THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS  and ADVISERS DURING   April  2010...

Lorraine Benson, Rhona Byrne, Dermot Mc Cabe, Shay Connolly, Tom Doyle, Chris Evans, Michael Harris, Mir Harris, Michael Keating, Aidan Kelly, Paul Kelly, 
Richard Killian, Niall T Keogh, Noel Keogh, Breandán Ó Braoin, Stephen O'Byrne, Bill Quinn, Brendan Sheils, Marie Sinnott, Ian Stevenson, Frank Turpin, Robert Vaughan, Ciaran Walsh

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.

 
 

 

 

 

30 April, 2010
Swift
sightings:  1 Swift seen over Washington Street, Dublin 8,MS and 3 Swifts over the Liffey at Heuston station this morning.IS  
16.30 Rogerstown Harbour 16 Whimbrel, 8 Northern Wheatear. DMcC

29 April, 2010
Dawn chorus in all it’s glory in the War memorial garden at Islandbridge this morning. Amongst the birds this morning were 2 Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting and Skylark. A Common Sandpiper was also present by the river.IS
No sign of the Yellow Wagtails at Kilcoole today. Major clearout of wildfowl with a single Light-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Shoveler and only a handful of Teal & Wigeon left. Migrant waders included 21 Golden Plover, 7 Dunlin, 6 Whimbrel, a Curlew, 2 Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper & 2 Redshank. Up to 30 Sandwich Terns were loafing about Webb's field with another 20 or so feeding offshore. A summer plumaged Red-throated Diver was seen offshore along with 10 Common Scoter & 7 Whimbrel migrating north. 16 Little Terns are back in at the colony so far. A small but noticeable fall of 12 Wheatears about the place including a single flock of 7 feeding around cattle in the fields behind The Breaches. Plenty of Swallows & Sand Martins around. NK & NTK

28 April, 2010
Two Black Guillemots at Capel Street bridge early this morning. LB

26 April, 2010
49 Brent Geese near the yacht club in Clontarf this evening.MH

25 April, 2010
Two dark-bellied Brent Geese at Rogerstown today (1 adult and a 1st summer). AK

24 April, 2010
Another successful Tolka Branch outing to Monaghan where we got to see out target birds, male and female Hen Harriers.  Many thanks to local birder, Joe Shannon, who monitors the Hen Harriers breeding in the area, for meeting with us and advising us on their recent activity.  Some of the troupe of 20 also caught a fleeting glance of a pair of Red Grouse.   While we waited patiently for them to re-appear we observed Skylark, Meadow Pippits, Greenfinch, Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Swallows and a Cuckoo (see Brendan Sheils photo on the right).  Before we left Slieve Beagh a Kestrel and Buzzard held our interest while we waited in vain for more sightings of the Hen Harriers.  We headed south-east to the coast at Annagassan, County Louth where, despite a very low tide, we saw lots of Dunlin with their distinctive black belly breeding plumage.  Also at this sight were Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Curlew, Mallard, Shelduck and Brent Geese.   We finished our trip with a stop at Clogherhead.  In the harbour, three grey seals were a diversion from the birdwatching but Kittiwake, Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Heron, Common Sandpiper, Cormorants, and two Sandwich Terns reminded us of the task at hand.  Many thanks to all those who travelled and made the journey so enjoyable.

                                                                                                           Cuckoo at Slieve Beagh. Brendan Sheils->

 

                      
Skylark at Slieve Beagh, Monaghan.Bill Quinn                                               Kittiwake at Clogherhead. Brendan Sheils

22 April, 2010
A male Blackcap singing and showing well in santry demense this evening.MK

21 April, 2010
Balaggan Point to Cooley Point:  780 Brent Geese feeding along the shore, mainly on the enteromorpha that is coming on at the moment - they particularly choose the areas where there is fresh water running onto the shore. Also 800+ Whimbrel, 450 Golden Plover, 14 Great Northern Divers, 60+ Red-Throated Divers and 15 Red-Breasted Mergansers.BM

20 April, 2010
2 Swallows at Annesley Bridge, Fairview;  3 Red-Breasted Mergansers in front of the Yacht Club in Clontarf;  Circa 150 Brent Geese in various groups around the wooden bridge at Dollymount looking very well fed and ready for their trip north.MH

 19 April, 2010
South Bull Wall:
South of the wall, close in, 6 Gannets feeding voraciously were joined by 6 Sandwich Terns moving north. 2 Manx Shearwaters flew south west outside the feeding frenzy while 2 Swallows passed on a north-west trajectory. A little further east passed the Blue Moon swimming club a Great Crested Grebe was feeding close to the wall, showing beautifully in its summer sartorial elegance. FT

Busy day for Dodder Dipper.   Photo by Shay Connolly

 

18 April, 2010
1 Barn Owl @ Hartwell Stud, Kill, Co. Kildare seen around 23:00.SO'B     
2 Dippers and a Kingfisher seen on the Dargle River Enniskerry just below the Knockree Youth Hostel.MK   
Two Great Northern Divers seen near Barna, Galway.RK
Plenty of migrants at Kilcoole this evening.  A Sedge Warbler was singing in the reedbed at the BWI Reserve. In Webb's field, c.170 Light-bellied Brent Geese remain along with small numbers of Wigeon, Teal & 5 Shoveler.  A Little Egret, a White Wagtail, c.100 Sand Martins, 5 Swallows, 33 Golden Plover, 35 Dunlin & 3 Wheatears were also present here. Another Wheatear was on the rocks south of The Breaches. Inside The Breaches, good numbers of migrant waders were feeding on the exposed mud including a Common Sandpiper, a summer plumaged Greenshank & 3 Black-tailed Godwits. Birds migrating offshore included 26 Whimbrel, 7 Sandwich Terns, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Manx Shearwater & 6 Common Scoter whilst up to 15 Red-throated Divers showed very well just off the beach. Also noted was a lack of Stonechats here and elsewhere along The Murrough lately, perhaps due to the cold winter killing off the local population? NK & NTK  

15 April, 2010
Whimbrel flying over Vernon Avenue this evening.  TD

14 April, 2010
Goldfinch
in Howth garden today. BQ  


Goldfinch in Howth Garden.  Bill Quinn.

13 April, 2010
Northern Wheatear
in Howth Harbour this morning and two Brent Geese. BQ  Dipper at bridge at Heuston Station today. MH

12 April, 2010
Buzzard
soaring over the Baily circled back and headed in the direction of Red Rock, Sparrowhawk, Swallow and Sand Martin also spotted. BO'B

11 April, 2010
At Webb's field, Kilcoole this evening, 470 Light-bellied Brent Geese were accompanied by two 2nd cal-year Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Greylag Geese & 2 Whooper Swans. Also present were 3 White Wagtails, c.40 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 4 Whimbrel, 27 Golden Plover, 5 Shoveler, plenty of Shelduck, Wigeon & Teal and several pairs of Lapwing. At sea, 2 drake Common Scoters, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Sandwich Terns & a Manx Shearwater were seen migrating north. A full summer plumaged Red-throated Diver showed exceptionally well just off The Breaches whilst 4 Black-tailed Godwits were feeding inside The Breaches. A Chiffchaff was singing at the railway station car park. NK & NTK

 

Exotic Duck week!! Please note that we cannot confirm if these are wild birds. 
They may be escapees from the Zoo or Private collections . 

 


Wood Duck on the Dodder.Susan O'Donohoe.

9 and 10  April, 2010
Pair of unringed Mandarin Ducks coming to bread on the canal at the Blessington St Basin, Phibsboro.CE - Please note that the Basin does not open until 10am at weekends . See Shay Connolly's shots of the female and male below and Susan's Wood Duck above.

8 April, 2010
12 Willow Warblers
in Cabinteely Park. 10+ Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs & c.20 Swallows at Blackditch ECNR. NK, NTK, Hannah Keogh


Willow Warbler, Enfield Co Kildare. John Fox

7 April, 2010
At last, plenty of reports coming in of singing Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps around the city. Thanks to all for reports.

6 April, 2010
In Bushy park earlier today, 3 pairs of Tufted ducks and a Little Grebe, no sign of any Dippers or Kingfishers. 2 Willow Warblers were in a thicket behind Rathfarnham shopping centre.RV

Monday 5 April 2010
2yr Ring-billed Gull at Poolbeg.PK I Red Kite and one Swallow, Wicklow. LB
Along the Grand Canal 2-3 miles NW of Sallins Co Kildare - 2 Little Egrets, 2 Buzzards, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Chiffchaffs. 3 Sand Martins. SO'B

Sunday 4 April, 2010
White-tailed Eagle
in Wicklow with Red Kites. SC - see Shays photo below for size comparison. A pair of Crossbills showing brilliantly at Blackhill this evening, 3 Siskin and 4 Redpoll including a large white 'meally' type. 2 Red Kites, 4 Buzzards and 3 Kestrels. RV


White-tailed Eagle being mobbed by a Red Kite, Wicklow. Shay Connolly


Buzzard being mobbed by a Hodded Crow. John Fox (Kilcoole, 27 March 2010)

Saturday 3 April, 2010
White-tailed Eagle
still in Wicklow. NO'R 1 Swallow  flying over Daristown cemetary on the old airport road.MK 1 Chiffchaff in song and feeding busily at Howth Head.LB
   1 Swallow @ Kill Village, Kildare. SO'B 

2 April, 2010
2 Swallows, 5 Sand Martins
at Lissenhall, Swords. 2 Sandwich Terns Portmarnock. 7 Little Egrets Bull Island Causeway.DMcC
2 more Swallows were over the Liffey at Chapelizod this morning.RV 100s of Common Scoter and 2 male Eider off the Nanny Estuary. Also Red- throated Divers in breeding plumage off  the Boyne estuary.BS 1 male Blackcap still coming to apples in Phibsboro..Strawberry Beds: 1 Buzzard soaring above the trees before making a long glide to the SE.   2 Chiffchaff singing, and 3 Blackcaps also singing between Anglers Rest and Irish Canoe Union club. CE

1 April 2010
10 Black Guillemots
at Clogherhead today. Also offshore Brendan saw 1 Great Skua, and Iceland Gull, Razorbills and Guillemots. BS

30 March, 2010
6 Crossbills around Blackhill ( off the N11 at the Beehive )  also several Siskin and at least 9 Buzzards also in the area. Probable Red Kite at a huge distance circling with 2 Buzzards.RV


Black Guillemot at Clogherhead. Brendan Sheils


 
 


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