NOTE:
numerous photos of Waxwings have been included to
illustrate (1) the striking plumage of the species, their flocking
nature; the variety of Sorbus tree berries and Cotoneaster berries
they favour; and (3)
how they strip a tree of every last berry before moving
on. The large influx of Waxwings is due to the
scarcity of berries in their native homes of Scandinavia and
Russia this winter.
30 November 2012
Dublin 8: Well over a hundred Waxwings were perched on
a tree in a garden on Washington Street, Dublin 8. This was a
lookout point for a tree on the next road which had a limited
amount of red berries. However this was one 'gathering' that was
not welcomed by the local Irish birds! Five Thrushes
and three Blackbirds guarded these berries like it was
their last supper! Magpies were also patrolling the skies.
The Waxwings did pluck up the courage and a number of them did a
brief smash and grab and then the whole flock flew off towards
Crumlin. What a wonderful start to a Friday morning.MS
Killester: 2 male Blackcaps fighting over the apples here
in the garden in Killester.MH
Ballymun Road: A Buzzard seen this morning at the old
stables beside Naul park opposite the Topaz garage on the Ballymun
Road.MK
Buzzard at Naul park (Photo by
Michael Keating)
Birdlife in
Rogerstown this morning...
Fieldfare at Rogerstown
(Photo by Harry Bailey)
Redpoll at Rogerstown (Photo by Harry Bailey)
Linnet at Rogerstown (Photo
by Harry
Bailey)
29 November 2012
Malahide Estuary: 5 pair of Mergansers and a Great-crested
Grebe seen directly across from the Rugby club.IM
Great-crested Grebe at
Malahide estuary (Photo by Ita Martin)
Mergansers at Malahide
estuary (Photo by Ita Martin)
Brambling in Clontarf Garden
(Photo by Ger Franck)
Long-tailed Duck seen from
Irishtown Nature Park. High tide, looking towards Sandymount
(Photo by Ger Franck)
28 November 2012
Drimnagh, Cooley Road at 8.15a.m.: 40 Waxwings
Flying between the top of the tall fern tree to the right of the
Staff entrance into the Children's hospital, and magnificent views
when they flew down to a tree next to my head at the staff car
park barrier.SMcN
Clontarf garden: A Brambling on feeders in a garden
in Clontarf today best keep an eye for the Sparrowhawk
(photo below) which has become a regular visitor.GF
Sparrowhawk in Clontarf
garden (Photo by Ger Franck)
27 November 2012
Brambling taken at Rogerstown
1 seen with a flock of Chaffinch and Greenfinch (Photo by Harry
Bailey)
26 November 2012
At Broadmeadows Swords: 50 Goldeneye, 1 Pochard,
25 Great-crested Grebe, 13 Little Grebe, 1 Egret.CD
...and
this afternoon: 2 Pochard and 2
female Scaup;PV and
Rogerstown: Good number of Fieldfares in flooded field opposite
entrance to Rogerstown.PV
Rogerstown: In 2hrs, I saw: 2 Red Kites, a Buzzard,
a Peregrine hunting Lapwing, a female Kestrel
& the male Hen Harrier. Also, a Kingfisher over
the stream at the entrance to the old allotments.AR
Alder marsh on Bull Island, a male Kestrel.AR, GdeL &
TC
Howth: For the first time ever in our garden in Howth we had 4 Waxwings
feasting on our Cotoneaster berries this afternoon. We
watched one eating 23 berries in about a minute and a half. At
this rate we will have no berries left! BQ
25 November 2012
Dublin 12: 11.10am, 170 Brent Geese in Sundrive
Rd park, no juvs, 7 tags read. No Waxwings.SMcN & CH
24 November 2012
M50 Ballmun: 3 Buzzards on the M50 between
Ballymun and airport exits; and
Rogerstown: male Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Buzzards
and 2 Kestrels.AR
Short-eared Owl at
Rogerstown (Photo by Adrian Rooney)
Crumlin: 1.15pm, 60 Wawings on
Stannaway Ave, Crumlin, Dublin 12 in a tree overhanging the green
railings of the park onto Stannaway Ave, near park keeper's lodge.
In flight between this tree and some trees on Captains Drive and
the back of Stanaway Court.SMcN & CH
Waxwings at Stannaway Ave.
Crumlin (Photo by Siobhan McNamara)
23 November 2012
Dublin 8: a Grey Wagtail in a disused pond at St.
James's Hospital.MH
22 November 2012
Rathfarnham: 14 Waxwings seen in Rathfarnham today.DF
Waxwing at Rathfarnham
(Photo by Des Fay)
Dun Laoghaire: I had a Greenfinch in my garden
yesterday appearing to be suffering from trichomoniasis. I
live in Dun Laoghaire in county Dublin. I have removed all bird
feeders and disinfected them. Should I stop feeding for a period
of time? If so how long? JC
Trichomoniasis (a disease caused by a parasitic organism):
fluffed up plumage, damp head, difficulty swallowing, lethargy.
The parasites pass from bird to bird via regurgitated food such as
would be fed to chicks. They block the throat, causing the bird to
spill saliva, and eventually cause death from starvation.
Infection usually appears in late summer and autumn. It seems wild
birds cannot be treated, but bird baths and water dishes can be
emptied out to prevent saliva spreading the infection, and bird
feeders are best left unfilled for some time (12-20 days).
CMcL [Tolka
Sightings Page: 26th July 2010]
NOTE: is a good reminder to disinfect all bird
feeders and bird baths.Editor
21 November 2012
Liffey Valley: approx. 40-60 Waxwings feeding off the
berries in Liffey Valley Car Park.VH
Rogerstown: 6 Greylag
Geese (no neck-rings). I believe 1st sightings at Rogerstown
this year.VH
Greylag Geese at Rogerstown (Photo
by Vincent Hall)
Waxwing at Liffey Valley Car Park
(Photo by Ita Martin)
20 November 2012
Killester: A flock of 20 Waxwings at St Bridget's
Estate, Killester this morning.GF
Two Waxwing at Killester (Photo by
Ger Franck)
Chiffchaff at Bull Island (Photo by
Ger Franck)
17 November 2012
Cracking day for raptors at Rogerstown:
Short-eared Owl hunting all around north hide.
2 female type Merlins, juvenile Peregrine, male Hen
Harrier, ringtail Hen Harrier & good numbers of Kestrels,
Buzzards & Sparrowhawks.
Large flock of Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch,
Linnet & Reed Bunting over Partridge field.AR
Female Merlin at
Rogerstown (Photo by Adrian Rooney)
15 November 2012
Reed Bunting at Rogerstown (Photo by
Harry Bailey)
14 November 2012
Howth inner harbour: Kingfisher, 3 Little
Grebe, Herring and Greater Black-backed Gulls.EMcC
Glasnevin: Buzzard seen near the Botanic Gdns. First
time I have seen one in that area.JF
Common Buzzard seen near National Botanic Gardens (Photo by John
Fox)
11 November 2012
Phoenix Park (11am - 1pm):
Ashtown Gate: 1 Buzzard, 1 Jay;
Lake opposite Ordnance Survey: 3 Mandarin Duck and 1 Wood
Duck; and at
Farmleigh: 1 female Sparrowhawk.BBG
One of five Little
Grebe under the Wooden Bridge
at the Bull today (Photo by Cian Merne)
Rogerstown:
male Hen Harrier,
2 Sparrowhawks,
a Kestrel,
2 Red Kites
& numerous Buzzards, Bullfinch,
Goldcrest & Reed Bunting east of south
hide.AR&PH
M1/N1:
a Red Kite,
4 Buzzards,
a Kestrel
&
a Sparrowhawk.AR&PH
10 November 2012
Rogerstown: 2 Hen Harriers (ringtail & a male), a Kestrel,
a Sparrowhawk, 2 Red Kites & 5 Buzzards;
also
M50/ Ballymun exit: 2 Buzzards.AR
Male Hen Harrier spotted at
Turvey, Dublin (Photo by Brendan Kneafsey)
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Male Hen Harrier spotted at
Turvey, Dublin (Photo by Brendan Kneafsey)
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Red-throated Diver at Bull Island
(Photo by Eugene Dolan)
9 November 2012
Baldoyle Bridge: 80 Teal and approx 700 Golden
Plover;
Howth east pier: 1 Red-throated Diver;
Bull Island at Wooden Bridge: 4 Little Grebe and 1
male Stonechat on bull wall.CD
7 November 2012
Curlew Sandpiper at Bull Island
(Photo by Ita Martin)
Female Stonechat at Bull Island
(Photo by Ita Martin)
6 November 2012
Corkagh Park, Clondalkin – Spotted 2 Jays this
morning, I have been going to this park for over twenty years
& this is the first time I have seen Jays there. Also present
1 Cormorant, 3 Teal & 2 Shovellers.SHarrington
Leucistic Oystercatcher seen on
Bull Island from James Larkin Rd (Photo by Ger Franck)
Curlew Sandpiper at Bull Island (Photo by Vincent Hall)
5 November 2012
Rogerstown North Hide: Male Hen Harrier at
13:15pm hunting all around the hide, female Merlin, female Sparrowhawk,
3 Buzzards, a Peregrine & large flock of Goldfinches.
AR & VH
N1 Lusk: 2 Buzzards.
M50 at airport exit: A Kestrel & a Buzzard.AR
4 November 2012
Irishtown: A juvenile Long-tailed Duck at
Irishtown Nature Park at high tide this afternoon.SH
Rogerstown South Hide: Male Hen Harrier at 12:30pm,
female Merlin, 3 Buzzards, a female Sparrowhawk
& a female Kestrel. AR & VT
3 November 2012
Common Buzzard - one of three - at
Rogerstown (Photo by Neil O'Reilly)
Kestrel hovering over dunes at the
Bull Wall (Photo by Dave MacPherson)
Grey Heron at Poppintree Park,
Ballymun (Photo by Mick Kelly)
2 November 2012
Sparrowhawk in Rathgar garden
(Photo by Tom Gregan)
1 November 2012
Bull Island: 2 Snow Bunting seen on the beach close
to the Bull wall at about 3.15 today. JF
One of two Snow Buntings on the
beach at Bull Island (Photo by Ger Franck)
