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Nature on your farm.

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Comments

  • #1502
    kincaid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,485 ✭✭✭kincaid


    Sadly all our badgers are gone in this area

    Snared and killed, very sad



  • #1503
    PoorFarmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 771 ✭✭✭PoorFarmer


    Spotted the first swallow of the summer this morning



  • #1504
    Lime Tree Farm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,226 ✭✭✭Lime Tree Farm


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123330422#Comment_123330422

    While driving yesterday I spotted what looked like a swallow, i must check if its on the dashcam.



  • #1505
    dmcdona
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,019 ✭✭✭dmcdona


    Was mowing the grass in Galway during the week - field mouse scarpered just in front of me and made it to a pile of stones - thank God…



  • #1506
    Limestone Cowboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,722 ✭✭✭Limestone Cowboy


    Have seen a few barn owls in the locality over the last few months mostly while driving at night but it just struck me as a thing I never seen up until a few years ago. Are they making a bit of a comeback? A neighbour told me he found one dead in a water trough recently too.



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  • #1507
    endainoz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,886 ✭✭✭endainoz


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123330953#Comment_123330953

    Would be great if they were making a proper comeback, might be a positive sign from ACRES with the barn owl boxes being put up around the place?



  • #1508
    Limestone Cowboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,722 ✭✭✭Limestone Cowboy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123330986#Comment_123330986

    Maybe but I'd doubt it around here, the local planner wasn't great for putting them into plans 🙈



  • #1509
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 54,504 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    What part of the country?

    Barn-owl-e1555495128372.jpg


  • #1510
    Limestone Cowboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,722 ✭✭✭Limestone Cowboy


    North Clare.



  • #1511
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 54,504 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    That's interesting as Clare seems blank on that map.



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  • #1512
    endainoz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,886 ✭✭✭endainoz


    Definitely a good sign so, I'm sure they can be logged so the map gets updated. The main thing holding them back is rat poison sadly, far too much of it being used.



  • #1513
    Castlekeeper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,475 ✭✭✭Castlekeeper


    Weve had a gradual buzzard re colonisation here. We had our first one ever about 3 years ago, another joined him last year, and I counted five fooling around on thermals the other morning. Quite a sight and, I think, very rewarding evidence of the work done to enhance biodiversity here.

    “We are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality.” George Orwell.



  • #1514
    SuperBowserWorld
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,586 ✭✭✭SuperBowserWorld


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123331595#Comment_123331595

    Just watching a couple on the thermals now against a completely blue sky. Magnificent.



  • #1515
    massey 265
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 238 ✭✭massey 265


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123331595#Comment_123331595

    Same here with the buzzards.Never saw them around here til a few years ago and seem to be increasing in number each year.



  • #1516
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 54,504 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    I go cycling around north county Dublin. 10 or more years ago seeing a buzzard would have been exceptional. Now, not seeing a buzzard is exceptional.



  • #1517
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 11,821 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123332029#Comment_123332029

    There have been resident breeding pairs of buzzard north of Swords in the St.Margarets/Lispopple/Rathbeale/Brazil/Rowlestown area since the late 1980's/early 1990's. I contacted Dept of Ag and the then IWC at the time when I first noticed fledglings on the wing.



  • #1518
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 54,504 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    Great to see the red kites in the area now too; my wife has a horse near kilsallaghan and she'd often see kites there.



  • #1519
    ABitofsense
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 773 ✭✭✭ABitofsense


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123331595#Comment_123331595

    What thermals are you using? I'm mad to buy one



  • #1520
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 11,821 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123332647#Comment_123332647

    I've seen one near Kells, Co. Meath a couple of years ago. Hopefully they will continue to expand across the country.



  • #1521
    Castlekeeper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,475 ✭✭✭Castlekeeper


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123332647#Comment_123332647

    That's amazing, now I'm not for a minute doubting your story but how does the horse communicate this to your wife?

    “We are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality.” George Orwell.



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  • #1522
    Castlekeeper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,475 ✭✭✭Castlekeeper


    ...

    “We are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality.” George Orwell.



  • #1523
    Castlekeeper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,475 ✭✭✭Castlekeeper


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123332727#Comment_123332727

    They concentrate and heat the gas which then rises in pulses or bursts, if you were nearby you'd know it, they lift all before them...

    “We are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality.” George Orwell.



  • #1524
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 11,821 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123332932#Comment_123332932

    If you are married/living with an equestrian you'd know before they put the kettle on 😀

    Anyway, Red Kites were reintroduced to NCD in 2011.

    https://irelandswildlife.com/red-kites-released-in-north-dublin/

    Post edited by Base price on


  • #1525
    RockOrBog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 511 ✭✭✭RockOrBog


    One of the dogs killed a young hare in the garden this morning, how it got in I don't know because it's all wired to stop the dogs getting out.

    The hare population here has exploded because the foxes have been all shot to try to save the corncrake.

    "Some animals are more equal than others"



  • #1526
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 11,821 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    The house martins are back at the gable of the house. No sign of the swallows yet.



  • #1527
    Limestone Cowboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,722 ✭✭✭Limestone Cowboy


    We seem to have gained a pair of Buzzards here just a small bit up the road from our house, I have seen them most days over the past few weeks. Have no memory of seeing them around these parts before. Just can't get close enough to get a picture of them.



  • #1528
    Lime Tree Farm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,226 ✭✭✭Lime Tree Farm


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123436963#Comment_123436963

    I think I saw one too, 3 times on the same ivy covered telegraph pole. Next day I brought the camera, wasn't there, hasn't been seen since. The things you see when you haven't got your gun.



  • #1529
    massey 265
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 238 ✭✭massey 265


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123436963#Comment_123436963

    We have a pair of buzzards round these parts the last few years,billy and betty they have been christened.Never had buzzards here before but seem to have become prevelant last few years.Very difficult to get pictures of them as they seem to know when your lookin at them.



  • #1530
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 11,821 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    I found a young fox cub dead in the top yard on Thursday - he was about the size of a jr terrier and was just lying near the feed barrier, he didn't appear thin and his body was gone the next day. We have lots of buzzards about so maybe they took him. OH and I were repairing some fences yesterday and a much smaller cub kept appearing between the gateway of two fields which is beside the yard. I left some soaked dogs nuts mixed with tinned cat food for him/her at the gripe/sheugh at dusk and it was gone this morning. I'll have a walk about the field later this evening to see can I spot it again.



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  • #1531
    Limestone Cowboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,722 ✭✭✭Limestone Cowboy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123437353#Comment_123437353

    Like clockwork they were there again today, phone pics not up to much. They have been perched on small trees by the the roadside a few times I've passed but like you said the second you stop to look they will distance themselves a bit from you. Lovely to see them though.

    20250511_143045.jpg Screenshot_20250511-143342_Gallery.jpg


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