Mabel's May (1 Viewer)

[Mabel]

Hi folks

I am in what I like to call a "silly season" with the birds. I find it hard to get the goods this time of year. Everyone seems to be nesting and the migrants have gone. With little decent woodland, the summer visitors also seem rather sparse. However, there are a few highlights, most of which came at random opportunities. Such is the birding life eh?!

The usual summer suspects put in a show fairly quickly. House and Sand Martins, and Swallows. Always good to see these often fluctuating hirundines. I also read here that a lot of BF folks are experiencing a shortage of Swifts? Not sure how you Ex-Beebers feel about that, but I hope you have as many as we do here. Interestingly, this is the first year I really noticed them. I could well have been very ignorant (or deaf) in the past, but I am fairly sure they are undergoing an increase this year. At least locally.

Seabirds have dwindled since the waders and fowl left for the summer. Mallards and Shelducks are still about, as are Tufted Duck and a few Teal. Early ducklings have been spotted too, but overall most of the wildfowl are keeping their beaks down. Little Egret and Grey Heron are around, looking very smart, but as far as I am aware, the Egrets are not breeding yet. Terns are out in force, with Sandwich, Arctic, Common and two Roseate Terns around. The Gannet colony seems to be doing well over in Ireland's Eye as you can regularly see the birds fishing from the coast. Shags, Cormorants and Manx Shearwaters and the gulls can be also regularly seen from the coast.

I have three highlights. One of which was seeing a Grey Wagtail flying upriver. I always get a rush seeing those little birds. The second was heading home after a night out. 5.30 in the morning to see a Barn Owl flying around. They are so rare in Ireland now that seeing one stopped me dead in my tracks! I was on the beach with my friends and we saw a stationary bird in the air. I geeked out immediately and yelled "HOVERING KESTREL". One of my friends decided to investigate and we both walked over to where the bird was. We got to within five or six feet under it. Beautiful male-we could see the grey tail and moustache stripe! It seemed utterly nonplussed by the two of us staring at it. Every few seconds it looked up and around, ten scanned the ground. It didn't catch anything, but it hung around for a good ten minutes. Magic!

Grand total:

84. (Bank Swallow) Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
85. Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
86. Common Swift (Apus apus)
87. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
88. Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
89. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
90. Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii)
91. Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)
92. Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)

 

[NIK III]

Hi Mabel,

I know what you mean about this time, first glance at many hides and it looks quiet. I've seen a few Swifts but generally less hirundines than usual. Terns are lovely to see. A Roseate would be a lifer, and Manx Shearwaters I rarely see. That Barn Owl sounds like a good reason for having more late nights out LOL. A very special view of the Kestrel. A nice report and nice to see your pics.

 

[Ruth Daniel]

Hi Mabel,a grand month is May.

I have to disagree with you re the Swifts as we have loads here and their screams are a right treat overhead whilst gardening!

Am envoius of your sea birds........we're planning a coastal visit next month to see them before it's too late!

The Grey Wagtail is a seriously smart bird and always a thrill isn't it?

Nice report Mabel!:t:

 

[bill moss]

Hi Mabel,

Interesting report and good photos, what more could we want.

It IS getting tricky to see some of the birds now with the leaves on the trees but none of that list are likely to be in a tree. Haven't seen (or heard) a Swift yet but they are usually scare around here, I have to go to a couple of nesting areas for them usually. Swallows seem to be about usual for House Martins are scarce.

Always interesting to hear from you.

Bill

 

[brianfm]

Glad your out and about Mabel.

Some good birds there. We have most of the 'English' Roseate Terns up the road on Coquet Ireland and I know the wardens there learnt a great deal from the conservation work done on Rockabill Ireland near you. I rarely see Roseate Terns though!

May is one of the best months for me, but if your short of woodland then I see your problem. I agree that even now that the leaves are thickening and the woodland birds have paired up it is more difficult to find them and very frustrating at times. Timing is the secret.

No shortage of Swifts around here. Mind you I do look more now. Saw my first Swift very early this year but will have to look at my notes for the date. Plenty of Swallows too, but I have seen few House Martins and only a handful of Sand Martins which were feeding over the local lake on arrival.

Keep the reports coming.:t:

D J

Edit. lol Just seen that I spelt Island as Ireland. Must be the effect that you have on me Mabel.

 

[Mahsleb]

Good report and pics Mabel :t:

Cheers B

 

[Mabel]

Thank you all for the replies.

NIK and Mahsleb :t: B

Ruth Glad that you have Swifts where you are. Grey Wagtails are just one of those elite birds for me... I remember having one in the local area a while back in gardens... it was so special. Totally unaware of how smart it looked!

Brian Rockabill Island has a pretty big colony (for such a rare bird) and I am thinking that the Roseates I see in the local patch are spillovers from that area. As far as I know, they don't actually breed on my patch. I see what you mean regarding the woods, but really we don't have muc to speak of... When I was in England lastyear the amount of common English woodland summer species I saw was stunning. No woodpeckers here lol!

Bill Hirundines in general seem very hit and miss for me. That's why I mentioned them. Maybe I should get to what little woods we have and just wait and see!

 

[bill moss]

Hi Mabel,

Woods ain't the place for Hirudines, try farm outbuildings etc for Swallows and just small(ish) buildings in general for House Martins; Sand Martins, well gravel pits etc.

Actually one of the best places to see any/all of them is large ponds/lakes where they will come to catch insects. Lakes on golf courses seem to do well here and especially one local fishing lake in a public park. Flooded gravel pits with vegetation around are another favourite. Don't forget that the better/hotter the weather the higher they will generally fly feeding because that's where the insects go.

Bill