County Louth (formerly Dundalk Bay) local patch. (13 Viewers)

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41st All Ireland Conference on Bird Conservation – Programme of Events

Friday 4 April 2008



20.00: Slideshow by wildlife photographer Eddie Dunne

21:00: Table Quiz



Saturday 5 April 2008



09.00 - 09.15: Opening address by Kieran Grace, Chairman of BirdWatch Ireland

09.15 - 09.55: Prof. Jeremy Greenwood Keynote Speaker – Make your Birding Count

09.55 - 10.35: Dominic Couzens - The Secret Lives of Birds

10.35 - 11.00: Tea and coffee break

11.00 - 11.40: Joanna Kalinowska (OTOP, Birdlife Partner, Poland): Spring Alive - Welcoming the Spring Messengers

11.40 - 12.20 Dr. Ian Burfield (Birdlife International) Climate Change and Birds in Europe

12.20 - 13.00: Open Forum Chair: Prof. John O’Halloran, University College Cork

13.00 - 14.00: Lunch



Saturday Field Trips



12.30: Option 1: Wexford Wildfowl Reserve

14.00: Option 2: Kilcoole Marshes

14.00: Option 3: Glendalough



Saturday Evening



18.30 - 19.15: Book signings

19.15 - 20.00: Wine Reception to celebrate the 40th anniversary of BirdWatch Ireland

20.00: Gala Dinner



Sunday 6 April 2008



Field Trips



10.00: Option 1: Wildlife Sights & Sounds Walking Workshop at East Coast Nature Reserve

10.00: Option 2: Atlas Workshop (Brian Caffrey)

10.00: Option 3: Kilmacurragh Arboretum & Connary



10.15 - 12.30: Family Workshops



10.15 - 10.55: “Fun with Kites” (Don Conroy)

11.00 - 11.40: Spring Alive (Joanna Kalinowska)

11.45 - 12.30: Bugs and Birds Workshop (Éanna Ní Lamhna)

We will have an outing to the Navvy bank on Sunday starting at 12 noon from Soldiers Point, at the end of the Point Road in Dundalk.

All are welcome!

breffni said:

We will have an outing to the Navvy bank on Sunday starting at 12 noon from Soldiers Point, at the end of the Point Road in Dundalk.

All are welcome!

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See you there

Ist Winter Iceland Gull still at Cruisetown yesterday evening.
There seems to be plenty of flocks of Chaffinch around, saw 3 large flocks and 2 of these had Brambling with them. Didn't spend time checking the third flock. Slurry had been spread in a field at Dunany and there were hundreds of gulls there along with Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail and Tree Sparrow.

MargaretM said:

Ist Winter Iceland Gull still at Cruisetown yesterday evening.
There seems to be plenty of flocks of Chaffinch around, saw 3 large flocks and 2 of these had Brambling with them. Didn't spend time checking the third flock. Slurry had been spread in a field at Dunany and there were hundreds of gulls there along with Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail and Tree Sparrow.

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Nice shots of the gulls. I will try to get to Dunany during the week. There allways seems to be good numbers of passerines here. It looks like it might be an organic farm with plenty of weed seeds in the stubble.

Those gulls are definetly worth a look.

MargaretM said:

Ist Winter Iceland Gull still at Cruisetown yesterday evening.

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2x 1st winter Iceland's there today. No sign of velvet scooter despite extensive search. Hen Harrier at Salterstown.

Any further word on the dumping at Hermitage "lake" - seems to be a few more loads than per Peter's photo earlier in the week.

Derek Watters said:

2x 1st winter Iceland's there today. No sign of velvet scooter despite extensive search. Hen Harrier at Salterstown.

Any further word on the dumping at Hermitage "lake" - seems to be a few more loads than per Peter's photo earlier in the week.

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I was on to the litter warden in the council. I gave the tractors reg number and she said she will look into it and get back to me.

No sign of the Lapland Bunting this afternoon. Lots of Skylarks and sparrows/buntings

Out and about

Saturday news from the 'Coveney Line'

1 Pink-footed Goose Cruisetown
2 Velvet Scoter Cruisetown
2 Iceland Gull Cruisetown
28 Pink-footed Goose Lurgangreen
1 Ring-necked Duck Mell Quarry
27 Twite Soldier's Pt

At Cruisetown today the best were 3 first winter Iceland Gulls and a Carrion Crow. did not look for the Lapland Bunting
The best at Hermitage was a female Scaup and some carpet underlay beside the top soil dumped there last week. Looks like its going to be the place to be for good rubbish this spring!
At Keenans Cross pond 6 Pochard 3 Goldeneye and 2 Whooper Swans

Maurice Conaghy's photos

I've a few of Maurice's photos from the last year to put up on the forum including the recent short eared owl and snow buntings from Baltray. I'm putting these ones up to start with and will put more up again.

Saw an Egret on the banks of thr Boyne in Slane today... Their certainly getting well established.

ardnasx1 said:

I've a few of Maurice's photos from the last year to put up on the forum including the recent short eared owl and snow buntings from Baltray. I'm putting these ones up to start with and will put more up again.

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Fantastic shots!

Do you know if the Short eared Owl is still around? If it is, is he flushing the bird from a particular area or is the bird actively hunting as he usually gets there early in the morning.

Cruisetown Strand

The 3 first winter Iceland Gulls are still at Cruisetown Strand.(I did not search the fields).
Also a pair of Ravens.

Keenans had 3 Pochard 3 Goldeneye 1 Tufty and 1 Whooper Swan.

Nothing much at Clogher Head except this helecopter looking for something along the rocks.

About 40 Great Crested Grebes 30 Red throated Diver and 15 Great Northern Diver at hermitage

Still good numbers of Common Scotor at Cruisetown. There has been a lot of Trawler activity of late.I assume there dredging for shellfish and might impact on Scotor numbers?

Comments welcome.

Peter Phillips said:

Fantastic shots!

Do you know if the Short eared Owl is still around? If it is, is he flushing the bird from a particular area or is the bird actively hunting as he usually gets there early in the morning.

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Talked to Maurice on Sunday and he hasn't seen the owl for about 2 weeks. I think that he is usually out there early afternoon, 1 or 2 o clock. The owl was sometimes in the reeds to the left of the last gate as you walk out to the Little Tern area of the beach. Will put on a post whenever I hear that Maurice sees it again.

Peter Phillips said:

Still good numbers of Common Scotor at Cruisetown. There has been a lot of Trawler activity of late.I assume there dredging for shellfish and might impact on Scotor numbers?
Comments welcome.

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Is this legal???

Louth Rare Bird review 2007

Below is a list (rough draft) of rare birs in louth in 2007. If you can see any errors please let me know before monday.

Thanks in advance

Louth 2007 Rare Bird review




january

2nd flock of Crossbills Mullahattin
6th 2 Barnacle Geese Lurgangreen
9th Long billed Dowitcher Docks to 26th April
14th Dark bellied Brent Lurgangreen
20th
28th 6 Pink feet commons rd
2 barnacle Geese
Jan 2 Barn Owl Mell Quarry
green winged teal ????? Early jan docks???

February

2nd dark beeelied brent Lurgangreen
9th Chiffchaff Ballagan
10th Pink foot Lurgangreen
16th Shoveler Buleau
17th 62 Pink feet Lurgangreen
17th 2 barnacle
17th 2 dark bellied
18th Barn Owl previous week per Freddie
18th Long tailed Duck salterstown
18th Long tailed Duck dark beeelied brent Lurgangreen
24th 3 Slavonian Grebe Lurgangreen
21st Barn Owl previous week per Freddie Lurgangreen
Feb Snow Bunting Queensboro???


March
9th dark bellied brent boyne
25th Dark bellied brent Lurgangreen
25th 69 Pink footed Geese lurgangreen
30th 28 Pink feet lurgangreen

April
5th 55 pink feet
7th temmincks Stint docks also 8th
8th osprey castletown river
18th 50+ Pink feet
29th little gull 1st winter2 lurgangreen

may
1st+2nd little gulls docks
5th garganey baltray
7th pair eider ballagan
20th long tailed skua baltray


june
3rd yellow legged gull lurgangreen
15th pom skua baltray
25th osprey lurgangreen
26th American golden plo Boyne 24-28th

july

1st Balearic Shearwater Ballagan
22nd Osprey lurgangreen
24th yellow legged Gull lurgangreen
29th

August

14th osprey
15th whinchat marsh south
16th green sand ballymac marsh south
16th osprey
23rd osprey
26th pom skua navvy bank
26th balearic clogher hear
27th garden warbler clogher hear clogher head

september

2nd 2 black terns clogher head
2nd Balearic clogher head
2nd Balearic hermitage
6th red kite carrickdale hotel
9th 2 curlew sand docks
10th 2 curlew sand docks
15th temmincks stint baltray also 17th
16th dowitcher cruisetown
16th white rumped sand lurgangreen
16th red kite collon
18th pink footed cruisetown
26th yellow wagtail dunany point
26th little gull ballagan
30th curlew sandpiper 2 seabank

October

7th white rumped sand lurgangreen
7th 2 curlew sandpiper lurgangreen
7th curlew sandpiper docks ?
9th Great white Egret Lurgangreen 24th Nov great white egret seabank/lurgangreen
18th long billed Dowitcher docks
18th 2 curlew sandpiper
23rd Short eared Owl Baltray
27th Red necked grebe Hermitage/Salterstown to year end
27th Short eared Owl Hemitage till year end
27th Slavonian grebe Hermitage/Salterstown
29th Forsters tern Cruisetown to 5th december

November

Russian white fronts Cruisetown Fields
11th Snow bunting Salterstown
12th gadwall KCP
12th 2 slavonian grebe hermitage
13th Dark bellied brent cruisetown
13th Snow bunting cruisetown
17th 8 velvet scotor cruisetown 5th - 20th November
18th Snow bunting salterstown
18th Snow bunting dunany
18th Dark bellied brent cruisetown
18th ruddy duck KCP to 4th December
18th Yellow legged Gull Lurgangreen
18th little auk clogher head
18th crossbills slieve foye
19th slavonian grebe clogher head
19th grey phalarope 2 clogher head
20th Russian white fronts Cruisetown Fields
21st ring necked duck KCP to year end
21st gadwall KCP to year end up to 6 declining to 1
21st ruddy duck KCP
21st twite 1 dunany point
21st Snow bunting 1 dunany point
nov barn owls ardee,stabannon,near dunleer and dundalk
25th pink feet
27th twite few soldiers point up to 10 by 4th Dec

dec

1-3rd Black redstart cruisetown
1st 2 brambling Ardee
2nd Slavonian Grebe salterstown
3rd swallow cruisetown
3rd goosander KCP
3rd crossbills 6 mullahattin
4th ruddy duck KCP
dec barn owl dundalk
12th brambling 2 rockmashel
18th brambling 7 rockmashel up to dozen reported
15th long billed dowitcher docks
16th Black redstart docks
20th brambling rockmashel
20th twite 8 rockmashel
31st twite+brambling 7 rockmashel
31st chiffchaff carlingford

Hen Harrier Roost Watch this Weekend

Reminder from Barry O'Donoghue of NPWS:
The February watch is actually this Friday but if this is not possible, please make sure to get out either Saturday or Sunday. As anyone who has done a roost watch will tell you it is a fine peaceful way to sit and take in the sites and sounds of a reedbed or bog or fen on a winter's evening or morning. Only yesterday morning I was treated to 4 Hen Harriers, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 2 Grey Herons chasing each other around, 100s of Whooper Swans and a gorgeous sunrise. Sunsets work well too for the auld romantics among us! So for morning watches the time to be on site is roughly 07.15 and for evening watches it is around 16.30 onwards. Be sure to check the sunrise/sunset calendar which you will have received and get there on time, get a good vantage point, let someone know where you are going, or even bring a friend for an extra pair of eyes and a bit of craic if you like!

So please all make a big effort to get out this weekend as it is an excellent opportunity to gauge collectively how many Hen Harriers we are accounting for across the country! Anyone who is still looking for a suitable site be sure to give me a call on 087-9110715. In fact, the month of February may be our last opportunity to see harriers at roost before going back to the uplands!

Iceland Gull Photos

Still 3 Iceland Gulls at Cruisetown. I finally got some decent shots

and more

January Highlights 2008

Below is a list of the birding highlights for County Louth for the month of January

2nd Little Gull Balaggan

3rd 30 Twite Rockmarshal
8 Brambling Rockmarshal

5th Med Gull Cruisetown
Hen Harrier Cruisetown
12 Brambling Rockmarshal

7th Hen Harrier Dunany
3 Gadwall KCP
Ring necked Duck KCP last seen 14th,
presumed same bird Mell Quarry 21st to 26th

Crossbill Jenkinstown
1 Twite Rockmarshal
1 Brambling Rockmarshal
Mealy Redpoll Rockmarshal confirmed?
4 Brambling Dunany to 10th


9th 2 Med Gull Templetown Beach
2-3 Crossbill Mullahattin
Twite Rockmarshal
Brambling Rockmarshal

11th 6 Snow Bunting Baltray


13th Iceland Gulls minimum 6 birds; Adult, 1st and 2nd winter on 13th, adult, 2 1st winters on 14th, 4 1st winters on 19th, 3 1st winters to 30th

13th Glaucous Gull 1st winter 13th and 14th
13th Yellow legged Gull 2nd winter
13th Great Skua Balaggan

14th Adult Yellow legged Gull to 15th
14th 8 'Argentatus' Herring Gull

All gulls 13th and 14th Cruisetown Strand


15th Velvet Scotor male Clogher Head

16th Brambling Drogheda


19th 2 Velvet Scotor Cruisetown Strand
19th 2 Bewicks Swans Cruisetown Strand fields
19th 1 lapland Bunting Cruisetown Strand fields also 27th
19th 1 Long tailed Duck male Giles Quay

20th Velvet Scotor 2 Cruisetown

24th Black throated Diver Cruisetown
24th 2 Long tailed Duck Salterstown


26th min 2 Brambling Cruisetown
1 Pink footed Goose Cruisetown
2 Velvet Scotor Cruisetown
28 Pink footed Goose Lurgangreen
27 Twite Soldiers Point

27th Hen Harrier Salterstown
27th 3 Brambling Rockmarshal
27th 2 Twite Soldiers Point

I didn't think that four straight days at the toomes oral hearing (now suspended) would help my pathetic list but checking the small ponds and wet lands around the toomes site in the mornings produced a few nice birds. At the nuremore hotel there is a spectacular rookerie, i grossly estimated 6000 rooks (mainly) flying in a huge circle around the area at dusk.

86. Yellowhammer (no lapland bunting)
87. Greylag (at cruisetown)
88. Coot (on the currently being in-filled grange pond)
89. Whooper swan
90. Tufted duck

So what i tried to do in one day ended up taking a month!

Also had a pair of grey crows copulating in a tree in my garden this morning...