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County Louth (formerly Dundalk Bay) local patch. (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter breffni
- Start date
It will be interesting to see how things progress (must get some sort of periscope to keep an eye on things) - i guess if they succeed in not breaking the eggs and they get to hatching, the nestlings should be OK...
At Mulahattin saturday grasshopper warbler, blackcap, chiffchaff and willow warblers - also redpoll breeding in the area (i had not seen redpoll there before)...
Enda had two 1W little gulls at lurgangreen yesterday, later seen between the bridges in dundalk opposite the old dump.
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Was only a couple of feet from this wee blackbird yesterday before I noticed it, too tame for it's own good! My garden isn't doing too badly for a town garden as far as nesting goes, there are 2 pairs of blue tits, 1 pair of coal tits, a pair of robins and a pair of blackbirds in the hedges, the robins being the only ones to use a nestbox, and countless house sparrows in the roof.
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gareth2005
Well-known member
Have a similar problem with an adult Blackbird in my garden. It runs around the garden, as close as a foot or 2 to you. Seems perfectly healthy though. None of the nest boxes I put up have been used this year, there only up since January to maybe next year.
I have a hedgehog in the garden which I found the dog trying to play with one night! not bad for a town centre garden
I have a hedgehog in the garden which I found the dog trying to play with one night! not bad for a town centre garden
At Mell Quarry today I noticed a fulmar back in a crevice in the wall of the quarry. I only saw one in the time I was there but I assume it was one of the pair that was there last year. It will be interesting to see if they nest this year. I've attached an extremely poor photo, it's tricky taking photos at an angle through the railings! Couldn't find the ring necked duck today but there were plenty of other birds around including this nesting great crested grebe.
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Gerry o Neill
Well-known member
Gerry o Neill
Well-known member
Little Tern Protection Scheme Baltray
Just wanted to give an update on how things are going out at Baltray.
The little terns began to arrive at Baltray in mid April. The highest count to date was last Monday when there were 34+ present. They have been displaying - offering fish to each other etc, and checking out potential nesting areas on the shingle. This is very early so we have had to get the ball rolling earlier than expected.
We have put up some fence posts and signs around the potential nesting area, some of the signs indicating the presence of ground nesting birds, and others informing about the little tern project. This weekend we intend to attach string to the posts to create a cordon.
The NPWS have agreed to fund fencing which was fantastic news - a chicken wire fence with electric fencing outside it. This will be erected next week. A JCB will be on site on Wednesday to dig the trench and insert the posts. That evening (and the following evening if necessary) the rest of the work will need to be completed by volunteers - attaching the chicken wire to the posts and filling in the trench. We will need as many volunteers as possible that evening. If anyone is free please come along, and bring any other willing people you can find along with you. Bring a shovel or hammer, or both. You can email [email protected], or PM me, or phone or text me on 086 8625901. Also, if anyone is free during that day Tommy will be helping the man with the JCB and could do with extra help if possible.
Once the fencing is up we will need volunteer wardens present as much of the time as possible. Again, if there's anyone out there that would have any time whatsoever to spare and if you haven't already contacted me please let me know. And thanks to everyone who has come forward so far!
Just wanted to give an update on how things are going out at Baltray.
The little terns began to arrive at Baltray in mid April. The highest count to date was last Monday when there were 34+ present. They have been displaying - offering fish to each other etc, and checking out potential nesting areas on the shingle. This is very early so we have had to get the ball rolling earlier than expected.
We have put up some fence posts and signs around the potential nesting area, some of the signs indicating the presence of ground nesting birds, and others informing about the little tern project. This weekend we intend to attach string to the posts to create a cordon.
The NPWS have agreed to fund fencing which was fantastic news - a chicken wire fence with electric fencing outside it. This will be erected next week. A JCB will be on site on Wednesday to dig the trench and insert the posts. That evening (and the following evening if necessary) the rest of the work will need to be completed by volunteers - attaching the chicken wire to the posts and filling in the trench. We will need as many volunteers as possible that evening. If anyone is free please come along, and bring any other willing people you can find along with you. Bring a shovel or hammer, or both. You can email [email protected], or PM me, or phone or text me on 086 8625901. Also, if anyone is free during that day Tommy will be helping the man with the JCB and could do with extra help if possible.
Once the fencing is up we will need volunteer wardens present as much of the time as possible. Again, if there's anyone out there that would have any time whatsoever to spare and if you haven't already contacted me please let me know. And thanks to everyone who has come forward so far!
I'll try to get there Wednesday 9th May. On Thursday noted five little terns circling the nesting area, also dozens of sanderling, dunlin, knot, turnstone, oystercatcher etc on the shoreline...
We also got the black guillemot nesting boxes out onto the breakwater at Greenore. Along balaggan, sedge warblers in song, big influx of swallows last week and the first few housemartins. Northern wheatears coming through. No sign of a swift yet...
Unfortunately the nesting site of the peregrines in the Glenmore valley has been once again abandoned...fourth year in a row.
Peter Phillips
Well-known member
I might have a look for it on tuesday, I was planning a trip to Baltray. I assume its a male?
Great shots from the trip Gerry!
Yes it was a male garganey. Didn't get a chance today to look for it along the river, no sign of it at the beach.
That's brilliant Breffni. The response has been quite good so far but I'm still looking for more volunteers.... many hands etc.
Gerry, those shots are excellent, sounded like it was a well worthwhile trip.
Whitethroats and sedge warblers at balaggan/whitestown saturday. Owlets calling as early as 7pm at Mulahattin where at least 14 willow warblers singing and at least two blackcaps, a few chiffchaffs and at least two grasshopper warblers - woodcock roding from around 9pm (maybe earlier - only saw one)...might do an outing up there some evening this week or next?
Wader pics from Baltray shoreline....
Wader pics from Baltray shoreline....
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Sounds like a good idea. Next week might be better as tomorrow evening the fencing work at Baltray will be happening, and that might extend to Thursday evening for some of us depending how it goes.
Peter Phillips
Well-known member
Cuckoo and Whitethraot in Ardee Bog
Baltray
We got the chicken wire fence up in Baltray yesterday. In dreadful conditions volunteers still turned out and put in an excellent evening's work without a word of complaint. Thankfully the weather cleared up eventually but it was tough going for a while. A big thanks to everyone who turned out, Tommy and Margaret (who worked from morning till sunset), Peter, Breffni, Chris Honan, Kieran Campbell, Patricia and Len Johnson, Rosemary Seaman and Brendan.
We aim to get the electric fencing up on Friday evening. This work won't be back breaking but will be time consuming so again all volunteers will be welcome.
We got the chicken wire fence up in Baltray yesterday. In dreadful conditions volunteers still turned out and put in an excellent evening's work without a word of complaint. Thankfully the weather cleared up eventually but it was tough going for a while. A big thanks to everyone who turned out, Tommy and Margaret (who worked from morning till sunset), Peter, Breffni, Chris Honan, Kieran Campbell, Patricia and Len Johnson, Rosemary Seaman and Brendan.
We aim to get the electric fencing up on Friday evening. This work won't be back breaking but will be time consuming so again all volunteers will be welcome.
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That was great progress yesterday at Baltray!
On the negative side, those peregrines have definately abandoned the site - no sign at all for a few days now - no reaction when approaching the nesting site. First swift over carlingford lough today. Still large numbers of whimbrel (several in my "garden" this morning) and foraging in the barley fields around the area.
On the negative side, those peregrines have definately abandoned the site - no sign at all for a few days now - no reaction when approaching the nesting site. First swift over carlingford lough today. Still large numbers of whimbrel (several in my "garden" this morning) and foraging in the barley fields around the area.
