Contributors
Lorraine Benson, Shay Connolly, Hugh Delaney, Eric Dempsey, John Fox, Gerald Frank, Eugene Furlong, John Gallagher, Kieran Grace, John Hammond, Mir Harris, Michael Harris, Michael Keating, Ray Kellet, Noel Keogh, Niall T Keogh, Aidan Kelly, Paul Kelly, Pat King, Stephen King, Paul Lynch, Dermot McCabe, Coilin Mac Loughlin, Stephen O' Byrne, Oscar Merne, Gerry Power, Bill Quinn, Colm Reidy, Adrian Rooney, Paul Robinson,Moray Souter
April 200830 April, 2008
A Little Egret flew over the base of Dun Laoghaire Harbour most likely heading towards Booterstown Marsh. NTK
29 April, 2008
4 Wheatears on the Bull Island causeway also 4 Sandwich Terns and 6 Whimbrel. 6 Purple Sandpipers still present at Skerries. GF
Mistle Thrush, Kilcoole. Paul Kelly
Whitethroat, Howth. Shay Connolly28 April, 2008
The Glaucous Gull is still at Balbriggan this evening. Also at least 8 Swifts flying around Balbriggan this evening. AK Birding today along the Murrough produced plenty of migrants with hirundines, Sandwich Terns and Whimbrel very much in evidence. Willow Warblers and Sedge Warblers were heard singing in nearly every available piece of suitable habitat. Two fine male Yellow Wagtails were hanging around the northern scrape in the BWI reserve, Kilcoole first thing this morning. Shortly afterwards, four males were seen together feeding at close range alongside the horses in Webb's field. It is likely that just the four birds are involved in total. Webb's field was buzzing with activity with c.100 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese (2 adults & a 1st-winter), 55 Golden Plover, 80-100 Sand Martins, 4 White Wagtails, c.25 Sandwich Terns, c.150 Dunlin, a Grey Plover, a male Wigeon and a Greylag Goose present. Elsewhere at Kilcoole there were 3 Wheatears, 3 Little Terns, a Common Tern, c.25+ Whimbrel, c.15 Common Swifts and a summer plumaged Red-throated Diver.
Reeling Grasshopper Warblers were heard at Newcastle Airfield, Five-mile-point and Killoughter marsh.
The northern half of Broadlough held 11 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpipers, a summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, 2 pairs of Gadwall, a male Wigeon and a Water Rail out in the open.NTK & SKSunday 27 April, 2008
Spoonbill seen in flight at Kicloole on 27th April.ED PK
Also at Kilcoole 2 flavissima male Yellow Wagtails feeding with a mixed flock of Pied & White Wagtails (Mid Way down Webb's Field). Also a flock of Whimbrel.At Blackhill one Common Buzzard. JG
Saturday 26 April, 2008
At West Pier, Dun Laoghaire today total of 5 Common Sandpipers and 12-16 Wheatears.Early Swift in Monkstown.C Mc L
25 April, 2008
Tolka basin between East Point Business Park & Clontarf Road - 2 Whimbrel. Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the bushes at the entrance to EastPoint Business Park. At the Tolka Bridge, Sedge Warbler in Song - footpath running to the east of Fairview Park( along Dublin bay) Linnets singing / holding territory. JG24th April, 2008
A Buzzard was soaring over the N11 junction at Cabinteely this afternoon. It drifted off SE over Kilbogget Park. Perhaps the same bird as seen over the N11 near Shankill yesterday? NTK
23rd April , 2008
A search for the Black Kite at Glentiege (between Arklow and Redcross) from 09:40 until 11:30 proved fruitless.Raptors seen in the area included 3 wing-tagged Red Kites, 4 Buzzards (incl. a territorial pair), 2 Sparrowhawks & 4 Kestrels. A House Martin was seen here as well as 6 Yellowhammers (3 males, a pair and a singing male), plenty of Swallows and several singing Willow Warblers.
A Buzzard was soaring over the N11 alongside Shankill. NK NTK
Sunday 20 April, 2008
The Broadlough on Sunday 20 April held one Spotted Redshank in fine summer plumage. Other waders included 73 Black-tailed Godwit, 52 Common Redshank,1 Knot and 1 Dunlin. These were accompanied by a steady trickle of Whimbrel, a total of 27 briefly stopping before flying on northwards. MS 3 ad. Dark-bellied Brents with the Brent flock on the south side of the causeway.AK At Kilcoole there has been no further sign of the Water Pipit despite extensive searching during the week. The strong winds may not be helping however! On the marsh c.30 Sand Martins, 4 Swallows, a Sparrowhawk, c.500 Golden Plover, c.100 Pale-bellied Brent Geese & a 1st-winter Dark-bellied Brent Goose are present, very little else. At sea, 1 Manx Shearwater, 10 Sandwich Terns, Gannets & Fulmars were migrating north. NK NTKSaturday 19 April, 2008
Glaucous Gull still at Balbriggan. The Pink-footed Goose was in with a flock of Brent on Gormanston Beach, before the flock took off and flew south towards the fields at Bremore. AK Tolka Branch outing to Monaghan was treated to 10 sightings of Hen Harriers at the Slieve Beag area and the Bragan Scenic Route on a cold, windy but breathtakingly sunny day. Swallows also seen in the area. At Lurgangreen and Annagassan on the way home among the highlights were Sandwich Terns.MH18 April, 2008
Wheatear at Cush Point , Sutton this morning. BQ16 April, 2008
Swords had 90 Mute Swans, 248 Brents, 348 Black-tailed Godwits, 123 Redshanks, and one Sandwich Tern. At Narrow Water there were three Blackcaps singing, ten occupied nests in the heronry, and a Common Sandpiper. Dundalk Bay had nearly 5,500 waterbirds still present, mainly 785 Brents, 170 Shelducks, 80 Teal, 38 Pintail,1100 Oystercatchers, 80 Ringed Plovers, 590 Golden Plover, 600 Knot, 140 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Whimbrels, 510 Curlews, 750 Redshanks, 210 Black-headed Gulls, 38 Sandwich Terns. Also 42 Manx Shearwaters right inside the bay near Annagassan, with four Fulmars, pushed in by strong E winds. Also a Common Tern sleeping at the Tain Bridge in Dundalk.OMPossible Cattle Egret? at Rogerstown today around the waders and Shelduck -would be an unusual sighting for this location. Little Egrets also present. CR
Willow Warbler this week at Sorrento Point. John Fox15 April, 2008
BWI reserve Kilcoole today a full-summer plumaged Water Pipit was present, in the larger pool with the high embankment, though was typically elusive. Other highlights 25 Swallow, 40 Sand Martin, 1 Wheatear, 3 Common Sandpiper, 6 Whimbrel, 550 Golden Plover, 180 Brent Geese, 2 Red-throated Diver. HD Seven Kites in the air at the same time at Arklow so most of the birds appear to be sticking together. No luck with the Great Spotted Woodpecker near Tinahelly today despite walking through the woods from 7.30am to about 11.00am and no drumming heard. Seen in the woods were Jays, a Blackcap and a Dipper. Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were heard.JF Earlier this evening down by the wooden bridge end of Dollier 100 Brent feeding at the water's edge near the golf club. A Peregrine Falcon was on the sand stalking for supper and lifted 100s of Golden Plover, the Brent group and some other smalls!! MH
Red Kites in Arklow. John Fox
14 April, 2008
At Johnstown, Cabinteely this morning 2 Whooper Swans flew north, low over the housing estate. NK. In Santry demense a good sized flock of Tufted ducks, 9 male 2 female, 6 Little Grebes, 2 Grey Wagtails, a pair of Reed Buntings, 1 male Sparrowhawk, 1 Treecreeper also good numbers of Mallard, Coot and Moorhen.MK13 April, 2008
Sparrowhawk back in Bushy Park nest building . Also 2 Little Grebes! Chiffchaff at main pond
Dippers busy on main Dodder river . Kingfisher also seen on main river. SC 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Sandwich Terns between Dalkey Island and Sorrento Point a Wheatear on the Island and a Sparrowhawk at Dalkey Quarry. JF
Sparrowhawk, Bushy Park. Shay Connolly (nice trousers!)
Even Little Grebes do it! Shay Connolly12 April, 2008
A winter plumaged Black-throated Diver off Laytown Pitch and Putt Club today. Also good numbers of other Divers present incl. a Great Northern Diver in full Summer plumage. The Glaucous Gull was still at Balbriggan Hbr. today too.AK Siskins have all but disappeared but three Redpolls have come in to the Peanut-feeder - rather late for Dublin? Blackbirds feeding chicks but Robins still incubating on the Navan Road. DMcC11 April, 2008
A trip to wetlands and sandpits adjacent to Punchestown racecourse yielded 1 Little Egret plus at least 2 pairs of Lapwing displaying at a site where this species along with Ringed Plovers appear to have been breeding for at least the last 5 years.SO'B10 April, 2008
A Great Spotted Woodpecker (present now for about a week) was again present this morning at Tomnafinogue Wood (Near Tinaheely) Co Wicklow , drumming most persistently in the early morning until about 08.30. Bird rather mobile but does tend to return to 3 main 'drumming posts' with regularity. Bird possibly female ? A wonderful sound to hear in a Wicklow woodland! Also present were 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Jays and a Dipper.HD. Willow Warbler in song at Shankill this morning. KG Male Blackcap in song on Thursday the 10th, Kildare town.SO'B
Opportunistic Sparrowhawk at fruitcage in the Quinns garden, Howth. Bill Quinn9 April, 2008
Approx 300 White-fronted Geese seen flying north over Rush this morning. Also a Swallow around Rush for the last couple of days. PL At the Dargle Valley between Bray and Enniskerry there were ten singing male Blackcaps already holding territories. Quite a few Jays in the area also. OM First Swallow in Kildare town today .SO'B
8 April, 2008
7 Mute Swans on the sea off Shanganagh, Co Dublin this evening : not normally seen there.KG The Glaucous Gull was still at Balbriggan this evening and a Great Northern Diver was seen offshore. AK. An adult Iceland Gull was resting on the rocks between Lamb Island and Dalkey Island this afternoon. It later flew towards Bullock Harbour. NK At UCD Belfield, the resident pair of Mute Swans are well underway with their nesting duties. A single Swallow was seen flying over Monkstown. NTK Nice male Wheatear at the Bailey Lighthouse, Howth - photo below. BQ
Wheatear, Baily Lighthouse. Bill Quinn
Slán abhaile Cadhain! Photo John FoxSaturday 5 April, 2008
At Kilcoole this afternoon dozens of Sand Martins moved north into a strong headwind. 2 Swallows were at the Breaches and a Greenland White-fronted was with the Brent and Greylag flock in Webb's field. NK. Hundreds of Kitiwakes at the Poolbeg outfall today on a falling tide. PK
Adult Kittiwake, Poolbeg. Paul Kelly4 April, 2008
2 Willow Warblers singing this morning in a garden on Ailesbury Road . GFr Chiffchaff singing in Shankill. KG At Johnstown, Cabinteely, 2 Willow Warblers were in the back garden this morning. Later at Irishtown Nature Reserve, 3 more Willow Warblers were seen.NK.
1st Winter Mediterranean Gull after a good breakfast in Sandycove. Eric Dempsey3 April, 2008
Raptor fest in Arklow today with a Red Kite, 3 Kestrels, 1 Sparrow Hawk and 2 Buzzards in the one area. Some of John's photos below. JF Sedge Warbler at Kilcoole. OM Also at Kilcoole this morning 2 Sand Martins & 3 Buzzards were inland. 2 Chiffchaffs were calling and 3 Manx Shearwaters flew south. A Knot was a scarce bird for the area and 4 Whooper Swans were still on the back fields.NK. 1st Wn. Glaucous Gull still present yesterday evening (Thurs.) at Balbriggan Harbour. 1 House and 2 Sand Martins also at Bremore/Balbriggan.AK
Red Kite above and left, Arklow.
Buzzard, Arklow. John Fox2 April, 2008
One Willow Warbler in Bray today. OM 1 1st-winter Iceland Gull flew over west pier, Dun Laoghaire at midday, also 1 female Wheatear and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull present.HD
1 April, 2008
Buzzard over Whitehall today. MH
Peanutcatcher, Clontarf. Eugene Furlong
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