Testosterone city!!

Last one for this evening and then we are all caught up again..

As I said earlier I've been a bit under the weather but last night I got an urge to go feed the Swans in Swords at Broad Meadows, the Swords Estuary. I know I'm not 4 but I LOVE going out to the Swans. Funny thing is my Mam has been bringing me there for Years and all I've ever seen is Swans there until last year my 1st outing with Tolka Branch where we saw lots of other species so now it is definitely one of my favourite places to visit.


I knew that this time of Year the Swans could be a bit tetchy but wow we did not expect for the Testosterone to be SO palpable. When we arrived (I dragged my Mam out) the 1st thing we noticed was the lack of female Swans (Pen's) and we could see a few nesting Swans. I fed them the 1st pan (dont judge me).
I also attracted a few Jackdaws - who I feel are the sleeker suave members of the Crow family. And of course how could I forget the Black Headed Gulls - wow the noise when you throw some bread out is great.
There were a few Mallards present as well however usually there are larger numbers but it is breeding season so....
I then took a wee look through my bins and in a few minutes the Males started to Display to each other and head butting - its actually very funny (when you are far enough away that they can't head butt you).

The estuary was filled with Godwits - both Bar Tailed and Black Tailed - and embarrassingly enough last night was the 1st time I saw them in full Summer Plumage and the light last night really brought out the pure rufous colour.

Then I spotted the Heron who really sticks out like a Sore Thumb with all the smaller birds. He was paddling whilst some of the other birds were up to their oxters.


Then the screeching started - two of the Black Tailed Godwits seemed to be a bit close to each other and started to Fight. It was quite amusing as the SIZE of the estuary but NO the two pumped up eejits wanted the same 2inch bit of water to forage in!!! Check out the photos (but sadly it doesn't do it justice) - I missed them fighting in the air but they were on and off fighting for at least 20minutes.

The calm before the storm.....

Mine mine mine......

The onlookers are shocked by the violence..

'You looking at me punk?','This patch ain't big enough for the both of us'

Then I heard this really low rumbling quack and looked out to see two Shelducks heads down swimming at full speed towards two other then out of nowhere another two joined in. It is the 1st time I have ever seen their beaks looking quite so red - does anyone know if they get more colourful when they are in season? The fight went on for a good 20minutes as well.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water....

In between the fighting I had a quick look at the trees and shrubbery behind me to try and get a glimpse of the Tree Sparrows but nope not to be. Then a little Blue Tit appeared with what looked like sheep's wool (photo didn't come out so well but you can JUST make it out).

If you look carefully you can just make out the white material in his/her mouth. Looks like a lovely lining for a nest.

This is where the Blue Tit went in.

I kept an eye on it and was happy to see it go into a little hole in the mud wall. The photo of it coming out is WAY Blurry but I had to put it in to show where the nest was.

That blue blur in the middle of the hole is the exiting Blue Tit - man they are FAST.

I kept an eye out but it didn't come back or I was looking at the head butting and posturing as seen in this photo of a young bachelor Cob sizing up to a what looked like a Juvenile who really didn't care if yer man's knob was bigger than his (now now I mean on their beaks).

'My Knobs bigger then yours' 'Aye whatever mate'

Then the 2nd(and last) pan was dispatched to the birdies (I really really like feeding the Swans and ducks ok? and Tesco value bread is on 75c a pan). But you will be glad to know that I was kind and shared some of the bread with a father who had arrived with his young toddler.

The light was starting to get bad so we decided to head home a good hour and a half from when we arrived.

This Godwit is not a member of the Ministry of Silly walks he is having a scratch.

I would recommend Swords Estuary for a visit even if it is just to laugh at the silly males at the moment.

Heron Garden Visitor

Hey me again I know so long since last post - trying to get everyone back up to speed with my birding adventures haha.

So where were we..... ah yes Friday morning.

I am lying in bed as you do and Mam shouts up the stairs 'Quick look out the window' so a sleepy headed Rhona lops off to the window to see what the fuss is about and lo and behold its a Heron again but he/she didn't stay too long, however in the afternoon she/he turned up again and I managed to get some snaps.

Malachii (our resident male magpie) had to have a look so he appears too.

Malachii and Heron- sorry the magpie is a bit blurred

'If I crouch do you think he can see me???'

The action is watched by a bemused Wood pigeon.

Malachii continues his SAS approach across the gutter not realising the Heron has cottoned on to his plan.

'Hello I can see you down there you know? What are you doing?'

Lets all look over here now

Think Ill head off - nothing much doing fish wise.

'Byeeeeee'

Easter in Scotland

Hey Guys

Sorry I have been a while posting - seems to be a bad habit eh? Well I've no been well - have had a sinus infection :(

But enough about that - back to Easter which I spent in West Calder Scotland with my pal Laura.
She has a 22month old daughter so we had lots of fun going to a Kiddie Farm and Zoo (Mill Farm Livingston and The Five Sisters Zoo Polbeth).

Of course whilst there I had to check out the wildbirds as well as the captive ones, so here are a few of the photos I took. Unfortunately I couldn't get a pic of the Siskins as they were too fast.

Dunnock singing his little heart out.

Female Sparrow – would love it to be a Tree sparrow but alas I think it is a House.

Capuchin Dove – a little scary looking

Wood Duck – beautiful little creature

Dove meet Prairie Dog, Prairie Dog meet Dove

There was also some beautiful views of two Buzzards as they made their way up to the updraughts but alas I didn't get a pic.

As I was standing looking in a big cage for the Red Squirrels I heard a jingle of bells that got my attention and I had to go investigate and what did I find??? Two Harris Hawks - no not just sitting there the were on the arms of two people - I just stood looking until I noticed my pal Laura was chatting to one of the holders - and I hear her ask Laura 'Would you like to hold her?' Laura gives her a look of 'eh no really' and says 'No but I know my friend would love to'. The girl then tells me it will cost me a Pound - hell she could have told me it would cost me £5 and I still would have done it. So I got introduced to Peg a 2year old Harris Hawk.......

Peg and I. Don’t I look so happy.

Took a chance at giving her a wee rub - she made a wee noise so I didn't try it again!!!

I seem to be matching her expression.

I was a happy Bunny then :)

April Fools Day

Hey there,

So picture this - Aprils Fools day - I'm out in the back garden filling a new Niger Seed feeder in the hopes the Goldfinches will grace us with their presence when I get a tap on the window. I look up and Mam and Dad are gesticulating Wildly at me so in I run and they tell me with a bemused look on their faces 'Think I just saw a Pheasant'. I'm standing there looking at the two of them thinking 'Ok that is a BIT far fetched'. But I still ran up the stairs to see if I could see it in a neighbours garden and wait for it ..... Yup there is a Pheasant running round in a garden to the back of us. Surprised is defo what you would say I was so I start to text people telling them and realise - its April Fools day - got to get a picture or NO one will believe me - hell I nearly didn't!!!

So luckily enough another neighbour startled it into coming back across our garden - I was looking out the window trying to see where it had gone when I see a lady in her garden do a HUGE double take and go to walk back in her hours but turn towards the Pheasant with a look of 'WHAT The hell' all over her face.

It flew across the garden to the top of another neighbours garage roof where I managed to get some pictures of it - and soon it was joined quite comically by one of our resident Magpies who was looking it up and down in a very befuddled way!

If you look at the map you will see why we were all so surprised - there aren't any parks where a Pheasant could have come from anywhere close to where I live!!!

Please send any ideas where it might have come from on the back of a postcard to 'Where the hell did it come from' at PO Box Birdie :)

My Area

’What exactly are you?’

’I dunno but I don’t like the way you are looking at me!’

Wonder if I just ignore it, it will go away?!’

’Hey Matilda can you see what I see??? I'm not imagining it am I? There is a great big bird with no tail sitting beside me yeah? I swear I only had one or two pecks of the apple and I don't feel drunk!!!’

’What you looking at?’

So anyone looking for a Lost Pheasant without a tail - twas last seen roaming round Artane scaring the Magpies :)

What a good birding start to the month eh?

Birdwatch Ireland Conference Sligo

Hi there

Sorry I've been so long putting this post up - busy busy busy!

This year I decided to attend the 43rd All Ireland Bird Conservation Conference which ran on the 26th - 28th March 2010 in the Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo.

Off I toddled on the 26th to Sligo and arrived early to find that the average age was quite higher then I had thought it might be. I then waited for Rosemary, Michael and Brendan to arrive :)

I registered and got the itinerary and told that the rest of the delegates pack would be provided tomorrow as there was a bit of a surprise. This year the theme was Seabirds: Life on the Edge. Which makes sense as Birdwatch Ireland has a Save the Sea Bird campaign.

The conference kicked off with a talk from Dick Coombes - Between a Rock and a Hard Place - this was a great talk all about Sea Watching thought I will say the thought of sitting on a rock for 9 hours whilst a force 9 gale batters me and my equipment does NOT appeal to me - I do fear I am a bit of a fair weather birder and not even the chance that I might see an Albatross could get me to change my mind at the moment!!!

Saturday was packed with 4 talks - Tracking Sea birds, Birdwatch Ireland's Actions for Sea Birds, Tracking Birds on Ratlin Island (involving a hook and a net!!!) and From Greenland to Galway - Little Auks. This brought us up to Lunch time which gave us an hour to eat and get changed for the outing.

And the suprise I hear you asking - a brand spanking new shiny logo for Birdwatch Ireland, designed by Killian Mullarney, who's name you might recognise from the Collins Guide!

New logo

There were 4 options of outings to go on - Lissadell and Ballintemple, Mullaghmore and Streedagh, Carton Marsh and Rosses Point and Ballysadare Bay. All of the trips had members from the Sligo Branch of Birdwatch Ireland to guide us.

Brendan and I choose the Lissadell and Ballintemple trip in the hope we might see the Cackling Goose. So we turned up at the conference room with about 60 other people - turned out we'd chosen the most popular one. Once we had worked out the car sharing we were off thanks to Anna and her Golf :)

The 1st place we stopped was Raghly (pronounced Rockly) Harbour. The 1st sighting was of a huge flock of Barnacle Geese(Tick) taking off in the distance, a couple of Brent Geese were closer to us at the Harbour, out in the water were Great Crested Mergansers - Male and Female, Oyster Catchers.

Then as I was trying to get a good look at a black and white diving bird (turned out to be a Great Northern Diver (Tick)) I see a black blur whizz past me and I call out - 'Swallowy Swifty thing' Yeah I know how thick did I seem but someone nice in my group told me that it couldnt be a Swift as it was too early and confirmed that the Blur had been my 1st Swallow of the Season :)

Walking up along the coast there was a cry from Dick of 'Eider' which made me run - I've always wanted to see an Eider and low there he was my 1st Male Eider (Tick), but this wasnt the only view we got. Shortly followed by 'oh look there's some Purple Sandpipers (Tick) (here comes a rant) which are in no way and could never be described as PURPLE!!! I'm very disappointed by this haha.

Then this was followed by Rock Pippit, Singing Sky larks, Turnstones, A hare (yeah I know its not a bird but I got my 1st close up view so allow me to divert) Lapwing, Shag, Herring Gulls, Red Throated Diver, Ringed Plovers, Starlings, Rooks and Pied Wagtail.

As we were walking back to the car I got my 1nd view of the day of an Eider and this time a female as well. I was very excited. (Photos again kindly donated by Brendan as I still haven't found my Sherpa).

Female and Male Eider Duck - Ohhhhh (BS)

Then in the harbour right beside us there was this little fella below - a Black Guillemot still in Winter Plumage but there was also one in the summer plumage! Strange how the bird world is eh?

Black Guillemot still in Winter Plumage (BS)

Then we moved on to hopefully see the Geese and there was a quick screech of breaks as they were spotted in a field. So out we all popped and had a goo then there was a call of 'Sparrowhawk???' (with the question marks) then a quick 'Oh no its a Merlin'. I'm not counting this thought because all I did see was a brown blob before it took off but hey one step closer eh?

While we where standing watching the Geese over our heads flew a small flock of Whooper Swans.

Then one of the Sligo branch guys headed off with who turned out to be Dr David Cabot (as see on Wild Journeys RTE) to try and get a glimpse of the Canada Goose and Cackling Goose. So we all took off after them. And Boy where we not disappointed.

The Geese moved 3times when we where watching them but the last move gave us the best views of the Barnacle, Canada and Cackling geese.

Barnacle Geese (BS)

Something here is not like the other – can you spot the differences? (BS)

Canada Goose Left and Cackling Goose Right. They are brown and white rather then Black and White (BS)

Suddenly it was 5pm an time to head back to the hotel.

On the Sunday following a later start (10am) there was a session about Getting Involved: How you can help, then the Launch of Birdwatch Irelands 2020 Vision which after a short Q&A session ended the conference for most people, but me and my big mouth somehow ended up in the Local Branch meeting representing the Tolka Branch with Sean (who at least is on the committee).

So at 3pm Brendan and myself dragged ourselves back to our rooms to see what we could do for the remainder of the evening - but seeing as our good pal Eric was on the Telly we had to be back for 6:30pm.

Someone suggested that we would go to Rosses Point for some fresh air.

As we got out of the car there was a lovely Greenfinch singing his head off. Walking along we saw a Black Guillemot, Shag and then a little Linnet.

Posing Linnet (BS)

There was also a flock of OysterCatchers, Jackdaws, Rooks, Pied wagtails, Starlings, Black Headed Gulls and a Rock Pipit.

Flock of Black Headed Gulls in various stages of Plumage (BS)

Rock Pipit again(BS)

Home to the hotel we went to watch Wild Journey's with our new friends the Barnacle Geese.

As we were all off on the Monday we planned a great Journey home via Cavan and Fermanagh planning to stop off at the many beautiful places along the way with a belly full of cooked Irish brekie. But unfortunately the rain started just before we left and followed me all the way home.

However we did stop in Fermanagh at Florence Court to have a cup of tea and Brendan hopped out to see what he could see in the rain. I followed because there had been a glimpse of a Brambling alas we couldnt find them when I went over but we did see 3 tree creepers (try say that quickly haha), Meadow Pipits, Great Tits, Blue tits and Chaffinches. Brendan also saw some Jays, some Long tailed tits and a Kestral (apparently he tried a bit of pishing).

All in all it was a brilliant weekend.

Thanks to all involved if was great weekend.