[stupidusername]

Some pictures I took in St Stephens Green

[Bagmagnet]

Originally Posted by stupidusername

Some pictures I took in St Stephens Green

Mandarin! superb (to the max)!

[doctor evil]

What breed is that duck in the second last one? Very unusual looking. I hope it doesn't breed with our natives ducks. Would it be classed as feral or wild.

[Feargal as Luimneach]

Originally Posted by doctor evil

What breed is that duck in the second last one? Very unusual looking. I hope it doesn't breed with our natives ducks. Would it be classed as feral or wild.

The Mandarin duck is an introduced duck. It doesn't appear to hybridize with any native ducks. There is a selfsustaining population in Tollymore forest park (these birds are tickable). The birds from this forest generally spend the winter in Newcastle Co. Down.

The bird is St. Stephen's green is likely an escape from a wildfowl collection. A couple are present in the North Blessington Basin Co. Wicklow. (not tickable)

[magicbastarder]

there's also some in the blessington basin in dublin city.

tickable - from a birdwatching 'wild sighting' perspective?

[Feargal as Luimneach]

Originally Posted by magicbastarder

there's also some in the blessington basin in dublin city.

tickable - from a birdwatching 'wild sighting' perspective?

Sorry I meant Blassington basin Dublin. Here's the link:
http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/we...arin_Duck.html

If a bird is an escape from a wildfowl collection. It is not tickable (from a birdwatching perspective). If birds from a wildfowl collection set up a selfsustaining feral population then the birds would be deemed tickable.

The re-introduced raptors would also be not tickable since they do not have self-sustaining populations as of yet. The Red Kite would be closest to being self-sustainable.

[Mabel]

Originally Posted by stupidusername

Some pictures I took in St Stephens Green

I had no idea that Mandarins were present in Stephen's Green! Tickable or not I must check the place out... maybe get a pic or two!

[Mothman]

I copied/moved posts from picture thread to create new thread.

[gzoladz]

There are many like this in Herbert Park. Even last spring one of this was always together with a female duck like the one that is in the picuture. It looked like a couple for me.

[stupidusername]

Have been back today. and guess what... there's four mandarins! They're gorgeous. I got a few pictures, some with all four in them, can't post them at the moment. Will do tomorrow night though.

[stupidusername]

Four mandarins together



Female mandarin



Male and female



Single male


Two up close

[Mothman]

They are spectacular...evening rivalling some moths
Never seen one in the flesh.
Thanks for sharing

[stupidusername]

Well next time you're in Dublin city, go to St Stephens green, go to the second half of the pond, look for where the swans hang out, and when there's lots of people feeding the ducks they should come out...

Don't know how many females there are, didn't realise they were females until Bagmagnet told me this evening! I'll count them next week.

[Mabel]

I wonder are these true escapes, colonisers from Tollymore or deliberate introductions to decorate the park?

Either way, I'm heading down on Tuesday to see if I can see them. Hopefully they won't be difficult/have move off. Those males on the path beside the pond looks very happy surrounded by people!

[gzoladz]

I am going to Herbert park later today. I will check out and report. There were loads like this last WE.