[squidge]

I've emailed both Collon and Drogheda animal centres. No reply yet from Collon but Drogheda animal rescue have a number for somebody who takes in wild birds.

Ger.

[Dolce]

White bird at lower shore again and query one poor photo of one of 6 plain browny birds feeding on shore before flew away. Also either Chiffchaff or Willow warbler in briars close to my house where I actually saw 4 dancing around and so many lovely juvenile Starlings just about walking and no more. I saw at least 3 more think Willow warblers in Daisyhill woods as so so tiny and two stunning male Bullfinches. Also saw heaps of House martins near St.Malachys primary school and quite a few Swallows flying so low I thought they flew out of stones in ditches. Nearby I noticed a very large old stone hay loft with galvanised roof where think they were all flying from or around it definitely.

[breffni]

Hi dolce
these are a little egret, little egret, wagtail, willow warbler and not sure (a juv starling?but seems early...) the brown birds on shore are likely to be something like linnets, who often forage seeds and stuff washed up on the tideline...

[breffni]

i had what ia ssume was a red kite (deeply forked tail) flying over carlingford about 6:30 pm yesterday - bird flew over the mountain towards glenmore...

[Dolce]

Originally Posted by breffni

Hi dolce
these are a little egret, little egret, wagtail, willow warbler and not sure (a juv starling?but seems early...) the brown birds on shore are likely to be something like linnets, who often forage seeds and stuff washed up on the tideline...

The little erget is a new bird for me to see so nice. I have plenty of juvenile starlings from yesterday just and probably same ones I saw so close to here across road in fields with willow warblers. I knew they were just learning to fly and falling over themselves. I saw first juvenile robin yesterday and juvenile blackbird also but saw a very flecked so query juvenile coal tit here a week ago. Also saw 2 definite Linnets up on grassy/wild flower verge at entrance of here. Only have pics juvenile robin and sparrows and last is chaffinch but bit different from rest of mine.

[squidge]

Went out for a bit today, Good numbers of Yellowhammers and whitethroats around Dunany and Salterstown, Sedge warbler also at Salterstown, Treecreepers at Beaulieu and grasshopper warblers reeling at Clogherhead. I've noticed a big drop in Willow warbler numbers compared to last year.

Ger.

[breffni]

First swifts seen at greenore on the 24th May - can't remember when they came last year - the 20th? Two fulmar nests are incubating in king johns castle in greenore. Ravens fledged at slievenaglogh...

[squidge]

I see there is a new bird watching facility at Dundalk. Well done to everyone involved especially in these austere times. Hopefully it will be put to good use.

Ger.

[Dolce]

I saw my first 5 Swifts last friday over fields on Meadow side of hospital and on sunday 27 May saw at least 8 plain brown Swifts actually with my binoculars (nice to be definite) over fields close to Lower Shore Omeath. There were also plenty of Swallows flying very low with them, also quite a few of a very puzzling bird with sort of stripey black and white wings also flying very low. I could not figure out what they might be even with binoculars .... was in fields next to sea and about size of Collared Dove at least. I think sea birds as have never seen them around here. Wonder what birds might be flying very low with Swallows over fields with cows grazing.

[Dolce]

Also forgot to say the Cuckoo is back in Park hotel woods Omeath this couple weeks at least. Now was it cows or sheep grazing in the field I saw the larger birds with black and white wings flying so low with the Swallows ... I know the field.

[Steve29]

Saw Barn Owl flying over the railway bridge on the Ardee Road at 12.20am last night. Flew into the Bus Eireann garage on the left hand side as you leave town.

[Mr Hornblower]

They're nesting at last (Blue Tits) In my home made box (3 year old) that I nailed to the top of my 6 foot garden wall, I heard the hatchlings and waited, peering through the bushes that have grown over and around the box (most probably why they feel safe enough to nest) and then a young enough looking Blue Tit landed on a nearby twig, popped in fed and then out again - Wonderful !

[Dolce]

There are three Red Kites soaring over my house presently. I heard very high unusual sounds, then saw them and went to check sound of both Buzzard and Red Kite and pretty certain Red Kite sounds (also from the shape of them.) I saw one flying regularly over here this couple of weeks, then saw two of them over Daisyhill woods a week past. Finally today I saw three of them for first time. Now they are soaring very high and very large outstretched wings with clear white area can be seen. The sounds of them are beautiful.

[Steve29]

Buzzard and skylark today along M1 where Ardee Road goes over the motorway. Skylarks - 2 adults and 2 fledglings.

[Dolce]

Originally Posted by Mr Hornblower

They're nesting at last (Blue Tits) In my home made box (3 year old) that I nailed to the top of my 6 foot garden wall, I heard the hatchlings and waited, peering through the bushes that have grown over and around the box (most probably why they feel safe enough to nest) and then a young enough looking Blue Tit landed on a nearby twig, popped in fed and then out again - Wonderful !

I finally saw 2 juvenile Blue Tits in my garden feeding on peanuts couple days ago plus saw more in woods. They seemed to be late with their juveniles this year. I had a very early Robin juvenile but found 2 pale blue empty shells (believe Robins) in my garden dropped weeks past so perhaps only it survived so early. I see a lot of juvenile Robins about in woods now. Also saw two gorgeous Goldcrest in woods, believe several tiny browny birds with them were juveniles also. You cannot miss seeing Bullfinches, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow warblers as so many of them about. Also heard Sedge warblers.

[gerry k]

hi, sorry for not posting any thing in a long time but I have been busy with my main passtime fishing, which leads me to one of the most fantastic sites i have ever seen. I was out fishing on a boat in loch lene collinstown co westmeath when I seen an osprey not 500 yards in front of me it dived and missed a fish and came around again and got a trout second time around. this is only the 3rd time Ihave seen one of these birds and never seen one hunting. I seen this bird at about 8pm yesterday 27th, Gerry.

[breffni]

great osprey record - this is very interesting because we are well outside any normal osprey migration period making the osprey unlikely to be a passage bird - hmmm

[breffni]

four adult and two juv roseate terns at cooley point at the mo - interesting to note that one of the juvs is not ringed - could they be breeding somewhere other than rockabill?

also when it rains with a bit of easterly, esp rain in the middle of the irish sea, storm petrols may be seen distantly offshore.

[squidge]

I was able to get out today for a couple of hours. Plenty of juveniles about including Great, Blue and coal tits. Goldcrest,LTT and Blackcap families in Beaulieu. Families of Yellowhammer and Spotted flycatcher around the Dunany area. 200 plus common scoter off Annagassan, 3 seperate Buzzards and one Sparrowhawk hunting on my travels. I've noticed a lack of Kestrels compared to last year.

Ger.

[breffni]

Around 80 roseates hanging around the balaggan point/cooley point area - a dozen or so juvs. Also good numbers of kittiwake juvs. Yesterday a dark morph skua far out at sea...

[Dolce]

Not great pictures of birds of prey that I think are Red Kites again over my house, actually three and one a juvenile as smaller. I love the very high pitched nice haunting sounds they make, you actually hear them before you notice them. They were much lower but moved by time I got camera. Think juvenile on left in second photo. Also the last pics of an alarmed bird when a flock of juvenile Starlings desended out of blue over his head. This is second time recently I saw a bird rolling over like this when afraid, think its to scare of another bird.

[Dolce]

Maybe they are Buzzards as just noticing Steves photo but didnt think they sounded like Buzzards though.

[Steve29]

Hi Dolce I think they are buzzards. Kite has forked tail. Not sure of the bird on the left of the second photo - looks smaller and whiter but not sure of colour with the way the light hits it.

Not sure what the House Sparrow is doing in the photo but i think if it was startled it would be more likely for it to take flight. Could this bird be dusting itself - tho it seems like its a hard surface than a dusty surface. Could it be 'anting' either?

[Dolce]

Originally Posted by Steve29

Hi Dolce I think they are buzzards. Kite has forked tail. Not sure of the bird on the left of the second photo - looks smaller and whiter but not sure of colour with the way the light hits it.

Not sure what the House Sparrow is doing in the photo but i think if it was startled it would be more likely for it to take flight. Could this bird be dusting itself - tho it seems like its a hard surface than a dusty surface. Could it be 'anting' either?

Thanks, yes I think Buzzards now too and think its the end of the Buzzard sounds drawn out that Im hearing being carried far down to here and perhaps echoing a little or both adults calling. Its a nice eerie sound. I never noticed the smaller one being very white so must be the light. I saw ants near here on road so probably in my garden too. I saw a sparrow doing the same on the Canal towpath very recently and it is rather odd to watch them.
I saw heaps of Swifts flying noticeably very low and screeching a lot near old high enough houses in town. Then for the first time ever I saw them actually flying in and out of nests in cracks and holes in walls up near roof and lower down the walls around 11am. Im guessing young inside perhaps and feeding them. Talk about getting a birds eye view of these fascinating birds. Again like last year there are heaps of lovely swallows swooping in fields around here.

[Enda]

Wildlife images from the Cooley Peninsula photographic Exhibition during Heritage week in association with Cooley tourism.Admission is free and everyone is welcome