THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS  and ADVISERS DURING  June 2009

Graham Armstrong, Shay Connolly, Eric Dempey, Dave Dillon, Nicola Dunphy, Chris Evans, Shane Farrell, John Fox, Kieran Grace, Sean Hogan, NiallT Keogh, Noel Keogh, Paul Kelly, Richard Killian, Sean Kingston, Dermot Mc Cabe , Stephen O Byrne, Dermot O Mahony, Adrian Rooney, Ian Stephenson, Robert Vaughan

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.

Congratulations to Miriam and Michael Harris on finding the Stone Curlew in Roundstone, Co Galway last weekend! A few lucky Tolka Branch members caught up with the bird  on Tuesday this week!

2 July, 2009
At Rogerstown this evening there was a Temmincks Stint a Wood Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank all seen from the wooden hide on the rising tide.PK  Bring wellies!

1 July, 2009
We hear that the Little Terns are doing very well in Baltray this year.

26 June, 2009
At Gormanston Beach this morning there were 6 first year, 1 adult and 1 second year Little Gulls. PK


Jay at the Phoenix Park. John Fox


Junior Jay also at the Phoenix Park this week. Eric Dempsey

Sunday 21 June, 2009
At Killoughter, Co. Wicklow, plenty of juvenile passerines were out and about feeding actively including Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Treecreepers & Stonechats. At Castlegrange, 2 Reed Warblers were in song between the 24 and the 24 & 1/4 mile markers. Good numbers of Manx Shearwaters were offshore feeding in large rafts and small numbers of non-breeding plumage Sandwich Terns were moving south. At Kilcoole, migrant waders included c.30 Curlew, 20 Lapwing, 4 Sanderling, 6 Dunlin & 9 Black-tailed Godwits. Two 3cy Mediterranean Gulls flew south past The Breaches, a drake Wigeon was in Webb's field and a Yellowhammer was heard singing in the back fields. There are currently 32 pairs of Little Terns, 5 pairs of Ringed Plovers & a pair of Oystercatchers nesting within the enclosures. NTK

The Royal wait continued in the capital today...nonetheless there was much activity in Dubln Bay early this misty cloudy morning with 12 Manx Shearwaters gliding close by the Shelly Banks at Poolbeg, 2 diving Gannets also close by and a single Brent Goose trying to fit in with the Great Black-backed Gulls. Dozens of Common and Arctic Terns diving for Sand Eels and returning to feed their young all morning.  Four pairs of Great Crested Grebes also in the bay.LB  


Nice collection of Birds on a Stillorgan Feeder today. Manus Curran ( hope you can identify them all!!? let us know if not)

Saturday 20 June, 2009
Tolka Branch
outing to Howth and a sea trip around Irelands Eye was a great success ( see photos on the events page).  On Irelands Eye, hundreds of breeding seabirds including Gannets,( 370 nesting pairs) Kitiwakes, Razorbills, Guillemots, Puffins, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, Cormorants and Shags,  also Black Guillemots in Howth Harbour. 


Gannets on Ireland's Eye today. Dermot Mc Cabe 

4 Little Gulls at Gormanston beach today. 3 1st summer and 1 2nd summer. AK

19 June, 2009
1st summer Little Gull at Gormanston beach this evening. AK

17 June, 2009
Can you believe this? A Brent Goose is on the Bull!! LB 

   
Juvenile Sandmartin. John Fox

15 June, 2009
10 Knot, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Little Egrets, 1 male Ruff
(photo below) at Swords today. The Bar-headed Goose also present .JF SK LB (no sign of the Stint over the day)


Ruff at Swords. John Fox

Sunday 14 June 2009
Male Ruff at Swords also a Semipalmated Sandpiper (associating with Knot) at Swords. AK  On Ireland's Eye this morning there were 11 Puffins also 10 Painted Ladies and one Meadow Brown.LB  Along the canal close to Inchicore 1 juv Sparrowhawk being mobbed by a Rook. Also seen were 3 Reed Buntings (2 male and 1 female) plenty of finches around also mainly Goldfinches and Greenfinches with a few Chaffinch about as well.IS

Reed Bunting below. Philip Clancy



Kitiwakes feeding on a ‘bait ball’ of Sandeels (you can just about make out the brown smudge in the water) off Bray Head this evening. Also  50 Manx Shearwaters heading south in a 2 hour period.Cian Merne

12 June, 2009
A pair of Shelduck with 11
young on Bull Island yesterday .GF Buzzard over the N11 at the Leopardstown exit. The bird seems to be a regular in the area and has  taken over a lamppost that used to be a favourite Kestrel spot.GA

11 June, 2009
2 Black Guillemots
under the Ha'penny bridge this morning.LB


Bit of a row at Rogerstown! Sparrowhawk and Rook. John Fox

7 June, 2009
At Ballinifagh lake this morning, one Kestrel, some Redpolls, a Reed Bunting & Goldfinch.
Also seven Bullfinch. At Pollardstown Fen this afternoon, 2 Buzzard, one Kestrel, one Sparrowhawk & Reed Bunting. AR

4 June, 2009
Sparrowhawk hunting (with some success) fledgling Great Tits in Glasnevin. GW

2 June,2009
12 Swifts gliding high over the Californian Hills, Ballyfermot this evening.RD 

At Corrstown golf course, Kilsallaghan, at the back of the airport, a very tame Red Legged Partridge was seen feeding on the 4th fairway ( an escape probably); also seen were 4 young Blackcaps been fed by their mother.  A Buzzard showed well overhead and a Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling beside the clubhouse stream. MK 

Meanwhile in County KIldare on a very warm evening an adult Hobby was seen over woods adjacent to Nurney Bog, Nurney. SO,B


1 June , 2009
Jay in Donadea Woods, Kildare.CM

30 May, 2009
Spotted Flycatcher
at Maynooth today concentrating on his next fly! SC

29 May, 2009
Two Reed Warblers were singing at Ballygannon reedbed, north of Kilcoole railway station this morning. The Whooper Swan was still in Webb's field & 2 summer plumaged Great Northern Divers were seen offshore. NTK The immature Hobby showed well around Five Mile Point and the southern end of Blackditch (East Coast Nature Reserve) this afternoon, catching & devouring dragonflies. The pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers also still at the Wicklow woods. NTK RB


Howth CCTV Star and proud father of 7 chicks below doing his bit around the house and goes out for more food. (other fathers please copy!)
Photo Bill Quinn


28 May, 2009
A pale phase Arctic Skua was chasing terns off Coliemore Harbour, Dalkey at 20:30 this evening. NK NTK A Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler were singing on Howth head this evening - above the cliff walk between the Baily and the nose of Howth.DOM

27 May, 2009
At Five Mile Point, Co. Wicklow this morning, 3 Storm Petrels were feeding offshore for c.45 minutes. A singing Whitethroat, male Kestrel, 3 or 4 Little Egrets & 50+ Swifts were also present. At Kilcoole a Curlew Sandpiper moulting into summer plumage was in Webb's field along with c.20 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, the Whooper Swan, drake Shoveler, male Kestrel and up to 200 Swifts. 2 Sanderling were on the beach, a female Cuckoo was in the Buckthorn bushes and a female Peregrine flew high over The Breaches. An Owl sp. (presumably Short-eared Owl) has been seen by the Little Tern Wardens in and around the Little Tern colony in recent days! NTK

 Buzzard with feathers missing from one wing  over Somali, Baily, Howth Head at lunch time today. HQ BQ


26 May, 2009
Iceland Gull
in Stephen's Green at lunchtime today. KG The immature Hobby first reported on the 25th was still present this morning at Five Mile Point, Co. Wicklow showing well in the conifers on the Blackditch (East Coast Nature Reserve) side of the road and hunting dragonflies around the general area. A Cuckoo & Redpoll were also present. NK

Photos from today at the East Coast Nature Reserve. Eric Dempsey

Hobby above and Swift below

24 May, 2009
At Ballyulster football club in Celbridge this morning I  Buzzard being mobbed by Hooded Crows.RK.



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