Your favourite birdwatching sites???

Feargal as Luimneach

My first one is Tacumshin lake. The best site in the country especially in the autumn. Rarities like Pectoral sandpiper, buff breasted sandpiper, white rumped sandpipers are regular in the autumn. Raptor heaven: marsh harriers in the summer and hen harriers, peregrines in the winter. Full of ducks in the winter including rarites like american widgeon.

My second site is the Bridges of Ross Co. Clare. Best site in Europe for seabird migration the the autumn. The like of Cory's shearwater, great shearwater, sabine's gull, Skuas, wilson's petrel. My highlight was a Fea's type petrel I saw there once.

Third was the shannon callows(near Banagher) where you could hear and if lucky catch a glimpe of corncrake. Alas they are nearly extinct there now:(:(:(.

Ninmo's pier in Galway city. Premier site for gulls in the country and at close range. Great for testing your skills at ageing gulls. Annual highlights Iceland gull, glaucous gulls, Kumlien's gull, ring billed gull and the resident american herring gulls.

Slieve Blooms in spring for Red Grouse when the males are calling. An ever decreasing site. Catch them while you still can:(

Anybody else with sites they like to visit????

littlebug

Nimmos pier is a favourite of mine too. You're not wrong about the gulls! The resident heron is also often hanging around there. There were quite a few cormorants last week too.
There's a turlough just a mile from my house which can get lots of interesting visitors in winter but there a quite a few turloughs locally so sometimes there's not much in "mine" It was very quiet there last year compared to the previous winter but maybe the cold had an impact.

LostCovey

Rahasane Turlough near Kilcolgan in Galway. If it was in any other country it would be a reserve. Even though it's not a real turlough.

Even if you don't have a big interest in wildlife, it is such a stunning spectacle in winter for sheer numbers of birds, especially waders and waterfowl - I saw 1200 Black-tailed Godwits there a few winters back. If you want to blend in, it is pronounced "Rashen" by the locals.

Considering how few people visit it, the track record for rarities there is amazing.

Get there and see it before some plonker drains it.

LostCovey

PS this is the tally for the last two years -



03/05/10 Garganey 1 Rahasane Turlough
02/05/10 Garganey 1 Rahasane Turlough
08/03/10 Little Egret 40 Rahasane Turlough
08/03/10 Ruff 4 Rahasane Turlough
08/03/10 Spotted Redshank 2 Rahasane Turlough
28/02/10 Ruff 1 Rahasane Turlough
27/02/10 Greylag Goose 1 Rahasane Turlough
27/02/10 White-fronted Goose 78 Rahasane Turlough
27/02/10 Peregrine 1 Rahasane Turlough
27/02/10 Merlin 1 Rahasane Turlough
27/02/10 Ruff 4 Rahasane Turlough
20/02/10 White-fronted Goose 81 Rahasane Turlough
20/02/10 Little Egret 24 Rahasane Turlough
20/02/10 Spotted Redshank 1 Rahasane Turlough
20/02/10 Ruff 4 Rahasane Turlough
16/02/10 Little Egret 43 Rahasane Turlough
30/01/10 Ruff 3 Rahasane
30/01/10 Spotted Redshank 1 Rahasane
28/01/10 White-fronted Goose 71 Rahasane
28/01/10 Little Egret 47 Rahasane
28/01/10 Ruff 1 Rahasane
17/10/09 Golden Plover 100 Rahasane Turlough
17/10/09 Black-tailed Godwit 100 Rahasane Turlough
17/10/09 Curlew Sandpiper 1 Rahasane Turlough
17/10/09 Ruff 6 Rahasane Turlough
04/10/09 Swallow 50 Rahasane Turlough
04/10/09 Peregrine 1 Rahasane Turlough
04/10/09 Hen Harrier 1 Rahasane Turlough
04/10/09 Ruff 4 Rahasane Turlough
04/10/09 Ruff 3 Rahasane Turlough
30 Sept 09 Ruff 10 Rahasane Turlough
30 Sept 09 Curlew Sandpiper 1 Rahasane Turlough
26 Sept 09 Ruff 5 Rahasane Turlough
21 Sept 09 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Rahasane Turlough
19 Sept 09 Curlew Sandpiper 2 Rahasane Turlough
18 Sept 09 Knot 6 Rahasane Turlough
18 Sept 09 Ruff 9 Rahasane Turlough
02/04/09 Little Egret 25 Rahasane Turlough
22/03/09 Little Egret 38 Rahasane Turlough
15/03/09 Goosander 1 Rahasane Turlough
14/03/09 Sand Martin 8 Rahasane Turlough
01/03/09 Little Egret 52 Rahasane Turlough
01/03/09 Iceland Gull 1 Rahasane Turlough
16/02/09 Greylag Goose 1 Rahasane Turlough
18/01/09 Goosander 1 Rahasane Turlough
16/01/09 Ruff 3 Rahasane Turlough
29/11/08 Greylag Goose 1 Rahasane Turlough
29/11/08 White-fronted Goose 64 Rahasane Turlough
29/11/08 Ruff 1 Rahasane Turlough
18/10/08 Spotted Redshank 1 Rahasane Turlough
11/10/08 Spotted Redshank 1 Rahasane Turlough
08/10/08 Spotted Redshank 1 Rahasane Turlough
07/10/08 Pectoral Sandpiper 4 Rahasane Turlough
06/10/08 Little Stint 1 Rahasane Turlough
06/10/08 Pectoral Sandpiper 4 Rahasane Turlough
28 Sept 08 Snipe 50 Rahasane Turlough
28 Sept 08 Curlew Sandpiper 2 Rahasane Turlough
28 Sept 08 Ruff 2 Rahasane Turlough
28 Sept 08 Spotted Redshank 2 Rahasane Turlough
28 Sept 08 Pectoral Sandpiper 4 Rahasane Turlough
27 Sept 08 Spotted Redshank 2 Rahasane
27 Sept 08 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Rahasane Turlough
21 Sept 08 Spotted Redshank 1 Rahasane Turlough
02 Sept 08 Black Tern 3 Rahasane Turlough

littlebug

I thought it might be worth resurrecting this as some of us might be out watching for new winter arrivals now.
Belclare Turlough below (Co. Galway) is little more than a puddle as of yet but today there were already 24 whooper swans and a couple of lapwing there.


There's a great little hide which is a bit far away from the action now but when the turlough fills up through the winter should be a great spot for keeping an eye on the visitors (Google map link below for view of the hide).

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Belclare,+Ireland&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=29.358024,78.662109&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Belclare,+County+Galway,+Ireland&ll=53.497441,-8.928795&spn=0,0.076818&t=h&z=14&layer=c&cbll=53.497538,-8.928807&panoid=fLVDMVuw9ZUPbHfT7e2eqw&cbp=12,273.52,,0,2.99

captain_boycott

+1 for belclare, might not have highest number of birds in the region but the hide makes for very accessible viewing, even in poor weather.

It needs the right amount of water levels, but in good times you,ll see wigeon, teal, pochard, lapwing,Dunlin, golden plover,redshank,whoopers,geese,shoveler and more.

On one of my more successful visits I got to watch 2 peregrine w. very close views. Merlin often also. Once saw Gyr falcon who according to local expert might have followed the regular flock of white fronted geese there.

Connacht

Am not a birding expert and don't know many sites, but The Mullet peninsula, beyond Belmullet, is pretty good - e.g. Corncrake, Twite, Chough, Barnacle & Brent Geese, the odd spectacular vagrant ...

snowstreams

Is Belclare Turlough full up yet? Id say most of the turloughs would be well full at this stage with the last few days weather.

littlebug

snowstreams wrote: »

Is Belclare Turlough full up yet? Id say most of the turloughs would be well full at this stage with the last few days weather.

Belclare isn't full yet but getting there. Shrule Turlough on the other hand seems to have filled up overnight.

captain_boycott

Hey Littlebug - can you provide directions for Shule Turlough? heard about it before but was unable to locate. Is it easily accessible?

littlebug

captain_boycott wrote: »

Hey Littlebug - can you provide directions for Shule Turlough? heard about it before but was unable to locate. Is it easily accessible?

Just past the Church there's a road on the left (driving out of the village). Follow that road for 1 mile and you're there.
It's a pretty bumpy wee road with grass in the middle and there's just about parking/ turning space when you reach the turlough.

Connacht

Feargal and others,
Can you please give me directions on where to go and park at Tacumshin Lake (best spots), say from Tomhaggard. Have the chance to go there next weekend.

Feargal as Luimneach

Connacht wrote: »

Feargal and others,
Can you please give me directions on where to go and park at Tacumshin Lake (best spots), say from Tomhaggard. Have the chance to go there next weekend.

I always go from Killinick (on the N25 to Rosslare Harbour).
Heading south on N25 turn right directly before Kiely's petrol station (Killinick)
Go 100m turn right.
Keep going until you come to T junction, turn left.
Go straight through two four-cross roads.
At third four-cross road turn right (off the main road)
Take first left (old castle at turn)
Take first left (cul de sac), end of road is "east end of Tacumshin".
Turn around and at T juction turn left, end of road is forgotten corner.

At the east end of tacumshin carpark is good place to see ducks including garganey.

The glossy ibis often hangs aroung forgotten corner.

After all the rain this week the lake will be fairly full so won't be good for waders. When the lake is not too full you can walk across the lake (westwards) to the area known as the "patches". Lake is shallow.

If you have a sat-nav the coordinates for the east end car park are:
N 52 degrees 12.037'
W6 degrees 25.966'

Birdnuts

Pollardstown Fen and hinterland is pretty hard to beat - indeed I think Kildare in general is pretty underrated and overlooked by many twitchers:(

Feargal as Luimneach

Birdnuts wrote: »

Pollardstown Fen and hinterland is pretty hard to beat - indeed I think Kildare in general is pretty underrated and overlooked by many twitchers:(

Pollardstown Fen is a beautiful place but you're just not going to get the rarities there.

Birdnuts

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

Pollardstown Fen is a beautiful place but you're just not going to get the rarities there.

That may be true compared to some of our famous headlands but over the years I have seen Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Hobby and Turtle Dove there, not to mention a dazzeling array of classic wetland specialties - and thats just the birds;)

Feargal as Luimneach

Birdnuts wrote: »

That may be true compared to some of our famous headlands but over the years I have seen Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Hobby and Turtle Dove there, not to mention a dazzeling array of classic wetland specialties - and thats just the birds;)

When did you see the hobby, garganey? Any photos?

Birdnuts

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

When did you see the hobby, garganey? Any photos?

Roughly 3 years ago but unfortunately I was armed only with binoculars at the time - the red trousers were very distinctive though;)

PS: I saw another Hobby only last year not far away near Narraghmore bog - I had the camera with me but he was moving too quick to put down the binocs and point the camera:(

Feargal as Luimneach

any marsh/reed warbler in pollardstown fen?

Cardynal

Some fantastic sites in Co Wexford , from the diving Gannets off Hook Head to the Divers at Kilmore Quay , from the Crossbills high in the trees at Ravenswood and White-fronted geese at the Reserve , some of the best birding in the country.
But pride of place has to go to Tackers , just a couple of hours last wednesday brought a couple of Short-eared Owls , Glossy ibis , Lapland bunting , a flyover Merlin , a lone Buzzard being mobbed by a pair of hoodies , and a Trio of Ringtail Hen Harriers at Lingstown , all before lunch , fantastic site.

Birdnuts

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

any marsh/reed warbler in pollardstown fen?

Reed Warblers have been present in the last few years:)

sables2

Birdnuts wrote: »

Reed Warblers have been present in the last few years:)

Hi Feargal,
Has anyone mentioned 'Broad Lough'.. (at the back of).. Tinakilly House. Co. Wicklow? A lovely marsh lake with reed beds. Just off the N11. About 20m from Cabinteely/Dun Laoire. I was there a few times. Got the name from 'sightings' from: Irishbirding.com. You will see the fantastic: White Tailed Eagle IF your lucky. Waders is a given, as are raptors of sorts...(mind you - I've seen none..yet). Plenty of various gulls, finches, warblers etc. Brent Geese fly over head too. A fantastic spot.;)

John_Rambo

If any of you are up for a weekend in Dublin you should check out the Bull Island. The beach, the dune system and the salt marshes are literally teaming with birdlife. The noise alone is worth it. Lots of flocks swarming, skeins and skeins of geese, owls, birds of prey, all sorts of duck etc... It's only ten minutes from the city centre.

sables2

John_Rambo wrote: »

If any of you are up for a weekend in Dublin you should check out the Bull Island. The beach, the dune system and the salt marshes are literally teaming with birdlife. The noise alone is worth it. Lots of flocks swarming, skeins and skeins of geese, owls, birds of prey, all sorts of duck etc... It's only ten minutes from the city centre.

Hi John_Rambo,
That's great. Good idea. Sounds really interesting and a great chance to see birds of prey...which are my absolute favourite of all the birds. PS: NEVER though you'd see birds of prey there though!:rolleyes:

John_Rambo

sables2 wrote: »

PS: NEVER though you'd see birds of prey there though!:rolleyes:

I know, I have seen Barn Owls, Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and I think a Peregrine. There was a shot on the island of a Kestrel with a rat in it's talons on the front page of the Times a while back, here it is.



You can get really close to the wildlife, particularly the Egrets.

Connacht

Kilglass Loughs, north Co. Roscommon.
Lovely lakes with great reed beds. White Fronted G Geese, Teal, Wigeon, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Cormorant, etc.

Smartypantsdig

Birdnuts wrote: »

Pollardstown Fen and hinterland is pretty hard to beat - indeed I think Kildare in general is pretty underrated and overlooked by many twitchers:(

I've had many good days out in Kildare. Ballinafagh is a great spot as well. I have spotted hen harriers there in the past. And it's one of the places you are almost always going to see reed bunting and the odd yellow hammer.

sables2

John_Rambo wrote: »

I know, I have seen Barn Owls, Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and I think a Peregrine. There was a shot on the island of a Kestrel with a rat in it's talons on the front page of the Times a while back, here it is.



You can get really close to the wildlife, particularly the Egrets.

Hi John_Rambo,
That's the place I'm going next..I want to see a Kestrel/sparrowhawk with a rat in it's mouth...:D. Bull Island. I heard on the 'Mooney Show' on RTE1 today that Eric Dempsey (birder/wildlife photographer) had all his camera equipment stolen from him car only recently from there. He only said it today. So, just to let the good folk here know of that matter. It's rampant apparently...:eek::eek:

steelydan99

Tacumshin lake, whats the best area for watching/photographing??

Coming from the Waterford Direction.

Thanks

sables2

steelydan99 wrote: »

Tacumshin lake, whats the best area for watching/photographing??

Coming from the Waterford Direction.

Thanks

In my humble opinion: Broad Lough, Co. Wicklow. Stunningly beautiful lake or estuary bye the sea. You'll get the 'works' here. From a: Bull Finch to a Barnacle Goose! Great for spotting birds of prey. A photographers haven too.

John_Rambo

sables2 wrote: »

had all his camera equipment stolen from him car

That's rotten, but I am amazed he left his gear in the car. That's a big no-no for any professional photographer. Friends car was broken in to in Galway, cops reckon the thieves were watching her during the photo shoot. She had all her gear with her, so your right, it is rampant. Sables, have you gone yet? Any questions, just ask, I know the place very well.

Edit.. Check the tides, you will see more when it's out.

sables2

John_Rambo wrote: »

That's rotten, but I am amazed he left his gear in the car. That's a big no-no for any professional photographer. Friends car was broken in to in Galway, cops reckon the thieves were watching her during the photo shoot. She had all her gear with her, so your right, it is rampant. Sables, have you gone yet? Any questions, just ask, I know the place very well.

Edit.. Check the tides, you will see more when it's out.

Hi John_Rambo,
It was awful about your friends camera equipment stolen. It's rampant aright. people HAVE to take much more thought as to where they will leave their expensive equipment. These guys are 'sharks' at this - it's their lively hood!!

I have been to Broad Lough: It's an excellent place. Totally recommended place to see not only birds, but, wildlife in general.

steelydan99

Thanks everyone, have to agree with what you leave in the car. Its hard to haul all the gear you need with you, but not as expensive to replace gear you have saved god knows how long for.

Broad Lough: Any good spots to head for, its looks quite a big lough and no point wandering all over the place.Just looking for somewhere to park the car and photograph a variety of birds/wildlife

Mothman

I was at the BWI East Coast Nature Reserve tonight doing a quick moth hunt and was taken aback at the chorus from the Greylag, Curlew and the squeals and whistles etc of whatever else was there. By the sound of it well worth a visit, and I may pop down on the bicycle during daytime. Certainly one hide is available and perhaps one or both of the other 2 hides. Only 20 minutes drive from Wicklow/Broad Lough

paulusdu

I've had a little search and i can't really find any information or threads like this.

I just think that it might be a good idea to share some good spots or tips on getting photos or sightings of the animals we are looking for. I know that some species may be protected so im not looking for information about them to be shared.

For example, i really want to try to get some shots of a Puffin, i tired last year and failed miserably. I know there are a few places that might provide sightings, such as the Saltees and even the Cliffs of Mohar. But im not sure about time of day, time of year, where best to position yourself etc.

I've made a few trips around the clare coast looking out for Dolphins and Gannets, and i've been lucky enough. One spot where i find great is Loop head, especially the south tip of the head. Its a great spot for watching Gannets fish and even fly pretty close to you. I find that early ni the morning or an hour or two before sunset is the best time, especially June, July and early August. Its also a great spot to watch the local pod of dolphins, and if you are lucky enough on a calm day get some really great photos. Common Guillemots are pretty common here too, you might have to watch out for the Black Backed Gulls, they get pretty territorial and dive bomb visitors who get too close.

So any tips ? suggestions ?

paulusdu

Cheers Mothman

My eyesight must be failing with old age.
Might make spotting puffins difficult . . . . . ..

boneless

My tuppence worth... UCD has a great range of birdlife over all seasons, so I do quite a bit of wandering over there. Ballinafagh near Prosporous is great!! The Slieveblooms are always a treat, and on the way down to them I stop at the Derries woods near Mountrath (a good place for merlin ).

For my waders, Dollymount/Bull Island, Booterstown Marsh (kingfisher nearly every time!!) and Sandymount Strand; often see a peregrine there too.

Apart from that, I am always on the lookout for birds . If you keep the eyes peeled and the ears attuned you can find them in the most unexpected places.

littlebug

zombie thread resurrection

I drove past Belclare Turlough yesterday and noticed a nice big puddle already formed. Earlier than last year I think but not surprising. I look forward to the Curlew:)
Nothing at Shrule Turlough yet though I can sometimes hear water from the swallow hole.
I must make a point of getting to Rahasane this winter.

whyulittle

I have to give Lough Boora a plug.

Today I watched a pair of Kestrels circle with a pair of Buzzards, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier (or two!), lots of Curlew, Lapwing, Whooper Swans, Grey Partridge, plus it has all the little birds that I don't have the patience to look for properly!