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Spring/Summer Migrant Watch

Birdnuts · 2011-03-17 17:47:12

Just thought I'd kick things off for people who want to post their first sightings of various species that are already arriving on our shores for the breeding season. ATM the South and West coasts are awash with sighting of Wheaters and Sand Martins. Today I spotted one Sand Martin and heard one Chiffchaff on the shore of…

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17-03-2011 6:47pm

#1

Birdnuts

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Just thought I'd kick things off for people who want to post their first sightings of various species that are already arriving on our shores for the breeding season.

ATM the South and West coasts are awash with sighting of Wheaters and Sand Martins. Today I spotted one Sand Martin and heard one Chiffchaff on the shore of the Blessington Lake near the town itself:D

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#2 17-03-2011 11:19pm
Mothman

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Thanks BN for the thread.
Note that we have a Swallow thread as well

It was a good day for bird song today, but no Chiffchaff or the like heard.

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#3 22-03-2011 2:39pm
Mothman

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Whoo hoo
Chiffchaff calling away...

Happy days

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#4 23-03-2011 12:03pm
wex96

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just thought I say i saw my first swift today, near Gorey Co. Wexford

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#5 24-03-2011 1:29pm
trebor28

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saw and heard two chiffchaffs today.

have a very bad pic on the camera phone.

have always heard them around the place but only today found out what they were.

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#6 24-03-2011 9:17pm
1squidge

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Chiffchaff singing in Drogheda on tuesday.

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#7 26-03-2011 12:16pm
Jim Martin

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Saw my first sand martins at L.Donnell, Co.Clare this Tuesday just gone.

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#8 26-03-2011 11:05pm
jmkennedyie

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Chiff Chaff singing in Clane today. I've been told Sand Martins arrived in Nurney yesterday.

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#9 28-03-2011 8:54pm
E39MSport

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Heard one today for most of the afternoon. Haven't had one around before but can often here them in Donadea during season.

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#10 03-04-2011 2:26pm
Mothman

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Heard Willow Warbler in Glencree Co. Wicklow today. None heard here at home yet

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#11 03-04-2011 3:28pm
mgwhelan

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saw a pair of house martins here in the sieve blooms, was talking to a neighbor he said he herd a cuckoo this morning.

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#12 03-04-2011 10:08pm
Birdnuts

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We have Swallows folks - happy days!!:D

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#13 04-04-2011 8:55am
romulus augustulus

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We've had chiffs-chaffs here in South KilKenny for about ten days or so . Once they arrive , they just keep singing so you really can't forget that they're here!

On the opposite end of the scale , I still have bramblings coming to my feeder . I've seen up to 4 at a time for much of the winter . Last weekend , I saw 2 , and yesterday 1 . Is there any chance that they'll stay for the summer ?

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#14 04-04-2011 11:37am
Mothman

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Willow Warbler here at home this morning.

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#15 06-04-2011 10:15pm
whyulittle

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Swallow?

And......House / Sand Martin?

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#16 06-04-2011 10:18pm
Mothman

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Swallow and Sand Martin
Well taken...:)

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#17 07-04-2011 12:07am
trebor28

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excellente WUL

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#18 09-04-2011 1:11am
doctor evil

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Chiffchaff spotted on the ground on Thursday in SC Dublin. It was taking in the newly hacked back Yukka.

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#19 09-04-2011 10:32pm
IrishHomer

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Grasshopper warbler this evening just outside Tullamore

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#20 15-04-2011 1:06pm
E39MSport

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Over scrub land coming into the Ind. estate (where Toyota FitzPatrick is) in Naas. Fishery Lane I think it's called.

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#21 16-04-2011 6:04pm
Bsal

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Seen one male Wheatear on some rocks on the back roads of Dublin Airport today, first time I've ever seen one.

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#22 16-04-2011 6:30pm
trebor28

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serious invasion of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers around me.

lots of swallows and house martins also

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#23 17-04-2011 8:37am
Dan man

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I heard the cuckoo this morning. Summer is well on its way.

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#24 18-04-2011 8:32am
E39MSport

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trebor28 wrote: »

serious invasion of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers around me.

lots of swallows and house martins also

I'm noticing the same in North Kildare. Chiffchaff calling every few hundred metres on the canal into Naas. Several Willow Warblers around the house alone.

Swallow numbers picking up nicely too.

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#25 19-04-2011 8:47pm
trebor28

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have a willow warbler out around my place now, though there isnt a willow tree for a few hundred yards.
saw a male and female Blackcap "casing out the joint" last week.
there are still out there knocking around, here the male a few times a day but cant get a photo of him.
just when i spot him and go about taking the shot he moves off a bit.

hopefully there are nesting out there though.

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#26 19-04-2011 9:14pm
Durnish

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Our Donegal landlord told me last year that when he saw the swallows arrive in his barn he thought of us and when they leave in September he knows we will be gone till next spring as well.

I am looking forward to seeing the swallows and the cuckoo this weekend. Is it too early for wheatears?

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#27 19-04-2011 9:38pm
littlebug

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Durnish wrote: »

Is it too early for wheatears?

Nope There have been reports of wheatear since mid-March, as far North as Malin head.

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#28 19-04-2011 10:07pm
mgwhelan

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swallows and house martins are back around the farm today:)

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#29 19-04-2011 10:08pm
Birdnuts

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Serious numbers of Sand Martins about the place:)

PS: Is it just me or has the numbers of this species increased significantly in the last 25 years while at the same time their cousins(House Martins) have declined greatly

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#30 19-04-2011 10:13pm
mgwhelan

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Birdnuts wrote: »

Serious numbers of Sand Martins about the place:)

PS: Is it just me or has the numbers of this species increased significantly in the last 25 years while at the same time their cousins(House Martins) have declined greatly

don't know about house martins but sand martins are on the increase alright , i remember reading about it somewhere .

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#31 19-04-2011 10:17pm
mgwhelan

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this is where i'v seen it.

http://www.environ.ie/en/Foreshore/ApplicationsSubjecttoEIA/ShellEPIrelandLtd5618/ConsultationDocuments/SEPILsResponse/FileDownLoad,24305,en.pdf

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