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Unusual summer sightings?

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  • 28-07-2013 6:12pm
    #1
    aidoh
    Registered Users Posts: 620 ✭✭✭


    The lack of a well defined spring season combined with an unusually lovely heatwave has led to me seeing a few weird things this summer.
    I saw some cockroaches on a walk in Howth last week. I only saw my first tiny wasp of the summer today when they're usually out much earlier in the year and should be massive (and really annoying) by now. I've been seeing frogs hopping about at night time and hedgehogs, badgers and foxes marching around the streets of Dublin during the day.
    Still haven't seen any lizards unfortunately, despite being in very lizard-friendly areas on very lizard-friendly, beautiful days.

    What are your unusual wildlife sightings this summer?


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    #2
    endacl
    Registered Users Posts: 22,239 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    aidoh wrote: »

    What are your unusual wildlife sightings this summer?

    People with natural tans!


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    #3
    Capercaille
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭Capercaille


    Corncrake calling on my farm. The first one in 20 years:)


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    #4
    endacl
    Registered Users Posts: 22,239 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Less flippant answer....

    Varieties of moth that I've never seen before. When I look them up, some are relatively rare. There's a separate thread I must drop some pics into...


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    #5
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,162 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    aidoh wrote: »
    The lack of a well defined spring season combined with an unusually lovely heatwave has led to me seeing a few weird things this summer.
    I saw some cockroaches on a walk in Howth last week. I only saw my first tiny wasp of the summer today when they're usually out much earlier in the year and should be massive (and really annoying) by now. I've been seeing frogs hopping about at night time and hedgehogs, badgers and foxes marching around the streets of Dublin during the day.
    Still haven't seen any lizards unfortunately, despite being in very lizard-friendly areas on very lizard-friendly, beautiful days.

    What are your unusual wildlife sightings this summer?

    Where's generally good to spot lizards? I'm pretty sure I saw one when I was hillwalking once but can't be certain.


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    #6
    aidoh
    Registered Users Posts: 620 ✭✭✭aidoh


    All around the Wicklow mountains. I've a friend who runs up there every morning who says that on a sunny day they're out basking in massive numbers on the roads. In Dublin, the Bull Island apparently has a population, as well as the Phoenix Park and Liffey Valley park. You probably did see one, Mickeroo. They're apparently common (although no Irish census has ever been carried out) but good at staying hidden, unless the weather is irresistible.
    That's great news about the corncrake too.
    I've been seeing a lot of falcons around on the M1.
    Also I'm 99% sure I heard a boar in Co. Armagh on Saturday. It was at the very least an escaped pig, anyway.


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    #7
    locum-motion
    Registered Users Posts: 5,143 ✭✭✭locum-motion


    aidoh wrote: »
    ...
    I've been seeing a lot of falcons around on the M1.
    ...

    If they're hovering over the verge of the motorway, they're almost certainly kestrels, not falcons.


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    #8
    Capercaille
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭Capercaille


    locum-motion wrote: »
    If they're hovering over the verge of the motorway, they're almost certainly kestrels, not falcons.
    Kestrels are falcons.


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    #9
    locum-motion
    Registered Users Posts: 5,143 ✭✭✭locum-motion


    Capercaille wrote: »
    Kestrels are falcons.

    Sorry. Correct.
    Kestrels are members of the falcon family.

    I meant "kestrels, not peregrine falcons" cos I thought that's the other poster meant by "falcons".


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    #10
    aidoh
    Registered Users Posts: 620 ✭✭✭aidoh


    I meant falcons, just wasn't sure what type of falcon.
    Lots of dead crows too. I always thought crows would be clever enough to hop out of the way of cars. Maybe sunbathing on the hot motorway tar is too relaxing for them!


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    #11
    dodderangler
    Registered Users Posts: 9,204 ✭✭✭dodderangler


    aidoh wrote: »
    I meant falcons, just wasn't sure what type of falcon.
    Lots of dead crows too. I always thought crows would be clever enough to hop out of the way of cars. Maybe sunbathing on the hot motorway tar is too relaxing for them!

    Problem with the hot weather is birds aren't as aware of cars because they are exhausted by the heat and unable to have the strength to stay in the air as long so that's usually the main cause of being hit by cars.


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