Wildlife in UCD

Clearpreso

Hey guys,

Just wondering if any of you have much experience of what wildlife can be found on the UCD campus?

I have seen grey squirrels, foxes, the usual array of garden birds and a few fish, I think down in the "secret" lake.

Anyone seen anything rare/interesting? Any birds of prey about? Lots of wooded areas on the periphery of the campus that I haven't explored so Id presume these mini-woodlands must harbour some interesting creatures?

Love to know what you think anyway.

en.r4cart

Yes, they come out when it is getting dark..:D

Ditch

Clearpreso wrote: »

what wildlife can be found on the UCD campus? ..... Anyone seen anything rare/interesting?

We're waiting on this one: Nutcracker.

Clearpreso

Yeh, I had seen that actually and it reminded me to start this thread which I had been thinking about for a while.

I was really surprised to see Fish actually hopping about in that little lake (which has gone awfully downhill of late).

Ditch

I don't actually know the site myself. Only ever passed through Dublin twice in my life ~ both times in a hell of a rush.

Don't suppose ye've been and had a look for that reported Nutcracker, have ye? If I drove a motor, I'd have been burning rubber down there myself yesterday!

Clearpreso

Hmmm I saw it yeh, excuse my ignorance here, but... what's the big deal RE nutcracker? Very rare?

Ditch

:eek::eek::eek: Ye saw it? What, the Nutcracker? O M G !!!!! PLEEEEEEASE get us a photo!

Rare?! I need to go and lay down now, just from thinking about it! If this thing turns out proven? I'll be begging for a lift to Dublin!

Clearpreso

Sorry, ha, (jeez everyone if very twitchy over this) - I saw the report, and the thread about it. Not the bird, maybe I did, but I wouldnt even have known it was something special.

Ive never head of a nutcracker before in my life...

boneless

I have seen buzzards, sparrowhawks, peregrines and even a barn owl on the UCD campus. There are frogs as well, and hedgehogs. The wee lake was a great spot for heron a while back.

Just keep an eye out and you will spot stuff . Happy watching.

MB Lacey

ucd is a great spot for birding - with all the mature woodlands and a groundsman who's precious about looking after biodiversity - it's well worth a walk around.
Some of what I've seen are:
teal down at the secret lakes at the mo - which is pretty cool, I saw a kingfisher for the first time there on friday - I saw a water rail in the colder temps, moorhens, tufted ducks, lesser redpolls, linnets, greenfinches, goldfinches, chaffinches, bullfinches, all the tits, a lovely flock of 6 Long tailed tits behind the vets building, goldcrests, redwings, siskin ... some people have seen Brambling, sparrowhawks, short eared owls (in winter) - but I've not been lucky enough to see them yet.

boneless

MB, where did people spot the short eared owl? PM me if you think it would be best.

I suspected I caught a flash of a kingfisher once a few years back but discounted it. I must have another look now!

jack01986

There are some sizeable carp in the main lake near the arts block.

Clearpreso

Really?... Carp in that lake/pond... How would they have gotten there?

Alun

Clearpreso wrote: »

Really?... Carp in that lake/pond... How would they have gotten there?

I guess someone put them there? :rolleyes:

Clearpreso

Alun wrote: »

I guess someone put them there? :rolleyes:

Wow... my mistake... looks like there are big fish there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEjKUj8wdwY