[ardnasx1]

Originally Posted by Sancho

I'm going to stick my neck out and get myself into terrible trouble here, but on reflection I'd rather Wicklow news were posted on this Dublin thread.

My thoughts for what its worth - might it be an idea in that case to change the thread title to Dublin/Wicklow? So that other Wicklow birders will know that Wicklow is included in the thread? They changed the Louth title from Dundalk Bay to Co Louth so hopefully it wouldn't be a problem.

[razorsharp]

Well I will be at bull island on wednesday, what surprises may occur there, can anyone tell me? When is high tide, how do I find out these things? Thanks.

[Peter Phillips]

Originally Posted by razorsharp

Well I will be at bull island on wednesday, what surprises may occur there, can anyone tell me? When is high tide, how do I find out these things? Thanks.

Hi Razorsharp, For daily bird news in the Republic of Ireland Ring BINS 1550111700.

This is a link for tides. http://www.ireland.com/weather/tides.html

See map attached for best viewing (on Causeway). Either side is good. Probably best on a rising tide as the birds get pushed very close to the causeway and you get great views. There has been a female Blue winged Teal knocking about for the last couple of winters looking south of the causeway usually with Shoveler. I dont think its been seen for a while, but its worth a look. Also over the last couple of years there has been a Green winged Teal here. Also Carrion Crow and Ring billed Gull I have also seen Black Brant and Short billed Dowitcher from here. The Bull Island is one of the best sites in Dublin.

Also at the southern end of the map if you walk out over the wooden bridge (tide in) it can be good for sea duck and grebes sometimes. Red necked Grebe a few days ago across the southen side and Black necked Grebe a couple of years ago. Also sometimes Long tailed Duck and on the rocks at the very end sometimes Purple Sandpiper, but they are much rarer these days.

You cant go far wrong with Eric Dempsey/Michael O Cleary; new site guide to Ireland. But the name escapes me at the moment.

Sancho. I have never seen Twite on the Bull but this is were the Linnets normally are on the northern side. There is a narrow path along the back of the golf course. Your best bet is probably to get them on call. Best to listen to a tape before you go!

[Sancho]

Originally Posted by Peter Phillips

Sancho. I have never seen Twite on the Bull but this is were the Linnets normally are on the northern side. There is a narrow path along the back of the golf course. Your best bet is probably to get them on call. Best to listen to a tape before you go!

I've dipped at some of the best Twite sites in Ireland, and found myself staring at Linnets trying to wish them into Twite. People tell me once you see Twite, you'll know it's not Linnet...Managed to hear a Twite at Soldier's Point this winter, flying overhead with some Linnets, but it was a rotten day and I couldn't figure out which one was the Twite as they disappeared into the distance. I think I'll give the trip to the Bull tomorrow a miss unless I hear something more concrete, as I don't have time for a "proper" day on the Bull!

ardnasx1....I agree. In any case, half of Bray is in Dublin County, and even Wicklow people don't really consider the rest of Bray to be part of Wicklow at all. Greystones is a grey area (no pun intended....really....), but I suppose Wicklow people would consider Kilcoole to be within their territory. Fact is, there's never even been an active Wicklow Branch of Birdwatch, so I really reckon most birding interest in the County comes from Dubliners. (Perhaps Wicklow ought to be abolished, and quartered between Dublin, Wexford, Carlow and Kildare...)

[Peter Phillips]

Originally Posted by Sancho

I've dipped at some of the best Twite sites in Ireland, and found myself staring at Linnets trying to wish them into Twite.

I know the feeling...believe me. It was not until I moved to Louth that I started seeing Twite with any kind of regularity.

Originally Posted by Sancho

ardnasx1....I agree. In any case, half of Bray is in Dublin County, and even Wicklow people don't really consider the rest of Bray to be part of Wicklow at all. Greystones is a grey area (no pun intended....really....), but I suppose Wicklow people would consider Kilcoole to be within their territory. Fact is, there's never even been an active Wicklow Branch of Birdwatch, so I really reckon most birding interest in the County comes from Dubliners. (Perhaps Wicklow ought to be abolished, and quartered between Dublin, Wexford, Carlow and Kildare...)

I am not so sure....I think we could do with more threads. I think combining counties for a thread would be useful if there were only a small numbers of observers covering large distances(like the north west perhaps). But Dublin and Wicklow have some of the biggest populations of birders. And what about the 'Local factor'. I think that combining too many areas will result in a loss of localness(if that make sence). For instance-How would the 'Louth Thread' contributors like to bundled in with other east coast counties?

I have looked through some of the threads and they are all different. They have all developed 'different cultures', I suppose this is partly a result of the motives for starting the thread in the first place and the type of contributions most often made to that thread.

The 3 county threads ,Louth, Galway and Dublin are all doing well. The Dublin and Galway Threads are only a few weeks old.Maybe leave them for a while and see in a couple of months. I still think there is plenty of scope for all of these threads to grow (Dublin and Galway more so because of the number of active birders, and most of the active birders in Louth already contribute regularly to the Louth Local patch.).
Maybe some shamless plugging and publicity would help.I only found out about the Louth Thread a year and a half after it started and have been living in the county for 4 years.

I think if the Irish county threads are going to continue to grow and be successful you need to have some at least one person active in that thread,local to that area that knows the sites and can tap into the 'local grapevine' and will readily make that information available to their Thread.

What do other people think?

[j curtis]

Hi, This Buzzard is one of 20 wing tagged by Damian Clarke in 2005. It is a female and we got to know her well here in Naul as she 'lived' in the fields directly behind our house. This photo was taken in Sept 2005 and she remained here during the winter; (aided by a feeding station). She moved about 2 km during the summer but returned in the autumn of 2006 and has been seen on and off through spring/summer of 2007. She has not been in this area since then. Damian wing tagged Buzzards in summer 2006 and these have yellow tags.
Regards, Joe

[Sancho]

Originally Posted by Peter Phillips

I think if the Irish county threads are going to continue to grow and be successful you need to have some at least one person active in that thread,local to that area that knows the sites and can tap into the 'local grapevine' and will readily make that information available to their Thread.

What do other people think?

Yeah, on reflection I suppose you're right, Peter. If "Dublin Birding" becomes "Greater Dublin Area Birding", it could take over all of Leinster....and before anyone takes offence at my suggestion earlier, I am technically a Wicklow Man. This may surprise those of you familiar with Sancho's Urbane Wit and Cosmopolitan Charm :), but my Birth Cert gives my address as Kilquade, Co. Wicklow. Really.

Meanwhile, that's a lovely shot of the wing-tagged Buzzard, Joe. Any idea where it was tagged? We have Buzzards nesting each year at the top of the road, over the estate wall in Kilruddery Demesne. They hunt all over the area, the kids call me when they hear them. Last autumn one appeared with a Greenish-Yellow Tag, one of Damian's, but I don't think the Buzzards in Kilruddery have been tagged yet.

[j curtis]

Hi Sancho,
She was tagged in Carton Estate, Maynooth which is where all 20 Buzzards were tagged in 2005.
Regarding the tagged one you saw last autumn, did you contact Damian? He would be most interested to have details.
Regards,
Joe

[birdsgalway]

Peter

I think county treads makes a lot of sense, hence the reason I started the Galway tread base on the results the Louth tread is achieving. Any Tread is only as good as its contributors. Would be nice to see more joining. There is a wealth of knowledge out there that needs to be shared.

Looking at the stats and how many views/hits the Dublin & Galway treads have receive in just a few weeks, brilliant. Just a few of those joining and typing a few words or submitting a few photos we will all benefit.

There are top class birders and not so top class birders including photographers all could make a contribution. Come on join up, even if it is just to say hello, it’s a start.

As I have said before these treads can be addictive/compulsive reading, I check the Dublin, Louth and NI tread on a daily basis. I in particular in enjoy Joe Curtis’s photos.

I notice the Dublin tread has just past the 83 mark passing Galway here’s number 84.

Keep it going guys.

Tom

[Peter Phillips]

Dublin and Wicklow News from the 'Coveney Line'


05-Feb-08 1 Red-necked Grebe Poolbeg


10-Feb-08 3 Lapland Bunting Lowtherstone

10-Feb-08 1 Pink-footed Goose Lowtherstone

10-Feb-08 4 Twite N Bull Is N End

10-Feb-08 1 Carrion Crow N Bull Is N End

10-Feb-08 1 Slavonian Grebe Poolbeg
10-Feb-08 1 Red-necked Grebe Poolbeg

10-Feb-08 12 Brambling Rogerstown
10-Feb-08 1 Spotted Redshank Rogerstown

10-Feb-08 1 Ruff Swords Est
10-Feb-08 2 Curlew Sandpiper Swords Est
10-Feb-08 2 Scaup Swords Est

10-Feb-08 1 Green-winged Teal Kilcoole
10-Feb-08 1 Carrion Crow Kilcoole

[j curtis]

Hi,
Today's offering and yes, the Dublin bird well is now pretty dry. Leaves me only to follow the advice of Peter and Dave and get out and snap a few more,
Joe

[Sancho]

I tried today for the 4 Twite reported at the north end of the Bull. No joy. Only 6 linnets in the area, as far as I could tell.

[Peter Phillips]

Originally Posted by Sancho

I tried today for the 4 Twite reported at the north end of the Bull. No joy. Only 6 linnets in the area, as far as I could tell.

Been there.......done that.

[Sancho]

Yeah, my personal Twite-quest is going nowhere fast....:). I only checked the north end, from the causeway to the NE tip. Usual waders, including 4 grey plover. In the channel, a few merganser, cresty grebes and Goldeneye. Beautiful day for a stroll on the Bull, though! The sand on the southern beach is perfect for top-class sandcastles.

Another reason this thread is a good idea is that overseas birders can check it....there were a few requests from UK and Italian BF members over the autumn and winter for sites around the Dublin area.

[eanin1]

Hi everyone
4 brambling still present in Phoenix park near the Zoo today

[j curtis]

Still a lazy birder I'm afraid so just took some images in the garden as the birds fed like mad,
Joe

[j curtis]

Hi,
Went to Lowtherstone, 2km north of Balbriggan, & saw 4 Lapland Bunting, an SE Owl & approx 180 Brent.
The Laplands were at the sea side of the usual field and close to the Tumuli;
The SE Owl was in the old garden of Lowtherstone House (the ruins) and did not fly far when flushed, yet I did not find it again.
The Brent were in the sown land, second field north of the football fields.
The tide was full so nothing much on the shoreline.
Joe

[Peter Phillips]

Originally Posted by j curtis

Hi,
Went to Lowtherstone, 2km north of Balbriggan, & saw 4 Lapland Bunting, an SE Owl & approx 180 Brent.
The Laplands were at the sea side of the usual field and close to the Tumuli;
The SE Owl was in the old garden of Lowtherstone House (the ruins) and did not fly far when flushed, yet I did not find it again.
The Brent were in the sown land, second field north of the football fields.
The tide was full so nothing much on the shoreline.
Joe

Great to see you out and about Joe. You count not have picked a better day for it. Well done with the Lappers.

Great shots both at home and in the field. Keep up the good work. If your looking for a project, some nice snaps of those Lappers feeding in the stubble and one of the Short eared Owl would be nice!

[j curtis]

Peter, Attached is a cropped shot of the SE; not so easy to grap shot the thing as it likes playing games with the photographer. It moves much faster than I could react and then it's out of range. I only got two frames and both are poor images.
The family that own that land ( their name is Bell) started to work the stubble today, they are using a device that breaks the subsoil. It looks like two big knives behind the John Deere and after a short period to let the ground dry further through the subsoil the next phase is ploughing. This will have some impact on the Lappers.

Joe

[Peter Phillips]

Originally Posted by j curtis

Peter, Attached is a cropped shot of the SE; not so easy to grap shot the thing as it likes playing games with the photographer.
Joe

Fair play Joe. You did well even to get that one.

[j curtis]

Hi,
Pretty drab day, so checked the files again for unpublished images and found these few,
Joe

[Sancho]

Had a stroll in Kilcoole today (I'll post it here until someone takes the plunge and starts a "Wicklow Birding" thread...). Not much to report, except that the water levels in Webb's Field has now subsided so there are a lot more waders about than in recent weeks. c.200 Golden Plover, about 180 Lapwing, handful of Dunlin and Ringed Plover, usual suspects. A Dark-Bellied was among the Brent Geese. Offshore, 7 RT Divers, and over 40 shag. In the fields beyond Webbs, 47 Whooper, but I didn't walk as far as the Breaches so can't confirm if the group of Bewick's are still about.

[j curtis]

Hi,
The Buzzards are back on my patch with 5 fighting it out for prime sites yesterday and today. I recognise one of them as a returning bird but did not get good enough views of the others to identify them as "the usual locals". Due to work being carried out (refilling the gravel quarry with topsoil in VAST amounts) last season was a poor one in the area with little interest in nesting. This can be the year Naul again becomes the Buzzard capital of Dublin.
Joe

[j curtis]

Hi Again,
Got a few images on my afternoon walk, the Treecreeper being the exception it being one of the Peter Phillip's specials at Dublin Zoo in 2006 (I think the year is correct)
Joe

[Peter Phillips]

Originally Posted by j curtis

Hi Again,
Got a few images on my afternoon walk, the Treecreeper being the exception it being one of the Peter Phillip's specials at Dublin Zoo in 2006 (I think the year is correct)
Joe

Great photos Joe. I must look out for those Treecreepers again this spring.