The Hide (chat thread)

Bsal · 09-01-2016 5:45pm

I was out for a walk around Skerries this afternoon and seen a dolphin between Red Island and Colt Island while I was down on the swimming platform. First time I have ever seen one in person, quiet a few people started to gather on the swimming platform to see it.

Zoo4m8 · 10-01-2016 8:10pm

For those within commuting distance this might be of interest, Kilmacanogue history society , as part of their spring programme ,in the Glenview Hotel Co Wicklow,are hosting a talk by Eric Demsey coinciding with the launch of his memoir entitled ' Don't die in autumn' a life in birds. Should be a good evening, start time 8.00, admission only three euro for non members..
Eh, sorry, this is for Tuesday evening next..brain fade on my part..

Birdnuts · 11-01-2016 1:50am

Zoo4m8 wrote: »

For those within commuting distance this might be of interest, Kilmacanogue history society , as part of their spring programme ,in the Glenview Hotel Co Wicklow,are hosting a talk by Eric Demsey coinciding with the launch of his memoir entitled ' Don't die in autumn' a life in birds. Should be a good evening, start time 8.00, admission only three euro for non members..
Eh, sorry, this is for Tuesday evening next..brain fade on my part..

Got the book in my Christmas sock - crackin read alright!!:)

Zoo4m8 · 11-01-2016 7:52am

That's a solid recommendation..he'll have copies for sale on the night..

OpenYourEyes · 11-01-2016 8:04pm

My Dad's friend lives near a small river in Roscommon, and much of the agricultural land around him is semi-improved and gets quite marshy and partially flooded in the winter. Every year he has Grey Herons and Little Egrets near the house on an almost daily basis. I was talking to both my Dad and his friend today and they were telling me they saw a 'very big egret'. Size can often be deceptive based on light, distance, nearby features, if the bird has ruffled its feathers up etc. but they were both confident that this was a big egret. Both of them know what a Little Egret looks like and would be cautious about any potential mistakes or assumptions, so I felt it worth investigating further.

After a bit of driving around I came across three Little Egrets, and soon after disturbed another Egret that looked quite big, which eventually revealed itself to be a Great White Egret! It's far from the rarest bird in the country at the moment, but I had never seen one before, and to see it so close to home certainly adds to the value to me! A successful afternoon!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 12-01-2016 7:00pm

A Jay back in the garden today but not around the woodland area where he stashed acorns. Ground feeding on seed beside the house, with the Chaffinches

Birdnuts · 16-01-2016 9:14pm

Had some Twite visit the sheep feeders on my place in North Mayo today.

Woodville56 · 16-01-2016 9:19pm

Birdnuts wrote: »

Had some Twite visit the sheep feeders on my place in North Mayo today.

Nice find - they're still on my "wish list" !!
Lucky you !

Capercaillie · 17-01-2016 2:07am

Birdnuts wrote: »

Had some Twite visit the sheep feeders on my place in North Mayo today.

Good stuff, did you apply for the twite GLAS plan?

Birdnuts · 17-01-2016 10:22pm

Capercaillie wrote: »

Good stuff, did you apply for the twite GLAS plan?

I've got into GLAS via other routes. I understand you need breeding Twite to qualify for that aspect. AFAIK they only occur in my area currently as scarce winter visitors though my father in law( whose has farmed here long before me) reckons they did breed here up to 20 years ago. He remembers the Corn Bunting too.

Capercaillie · 17-01-2016 10:28pm

Birdnuts wrote: »

I've got into GLAS via other routes. I understand you need breeding Twite to qualify for that aspect. AFAIK they only occur in my area currently as scarce winter visitors though my father in law( whose has farmed here long before me) reckons they did breed here up to 20 years ago. He remembers the Corn Bunting too.

Don't need them breeding. If winter visitors you are eligible. You're in GLAS already, however you could plant 0.25 acre of crop for them either ways. Something like linseed.

Rosahane · 25-01-2016 11:16am

Wife opens back door to let dog out this morning and frightens off what was probably a sparrowhawk from a dead starling on the ground.

A year or so ago she excitedly called me from the dining room to say a "hawk" was chasing a small bird through the ornamental tree outside the sliding doors.

Needless to say I missed it both times and have only spotted a sparrowhawk flying over once.

I fill all the feeders and have the binos to hand usually while the Mrs identifies birds as "little", "crow", etc. Also 99% of the time I look after the dog!

Life ain't fair

Capercaillie · 26-01-2016 11:58pm

A lad helping me plant nettles at the weekend. He remembers the time when Corn Bunting were common on the farm. So much lost:(

Keplar240B · 30-01-2016 10:31pm

starting to see frogspawn about
Seen a big pile (maybe 4 cup fulls) of it in the middle of a raised bone dry forest road a good 10 meters form water.
Slugs feeding on it.
I doubt a human/kid carried it there as its a place with almost zero footfall from walkers
I wonder would an animal like a heron or something scoop it up and dump it

Keplar240B · 30-01-2016 10:31pm

starting to see frogspawn about
Seen a big pile (maybe 4 cup fulls) of it in the middle of a raised bone dry forest road a good 10 meters form water.
Slugs feeding on it.
I doubt a human/kid carried it there as its a place with almost zero footfall from walkers
I wonder would an animal like a heron or something scoop it up and dump it

Keplar240B · 30-01-2016 10:34pm

Seen a male black cap in garden for first time ever
at least thats what i think it was , It was feeding on apple in tree
down south in urban area

Status: "Scarce summer visitor to woodlands in the midlands and northern Ireland from April to September. Also a scarce passage migrant mainly in spring and autumn to headlands on southern and western coasts. Although Irish-breeding Blackcaps still migrate southwards in the autumn, some Blackcaps from the population that breeds in Central Europe migrate to Ireland to spend the winter."

Where to See: Common and widespread in Ireland. In winter, Blackcaps are attracted to apples and fat balls in gardens.

http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/IrelandsBirds/Warblers/Blackcap/tabid/1130/Default.aspx

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 02-02-2016 4:52pm

The Jay has taken to daily visits to my small oak wood on the garden and now ventures up to the seed scattered on the ground under the feeders. Wonderful sight but boy are they wary of any movement.

whyulittle · 03-02-2016 2:32pm

Not my video, but a Starling murmuration that is taking place around Locke's Distillery in Kilbeggan these evenings.

https://www.facebook.com/eugene.dunbar.3/videos/830439897101756/

Capercaillie · 03-02-2016 4:52pm

Number of people joining the GLAS scheme for Corncrake is zero. Some joke. NPWS Corncrake farm plan getting more applicants, which is good.

_Tombstone_ · 10-02-2016 10:13pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLfx4Mv7YHE

whyulittle · 12-02-2016 7:51pm

Thought I spotted one of the local Ravens near their nest for the first time this year, but it turned out to be a Peregrine!

I did see one of the Ravens bringing some branches up to the nest later though.

Keplar240B · 18-02-2016 9:53pm

Saw a group of a dozen Sika deer for first time ever in Tipperary.
I saw them in valley where I always see fallow deer 100%
but this time saw ZERO fallows odd coincidence.

Do Sika and fallows co-exist well?

Where is best record for Sika deer sightings in Ireland on-line?

Would Sika eat rhododendron?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 25-02-2016 12:21pm

Spring has sprung. Sparrows have started on the nests in the roof. Starlings are investigating sites. Bluebells over ground and the buds are sticky on the chestnut trees.

Bsal · 25-02-2016 7:34pm

Blackbird singing full blast on the roof here this evening, the joys of spring!

Woodville56 · 29-02-2016 9:15am

An interesting insight from some in the farming community regarding the provision of nestboxes under the Glas Scheme ( Farming & Forestry forum). Notwithstanding the issue about the construction of the nestboxes, the thread is indicative of a fairly dismissive attitude towards the purpose of having the nestboxes in the first place? Just gimme the money ???

Capercaillie · 29-02-2016 10:20am

Woodville56 wrote: »

An interesting insight from some in the farming community regarding the provision of nestboxes under the Glas Scheme ( Farming & Forestry forum). Notwithstanding the issue about the construction of the nestboxes, the thread is indicative of a fairly dismissive attitude towards the purpose of having the nestboxes in the first place? Just gimme the money ???

Put up the cheapest one in a location that isn't suitable. Probably fall down within a month, put up again whenever you get inspection. For the majority (not all) farmers it's all about the money. Rare wildlife like harriers, corncrake are a hindrance to profit and they would rather them exterminated. That's the grim truth of the matter.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 01-03-2016 9:03pm

Stonechat in the garden today. Only the second time I've had them.

Half-cocked · 07-03-2016 7:37pm

Day off work so went for a long walk along the coast road between Baldoyle and Portmarnock and back via all the 'wasteland' between Mayne Bridge and Baldoyle. Loads of frogs spawn in every little pond and puddle. Wonder if there are newts too?

Capercaillie · 07-03-2016 7:52pm

Half-cocked wrote: »

Day off work so went for a long walk along the coast road between Baldoyle and Portmarnock and back via all the 'wasteland' between Mayne Bridge and Baldoyle. Loads of frogs spawn in every little pond and puddle. Wonder if there are newts too?

Not likely newts lay their eggs in small numbers under aquatic plants. My newts have demolished all my frog tadpoles over the last 2 years!

Rosahane · 08-03-2016 6:03pm

Rosahane wrote: »

Wife opens back door to let dog out this morning and frightens off what was probably a sparrowhawk from a dead starling on the ground.

A year or so ago she excitedly called me from the dining room to say a "hawk" was chasing a small bird through the ornamental tree outside the sliding doors.

Needless to say I missed it both times and have only spotted a sparrowhawk flying over once.

I fill all the feeders and have the binos to hand usually while the Mrs identifies birds as "little", "crow", etc. Also 99% of the time I look after the dog!

Life ain't fair

I left the dead starling on the ground, camera setup on tripod, focused on the starling through the specially cleaned glass of the back door, remote control attached, all to no avail - he never returned.

Occasionally since I look out to see the feeders bereft of customers ( I usually have at least a dozen mixed pieces at any one time) but didn't manage to spot him.

Finally got to see him to see him up close today - beautiful male sparrowhawk!

He's been around twice this afternoon.

Will have to try again for a photo. The conservatory is only about 15 feet away from the feeders which are all hanging from a big flowering plum tree and would make for a great photo. At least the wife will be pleased, she's been on about washing all the conservatory windows for a while now

diomed · 09-03-2016 4:25pm

There are sparrowhawks around Stillorgan, Co Dublin.
A few years ago I was watching my garden feeders (metal with hanging feeders) when a female landed with a thump on them. Last month I found a dead pigeon in my garden half eaten. The next time I looked it was gone. I leave sunflower hearts in the feeders for the goldfinches, chaffinches, greenfinches, and throw some on the ground for the pigeons.
I am very happy I managed to keep the feeders topped up every day this winter. I use Vanodine V18 from Haiths to disinfect the feeders when I bring them in for a de-clogging and washing. The birdtable feeder gets a wash too.

Stigura · 10-03-2016 12:22am

Had my governor round today. A few times I looked out at the nuts and saw absolutely nothing. Then, the great, blue and coal tits. The dunnocks and the robins would reappear. I commented that there must be a sparrowhawk about.

Toward the end of the day, I went to fetch the nuts in, to replenish them. And there was a little rosette of brown feathers on the ground.

That's one dunnock not going to be reproducing this year

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 11-03-2016 2:57pm

First bumblebees of the years buzzing throughout the garden this morning. I always welcome their return.

Bsal · 13-03-2016 6:14pm

Seen Starlings mating today, spring is here.

OpenYourEyes · 16-03-2016 3:55pm

I thought some of my local raptors had moved on from their wintering sites in the last couple of weeks, but last week I saw my local Hen Harrier for the first time in weeks, and today I found a dead Redwing that indicates my local Peregrine is still around too!

OpenYourEyes · 21-03-2016 9:22pm

BH 284A - First Resighting (Galway), from Hampshire by Brian, on Flickr

I saw this Black-headed Gull in Galway last week. It was seen at a place frequented by birders, so I assumed the ring would have been reported before but I decided to make some enquiries anyway. To my delight it was actually the first resighting of this bird. It was originally ringed in June of last year in Hampshire in England - quite some distance away. Whenever I see Black-headed Gulls and other somewhat common birds I tend to assume that most of them are from nearby breeding colonies, but obviously that isn't always the case!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 22-03-2016 12:54pm

I have organised the annual Spring Clean in our area again this year. Applied with An Taisce, and said we'd have about 10 people out. The pack arrived today with enough plastic bags to do us at least 3 years but only 4 pairs of gloves for ten people.

They say resources are tight and they have to just send what they can.

They need to sort themselves out and get the balance right. Far too many large plastic bags and not enough gloves.

Just a rant.

Carry on, I have it off my chest now.

bernard0368 · 22-03-2016 10:07pm

Six weeks watching a badger set, time to take some shots, camera set to remote fire. Four flashes at the area they have being playing at every night I have been up.
Sorted! Not a hope out they pop from a different entrance and play happily away behind the effing camera..
Hate nature photography

Zoo4m8 · 24-03-2016 8:31am

bernard0368 wrote: »

Six weeks watching a badger set, time to take some shots, camera set to remote fire. Four flashes at the area they have being playing at every night I have been up.
Sorted! Not a hope out they pop from a different entrance and play happily away behind the effing camera..
Hate nature photography

Know how you feel, huge sett on the 'new patch' has suddenly become active, when I got the place eighteen months ago I thought the sett was abandoned but now freshly dug out, old bedding coming out new bedding going in, so, two trail cams should cover it I thought...not a chance..it's so big it's difficult to anticipate where the activity is likely but a handful of raisins and peanuts will sort that!

Half-cocked · 27-03-2016 12:50pm

Typical! Blue Tits are nesting in the only nest box in my garden without a camera in it!:(

Rosahane · 29-03-2016 9:52pm

Looked out the kitchen window this afternoon at two rooks on the ground under the bird feeders. One of them was mantling - wings outstretched crouched down and flicking his tail feathers up and down and making a guttural cacking noise. The other rook was studiously ignoring him.

Presumably a mating or bonding display. I've never seen it before. I got the phone out to video but he didn't repeat it unfortunately.

Zoo4m8 · 30-03-2016 7:42am

That's a mating display..

whyulittle · 31-03-2016 7:04pm

Sunday World have a 32-page Bird of Prey pullout this weekend. Think they said was produced with BWI, so information/pics should be accurate.

Half-cocked · 02-04-2016 4:07pm

Dunnocks emerging from the hedge with faecal sacks. The nest appears to be right under one of my feeding stations. I think I should move the feeders a bit further away given the amount of magpies and jackdaws that use them.

Keplar240B · 03-04-2016 5:19pm

See these signs a lot in coillte forests?
what are they doing?

Woodville56 · 03-04-2016 5:55pm

Keplar240B wrote: »

See these signs a lot in coillte forests?
what are they doing?

Possibly for Health & Safety compliance regarding the use by Coillte of pesticides or chemicals such as cypermethrin, as is used in growing forests -

http://www.coillte.ie/aboutcoillte/about_coillte/coillte_consultation/coillte_past_consultations/consultation_on_coillte_cypermethrin_derogation_may_2015/

Hotei · 03-04-2016 6:23pm

".......... a pesticide (cypermethrin) which is legal to use in Ireland and registered for use in forestry by the Pesticide Registration and Control Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine but is classed as ‘highly hazardous’ by FSC and so can only be used in FSC-certified woodlands if there are no practicable alternatives."

The thing is there are practicable and more environmentally friendly ways of dealing with pest problems: http://www.coford.ie/media/coford/content/publications/projectreports/cofordconnects/ccn-sm15.pdf

If this pesticide is 'highly hazardous' then surely it's not doing the wildlife population of the Coillte plantations any favours if they're eating berries, fruit and fungi?!

Capercaillie · 03-04-2016 6:30pm

Hotei wrote: »

".......... a pesticide (cypermethrin) which is legal to use in Ireland and registered for use in forestry by the Pesticide Registration and Control Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine but is classed as ‘highly hazardous’ by FSC and so can only be used in FSC-certified woodlands if there are no practicable alternatives."

The thing is there are practicable and more environmentally friendly ways of dealing with pest problems: http://www.coford.ie/media/coford/content/publications/projectreports/cofordconnects/ccn-sm15.pdf

If this pesticide is 'highly hazardous' then surely it's not doing the wildlife population of the Coillte plantations any favours if they're eating berries, fruit and fungi?!

"No practicable alternatives" is a good loophole for Coillte:(

Keplar240B · 03-04-2016 6:59pm

I have seen these signs at several sites not just pine plantations but smaller forests non-conifier forests mainly used for recreation.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 03-04-2016 7:35pm

It's a herbicide they have used not a pesticide.

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