Come on Owen, bring the blog back!
It was nothing if not extremley funny on occassions and downright jaw dropping at others. But hey I'll admit it gave me some laughs (a bollix of northies!!) and when the subject matter wasn't IRBC related it could be belly achingly brilliant.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Dipping on the Black Kite
Headed off to Knock lake this afternoon in the hope that the black kite reported earlier this morning was still hanging around..... unfortunately not!!
A small group was there when I arrived and we spent a couple of hours chatting and being entertained by four buzzards above us being mobbed by a single sparrowhawk. The most interesting thing on the lake was a family of little grebes (mother and four fledglings) and the usual coots and moorehens. Disappointing - Yes, but as usual on these occasions the other birders made the (short) trip worthwhile.
A small group was there when I arrived and we spent a couple of hours chatting and being entertained by four buzzards above us being mobbed by a single sparrowhawk. The most interesting thing on the lake was a family of little grebes (mother and four fledglings) and the usual coots and moorehens. Disappointing - Yes, but as usual on these occasions the other birders made the (short) trip worthwhile.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Cheap as Chips!!
For the second week in a row I found myself in Wicklow. Last Saturday I went to Roundwood to year tick the Goosanders that were on the reservoir. I've always liked Roundwood but is it really Ireland's highest town as the signs say... just doesn't seem that high. Whilst there I had some little grebe, teal etc and a male crossbill.
From roundwood I headed for Sally's Gap. I didn't venture too far from the car as when I parked the Guards pulled up and advised me there had been some break in's and not to leave anything on show. Well that was enough wasn't it! I didn't move any further than a few hundred meters from the car which kind of reduced my chances of flushing red grouse. After a while I gave up as I was just too preoccupied with making sure I was within sight of the car at all times and that's not really what going for a walk in Wicklow is about.
On a positive note I got good views of two merlin (separately). One just exploded over a hill in the general direction of some calling meadow pipits, I imagine the pipits were just a bit put out.
On Sunday I headed down to the ECNR at Blackditch. I didn't stay too long and didn't really see any of the more desirable natives (missed out on hen harrier) the real reason for the visit. Seen the usual suspects and headed back home.
In Meath this week I had my first swallows in Ashbourne last Monday and house martin's on Wednesday, plenty of chiff chaffs calling all week, and lots of BoP activity.... sparrowhawk (twice), buzzard (every day, almost cheap as chips now), kestrel and peregrine (twice).
I'm going to head out later tonight and over the next week to see can I catch sight or sound of any Owl's. I'll hopefully encounter the barn owl(s) in the area and who knows if I can see or hear a short or long eared owl... wish me luck!
From roundwood I headed for Sally's Gap. I didn't venture too far from the car as when I parked the Guards pulled up and advised me there had been some break in's and not to leave anything on show. Well that was enough wasn't it! I didn't move any further than a few hundred meters from the car which kind of reduced my chances of flushing red grouse. After a while I gave up as I was just too preoccupied with making sure I was within sight of the car at all times and that's not really what going for a walk in Wicklow is about.
On a positive note I got good views of two merlin (separately). One just exploded over a hill in the general direction of some calling meadow pipits, I imagine the pipits were just a bit put out.
On Sunday I headed down to the ECNR at Blackditch. I didn't stay too long and didn't really see any of the more desirable natives (missed out on hen harrier) the real reason for the visit. Seen the usual suspects and headed back home.
In Meath this week I had my first swallows in Ashbourne last Monday and house martin's on Wednesday, plenty of chiff chaffs calling all week, and lots of BoP activity.... sparrowhawk (twice), buzzard (every day, almost cheap as chips now), kestrel and peregrine (twice).
I'm going to head out later tonight and over the next week to see can I catch sight or sound of any Owl's. I'll hopefully encounter the barn owl(s) in the area and who knows if I can see or hear a short or long eared owl... wish me luck!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
BoP's
Plenty of BoP activity over the last couple of days. Six kestrels hovering or perched at different locations along the M3 between Clonee and Navan yesterday.
In Skryne between the crossroads and the GAA pitches a sparrowhawk burst from the cover of a hedgerow and flew straight into a mixed flock of finches and sparrows. What a commotion!! The chase went over the opposite hedgerow and across the pitches, by the time I got a look over the chase had moved on and the sparrowhawk was nowhere to be seen. It's always a sight to savour the speed the sparrowhawk achieves at such low altitude and the mayhem they cause when they crash into an unsuspecting gathering.
The usual three buzzards were out and about in Bracetown today. One flew off in the direction of the N3 towards Dunboyne and missed out on a bit of a feed. The two that remained within sight were quartering some fields just outside my field of view when they returned to one of their favourite trees and proceeded to take turns tearing and ripping at something they'd caught. I couldn't make out what exactly had fallen prey to them as a rather large branch was obscuring the view, however there was no hiding the fact that they were ripping flesh and entrails and having a right good feed, not simultaneously, one had a good go for about five minutes then moved aside and the other had a feed.
They eventually flew out of the tree and the larger one (of the three, the female) was clutching the remains of the feed in her talons. I got great views with the bins and the long tail and body colouring suggested they'd just had rat for lunch.
Later on on the N2 a kestrel was perched on the clock a mile south of Ashbourne, and another one was hovering just above the Ashbourne roundabout up the road.
In Skryne between the crossroads and the GAA pitches a sparrowhawk burst from the cover of a hedgerow and flew straight into a mixed flock of finches and sparrows. What a commotion!! The chase went over the opposite hedgerow and across the pitches, by the time I got a look over the chase had moved on and the sparrowhawk was nowhere to be seen. It's always a sight to savour the speed the sparrowhawk achieves at such low altitude and the mayhem they cause when they crash into an unsuspecting gathering.
The usual three buzzards were out and about in Bracetown today. One flew off in the direction of the N3 towards Dunboyne and missed out on a bit of a feed. The two that remained within sight were quartering some fields just outside my field of view when they returned to one of their favourite trees and proceeded to take turns tearing and ripping at something they'd caught. I couldn't make out what exactly had fallen prey to them as a rather large branch was obscuring the view, however there was no hiding the fact that they were ripping flesh and entrails and having a right good feed, not simultaneously, one had a good go for about five minutes then moved aside and the other had a feed.
They eventually flew out of the tree and the larger one (of the three, the female) was clutching the remains of the feed in her talons. I got great views with the bins and the long tail and body colouring suggested they'd just had rat for lunch.
Later on on the N2 a kestrel was perched on the clock a mile south of Ashbourne, and another one was hovering just above the Ashbourne roundabout up the road.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A local weekend
I spent a quite weekend and never really ventured too far from home(the month of March can do that to you; some birds leaving to summer elsewhere, whilst we await the arrival of our own summer visitors) so not too much to report.
I saw a single raven on three separate occasions over the last few days, haven't seen the pair together since last week. I'm hoping they continue to hang around as who knows what may happen, they can nest early so here's hoping. I have to say at this point that I havent seen any signs of nest building. I'm of course presuming that the pair I've seen are a male and female. I'm not sure whether the single sightings I've seen are not individuals from the pair, I presume they are otherwise the raven count for the area has really gone through the roof!!
Plenty of the usual suspects for this time of year, today however I had a chiffchaff (first this year) calling loudly from the top of a tree.
The local buzzards (three as usual) were circling and as usual the hoodies only tolerated their presence for a time before they mobbed them and eventually drove them away, I'm always struck by just how much the buzzards will allow the hoodies dominate them without ever really giving as good as they're getting. This ritual of territorial protection is palyed out in front of me on a daily basis and I can't ever remember the buzzards coming out on top, they always just move on!
I saw a single raven on three separate occasions over the last few days, haven't seen the pair together since last week. I'm hoping they continue to hang around as who knows what may happen, they can nest early so here's hoping. I have to say at this point that I havent seen any signs of nest building. I'm of course presuming that the pair I've seen are a male and female. I'm not sure whether the single sightings I've seen are not individuals from the pair, I presume they are otherwise the raven count for the area has really gone through the roof!!
Plenty of the usual suspects for this time of year, today however I had a chiffchaff (first this year) calling loudly from the top of a tree.
The local buzzards (three as usual) were circling and as usual the hoodies only tolerated their presence for a time before they mobbed them and eventually drove them away, I'm always struck by just how much the buzzards will allow the hoodies dominate them without ever really giving as good as they're getting. This ritual of territorial protection is palyed out in front of me on a daily basis and I can't ever remember the buzzards coming out on top, they always just move on!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Raving Ravens
Late November 2010 I heard a very distinct call when out walking part of my patch. I was crossing some fields off the Bracetown to Kilbride road when I heard the "cronk" of a raven. Now theres a very healthy population of corvids in the area and I just couldn't locate the individual responsible. I'd never had a sighting of raven in this area so I was disappointed not to have gotten a view.
However, I heard more calls throughout December and just before Christmas I seen not one but two ravens in the area. Since then I've had numerous sightings of an individual and a couple of sightings of a pair! Now this is never going to make it onto most birders best of the year, but for me its a bit of a happening, is it possible ravens could breed on my patch!! My farmland patch, not my coastal cliffs patch or rugged mountain patch.... my flat as pancake, oh; there's wood pigeon number 500 of the day farmland patch!
I had the pair again today, being mobbed by hoodies. They settled on an electricity pole and gave great views for a while. I'm lucky to have plenty of Buzzards in the area and they too get mobbed by the hoodies so I was able to get a real comparison of the size of the ravens versus the buzzards. Getting this close this regular has really impressed upon me just how huge these very powerful birds are.
However, I heard more calls throughout December and just before Christmas I seen not one but two ravens in the area. Since then I've had numerous sightings of an individual and a couple of sightings of a pair! Now this is never going to make it onto most birders best of the year, but for me its a bit of a happening, is it possible ravens could breed on my patch!! My farmland patch, not my coastal cliffs patch or rugged mountain patch.... my flat as pancake, oh; there's wood pigeon number 500 of the day farmland patch!
I had the pair again today, being mobbed by hoodies. They settled on an electricity pole and gave great views for a while. I'm lucky to have plenty of Buzzards in the area and they too get mobbed by the hoodies so I was able to get a real comparison of the size of the ravens versus the buzzards. Getting this close this regular has really impressed upon me just how huge these very powerful birds are.
Wicklow Way
Sunday morning and I had a decision to make.... north to Louth, south to Wicklow or east(ish) to the Bull. I decided to head down Wicklow way the deciding factor was to see could I locate some crossbill's.
It takes approx 50 mins from Ashbourne to the town land of Kilnamanagh (hills above the Beehive on the N11) to a spot I've had crossbills previously. Like almost all outings, nothings ever certain, I've been her before and drawn a blank, other times you turn off the main road park the car and the first bird you see can be a crossbill.
It took about 30 mins walking and listening before I got a year tick, 2 male crossbills high up in the canopy giving good views before they were spooked and left.
Now what might have spooked them? Was it the hovering kestrel which came into view, the buzzard that circled just after the kestrel left, or the red-kite that flew over about a minute after the buzzard exited. Three great raptors in 5 minutes and I hadn't moved an inch!!
The usual woodland species filled the rest of a very enjoyable couple of hours in sunny Wicklow.
It takes approx 50 mins from Ashbourne to the town land of Kilnamanagh (hills above the Beehive on the N11) to a spot I've had crossbills previously. Like almost all outings, nothings ever certain, I've been her before and drawn a blank, other times you turn off the main road park the car and the first bird you see can be a crossbill.
It took about 30 mins walking and listening before I got a year tick, 2 male crossbills high up in the canopy giving good views before they were spooked and left.
Now what might have spooked them? Was it the hovering kestrel which came into view, the buzzard that circled just after the kestrel left, or the red-kite that flew over about a minute after the buzzard exited. Three great raptors in 5 minutes and I hadn't moved an inch!!
The usual woodland species filled the rest of a very enjoyable couple of hours in sunny Wicklow.
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