Hoopoe

muracan

Saw a lovely Hoopoe this morning while golfing at Skibbereen Golf Club Co. Cork.
Beautiful plumage and a lovely crest on it's head.

Birdnuts

Hoopoe's rock:cool: - The only time I saw one was while on Honeymoon in Egypt(Sinai) a few years ago, stunning bird.

PS: Also got to see an African Hoopoe in Kenya back in '09, very hard to distinguish from its European counterpart, song is subtley different though and is the most common soundtrack of the African plains:)

boneless

I only ever saw one the one time, in Germany. Mad lookin' yokes !!

22moomoo

Seen a Hoopoe yesterday in Co Louth. I'm not a bird watcher but love when i do come across an unusual bird. Seen it again today, i'll try get a picture if it's still around tomorrow.

Stunning bird with striking plumage and from what i hear there are only about 15 sightings or so in Ireland each year

V_Moth

22moomoo wrote: »

Seen a Hoopoe yesterday in Co Louth. I'm not a bird watcher but love when i do come across an unusual bird. Seen it again today, i'll try get a picture if it's still around tomorrow.

Stunning bird with striking plumage and from what i hear there are only about 15 sightings or so in Ireland each year

Is it in publicly accessible location? Would very much appreciate any info!

22moomoo

Not really, i first sighted it along the roadside but it flew into fields behind a couple of houses along the road. I live in the townland and am good friends with the farmer (literally across the road from my house).

He might come back to the roadside again. The area is in Clogherhead, co louth in a townland called Almondstown.

Judgement Day

He won't be back now as ten thousand twitchers descend on Clogherhead.

V_Moth

22moomoo wrote: »

Not really, i first sighted it along the roadside but it flew into fields behind a couple of houses along the road. I live in the townland and am good friends with the farmer (literally across the road from my house).

He might come back to the roadside again. The area is in Clogherhead, co louth in a townland called Almondstown.

Thanks for that. Hoopoes are quite rare in north Leinster, especially this late in the year, so its a very good find.

Could I forward the details of your sighting to the local birding group (with the proviso that is an inaccesible area)?

[Basically "Hoopoe present since Monday near Clogherhead in inaccessible area"]

V_Moth

Judgement Day wrote: »

He won't be back now as ten thousand twitchers descend on Clogherhead.

Nah, at most two or three people would show up. For example, I was the only one watching the two Desert Wheatears (a much rarer bird) on Bray Head this afternoon.

22moomoo

Yeah certainly let them know! I'm going out today to see if i can spot it and if i do i'll let you know.

V_Moth

22moomoo wrote: »

Yeah certainly let them know! I'm going out today to see if i can spot it and if i do i'll let you know.

Thanks for that. Hopefully it will stay around for a while.

22moomoo

Had a look today in the area i initially spotted it but no joy. I wouldn't be the most patient so i didn't stay around long. The guy who's garden it was in spotted it too the other day so he will keep an eye out too!!

cuddlycavies

Quite common in Andulucia. They have a really ''floppy'' flight style. Surprised you saw one so late in the year,

FoxyVixen

Possibly seen one in Sligo a few days ago. Flew in front of me while driving. The colour and size got my attention. Though I don't think there was as much white in its lower end.

Must take a spin out again and see if I can locate the bird.

V_Moth

FoxyVixen wrote: »

Possibly seen one in Sligo a few days ago. Flew in front of me while driving. The colour and size got my attention. Though I don't think there was as much white in its lower end.

Must take a spin out again and see if I can locate the bird.

Interesting. Maybe you could report the sighting here?

whyulittle

Sighting on IrishBirding today. In Louth, with photos.

Judgement Day

Common as muck in the sand dunes when I was in Marbella some years back but I'd travel to see one here.

davidrafferty

Saw small flocks of Hoopoe while golfing in Murcia, Spain in October this year.

FoxyVixen

V_Moth wrote: »

Interesting. Maybe you could report the sighting here?

Will do. Still not 100% it was a hoopoe. Will keep an eye out.

cuddlycavies

FoxyVixen wrote: »

Will do. Still not 100% it was a hoopoe. Will keep an eye out.

They're pretty distinct. Only other possibility would be a Jay.