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