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Sedge Warbler.
Wintering in Senegal this long-haul tiny 12 gram migrant flies
fast, direct to Ireland in April. The males tend to be site-faithful but not the females!
A Kilcoole Sedge Warbler, Sean
Geraty
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30 April 2007
Cuckoo calling throughout the day at Native Woodland Trust
site in Farnaght Co. Leitrim. 4 Yellowhammers in Kingswood
Heights in Tallaght.JL
29 April 2007
220 Sandwich Terns at Merrion Gates this morning. SH
Two Swifts in Bray this evening. OM
The Spotted Redshank is still at Rogerstown and a Ring
Billed Gull, 2 Little Gulls and 3 Ruff are at
Swords. There are also two Dippers on the Tolka with Grey
Wagtails also present.ED
At Knock Lake this weekend (great to see that the bird-hide is the
right way up again!) there was a Sedge Warbler and 8 Sand
Martins.BBG
28 April 2007
5 Sandwich Terns, 3 Ruff at Swords Estuary, singing Sedge
Warbler along Estuary Rd and lots of Kingfisher activity on
Broadmeadow River, looking upstream from bridge. Pair of nest
building Bullfinches here also.GF
At Lough Dan, Co Wicklow today there were 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk,
1 Buzzard, Stonechats & a Cuckoo
calling.AR
At Kilcoole today there was 1 Brent Goose, 1 Whimbrel,
6 Wheatear, 5 Sedge Warblers and 9 Little Egrets.
Present also was a first summer Little Gull and a pair of Gadwall
in Webbs field.SG
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Sandwich Terns have arrived and have been seen all week around
Dublin. Sandymount Strand is probably the best place at the
moment. These are our largest terns and easy to pick out from
other terns and gulls. Pat Lenihan's photos capture well the
features of these striking and handsome sea birds.
Sandwich Terns at Sandymount, Pat Lenihan
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27 April 2007
3 Swifts seen this evening over Balbriggan.AK
26 April 2007
A dead Common Porpoise was seen on Sandymount Strand as well as 60 Sandwich
Terns. From Howth there were good numbers of Gannets, Guillemots,
Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Black Guillemots, Manx
Shearwaters as well as two Bottle-nosed Dolphins and 4 Grey
Seals.PN
An evening stroll along Kilcoole produced c.200+ Sand Martins, a
1st-summer Little Gull, 2 White Wagtails and a male Gadwall
in Webb's Field. A Grasshopper Warbler was singing from the north
end of "the Buckthorn bushes". (NK and NTK)
25 April 2007
Two Swifts seen flying up by Ormand Quay to day at 5pm.MH
In Bray harbour there were 24 Kittiwakes with over 30 Sandwich
Terns just off shore this afternoon.RV
23 April 2007
2 Common Terns were seen out in Dublin Bay from the West Pier, Dun
Laoghaire. (NK)
22 April 2007
At the Bull, north of the causeway this afternoon there were 3 Swallows,
9 Wheatear, 10 Sandwich Terns. 2 Whimbrel, 2 Little
Egret, 69+ Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Golden Plover, 20 Dunlin,
all well into summer plumage, 30 Ringed Plover,150-200 Brent
still about, Skylark plentiful.BMG
At Kilcoole this morning there was a male Yellow Wagtail, a
1st-summer Little Gull, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose with 3 Pale-bellied
Brent Geese,10 Whimbrel and 16 Black-tailed Godwits in
Webb's field, c.12 Little Terns on the Beach, a Carrion Crow
at The Breaches, c.500 Gannets flying south at sea, plus several House
Martins, Sand Martins, Swallows and Wheatears.NK
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Whimbrel,
Annagassen, Co Louth. Bill Quinn
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21 April 2007
See today's Tolka Trip Report to Monaghan in Trip Reports. An Osprey
was seen heading north offshore at Bremore, Balbriggan this morning. At
Rogerstown main hide (southside), the summer plumaged Spotted Redshank
was present. A Dark-belied Brent still present too in the flooded
field with 15 Pale-bellied Brent.AK
At Kilcoole there was 2 Common Sandpipers in The Breaches and 16 Whimbrel
in Webb's field, along with the Dark-bellied Brent Goose.NK
19 April 2007
4 Wheatears seen at the Poolbeg.NK
18 April 2007
The usual pale 1st-winter Iceland Gull from Sandymount Strand was
seen at Blackrock, feeding on the shore near the baths/DART Station. 2
pairs of Skylarks, 2-3 singing Stonechats, Reed Buntings,
pair of Long-tailed Tits and 2 singing Willow Warblers at
Irishtown Nature Park.NK
Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes are taking up
residence at the Balscadden cliffs, Howth, with more than a dozen Black
Guillemots in the harbour. There was a Carrion Crow with a Hoodie
(aka Hooded Crow) at the East Pier. Still some Brent around the
Bull and Swords with Golden Plover and Black-tailed Godwits
showing in breeding plumage. Two Common Sandpipers at
Swords.DMcC
2 Buzzards were seen this morning at the roundabout after the
airport.GdeL
16 April 2007
At Kilcoole this afternoon, where things are really quietening down now,
there were over 400 Golden Plover, 78 Brents, and one Dark-bellied
Brent. No sign of the Garganey and there were only 9 Teal and
one Wigeon. Three pairs of Shovelers were interesting. There
was a trickle of Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 2 Willow
Warblers and 3 Wheatears.OM
15 April 2007
Lots of Swallow reports received this weekend from Wexford to
Dundalk! Brent Geese and Golden Plover numbers were
both down at Kilcoole/Newcastle today (72 and c500 respectively). Migrants
included one Whimbrel, four Willow Warblers. MS
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Dark-bellied
Brent at Kilcoole, Sean Geraty
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14 April 2007
A wonderful sunny Dublin morning produced a Ruff at Swords,
a Dark-bellied Brent at Rogerstown and up to 6 Whimbrel
and four Little Egrets.ED
At Dundalk Bay, where there are still 8,000 waterbirds present,
including 2,500 Black-tailed Godwits, 900 Redshanks,1
Ruff, 400 Brents, 2 Whimbrel. A sprinkling of
Swallows, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap
on the landward side. Also 10 Sandwich Terns. This
afternoon at Swords there were 395 Black-headed Gulls, 435 Black-tailed
Godwits,160 Redshanks, and the Ruff was still
present. A drake Shoveler was unusual at this site.OM
At Kilcoole today there was 1 Wheatear, 1 Grasshopper
Warbler, (very difficult to see these ground-hogging birds) 1 Ruff,
2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese (see Sean's photo above) and 1 Willow
Warbler. SG
12 April 2007
Common Sandpiper flying upstreams and a Grey Wagtail,
2 Sand Martins and a Swallow south of Kilbride in
Co. Wicklow on the Liffey at the Ballyward Bridge.PM
11 April 2007
Goldcrest carrying nesting material - Dodder walk,
Clonskeagh today 2pm.JG
6 singing Willow Warblers and possibly the most inland Little
Egret in Dublin (?) roosting in trees in Corkagh Park,
Clondalkin tonight.DdeB
Swallows making themselves at home in Kilteel, North
Kildare today. 3 birds around all afternoon, have already been in
and out of their traditional nesting site in a disused garage.JL
10 April 2007
Willow Warblers singing today along the Dodder path in
Clonskeagh.JG
9 April 2007
At Rogerstown today 1 1st winter Glaucous Gull and 1 Spotted
Redshank coming into summer plumage (photo below - left with common Redshank)
. A singing Willow Warbler and Blackcap at Turvey, Donabate
and a first Swallow reported on the northside this year seen at
Sluice Marsh, Portmarnock.DD
At Kilcoole this morning there were over 1000 Golden Plover
flocking in spectacular formations in the air while on the ground 300 Brent
Geese were feeding on the grass below - one Dark-bellied Brent
Goose among them. One Buzzard soared above the N11 between
Shankill and Bray.LB
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Spotted
Redshank, Rogerstown, David Dillon
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8 April 2007
We have received many reports this weekend of Willow Warblers from
Bray to Dundalk. In Dundalk this morning at low tide, amidst the seaweed
on the riverbed, seen from the pathway along the riverbank there was a Temminck's
Stint together with the long staying Long-Billed Dowitcher and
5 Ruff. (photos on www.irishbirdimages.com) The riverbank pathway
is an excellent place to watch waders in Dundalk at low tide.LB
At Bray Head this morning there were 130 Black Guillemots, two
higher than the 2004 total, which was the highest ever recorded.OM
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Carrion
Crow, Portmarnock, David Dillon
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7 April 2007
A Kestrel was seen hovering up and down the James Larkin
Road overlooking the North Bull Island between Wongs Resturant and
where the Howth Road meets the coast road this afternoon.MH
There was a Chiffchaff in the Phoenix Park today, at the
back of the Aras. Also there were three Jays near the
Knockmaroon Gate entrance.BG
A Carrion Crow (see photo above) has been seen around
Portmarnock over the last two days.DD
At the Slieve Blooms today the following birds were seen; 1 Raven,1
Kestrel,1 Sparrowhawk,1 Jay, Siskin,
Pair of Grey Wagtails,1 Dipper, 3 Red Grouse,
2 Male Hen Harrier (one sky dancing),1 Female Hen
Harrier.AR
Adrian also saw a Red Squirrel and a Hare.
6 April 2007
1 Raven & 2 Red Grouse seen at Tonelagee
Mountain (Wicklow). Also, Sika deer & a Mountain Hare.AR
At Kilcoole this morning 24 Red-throated Divers were seen
close to the shore. See Pat's photo below. In the same area there
were 5 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Wheatears
and 1 Willow Warbler. The Golden Plover flock
numbered 1265.PL,MS
In the Broad Lough, there were 121 Black-tailed Godwits and
a Wheatear was seen nearby.MS
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Red
-throated Divers at Kilcoole, Pat Lenihan
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5
April, 2007
One Willow Warbler in song, North Park, North Road,
Finglas, Dublin 11 (industrial estate with small pools &
trees).JD
At 7.30 am one Peregrine Falcon was plucking breakfast
already in the early sunshine on the east side of the Central Bank
on Dame Street.LB
One adult Lesser Black-backed Gull among 38 Herring
Gulls - mostly first winters in Stephen's Green. Also 2
singing Blackcaps one at either side of the pond, and
another Blackcap in Merrion Square. 2 Black Guillemots
at Sean O'Casey bridge.RV
5 In Kilmacud there were three Buzzards soaring - see photo
below. They headed off in a NW direction towards Goatstown.MC
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Buzzards over Killmacud, Manus Curran
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4 April 2007
There were 4 lovely Long-tailed Tits and 6 Goldfinches
in Anna's garden in Castleknock.AL
A Buzzard was seen over the lake in UCD, Belfield during the
afternoon, being mobbed by a Rook. Last seen drifting
towards Donnybrook.NTK
A Manx Shearwater seen in Dublin Bay from Irishtown Nature
Park.NK
3 April 2007
There was a Chiffchaff in song along the Dodder
(Clonskeagh) today around 2pm.JG
A well marked 1st-winter Glaucous Gull flew over the
Poolbeg.NK
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A Tolka favourite!
Long-tiled
Tit, Botanic Gardens, John Fox
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2 April 2007
A very tame Goldcrest, two Long-tailed Tits and two Goldfinches
in Heather's garden in Howth today.HQ
One Swallow was seen flying north into the wind over the
marsh at Kilcoole and a Sandwich Tern was feeding along the
beach. The Garganey still present today at Kilcoole also
the Dark-bellied Brent but not the Green-winged Teal. The Brent
count was 550, and Golden Plover were at 825, but Wigeon
had gone down to only 88. Still 148 Teal and 67 Oystercatchers
- very high for this site. There seems to be eight good pairs of Mute
Swans holding territories, one of which has already built a
nest in BWI's little sanctuary at the north end.OM
Still one pale 1st-winter Iceland Gull present at
Sandymount Strand late in the evening. NK
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Garganey
at Kilcoole, Sean Geraty
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1 April 2007
A female Wheatear seen at Poolbeg today.BG
At Dundalk Harbour the Long-billed Dowitcher was still
present also a Ring-billed Gull, Common Gulls, and Black-tailed
Godwits in summer plumage. (See Bill Quinn's photo
below)
Also a good flock of Common Scoter off
Balbriggan.BQ,HQ
At Swords estuary/Malahide this morning there was 1 Ruff, 1
Kingfisher, 10 Grey Plover, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits,
6 Greenshank, 70 Teal, 360 Redshank and 410 Black-tailed
Godwits.OM,DF,EF
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Black-tailed
Godwit, Dundalk, Bill Quinn
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