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  • #842
    Half-cocked
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    ^^^^

    Time to dust off the bat detector again!


  • #843
    Half-cocked
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    I've got two Goldcrests coming to the fat ball feeders, not actually feeding on them but picking up crumbs below. Never had Goldcrests at feeders before, I usually see them up in the trees at the bottom of the garden.


  • #844
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    The dangers of daytime flight. A sparrowhawk has just made several swoops at the bat. Failed each time but a hasty retreat by the bat off into the distance.


  • #845
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,080 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    Aldi are getting birdfood in again on Thursday: https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thurs-12-feb/

    I tend to stock up on the fatballs and big bags of seed, both have proven popular over the last two winters!


  • #846
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    I had the regularly early spring comment from a neighbour this morning, that the cuckoo was back again. :)
    Every year somebody does it.

    It was of course a wood pigeon. :)


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  • #847
    gzoladz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,211 ✭✭✭gzoladz


    OpenYourEyes wrote: »
    Aldi are getting birdfood in again on Thursday: https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thurs-12-feb/

    I tend to stock up on the fatballs and big bags of seed, both have proven popular over the last two winters!

    For those woth childen, they also have nest boxes and feeders to assemble and color. They make a nice activity, I may get one of those.


  • #848
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Another sign of spring. A male chaffinch has spent the morning chasing off the rival in the shed window. Wait till one starts on the wing mirrors of the car.


  • #849
    Woodville56
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭Woodville56


    More signs of Spring in the midlands this morning while doing IWeBS count - a flock of displaying male Goldeneye and noisy Little Grebe calling from every reedbed! A chilly 2c though, so not feeling Spring like at all !


  • #850
    Cork boy 55
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,324 ✭✭✭Cork boy 55


    Werner Herzog on the jungle and nature
    "It is the harmony of overwhelming and collective murder."
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTVlifTAdlM


  • #851
    splish
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 538 ✭✭✭splish


    I saw my first frogspawn of the year and some Coltsfoot in flower today. Starting to look and feel a bit more like spring.


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  • #852
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    splish wrote: »
    I saw my first frogspawn of the year and some Coltsfoot in flower today. Starting to look and feel a bit more like spring.
    Yes, 3 frogs out and about in the garden today - enjoying the rain.


  • #853
    Cork boy 55
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,324 ✭✭✭Cork boy 55


    Penguin, Depressed
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWH_9VRWn8Y


  • #854
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Open warfare has broken out among the male House Sparrows. Birds that flocked and fed together all winter are locked on to each other on the ground squeaking and pecking at each other as they try to gain dominance for the breeding season.


  • #855
    vistafinder
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 619 ✭✭✭vistafinder


    Half-cocked wrote: »
    ^^^^

    Time to dust off the bat detector again!

    Where is the best place to get one of these what type is best?


  • #856
    Half-cocked
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    I use a Magenta Bat 5 Bat Detector which is fine for hobbyists, you can spend a lot more on sophisticated detectors.

    Got mine from NHBS:

    http://www.nhbs.com/title/156155/magenta-bat-5-bat-detector


  • #857
    splish
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 538 ✭✭✭splish


    Coming home across a bridge over the Slaney and noticed something white in the water. Thought it was some rubbish as I had seen a bucket flowing downstream the day before. Turned out to be 2 Goosander. :)


  • #858
    trebor28
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭trebor28


    Not sure where to put this but here goes.

    Saw it on the Irish Wildlife Trust facebook page.

    https://app.box.com/s/qxrxjsy3f85fg2ubmwq6

    Fairly comprehensive review of the Barn Owl.
    Havent read it all but covers most of the bases.


  • #859
    Rosahane
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,513 ✭✭✭Rosahane


    On our walk in the woods this morning the dog found a dead nestling. About the size of a starling with proportionatly very large wings I'd say it was dead a couple of days.

    Unfortunately I had forgotten ny phone so no photo :(

    The head was gone but I'm guessing given the size and time of year it had to be a raptor - buzzard maybe?

    However, It seems very early to have chicks hatched.


  • #860
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,080 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    Rosahane wrote: »
    On our walk in the woods this morning the dog found a dead nestling. About the size of a starling with proportionatly very large wings I'd say it was dead a couple of days.

    Unfortunately I had forgotten ny phone so no photo :(

    The head was gone but I'm guessing given the size and time of year it had to be a raptor - buzzard maybe?

    However, It seems very early to have chicks hatched.

    I think something like Rook would be much more likely?


  • #861
    Rosahane
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,513 ✭✭✭Rosahane


    OpenYourEyes wrote: »
    I think something like Rook would be much more likely?

    Could have been indeed. It had the grey down that I would expect on a rook.

    I know that buzzards successfully hatched there last year but I don't see them overhead there this year.


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  • #862
    whyulittle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,878 ✭✭✭whyulittle


    A Peregrine sighting from the Town Bridge, yes! :D


  • #863
    Amalgam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,026 ✭✭✭Amalgam


    A pair of Jays milling around in the garden this past month. Very skittish birds. They don't visit long and hop off to the next site.

    I always associate them with an upcoming bout of grotty weather, typically a week or three of rain and bluster to follow..

    Jay_20150228_163048.jpg

    My phone didn't perform. I've never been in the house 'expecting' Jays, a piss taking bird, the camera always seems to be at the other end of the house, when they show up. :(

    There's a pair of rather plump Jays, along with a smaller Jay, solitary. We have a copse/wooded strip of land close to the housing estate. South County Dublin. A very average housing estate. A sizeable amount of the neighbours have, 'pebbles and paving' back gardens..

    Slightly bigger than a crow, with strong legs. Bigger than an average magpie.


  • #864
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Amalgam wrote: »
    A pair of Jays milling around in the garden this past month. Very skittish birds. They don't visit long and hop off to the next site.

    I always associate them with an upcoming bout of grotty weather, typically a week or three of rain and bluster to follow..

    Jay_20150228_163048.jpg

    My phone didn't perform. I've never been in the house 'expecting' Jays, a piss taking bird, the camera always seems to be at the other end of the house, when they show up. :(

    There's a pair of rather plump Jays, along with a smaller Jay, solitary. We have a copse/wooded strip of land close to the housing estate. South County Dublin. A very average housing estate. A sizeable amount of the neighbours have, 'pebbles and paving' back gardens..

    Slightly bigger than a crow, with strong legs. Bigger than an average magpie.
    Nice one! I have them locally in the woods but never had them in the garden - rural area.
    Just for the record Jays are a good 4 inches shorter in length than magpies, have a slightly shorter wingspan and weigh about 70% of a magpie.


  • #865
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Great to see plenty of bumble bees out on the heather and crocus flowers yesterday and today.


  • #866
    whyulittle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,878 ✭✭✭whyulittle


    2 little mini-mags on Irish birds in the papers today. Top 10 Garden Birds produced with BWI in the Sunday World, and 20 seemingly random Irish birds in the Mail on Sunday.


  • #867
    gzoladz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,211 ✭✭✭gzoladz


    whyulittle wrote: »
    2 little mini-mags on Irish birds in the papers today. Top 10 Garden Birds produced with BWI in the Sunday World, and 20 seemingly random Irish birds in the Mail on Sunday.

    The mail edition seems to be part of a series. It makes entertaining reading.


  • #868
    whyulittle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,878 ✭✭✭whyulittle


    Just heard a weird noise while locking up the front door. Seemed to be fairly slow flying, but sounded almost like a little squishy puppy toy! That sort of bark noise...

    Vague I know, but any ideas?!


  • #869
    Iranoutofideas
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,083 ✭✭✭Iranoutofideas


    Spotted two big bats while out for a walk tonight.


  • #870
    gzoladz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,211 ✭✭✭gzoladz


    In a combiend nature/sport activity I will cycle the Grand Canal e2e on the towpath in a few weeks.

    One of my "nature" goal for the trip is to photograph an otter. Any tip on areas I should pay more attention is appreciated.

    I did the Royal last year but didn't see any.


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  • #871
    splish
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 538 ✭✭✭splish


    4 species of butterfly on the wing today in Carlow. Comma, small tortoiseshell, red admiral & peacock. Comma in Ballon was a new record for Carlow.


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