County Louth (formerly Dundalk Bay) local patch. (34 Viewers)

[breffni]

At least wto med gulls at templetown yesterday with a huge influx of gulls feeding on the churned up seaweed. Also several "eastern" jackdaws around Greenore. Blackcaps in a garden near carlingford (orchard):
77. Blackcap
78. Med gull

 

[Peter Phillips]

Todays birds

Went to scrub opposite Fitzpatricks Pub. Only one Twite and one Brambling could be seen. 3 normal Reed Bunting. No sign of the Mealy type Redpoll but I may have been looking in wrong place. 2-3 Crossbill at Mullahattin along with 20 Siskin and a pair of Raven. No sign of the Dipper at the Flurrey River. Merlin at Lurgangreen and 3 Great Northern Diver the best at Salterstown. Keenans cross pond had 12 Pochard, 50 mallard, 6Tufted Duck, 3 Goldeneye, 1 Gadwall and Ring neck Duck and a Whooper Swan. Eastern Jackdaw at M1 link road Ardee

 

[Peter Phillips]

Louth year list

94 Merlin
95Twite
96Brambling
97 Raven

98 Crossbill !

 

[breffni]

Well done! I still haven't managed to get out of cooley but added a peregrine (79) and common scoter (80) yesterday.

 

[breffni]

I had planned to take a swing up north on sunday but stuff has come up and i can't make it...mid-Feb would be the next possible date. I do plan to do the Navvy bank walk either way on the 28th Jan...

 

[ardnasx1]

We had a Starling on the feeder this morning, I've seen a Jackdaw on them but this is the first time we've had a Starling.

Had my first blackcap of the season in the garden yesterday, about a month later than usual.

For the last few years i've had a group of 5 starlings in the garden who used the feeders regularly but weren't there constantly. This year its risen to 14 and they are there all the time, making things really difficult for the smaller birds, they don't get much chance to get on the feeders at all. I've particularly noticed when I put apples out they knock or take them almost immediately, so I've been wondering if it's just that I haven't been able to monitor the blackcaps on the apples, maybe they've been there all along....

 

[Peter Phillips]

I had planned to take a swing up north on sunday but stuff has come up and i can't make it...mid-Feb would be the next possible date. I do plan to do the Navvy bank walk either way on the 28th Jan...

If thats the Sunday, count me in for the navy bank. Am working this weekend (poor me). I have a few northern specials (louth) to get. I might try next week. Where is good for Jay up around carlingford? I plan to look for Scaup in the lough. Have you seen any recently? Also Carrion Crow and Little Gull. I know you wont let me down! I think 115 -120 is just about possible by end of march if things go well. Its all down to sea ducks grebes and grey geese and the odd scarse passerine like Snow Bunting and possibly Black Redstart.

 

[MargaretM]

The garden birds are sure getting through the seeds etc that we are putting out for them this Winter. Goldcrop in Dunleer are selling 25kg Peanuts @ €32 and 25kg bags of Mixed Bird Seed @ €18. They also sell bags of wheat. These prices are a bit lower than their usual retail prices so if anyone goes in there, just say that I quoted these prices on the forum. These seem like good prices to me - if anyone knows of better prices, please post on the forum.

The flock of Chaffinch with Brambling were at Dunany again today.

 

[j curtis]

Hi,
White's Agri, Ballough, Lusk (opposite Murtagh's pub on old A1 road between Swords & Balbriggan) have a great selection of seeds, pigeon feed, peanuts etc. and their prices are Eur 30 for 25 kg peanuts; They are about the most competitive I know in the North Dublin/East Meath area.

 

[Peter Phillips]

Hi,
White's Agri, Ballough, Lusk (opposite Murtagh's pub on old A1 road between Swords & Balbriggan) have a great selection of seeds, pigeon feed, peanuts etc. and their prices are Eur 30 for 25 kg peanuts; They are about the most competitive I know in the North Dublin/East Meath area.

Its good to see there is value to be had!

Do either of you know if either place stocks split wheat( I think thats what its called). Its the broken bits of wheat thats seperated from the whole seed. I think it might be used as a chicken feed and was 8 euro a couple of years ago for a 20-25kg bag. Its handy, as crows have a harder time picking it up and tend to leave it for the smaller birds.

 

[j curtis]

Peter,
White's Agri do Wild Bird Seed at Eur 15.40 and Whole Wheat at Eur 7.20 for 25 kgs. They don't do the broken wheat.

 

[breffni]

Where is good for Jay up around carlingford? I plan to look for Scaup in the lough. Have you seen any recently? Also Carrion Crow and Little Gull. I know you wont let me down! I think 115 -120 is just about possible by end of march if things go well. Its all down to sea ducks grebes and grey geese and the odd scarse passerine like Snow Bunting and possibly Black Redstart.

Go up the mountain to the area around the mast and scan the forest below - you are bound to pick up a jay if you give it long enough, and snow bunting have been found there also. The scaup favour the north side of the upper lough generally - best place is the area around omeath - there is a broken railway bridge between omeath and carlingford with a good stream - scanning from top of bridge is good also (especially when morgan, the fish people, dump their fish offal out there). The sleive foye woods are also good for jay but more heard than seen...

 

[ardnasx1]

Maurice Conaghy had around 6 snow buntings out at the beach at Baltray today.

 

[MargaretM]

Its good to see there is value to be had!

Do either of you know if either place stocks split wheat( I think thats what its called). Its the broken bits of wheat thats seperated from the whole seed. I think it might be used as a chicken feed and was 8 euro a couple of years ago for a 20-25kg bag. Its handy, as crows have a harder time picking it up and tend to leave it for the smaller birds.

I think your talking about Rolled Wheat, it is the whole grain but it is simply rolled so that its easier to digest (you can also get rolled barley and rolled oats). Goldcrop roll grain themselves so I would be confident that it should be available there, I'll check on Monday and get a price. It's certainly worth everybody posting good value seed here as I imagine that most of us use a lot of it.

Thanks for the info on Whites Agri, J, that is certainly a good price. I've seen peanuts selling at up to €38 a bag so its worth shopping around.

 

[Peter Phillips]

Peter,
White's Agri do Wild Bird Seed at Eur 15.40 and Whole Wheat at Eur 7.20 for 25 kgs. They don't do the broken wheat.

Thanks for that Joe and Margaret.

I see that Snow Bunting have put in an apperance at Baltray. I presume its the southern end towards the river?Hopefully they stick around till Monday. Jay and Scaup will have to wait.

 

[gareth2005]

I think your talking about Rolled Wheat, it is the whole grain but it is simply rolled so that its easier to digest (you can also get rolled barley and rolled oats). Goldcrop roll grain themselves so I would be confident that it should be available there, I'll check on Monday and get a price. It's certainly worth everybody posting good value seed here as I imagine that most of us use a lot of it.

Thanks for the info on Whites Agri, J, that is certainly a good price. I've seen peanuts selling at up to €38 a bag so its worth shopping around.

I paid €42 for 25Kg in Ardee over Xmas:C

 

[Peter Phillips]

The garden birds are sure getting through the seeds etc that we are putting out for them this Winter. Goldcrop in Dunleer are selling 25kg Peanuts @ €32 and 25kg bags of Mixed Bird Seed @ €18. They also sell bags of wheat. These prices are a bit lower than their usual retail prices so if anyone goes in there, just say that I quoted these prices on the forum. These seem like good prices to me - if anyone knows of better prices, please post on the forum.

The flock of Chaffinch with Brambling were at Dunany again today.

Hi Margaret and Tommy,

I hope to go to Baltray on monday morning weather permitting.If either of you are around, I could swing by and pick up that barbeque you have been kindly storing for me for the last 5 months (and tick Blackcap in your garden if it ok).

Peter

 

[Derek Watters]

Go up the mountain to the area around the mast and scan the forest below - you are bound to pick up a jay if you give it long enough, and snow bunting have been found there also.

There's an opening into the upper Ravensdale Woods (grid ref J 094 166) where I have seen Jay on several occasions - best to spot them flying in the gap in the trees where the track is - if you're feeling lazy it's even possible to stay in your car and keep an eye out! I also had small flock of snow bunting at J 112 161 several years back.

 

[MargaretM]

Jay

If thats the Sunday, count me in for the navy bank. Am working this weekend (poor me). I have a few northern specials (louth) to get. I might try next week. Where is good for Jay up around carlingford? I plan to look for Scaup in the lough. Have you seen any recently? Also Carrion Crow and Little Gull. I know you wont let me down! I think 115 -120 is just about possible by end of march if things go well. Its all down to sea ducks grebes and grey geese and the odd scarse passerine like Snow Bunting and possibly Black Redstart.

I've been told that Rathescar often has Jays though I haven't seen them there myself.

 

[j curtis]

Hi,
Just back from White's Agri with supply of Peanuts & Wild Bird Seed; sadly the Peanuts are increased to Eur 35 but all other seed types remain at old price. Still good value but now not lowest available as Goldcrop price, on special offer, is Eur 32