If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)

Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Buzzard Observations

eire_dd · 2009-06-01 22:03:10

While out for a game of golf about 4 weeks ago a friend told me that he heard that Mr. Mansfield was keeping Buzzards at Palmerstown house and that the person who told him had seen them, as a nature lover but certainly no expert, I was intrigued to say the least. You see I get excited when I see my local sparrow hawk…

Options

Comments

Options
#122 16-11-2010 8:01pm
sables2

Closed Accounts Posts: 207 ✭✭

Join Date: September 2010

Posts: 205

Birdnuts wrote: »

Don't u mean "vultures";)

Ha, ha. Vultures. Your correct Birdnuts..sounds more 'original'

0
Options
#123 16-11-2010 9:57pm
Rinker

Closed Accounts Posts: 236 ✭✭

Join Date: May 2007

Posts: 219

Buzzards can regularly be seen hovering over Waterstown Park in Palmerstown. The local park rangers can often point them out to you across the Liffey Valley where they nest. Its also a great spot for other wildlife such as foxes ,badgers and otters.

0
Options
#124 17-11-2010 11:21am
sables2

Closed Accounts Posts: 207 ✭✭

Join Date: September 2010

Posts: 205

Rinker wrote: »

Buzzards can regularly be seen hovering over Waterstown Park in Palmerstown. The local park rangers can often point them out to you across the Liffey Valley where they nest. Its also a great spot for other wildlife such as foxes ,badgers and otters.

Thanks Rinker,
That's great to know. Tell me: do you have to go through the easy-pass to get to it...Waterstown Park? I'm sure it's well worth the visit. Kids would love it too! Would you see Red Kites also, or are they more inclined to be in Co. Wicklow & Kildare rural regions...:rolleyes:

0
Options
#125 17-11-2010 12:56pm
Scotty #

Registered Users Posts: 3,767 ✭✭✭

Join Date: July 2005

Posts: 3629

All I could see was a black image so I photoshoped it a little....

Looks quiet big alright though the ones we have up around the Naul all seem to be huge too.

0
Options
#126 17-11-2010 3:31pm
Rinker

Closed Accounts Posts: 236 ✭✭

Join Date: May 2007

Posts: 219

sables2 wrote: »

Thanks Rinker,
That's great to know. Tell me: do you have to go through the easy-pass to get to it...Waterstown Park? I'm sure it's well worth the visit. Kids would love it too! Would you see Red Kites also, or are they more inclined to be in Co. Wicklow & Kildare rural regions...:rolleyes:

The park is on the south side of the Liffey. Turn off the M50 at the N4 and go towards the City, take your first left turn (at lights), go to T junction and turn left, after 100m turn right onto Waterstown Lane. At end of lane turn right into Stewarts. Park is entered through here. The car park has the best vantage points over the park.
Theres a programme on Liffey Sound 96.4 FM on Sunday afternoons 3-4 and they often discuss the wildlife in the Park.
I have never heard of Red Kites being spotted in this area.

0
Advertisement
Options
#127 18-11-2010 12:11am
sables2

Closed Accounts Posts: 207 ✭✭

Join Date: September 2010

Posts: 205

Scotty # wrote: »

All I could see was a black image so I photoshoped it a little....

Looks quiet big alright though the ones we have up around the Naul all seem to be huge too.

Amazing what photoshop can do! Looks SO much better.:)

0
Options
#128 18-11-2010 9:30am
E39MSport

Registered Users Posts: 3,730 ✭✭✭

Join Date: June 2008

Posts: 3450

sables2 wrote: »

Amazing what photoshop can do! Looks SO much better.:)

Disagree. It looks like something from a scifi. I used autocorrect and got the same result But appreciated all the same

0
Options
#129 18-11-2010 1:04pm
Scotty #

Registered Users Posts: 3,767 ✭✭✭

Join Date: July 2005

Posts: 3629

Yea it could be enhanced a lot more to not look 'sci-fi' but it's time consuming and as the bird would still only be a silhouette I didn't see the point.

It really depends on your monitor also, on mine all I could see was black. Others would see a much clearer silhouette.

Anyway....

On birdwatchireland it says "Largely resident, though Ireland receives birds from Britain during the winter." I would have thought it was the other way round as I have always noticed a big decline in sightings at this time of year. Or is it that they are still there and just don't soar as much?

0
Options
#130 18-11-2010 2:38pm
E39MSport

Registered Users Posts: 3,730 ✭✭✭

Join Date: June 2008

Posts: 3450

Thats interesting !!!

I've been wondering why these 2 haven't nested in the area. AND, I only see them about in the winter.

There's a family unit (x3) in the Prosperous area that can be seen often - I've seen up to 5 soaring at times. But, I don't think that these roosting birds are part of that unit.

Migration might explain it.

Re: your decline in sightings - I reckon its definitely due to birds staying local as oppsed to soaring. I tend to see ceratin birds in the same places now. The Prosperous ones for example and there's one regularly in the large field opposite the ESB place on the Straffan road out of Maynooth (sits regularly on one of the pylons).

I wonder do our summer residents move south as British ones move in though ? (I asusme it's Scottish birds)

0
Options
#131 18-11-2010 11:48pm
mallards

Registered Users Posts: 972 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2006

Posts: 941

I'm plagued with crows and magpies in my area so I trap them to try and control them. I also have up to six buzzards on my ground and they get into the trap to feast on the crows. This lad got in and had a meal and I let him go again, but they never learn!

Mallards

0
Advertisement
Options
#132 19-11-2010 12:05am
Birdnuts

Registered Users Posts: 9,645 ✭✭✭

Join Date: March 2009

Posts: 9390

Thanx Mallards for those great pics and observations:) - I would agree with you too that when it comes to IQ among our birds of prey - buzzards are pretty dopey:rolleyes:

0
Options
#133 19-11-2010 12:30am
mallards

Registered Users Posts: 972 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2006

Posts: 941

It's not just buzzards, This female sparrowhawk had to get in on the action!

I've even had a Kestrel give it a go, all released none the worse for wear I might add!

Mallards

0
Options
#134 03-12-2010 10:00pm
coolhandspan

Registered Users Posts: 407 ✭✭

Join Date: October 2010

Posts: 396

saw one just outside galway city today. are they nationwide now????

0
Options
#135 04-12-2010 12:50pm
snowstreams

Registered Users Posts: 1,315 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2006

Posts: 1272

coolhandspan wrote: »

saw one just outside galway city today. are they nationwide now????

Yeah they are pretty widespread now. Here is the bird atlas map from 2-3 years ago. They have spread a bit more since this map. I have a book on irelands birds with a map that has them covering most of connacht, all of ulster and leinster and eastern munster.
Ive seen one near galway city a month ago and Ive seen one over the n17 in mayo too.
They should get quite common in a few years

0
Options
#136 04-12-2010 3:47pm
sables2

Closed Accounts Posts: 207 ✭✭

Join Date: September 2010

Posts: 205

snowstreams wrote: »

Yeah they are pretty widespread now. Here is the bird atlas map from 2-3 years ago. They have spread a bit more since this map. I have a book on irelands birds with a map that has them covering most of connacht, all of ulster and leinster and eastern munster.
Ive seen one near galway city a month ago and Ive seen one over the n17 in mayo too.
They should get quite common in a few years

Hi snowstreams,
That's an amazing spread! I cannot believe that progression in the map. The UK is totally wide spread. Thanks for that post

0
Options
#137 04-12-2010 9:56pm
ender ender

Closed Accounts Posts: 128 ✭✭

Join Date: January 2006

Posts: 122

Saw my first buzzard in Ardgillan in Dublin last week. I know they've been there a while but I've never seen one before. Couldn't get over the size and noise of the thing. I've seen kestrels and peregrines, they seem dinky in comparison!

0
Options
#138 04-12-2010 11:39pm
littlebug

Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭

Join Date: March 2006

Posts: 4669

snowstreams wrote: »

Yeah they are pretty widespread now. Here is the bird atlas map from 2-3 years ago. They have spread a bit more since this map. I have a book on irelands birds with a map that has them covering most of connacht, all of ulster and leinster and eastern munster.
Ive seen one near galway city a month ago and Ive seen one over the n17 in mayo too.
They should get quite common in a few years

That's great news. I might actually see one sometime!

0
Options
#139 05-12-2010 1:16pm
sables2

Closed Accounts Posts: 207 ✭✭

Join Date: September 2010

Posts: 205

littlebug wrote: »

That's great news. I might actually see one sometime!

All you lads seem to have an 'eagle eye'....where IS the most likely place off the M50to see a buzzard ? I tried Rathnew & Avoca to see a red kite - no such luck. I'm been told they're no problem to spot if you wait...guess what..i did wait: 2 hours :rolleyes:!

0
Options
#140 05-12-2010 1:36pm
trebor28

Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭

Join Date: February 2010

Posts: 1016

only saw one this morning actually!

0
Options
#141 05-12-2010 5:21pm
V Bull

Registered Users Posts: 719 ✭✭✭

Join Date: June 2007

Posts: 684

Saw this guy about 2 weeks ago.

0
Advertisement
Options
#142 05-12-2010 8:18pm
V Bull

Registered Users Posts: 719 ✭✭✭

Join Date: June 2007

Posts: 684

sables2 wrote: »

All you lads seem to have an 'eagle eye'....where IS the most likely place off the M50to see a buzzard ? I tried Rathnew & Avoca to see a red kite - no such luck. I'm been told they're no problem to spot if you wait...guess what..i did wait: 2 hours :rolleyes:!

I'm new to bird watching but it is a waiting game with lots of luck at times. Try around the Blanchardstown M50 intersection or the Kingswood intersection on the Naas Rd just south of Clondalkin.

0
Options
#143 05-12-2010 8:43pm
coolhandspan

Registered Users Posts: 407 ✭✭

Join Date: October 2010

Posts: 396

Every single time i have driven N2 to Ashbourne i have seen a buzzard, usually seated in small trees or on mway lights near coldwinters slip.

0
Options
#144 05-12-2010 9:38pm
cuddlycavies

Registered Users Posts: 970 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2007

Posts: 933

Yep, most days I drive from Greystones to Dundalk and back. First spot Bray, then Cherrywood, Sandyford, Tallaght, Blanchardstown, Airport, Balbriggan, Julianstown, Dundalk. I'd say on average I see three a day and never drive up and down without seeing one.

0
Options
#145 05-12-2010 11:32pm
sables2

Closed Accounts Posts: 207 ✭✭

Join Date: September 2010

Posts: 205

V Bull wrote: »

I'm new to bird watching but it is a waiting game with lots of luck at times. Try around the Blanchardstown M50 intersection or the Kingswood intersection on the Naas Rd just south of Clondalkin.

Thanks V Bull. Great info. Your new to birding....(the image of that buzzard was a good start) :eek:

0
Options
#146 06-12-2010 10:22am
V Bull

Registered Users Posts: 719 ✭✭✭

Join Date: June 2007

Posts: 684

sables2 wrote: »

Thanks V Bull. Great info. Your new to birding....(the image of that buzzard was a good start) :eek:

Thanks, just got into it a couple years ago, always liked birds & animals & stuff. I still have big problems identifying alot of birds, particularly the smaller type and waders, all very enjoyable I might add.

The photo's were taken between Clonee & Dunboyne on the old road with a Canon 400D but had to crop & adjust.

I always keep the camera in the car when driving about, you never know what might jump out of the bushes........:P

0
Options
#147 06-12-2010 9:13pm
Lissoy

Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭

Join Date: July 2007

Posts: 42

I have a pair of buzzards that hang around a big open field beside my home on the coast of Meath. It is great to hear them calling at dusk these cold evenings. The snow seems to magnify the sound.
I have also noticed recently 3 hooded crows bullying the buzzards when they are perching on the ESB poles in the field and then standing guard on the poles waiting for them to return and chasing them away again.
I'm hoping they don't chase them away permanently.

0
Options
#148 07-12-2010 12:30am
ender ender

Closed Accounts Posts: 128 ✭✭

Join Date: January 2006

Posts: 122

Saw my second buzzard today at Ballealy land fill near Lusk. Scanning the skies for buzzards has become my new favourite pastime...

0
Options
#149 07-12-2010 10:39am
wrecks1971

Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭

Join Date: January 2010

Posts: 28

If you take the M3 go as far as Dunboyne exit follow new link rd in the direction of Maynooth. You don`t need to go far, just after the roundabout beside the new rail carpark. There is always about 4-5 around this area,anytime i`ve been there anyway.

0
Options
#150 07-12-2010 11:52am
sables2

Closed Accounts Posts: 207 ✭✭

Join Date: September 2010

Posts: 205

wrecks1971 wrote: »

If you take the M3 go as far as Dunboyne exit follow new link rd in the direction of Maynooth. You don`t need to go far, just after the roundabout beside the new rail carpark. There is always about 4-5 around this area,anytime i`ve been there anyway.

Thanks wrecks1971,
That's great to know. I'll try there this weekend...hopefully, weather permitting.

0
Advertisement
Options
#151 08-12-2010 10:05pm
V Bull

Registered Users Posts: 719 ✭✭✭

Join Date: June 2007

Posts: 684

Today... a pair of Buzzards & a little friend keeping a watchfull eye on them.......:cool:

0