Day 3 Wednesday 1.2.23
I didn’t do much. The weather was dull and cloudy and windy all day – and about ‘11c midday, felt like 7’. I was pretty knackered and happy not to go out or do much.
Trip List: 11
Day 4 Thursday 2.2.23
I wanted to get out birding. But hung around until Mum was settled after breakfast and her hairdresser had been. So it was 10.30 before I got to the West Pier at Dun Laoghaire. A dull, overcast, windy day with a strong northwesterly blowing onto the pier, small rain in the wind, 11c felt like 8.
Parked and paid 4euro for the pleasure – that actually allowed me to park there until the same time the next day. 2 euro would have given me one hour. The latter probably would have been enough as it was pretty dead.
A number of Common Guillemot (~20) were the ‘commonest’ bird, even the gulls were few and far between – Common Gulls being the most populous. 2 very distant Red-throated Divers, one in flight, by scope, a couple of European Shags and Great Cormorants and that was about it on the water. The ubiquitous Ruddy Turnstone, numbering 6, the only wader-type and a single very brief Eurasian Rock Pipit and a lone bouncy Pied Wagtail comprised the passerines.
I drove north to Booterstown Marsh and parked up briefly in the railway car park for a short scope of the very flooded marshland.
Approx 40 Eurasian Teal and 10 Northern Mallard, along with 2 Common Shelducks covered the duck spectrum, heaps of Common Redshanks, both feeding and roosting (it was just after high tide), a dozen Common Greenshanks, 30 or so Dunlin and, surprisingly (?) approx 60 Red Knot roosted at the far end of the reserve. More surprisingly perhaps, a pair of Long-tailed Tits moved through the trees above me – a new bird for me for the location. Common Moorhens, Grey Herons and one Little Egret completed the scene.
Nice to be out and about even if the Pier was a bit disappointing. I suspect the birds (Divers, Grebes, Purple Sandpipers etc) may have been in a more sheltered locale but future visits may prove me wrong, maybe it’s just not as ‘birdy’ as it used to be.
I rang Mr H in the afternoon and we discussed options for the next week or two.
Trip List: 33
Day 5 Friday 3.2.23
I was awake at 4am. A bit better than the previous night when it was 3am… Luckily I read so just lay in bed and did that until I got up at 7.30 and had breakfast. I hung around waiting for Mum to come downstairs - it took her an hour – so it was 9.00 before I got away.
On site at Kilcoole at 9.30 to a much better day – sunny, light southerly wind, clear sky – I was overdressed with 4 layers on top but carried on anyway.
It was all pretty quiet – especially on the passerine front. There were approx 300 Eurasian Wigeon, ~300 Northern Lapwings, ~55 Eurasian Curlew, a few Eurasian Teal and Northern Mallard and, very distantly, heads up only visible, possibly 5 Whopper Swans feeding in a distant field. 5 Greylag Geese honked off and there were a few other bits and pieces but nothing of any great significance. When I reached the turnaround point at The Narrows (the outlet for the reserve) I scoped offshore and found 6 Red-throated and 2 distant Great Northern Divers which was nice. (The latter my contribution to Irish Bird Sightings this trip - I always find something to report when I visit - and yes, apparently its worth it. Check out Irishbirding.com to see what is reported every day.)
I started heading back to the carpark and, as has happened on several occasions in the past, bumped into Richard Coombes.
RHC (Richard, now Mr C), DHH (Dermot, always Mr H), TAM (Tim Meredith, now in Scotland, would be Mr M if we ever get to bird together again) and CJR (me) were a fairly well known combination back in the day – the 70’s I’m referring to here – in the birding scene in Dublin. I had not seen TAM since about 2002 and I last met RHC in, I think, 2019. We always bump into each other at Kilcoole for some reason. Anyway, it was like I hadn’t seen him since yesterday and we spent half an hour or more shooting the shit. No doubt we’ll catch up again this trip.
I decided to go for a quick visit to Newcastle ECNR (East Coast Nature Reserve – another Birdwatch Ireland reserve) and drove down the coast the few kms to spend half an hour catching up with Eurasian Greenfinchs, Eurasian Goldfinchs, Common Chaffinchs, Eurasian Blue Tits, Great Tits and a few other common passerines. There were another ~150 Eurasian Teal, ~50 Northern Mallard and ~100 Eurasian Wigeon roosting around the ponds below the hides.
I headed home after that needing to pick up a few things at Aldi - and Mum’s drugs.
Trip List: 58
Day 6 Saturday 4.2.23
Didn’t go anywhere. Spent the morning doing washing and the afternoon watching the 6 Nations Rugby.
Spoiler alert!! Don’t read any further if you haven’t watched the matches and intend to do so!
Ireland trashed Wales and Scotland beat England. Brilliant! Ireland were expected to win being ranked No 1 in the world presently – a significant achievement for a small country where rugby union ranks at least fourth in popular sports (after GAA, hurling and soccer). I was really pleased to see Scotland beat England – anyone who beats England at anything has my support, but especially Scotland, me being half Scottish and all.
Trip List: 58
Day 7 Sunday 5.2.23
Another day of doing nothing. On Saturdays and Sundays the carers don’t come for lunch on either day so I made lunch for her both days. Lorraine usually helps Mum on Sunday evenings but as she was in Spain she had organised for a private carer to come on Sunday evenings. I cooked dinner for us both on Sunday - to give me something to do and give Mum a break from microwaved meals at least one night a week. I was very conscious of not changing her routine too much as I would only be here for a few weeks and didn’t want to upset the usual pattern.
Mum is moving very, very slowly these days and is hard of hearing. Her short term memory is unreliable and she needs to be told everything at least twice - and even then doesn't always remember. Its not much of a life, sleeping 18 hours a day and not even being able to read the paper for any length of time. She appears unable to concentrate on the TV for any length of time or with any interest and has little knowledge or interest in anything that happens outside her immediate, visible vicinity. It does my head in and is very frustrating and tiring - as I'm sure it is for her.
I went to Aldi for some supplies and to a local hardware store to buy some peanuts to try to get some Tits into the garden. They had an amazing supply of wild bird food - a huge variety of seed mixes for different species, buckets of 'fat' balls and peanuts, feeders and even suet cakes. Obviously feeding wild birds is a popular pastime - if only there were more birds around to enjoy it all.
I watched the third 6 Nations rugby game – Italy v France. Once again don’t read any further if you haven’t watched the game yet.
France beat Italy, but not very convincingly and almost lost the game altogether. It would have been a big upset for last year’s 6 Nations champions to lose to Italy who are never rated very highly – although they did beat Australia a few months ago. Then again everyone has beaten Australia in recent times…. The real test will come next Saturday when France play Ireland in Dublin. At this stage its generally believed Ireland will win the competition this year and I certainly can't see France winning based on their performance today.
The weather today was lovely. The sun shone, there was no wind and the sky was clear and blue – but it was very cold all day. A white frost started the day off at about 3c, and, despite the conditions, it never got above 8c.
Trip List: 58
Day 8 Monday 6.2.23
Just hung out in the morning. The carer that arrived for Mum at 8 was, in fact, from Turkey and, it turned out, had family who narrowly escaped the tragedy of the earthquake earlier in the morning. Needless to say she was quite upset as she explained to me that her brother and his family had just got out of their home before it collapsed. I wasn’t sure if all her family were safe as she became quite emotional – understandably. By nightfall at least 2,600 people were reported to have died.
After lunch I headed out and drove up the Wicklow Mountains to Coronation Plantation. The birds were very poor, I didn’t see the usual Common Crossbill despite some ‘encouragement’ but it was nice to be up in the mountains again with the open moorland and scattered pine plantations. I did add two more species to my trip list – Mistle Thrush (a pair) and a Northern Raven, heard only. Most of the 9 (!) species I did see were around a feeder in the garden of the house beside the entrance. In the plantation itself I could not find one bird of any species! Probably not surprising given the time of day and year, things may have been more active earlier in the day.
The weather was cold, but clear and virtually windless, sun shining – but no more than 8c, enough to wear four layers and a beanie.
Trip List: 60
Day 9 Tuesday 7.2.23
I picked Mr D up at Booterstown railway station at 10.45 and we were straight into it. Many more waders than my last visit in the reserve as the tide was dropping and there was exposed mud. Between there and the open beach of Dublin Bay beside the reserve, we scoped approx 1,200 Red Knot, 200 Common Redshanks, 5 Common Greenshanks, 200 Black and 60 Bar-tailed Godwits, 200 Dunlin and 350 Eurasian Oystercatchers (all numbers approx guesses). Out to sea distantly half a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers. A few other bits and pieces including a heard-only Eurasian Blackcap, thanks to Mr D’s ears.
We drove along the coast to the West Pier in Dun Laoghaire and had a much more productive hour and a half than I had had the previous week. The wind was almost negligible and the sea was as flat as, so it made scoping stuff much easier. Some of the birds were a long way off, but we counted 4 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Crested Grebes (2 v close), 15 Common Scoter (too far away to pick a reported Velvet Scoter) and another group of Red-breasted Mergansers. We had 2 Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour – one adult, one juvenile – and a single Purple Sandpiper near the end, along with 100 Common Guillemots, 1 Razorbill, 1 fly-by Brent Goose and a selection of commoner gulls.
Moving on to the East Pier we found the several-weeks-previously-reported Black Redstart right where one usually is. Its almost an annual event at this location – seems like the same bird turns up every year. This year it was a nicely marked up male.
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| Black Redstart |
We didn’t walk too far out along the pier but did see 5 Brent Geese further along the wall.
Moving on to Dalkey we sat on Sorrento Pt and seawatched casually around Dalkey Island – for memories sake, rather than any birdy expectations. We did have a Great Northern Diver distantly out in the bay towards Bray Head.
We stopped off, shortly afterwards, at Whiterock and had a nice view of a Peregrine Falcon flying off the cliff face and out to sea.
We moved on to Shanganagh where the small creek emptied into the sea and had another 3 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach.
The traffic proved too much for our patience and we gave away trying for Bray Harbour, instead heading up into the mountains for a walk around Barnaslingan Forest with hopes of Crossbill, but it was very quiet as the dull, late afternoon dragged on and the only bird of significance was a Northern Raven.
We headed home to discuss Costa Rica and Cuba over a couple of glasses of Ponche.
Trip List: 74
Day 10 Wednesday 8.2.23
We were up at 7, had breakfast and hit the road by 7.45 – after cleaning the hardened frost off the car windows with luke-warm water.
Arrived at the North Slob, Co Wexford at 9.00. From the viewing tower we could see hundreds of Greater White-fronted Geese spread across the surrounding fields. None were particularly close so it was almost impossible to try to filter out anything more exciting. Ditto with the Whooper Swans – there were reportedly a few Bewick’s among them but….. All in all it was a bit disappointing – as the rest of the day proved to be. With a ‘stiff breeze’ (Mr H) blowing a freaking gale (me), from the southwest it was cold and birding was really difficult.
We ‘scoped the open bay behind us from the tower looking for ‘better’ Grebes but found only a few Great Crested. A small group of Red-breasted Mergansers and a very distant flock of a few Common Scoters was about it. Mr H did see a few Common Goldeneye, but it took me some time to find them – and they were miles away as well.
In a nearby field, however, we did have approx 30 Fieldfares and perched on the fence posts, a single Common Kestrel and a Merlin.
We headed out to a random farm track approx 20 minutes away in search of a possible Ring Ouzel last seen in company with a flock of Redwings & Fieldfares 2 weeks previous. We didn’t find any of the nominated birds and took off for the South Slob. This is an area neither of us were familiar with and access proved a bit difficult – we saw nothing of any consequence.
Another drive to the Europort at Rosslare where the car ferry leaves for Le Havre, France and we scanned nearby waters for reported Black-necked Grebes. We dipped again, just adding Red-throated Divers to our day list.
Rosslare back strand was our next stop off and there were birds a plenty. Thousands of Black-headed Gulls – but scanning through them would have been an impossible task given the distance, wind and constant movement of the birds. Hundreds of Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Northern Lapwings, Dunlin, Eurasian Oystercatchers, Common Ringed Plover and a few Grey Plover kept the scopes busy for a while until we retreated to the car to get out of the wind.
On then to Carnsore Pt, just because we were in the area and WTF else do you do? There was nothing at sea and the wind was horrendous – stiff breeze, my arse – so again we retreated and stopped off at Lady’s Island Lake.
Here we found a sheltered mud exposed corner with a few hundred feeding Godwits and approx 10 Ruff among them. They did provide good views and we picked out two Mediterranean Gulls among the Black-heads. We also saw a small flock of Tufted Duck and a party of Grey Lag Geese.
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| Ruff |
That was basically it for the day and we headed home. Along the way Mr H pointed out several Common Buzzards and 1 Red Kite as we hurtled along at 120 kms/hr.
69 species for the day was OK, but the lack of anything ‘exciting’ and the cold wind kind of spoiled the outing.
Trip List: 89
Day 11 Thursday 9.2.23
We were up and out just after 8.00. We had a meeting arranged with Mr C (Richard Coombes) at 9.30 but stopped off at the local GAA club for a ‘full Irish’ breakfast – ie egg, sausages, black and white pudding, bacon and hash brown, plus toast & coffee.
We met Mr C in the car park at Kilcoole a little after 9.30 and walked the beach. Not a lot bird-wise different from previous visit, apart from a brief Eurasian Sparrowhawk, but I did get an Irish first – and one of my declared target species, Eurasian Otter. Finally, after numerous visits, I connected, with brilliant views at about 50 meters. It was short, initially, when it came out of the water briefly chewing a fish, as Otters do, open-mouthed and chewing almost noisily, then it slipped back into the water and headed off humping just below the surface. Made my day!
Mammal-wise we also had a Grey Seal offshore.
(I forgot to update the mammal list on previous days – there were ‘wild’ European Rabbits on Dalkey Island on Tuesday and we had at least 3 Grey Seals off the West Pier, same day.)
We headed up into the foothills looking for Brambling along a busy road (actually tried two locations, both busy, narrow roads), but dipped. I did add Coal Tit, Eurasian Bullfinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker to the trip list, but other than those it was a wash out.
We ended up in The Coach House in Roundwood for lunch before Mr C took Mr H down to Greystones and put him on a train back to Belfast and I headed home. The weather had been lovely - cold, but clear and sunny. We had had to wash the hardened frost off the windshield again, but there was no ice on the roads and the frost was gone by 9.30.
Trip List: 93 Mammal List: 3,
Day 12 Friday 10.2.23
I didn’t do much most of the day – washing, shopping, reading etc. It was a dull, damp, cold day.
In the afternoon I drove down to Mr C’s and together we went to Black Hill, inland from Wicklow town.
Mr C had a location for Long-eared Owl, a bird I had long wanted to re-connect with, having only ever seen one – in 1969 or thereabouts. It turned out to be EXACTLY the same location I had tried the previous year on my last visit to Dublin!
We walked in and stood on the track, precisely where I had stood, from an hour before dusk and about 30 minutes afterwards. In all we had 1 Eurasian Woodcock. No owls put in an appearance, but at least I now had a definitive location to re-try in the coming weeks.
Trip List: 94 Mammal List: 3,
Day 13 Saturday 11.2.23
Once again I didn’t go out at all apart from the back garden for a smoke. Continued watching Better Call Saul and reading.
I watched the Ireland/France match – brilliant game. Don’t read further etc….
Ireland comprehensively beat France and although the first half was touch and go, the second half proved definitive and France were well outplayed. It put Ireland in the best position to win the competition overall. Yahoo! Scotland trashed Wales in the second match of the day – although ball handling skills of both teams would leave them vulnerable to a more competent side.
Trip List: 94 Mammal List: 3,
Day 14 Sunday 12.2.23
Another day of no birding. Another day of ‘Call Saul’. Nice weather – cold with a few sunny spells, but only went out to get milk.
Trip List: 94 Mammal List: 3,
Day 15 Monday 13.2.23
I didn’t do anything in the morning – just watched more ‘Saul’ and Herself sleeping…..
After lunch I headed out - with a plan. I arrived at Newcastle before 14.00 and wandered the reserve for 30 minutes or so – usual stuff, plus a nice pair of Northern Shoveler in front of the first hide.
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| European Greenfinch (female) |
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| Rook |
I drove down the road to the sea front and set off walking south. I had ideas of walking as far as 24 Mile Point, but gave it away after 22 and three-quarters (I walked about 300 meters) as it was blowing a bit of a gale from the south east and it was 1. cold and 2. seemed pointless considering the birds I was going to try for were Bearded Tits and would be impossible in the wind.
Plan still in place I headed towards Wicklow intending to check the gulls on the river, picking up a coffee on the way at the service station in Newcastle.
Half way down a flock of birds flying out of the trees along the road were obviously thrushes – and Redwings to boot. There were 20-30 and I got ‘scope views of them across the fields from the road. My first decent flock of Redwings this trip – I wondered of they had ‘returned’ to the coast due to colder weather? Mr C had told me that they were further inland in Wicklow – I reported them on the Irish Bird Sightings anyway.
Down at Wicklow checked the gulls in the river – all appeared to me to be Black-Headed, nothing unusual.
As it was now 16.00 I put the second half of my ‘plan’ in place and headed inland to Black Hill.
I had decided to go early while there was still daylight to see if I could locate the Long-eared Owls at roost.
I walked up and down the track checking every visible tree for a small upright shape for an hour – without luck. Its not particularly difficult to spot roosting owls, you just have to get them at the right angle, but in this case, as it turned out, it was, most likely, wasted effort.
As dusk fell I stood and watched the sky for both an Owl and/or Woodcock.
I thought I heard a distant ‘Hoot’ and, knowing the Long-eared hoot is pretty low key, I figured the bird wasn’t very far away – but it was in completely the opposite direction, not where I had assumed it should be and nowhere near where I had been looking.
I hung the Bluetooth speaker in a low bush and played a few calls from a distance.
Within 2 or 3 minutes a Long-eared Owl flew in and perched up in a tree about 40 meters away. It was difficult to see against the background, in the poor light and at that distance, but at last I had re-connected with a bird I hadn’t seen for over 50 years. It flew around a couple of times, but came no closer, although I did get good flight views – and while it did another bird called some distance away. This latter them moved closer – although I didn’t see it move - and continued to call - a low ‘moan’ type of call, which I assume was the female. I had long since stopped playing as I had no intention of disturbing the birds anymore than necessary, but it was still calling when I left the site just after 18.00.
No doubt I'll go back for another visit before I leave, this trip.
Trip List: 95 Mammal List: 3,
Day 16 Tuesday 14.2.23
No birding again today – damp, windy, cold – well, its always cold, but did washing and shopping.
My sister was returning from Spain and I was going to pick her up at 19.55.
Her plane (Ryanair) was delayed and she didn’t land till 22.50.
I’d put Ryanair and Jetstar in the same bucket – and close the lid…….
We did see two Red Foxes outside the house when we got home around midnight.
Trip List: 95 Mammal List: 4, 1
Day 17 Wednesday 15.2.23
Once again didn’t go anywhere. Although it was 8c it felt a lot colder when I did venture outside.
My aunt called in and Lorraine arrived shortly afterwards, but other than that it was a non-event day.
Trip List: 95 Mammal List: 4, 1
Day 18 Thursday 16.2.23
I went into Dublin city around 11 – on the Luas (E4.30 return = $AU 6.60). On the walk up to the Luas – and the walk back – I saw Eastern Grey Squirrels in the usual park, first for this trip.
In the city I checked out St Stephen’s Green (~10 Tufted Ducks and a few Northern Mallard among the Herring Gulls), then wandered down Grafton st.
Back at the top I went into St Stephen’s Green shopping center and bought some gifts for the grandsons at Carroll’s Irish Gifts, then went to Captain America’s for my usual pilgrimage – and a cheeseburger, fries and coffees.
Back home with Herself soundly asleep, I picked up several bunches of flowers and hid them in the house in preparation for her 97th birthday tomorrow.
Trip List: 95 Mammal List: 5,
Day 19 Friday 17.2.23
So, yes, another day, no birding. Being my mother’s 97th birthday it was all about her. I had bought Aldi out of flowers the previous day and set them up in half a dozen vases in the sitting room the previous night and all morning people rang or called in with more flowers, cards and other presents.
Lorraine came around midday and the ‘wheelchair taxi’ at 13.45. We all got in – Mum still in her wheelchair – and trundled off to Killiney Castle Hotel for an afternoon tea. NOT somewhere Lorraine or I would normally contemplate going, but it was somewhere she used to go for afternoon tea with a friend or two. All very la-de-da, holding your little finger out when drinking your china cup of delicate tea, small delicacies balanced on 3 tier cake thingys, crustless sandwiches, warm scones with jam and cream and other sweet bits and pieces. Not cheap by any means but it made Herself happy and she fell asleep on the way home.
It was worth it and made her happy.
Trip List: 95 Mammal List: 5,
Day 21 Sunday 19.2.23
I had a choice. I could go to a local park and try for photos of Water Rail or go into Dublin and take a look at artists displaying their own work along the fences of Merrion Square.
I decided to do the latter as it was something I had planned to do and it only happens on a Sunday.
I got the Luas at about 10.00 and spent an hour or so checking out the art. Why, you ask? Especially as I have little or no interest in art? I have no answer except to say I just fancied doing it. I’m sure there is the same thing in Brisbane, but, I must admit, I have never sought it out – I might when I get home.
It was interesting and some of the drawings/paintings did appeal to me. But I had no real intention of buying anything and didn’t, but did admire the skills of some of the artists’ drawings and paintings of old Irish buildings – pubs, houses, general street scenes – and some of the animal paintings – foxes, hedgehogs, badgers etc.
Afterwards I walked back to Grafton st and bought a coffee, finishing it in St Stephen’s Green before getting the Luas home again to watch Herself sleep the afternoon away.
Lorraine come up from Wicklow in the evening and got Mum ready for bed. We discussed future options and possibilities.
Trip List: 95 Mammal List: 4, 1
Day 22 Monday 20.2.23
I left Dale rd in the dark at 6.50 and arrived at Mr C’s place at 7.15 in Killincarrig. We headed south in his car at 7.30 and following the two and a half hour drive arrived at a bridge over the River Bride in a random section of countryside in Co Waterford.
Our quarry was a (very rare in Ireland) Greater Yellowlegs which had been found in this unusual location in basically the middle of nowhere, birding-wise. It was not a regular birding hotspot or location, just a bridge over a river in the countryside. A very narrow bridge in fact with no pathway which made standing looking over the parapet hairy to say the least. However, in true Irish style the cars drove very carefully past us, giving way to each other without complaint, abuse or horn blowing.
The first bird we saw from the bridge was a Green Sandpiper – there were two in fact. I hadn’t seen a Green Sand since I don’t know when – and took some photos thought the light wasn’t great.
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| Green Sandpiper |
There were a neat pair of White-throated Dippers showing really well on the other side of the bridge, nest building in a very obvious location on the outer edge of one of the bridge buttresses – unusually exposed position. Crippling views of a lovely little bird.
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White-throated Dipper |
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| White-throated Dipper nest |
White-throated Dipper videos
There were also a pair of Common Kingfishers flying up and down the river and a pair of Grey Wagtails around the bridge and nearby we heard, and finally saw, a Eurasian Treecreeper singing, a single Long-tailed Tit and a nice Redwing eating berries.
But no Greater Legs.
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| Grey Wagtail |
Another birder showed up with his father – Cian Cardiff (pronounced Kee-ann). He had been at the location before and told us it was OK to access a field and walk down the river bank; which we did, thus finding the Greater Yellowlegs 100 meters downriver. This was my first GY in Ireland – and they were very rare, Lesser Yellowlegs been a regular annual. We moved around it and eventually flushed it back upriver to the stony shore below the bridge getting great views although it appeared nervous and uncomfortable even though we kept our distance and minimized the disturbance.
Greater Yellowlegs video:
After taking our fill Mr C and I headed off to the Dungarvan area, he calling a local birder for information re anything around? We met John Power at a small bay where we had ‘just missed’ a Glaucous Gull – but were compensated by half a dozen Red-billed Choughs which pleased and surprised me as I wasn’t aware there were any on the east coast and we got pretty great views.
We saw another pair of White-throated Dippers along the river 100 meters from where it trickled into the bay.
We also had a pair of Peregrines Falcons overhead before we (Mr C and I) headed off again along the bay looking for the Glaucous – failing – and checking out the bay itself finding a couple of Great Northern Divers, a dozen or so Great Crested Grebes and a handful of Red-breasted Mergansers. It was low tide which hampered efforts to see more.
At about 14.30 we headed home, arriving at Killincarrig around 17.00, when I headed back to Dale Rd.
The weather had been very pleasant. Almost balmy at 12 or 13c, although along the coast the wind was cold and I was still wearing 4 layers on top, including thermals for comfort…..
Trip List: 102, 1 Mammal List: 4, 1
Day 23 Tuesday 21.2.23
There were a few common birds I wanted to get photos of, namely, Common Kingfisher, Long-tailed Tit and Water Rail. I had seen reports of Water Rail at Kilbogget Park, a suburban park a few minutes from Dale Rd, and speaking to Mr C the previous day, there were Kingfishers there as well. So after Mum got settled and I had made an important phone call, I headed down to the park.
It was a lovely morning – blue skies, sunshine, no wind, almost warm. Daffodils and Crocuses pushing up and opening out, Spring must be on the way.
I found the Water Rail fairly easily, exactly where Mr C had suggested, but getting photos was another thing. Very skulking, they rarely come out in the open. I did manage to get some shots - average but adequate for a first attempt.
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| Water Rail |
Further along I found a pair of Long-tailed Tits and managed to capture a lot of empty branches – they never stopped moving – and a couple of shots of one adult.
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| Long-tailed Tit |
A few meters further and I saw the Common Kingfisher – briefly, diving to catch a fish. It then flew off downriver. I sat and waited, hoping for its return - Kingfishers often use the same perches to fish from and sitting it out is probably the only way (that I know of anyway) to get a decent photo. It didn’t, however, return in the 20 minutes or so that I waited and I couldn’t re-locate it anywhere else.
I saw quite a few other common species, of course, European Blue and Great Tits, Grey Herons, Eurasian Teal, Northern Mallard, a pair ofGrey Wagtails and a single Redwing, European Goldfinches, Common Chaffinches and loads of Winter Wrens, singing and flitting around. A passing woman asked me if the ‘Swans had built a nest yet?’ What is it with Swans? The world over everyone wants to know about the bloody Swans!
On the way out I saw the Water Rail again, preening, but despite waiting for another 15 minutes or so, it didn’t come out in the open so I gave it away intending to try again in the coming days.
Trip List: 103,1 Mammal List: 5,1
Day 24 Wednesday 22.2.23
Expecting in to be raining, as per the forecast, and when it wasn’t, I decided to make the most of it and headed down to Kilcoole, getting on site at 9.00. I was hoping for another Otter.
It was bright and sunny, blue skies, but a brutally cold northwesterly made me grateful I had chosen to wear thermals. 7c felt like 3c, brilliant! But cold enough that two pairs of gloves and my fingers still felt it.
I marched off down the beach, finding it deserted for the most part – usually there were numerous dog walkers and exercise freaks, but very few this morning.
The birds were much as previously recorded, loads of Eurasian Teal and Eurasian Wigeon, distant Whooper Swans (~50) feeding in a field, Eurasian Curlews, Northern Lapwings, a few Common Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Pied Oystercatchers, Dunlin, Common Ringed Plover etc. A couple of, distant, Common Guillemots and one Black Guillemot out to sea and I had one distant Grey Seal offshore but Mr and/or Mrs O failed to show despite my hanging around the Narrows for more than 30 minutes.
I added Eurasian Skylark to my trip list – one perched up so well, I took more photos, almost identical to others taken on my last visit a year ago. Presumably recent returns from the continent, I think most move south for the winter and they hadn’t been here on my last two visits.
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| Eurasian Skylark |
Walking back against the wind was face cold, but I did see a single Merlin briefly over the marsh. I headed down to Newcastle ECR to see again the Finches and Tits and picked up a Common Buzzard briefly overhead – another bird I want photos of, but this one slipped sideways in the wind and disappeared before I could get the camera out. I have seen a number of Buzzards in Ireland and elsewhere but have never had one close enough to get on camera.
From the second hide a pair of Eurasian Wigeon showed well in the sunlight – so I took their pictures. Like most duck, seen well they’re really impressive.
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| Eurasian Wigeon, male |
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| Eurasian Wigeon, female. |
Trip List: 104,1 Mammal List: 5,1
Day 25 Thursday 23.2.23
Another day at home doing odd stuff and mostly nothing much. Weather was lovely though – clear skies, bright sun – and at 10am 4c felt like 3……white frost on lawn again.
Trip List: 104,1 Mammal List: 5,1
Day 26 Friday 24.2.23
A cloudy day with a brisk north westerly, but not as cold as the previous. After lunch, Herself settled down to sleep, I headed out to Dun Laoghaire intending to cover both piers, and maybe Booterstown Marsh as the tide was incoming and I expected conditions to be good for all locations.
On site at the East Pier at 13.00 and I looked for the Black Redstart still being reported at the base of the pier. I failed to find it and was about to move on and walk the pier – something I don’t usually bother to do on this pier – when I bumped into Noel Keogh, another, local, birder I invariably bump into on my visits to Dublin. We chatted for a while during which he pointed out a Common Scoter out on the water. He also reckoned he’d had the Black Red a few minutes earlier back towards the ‘Baths’, but hadn’t seen it well. The wind was a bit cutting in the immediate area and there were a number of civilians wandering around so it was obviously keeping a low profile.
I headed out along the wall after he’d departed and found three groups of Purple Sandpipers totaling 13 birds, which was a personal record, number-wise.
Purple Sandpiper video:
There wasn’t much else along the now high tide washed rocks, although I did have three Black Guillemots in the harbour – 2 in summer and 1 in winter plumage - and one nice adult Mediterranean Gull close over the water.
I reached the end and realised I’d missed a message from my sister in relation to the builders next door needing access to the back garden, so I had to shorten my planned itinerary and head home. I did check again for the Black Red at the base of the pier but failed, but, while waiting, watched the Eurasian Rock Pipits and Pied Wagtails flitting around my feet.
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| Eurasian Rock Pipit |
Eurasian Rock Pipit video:
Trip List: 104,1 Mammal List: 5,1
Day 27 Saturday 25.2.23
Another day at home, blah blah, blah.
Watched Ireland beat Italy. It was an expected result, but Italy played well and it looked dubious at half time, however, the second half eliminated any doubt and Ireland won convincingly to continue their campaign to win the trophy. The game in two weeks time against Scotland will be decisive, I think.
England played Wales as well – and neither team showed much promise. Wales, however, basically lost the game themselves having caught the ‘kick-the-ball-away’ disease that has plagued Australia for the last 20 years, apparently forgetting that you can’t win if you don’t have the ball. Mind you, even when they had the ball they stuffed up repeatedly. England continued their ‘we’ve-got-more-weight-than-you-have’ process trying to just steam roll their way, unimaginatively forward and their repeated box kicks didn’t impress. Thankfully that wanker Smith didn’t play until, literally, the last 30 seconds. Jesus he annoys me, you know? Just one of those people who irritate on first sight and continue to be annoying. He’s such a poser and a general pain in the face.
Did the washing, got the car cleaned and vacuumed and filled it with petrol in preparation for Karin coming home on Tuesday.
Trip List: 104,1 Mammal List: 5,1
Day 29 Monday 27.2.23
I caught the Aircoach to the airport around 10.00 to pick up the hire car for the next, last, 10 days. It was a damp, spitting rain kind of morning – but not too cold. Mind you, still four layers on top including my Gortex jacket and a beanie to boot.
I had booked through VroomVroom and the agency was Easirent. They didn’t have a desk at the airport and I had to ask where their shuttle bus picked up. I ended up ringing Easirent and they directed me to a car park, 150 meters from the airport door – not a big deal, but these details should be delivered to the customer, rather than you having to find them when you arrive.
(Note: email to VroomVroom to advise…)
Anyway, got the bus to the off-site car yard – not the one the other agencies use, but another place a few minutes further away from the airport. All a bit temporary and I instinctively started regretting booking the cheapest. The office guy was from Eastern Europe and the drivers and yard staff all from sub-Saharan Africa. I have no issue with that, its just an observation - but it made me wonder if they would all still be there when I brought the car back next week – it was that kind of place. (Maybe it is my white, middle class, Protestant, Dublin upbringing that makes me cynical? I certainly hope not, but there you go.)
The dude behind the counter assured me they would be open when I returned at 5am Friday week so…… I signed my life away, paid the hire charge, + 35 euros to take the car into Northern Ireland, they all charge that – it’s a scam and I don’t know what the justification is, but what can you do?
I drove back to Dale Rd, then got the Luas into the city to pick up some Ireland baseball caps for the boys and an IRF t-shirt for me – and had lunch in Captain A’s of course.
I know a lot of this has been boring, but it is, after all, my personal diary so….. I expect it to get better in the next week as I go on a long weekend adventure with Mr H to explore the Wilds of the West in Mayo and Sligo and hopefully, see some good birds. Stay tuned! Don’t touch that dial!
Trip List: 104,1 Mammal List: 5,1
Day 30 Tuesday 28.2.23
Another day at home. Lorraine came up at lunch time and we took Herself to St Vincent’s in the wheelchair taxi to have her pacemaker checked. Its an annual check and they told us her heart is not working at all, the pacemaker is keeping her alive – other than that its working fine.
Karin came home late and we chatted about her trip home to Chile.
Trip List: 104,1 Mammal List: 5,1
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