The Hide (chat thread)

Zoo4m8

At a funeral today in a large Dublin cemetery, was a little early so took a walk around the graves, was intrigued to see a very active Ravens nest in a scots pine in the middle of the graveyard..

recedite

Ravens, harbingers of death. I hope they are not feasting on the corpses.

Capercaillie

Perhaps the end of the Irish Corncrake. Department of Agriculture in their wisdom want to restrict delayed mowing grant to any farmer in GLAS. Since virtually most farmers in Corncrake areas are in GLAS, no farmer will be eligible for the delayed mowing grant. No incentive to delay mowing so most corncrake will be killed in mowing. All my efforts might be for nothing. What a kip of a Country..........................

Bsal

Was out for a walk around Skerries this afternoon and seen 4 Gannets diving just off Red Island car park, my first time seeing Gannets in person.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Bsal wrote: »

Was out for a walk around Skerries this afternoon and seen 4 Gannets diving just off Red Island car park, my first time seeing Gannets in person.

They are magnificent birds to watch when a large flock are diving.

Woodville56

Interesting observation looking out on to the garden this evening - a pair of blue tits back and forth to the herb patch, taking pieces of fennel and lavender away. I read up a bit since and seems that they've been known to use herbs in nests as a disinfectant / anti bacterial agent - smart birds !
Link to the article here -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8199000/8199726.stm

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Woodville56 wrote: »

Interesting observation looking out on to the garden this evening - a pair of blue tits back and forth to the herb patch, taking pieces of fennel and lavender away. I read up a bit since and seems that they've been known to use herbs in nests as a disinfectant / anti bacterial agent - smart birds !

Cigarette butts are popular for keeping nests free of pests too.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Kayla Moldy Supernova wrote: »

Sedges we have now but there were no Grasshopper Warblers here last year for the first time in 45 years. Hopefully I'll hear that magnificent sound one of these evenings.

Could hear a Grasshopper Warbler while in the garden this afternoon. Happy days!

erica74

I'm over run with swallows for the past 6 weeks or so. They're bloody nimble little things. They always set up camp in one of the big farm sheds but we keep the door closed when we're not using it so they wedge themselves in any gap they can find. Some of the gaps I've seen them slip through are teeny weeny! My dogs are fascinated by them and I think the swallows enjoy teasing the dogs:P

I've had goldfinches in my garden for the first time ever this year, absolutely gorgeous birds.

The regulars at the feeding stations have changed a bit over the past few weeks - pigeons, collared doves, jackdaws (eating everything in sight and bullying everyone else away!:mad:) and magpies are all still regularly seen but most of the smaller birds are only seen once or twice a day now, however, they're all singing their lungs out day and night so they're all still there.

whyulittle

A few firsts of the season today with Swifts at the house, and Whitethroat, Small Copper and Four-spotted Chaser at the local bog. No sign of any Cuckoos though unfortunately.

Hotei

whyulittle wrote: »

A few firsts of the season today with Swifts at the house, and Whitethroat, Small Copper and Four-spotted Chaser at the local bog. No sign of any Cuckoos though unfortunately.

I haven't seen any of those species here yet, but did hear a Cuckoo today.

Capercaillie

Capercaillie wrote: »

Perhaps the end of the Irish Corncrake. Department of Agriculture in their wisdom want to restrict delayed mowing grant to any farmer in GLAS. Since virtually most farmers in Corncrake areas are in GLAS, no farmer will be eligible for the delayed mowing grant. No incentive to delay mowing so most corncrake will be killed in mowing. All my efforts might be for nothing. What a kip of a Country..........................

Department of agriculture after softening their stance! Who would have thought it!!! Keeping the pressure on them. The Irish Corncrake cannot be lost:mad:

fryup

discovered this clump of hair on my lawn this morning..is it from an animal?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

fryup wrote: »

discovered this clump of hair on my lawn this morning..is it from an animal?

It's like cow or horse hair gathered by a bird for nesting material.

Birdnuts

Swifts seem to have arrived in the Naas area over the Weekend - also a lot of Whitethroats about too

Bsal

2 fledgling Sparrows in the garden this afternoon, I suspect the Starling babies are on their way soon too can hear them in a nest a few houses down from me

magicbastarder

theresa may has her finger on the pulse.
Theresa May announces she wants to bring back fox hunting

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-fox-hunting-bring-back-ban-repeal-conservative-tories-general-election-rural-vote-a7726506.html

pedigree 6

Are swallow numbers down all over the country on other years?
I know they're back here and talking to other people in wexford they seem to be down too.

I wonder what caused it?
Was it the cold weather in spain as they were migrating here?
Perhaps?

Because there was a big number leaving here last autumn but not returning.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

pedigree 6 wrote: »

Are swallow numbers down all over the country on other years?
I know they're back here and talking to other people in wexford they seem to be down too.

I wonder what caused it?
Was it the cold weather in spain as they were migrating here?
Perhaps?

Because there was a big number leaving here last autumn but not returning.

Much too early to tell yet.

Capercaillie

CORNCRAKE calling from my nettles!!!!!!!!!

Chisler2

Capercaillie wrote: »

CORNCRAKE calling from my nettles!!!!!!!!!

What is the call like? I noticed a low growl/chirrup from stony wet patches of rushes and nettle-patches yesterday but no birds breaking cover or flying so puzzled.

Hotei

Capercaillie wrote: »

CORNCRAKE calling from my nettles!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic! Delighted to hear that.

Capercaillie

Chisler2 wrote: »

What is the call like? I noticed a low growl/chirrup from stony wet patches of rushes and nettle-patches yesterday but no birds breaking cover or flying so puzzled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8aLM-5Ob48
sounds like this

Birdnuts

I drove through a huge swarm of those large black St Marks Fly's yesterday - never seen anything like it!!

recedite

Interestingly, the males eyes are divided by a groove and have separate connections to the brain. This allows the males to use the upper eye part to look out for females and the lower part to monitor their position in relation to the ground, allowing them to hover in the same position. - See more at: https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs-and-habitats/st-marks-fly#sthash.TxxihHuW.dpuf

They must be a reincarnation of those lads that hang around outside the chipper shop on a Friday night.

erica74

Kayla Moldy Supernova wrote: »

It's like cow or horse hair gathered by a bird for nesting material.

It's funny you mention that because I see birds all the time picking up dog hair for their nests. I have 2 german shepherds, who shed a lot so the birdies are loving the hair for insulation. It's so funny to see them picking up one hair at a time in their beaks. To me, the hairs look absolutely teeny weeny and they only pick up a few at a time but I suppose compared to their size, it's probably like a blanket when combined with all their other materials.

I live in the countryside and have huge trees all around my property so there's loads of birds here. In the past week, I've seen a number of eggs on the ground below trees where I know birds are nesting.
It's so sad:( The shells are so so delicate. I know it's the circle of life and nature just being nature but it's still sad.

erica74

Is there anything better than sitting on a rainy day and listening to all the birds singing away to each other? Bliss.
I literally cannot read or watch enough things about why birds sing and what it all means and all that stuff. It fascinates me.

I love when there's just one bird sitting up on a really high tree going through all of his/her songs on a loop.

Edit to add: it's a Blackbird up at the top of the tree singing! I find that really strange because I always think of them being ground birds, maybe I'm wrong on that? He/she was up there singing for about 20 minutes, came down and got a snack (doing that hilarious run and dead stop they do :pac:) and then back up for some more singing.

whyulittle

At a wetlands site today, an amazing amount of Dragonflies and in particular Damselflies about.

Woodville56

Anyone notice a scarcity of cuckoo this year ? Been to several suitable scrubland / farmland / bog sites over past few weeks and no cuckoos. I've heard just 3 this season so far, all on sites where heard last year as well but not hearing them in other habitats which would appear to be suitable

whyulittle

Yep, went to Boora today specifically looking for them, but no joy.

EDIT: Oh yes, but I did hear my first Sedge Warblers of the year! Love them!