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mgwhelan · 22-10-2013 11:33am

Kayla Moldy Supernova wrote: »

I have come across Dipper in 5 locations while fishing this year, 2 were regular haunts but the 3 others were new for them (well in the past 20 years or so). It's a great indication of the health of our rivers to see Dippers more often. Long may it last.

+1

I help Alex Copland of BWI monitor breeding and winter roosting dippers on rivers that start in the slieve blooms. The fact that there breeding in towns "e.g." Roscrea (at lest three pairs) and Birr (at lest two pairs) shows that our rivers are indeed in good nick.

Seen one in Roscrea singing away there just an hour ago, one of my fav bird songs.

whyulittle · 16-11-2013 3:36pm

Charleville Castle in Tullamore used to have a bear running around its grounds, who knew!

https://www.facebook.com/Wistorical/posts/511243178983081:0

Bsal · 22-11-2013 11:20pm

I had a Dunnock in the garden late this evening, first sighting since last winter.

Half-cocked · 01-12-2013 1:04pm

Had a Bumblebee on my few remaining cornflowers this morning!

Woodville56 · 01-12-2013 1:18pm

Half-cocked wrote: »

Had a Bumblebee on my few remaining cornflowers this morning!

Similarly, I was out walking in my llocal woodland during the week and loads of winged insects flying about - like it was still a summer evening ! Temp wax around 8 c - strange ??

axe2grind · 01-12-2013 11:35pm

Some winter flowering shrubs had bumble bees today about 10 in all, mostly queens, but did see a worker collecting pollen!

Bsal · 02-12-2013 10:18pm

I got a great view of my local Sparrowhawk today catching a House Sparrow about 5 metres in front of me, the speed the Sparrowhawk was diving at was incredible and the impact was quite impressive, she didn't mind me being there at all. In and out in a few seconds.

OpenYourEyes · 02-12-2013 10:49pm

Saw my first ever Peregrine in County Roscommon over the weekend, was delighted! No doubt they've always been here, but I'm more tuned into what to look out for after the last couple of years

axe2grind · 03-12-2013 5:18pm

Blackbird in full song for most of afternoon,
Queen Bumble Bees collecting pollen,

I tell you its an early Spring

Woodville56 · 03-12-2013 6:37pm

Yes indeed, heard a blackbird in song last week - I know some thrushes start to sing in January (Mistle earllier ?) but it sounded really strange, not a sound but the blackbird, cheerful as ever, on a dark damp November day !!

tricky D · 03-12-2013 9:54pm

Hedgehog out last night.

OpenYourEyes · 05-12-2013 2:25pm

Some 'scratch' markings in the grass directly beneath the pole that holds up my birdfeeder - anyone else had similar experience and know whats doing it?*

*I'm 99% sure I know, but interested to see if there's any alternative suggestions....

Connacht · 05-12-2013 6:54pm

Question please folks :
Do corvids only mob what I would (perhaps ignorantly) consider larger, slower birds of prey, like Harriers, Eagles, Buzzards ? Or do they also mob smaller, faster ones like Kestrel, Peregrine, Merlin ? Just askin'...

OpenYourEyes · 05-12-2013 7:27pm

Connacht wrote: »

Question please folks :
Do corvids only mob what I would (perhaps ignorantly) consider larger, slower birds of prey, like Harriers, Eagles, Buzzards ? Or do they also mob smaller, faster ones like Kestrel, Peregrine, Merlin ? Just askin'...

They'll mob/harrass all of them! Peregrine's less so I'd imagine, due to reduced opportunity as much as anything.

Bsal · 05-12-2013 9:55pm

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

Some 'scratch' markings in the grass directly beneath the pole that holds up my birdfeeder - anyone else had similar experience and know whats doing it?*

*I'm 99% sure I know, but interested to see if there's any alternative suggestions....

Maybe a cat, but what do you think it is?

OpenYourEyes · 05-12-2013 10:01pm

Bsal wrote: »

Maybe a cat, but what do you think it is?

There are c.3 strayish cats that visit the garden on a daily basis, but during the day at least none of them seem too interested in the pole/birdfeeders - except sometimes if they think they can nab a sparrow!

This scratching seems to be done at night, since I'm usually watching the feeders for a lot of the daytime. But I don't think its a cat.

Woodville56 · 05-12-2013 10:11pm

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

This scratching seems to be done at night, since I'm usually watching the feeders for a lot of the daytime. But I don't think its a cat.

Possibly a badger ?

OpenYourEyes · 05-12-2013 10:22pm

Woodville56 wrote: »

Possibly a badger ?

Someone else I was talking to suggested that too! I've never seen a badger in the garden, and have never come across a likely set in the 2 or 3 fields behind the house - though that doesn't mean they aren't there or didn't come from fields beyond that either!

The mammals I've seen in the garden are fox, hedgehog, rats and mice.
my thoughts were that it was probably rats, but I suppose that was a bit of a guess too. With plenty of seeds and fatballs left out for the last few weeks, and the fact that rats are obviously present in the garden and wider area, and with the scratching seemingly done at night, I had presumed rats!

Anyone got a more definitive suggestion than my own theory?

V_Moth · 12-12-2013 12:09pm

Had a butterfly (Peacock or Red Admiral) fly past the window a few minutes ago. First time I have ever seen one in December!

snowstreams · 13-12-2013 3:02pm

V_Moth wrote: »

Had a butterfly (Peacock or Red Admiral) fly past the window a few minutes ago. First time I have ever seen one in December!

Yeah I had a red admiral in my house yesterday too. I don't know how it got in. But I doubt it will survive at this time of year.

whyulittle · 13-12-2013 5:29pm

Returned to Boora today, yippie!

Capercaille · 13-12-2013 5:39pm

whyulittle wrote: »

Returned to Boora today, yippie!

Are there many grey partridge around. I might head down there to see a few a the weekend .

whyulittle · 13-12-2013 5:52pm

I didn't spot any today, but generally you have a pretty good chance of seeing some. Drive slowly through the farmland part and keep an eye on the verges. You can park up close to both partridge habitat areas and walk from there.

There was a Hen Harrier knocking around one of them today, and a few hundred Lapwing and Golden Plover.

Capercaille · 24-12-2013 5:01pm

Somebody stole one of my nyjer feeders. It was beside the road.

Tea Tree · 25-12-2013 8:28pm

In the middle of eating Christmas dinner I spotted a flash of red in the bushes outside, a pair of bullfinches enjoying the berries. First time I've seen them in my garden. Nice to see.... I should sit at "that" side of the table more often

Woodville56 · 25-12-2013 11:02pm

Tea Tree wrote: »

In the middle of eating Christmas dinner I spotted a flash of red in the bushes outside, a pair of bullfinches enjoying the berries. First time I've seen them in my garden. Nice to see.... I should sit at "that" side of the table more often

It must have been a good year for Bullfinches - have seen small flocks of them (8-10 birds , m & f) around my local patch in recent weeks - perhaps some
Winter migrants ??

Woodville56 · 13-01-2014 6:41pm

Out and about today, although a cool 4c, some sunshine and birdsong !
I know that robins and some other thrushes sing a bit throughout winter months but heard a song thrush today belting out with gusto, even the robin song appears a bit more upbeat ? Just my imagination or signs of the approaching springtime ?
Hope i hav'nt jinxed it...probably be snowing next week! :eek:

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 13-01-2014 7:17pm

Woodville56 wrote: »

Out and about today, although a cool 4c, some sunshine and birdsong !
I know that robins and some other thrushes sing a bit throughout winter months but heard a song thrush today belting out with gusto, even the robin song appears a bit more upbeat ? Just my imagination or signs of the approaching springtime ?
Hope i hav'nt jinxed it...probably be snowing next week! :eek:

Same here. Great tits and Blue tits singing merrily today, as was the garden song thrush.

Woodville56 · 14-01-2014 2:44pm

Interesting programme for the Joint Raptor Study Group Conference on 26th Jan in Dublin - presentations on the White Tailed Eagle, Raptor ringing, Kestrels, Buzzards, Golden Eagles & The Bird Atlas & Short Eared Owls.
Info on the Irish Raptor Study Group Facebook page. Not involved in the event or promoting it, just interested in raptors and not very knowledgeable in the subject, so might go along, hopefully it won't be too academic !
Any one from the Nature & Birdwatching forum going ?

OpenYourEyes · 14-01-2014 3:27pm

Woodville56 wrote: »

Interesting programme for the Joint Raptor Study Group Conference on 26th Jan in Dublin - presentations on the White Tailed Eagle, Raptor ringing, Kestrels, Buzzards, Golden Eagles & The Bird Atlas & Short Eared Owls.
Info on the Irish Raptor Study Group Facebook page. Not involved in the event or promoting it, just interested in raptors and not very knowledgeable in the subject, so might go along, hopefully it won't be too academic !
Any one from the Nature & Birdwatching forum going ?

Judging by the topics and speakers I'd say it won't be too academic, so don't worry. I've gone the last two years and found it very interesting and educational, and the speakers listed for this year all have a huge amount of experience so I'd definitely recommend it to any boardsies thinking of going.

Bsal · 19-01-2014 10:19pm

BBC winterwatch starts tomorrow 8:30pm BBC2

and online from 9am

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p012msk2

OpenYourEyes · 20-01-2014 3:31pm

Aldi are selling Birdfood and feeders this Thursday - I got 2 12.75kg of seed and 2 tubs of 50 fatballs back at the start of November and I'm only jsut finishing them off now. The birds love them, and good value!

V_Moth · 26-01-2014 1:17pm

The Dublin Bird Race took place yesterday with 7 teams competing. Conditions were not great during the day, so the total list of 112 species was quite good. The winning team got 106 species, with the other teams all getting more than 80.

Highlights included Red-necked Grebe in Dun Laoghaire, Ross's Gull seen by two teams from the North Bull Wall, Snow Bunting and a Curlew Sandpiper at Rogerstown.

Capercaille · 26-01-2014 8:46pm

V_Moth wrote: »

The Dublin Bird Race took place yesterday with 7 teams competing. Conditions were not great during the day, so the total list of 112 species was quite good. The winning team got 106 species, with the other teams all getting more than 80.

Highlights included Red-necked Grebe in Dun Laoghaire, Ross's Gull seen by two teams from the North Bull Wall, Snow Bunting and a Curlew Sandpiper at Rogerstown.

I was looking for the Ross's gull on the south Bull wall:mad:

Woodville56 · 27-01-2014 9:47am

V_Moth wrote: »

The Dublin Bird Race took place yesterday with 7 teams competing. Conditions were not great during the day, so the total list of 112 species was quite good. The winning team got 106 species.

A well decent score for the day that was in it !
Over on the west coast this morning myself, see what the westerlies might have blown in ? Still howling wind and squally showers here !

Woodville56 · 27-01-2014 10:19am

Was at the Raptor Study Group Conference in Dublin on Saturday - any other Boarders there ?
Enjoyable and quite informative presentations throughout the day - pity no speaker notes or key message summaries available , there was so much good information presented , was impossible to retain much of it ! For me though, messages that struck home : poisoning of raptors still a major issue as is a significant mortality risk to these reintroduced and native birds from a proliferation of wind farm developments, still a lot to do on Agri- environmental policy around promoting and developing wildlife appropriate habitats, and particularly around measured to protect & halt the decline in Farmland birds and breeding Wetland wader species !
Great to hear about all the research & monitoring work being by NPWS, Golden Eagle Trust, Raptor Research & Birdwatch Ireland, but one thinks it's an uphill struggle. Education, public awareness and incentivisation the way forward ??

magicbastarder · 27-01-2014 2:53pm

just saw my first example of bud burst - some hawthorn (planted near woodies in Sandyford) has decided it's spring.

trebor28 · 04-02-2014 10:36pm

Chris Packham on bbc 2 now presenting Inside the Animal Mind.

its part 2 of 3, didnt see yesterdays one.

Very good so far.

Woodville56 · 08-02-2014 5:45pm

I see (from Irishbirding) a Glossy Ibis showing in Shannonbridge - anyone know whereabouts there ?
Might be passing nearby over the weekend and wouldn't mind a detour to see this bird !

Amalgam · 11-02-2014 6:06pm

Mollycoddle your garden birds with some nice grub! Tide them over this snowy patch..

MeteoritesEire · 11-02-2014 6:29pm

mine are loving it-mixed seeds , peanuts,bread-got an unusual amount of reed buntings hanging about this past couple weeks plus the usual suspects--chaffinches, blackbirds, robins, tits
No fieldfares this year--had hundreds last year.Very few goldfinches-only seen one or 2 and they don't hang about for long.
No greenfinches either this year-unusual

started buying the odd kilo of lump bacon at lidl for the hooded crows.They love it.They had 4 babies last spring so there's 6 of them still knocking about.I'm expecting the parents to cut the apron strings soon

Amalgam · 11-02-2014 6:42pm

3 pairs of male, female Blackbirds beavering about a patch under a plum tree, then a shriek of pure camp horror. Garden empty in the blink of an eye. We were visited on Sunday by a somewhat clumsy Sparrowhawk.

Never realised how 'leggy' the bird is..

Ulmus · 18-02-2014 9:00pm

Little Grebe diving in the Basin, Blessington Street today.

whyulittle · 18-02-2014 10:08pm

Up and down to Dublin today - a nice number of Buzzards perched on lamp posts, and a Little Egret flying out of the Enfield MSA!

whyulittle · 21-02-2014 2:52pm

The delights of Lough Boora are showcased on Tracks and Trails on RTE One this evening at 7:30. Hopefully they don't spend all their time around the Sculpture Park!

Bsal · 22-02-2014 5:20pm

I heard Skylarks singing today at Dublin airport

OpenYourEyes · 22-02-2014 7:10pm

Three Sand Martins seen in Waterford today apparently. Very early!

Birdnuts · 22-02-2014 8:00pm

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

Three Sand Martins seen in Waterford today apparently. Very early!

God luv em - I wonder what the mortality rate is among these early arrivals. Last Spring must have taken out big numbers:(

Woodville56 · 22-02-2014 9:49pm

Bsal wrote: »

I heard Skylarks singing today at Dublin airport

Got them in song flight on west coast last week also ! Lovely to hear so early in the season ! Sadly, scarce enough now on my local patch in the midlands !

dodderangler · 25-02-2014 9:44pm

Talking to lad here in the pub who walks the featherbeds a lot and said past few days he's seen a couple of stoats about. Didn't know they were that frequent in Leinster.

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