Mabel
Tuesday 23rd January 2007, 16:28
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=76422
^^
That trip was yesterday. Today, I was supposed to go to Malahide, but I found myself an opportunity to go to the famous Bull Island nature reserve. So, of course I availed of it!
Technically my birding day began in my garden, with the usual crowd of Jackdaws, Magpies, Chaffinches, Starlings, a beautiful female Blackcap, courting Blackbirds our Robin and even a few Black-headed Gulls in the fields nearby.
On the way out of Portmarnock, the estuary was a "full house" of very well-fed Mallard, a huge flock of Black-headed Gulls, a few Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, one Greater Black-back, and a Glaucous Gull flew overhead, unsettling the few Brent Geese and Jackdaws who were availing of the bits of bread passers-by fling at the birds. Moving on, Teal, Purple Sandpipers, Turnstones, Golden Plover, (first one of '07) Oystercatchers and a Little Egret could be seen in the marsh. Bull Island was looking to be worthwhile, if this is what's going on in Portmarnock!
I arrived in Bull Island, and walked through the heart of the place. It is a place of sand dunes, marram grass, grassland and sandy beach. The place was very quiet. Scores of Magpies roved about, and a lone Raven added a truly ominous feel to the place. The nestboxes put out for the Kestrels were devoid of the falcons, but the Magpies were checking them out. Rook were found on the beach itself, and there was evidence (but no sightings) of Irish Hare, Rabbit and Foxes. I did, however spot several yearly firsts, including Redpoll, Skylark and Meadow Pipit. I decided to go along the causeway, since in Winter, that's where the real action is. My approach was followed by sightings of Hooded Crows, an excitable Blackbird and Jackdaws. The mudflats and marshes did not disappoint, either. The marshes held Gulls, Lapwing, Curlew, Pintail, Oystercatcher, Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, and a very loud Redshank, which alerted everyone of my presence. On the water itself, there were Curlew, more Gulls, Shelduck, Pintail, Pale-bellied Brent Geese and Teal.
Upon leaving the reserve, I got one Carrion Crow (among Hooded Crows), Woodpigeon and Feral Pigeon. Following a pointer on the thread linked above, I went to the stubble field at the Mayne Road, where I saw my FIRST EVER Yellowhammer-what a lifer! I returned home to an all-to-familiar garden, now with a whole flock of Greenfinches and a Blue Tit. The weather was cold, but I am a happy man it has to be said! Tomorrow, I shall try Malahide. I suspect that I will find much of the same but you never know!
Today's yearly additions:
51. (European) Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
52. (Common) Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)
53. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone corone)
54. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
55. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
56. (Common) Skylark (Alaudia arvensis)
57. (Northern) Pintail (Anas acuta)
58. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
Yours (for today and always)
Mabel
^^
That trip was yesterday. Today, I was supposed to go to Malahide, but I found myself an opportunity to go to the famous Bull Island nature reserve. So, of course I availed of it!
Technically my birding day began in my garden, with the usual crowd of Jackdaws, Magpies, Chaffinches, Starlings, a beautiful female Blackcap, courting Blackbirds our Robin and even a few Black-headed Gulls in the fields nearby.
On the way out of Portmarnock, the estuary was a "full house" of very well-fed Mallard, a huge flock of Black-headed Gulls, a few Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, one Greater Black-back, and a Glaucous Gull flew overhead, unsettling the few Brent Geese and Jackdaws who were availing of the bits of bread passers-by fling at the birds. Moving on, Teal, Purple Sandpipers, Turnstones, Golden Plover, (first one of '07) Oystercatchers and a Little Egret could be seen in the marsh. Bull Island was looking to be worthwhile, if this is what's going on in Portmarnock!
I arrived in Bull Island, and walked through the heart of the place. It is a place of sand dunes, marram grass, grassland and sandy beach. The place was very quiet. Scores of Magpies roved about, and a lone Raven added a truly ominous feel to the place. The nestboxes put out for the Kestrels were devoid of the falcons, but the Magpies were checking them out. Rook were found on the beach itself, and there was evidence (but no sightings) of Irish Hare, Rabbit and Foxes. I did, however spot several yearly firsts, including Redpoll, Skylark and Meadow Pipit. I decided to go along the causeway, since in Winter, that's where the real action is. My approach was followed by sightings of Hooded Crows, an excitable Blackbird and Jackdaws. The mudflats and marshes did not disappoint, either. The marshes held Gulls, Lapwing, Curlew, Pintail, Oystercatcher, Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, and a very loud Redshank, which alerted everyone of my presence. On the water itself, there were Curlew, more Gulls, Shelduck, Pintail, Pale-bellied Brent Geese and Teal.
Upon leaving the reserve, I got one Carrion Crow (among Hooded Crows), Woodpigeon and Feral Pigeon. Following a pointer on the thread linked above, I went to the stubble field at the Mayne Road, where I saw my FIRST EVER Yellowhammer-what a lifer! I returned home to an all-to-familiar garden, now with a whole flock of Greenfinches and a Blue Tit. The weather was cold, but I am a happy man it has to be said! Tomorrow, I shall try Malahide. I suspect that I will find much of the same but you never know!
Today's yearly additions:
51. (European) Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
52. (Common) Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)
53. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone corone)
54. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
55. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
56. (Common) Skylark (Alaudia arvensis)
57. (Northern) Pintail (Anas acuta)
58. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
Yours (for today and always)
Mabel