OK, so I sleep it in for college, and, missing my first lecture at 9, the next one doesn't start again until 3. So I'm frazzled and decide to go in at 12 anyway. So as I head into college, I pass by the Bull Island nature reserve, and I decided to stop by for literally 40 minutes. So, I emphasize that this was a quick visit, and is by no means a definitive list of what Bull Island has to offer. But, seeing so much in such a short space of time is still fairly impressive, I think.
First up, the first Brent Geese I have seen of the year are back. Little Egrets are appearing in ever increasing numbers and Grey Herons were also present. Mallards, Teal, some Shelduck and Tufted Duck paddled around and I saw Moorhen and Coot too - this must be due to a freshwater pond nearby. The wader front was predictably good, with good views of Oystercatchers, Spotted Redshank, Ringed Plovers, Golden Plovers, Redshank and Curlews. All of Ireland's common species of Gull were to be found. ( Lesser and Greater black-backs, Herring Gulls, Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls). Hooded Crows, Rooks, Mute Swans, and Magpies also showed up.
I couldn't stick around to ID some of the other waders present, not to mention the many passerines that were also there. I hope to visit again next weekend, for a more detailed report. This is a taster, anyway. Only twenty minutes from where I live, it's one of the best birding sites I know of.
First up, the first Brent Geese I have seen of the year are back. Little Egrets are appearing in ever increasing numbers and Grey Herons were also present. Mallards, Teal, some Shelduck and Tufted Duck paddled around and I saw Moorhen and Coot too - this must be due to a freshwater pond nearby. The wader front was predictably good, with good views of Oystercatchers, Spotted Redshank, Ringed Plovers, Golden Plovers, Redshank and Curlews. All of Ireland's common species of Gull were to be found. ( Lesser and Greater black-backs, Herring Gulls, Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls). Hooded Crows, Rooks, Mute Swans, and Magpies also showed up.
I couldn't stick around to ID some of the other waders present, not to mention the many passerines that were also there. I hope to visit again next weekend, for a more detailed report. This is a taster, anyway. Only twenty minutes from where I live, it's one of the best birding sites I know of.