Birds and Things

No - it’s not a strange type of Celtic sandwich nor is it what you do in winter - although one does need to ‘wrap up’. Just a stats/figures/conclusion to the trip…

112 species altogether - not very many? Maybe not, but for this time of year on a non-birding trip I’m happy. I didn’t really feel I missed anything that I should have got - maybe Puffin and some of the waders, but I did get some birds I wouldn’t have guaranteed… Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Glaucous Gull, Siskin, Pink-footed Goose, Bewick’s Swan….. With all the summer visitors absent and no great sea passage, I think I did OK - mainly thanks to Richard’s help.

5 new ‘lifers’ or ‘ticks’ - Slavonian Grebe being probably the only one I should have got prior to 1980. Ring-billed Gull, Med Gull and Goosander have all ‘arrived’ in Ireland in the last 5-10 years, ie they are now regular visitors, prior to 1980 they would have been rarities.  Ruddy Duck, the fifth, is still not common, although is increasing. How long that will last before they are culled (in England at this stage) to protect the White-headed Duck remains to be seen. It’ll be a bit of a shame actually as they are a neat looking bird.

Doing a rough daily count - there were 9 species seen every day without any effort..

Jackdaw, Rook, Magpie, Starling, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Robin, Woodpigeon and  Black-headed Gull.

and I estimate a total number of 50,000 birds seen over the 4 weeks.

Best day? - the 11.2 (Four together again) - 74 species.

My Mother’s garden amazed me - she puts out some food sporadically in her small suburban back yard - 90% lawn, surrounded by various plants and shrubs - species included House Sparrow, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Magpie, Starling, Wood Pigeon, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Siskin, Blue and Great Tits, Robin, Wren, Dunnock,Black-headed Gull and, overhead or on the roof, Rook, Jackdaw, Mistle Thrush and Oystercatcher (overhead only, smartass!) In a nearby garden (and probably in hers too, although I didn’t see it) - Long-tailed Tits. In the park in front of her house - Redwings and Linnet!

Mammals - we saw Rabbits twice, although they are more obvious in the Spring/Summer, deer that I assume were Red Deer on three occasions in the hills, Grey Seals in Dublin and on the way to Cape Clear, a Stoat in Co Sligo, but most surprising I guess was the number, and confiding nature, of the Foxes in the suburbs. We saw at least 4 individuals in and around Mum’s garden - on our last morning one almost came in her back door after eating some food left out for the birds while we all watched 5 meters away from the dining room window!

Photos - retained about 730 photos. Mostly family and scenery. The birds are not as confiding in Ireland as here in Australia - and it’s always harder when one is on holiday and trying to get everything in in minimum time! I’ll post some of them to the site when I get them all sorted….

So, back in Oz, defintely defrosted (26 degrees), recovering from the time travel and planning to go to Inskip Pt for the week….. an interesting contrast!

On our return to Dublin from Sligo (nothing to report in terms of birds) on Monday I had planned to try on Tuesday morning and Richard was expecting me. Due to completely unforeseen family decisions late on Monday night the Tuesday appt became impossible and I had to cry off. Tuesday’s forecast – northerly winds, below zero temps, possibly sleet or snow….. I went to bed late on Tuesday night, having forewarned my Mum, after a few drinks at her party, that I was going to make the attempt at 6.30 next morning unless we were snow bound. (As we’re leaving Thursday I only had 2 more opportunities and I really didn’t fancy Thursday morning – the horror and chaos that would cause? I’d NEVER be forgiven or forgotten, it just wouldn’t be worth it!) 

 6.30 Crawled out of bed in the pitch dark, dragged on every piece of clothing I could lay hands on, drank half a cup of coffee, before realising it was already 7.00 and a 45 minute drive as well as getting fuel and it was going to be close…

I made it to Glendalough at 7.50. Light had broken over the lake at 7.45. I knew the Goosanders wouldn’t hang around. Heading out towards the lakeside I looked at the surrounding mountains noting the white deposits and seeing the patches of ice in the grass at my feet. It was cold as an eskimo’s ass. (NO, I have no personal experience, but I’m positive they are really, really, really cold…)

The lake was calm, reflecting the sleet-dusted mountains. Peering thru the leaveless trees I could see some grey shapes thru my watering contact lens further up the other end of the shore line. Unloading the ‘scope I saw the distinct shape, head colour and poise of 14 Goosanders (tick) before the lens fogged up! WOW! They were much greyer than I had imagined and bigger somehow. Most were in the water, though, as I watched, a couple strode out onto the beach and one individual sat up on a log or rock preening happily. Excellent – it was all worth it, Eskimo ass and all! I moved in to try to picture them and got a fair bit closer. Then, whether it was because of me, or a normal manoeuvre, all 14 birds casually swan together out onto the lake for about 150 meters, turned and all took off as one, flying over my head down the valley – at 8.06. They were gone.

As I walked back to the car, a Dipper allowed me close approach, unfortunately between the low light levels and my cold-shaking the pictures were a little blurred.

I decided to try for Crossbills as I had the time in hand and so headed off up the road for Sally Gap. This is high in the Wicklow Mountains and the road climbed steely up the glen. White patches of sleet started to appear beside the road and then on the road. As it flattened out into a more gentle rise I tried the brakes. The car was holding – the sleet was wet and not packing down, OK, I slowed and cornered carefully. No other car had travelled this way this morning and so I was extra cautious. Another couple of hundred meters and I tried the brakes again, the car slid slightly. I knew I had several kilometres to go across higher moorland and doubt was setting in. A bit further and I stopped and walked around the car….mmmm, not real happy, Jack. Uncomfortable feeling. The Puegot 106 is not designed for 4Wdriving and I did not want to be the first to try it. Discretion was the better part of valour, so I turned carefully and headed back down to the valley. Crossbills can wait. There’ll be another time.  A Peregrine overhead and then perched on a rock was some compensation.

I tried again for Sally Gap from the other end of Roundwood – same result, backed off when I hit slippery sleet.

Probably my last birding trip in Ireland, at this stage. It’s been good – for a non-birding trip! I’ll put a list together for any interested parties – when I’m back in Oz and defrosted!

Cheers,

I had ‘suggested’ we stop in Galway for a break in the drive from Ennis to Sligo – where we were headed to see my Aunt and cousins. It had been a well thought out strategy of organising everyone else for ‘coffee’ and mmmm, while I’m here I might as well…… It didn’t quite work out like that, my ulterior motive was easily spotted, but I was granted an hour while coffee was pursued..

An hour.

An hour - to see Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, Ring-billed Gull maybe? American Herring Gull? and maybe a Ross’s Gull or some other extreme rarity? Forester’s Tern had been present for weeks/months and I had very specific directions.

An hour - to search among the hundreds, of Black-headed, Herring, Great Black-backed and Common Gulls in all stages of plumage – it was a big ask. I prayed I would meet a local birder who could assist in my Quest. I have seen Glaucous Gull before, but for some reason never locked into an Iceland and Ring-billed are a recent addition to the Irish list – the others were just visions hovering in front of the bonnet of the Pugeot 106 (Yeah – go on, laugh) as we hurtled north towards my Appointment with Destiny.

Waving the others off on THEIR quest – a decent cappachino – I marched manfully down to the swan feeding area – no other description fits – and eagerly scanned the flocks of Gulls. Nothing jumped into my initial view so I moved on towards the river mouth just waiting for that moment of triumph….

Ah ha – there a Glaucous Gull in clear view, pictures taken, I moved on quickly, 48 minutes to go… almost immediately – a Ring-billed Gull (tick) – now I’m foaming at the mouth, come on, come on stop preening, give us a view of the bill.. click, click, click, caught for ever in digital heaven and moving on, screening, searching, smaller, light coloured gulls, there must be ONE Iceland, surely? – there were 12 or something the other day, come ON….40 minutes to go…

OK – OK, calm down – Iceland are EASY – let’s go for something rarer, the Tern – head off across the grass to the sand frontage…the tide is out, shit, lots of gulls, waders and a few herons out on the weed covered rocks. Squinting into the sun I stumbled thru the shingle and over the seaweed, looking, looking, dying to relieve myself, looking, looking…..Black-headed Gulls abounded, Bar-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Turnstones, Herring Gulls, looking for a smaller, short legged white bird that would surely be sitting on top of a rock? What’s that? In the water, washing, it’s a bloody tern, BEAUTY!! There shouldn’t be any other terns in Ireland in winter, although Richard had mentioned the possibility of the odd (repeat odd) Sandwich Tern…… closer, closer, scope trembling, deep breath, …hang on,,,yellow tip to the bill? Don’t remember that! Oh Shhhhiiiitttt, it’s got to be the only freaking Sandwich Tern this side of the freaking equator…. OK OK deep breath look again, SHIT THERE’S ANOTHER TERN!!! This has GOT to be it….. WHATTTTTTTT! Another bloody yellow tip to the FREAKING BILL – what is this Sandwich tern convention time???? WAIT WAIT there’s ANOTHER TERN – AND IT HAS A YELLOW TIP TO THE FREAKING BILL TOOOOOOO!

20 minutes to go and now Iceland Gull is VERY, VERY attractive!! Legging it back to the quay, bladder straining, eyes watering, trying to roll a fag at the same time, mumbling about birds that don’t migrate when they should and the ‘possiblity’ of a Sandwich Tern, Oh Yeah??? How about the possibility of shoving one where the freaking sun don’t shine??? Huh?? Huh???

So – now it’s Iceland Gull time… yeah, no sweat looking for a medium size gull with very pale plumage just standing waiting for ME ………search, black wing tips, black wing tips, too dark and it’s got black wing tips, too big and it’s go black wing tips, too small and it’s got the same wingtips…..in the distance I see my Mother waving her arms.. I briefly considered ignoring her as she was 10 minutes early, but then I slumped…….

I’d had my chance.

I’d reached my Holy of Holies and failed miserably.

I’d tried and I hadn’t made the mark.

I would be one of the birders who quietly exited stage left and never mentioned their lack of skill, their inability to be the ONE. To be the birder who found The Bird.

I put my equipment in the boot and climbed sadly into the driver’s seat (pushed my feet thru the hole in the floor and started to pedal away….no, really the car isn’t quite THAT bad!)

I turned and headed out of the car park towards the road for Sligo, towards the road of the rest of my life……….

How could I face anyone and tell them I’d been to Nimmo’s Pier and hadn’t seen the Tern or even an Iceland Gull or 4?

Then again – how many can say they saw three, count ‘em, 1, 2, 3 Sandwich Terns in NW Ireland in winter? Huh? Huh? I urged the car to 80, raised my chin and looked defiantly out at the passers by –Beat THAT, ya Buggers!

(NB Apologies to Richard – no harm intended, you’re in no danger Tern invasion.)

(PS If YOU have seen 3 or more Sandwich Terns in Ireland ect ect please keep it to yourself – my self esteem is low enough, thanks very much!)

17.2 Mum’s birthday - and the reason for the trip. So far as birds are concerned we didn’t do much on The Day - wet and windy, stayed in abd around the Hotel. Few Fieldfares and Redwings around first thing in the morning - other than that, nothing worth reporting. Celebratory meal in the evening that cost a morgage, but that’s eating out in Ireland…

Anyway, today, 18.2, woke to white frost and ice everywhere. Looked like someone had sprayed the golf course outside with a can of white paint. K & J played with the ice and took photos. Same birds as above but more somehow finding food in the grass. After breakfast off to the Cliffs of Moher, about an hour’s drive away. Big construction going on as they are building an underground info/visitor’s centre. Bit of ‘panic’ at first as we thought it might be ahotel, but the end result looks like it could be really neat. The cliffs haven’t changed - beautiful. Lots of Fulmars soaring along the steep rocks landing in impossible places. Kittiwakes perched lower down on invisible ledges, and lower down again thousands of Guillemots huddled together on sheer rock. I have seen Puffins here in the past, but couldn’t pick out any today despite the perfect, sunny, still weather - absolutely fantastic day.  It may well be, too, that they are not present in any numbers or at all in winter?

Took the usual scenic photos of each other balancing on the edge (not literally). That’s what I really like about it - there are some signs and a low fence of upright slate to waist high, other than that you can jump over the edge easily if you have a mind. (or don’t have a mind - whatever!) There are no high fences, barbed wire, security guards, minders, heavies, wardens or nosey bastards. It’s up to you to use your common sense and everyone does! I’m sure there are suicides/falls but with 700,000 people visiting every year they obviously expect people to behave rationally or die!

Went back to Lahinch and had lunch, and watched the Irish surfing fraternity come and go. I spoke to one young woman (from Cork) who had just come in. She was wearing (as most were) a 4.5mm full wetsuit, hood, booties and gloves and looked like she would not warm up this side of Easter. This is one of the hot spots for surfing, and it looked a bit like Noosa, but with a break from the left, rather than the right. The waves were more beach waves, but there were quite a few surfers riding them. Lot of female surfers - at least 50/50.

Then I took K & J and we drove down the coast to Spanish Pt, then back to the hotel via Milton-Malbay. The others are following on somewhere later. Had a rain shower on way back and it’s predicted to be -4 degrees tonight so probably ice ect in the morning again.

This time next week we’ll be back in Brisbane, it’s almost over. 

Sure enough floating just off shore as Richard had described I quickly identified at least 12 Med Gulls among the 60 or so Black-headed Gulls. In various plumages, from 1^st winter to adult in almost complete summer plumage, it was great to just sit and look at them in clear view 100 meters or less away. This is another bird which has become ‘common’ along the east coast since I left Ireland in 1980. Although I have been back a few times I haven’t had the chance to look for them before now.

I walked along the sea front to the East Pier and out along the back looking for Purple Sandpipers. It was high tide and none showed, probably roosting elsewhere. A couple of Linnets had me going for a minute or two and a Grey Seal checked me out near the end of the pier, but other than a Gulliemot there was nothing much else to be seen.

I walked back to the car, checked out the Med Gulls again and headed off to the West Pier. On the way I found I had misplaced my reading glasses. Turning back I checked the car park, to no avail. I didn’t have the time to walk the pier again and anyway I could have lost them anywhere, so abandoned hope and headed again for the West Pier.

It used to be the place to see Red-throated and Great Northern Divers, Scoter and Long –tailed Duck, Great-crested Grebes and Scaup, however since the local council cleaned up the sewage outlet the nutrient level has fallen, hence less fish ect and so the West Pier has lost the diversity of wintering species it once had. (I am talking 30 years ago, mind you!) This was evident today as there was nothing, not one, of the afore mentioned species in sight! There were two Black Gulliemots inside the harbour – one in summer and one in winter plumage, but other than that – nothing, nada, zilch, zippo.

I’m not sure whether to be happy at the cleanup or sad at the lack of birds – it’s a strange quandary to be in!

We picked up the hire car at 9.00 – a Peugeot 206 – and headed south on the Cork road. It’s 230 odd kms to Cork and at times the speed limit is 120 k/hr, however, the road goes through several towns and villages where the limit drops to 50 k/hr and tractors slow the traffic, along with large semi trailers and single lanes the trip to Cork took just over 3 hours. Finding our way through the tunnel and south again to Bandon, then Clonakilty, Skibereen and finally 5.5 hours after leaving Dublin – Baltimore. We were two hours early for the ferry leaving at 17.30, but the girls needed a break and we repaired from the wind and rain – good ol’ Irish weather – to a pub on the quay front. Kara discovered a message from my Mum to call her and when I did I found that Steve Wing, the warden at the bird observatory on the island, had called Richard to tell him, to tell me, that the weather forecast for a return trip from the island on Wednesday was not good and did I want to continue for maybe just one night? I decided we would go ahead, having driven all this way and I was very keen for the girls to experience Cape Clear.

17.00 and the ferry arrived – a few, obviously local, people jumped ashore and I checked with one of the crew. Yes, they were going back to the island at 17.30, and it was a bit ‘lumpy outside’. Jade is not the best traveller and had felt uncomfortable on the journey down. I had packed Kwells, but forgotten to bring them from Dublin (Good on ya, Dad) so consoled her (and myself) with the fact it was only a short boat trip and we probably would be too scared to get sick…. 

17.30 and we pulled away from the quay. For the first 20 minutes we sailed between protective islands and the boat wallowed only slightly over the shallow chop. We then reached more open water for the run across to Cape and the waves became steeper and the there was more spray in the air. Jade hung on on the open deck while I tried to distract her thoughts and Kara appeared to sleep in the interior seating area. Another 20 minutes and we were in the lee of the island as we slid into the tiny north harbour. Through the rain and wind I could see the lights of the Obs across the harbour – a welcoming sight. I always feel like I’m coming home, although I haven’t spent anywhere near as long on Cape as I would like. Steve met us on the harbour wall and we walked around to the Obs together. He showed us our rooms, beds already made up, and Kara immediately decide to go to bed – not really like her…..

Jade and I sat up with Steve and the pub was considered, but we didn’t feel like the walk up the hill in the rain and wind. Checking on Kara I found her stuffed up to the eyeballs, nose running, head pounding, legs aching, sounds like a touch of the flu.

Next morning I was up at 8.00, a quick coffee and out to a stiff SW wind, clear skies, sun shining, cold but not freezing. Wandered around the harbour and up the hill past Cotter’s garden taking photos and just enjoying being back. Returning to the Obs discovered the girls up and determined to do something, although Kara was definitely not well. Headed out with the ph no for the taxi service in my pocket just in case. Up the High road, around by the lake, across the fields to the Low Road (avoiding the cow pats, mud and watery patches as best we could) to the base of the gorge at Bullan. Then back by the Low road to the Waist and the Obs again. No birds of any great consequence, but this was not, primarily, a birding foray, but, hopefully, an introduction to Cape for the girls. I did see Fulmars (one of my very best favourite birds), 1 Manx Shearwater from the base of Bullan and 2 Choughs briefly. Kara held up well, but was not improving, neither were the sea conditions. We had some lunch and Steve went to talk to a few locals – general opinion was that the Naomh Ciaran would not be going back to Baltimore today, and the forecast appeared to imply if we didn’t get off today, we might be stuck for 2 or 3 days. This was not good news, however, when the ferry finally reappeared at 15.00 Steve and I enquired of the crew and ‘Yes’ they would be going back to the mainland at 16.00 if we wanted to go. I decided we did – between Kara’s condition and the importance of my Mum’s 80^th Birthday coming up I wasn’t willing to chance it so we packed our bags and hopped aboard at 15.55. Steve waved us off at the pier and one of my regrets was not having an opportunity to buy him a pint – they’re on me next time, mate.

The return journey was more exciting but much more stable than the outward one. With a following sea it looked like we would be swamped at any time, but the boat rode them easily and the only really concerned passengers were Jade and the 3 heifers in the trailer on the deck with us!

Black Gulliemots in Summer plumage, Fulmars, a couple of Gannets and heaps of fishing Shags seen on the way back, before piling off the boat and into the car in driving rain, again.

I decided not to stop on the way and so, apart from petrol and a brief phone call, drove straight through to Dublin arriving home at 22.15. The weather was abysmal all the way back the only time the wind-screen wipers were off was in the tunnel at Cork. It was a wild ride!

It’s been 30 odd years since we were together. Richard is the only one of us still living locally. Dermot had come down from Belfast, Timmy had flown, with his daughter, from Inverness in Scotland and, of course, I had dragged my sorry ass from Oz. But here we were again the four amigos, older, balder, fatter, and no wiser, heading off for a day’s birding! Tim and Dermo picked me up at 7.30 and we met at Richard’s place to head south to Wexford.

On the way we told each other what we had been doing for the last 3 decades and reminisced on our past experiences together. We did a lot of laughing!

Our first search was for Slavonian Grebes (tick) off the coast – they took some finding and along the way we had Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-throated Divers, Common Scoters and, believe it or not, Dermo heard some Crossbills which we failed to locate. But find the Grebes we did – 2 winter plumage birds bobbing on the waves.  Tim flushed a Snipe in the dunes and we caught a brief glimpse of a wintering Chiffchaff back at the carpark.

Arriving at the North Slob I was surprised to find the hides that had obviously been built some time ago. In ‘our day’ no such thing existed! From the first hide we could see Pochard, Scaup, Pintail, Brent Geese, hundreds of Whooper Swans and a recently arrived flock of ~ 160 Bewick’s Swans. There were also Shelduck (a favourite of mine), Wigeon, Dabchicks, Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Teal, Mallard and, of course, hundreds of White-fronted Geese for which the Slobs are internationally famous. We went on to the second hide at the visitor’s centre. A number of Tree Sparrows fed in the grounds outside along with Great Tits, a Wren (both of which I managed to capture digitally) and Greenfinches. 

From the Tower hide we had a better view of the White-fronts and, after a few minutes a flock of 10 Pink-footed Geese were spotted. Redshanks fed in the ponds below and a few hundred meters away a larger flock of ~ 30 Tree Sparrows feed on spilled grain. As we watched a Peregrine flew in and harassed a flock of feral pigeons, then landed in the field and sat calmly preening while the other birds settled down again.

On to Lady’s Island Lake and a meeting with God! Well, not quite, but in Ireland and, in fact, international, birding circles Killian Mullarney comes close! Co-author of Collin’s Field Guide to British and European Birds, I remembered him as a younger (by several years!) long blonde haired birder with sketching abilities I was in awe of. We met near the shrine at LIL and I was flattered he remembered me probably better than I wish to publicly acknowledge here! We all had lunch together while we watched a couple of Ruddy Duck (tick) and the occasional Med Gull among the hundreds of Black-headed Gulls on the lake. Killian showed me how he uses a video camera for digiscoping – great idea - and we all took some photos to commemorate the re-meet!

On to Carnsore Pt for another trip down memory lane – now you can drive to the point, we used to have to walk.  A wind farm has been established just behind the point and the day was turning into a clear demonstration of the potential of that site! In the howling wind we looked for Gannets and checked through the Gulls on the beach. Of course when you are with someone as legendary as KM one expects a rarity… it wasn’t to be, however, we did spot one Gannet offshore as we piled back into the cars for the drive to Tacumshin, Killian’s stamping ground. As we arrived so did the rain and after a quick look at a couple of spots (Gadwall were the highlight for me here) we decided to call it a day and headed to the nearest pub.

We spent an hour or so talking about past times, plans and birding in general then, said our goodbyes to Killian and the four aging amigos piled back into Richard’s car and headed home – a couple of us fell asleep on the way, luckily Richard wasn’t one of them…

Meeting for dinner in Dun Laoghaire we brought our daughters (my two, Kara and Jade, & Tim’s Sorcha), our mothers (mine, Vivian, and Tim’s, Delma) and partners (Richard’s Sandra) and finished the day with a long meal, lots of photos and, finally, a few beers in Tim’s Mum’s place. A suggestion was made to meet in Hungary or Poland in a couple of year’s time for another birding trip together- Guys, we have to do it!!

Dropping down from the mountains we stopped at Valtry Resevoir  and ‘scoped a Great Crested Grebe in summer plumage, Wigeon, Dabchicks, Mute Swans and Grey Heron from the road. A stop at a filed nearby produced a flock of Redwings and Fieldfares in brilliant plumage and I managed to get some good shots.

On to Newcastle and the Birdwatch Ireland (Richard’s employer) Reserve. Stopped off on the way (just up the road) to see a Common Buzzard worm searching in a ploughed field. Buzzards have become quite a common sight on the east coast but this was my first one in Ireland since Antrim in the ‘70s.

There had been a Firecrest seen in Newcastle a few days previously – a rare species in Ireland – it too had departed today (and hasn’t been seen since), but we did get 4 Bramblings among hundreds of Linnets and Chaffinches, and flushed a Jack Snipe as well as a Common Snipe. We stopped off at Birdwatch’s headquarters in Newcastle to replenish our hot water and meet some of the staff then north along the coast back towards Dublin.

It’s getting late in the afternoon now and so a quick dash for Sandycove and a search for Med (Mediterranean) Gull. None at their usual haunt just off the rocks so on to Sandymount Strand. (I was really feeling sorry for Richard at this stage, as we didn’t seem to be having any luck with the ‘tickable’ birds for me! – however, I know nothing is guaranteed where wildlife is concerned and I was just enjoying the day’s birding)

Success at last – a cold walk, as the sun dropped, out onto the low tide sand flats and a couple of Med Gulls (tick) are spotted far out on the edge of the tide among thousands of Black-headed, Herring and Great-black backed. Identification features noted and a faster return to the slightly warmer more sheltered shore line. Along the way I got some shots of Brent Geese – amazingly tame – feeding in the shallow pools. There were Knot, Teal, Mallard, Red and Green shanks and Black-tailed Godwit in the Booterstown March reserve where we drank coffee (Thaaannnnkk God!) and waited (in vain) for a Water Rail to put in a late afternoon appearance, before repairing to the glorious heat of the Punchbowl pub and a smooth pint of Guinness.

A good day’s birding around Wicklow – 64 species in all. Not high by some standards but just great to get among some old ‘faces’ with a good friend.

Well, been in Ireland now for a week. Spent most of our time in and around Dublin. My Mum’s garden is bird friendly and we have had Blue and Great Tits, Greenfinches and Chaffinches as well as the common Starlings, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, House Sparrows, Magpies and a Wren. To my surprise there were 3 Siskins at one of the peanut filled feeders! In the past I have had to go looking for Siskins in or near pine plantations. According to a birding friend, Richard, they are more common in gardens now, during the colder months and, speaking of colder months…. there was frost in the fields and on the car the morning we arrived. Since then it’s been cold, but not freezing. Only a little rain yesterday afternoon and night.

Last weekend we went to stay at a bungalow (one story brick house!) near Inch south of Arklow, 100 kms south of Dublin. It was located in the country - farms, narrow roads, hedgerows, ect ect. I did a couple of local walks there and got Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tits, Dipper, Song and Mistle Thrush, Pied and Grey Wagtails, Hooded Crow and a small flock of Redwings. Everywhere, of course, there are Wood Pigeons, Rooks and Jackdaws. On the Sunday morning I drove to a wetlands, described by Richard, south of Courtown. Thousands of Wigeon, Lapwings, Black-tailed Godwits, hundreds of Pintail, Teal, Curlew and Knot. All backed by the gigantic towers and slowly revolving blades of a windfarm. 35 Whooper Swans in a distant pond and off the coast - Red-throated Divers, Shags, Cormorants and a lone Guillemot. Black-headed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls all along the coast.

On one of the ‘Dublin’ days I took the girls (my teenage daughters) down to Dalkey on the southern end of Dublin Bay, to show them some of my former birding haunts. (They are very patient when it comes to this!) We had a look at Dalkey Island and Vico Rd and Killiney then I drove to Bullock Harbour where we ‘discovered’ 2 seals feeding on fish carcases dumped by the local fishermen. The seals are used to people and came very close, much to our excitement. I got some shots of Turnstones and Oystercatchers and a Cormorant along with the seals.

Went to a Birdwatch Ireland meeting last night and heard about a Firecrest being seen yesterday near Newcastle. Tomorrow morning Richard is picking me up at 7.15 - late? Sun doesn’t come up until 8.00… and we’re off for a day’s birding, starting with Goosander …..I hope!

Anyway until next time - ‘Slan leat’