Spring Arrivals

Zoo4m8

Chiffchaff singing at an out farm today..

Birdnuts

Last few days has seen a growing number of Sand Martin reports from around the country on Irishbiring

OpenYourEyes

Increasing amount of Lesser Black-backed Gulls around too! Big clearout of duck species, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull and Common Gull from Dublin Bay too!

Birdnuts

Parents telling me the Chiffchaffs have arrived on there place in North Kildare

vistafinder

Singing away here too in West Cork with the last two days.

Plenty of Bumble bee's around the top's of the willow trees.

gzoladz

I got one on Sunday, nice to see them

corks finest

gzoladz wrote: »

I got one on Sunday, nice to see them

Few in Carrigaline this morning

ZX7R

My first sallow arrived today

DBB

ZX7R wrote: »

My first sallow arrived today

Fantastic! I've been keeping an eye to the skies over the past few days, waiting for their (and house martins') return

OpenYourEyes

If everyone could record their first summer migrants (of a select few species) at the website below that would be great! It's an educational tool used across Europe to teach children and schools about migration! Only takes a few seconds to log a record!

http://www.springalive.net/en-ie/migrations/addnew

Doctors room ghost

DBB wrote: »

Fantastic! I've been keeping an eye to the skies over the past few days, waiting for their (and house martins') return

I’m watching for them in Galway.no sign yet.
Apparently there’s cuckoo in according to rte radio one.springwatch.net for sightings

DBB

DBB wrote: »

Fantastic! I've been keeping an eye to the skies over the past few days, waiting for their (and house martins') return

Woop woop! Only a few hours later, there's a swallow sitting on a power line outside my sitting room window as I type
Summer is here. They cheer my heart like no other bird does
North east Offaly.
They're on their way over to you Doctor's Room Ghost

Doctors room ghost

DBB wrote: »

Woop woop! Only a few hours later, there's a swallow sitting on a power line outside my sitting room window as I type
Summer is here. They cheer my heart like no other bird does
North east Offaly.
They're on their way over to you Doctor's Room Ghost

Congrats dbb.it’s always lifting to see the first swallows in and god knows we could all do with a lift these days.

vistafinder

Swallows flying over head today in West Cork and Willow Warblers singing from the tree's.

Be right back

DBB wrote: »

Woop woop! Only a few hours later, there's a swallow sitting on a power line outside my sitting room window as I type
Summer is here. They cheer my heart like no other bird does
North east Offaly.
They're on their way over to you Doctor's Room Ghost

Were they not told not to travel more than 2 kms? In fairness!

Be right back

I had a house martin nest last year next door. Hope they return too.

x567

Saw two swallows in east Clare today

Birdnuts

First Swallow 2day - flew past the car on the M50 near Dublin AP

Bsal

Chiffchaff hanging around the garden yesterday picking insects/spiders out of the bushes.

ZX7R

Do sallows mate for lift or just the chick return to the same place as adults

Zoo4m8

ZX7R wrote: »

Do sallows mate for lift or just the chick return to the same place as adults

I think Swallows form breeding pairs when they return in the spring.

First Willow Warbler singing yesterday, and first Swallows this morning (north Wicklow)

Bsal

Saw my first swallow in Swords today.

ZX7R

Zoo4m8 wrote: »

I think Swallows form breeding pairs when they return in the spring.

First Willow Warbler singing yesterday, and first Swallows this morning (north Wicklow)

Looks like my swallow is Missing it partner

Birdnuts

Big influx of Blackcaps according to my parents these last few days in and around the Naas area of Kildare

Goldfinch8

Saw my first few swallows of the season while out in the garden in Mayo this afternoon. Lovely to hear that distinctive twitter in the air again. That's what actually caught my attention initially.

hawkwing

First swallow yesterday in south tipp, was alone but brought the summer :-)

Del.Monte

A few Martins about in Enniscorthy the last couple of days but too far away to identify whether Sand or House. No Swallows yet.

Macdarack

Saw the first Swallow today. Love that !

4Ad

Saw a couple earlier eyeing up the gable end of my house !

Macdarack

Chiff chaff around since last week,
Cuckoo is the big one for me.
Love to hear swifts doing their fly by screaming.

Half-cocked

Saw Swallows and Sand Martens over Baldoyle today. Saw 2 Terns over the Bay, too far to ID which species.

Del.Monte

Sand Martins confirmed here (Enniscorthy) today.

OpenYourEyes

Finally had my first Swallow yesterday (second today) and first Chiffchaff today, in north Wicklow!

OldRio

Our first swallow arrived on Wednesday. Flying and chatting about the farm patiently waiting for its friends.
Today we heard our first cuckoo. In the distance but as distinctive as ever.
Every year for about the last 10 these new arrivals have been a day or two apart.
Willow warblers have also arrived.
Co. Leitrim.

Fakediamond

My swallows arrived this week, happy days

Co. Carlow

Half-cocked

A Wheatear on Sutton beach today.

fryup

when will we hear the cuckoo?

Rows Grower

fryup wrote: »

when will we hear the cuckoo?

Heard one today here in the hills of south Kerry.

fryup

is it too late to put up a bird box?

downwesht

Swallows in Skibbereen today!

Dial Hard

Hi Folks

Delighted to discover we have a robins' nest in the garden. Haven't gone near the nest, it's well hidden under a very lush growth of creeper overhanging the juncture of two walls, just wondering if there's anything I can do to give the chicks (sounds like there's at least four of them in there) the best chance, other than keeping next door's cat at bay? Both parents are being super attentive.

Thanks!

Macdarack

I saw a Hoopoe 2 days ago for the first time ever. He was been chased by a greyback crow, at first I thought it was a cuckoo until it flew very close to me. What a bird.

Ted_YNWA

fryup wrote:

when will we hear the cuckoo?

Heard one in Wexford on Sunday.

OldRio

Heard the Grasshopper Warbler over the last few days.

Bella Bee

Heard a cuckoo in Limerick this morning.

Dial Hard

Dial Hard wrote: »

Hi Folks

Delighted to discover we have a robins' nest in the garden. Haven't gone near the nest, it's well hidden under a very lush growth of creeper overhanging the juncture of two walls, just wondering if there's anything I can do to give the chicks (sounds like there's at least four of them in there) the best chance, other than keeping next door's cat at bay? Both parents are being super attentive.

Thanks!

I haven't seen the parents at all since Tuesday. I'm devastated

Del.Monte

Dial Hard wrote: »

I haven't seen the parents at all since Tuesday. I'm devastated

Perhaps the chicks have fledged?

Dial Hard

Del.Monte wrote: »

Perhaps the chicks have fledged?

I'd love to think that's it but I'm sure I would have seen them. Also, would the parents abandon the nest immediately afterwards?

OpenYourEyes

Dial Hard wrote: »

I'd love to think that's it but I'm sure I would have seen them. Also, would the parents abandon the nest immediately afterwards?

Chicks are usually in the nest for around two weeks - depends on how old/well grown they were when you found the nest? You would probably expect to see fledglings around the garden alright though...

Dial Hard

Dial Hard wrote: »

I haven't seen the parents at all since Tuesday. I'm devastated

Moved home yesterday after 5 months in my family home for lockdown and my robins are back. Absolutely delighted!