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County Louth (formerly Dundalk Bay) local patch. (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter breffni
- Start date
I noticed on the NI thread that quite a few swifts have been seen up there. Anyone seen any here yet? I haven't.
One little tern on the beach at Baltray today and quite a few sandwich terns. The tide was in and it was quite high. There were a nice lot of waders around in summer plumage including sanderlings, turnstones, dunlins, and nesting ringed plovers.
It appeared this morning that one pair of little egrets might have been attempting to nest. This would be several weeks earlier than last year. The neighbouring heron didn't seem happy with it's new neighbour and there was a lot of squabbling going on, so I wouldn't be surprised if they don't stick it out. Some of the young herons look to be fledged or almost fledged and there are plenty of large nestlings still in nests.
One little tern on the beach at Baltray today and quite a few sandwich terns. The tide was in and it was quite high. There were a nice lot of waders around in summer plumage including sanderlings, turnstones, dunlins, and nesting ringed plovers.
It appeared this morning that one pair of little egrets might have been attempting to nest. This would be several weeks earlier than last year. The neighbouring heron didn't seem happy with it's new neighbour and there was a lot of squabbling going on, so I wouldn't be surprised if they don't stick it out. Some of the young herons look to be fledged or almost fledged and there are plenty of large nestlings still in nests.
Peter Phillips
Well-known member
ardnasx1 said:
I have not seen any swifts to date but am keeping my eyes peeled. I counted 238 Sanderling on the beach at baltray the other night also had a Common sandpiper at lurgangreen.
Keep an eye on the coast this weekend. some nice migrants starting to appear ion Cape Clear.
Peter
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gareth2005
Well-known member
breffni said:
That interesting, what do you think could be possible causes ? I have noticed a lack of Starlings in the garden compared to last year, but thought nothing of it.
Hard to say. Councils occasionally control urban feral pigeons using doped seed, they typically use a product called Alpha Chloralose - "sleepy crow", but have not done anything recently in Dundalk. Freelance poisoning is also a possibility. Flocking birds are also occasionally susceptable to various communicable diseases such as trichomonas or salmonella. I suppose its also possible that they have recently changed feeding habits away from seeds/rubbish and more towards insects/invertrebates to feed nestlings...gareth2005 said:
Peter Phillips
Well-known member
Red legged Partridge
I had a Red legged partridge in the garden today along with 10 Tree Sparrows. Visited Cortial lake. Between 6-8 Sedge Warblers in song and one new Grasshopper Warbler which gave excellent views.
Thousands of frogs at Cortial!
Peter
I had a Red legged partridge in the garden today along with 10 Tree Sparrows. Visited Cortial lake. Between 6-8 Sedge Warblers in song and one new Grasshopper Warbler which gave excellent views.
Thousands of frogs at Cortial!
Peter
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gareth2005
Well-known member
Was there much open bank space at available at Cortial? might give it a try for fishing some weekend, I heard it used to be great spot
Good night at the Spirit Store on Monday, both Breffni and Peter's talks were excellent.
On Sunday had my first common sandpiper, whimbrels and sedge warbler (heard) of the year at Hermitage. There was a willow warbler singing too. Wheatear at Cruisetown.
Later on at Lurgangreen there were 2 pairs of gadwalls. I think Enda had some there a month or two ago too.
Numbers of black guillemots at Clogherhead seem to be down a bit in the last few days. On Monday there was one in one of the new nest holes at the end of the pier.
On Sunday had my first common sandpiper, whimbrels and sedge warbler (heard) of the year at Hermitage. There was a willow warbler singing too. Wheatear at Cruisetown.
Later on at Lurgangreen there were 2 pairs of gadwalls. I think Enda had some there a month or two ago too.
Numbers of black guillemots at Clogherhead seem to be down a bit in the last few days. On Monday there was one in one of the new nest holes at the end of the pier.
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Peter Phillips
Well-known member
Hi Gareth,
Yes there is access to the shore. Cattle have grazed right to the shore at one location. Access through the fields at the southern end of the lake.
Peter
As laying time moves nearer they may be drawn into the cavities - it will be interesting to see - either way the council has again promised to spend more money next year improving the situation.
Caught up with the yellow wagtail at kilkool, and a passing whinchat last sunday. Big numbers of whimbril in, and still good numbers of white wagtails and the odd wheatear around Balaggan area, also nesting tree sparrows. The day there was fog (Tuesday?) there were a few manx shearwaters offshore. The pioneering sandmartins have now excavated at least 20 holes - most seem to be abandoned for one reason or another. It looks like 8 pairs so far. Yesterday they were gathering bits of straw and dried seaweed for nest lining:
Sandmartin timeline
12 April - no sandmartins
13 April - arrival 6 nesting holes
15 April - 11 nesting holes - 12 birds
22 April - 14 nesting holes - 16+ birds
26 April - about 20 nesting holes - 13 birds counted - collecting straw/dried seaweed - 8 holes definately occupied
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Had a look for sandmartins at the Curly Hole today (part of the Boyne along the Slane Rd opposite Townley Hall). There were at least 5 there and at least 3 active nest holes. The bank they nest in changes every year when the river rises in the winter and generally the previous year's holes more or less disappear.
Peter Phillips
Well-known member
gareth2005
Well-known member
First Swifts of the year spotted over Loch Ross Co.Monaghan on Saturday
Peter Phillips
Well-known member
Keenan's Pond
Visited Keenan's pond this afternoon. Saw one Common Sandpiper, 2 Whooper Swans, Mute Swans, GC Grebes, Little Grebes, Moorhen and Mallard.
Great to see the Little Terns at Baltray!!
Well done Peter to photograph the Sedge Warbler, we could hear one at Keenan's Pond, but couldn't see any.
Visited Keenan's pond this afternoon. Saw one Common Sandpiper, 2 Whooper Swans, Mute Swans, GC Grebes, Little Grebes, Moorhen and Mallard.
Great to see the Little Terns at Baltray!!
Well done Peter to photograph the Sedge Warbler, we could hear one at Keenan's Pond, but couldn't see any.
