Day 21 Thursday 1.4.20
I hung around after breakfast and spent some time on the phone with home.
Then headed off to Deerpark once again for my daily constitutional. It was a bit warmer – in relative terms, still being only 8C feels like 5C but it seemed to have brought the crowds out.
Crowds might be an exaggeration, but certainly there were more walkers, pram pushers, children and dogs than on previous visits.
I wandered through the woods seeing mostly stuff I’d seen previously, but scoring a new trip tick as well as a site tick - and a bird not even recorded on E-Bird in the three lists recorded therein – a female Eurasian Bullfinch.
I was very pleased, and a little surprised, to see one in this degraded habitat – it wasn’t really ‘Bullfinch Habo’. I also had Common Chaffinchs (3) and Eurasian Goldfinches (4) so it was a bit of a finch morning. Good views of two Mistle Thrushes today as well, with lots of European Blue and Great Tits. Total list – 16 species (inc. 4 Grey Squirrels)
I know its not very exciting, but as I said yesterday, one takes one’s pleasures where one gets them these days and there’s always a small thrill and sense of accomplishment when one adds to one’s patch list, no matter how small that ‘victory’ may be!
I spent some time painting again and then an hour on the phone with Mr W in the UK – good to be in contact again and catch up on all the personal news.
Late in the afternoon I went to Aldi and picked up a few items easily and quickly including an 8 pack of Guinness cans. I couldn’t find a big enough glass to take a can so split it between two smaller glasses. It seemed to go down quacker ……eh quicker, shit……one can and I’m half f………d.
Covid-19
Australia: 4,864 and 21.
Ireland: 3,447 and 85
UK: 29,474 and 2,352
USA: 205,438 and 4,528
Italy and Spain now have more than 100,000 cases each and a total in excess of 22,000 deaths between them.
Total: 86
Day 22 Thursday 2.4.20
It was another grey, cold, cloudy, windy morning so I chose not to go for my daily exercise till later. I, again, spent time on the phone with home, always a great way to start a day. I called Mum too, to find her in good form and accepting of the situation, understanding her isolation may continue beyond the 22nd April.
I sort of hung around a bit then did some more painting – the final coat on the walls.
I went for a walk at 15.30 when I had hoped the wind would ease, but it hadn’t much. It had, though, 'warmed up' and the 5 layers I had on were a little too much – 9 degrees, feels like 5.
No new birds today, in fact, the shortest list so far, but I had brought the camera so took some photos.
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| The new environment |
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| Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis |
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| Mistle Thrush |
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| Common Primrose Primula vulgaris - it is a wild flower, but whether this specimen is wild or a local garden escape, I don't know. |
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| Three-cornered Leek |
And some Irish for ya....
On the news the Taoiseach (T-shock) announced the expected news – the lockdown is expected to be extended beyond the 12th April. I would think it’ll go to at least the end of the month. Assessment late next week apparently.
Covid-19
Australia: 5,139 and 25.
Ireland: 3,849 (+402) and 98 (+13), a sharp increase overnight. Testing is back-logged so I’d expect a big increase in the next week or so as results come back from Germany where thousands have been sent.
UK: 33,718 and 2,921 – an extra 569 deaths overnight.
USA: 235,190 and 5,601.
Italy: An overnight spike of 760 deaths brought their total deaths to 13,915.
Spain had the biggest one day death rate of 968.
Total: 86
Day 23 Friday 3.4.20
Today I was supposed to be heading for a week on the west coast with my lover, however, The Big V put a stop to that so, instead, I walked up to Deerpark again.
I had decided to go on an early foray to see if 1. The birds were more active and 2. There were, hopefully, less people around.
I left home at 8.30 and wandered around the woodland for an hour or so – the birds were a bit more active, but there seemed to be less of them, as there were, thankfully, people.
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| Deerpark |
Again nothing new but I did have a pair of Eurasian Bullfinches this time which was very nice, the male showing well in the weak sunlight.
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| Male Eurasian Bullfinch |
As I watched it, a Goldcrest jumped into the picture, as it were, unusually low down. They usually hang out in tall conifers and I’ve never been successful in getting photos before, so this made me happy. Again, small successes in the current environment!
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| Goldcrest |
The usual numbers of Common Blackbirds and Eurasian Blue Tits through the woods.
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| Male Common Blackbird |
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| Eurasian Blue Tit |
I was hoping for an incoming Chiffchaff or even a Willow Warbler and thought I heard the former, but was unable to locate it visually. I’m sure in future days these are good possibilities at this site, if only passing through on spring migration. They are being seen at several locations around the country at present.
I headed home for a cooked breakfast and back to the painting, couch-lying, Netflix-watching and nana-napping.
Covid-19
The number of cases worldwide today exceeds 1,000,000 with more than 58,000 dead.
Australia: 5,350 cases and 28 deaths.
Ireland: 4,273 and 120 dead – an additional 424 cases and 22 deaths overnight.
UK: 38,168 and 3,605 – a jump of 684 deaths.
USA: Now leads the world with 272,925 cases and 7,004 deaths.
France: 64,338 and 6,507 deaths – the biggest single increase so far with 1,120 deaths overnight.
Total: 86
Day 24 Saturday 4.4.20
I saw a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes (Irish name – Sionnach) from my bedroom window trotting along the pavement across the road shortly after I got up at 7.30. Foxes are very common in Dublin suburbs but this was my first one on this trip.
After breakfast and phone calls I started to paint again, wanting to get a coat on the door and give it time to dry before a second coat same day.
I went for my usual walk around 10.30. It was a much ‘warmer’ morning with a small westerly breeze and my phone told me it was ’11 degrees feels like 8’. I only had 3 layers on top and my jacket hung open…..
Thanks to this ‘balmy’ weather, the park was busier than normal and it appeared some of the trees were already breaking into tentative leaf and bud.
Almost immediately I saw a pair of Eurasian Bullfinches and later a single male far enough away to be considered a third bird. I keep harping on about these birds because, again, it doesn’t strike me as typical Bullfinch habitat and they’re always an impressive bird to see. Some years I haven’t seen them at all when visiting.
The rest was the usual stuff and this morning I saw about 8 Grey Squirrels – double the number I’ve seen before. Once again little excitements in my own ‘patch’, pathetic though it may seem.
Speaking of pathetic…. here are some links to videos to enthrall and amaze you in your hours of boredom…
Common Blackbird https://youtu.be/PQz4SzWWtyA
Eurasian Magpie https://youtu.be/YsiTn9kG39A
European Robin https://youtu.be/g4hIKqpsTXg
On a slightly different note – and because I’ve really nothing else to talk about – most of the houses in my immediate area are standard Dublin styles – either in a row, like my Mum’s, or semi-detached. These two houses, though, on the Stillorgan road, have been here for as long as I can remember. I have no idea how old they are, but the wear and tear suggests quite a few years, certainly I would think, well before I was born. These sort of buildings turn up here and there, as though left behind as progress built up around them. I could be wrong, but I reckon they could be over 100 years old.
Yeah, exciting eh?
Speaking to my youngest daughter in Brisbane she described to me the queues at the shops – we have that here too – and, more importantly, sent me photos of the empty shelves. The reports I have seen repeatedly have depicted incredibly disappointing behavior by people in relation to perceived low supply or absence of some products.
What is wrong with people?
I find it difficult to believe that that is happening in Australia. Have the supply chains failed or is it, as I suspect, the paranoia and selfishness of people buying up everything, every day?
The situation is not good, but it’s far from desperate.
Or is it the media picking up the extreme behavior of a small number of people? In all honesty I have seen no reports of any fighting over toilet paper or abusing retail staff or spitting or coughing on other people here in Ireland. I’m not suggesting that there are no greedy, selfish, abusive people in Ireland – I’m 100% sure there are – but I’ve seen no evidence of that behavior in the current circumstances. There has been a small amount of anecdotal reports from the UK – but its been more along the lines of people not self isolating as directed, treating it like a joke or assuming it doesn’t apply to them.
Seeing the full shelves in supermarkets and the apparent respectful behavior here, where the number of cases and death rate in relation to the population (5 million) is a much higher percentage in comparison to the same facts in Australia (pop 25 million), I wonder what its going to be like when it gets REALLY serious there, assuming it does.
Is it that Australians just have too much disposable money and can afford to buy way more than they need, all the time? It’s embarrassing to see this behavior in a country that can produce all its own food and materials at an almost unlimited level. Yeah at times, here, in the last few weeks there have been limited supplies of things like rice and pasta on the shelves, but within a few hours its fully stocked again, and toilet paper, as the best current example, has been freely available on the shelves for the past 10 days or so – as any sane person would expect.
I just think Australians have had it too easy, too long and have no idea how to cope in a reasonable, selfless and community minded manner when the going MIGHT get tough.
God help us all when/if the shit really hits the fan.
Covid-19
Australia: 5,550 and 30 deaths.
Ireland: Another 331 cases and 17 deaths. Total: 4,604 and 137.
UK: 41,903 and 4,313 – an additional 708 deaths overnight.
USA: 300,106 and 8,141.
Total: 86
Day 25 Sunday 5.4.20
I woke to a sunny, bright, relatively warm-out-of-the-wind morning – but the southeasterly was blowing strong enough to encourage a seawatch. (14 Feels like 11)
I hung around for a while, spent some time on the phone to home, saw a Grey Squirrel in the back garden, then set off late morning on my usual preamble.
The woods were busy and the wind shit. I didn’t see much as a result – in fact I had the shortest list for Deerpark so far, so just headed home.
Of course, as it always happens, back home outside Mum’s garden a Peacock Inachis io, spread itself on the warm cement.
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| Peacock Inachis io |
I retired to the couch, Netflix and alcohol – and spent an hour on the phone with Mr H.
Covid-19
Australia: 5,687 and 35
Ireland: 4,994 and 158. Considering several thousands test results returned from Germany today – or so we understand – this is a surprisingly low increase.
UK: 47,806 and 4,934. And the latest news at 21.00 is that the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has been transferred to hospital for ‘tests’ as part of his treatment for a 10 day old coronavirus infection. He remains the only head of state (I believe) to be affected so far.
The UK government have also threatened to increase the restrictions to remove any excuse to exercise whatsoever, if the ‘small number of people currently ignoring the current rules’ do not obey the restrictions already in place, which include 1 hour of exercise per day, and no unnecessary travel or groups of more than 2.
The Queen delivered a speech to the nation and the commonwealth regarding the situation. It will be interesting to see if that has any effect on the 'small number of people currently ignoring the current rules'.
USA: 332,993 and 9,528 (an increase of over 1,000 deaths in 24 hours, again). Trump warns the American people that the next week will see ‘lots of death’ – I believe that situation will continue for several weeks in the States.
Italy and Spain believe they may have ‘flattened the curve’ as the number of deaths reduce – ‘only’ 525 and 471 in the past 24 hours respectively.
Again the stats quoted above have been extracted from
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus
Total: 86
Day 26 Monday 6.4.20
A bright, sunny, ‘warm’ morning, but again the southeasterly wind was constant, occasionally gusting strong enough to blow a Wren inside out, but not cold - `12C feels like 11C.’
I spent some time on the phone again with home, so didn’t start off till 9.45.
I knew it was a 2.8km walk to the park so technically I was breaking the rules by exceeding the 2km limit. But I felt it wasn’t really endangering myself or anyone else for 800 meters….
I had considered driving down to the shopping center to reduce the walk somewhat, but as it was a lovely morning opted to walk.
It took me 30 minutes or so to get there. The park was a normal suburban park with open ground and scattered trees. The big attraction was a small pond (about a quarter the size of Minnippi) surrounded by a fence hosting a handful of Northern Mallard (real ones, not dumped, plastic birds), 3 Tufted Duck, half a dozen Common Moorhens and 2 Grey Wagtails showed well.
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| Tufted Duck - showing off his tuft |
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| Female Grey Wagtail |
Video of same Wagtail
And, here, for your amazement and education is the same in Gaelic..
Lá 26 Dé Luain 6.4.20 Maidin gheal, ghrianmhar, ‘te’, ach arÃs bhà gaoth an oirdheiscirt seasmhach, ó am go chéile ag gusting láidir go leor chun Dryw a shéideadh istigh, ach nà fuar - mothaÃonn `12C mar 11C. ' Chaith mé tamall ar an bhfón arÃs leis an mbaile, mar sin nÃor thosaigh mé go dtà 9.45. Bhà a fhios agam gur siúlóid 2.8km chuig an bpáirc a bhà ann agus mar sin go teicniúil bhà mé ag briseadh na rialacha trÃd an teorainn 2km a shárú. Ach bhraith mé nach raibh sé i mbaol mé féin nó aon duine eile ar feadh 800 méadar…. Bhà machnamh déanta agam ar thiomáint sÃos go dtà an t-ionad siopadóireachta chun an tsiúlóid a laghdú beagán, ach toisc gur maidin bhreá a bhà ann roghnaigh mé siúl. Thóg sé 30 nóiméad nó mar sin dom dul ann. Gnáthpháirc bruachbhailte a bhà sa pháirc le talamh oscailte agus crainn scaipthe. Ba é an tarraingt mór lochán beag (thart ar an ceathrú cuid de mhéid Minnippi) timpeallaithe ag fál ina raibh dornán de Thuaisceart Mallard (cinn fhÃor, nach dumpáladh, éin phlaisteacha), 3 lacha stothach, leath dosaen de Mhóinteach Coiteann agus 2 Wagtails Liath léirigh go maith.
(And, No, I didn't translate it, Prof Google did.....)
At one end a small overgrown island and a short stretch of willows and reeds suggested good cover for small passerines.
I had seen a list on EBird from 3rd April that included Common Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap – these were my target birds.
It took some time but I eventually did find a Common Chiffchaff and, on the overgrown island, a Willow Warbler. Which was pretty exciting!
In a corner of the park a more overgrown area of trees through which small kids played hide and seek, I found a few Eurasian Blue Tits, Great Tits and, surprise, surprise, another pair of Eurasian Bullfinches! And here I thought they weren’t common in suburbia - I’m starting to feel like a Bullfinch-whisperer. I dipped on the Blackcap, but maybe next time. Total list 20 species, 4 trip ticks.
Dunnock - he had been singing, but the little kid who walked up to me (social distancing?) put him off - still nice video of a Dunnock, I think.......
I headed home through the surrounding warren of cul-de-sacs, side roads and laneways. My phone showed I’d walked 7 kms which was OK and no drama as regards breaking the rules…..
The afternoon was spent finishing off the bathroom, cleaning up the paint edges where they met the tiles, restoring the hardware to the door ect. Late in the afternoon the wind died off completely and a short light rain shower dampened things down.
After dinner I went to Aldi. This time I had to queue for about 10 minutes to get in. Once again most things were in stock – or showed the result of a busy day, rather than missing stock. Probably best to early in the morning, rather than late in the day.
Covid-19
Australia: 5,795 and 41 – and, apparently approx 2,300 people have recovered
Ireland: 5,364 and 174. Only 16 deaths overnight and an expectation that testing will increase to 4,500 tests a day.
UK: 5,168 and 5,373. 439 deaths overnight and the PM still in hospital, still ‘running the country’.
USA: 356,414 and 10,490 deaths – an additional 874 and Trump still making stupid, contradictory statements. Why do all good Americans put up with this wanker?
Italy and Spain’s death rates continued to reduce (636 and 528) while France’s spiked again @ 833.
Germany, despite having a bigger case load than China – 101,558 - has only sustained 78 deaths which is either a remarkable result or they haven’t hit their peak fully yet. They were a few days behind Italy and Spain in the spreading pandemic.
Now there’s talk of people being antibody tested to ascertain if they have had Covid-19 and, if they have, being given a Clearance Passport of some sort so they can ‘return to normal’ This, in my opinion is not a particularly brilliant plan.
Firstly, if the passport becomes real, how many people will 1. Fake one and 2. Deliberately get the virus so they can, as they see it, get over it to get a passport?
And secondly. At the moment only 1.3 million people have been affected. Does that mean the rest of the world’s 7 BILLION people remain in lockdown or are restricted in some other way, for example, travel? I wouldn’t hold out much hope for the airline industries if that WAS the case. 1.3 million wouldn’t be going very far.
Total: 90
Day 27 Tuesday 7.4.20
A lovely morning – bright sunshine, blue skies, almost no wind. So I headed down early to Carysfort Park again. After my relative success yesterday I didn’t want to waste the morning. I was on site after the walk at 8.45 and the park was much quieter people-wise.
The Tufted Duck numbers had increased from 3 yesterday to 14 and there was a fair bit of general bird activity around the pond.
I hung around the pond for a half an hour or so, then walked the park perimeter without much to write home about, but back at the pond a male Eurasian Blackcap popped up in the overhanging willows, followed shortly afterwards by a Common Chiffchaff. I was happy with the Blackcap, although having seen dozens last year in places like Finland, it was great to find a returning spring migrant in Dublin. They are not exactly common in Ireland, widespread, I think, would be the best description?
That was about it for bird excitement, topped off the list at 19 species plus a Grey Squirrel.
The trees really getting into the Spring act, with leaves appearing and the birds all showing signs of breeding – flirting, mating, singing, nest building. I could really feel spring in the air.
Bird list for Carysfort park after 2 visits:
| 1 | Northern Mallard |
| 2 | Tufted Duck |
| 3 | Common Moorhen |
| 4 | European Herriong Gull |
| 5 | Common Wood Pigeon |
| 6 | Collared Dove |
| 7 | Grey Wagtail |
| 8 | Eurasian Wren |
| 9 | Dunnock |
| 10 | Eurasian Blackcap |
| 11 | Willow Warbler |
| 12 | Common Chiffchaff |
| 13 | European Robin |
| 14 | Common Blackbird |
| 15 | Song Thrush |
| 16 | Eurasian Blue Tit |
| 17 | Great Tit |
| 18 | Eurasian Bullfinch |
| 19 | House Sparrow |
| 20 | Eurasian Magpie |
| 21 | Western Jackdaw |
| 22 | Hooded Crow |
| Grey Squirrel |
Bird list for Deerpark after 6 visits:
| 1 | European Herring Gull |
| 2 | Common Wood Pigeon |
| 3 | Eurasian Wren |
| 4 | Goldcrest |
| 5 | European Robin |
| 6 | Common Blackbird |
| 7 | Mistle Thrush |
| 8 | Eurasian Blue Tit |
| 9 | Great Tit |
| 10 | Common Chaffinch |
| 11 | European Goldfinch |
| 12 | Eurasian Bullfinch |
| 13 | Common Starling |
| 14 | Eurasian Magpie |
| 15 | Western Jackdaw |
| 16 | Rook |
| 17 | Hooded Crow |
| Grey Squirrel |
I did nothing for the rest of the day apart from lie on the couch and doze.
Covid-19
Australia: 5,919 and 48.
Ireland: 5,709 and 210 deaths – the highest overnight death rate so far of 36.
UK: 55,242 and 6,159 – also the highest overnight death rate of 786.
USA: 384,244 and 12,139 – an additional 1,268 deaths.
For the first time, probably since December, China recorded no deaths overnight.
Total: 91
Day 28 Wednesday 8.4.20
A beautiful morning. Sunny, warm (12C feels like 12C), calm, clear and I headed up to Deerpark again for my morning preamble.
It was surprisingly quiet people-wise but the birds didn’t seem to have responded to the lack of kids and warmer weather. However, it did turn out to be an exciting morning, Covid-19-wise….
I found the Bullfinches again and the female was nest building watched closely by the male. In all my younger years nesting in Ireland when I can say, humbly, I found nests for most of the commoner Irish birds, I never did find a Bullfinch’s. This one is inaccessible anyway, being about 20 meters up an ivy-covered tree, but it was unexpected and surprising, once again, in this degraded habitat.
Shortly afterwards I added Song Thrush to my patch list – it too was collecting building material and I will try to find its nest in coming days. Song thrushes are another bird that used to be much more common. Not that they are rare, but they are much reduced in number thanks, in the main, to people using snail pellets to wipe out snails – their main food source - in their gardens. They are another bird I always like to see in Ireland.
Finally a pair of European Greenfinch’s showed briefly before flying into the distance – another site tick. This is another species that has been hammered over the past decade or so, but this time with some sort of virus………hmmmm, there’s something vaguely familiar about that, now if I can only put my finger on it……
I was standing looking up at the upper level tree branches trying to spot a couple of small birds when a voice said’ Are you deciding who stays and who goes?’
A woman passing with her dog was nearby.
I said ‘I beg your pardon?’
She repeated her question and I said ‘what do you mean?”
She said she thought I was an arborist deciding which trees should be taken out and which should stay.
Jesus, I’ve been taken for - and called - a lot of things in my life, but an arborist was something new.
I assured her that I wasn’t what she thought I was and that I hoped ALL the trees would stay as we didn’t have enough of them.
She agreed and was happy that I wasn’t who she thought I was and went on her way.
There’s always someone with a new perception.
So, a relatively good morning’s birding in this new life.
Back home I spent some time on the phone with Mr H wishing him a Happy day for his Birthday, then spent the rest of the day with Netflix and my E-reader.
Covid-19
Worldwide: 1.5 million cases, just under 90,000 dead.
Australia: 6,013 and 50 dead.
Ireland passed Australia in the listing with 6,074 and 235 dead, an increase of 25 overnight.
UK: 60,733 and 5,491. The biggest spike in the UK to date with 938 dying overnight. The PM is still in intensive care, but apparently is stable….
USA: 446,205 and 14,508. The biggest overnight death rate so far anywhere – 1,667. Trump is now attacking the WHO and threatening to withhold funding because ‘they called it wrong’. Typical of the wanker – as soon as doubt is thrown on his leadership, he blames someone else both to divert attention and avoid any responsibility. He’s such a lying moron and all Americans should share the blame – they will, unfortunately, bear the cost.
Italy and Spain spiked in deaths again, forestalling belief they were ‘plateauing’.
Wuhan in China – the epicenter of the virus outbreak – opened its borders again to allow people to travel.
Total: 91
Day 29 Thursday 9.4.20
A bit of a nothing day really. I went up to Aldi early in an attempt to avoid the queues. I didn’t manage it completely, being about 10th when I got there. I thought their process would be ‘one out, one in’ but as I watched approx 30 separate shoppers wheel their grocery-laden trollies past me, I wondered if there would be anything left by the time my turn came. When it did, the staff allowed a number of people in all at once – well, each person separated by 2 meters of course. It was a bit annoying, but once you KNOW that is what’s happening, it saves you standing there wondering WTF? When dozens of other happy shoppers are walking past you back to their car.
The queue had increased to about 30 people when I came out 15 minutes later after my quick shop.
I wonder if they will come up with a booking system – like, I’m booked on the 10.00 access slot – and then throw you out if you exceed maybe a 20 minute shop? OK that’s it grab what you got, pay up and GET OUT.
People could then start trading access groups on E-Bay. A 9am slot might be more expensive than a 2pm slot?
A black market would evolve “hey man, wanna buy a 10.20 slot at Aldi? Or I got a special on a 6pm slot at Woolworths?”
It could become a real issue.
Well, when people have nothing else to think about….
Like me.
Now.
In fact I just had a BRIILLANT idea! Get in a queue and when it builds up SELL your place in the queue to someone who has just arrived! Hey, mate, you can have my spot for 20 bucks! and then go to the back and start again! For all those entrepreneurs out there with time on their hands.
In fact I just had a BRIILLANT idea! Get in a queue and when it builds up SELL your place in the queue to someone who has just arrived! Hey, mate, you can have my spot for 20 bucks! and then go to the back and start again! For all those entrepreneurs out there with time on their hands.
Anyway, I sanded and put a coat of pain on the skirting board in the toilet. It had looked a bit shabby compared to the magnificently painted bathroom, ignoring of course, the tiles, new shower, new bathroom cabinet, new heated towel rail – but look at the PAINTING!!
That took up an hour or so, then I watched Netflix and dozed for the rest of the afternoon.
Mr W sent me a txt to advise a mega bird had been found in Ireland - a Western Sandpiper in Tachumsin, Co Wexford (found by Killian of course, who's the only birder living in that immediate area I think). Well, exciting and all that that might be, it wasn't exactly inspiring as it exceeds my allowable, offical movement by about 118 kms.........Thanks Mr W!! I did see a Long-tailed Tit flyby in the back garden this morning when hanging out the washing! Now THAT was exciting!!
Mr W sent me a txt to advise a mega bird had been found in Ireland - a Western Sandpiper in Tachumsin, Co Wexford (found by Killian of course, who's the only birder living in that immediate area I think). Well, exciting and all that that might be, it wasn't exactly inspiring as it exceeds my allowable, offical movement by about 118 kms.........Thanks Mr W!! I did see a Long-tailed Tit flyby in the back garden this morning when hanging out the washing! Now THAT was exciting!!
After my nana nap I decided to make dinner a la Jamie. He has a show on here at the moment called ‘Keep cooking and carry-on’ in which he cooks dishes at home with his kids and they are filmed in the last day or two – its all about staying at home and making do with what you have and it IS done, like, yesterday – cause he makes comments that are relevant only in the last 48 hours or so.
It’s pretty cool and very sort of amateurish with Jules (his wife) doing the filming and the kids running round under his feet.
Anyway, he made a dish – a beef hotpot thing – that I decided to try. I got into it with the vegies sizzling away in the pan, the meat ready to go, the oven on, then found that what I had thought was a bag of flour in the cupboard, was, in fact, a bag of sugar and I hadn’t bought any flour…..
I persevered without the flour and it turned out very nice, although the thick oozy gravy he had described didn’t happen cause of that lack – next time!
Covid-19
Australia: 6,104 and 51.
Ireland: an extra 500 cases overnight = 6,574 and 28 deaths = 263. The Gardai (Ireland’s police force) have now been given legislation to fine people who refuse to obey requests to go home when they have exceeded the rules. I did read a story in the Irish Times where a BRITISH couple were asking for directions in Co Kerry and ignored requests by the public to stay in their car etc. A drunken Irish woman in the west will spend the next 28 days behind bars having coughed in a police officer’s face. Police blocks are in place on all major roads and local holiday spots in places like Donegal, Kerry and Sligo are telling people not to come, they’re not wanted this weekend. There are a huge number of holiday homes along the west coast which, naturally at Easter, people would go to visit. They are being told not to in no uncertain terms.
UK: 65,077 and 7978 deaths, its biggest overnight increase of 881. 20.00 the PM has been moved back to a normal ward this evening as his condition has improved.
USA: 455,454 and 16,114 (additional 1,326)
France: 117,749 and 12,210 – probably the biggest overnight total of deaths anywhere – 1,341.
Italy still ‘leads the miserable way’ with a total of 18,279 dead, but the USA is catching up.
All relevant government authorities are begging everyone to stay at home this coming, Easter, weekend, when the weather across Ireland the UK looks like being sunny, warm and dry. It’s predicted to be at least 20C tomorrow in Dublin! Jesus, a heat wave!
Total: 91
Day 30 Friday 10.4.20
Another day, another walk to Deerpark. Although a warm, calm, windless morning the birds were, again, quiet. I did have a Lesser Black-backed Gull overhead, a new addition to the patch list. European Herring Gulls are always visible overhead, but even they seem to be almost absent this morning. A pair of Common Chaffinchs, but no Bullfinchs today.
I met a woman who claimed she’d seen ‘a woodpecker, but not the green one’ an hour or so before. She wasn’t a birder – just a dog walker, but I don’t know what she could have mistaken for a woodpecker. I told her that Green Woodpeckers were unknown in Ireland and it could only have been a Great Spotted. We stood >2 meters away from each other and chatted for about 10 minutes. She told me of another area I could visit – St Raphael’s convent grounds – and I reckon I might give that spot a go for a change of scenery.
I watched some Netflix then did some more painting – the toilet this time with the remaining white paint. Mid afternoon and I went out to the back garden to have a smoke – as is my want – and a Red Kite put in an appearance high overhead! What a great garden tick! RKs were re-introduced to the Wicklow mountains a number of years ago and I have seen the occasional bird over the M50 – the main road south from Dublin - but was surprised to see one here over the Dublin suburbs. Got some terrible shots of it.
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| Red Kite |
I also noticed a couple of small blue butterflies crossing the garden. They didn’t land so I didn’t get a close view, but checking through Irishbutterflies.com they would, most likely, be Holly Blues Celastrina argiolus. There are only 3 ‘blues’ in Ireland and the others are not seen around Dublin in April. Hopefully I’ll get a better view and photos in the near future.
Covid-19
Worldwide: > 1.6 million cases and 100,000+ deaths.
Australia: 6,203 and 53. Is it under control? I certainly hope so.
Ireland: 7,054 and 287 = +25. The current restrictions are now extended for another 3 weeks – until May 5th – nobody is surprised.
UK: 73,758 and 8,958. A new record, for the UK, of 980 deaths overnight. PM is reported to be ‘up and walking’.
USA: Cases approaching half a million – 488,755 – and 17,995 deaths. New York burying its dead in ‘mass graves’ as mortuaries are overrun.
Sweden is reported to have reopened its bars and restaurants. The world is watching to see what outcome this will have.
Trip Total: 92
Day 31 Saturday 11.4.20
Another beautiful day in Dublin. Sunny, warm, clear, still. I left for my walk early and went up the road to St Raphaela’s convent. I couldn’t walk into the convent ground – the Bleeding Hearts of Mary – but a public walk around mainly open grounds was accessible. There wasn’t much in the open fields, but a small area of overgrown trees and low shrubs provided some surprisingly good birding. Well, good suburban birding as it stands in the current climate.
Mostly the same birds as elsewhere, but I did identify a singing male Eurasian Blackcap by song – which surprised me as much as it probably surprises you, i.e. that I heard and identified a bird of any sort.
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| Male Eurasian Blackcap |
And to match the not very good photo here's a not very good video of the Blackcap singing - shaky and the focus is dodgy, but the song is good!
The ‘highlights’ were a pair of Common Chaffinchs, several Goldcrests, European Goldfinches and, once again, a pair of Eurasian Bullfinches. Obviously I was much mistaken thinking this species were uncommon in the suburbs!
I painted a bit more and spent the rest of the day – on the couch.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,303 and 56.
Ireland: 8,928 and 320 - +33. Apparently of the (approx) 25,000 tests sent to Germany a week or so ago only two thirds have come back, the rest are expected by mid next week. Testing results have been very slow to come here. I just don’t think Ireland had much capacity for testing up to this and is struggling to set labs up.
UK: 78,991 and 9,875 – additional 917 overnight.
USA: 524,242 and 20,223. The world’s biggest overnight death rate so far – 1,476.
Spain, Italy & France all recorded a drop in deaths overnight – hoping they have plateaued.
Trip total: 92
Day 32 Sunday 12.4.20
Rain was predicted from 6am, but it didn’t actually start till 8. It turned into the fairly typical Irish weather day that non-Irish always associate with the island – grey, misty, wet. That’s OK, sometimes its like this – sometimes its like that for weeks. However, it’s the first real rain I had had since I arrived a month ago so it’s not always like that.
It did however, put me off going out – it wasn’t that I was going to achieve much out there anyway, so I stayed at home and had a quiet day …..
another one ……..
just like the last 14.
But then …..
who’s counting?
And there’s at least another 22 to go……
It is what it is.
I did my usual short stint to finish the painting, as I ran out of paint, watched Netflix, read, called home, called friends, called anyone who would listen to me and napped. Probably similar virus-activities to those most of you guys are doing too.
‘Most of you guys’ – I have the illusion I’m talking to a number of readers. I had, after all, 85 hits on my blog last month. But, I suspect, there are, in reality, about 5 of you who read this shit occasionally and I appreciate the interest. No, really, I do!
I know it’s been supremely boring this last month, but hey, what else have we go to do?
I just hope you are all well, safe and bearing up under the strain.
Cause if you fail – who’s gonna read this shit then?
Covid-19
Australia: 6,313 and 59.
Ireland: 9,655 and 334 – a low increase of only 14 deaths. More results from the Germany test results, so a jump in cases, but about a third are two weeks old.
UK: 84,279 and 10,612 – another sad increase of 737 deaths.
USA: 27,421 new cases and 1,528 new deaths – a new (worldwide) record of overnight deaths. Totals: 551,663 and 21,751 deaths.
Trip total: 92
Day 33 Monday 13.4.20
I woke to a much cooler, windy, bright, sunny morning. Sunny, bright, cold? Seems like a paradox, but it was just more typical Irish weather. ‘7C feels like 3C’
Headed up to Deerpark at a stiff walk, more for the exercise than the birding as I didn’t expect there to be much around.
I was accurate – to an extent. Initially on my first circuit of the woodland I saw bugger all. The cold wind cut through the trees and although the light was good, the smaller birds were almost non-existent – I didn’t even see any Squirrels.
I completed the circuit watching a Gardai car drive slowly around the car-sized path checking on self distancing. There were very few people out and about, just a few hardy souls walking their animals, so there wasn’t much for the Gardai to do.
I thought about giving it away and heading home, but luckily, as it turned out, decided on one more circuit.
I stopped in a sheltered patch and decided on some playback. I started with Eurasian Blackcap, not really expecting much result, but as I stood there a female popped up for a few seconds. I was not sure if she was reacting to the playback or I just saw her because I stood still.
I moved on and tried for various other species in other sheltered spots but nothing showed.
Back at the same patch and I turned on Common Chiffchaff – just on the off-chance. Almost immediately one appeared and its wing actually hit my head as it flew aggressively towards the calls coming from the Bluethooth speaker hanging from my belt!
I hung the speaker on a nearby tree and stood back and was amazed at the small bird’s reaction.
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| Common Chiffchaff |
A male Eurasian Blackcap also showed up – a pair may hold some possibilities for the future - European Robins, a Eurasian Wren and a Mistle Thrush also showed interest.
I did feel a little guilty at this practice, but figured for 5 minutes it wasn’t going to stress the birds too much or do any permanent long term damage. As you know I don’t use playback to any great extent, but believe that limited, occasional use doesn’t do any harm.
So, the morning turned out a lot better than I had expected – two new species for my patch list. I also saw European Goldfinch and Common Chaffinch, but no Bullfinchs this morning.
Next target, in due course - Whitethroat.
Back home it was an afternoon catching up with House of Cards……
Covid-19
Australia: 6,359 and 61.
Ireland: 10,647 and 365 deaths, an additional 31. There was a backlog of 11,000 tests, all predicted to be resolved by the end of this week…….. Some people are waiting up to 10 days for results which is ridiculous.
UK: 88,621 and 11,329, additional 771 overnight. The PM now out of hospital and recuperating.
USA: 573,518 and 22,941 deaths.
Spain started reducing restrictions – people who can’t work from home returned to work – for ex construction workers. Everyone is watching the outcome…
Trip total: 92
Day 34 Tuesday 14.4.20
Another brilliant Irish morning – clear blue skies, virtually no breeze, clear…..and cold @ 2C. A bit of a frost on the grass and the car which disappeared long before I drove up to Aldi at 8.45, pending their opening at 9.
I got everything I needed, except flour (too many people making play dough or their own bread, regardless of the fact that there was heaps of bread – more varieties than I have ever seen). When I left the store there was no queue at all.
After packing away the groceries I headed off for my walk to Deerpark. It was quite warm by now (10am) @ 11C and I only wore a long-sleeved T-shirt and birding shirt. (Bit pedantic with all the details I know, but just so you understand the weather conditions)
There were very few people around, despite the beautiful morning, but the numbers did increase during the hour or so I spent wandering around. It was quite quiet bird-wise too and it took a bit of standing around and looking carefully but I did amass the most species for one visit so far at this location. Mostly seen-before-stuff, but I did, finally, add Coal Tit to the site list. Amazing its taken this long, considering how common they are – even in my Mum’s back garden.
I had three Common Chaffinchs – all male, one in full song, which I taped. One female Eurasian Bullfinch, the pair of Mistle Thrushes and a single Song Thrush sitting very quietly where I had seen it nest building earlier in the week, which suggested a bird on the nest, while its mate stood guard. I found 3 separate male Eurasian Blackcaps, again one in full song, briefly, but no sign of the belligerent Chiffchaff from my pervious visit – or any other ‘migrant’ warbler types.
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| Common Chaffinch |
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| Song Thrush |
I probably could have stayed longer, but it was, overall, very quiet and so I headed home after an hour or so to get back into the House of Cards.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,400 and, still, only 61 deaths. Apparently no new deaths overnight, which is great!
Ireland: 11,479 and 406 deaths – the biggest overnight death rate so far @ 41. Testing still an issue, with the Sinn Fein party leader waiting 16 days for her test results – to find she was positive. I don’t know what the potential fall out from that might be.
UK: 93,873 and 12,107 deaths, another increase of 778 overnight deaths.
USA: 603,496 and 25,195 deaths continuing to lead the way in victim numbers while Trump attacks the media and denies all responsibility for any delay in implementation. He also declared he was the ultimate authority when it comes to making decisions regarding re-opening the country. I simply cannot watch the creep, it upsets me to see such irresponsibility, ignorance and plain arrogance on display from anyone – never mind someone so dangerously powerful. I don’t think Biden will win in November. I can see the USA, and unfortunately all of us, being stuck with this megalomaniac for the next 4 years. God knows what damage he will do to democracy, the environment, the world economy and international relations in that time. The American people are already the laughing stock of the world, as a group, and there are so many good people there. If they let him get away with a second term they will lose any credibility they might have left.
China was reported today to be conducting human tests on two vaccines for Covid-19.
Trip total: 92.
Day 35 Wednesday 15.4.20
Another glorious day, warm, clear, calm - and Deerpark again. Nothing new today, but did watch a pair of Eurasian Blackcaps nest building in a very scrappy patch of briars. I didn’t make a big effort to find the nest – I’ll wait until they have eggs and hopefully locate the nest then. I also found a half built Blackbird’s nest and what I believe was the Song Thrush’s nest, which, if it is the nest, was a bit out of reach. I also saw the male Eurasian Bullfinch being very discreet and the angry Common Chiffchaff was singing loudly in the same patch of trees I’d found it in the other day. I taped him quite successfully on my Tascam recorder.
It’s all pretty mundane – no argument here – but I try to gain something each day I do get out for my ‘exercise’. It’s not much but it makes me appreciate the birds I do see and I am actually getting to recognize calls and song. If I can find a nest or two it’ll make it even better.
Standing at the front door talking to a caller I noticed a Eurasian Sparrowhawk fly low across the gardens. Little things, little things!
Covid-19
Worldwide: The number of cases exceeds 2,000,000 and the number of deaths almost 130,000.
210 countries declare infections.
Almost 500,000 people have recovered.
Australia: 6,447 and 63. This equals 2 deaths per 1 million of population.
Ireland: 12,547 (1,068 new cases, a lot of them from the outstanding Germany results) and 444 deaths (38 more overnight). Which equates to 82 deaths per 1 million of the population.
(So, I guess one could say I am 41 times more likely to die of Covid-19 in Ireland than in Australia…)
UK: 98,476 cases (an increase overnight of 4,603, one of the biggest overnight increases) and 12,868 deaths in total (761 overnight). In contrast to Ireland this is 190 deaths per 1 million of population.
USA: 618,325 and 26,290 deaths. Approx 33% of all cases, worldwide and 20% of all deaths. This is also 82 deaths per 1 million of population. (the same as Ireland – for now….).
Meanwhile the Moron has withdrawn funding for the WHO in his pursuit of a scapegoat to divert attention away from his own failings. Cretan.
In contrast Italy’s and Spain’s ‘deaths per 1, 000,000 population’ was just under 400 each.
Trip Total: 92
Day 36 Thursday 16.4.20
I didn’t go birding today. I woke up late and then met Tony a few ks away to pick up paint for the front bedroom. I met him away from the house so as not to get the neighbours uptight about someone ‘visiting’ the house. Dublin is a very small tight community and everyone knows what everyone else is doing and I wanted to avoid any repercussions from, in particular, a nosy bitch next door who is, self advised, having ‘mental health issues’ with the lockdown….
Spent an hour on the phone with Mr H and sometime on the phone with Lorraine. It is most likely that we will bring Mum home next week when her nursing home stint comes to an end. Towards THAT end, we want to get the front bedroom finished before she gets here, so I started painting the ceiling, walls etc.
A note on Blackcaps in Ireland – while speaking to Mr H he advised that there were ‘heaps’ in a small wood near him – his daily walk, lucky for him, includes a nice woodland along the banks of the Lagan River. I related my findings of yesterday and noted the 3 males I had seen a couple of days ago and reminisced that I don’t remember Blackcaps as being a common bird ‘back in the day’ – in the 70s. He reminded me of ‘expeditions’ we used to make to the Wicklow foothills to see Blackcap back then as they were quite rare.
I think they were always a relatively common bird in the UK, and in recent years have become much more so in Ireland. I’m looking forward to, hopefully, finding the nest at Deerpark in a few days time, having never, due to their scarcity back then, seen a Blackcap’s nest.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,468 and 63. Current restrictions to be extended for another 4 weeks.
Ireland: 13,271 and 486 - another 42 deaths overnight. The government announced that the restrictions were having an effect, reducing the number of one to one infections below 1, the ultimate target everyone wants to achieve is as close to 0 as possible.
UK: 103,093 and 13,729 - another 861 deaths overnight.
USA: 667,572 and 33,903 – despite an additional 1,315 deaths overnight, the Moron is talking about re-opening businesses etc ‘very soon, very soon’. I reckon all countries should advise they want no travellers from America coming to their shores anytime soon. They should instigate travel bans world wide on Americans. The USA is going to be the epicenter for the virus for months, probably longer than anywhere else, as the Moron continues to be a complete dickhead.
Everyone is concerned of a second or even third wave of infections when restrictions are eased. It’s going to be a testing time for all countries as they try to return to some form of normality.
Trip Total: 92
Day 37 Friday 17.4.20
I headed up to Deerpark around 8.30 again and it was very quiet people-wise. The birding was good – the best list for the site so far with 20 species.
I saw the pair of Eurasian Blackcaps at the nest site and taped a second male singing some distance away – so definitely two pairs, at least. I also saw two pairs of Eurasian Bullfinches, the ‘new’ pair collecting dog hair from the fenced dog walk area and a pair of European Greenfinches also collecting dog hair before someone arrived with a dog and they all flushed. It seemed the female of both species was actually doing the work while the males watched out for them. The Common Chiffchaff was singing in the usual grove and I saw at least two separate Song Thrushes so suspect there are two pairs of them also. I tried for Whitethroat and Willow Warbler but got no responses. I think I might have done my chances of Woodpecker as it warms up – I suspect they might be more inclined to be winter visitors here. But you never know.
Back home I spent some time on the phone to home then started painting again…..
Covid-19
Australia: 6,526 and 65 (+2)
Ireland: 13,980 and 530 (+44 the highest overnight death rate here so far.)
UK: 108,692 and 14,576 (+847)
USA: 690,900 and 35,955 (+1,338)
Trip total: 92
Day 38 Saturday 18.4.20
A grey, damp, cloudy morning. I went down to a Supa Valu that Mum shops at for some basic supplies, then spent some time on the phone with home.
Around eleven I headed up to St Raphaela’s convent again for a short walk in the small patch of woodland. The birds were much the same although I did manage to tape a Goldcrest singing which was nice. I also found a Long-tailed Tit which I had thought would be a possibility at this site and some playback quickly proved me right. Apart from that the singing male Eurasian Blackcap that I had seen there before was the only item of individual interest. The Wild Garlic Allium ursinum has started to bloom, it’s everywhere – quite a nice flower really. I stand corrected! It is not Wild Garlic - it is Three-cornered Leek
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Three-cornered Leek Allium triquetrum
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Back home it was painting again.
Covid-19
Australia: 6565 and 69.
Ireland: 14758 and 571 – an additional 41 deaths.
UK: 114217 and 15464 - + 888.
USA: 728293 and 38244 - = 1090.
Trip total: 92
Day 39 Sunday 19.4.20
Another damp, cool, grey morning. I needed to get out and exercise, so headed up to Deerpark again. I didn’t expect the birding to be anything special, but I had to get out for a while.
The birds were pretty quiet – as were the woods generally, not many people around. I didn’t see any Blackcaps, Bullfinches, Greenfinches or Song Thrushes – it was more about what I didn’t see really. But I did have a bird I’ve been expecting to see there for a while – a Eurasian Sparrowhawk put in a brief appearance over the canopy as it was chased away by Magpies.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,612 and 71.
Ireland: 15,251 and 610 - +39.
UK: 120,067 and 16,060 - + 596
UAS: 761,357 and 40,416 - +1402.
Trip Total: 92
Day 40 Monday 20.4.20
A lovely sunny, bright morning and I went up to Deerpark - again. Once again most of the usual stuff, but I did check the Common Blackbird’s nest and flushed the female off to find 4 eggs.
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| Common Blackbird's nest |
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| Common Blackbird's egg. |
I added, finally, another new bird to the site list – Dunnock. They are not really ‘woodland’ birds and the 2 individuals I heard and saw were closely associated with the surrounding private gardens. I couldn’t find any Eurasian Bullfinch’s though I tried in several spots, not sure if they’ve gone super-discreet or have just fucked off.
The rest of the day was filled with finishing the painting, finally, and my sister and niece sorting stuff for the bathroom and newly painted front room, Tony the builder installing the bathroom cupboard and building a shelf. Getting everything ready for Mum coming home.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,619 and still 71.
Ireland: 15,652 and 687 - a dramatic increase of 77 deaths overnight.
UK: 124,743 and 16,509 - + 449 overnight.
USA: 764,201 and 41,837 - + 1262 overnight. Protests in several states encouraged by the Moron against social distancing. Unbelievable. What is WRONG with these people? They claim its against their civil rights? Really? They’d be better off dead and, if they do get sick, they’ll be the first people blaming the government and expecting free medical support. I say to them STAY THERE, don’t come to my country.
Trip Total: 92
Day 41 Tuesday 21.4.20
Last night Home Alone.
With Mum coming home tomorrow I spent the day preparing the house. I didn’t go out at all. It was a day of washing sheets and towels, dusting (I hate dusting), cleaning toilets and the bathroom, bedrooms, hallways, stairs, sitting room, dusting (I hate dusting), wiping down, vacuuming, dusting (did I mention how much I hate dusting?)…… I was knackered by the end of it.
Covid-19
Worldwide: 2.5 million cases, 175 thousand deaths.
Australia: 6,645 and STILL ‘only’ 71 deaths. Looks like they might be holding it.
Ireland: 16,040 and 730 deaths – an additional 43 overnight.
UK: 129,044 and 17,337 deaths – another 828 people died. The blame game has started - who said what, when. It seems to be generally acknowledged that the government didn’t react fast enough. The further fact that rose today was that the death rate could be as much as 41% MORE than reported because the deaths in care facilities have not been calculated. The numbers quoted so far reflect hospital deaths only.
USA: 804,759 and 43,995 deaths – an additional 1,481 overnight and the Moron still supports the protesters and encourages states to re-open. Of course if they do and the death rate multiples he’ll weasel out of the responsibility as always.
Trip total: 92
Day 42 Wednesday 22.4.20
No birding or walking anywhere. Did some more cleaning, then Lorraine brought Mum home and we spent the rest of the day settling her in. She was happy and excited about the new bathroom, thank God.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,649 and 74.
Ireland: 16,671 and 769 (+39)
UK: 133,495 and 18,100 (+763)
USA: 844,440 and 47,227 - + 1,909.
Trip Total: 92
Day 43 Thursday 23.4.20
I had breakfast with Mum as it was her first morning home, then walked up to Deerpark again around 10.30. It was a usual kind of day. The female Common Blackbird was sitting on the nest again – I didn’t disturb her. Looked for the Eurasian Blackcap’s nest without success although I did flush the male from the site. Other than that it was a bit same same.
After lunch I took Mum to St Vincent’s hospital, along nearly deserted roads, for a checkup appointment for her new pacemaker. We stopped for a takeaway coffee (my first in over a month) and an ice cream before returning home.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,661 and 75.
Ireland: 17,607 and 794 – only 25 deaths overnight, a new low. The belief now is that the ‘infection rate’ is definitely less than 1, i.e. one person now infects 0.7 people which is a good ratio moving forward. It, basically, indicates that the social distancing restrictions are having a positive effect.
UK: 138,078 and 18,738 – an additional 638 deaths.
USA: 868,482 and 49,094 – an additional 1,435 deaths.
Trip Total: 92
Day 44 Friday 24.4.20
We spent some time on the phone with home – it was my youngest grandson’s second birthday – then I decided to try somewhere new.
I drove the back roads 6 kms to Cabinteely Park and walked around there for an hour or so. It’s a much bigger park and has much more potential than Deerpark. The upper reaches of the Shanganagh River (Sh-ang-gana) flow through the park - it’s really only a small stream with a few exposed rocks and small bridges - to a small ‘natural’-looking pond with reeds and waterplants,. They were some good thickets of trees and patches of fairly mature woodland – not extensive, but quite healthy - and open fields. The park was much bigger than Deerpark and I was quite excited about the possibilities.
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| Cabinteely Park |
Unfortunately after about an hour I rubbed my left (good) eye the wrong way and folded the contact lens so I was seeing double of everything and struggling to see properly at all so cut my visit short and headed home. I will go back, though. While there I did score a trip tick – a pair of Dabchicks on the small pond, heard at least two Eurasian Blackcaps singing and totaled out at 23 species. I’m sure I missed stuff thanks to my eye – and, of course, my hearing being what it is.
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| Dabchick or Little Grebe |
An information board also suggested that Badgers were present in the park – now that would be worth looking for, especially in the evening. I’ve only ever seen one live Badger and it was already on my wish list for this visit.
Returning home I received an email from Aunt Betty, my travel agent, advising that my flight had been ‘put in credit’ at this stage. It appears they have given me a full credit of the $1,269 I originally paid, even though I’ve used one half of it already? Maybe an admin error, but if I get that amount of money back I’ll be very happy. I don’t need to contact them until closer to my planned return date in early June, so no action required yet.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,675 and 79 (+4)
Ireland: 18,184 and 1,014. An actual increase overnight of 39, but the additional 185 deaths are cases that have already occurred where Covid is suspected, but no tests were conducted – hence the bigger increase.
Interesting note. Something I have never seen or heard of before. The car insurance and private medical insurance companies are going to be giving their members MONEY BACK because of the lack of claims due to the virus! Unbelievable! Because people are not driving as much there have been less damage claims and because the private hospitals are operating alongside the public hospitals people are not being charged as much for general attendance- and there are less of those anyway. So, they are all offering partial refunds or reduced premiums! Outstanding!
Interesting note. Something I have never seen or heard of before. The car insurance and private medical insurance companies are going to be giving their members MONEY BACK because of the lack of claims due to the virus! Unbelievable! Because people are not driving as much there have been less damage claims and because the private hospitals are operating alongside the public hospitals people are not being charged as much for general attendance- and there are less of those anyway. So, they are all offering partial refunds or reduced premiums! Outstanding!
UK: 143,464 and 19,506 (+768)
USA: 906,216 and 51,139. As 1,000,000 cases approach and the death toll exceeds 50,000 the Moron suggests that injecting antiseptic such as Dettol should ‘clear the body of the virus’. One can only hope his supporters take his advice. That way he’ll definitely be gone in November…..
The ‘man’ is a threat to the whole world.
Trip Total: 93
Day 45 Saturday 25.4.20
I decided to go to Cabinteely Park again as I wouldn’t be able to go tomorrow morning due to other commitments. So I left Mum to get her own breakfast (she needs to regain her independence, slowly) and was on site by 8.45.
I saw mostly the same birds as yesterday – Eurasian Blue, Great and Coal Tit, Dunnock, Song Thrush, Eurasian Blackcap (2) etc and added Mistle Thrush and, of course, you guessed it, Eurasian Bullfinch (4) – the Whisperer does it again – to my site list. These things are common as muck!
When cutting the grass in the park the staff appear to be leaving a lot of it ‘wild’ – especially around the edges, which is brilliant, cause it leaves weeds like dandelions and basic flowers for the insects – I did notice a lot of hovering bee like things, Bumblebees and Honey Bees in and around the woods. The trees themselves are now coming into full leaf and some flowering – which is lovely, but makes the birding harder.
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| Cowslip Primula veris Bainne bó bleachtáin |
Late in the piece I sat on a log in the woodland to let the birds come to me and waited for an expected phone call, which didn’t, but as I sat there I heard a different double whoop kind of sound. I checked the app and found what I suspected – a calling Stock Dove. This was another trip tick and a kind of unexpected find in this area. There was one listed on E-Bird for the site, seen in January, which I had thought was reasonable because during winter birds do move around in search of food, however, I hadn’t expected to hear one calling/possibly breeding here. Stock Doves were once quite common in agricultural areas in Ireland – and in some locations can still be found fairly easily - I never thought of them as ‘park’ birds. In more recent times though, so far as I know, they have disappeared to a large extent as older trees were cut down reducing the number of nesting holes and farming practices changed reducing the amount of stubble fields and loose grain for birds to feed on. Then again, maybe this will be another ‘Bullfinch’ moment, i.e. common as muck when I thought they were scarce. I couldn’t see the bird but the call was unmistakable – even to me.
The Common Moorhens and Dabchicks/Little Grebes were still on the pond – they could easily breed there - but no sign of the Grey Heron this morning. In the woodlands I tried for Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Treecreeper and Common Chiffchaff without any success. I did have the biggest day list I’ve had since lockdown started though – 25 species + Grey Squirrel.
On the way home I stopped off to take part in a 2-meters-apart-queue for a takeaway coffee.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,695 and 80 deaths.
Ireland: 18,561 and 1,063 deaths – an additional 49 overnight. The government suggesting the restrictions may not be able to be lifted in 10 days time, stressing social distancing and current restrictions must be adhered to.
UK: 148,377 and 20,319 – (+813) The UK becomes the fifth country to exceed 20 thousand dead – and that is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. These figures represent ONLY hospital deaths directly attributed to Covid. It has been suggested there may be in excess of 40 thousand dead in fact, as none of the nursing home/care facility deaths are included…..
USA: 954,125 and 54,038 – an additional 1,845. The USA continues to break records. It is now the most infected country in the world, mainly thanks to the Moron and his team of dicks. They had every opportunity to take the right steps and the power and money to protect their people and instead they’ve completely fucked it up. They’ve a long way to go yet. A quote in the Irish Tines today said it all ‘Trump has destroyed the country he claimed he would make better’ – so accurate. I feel sorry for those people who have to live under that regime and don’t believe in him and have to suffer the indignity of being American - because of him.
Trip Total: 94
Day 46 Sunday 26.4.20
Another no birding, no outing day. Spent some time with family on the phone, then set Mum up with an on-line connection to her church service.
I went to Super Valu again for some food shopping but did little for the rest of the day apart from spending time in contact with Mr P in Brisbane and Mr W in the UK.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,711 and 83.
Ireland: 19,262 and 701 (+24 overnight)
UK: 152,840 and 20,732 (+413)
USA: 982,611 and 55,271.
Trip Total: 94
Day 47 Monday 27.4.20
I stayed home until the carer arrived for Mum for the first time, during which time Tony delivered a ladder, paint and sandpaper for my next ‘project’.
I walked up to Deerpark late in the morning more for the exercise than the birding. I must admit my enthusiasm is waning a bit – and the birding didn’t do much to lift that. The Common Blackbird’s nest I found the other day had been destroyed – I would suspect a Squirrel as the whole nest was pulled out of position. If it had been a Hooded Crow or Magpie they would have just taken the eggs, I think.
I did see a couple of Speckled Woods Pararge aegeria and a blue flew past which I assume was a Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus.
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Speckled Woods Pararge aegeria
I picked up a coffee nearby and sat and drank it under a tree in the sun. Then headed home to start my next project – painting (again) the windows and associated brickwork starting at the front of the house. The existing paint was very weather damaged and needed a lot of sanding and scraping before actually applying paint – but, then again, what else have I got to do? It was a lovely afternoon, weather-wise, calm, sunny, warm so it wasn’t altogether unpleasant.
Covid-19
Worldwide: we pass 3 million cases and deaths top 210 thousand.
Australia: 6,720 and 83 - -no new deaths overnight and only 4 new cases. Really looks like Australia has dodged the bullet.
Ireland: 19,468 and 1,102. 15 new deaths overnight which is a new low and only 386 new cases. Discussion regarding the lifting of some restrictions next week dominated the media.
UK: 157,149 and 21,092. 360 new deaths overnight and Boris J, the PM, returned to work after surviving the virus attack. He was determined not to lift restrictions too early, fearing a second spike and the resultant deaths and economic havoc.
USA: 999,390 and 56,175. I try to avoid hearing anything from the Moron – it upsets me too much.
Trip Total: 94
Day 48 Tuesday 28.4.20
Another nice morning, sunny spells = warm, cloudy = cold, (well, 9c feels like 7c).
I left early for Cabinteely Park getting there at 8.30. Not super early obviously, but I don’t think the birds really get active until some time after dawn?
I wandered around for 2 hours seeing much the same as previously, minus Blackcap and Bullfinch, but adding Willow Warbler (1), Pied Wagtail (1) and (they found me) Long-tailed Tit to my site list. I tried to get photos of the latter without success, getting lots of shots of empty branches or blurred shapes. They really are the very divil to get in the camera lens.
It appears a lot of birds go quiet when they are actually nesting – I saw Blue Tits, Great Tits, Common Chaffinch and Common Blackbirds with food for young and one of the Long-tailed Tits also had a beak-full of food – evident in the blurred photos. It’s all happening. There was only 1 Dabchick in evidence on the pond, I suspect the other was on a hidden nest, and the Northern Mallard already had 2 ducklings in the shallow creek
I picked up a coffee on the way home and then, after lunch, scraped and sanded and painted again for a couple of hours.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,731 and 84. Travel restrictions to be altered at the weekend – travel up to 50 kms from home allowed.
Ireland: 19,877 and 1,159. An additional 57 deaths reported overnight, although it was stressed they may not all have occurred in the last 24 hours, there may have been a delay from the weekend’s reporting. There were only 229 new cases reported overnight, which is a positive sign. The strong hint today was that the restrictions are unlikely to be changed next Tuesday when the current period ends. Bummer.
UK: 161,145 and 3,996. An additional 586 deaths overnight. Still no update on deaths in care facilities.
USA: 1,022,259 and 57,862 deaths. The first country in the world to exceed 1 million cases.
Trip Total: 94
Day 49 Wednesday 29.4.20
Did absolutely nothing. The day started off wet, but brightened up in the afternoon. However, by that time I had settled in to watch The Last Kingdom from the beginning and didn't go anywhere or do anything.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,746 and 89
Ireland: 20,253 and 1,190 - an additional 31 deaths. More confirmation that the restrictions will be extended, rumour has it for another 2 weeks beyond May 5th.
UK: 165,221 and 26,097.
USA: 1056,646 and 61,181 - another grim milestone passed. More Americans have now died of coronavirus than were killed in Vietnam.
Trip Total: 94
Day 50 Thursday 30.4.20
The fiftieth day of the trip and the day I was supposed to come back from Mallorca.
A wet, dull, cold and blustery day. Despite the conditions I decided I had to get out for a walk and headed up to Deerpark again. It didn’t rain while I was out but it was pretty damp and dreary. The park was almost deserted which was a benefit and the birds were OK. While trying for Bullfinch, which I didn’t see, a new site tick turned up – Long-tailed Tit. Of course not having the camera with me, they perched up well within a couple of meters – you know how it is. I saw most of the usual species, including both Common Chiffchaff and Eurasian Blackcap.
I did see a pair of Eurasian Bullfinches in a tree outside the house as I walked back.
Back home I settled in for another day lost in The Last Kingdom and Snooker championships on BBC2.
Tony turned up to collect the ladder I was no longer planning to use and as I helped him put it on his truck a Barn Swallow flew overhead - my first this trip.
Tony turned up to collect the ladder I was no longer planning to use and as I helped him put it on his truck a Barn Swallow flew overhead - my first this trip.
Covid-19
Australia: 6,753 and 91.
Ireland: 20,612 and 1,232 – another 42 overnight.
UK: 171,253 and 26,771 – another 674 overnight. The PM Boris J reckoned they were ‘over the peak’ – I think he’s fantasising.
USA: 1,078,476 and 62,535.
Trip Total: 95
