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.