Wednesday 31 January
A single Little Egret and 2 Mediteranean Gulls were seen on Sandymount Strand late this afternoon.

Tuesday 30 January
A Kingfisher was seen today in Bushy Park. Just outside the park, on the River Dodder behind Rathfarnham shopping centre, there were 2 Dippers and 2 Grey Wagtails. Also on the River Dodder at Firhouse, a single Dipper was seen, with a pair of Bullfinches and a nice flock of over 10 Long Tailed Tits nearby. A few Redpoll were heard flying overhead. 

29 January, 2007
A Little Egret and 3 Greenshanks were at Booterstown with a single Stock Dove on the wires above the carpark.

28 January, 2007
Again at Rogerstown the Green Winged Teal and the Spotted Redshank were showing well. At Swords the 1st Winter Long Tailed Duck,  Iceland Gull, Adult Little Gull and a Slavonian Grebe were seen. Also large numbers of Redwings nearby.

Ad. Dark-bellied Brent with the Brent flock in fields between Balbriggan and Gormanston.

Carrion Crow seen from the Causeway on the Bull.

27 January, 2007
The Green Winged Teal and a Spotted Redshank were both showing well from the Birdwatch Ireland hide on the south side of the Rogerstown estuary. An Iceland Gull was seen in Bray harbour.

26 January 2007

3 adult Ring-billed Gulls in South Dublin Bay : 2 together at thePoolbeg, with another bird at Sandymount Strand. Noel Keogh

25 January, 2007

A Carrion Crow was seen today with 11 Hooded Crows on Sandymount strand, with a Little Egret and a Kingfisher at Booterstown marsh. Just across the border into Wicklow there were 2 Adult Little Gulls in Bray Harbour.

23 January, 2007
A report of a possible Iceland Gull in Sandymount this afternoon. Pirmin Nietlisbach

22 January, 2007

Orlagh O'Farrell tells us there are 4 to 6 Little Egrets regularly at the stream in the park at Cabinteely.

21 January, 2007 Great to see so many Tolka Branch members out today and thanks for all these reports!

Todays photos from Robert Vaughan

On the Bull, from the Causeway looking north,  one Carrion Crow  (see above), 2 Little Egrets, 2 Mergansers, 20 Grey Plover, Pintail and Brent. Looking south from the Causeway,  the Blue-winged Teal is still there swimming with the Shoveler.  

At Swords estuary, 1 Slavonian Grebe  (above left) , 50 Goldeneye and 1 Long-tailed Duck  (above right). These are scarce birds so close to Dublin so see them while you can! At Rogerstown the Green-winged Teal  found yesterday was seen well today in the flooded field across the channel from the South Hide.

20 January , 2007

At Kilcoole-Newcastle today, 118 Greylags, 37+ Whoopers, 171 Teal, 847 Wigeon, 110 Dunlin. Good numbers for this site . Thanks Oscar.

There was a first winter Iceland gull at Claremont Beach (Howth) on Saturday afternoon . Seen only briefly – but there is a good gathering of large gulls there at the moment so good chance it will be seen again. Dermot O Mahony.

  Grey Phalarope at Skerries Harbour . Julie Roe.

At Rogerstown Green-winged Teal seen from the South Hide today. Thanks Aidan!

 Meanwhile, the Tolka Branch was delighted to see many new people today and despite the brisk and bracing weather at Dun Laoghaire  ( West Pier ) observed 3 Great Northern Divers, 10 Black Guillemots, 15 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Common Scoters, flocks of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Continuing to Bullock Harbour there was 1 Kittiwake and 12 Mediterranean Gulls. Further south from Dalkey Harbour out at sea there were at least 300 Guillemots and Razorbills sitting on the water and 4 Brent Geese with the gulls on Dalkey Island.

At Poolbeg at the start of the South Wall there was one Mediterranean Gull with the Black-headed Gulls around the Outflow.

19 January, 2007

Robert Vaughan reports that the Red-throated Pipit is still near the dump area of Rogerstown  today together with 13 Yellowhammers, 60+ Tree Sparrows,1 Buzzard, 2 Greenshanks, 5  Turnstones, 2 Bullfinches. 

Photo-Robert Vaughan

At Swords Estuary 32 Goldeneye ( very cool ducks!) were seen together with large numbers of Brent Geese grazing  in the early wheat fields nearby. 

At the Arklow Ponds -- Total of 50 Moorhens, 28 of them in a "flock" grazing on grass.Thanks Oscar!

18 January, 2007

32 Great Crested Grebes in a flock at Swords Estuary sheltering from the storm!.

Spotted Redshank seen outside the hide at Rogerstown today.

Photo - Pat Lenihan

Noel Keogh had 4 adult Little Gulls off Bullock Harbour today.  Also at the Shanganagh Outflow ( between the Killiney and Shankill Dart Stations) there were c.10 Little Gulls (1 1st winter, the rest adults). Large numbers of Kittiwakes out to sea all along the South Dublin coast.  This windy weather is just great for Gulls - Get out there and see them now!

Eric has just seen a Yellow- footed Gull..............in California. We know you are checking  dublinbirding Eric - you are missing lots of Gulls here too!!

Blackcaps on Ailesbury Rd, Castle Ave and the Botanic Gardens

17 January 2007

3 adult Little Gulls and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls at the Shanganagh outflow. Noel Keogh

16 January 2007

One (possible) Great Northern Diver seen off the West Pier, Howth.  Thanks Gerry.

3 Little Egrets and an adult Mediterranean Gull on the greens along the river beside Clonkeen College, Deansgrange. Niall Keogh.

15 January 2007

On Lower O' Connell St. 4 Mistle Thrushes, one on song! City centre newcomers! Thanks Joe

 35 Brent Geese at the western end of Tolka Valley Park at Rathoath Road.

14 January 2007

At Rogerstown, same place ( see 26 December 2006 below) Red-throated Pipit seen again together with 30 Tree Sparrows, 4 Stock Doves, 2 Buzzards and 1 Yellowhammer. Thanks Gerald

At Dundalk Bay there were 38,000 waterbirds with  31 species.  Spectacular! Dont miss the opportunity to see amazing numbers of these birds along the east coast. They will be gone in a couple of months!!! Golden Plover were most numerous (9467), followed by Oystercatcher (7711), Dunlin (4362), Lapwing (3670), Bar-tailed Godwit (2566), Black-headed Gull (2270), Knot (1849), Black-tailed Godwit (1400), Curlew (875).Thanks to Oscar for this report. 

13 January 2007

!2  Long Tailed Tits and a Goldcrest  in Albert College Park, Glasnevin.  There were the usual Green Finches, Chaffinches and a Bull Finch. At the Botanic Gardens today there was a  large flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare. Also at the Bots there was a beautiful male Bullfinch.Thanks Ger!

150 Pied Wagtails roosting on the corner or Bachelors Walk and O'Connell St.

11 January 2007

Small flock of Redpolls outside the Civic Offices, Winetaven Street. Thanks  Patricia!

10 January 2007 

Roseate Tern seen  again today on west pier Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Thanks Gerald!

7 January 2007

 30 Mediterranean Gulls and a Purple Sandpiper at Sandycove. 2 Great Northern Divers in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, from the East Pier. On the Bull Island, 2 Peregrine Falcons and 1 Little Egret. There was another Little Egret at Mount Argus church grounds Kimmage. At Rogerstown the  Red-throated Pipit was again seen together with 50 Tree Sparrows and a Merlin.

Turnstones - Photo- Bill Quinn

6 January 2007 - Dublin Bird Race Day

For those who dont know, the Bird Race is a competition to see who can find the most birds in Co. Dublin in a day.  Niall Keogh has sent us a list of the rare and scarcer birds seen so we bring you an extended and exciting report for today.   A total of 120 species were seen in Dublin in one day!!

8 teams of 4 took part. The winning team which included Niall was called the  Southside Swifts with a score of 105 and a half (half being Water Rail heard at Knock Lake!). 

Water Rail, Kingfisher and a Little Egret were all seen at Booterstown
Marsh.
1 adult Ring-billed Gull at Sandymount Strand. (3 different adults there in
the past week.)
A Peregrine at Sean Moore Park.
Adult Roseate Tern in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, from the East Pier.
2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull at Bullock Harbour.
2 Ravens and a Fulmar were at Vico Road, Killiney.
Chiffchaff by the river at the start of the walkway behind Supervalu at
Deansgrange.
Female Brambling with c.150 Chaffinches in an estate at Cabinteely.
Treecreeper at Cabinteely Park.
2 Dippers at Brides Glen, Loughlinstown.
A Jay was seen on the M50 alongside Marley Park.
Female Blue-winged Teal, adult Ring-billed Gull and a Carrion Crow were at the Bull island

Blue Winged Teal - Photo Eric Dempsey 

A Common Sandpiper was at Balscadden, Howth.
Gannet and Kittiwake were seen out to sea from Howth also.
A flock of c.40 Stock Doves were found in a field on the back roads between
Baldoyle and Swords.
A Ruff was at Broadmeadows and the Long-tailed Duck was in Swords Estuary.
At the north side of Rogerstown there was the Red-throated Pipit, a Lapland
Bunting, a Slavonian Grebe, c.50 Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammer, Merlin and 2
Buzzards.
A female Eider and Purple Sandpiper were at Skerries.
2 Velvet Scoter were seen off Balbriggan.

Long-tailed Tits, Kestrel, Blackcap and Redwing were all noted as being
common or widespread, whereas Redpoll was rare on the day. No Greylag Geese
or Black Redstarts were seen.

5 January 2007

Male Blackcap on Ailesbury Road. Thanks to Gerald Frank

4 January 2007

Slavonian Grebe at Rogerstown as was the Red-throated Pipit! At Swords 15 Pochard, Red-breasted Mergansers, Goldeneye and Great-crested Grebe. On the Bull, Carrion Crow and the Blue-winged Teal still present. Yellow-legged Gull ( atlantis type) at Merrion gates. This bird was also seen by Noel Keogh on 27 December 2006.

Good numbers of finches in Clondalkin and Howth. Thanks Heather and Anne 

7 Waxwings beside the Casement Road roundabout, North road, Finglas, D 11. after 
lunch today. Big thank-you to Joe Doolan for this very special Tolka BIRD report.

6 Redpolls off Winetavern Street at 9.20 this morning - Patricia, thank you for this report! One male and one female Blackcap in a Navan road garden. On the uppr Glen Road car park in the Phoenix Park an amazing sighting of 135 Hooded Crows with no other Corvids present.Thanks Dermot!

2 January 2007

Carrion Crow still on Bull Island

1 January 2007

One Redpoll at the peanut feeder in Heather's garden in Howth - a first sighting there this winter season.

On the Wexford Wildfowl reserve there were 2 Snow Geese, Pink-footed Geese, a female Gargany  and a Great Northern Diver present. Thanks Brian !

THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS DURING OUR FIRST MONTH ON THE INTERNET!

Eugene Archer, Lorraine Benson, Eoin Bairead, Eric Dempsey, Geraldine Fisk, Kieran Grace, Sean Hogan, Paul Kelly, Nial Keogh, Anna Lloyd, Oscar Merne, Gerard Phillips,Patricia Price, Heather Quinn. 

31 December 2006

1 Peregrine Falcon on the Central Bank, Dame Street and 2 Song Thrushes in Temple Bar.  

30 December 2006

Two Chiffchaffs seen at Poolbeg this afternoon. At Swords this morning there were 90 Goldeneye, 1050 Golden Plover,13 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Pochard, 385 Lapwing and 1580 Brent Geese ( counted in 3 locations at Swords, the largest number 1,450 on the winter wheat field at Corballis) . At dusk this evening there were 11,645 Black-headed Gulls at Sandymount at low tide.

Rogerstown  - Slavonian Grebe seen from the north side of Rogerstown.thanks Sean . Blackcap present all week in Harolds Cross Garden. Eoin Bairead ( sorry Eoin - Microsoft, where are your fadas??) 

26 December 2006

There is a Ruff at Swords and the very rare Red-throated Pipit found by Paul Kelly  - a big Christmas treat -  and reported on BINS on Christmas Eve, is still around the Rogerstown dump area today. You can see a photograph of this bird on Paul's website www.irishbirdimages.com

The Blue-winged Teal has returned to the Bull Island. It's quite a well-marked female with a very obvious pale facial spot. It can be seen between the Causeway and the Wooden Bridge. Also on the Bull was a Carrion Crow showing extremely well along the causeway and a colour-ringed Brent Goose fitted with a satellite transmitter. This individual, called Orville, was on the grassy verge just beyond the sea scouts building along the Bull Wall. It has been present for two weeks. More info at http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/birds/supergoose/meet/orville.shtml Thanks to Eugene for this report and photo.

24 December 2006

15-20 Waxwings seen flying overhead in Glasnevin. Look out - they must have landed somewhere!! Dublinbirding anxiously awaits further sightings of our BIRD! 

23 December 2006

At Kilcoole today there were 18 Red-throated, 1 Great Northern and 1 Black-throated Divers, 44 Whooper Swans, 417 Brent Geese, 650 Wigeon.

22 December 2006

4 Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Purple Sandpipers today at Sandycove. And it was a beautiful day in Dublin today! 

21 December 2006

Barn Own was seen in Glasnevin this evening and a Blackcap continues to be seen in a Glasnevin garden.

In Dundalk Bay today there were 11,765 Oystercatchers, 8,565 Golden Plover, 3,215 Lapwing,1260 Black- tailed Godwits, 2,425 Knot, 1,070 Curlews, 975 Bar-tailed Godwits.

20 December 2006

Up to 20 Redpols were reported on the South Quays around the Civic Offices during the week commencing 11 December. Thanks to Patricia Price.  

19 December 2006

Male and female Blackcap in Shankill garden.

18 December 2006

Dun Laoghaire Harbour : No sign of the Siberian Chiffchaff at the base of
the West Pier - this bird was seen first on 17 December and reported on BINS. Thanks to the Keoghs. Female Blackcap, c.15 Long-tailed Tits and a few Goldcrests were with the roving Tit flock in this general area. Scotsman's Bay/Sandycove : Adult Roseate Tern still present along with 13
Mediterranean Gulls, 6 Purple Sandpipers, a Great-Northern Diver and 8
Siskins.

17 December 2006

 6,150 Golden Plover at Swords at dusk.

Two Peregrine Falcons seen from the causeway on Bull Island. One Peregrine Falcon on the Central Bank in Dame Street. 

16 December 2006

100+ Pied Wagtails roosting on Bachelors Walk. 

12 December 2006

Adult Roseate Tern on the rocks at Sandycove today ( bird in the area since 30 Nov. 2006) Great Northern Diver at Scotsmans Bay. Carrion Crow and Hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow at Sandymount Strand together with 11 Mediterranean Gulls. At Booterstown Marsh 2 Little Egrets and 110 Black-tailed Godwits.  Meanwhile at Poolbeg 2 Great Northern Divers and a female Long-tailed Duck were seen today. Thanks Niall et al.

A Spotted Redshank and a Ruff at Rogerstown today. At Swords there were 9 Great Crested Grebes and a Buzzard. 

10 December 2006

Some Dubs were out of town today and reported 2 Slavonian Grebes with Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe together on Lough Owel. Thanks Anna et al. Hope you had a good day!

9 December 2006

Carrion Crow seen from causeway on the Bull Island. A Slavonian Grebe In Swords Estuary and Redwings reported in Sandymount gardens.

7 December 2006

Female Blue-winged Teal on the Bull Island. Thanks to Gerard Philips and Brenda for this report.

6 December 2006
Reports of Blackcaps in gardens from Howth to Shankill.

5 December 2006
17,000 Black-headed Gulls on Sandymount Strand at dusk today!

2 December 2006
Lesser Scaup with Greater Scaup, Tufted Ducks and Pochard today at a windy
Knock Lake ( off the M1, take Balbriggan exit)
Sparrowhawk at Albert College, Glasnevin.

November Highlights –Dublin

Nov 30^th – The Lesser Scaup continues to be showing well at Knock Lake

Nov 29^th – Lesser Scaup still present at Knock Lake

Nov 28^th – Lesser Scaup still present at Knock Lake

Nov 27^th – A female duck, present at Knock Lake for the previous two weeks and under suspicion as being something unusual for several days was photographed well today and, from the shots, was identified as Dublin’s first ever Lesser Scaup. This is a North American species and was with the Tufted Ducks. There was also a female Scaup present which allowed great comparisons to be made. The Lesser Scaup is much smaller, with a narrow white border to the bill, a very pointed head shape and showing a neat black tip to the bill.

26^th Nov – Swords continues to hold three Slavonian Grebes with up to 40 Great Crested Grebes also present. Also at Swords were good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers and a Kingfisher. At Rogerstown, a Spotted Redshank and two Ruff were also seen. 2 Red-breasted Mergansers close to the Causeway on Bull Island. 30+  Pintail Duck and large flocks of Knot also present.

 25 November 2006
Red-throated Diver in Howth Harbour
A dark-bellied Brent was on the outer estuary at Rogerstown

Nov 24^th – A dark-bellied Brent was on the flooded field at Rogerstown

23 November 2006

Reports of Blackcaps in gardens in Glasnevin and Shankill.
Two Slavonian Grebes at Swords and a female Eider off the shelter at Skerries up to 40 Purple Sandpipers also present.
  

Nov 22^nd – a large owl, originally considered to be an escaped Eagle Owl was seen well at Dalkey and re-identified as a Great Horned Owl. The fact that the bird is so tame (seen close to people’s houses) suggests it too is an escape. GH Owls are from North America and are usually resident (they do not migrate very far) so the chances of this bird being a genuinely wild bird is very remote.

Nov 21^st – An Eagle Owl was seen around houses at Dalkey. This is most likely an escaped bird.

Nov 20^th – One Slavonian Grebe is still present at Swords

Nov 19^th – Up to 25 Little Egrets and a Carrion Crow are on the North Bull. A remarkable report is of a Jack Snipe seen in a garden in Rathmines…possibly blown in by the stormy weather conditions.

18 November 2006
One  Peregrine Falcon and two Grey Wagtails at the east end of Temple Bar

 At Rogerstown, a Spotted Redshank and a dark-bellied Brent were seen with a Slavonian Grebe and a Long-tailed Duck at Swords. 

Nov 14^th - At Rogerstown, two dark-bellied Brent were seen on the outer estuary with a Slavonian Grebe and a Long-tailed Duck at Swords. 

Nov 12^th – a very late Swallow was seen flying south past Balbriggan while at Rogerstown, a Hen Harrier and three dark-bellied Brent were seen. Three Slavonian Grebes and a Long-tailed Duck were at Swords while on the North Bull, 67 Little Egrets were seen together. This is the highest count yet recorded in Dublin.

Nov 5^th – A dark-bellied Brent was seen today at Donabate.

Nov 4^th – A Short-eared Owl was seen off Skerries.

October 2006 – Highlights of Dublin Bird Sightings

Oct 1st: A Pectoral Sandpiper was reported at Rogerstown.

Oct 2nd: A male Velvet Scoter and a female Goosander were found with the Red-breasted Mergansers at Swords.

Oct 7th: The Velvet Scoter was still present with the Red-breasted Mergansers at Swords while a Snow Bunting was on the South Wall.

Oct 8th: The Velvet Scoter was seen again at Swords.

Oct15th: An early Great Northern Diver was seen at Dun Laoghaire West pier while Redwings were noted flying over several parts of south Dublin during the night of 15^th/16^th. 

Oct 16^th: A Carrion Crow was reported on the North Bull Island.

Oct 18^th: Two Ring Ouzels were seen on Howth Head with a Spotted Redshank and a Hen Harrier at Rogerstown.

 Oct 19^th: Two Spotted Redshanks and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Rogerstown with a Ring Ouzel still on Howth.

 Oct 22^nd: An amazing total of 46 Little Egrets were seen on the North Bull Island. Three Ruff, a Spotted Redshank and a hybrid Wigeon (possibly an offspring of a male American Wigeon/female Wigeon) were at Rogerstown. A Kingfisher also showed very well from the south hide. At Swords up to 50 Great Crested Grebes were seen.

Oct 23rd: Up to eight Mediterranean Gulls were at Sandymount.

Oct 25^th: On the North Bull Island up to 32 Little Egrets and two Mediterranean Gulls were present.

Oct 29^th: The female Hen Harrier was seen again at Rogerstown Estuary.

September 2006 – Highlights of Dublin Bird Sightings

Sept 1^st: A single Ruff was at Swords

Sept 2^nd: 9 Green Sandpipers and 6 Curlew Sandpipers at Rogerstown with a Green Sandpiper also noted on the North Bull Island. A Pomarine Skua, 10 Arctic Skuas, a Mediterranean Shearwater and a Black Tern were also seen off Skerries.

Sept 5^th: An adult Yellow-legged Gull, 19 Little Egrets and 3 Green Sandpipers were at Rogerstown with 2 Ruff at Swords.

Sept 6^th: A high count of 43 Mediterranean Gulls were at Sandycove.

Sept 7^th: A Black Tern was seen on the North Bull Island.

Sept 10^th: A Green Sandpiper was at Rogerstown, while 3 Black Terns were seen off Balbriggan and 28 Little Egrets were on the North Bull Island.

Sept 13^th: At the pools at Rogerstown, a Pectoral Sandpiper was found. Also present were 2 Spotted Redshanks, 5 Curlew Sandpipers and 2 Green Sandpipers.

Sept 14^th: A Corncrake was seen at Rogerstown, with the Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpipers and 3 Curlew Sandpipers also seen. A Dipper was also seen on the Tolka River, Glasnevin.

Sept 16^th: 31 Little Egrets, 2 Green Sandpipers and 3 Spotted Redshanks were at Rogerstown.

Sept 17^th: A Little Stint was at Swords

Sept 19^th: 3 Green Sandpipers were at Rogerstown with a Ruff at Swords.

Sept 20^th: 3 Green Sandpipers were at Rogerstown.

Sept 21^st: A new Pectoral Sandpiper was seen on the flooded fields at Rogerstown.

Sept 22^nd: 15 Arctic and 3 Great Skuas along with a Black Tern were seen off Bullock Harbour.

Sept 23^rd: A Ruff and a Kingfisher were at Swords. In Rogerstown, 5 Curlew Sandpipers and 4 Green Sandpipers were seen. A seawatch by Tolka Branch members produced 1 Pomarine and 22 Arctic Skuas, 2 Leach’s Petrels, 2 Goosanders, 5 Little Gulls and a Black Tern. Seawatching off Dalkey produced 10 Arctic, 1 Pomarine and 1 Great Skua, 2 Mediterranean and 2 Sooty Shearwaters and a Little Gull with 2 Arctic Skuas and 4 Black Terns at Sandycove. 

Sept 26^th: 3 Green Sandpipers and 6 Curlew Sandpipers  were at Rogerstown.  A Kingfisher was again seen at Swords and a ‘dark-hooded’ Yellow-legged Gull seen off Howth.

Sept 28^th: 3 Black Terns and a Little Stint at Sandymount

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