrier showing at 10am and again at 3 pm.GF

Hen Harrier at Rogerstown (Photo by Ger Franck)


Snipe at Wexford North Slobs (Photo by Vincent Hall)




27 January 2012
Baldoyle:   1 Barnacle Goose with the Brent Geese at Red Arches (Baldoyle) this afternoon.MS


26 January 2012

Black-tailed Godwits at Swords (Photos by Dave McPherson)






25 January 2012
Howth east pier:  at 12.00hrs 40+ Turnstone, 1 Redshank, 6 Rock Pipit.CD


24 January 2012
Phoenix Park:  at 13.00 hrs Farmleigh lake, 22 Mallard, 3 Coot, 6 Moorhen, 1 Pheasant (m).CD


23 January 2012
Inchicore: Sparrowhawk over Inchicore Road at 5pm.AR&GdeL


22 January 2012
Bull Island: 2 Short eared Owls at 12pm north of Alder marsh.AR&GdeL

Gullfight at Balbriggan Harbour  (Glaucous Gull v juv Herring Gull) - (Photo by Brendan Sheils)




21 January 2012
Phoenix Park at 9.45hrs:  2 Little Grebe, 12 Mallard, 1 Moorhen at Furry Glen pond.CD

Bray Harbour. One adult Ring-billed Gull with 365 Black-headed, 16 Common, 146 Herring and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls.OM

Kilcoole: 3 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel & a small flock of Reed Bunting.AR&GdeL


Glaucous Gull at Balbriggan Harbour (Photo by Brendan Sheils)





20 January 2012
At Ardglass Harbour Co. Down there was a great selection of gulls on offer:  Ross's Gull (1st in 20 years for N Ireland) was the main attraction with 4 Glaucous Gulls, 15 or more Iceland Gulls including some of the kumlieni race, 1 Sandwich Tern and lots of Kittwakes. Further up the coast at Larne Co. Antrim the Bonaparte's Gull was still on show. PC, GF, CF

Ross's Gull at Ardglass (Photo by Philip Clancy)


Ross's Gull at Ardglass (Photo by Philip Clancy)


Iceland Gull at Ardglass (Photo by Philip Clancy)



Bonaparte's Gull at Larne (Photo by Philip Clancy)




19 January 2012
Bull Island:   2 Short-eared Owls, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel.  Lots of Brent Geese, Shelduck, Widgeon and Teal.  Also plenty of waders, Redshank, Dunlin, Turnstone, Knot, Grey Plover, Ringed-Plover, Bar-tailed Godwits and Greenshank. 1 Grey Heron and 1 Little Egret and 1 Carrion x Hooded crow.EK

Short-eared Owl at Bull Island (Photo by Edd Kealy)



18 January 2012
I had an Iceland Gull in the Grand Canal dock at 1 p.m. today. It was resting on the raft with Herring Gulls and Cormorants which is located halfway down the dock.IS

Leucistic Greenfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch in Balbriggan (Photo by Charlie Curtis)





17 January 2012
At Broadmeadows today 11-12.00hrs:  29 Goldeneye, 14 Mergansers, 3 Great-crested Grebes, 300+ Brent Geese.CD

Bull Island:   2 Fieldfares, a Redwing and a Blackcap in the scrub beside the Interpretative Centre.GF

Fieldfare and Starling at Bull Island (Photo by Ger Franck)





16 January 2012
Just to let you know of a second year Glaucous Gull in Corkagh Park, Clondalkin. It is on the lower lakes of the park and stands out like a sore thumb between the Black-headed Gulls and swans. Was seen today at close quarters. This is a very rare bird for Dublin 22 area. My first in the area. Also present is a Little Egret, two male Widgeon, Teal and one Shoveler.DdeB

I had two Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Oldtown Wood, Phoenix Park this afternoon.DMcC

Black-headed Gull taken in evening light from the seafront in Clontarf, opposite the Bull (Photo by Dave MacPherson)


Dunlin and Turnstone  taken in evening light from the seafront in Clontarf, opposite the Bull (Photo by Dave MacPherson)


Wigeon (f & m) taken in evening light from the seafront in Clontarf, opposite the Bull (Photo by Dave MacPherson)





15 January 2012
DCU Playing fields off Ballymun Road : A single Barnacle Goose among a flock of 100 - 150 Brent Geese.PF

Ballyfermot:  85-100 Brent Geese grazing on the California Hills before noon.RD


The I-WeBS counts at Dundalk Bay were carried out by Oscar Merne, Breffni Martin and Peter Phillips. In spite of heavy overcast conditions and a stiff and raw SE wind, c.45,000 waterbirds (of 40 species) were counted. The "top ten" were:

• 12,782 Knot, 

• 6,205 Golden Plover, 

• 5,814 Oystercatchers, 

• 3,205 Lapwing, 

• 3,151 Black-tailed Godwits, 

• 2,815 Common Gulls, 

• 2,627 Black-headed Gulls, 

• 1,638 Bar-tailed Godwits, 

• 1,440 Light-bellied Brent Geese, and 

• 1,324 Dunlin

Buzzard at Rogerstown north & Turvey south Hide (Photo by Brian Carruthers)


Hen Harrier hunting at Rogerstown (Photo by Brian Carruthers)


Brent Geese at Rogerstown (Photo by Brian Carruthers)





14 January 2012

Black-headed Gulls bickering over lunch (Photo by Nicola Dunphy)




13 January 2012
Kilcoole:  2 Tundra Bean Geese were with the flock of Greylag Geese in the fields behind The Breaches at Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow this afternoon. 4 adult Bewick's Swans were amongst a flock of 77 Whooper Swans in the spud field behind Webb's whilst a hybrid Carrion X Hooded Crow was also on the beach. NTK

Kilcoole:  The juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard was still present in the fields north of Glenroe Farm, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow in the late afternoon. Noel Keogh

Booterstown:   today from DART station @ 10.45 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Egret and 11 Teal.CD

Sparrowhawk at Palmerstown Park Dublin  (Photo by Des Fay)



12 January 2012
Swords Estuary:  A large flock of several thousand Golden Plover joined by many Lapwing put on a wonderful aerial display at Swords Estuary today.  A good selection of other waders on view also, including Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Redshank and 2 Ruff.GF

Mute Swans at Swords Estuary (Photo by Ger Franck)


Chaffinch at Cabinteely Park (Photo by Eugene Dolan)



11 January 2012
Gormanstown:  A male Long-tailed Duck was with a flock of Common Sctoer offshore from Gormanstown Strand, Co. Meath. NTK


10 January 2012
Sandycove:. A total of 41 Mediterranean Gulls (mainly adults) was found at Sandycove at high tide, 30 of which were perched on granite rocks at the Fortyfoot swimming place -- all showing their legs. One bird had a green ring with white inscription AH UK, ringed in NW Germany on 23.5.09.OM


Tree Sparrows are being colour ringed around Dublin and any sightings should be reported to acopland@birdwatchireland.ie

Tree Sparrow being ringed in Dublin garden (Photo by Cian Merne)



9 January 2012
Rogerstown:   A male Green-winged Teal was seen on a high tide from the south hide at Rogerstown Estuary at 11:25am. Waterbird counts from the estuary included 200 Light-bellied Brent Geese, 205 Shelduck, 600 Wigeon, 915 Teal, 140 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 1000+ Lapwing, 100+ Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 260 Curlew, 210 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 245 Black-tailed Godwits, 95 Bar-tailed Godwits, 180 Black-headed Gulls, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 160 Herring Gulls & 30 Great Black-backed Gulls. A ringtail Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, 500+ Woodpigeons, c.20 Stock Doves, c.30 Yellowhammers, c.20 Reed Buntings & 2 Bullfinches were at Turvey Parklands also. NTK



8 January 2012
Bray garden:   2 male Blackcaps, 1 male Brambling,  6 Siskins, "flock" of 18 Blackbirds (15 males) feeding in garden, while a pair of Common Buzzards drifted overhead.OM


Kilcoole: 1 Rough-legged Buzzard showing well for several minutes during the afternoon. A walk from Greystones beach to Newcastle produced: 2 Mediteranean Gulls, 2 Stonechat, 1 Peregrine, 5 Turnstone, 4 Bewick Swans with 100 Whooper Swans, Teal, Wigeon, 1000's of Brent Geese with 5 Dark-bellied Brent. Offshore 4 Red-throated Divers, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Sandwich Tern.BS

Turnstone at Kilcoole beach (Photo by Brendan Sheils)



7 January 2012
Rogerstown estuary hide and area, Donabate:   Yellowhammer, Fieldfare, Buzzard (2), Greenfinch (good numbers);  large flocks of Lapwing, Wigeon and Golden Plover;  smaller numbers of Great Black- backed Gulls, Curlews and Brent Geese;  the odd Teal, Herring Gull, Redshank, 1 Greenshank & Little Grebe.EMcC

Clontarf:  new on the bird feeder, a Lesser Redpoll.EMcC

Glasnevin:   A pair of Pheasants in the Botanic Gardens.PF

Bull Island:   17 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Oystercatchers at South Bull wall at midday.MS

Bar-tailed Godwits at Bull Island (Photo by Mark Swords)





6 January 2012
The juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard was seen soaring around the Farrenkelly Road area (north of Kilcoole village) up to 09:55am after when it drifted south. 3 Common Buzzards, several Stock Doves & a Grey Wagtail were also seen in this area. NTK & Brian Porter

Scouting for the Dublin Bird Race produced the following sightings: A female Stonechat was seen on the coast between Sean Moore Park & Sandymount Strand. A juvenile Great Northern Diver, 2 Peregrines, a Gannet, 5 Fulmars, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Little Grebes & a hybrid Carrion X Hooded Crow were at Howth whilst a Chiffchaff was feeding in the coastal scrub at Balscadden. A Ruff was associating with the Black-tailed Godwit flock at Broadmeadows, Swords. Lots of gull activity at Rogerstown Dump where a 1st-winter Iceland Gull, an adult Scandinavian Herring Gull (subspecies argentatus), a presumed hybrid Lesser Black-backed X Herring Gull, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull & an adult Mediterranean Gull were present whilst a flock of 40 Stock Doves flew overhead. Four Purple Sandpipers were near underneath the Martello Tower at Skerries and 40+ Tree Sparrows & 43 Tufted Ducks were at Knock Lake. NTK & Brian Porter


Bray:   Blackcaps arrived in my Bray Garden later than usual this winter. The first (male) appeared (on windfall apples) on 5th January, and a second male arrived on 6th January. Up to 7 Long-tailed Tits have been feeding regularly since Christmas on peanuts, while only one Siskin has turned up so far.OM

Coolock:  1 Fieldfare in front garden in Coolock.MS

Castleknock: Buzzard;
Finglas, Dunsink Lane: Buzzard; and
Rogerstown north hide: 2 Buzzards, a Kestrel, ringtail Hen Harrier (13:00) & Merlin at (13:30) on birdbox.AR&PH



3 January 2012

Peregrine at Liffey Valley (Photo by Adrian Rooney)




2 January 2012
North Strand:   We had 2 Linnets, 3 Chaffinches, 5 Goldfinches, 2 Blue Tits, 5 Feral Pigeons and 1 Dunnock at the various feeders in our garden at Strandville Avenue yesterday at 12.40pm when our garden was visited by a male Sparrowhawk. It stayed for 7 minutes after its abortive raid. It was a great way to start our new year and we happily recorded its appearance in our Garden Bird Survey form! JB&MB

Chapelizod: A Sparrowhawk & Kestrel.AR

Bull Island:  3 Lttle Grebes at the wooden bridge. (As well as all the usual suspects for the area).MH

Dunlin at Swords Estuary (Photo by Ger Franck)


Surf Scoter at Gormanstown beach today.BS

Shoveler (male) at Coast Road, near Bull Island Causeway (Photo by Eugene Dolan)



1 January 2012

Palmerstown:  A Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, pair of Kestrel, a Jay, small flock of Long-tailed Tits & large flock of Bullfinches (approx 15)
in Waterstown Park, Palmerstown.AR&GDeL

Baldoyle: 5 Red-breasted Mergansers in Baldoyle today.CM

Starling enjoying the new year's day sunshine at Howth (Photo by Cian Merne)

Greenfinches at Rogerstown Turvey Hide (Photo by Brian Carruthers)                          Redshank at Rogerstown Turvey Hide (Photo by Brian Carruthers)
 

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