Our Summer Visitors

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 07-05-2018 7:22pm

Chiffchaff in the birdbath today.

Yester · 22-06-2018 2:04pm

I have some particularly aggressive swallows this year. I got buzzed twice when i was going towards the shed where the nest is. Feck off lads, I'm on ye're side.

Pretzill · 25-06-2018 2:19pm

Awful weekend - a feral/local cat destroyed the swallow's nest and killed all the chicks - they were close to fledging too :mad: this has never happened before and all the years the swallows and their relations coming back to the exact same spot.
Thought all was lost until about an hour ago when I saw what I assumed are the parents coming back into the shed - will they try again?

If I get my hands on this cat, or indeed its owner (looks relatively well fed - and have video footage of him coming back the night after the deed) I don't know what I'd do - I know nature can be cruel - but its not natural to have cats wandering all over the place destroying wildlife - the swallows had such a long journey and maybe I'm getting sensitive in my older years but it really upset me

pawrick · 25-06-2018 2:28pm

The swallows in my shed fledged on Friday, only 3 but better than none. Keeping an eye on the local cats as I'd hate to have the same thing happen as what happened above. Luckily for the birds I have an Alcatraz type set up going on for my own cats so the outdoor ones are confined to a cat run during the most vulnerable period but either way I'm lucky that they cant access the nesting area. Neighbors cats have all been TNR'd by us to prevent more kittens and hopefully long term this will help the local wildlife.

in more good news spotted 3 buzzards yesterday around my house, havent seen them since near xmas so thought they were dead.

Pretzill · 26-06-2018 9:27am

Better news this morning 4 swallows between the two sheds - looks like they might be rebuilding - I'm constantly in awe at the swallows' determination.

pawrick · 02-08-2018 3:13pm

so another update on my swallows, spotted a second nest in my shed during the week, I can hear birds in it but cant see their heads yet.

Would this be a new pair who created the nest or the same pair breeding pair? Previously I've had two clutches in the same nest but this is the first time I've had an entirely new nest built.

pawrick · 10-04-2019 5:05pm

Noticed a few people posting that their swallows were back again recently. First one of mine arrived this morning not too far from Athlone. Hopefully both nests are reoccupied.

Not summer visitors but have lots of starlings nesting around the house and shed gutters as usual and a new addition of a magpie nest in my front garden. Probably a lot more birds nesting around the hedging/trees in the garden but i haven't looked beyond the obvious birds making a racket, pair of doves are also new to the garden.

Birdnuts · 10-04-2019 8:09pm

Saw my earliest Swallow ever on the first of this month - unfortunatly the following few days were very wintery so he probably didn't survive:(

HoteiMarkii · 11-04-2019 10:03am

I saw one solitary Swallow here in south Kildare on Tuesday evening. Sand Martins have returned to a local sand and gravel quarry here too.

feartuath · 11-04-2019 9:34pm

Saw a few swallows in north Clare on Sunday.

DBB · 13-04-2019 9:26pm

Spotted a gang of swallows just outside Trim, Co. Meath, last Monday 8th April. The weather at the moment is surely doing these earlier arrivals no favours

First chiffchaff about 2 weeks ago outside Kells, and more recently in North Offaly too.
I've heard at least 4 different yellowhammers calling within a couple of km of one another in North Offaly over the past 3 wks too.
I'm still waiting for it to feel like summer though

Graces7 · 15-04-2019 1:10pm

Saw a swallow last week before this spate of gales arrived. looking forward to tomorrow and maybe seeing more

Fakediamond · 16-04-2019 10:47pm

Saw a flock of plovers resting on a ploughed field in Carlow. I’m assuming they were migrating north. A beautiful sight when they took flight and wheeled around us. The dog was a bit put out, kept looking up at them and barking at the sound of the wingbeats.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 16-04-2019 11:01pm

Plenty of Swallows and House Martens about today.

OpenYourEyes · 17-04-2019 9:23am

Just a reminder that records of your first migrants in an area (list of a few species only) are very much appreciated for Spring Alive, which is used as an educational tool to illustrate migration as it happens: http://www.springalive.net/en-ie/migrations/addnew

OldRio · 18-04-2019 8:23am

Just heard the first cuckoo about 5 minutes ago. Stopped me in my tracks. South Leitrim.

Del.Monte · 18-04-2019 10:01am

First few Swallows around here yesterday.

Pretzill · 18-04-2019 6:08pm

Just heard the cuckoo.

Lovely, a sound of summer for me.

South Sligo

DBB · 18-04-2019 11:14pm

First swallow of the year flying around my house yesterday in North Offaly... I note from this thread that I spotted the first last year on April 26th. So, 9 days earlier this year.
Will be keeping my ears open for the cuckoo now!

whyulittle · 19-04-2019 5:58pm

Out for my first walk in months today, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Swallows all seen/heard.

Other highlights a pair of Ravens, pair of Buzzards and Snipe and Skylark, all from the local greenway!

magicbastarder · 19-04-2019 10:35pm

first swallow of the year for me today, in kilmacurragh.
also saw my first bat of the year this evening.

Birdnuts · 20-04-2019 12:25am

Grasshopper Warbler reeling away the last few nights from a clump of Willow at the back of my parents house in North Kildare. Serious amount of Blackcaps about the general area too this spring.

Tiercel Dave · 20-04-2019 9:02am

Cuckoo arrived in East Galway yesterday 19th, calling again early this morning.....

wexandproud · 20-04-2019 8:58pm

cuckoo in wexford this morning . thought i heard another in the distance but wouldn't swear on it . lots of swallows about and seems to be lots of terns about kilmore this evening but not informed enough to know if they are of all the one or different breeds .
spotted a few gannet's ''working'' about the place in past few days so obviously a bit of feeding about

blackbox · 21-04-2019 10:02am

House Martins arrived at Ashford in Wicklow yesterday.

Dan man · 22-04-2019 10:37pm

Heard the cuckoo this morning, rural Donegal. Always heart-warming to hear the cuckoo arrive.

feartuath · 25-04-2019 6:11am

Cuckoo this morning in Clare

Sundew · 25-04-2019 1:47pm

Cuckoo heard in Sth Galway this morning!

Graces7 · 05-05-2019 10:43am

Cuckoo back here at 5 am after a few quiet days.west mayo offshore

Del.Monte · 07-05-2019 10:28am

First Swifts (3) just seen - Summer is here!

glwaymiko · 09-05-2019 1:40pm

Little or no swallows here (east galway]

09-05-2019 10:20pm

Swallows very scarce here so far....(co. KK). We were blaming the lack of nesting sites since farm housing regulations have done away with a lot of the traditional nesting spots. But after reading about the netting and slaughter of little birds in north Africa I imagine this may be a big factor.
No sign of the cuckoo here yet...

Birdnuts · 10-05-2019 12:27am

inthehat wrote: »

Swallows very scarce here so far....(co. KK). We were blaming the lack of nesting sites since farm housing regulations have done away with a lot of the traditional nesting spots. But after reading about the netting and slaughter of little birds in north Africa I imagine this may be a big factor.
No sign of the cuckoo here yet...

Weather hasn't helping either:(

dodderangler · 10-05-2019 8:23am

Grey squirrel on the wall outside the house this morning. First one I’ve seen in a good two years.
Could be a problem with nesting birds

mossie · 11-05-2019 12:58pm

Just back from southern Spain and was amazed at the number of Swifts there. Spent ages every morning watching them. Such a pity we don't see so may swifts here anymore.

Pretzill · 31-05-2019 10:41am

Still only one pair of swallows in the barn this year but there are more nesting locally. They are having a terrible problem with a couple of magpies who keep flying into the barn and stealing the eggs! When the magpies attempt this other swallows come to help and I run out like a mad one clapping - but is there anything else we can do to try and scare the magpies away.

After last years disaster with the feral cat, I'm trying my best to make sure the swallows fledge a clutch - but should I just let nature take its course?

31-05-2019 11:08am

Magpies are a scourge. We suspected them of raiding the nests in our milking parlour until a local farmer who was having trouble with magpies (raiding his cattle feed) shot a number of them so we got a break from them for a good while.

New regulations have prevented the swallows nesting in the milking parlour now though, as we had to install fly-proof screens and repair little gaps in the roof etc.

So now we have no flies but also no swallows

31-05-2019 11:09am

Pretzill wrote: »

I run out like a mad one clapping -

corks finest · 31-05-2019 6:55pm

Dan man wrote: »

Heard the cuckoo this morning, rural Donegal. Always heart-warming to hear the cuckoo arrive.

Haven't heard it in Cork since the 80s bar once at gougane Barra,heard it in Kerry last year

Yester · 11-04-2020 8:53am

First swallows just arrived here this morning. They are a bit bedraggled looking but it's great to see them. They are just circling the garden with loads of chatter. I don't think they have found their old nest yet.

feartuath · 17-04-2020 3:12pm

Swallows arrived on the 9th.
Cuckoo yesterday evening.

Seth Brundle · 17-04-2020 6:49pm

feartuath wrote: »

Swallows arrived on the 9th.
Cuckoo yesterday evening.

Whereabouts are you?

New Home · 17-04-2020 7:16pm

Cloud cuckoo-land!

(Only messing, I'm really envious!)

Silent Running · 17-04-2020 7:22pm

No sign of our Swallows arriving this year, so far. We normally have three or four pairs nesting by now.

I'm well aware of the disaster that occurred in Greece this year. I hope ours are just late arriving and not victims of the northerly winds.

Tiercel Dave · 17-04-2020 9:31pm

Cuckoo made it to East Galway early yesterday, 16th.....

Bsal · 18-04-2020 12:50am

2 House Martins flying around my area Friday afternoon.

corks finest · 18-04-2020 12:26pm

Tiercel Dave wrote: »

Cuckoo made it to East Galway early yesterday, 16th.....

Lucky to hear the cuckoo,last heard it in Cloughduv Co Cork 15 years ago

Tiercel Dave · 18-04-2020 7:03pm

corks finest wrote: »

Lucky to hear the cuckoo,last heard it in Cloughduv Co Cork 15 years ago

Still lots around here, northwest end of Lough Derg. Last year, best I heard was 5 calling simultaneously.....

Curiousness99 · 18-04-2020 7:10pm

First swallows seen in county Dublin (Dublin hills), on 6th April, earlier than last year, not so many though about compared to other years

I’ve been ‘hearing out’ for the cuckoo but nothing yet, they seem to be scarce the last few years where I am

Rows Grower · 18-04-2020 7:11pm

Cuckoo arrived here in the hills of south Kerry last Tuesday 13th, the house martins have a double nest built on the top of the gable over a week now.

Our Summer Visitors

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