NATURE NOTICE

The picture above is a Redwing Thrush and they are starting to arrive in Ireland fron Asia

The redwing is most commonly encountered as a winter bird and is Irelands smallest true thrush. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red flank patches make it distinctive. They roam acrossIreland's countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, rarely visiting gardens, except in the coldest weather when snow covers the fields.

 You should see them in the open countryside, it likes hedges and orchards as well as open, grassy fields. Will come to parks and gardens. Often joins with flocks of fieldfares.

Migrants arrive from September, with most in October and November. They leave again in March and April, although occasionally birds stay later.They eat berries and worms

This the Field fare another thrush which arrives in Ireland about now.

Fieldfares are large, colourful thrushes, much like a mistle thrush in general size, shape and behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks of anything from a dozen or two to several hundred strong. Best looked for in the countryside, along hedges and in fields. Hawthorn hedges with berries are a favourite feeding area. In late winter grass fields, playing fields and arable fields with nearby trees and hedges are a favourite place.  They May come into gardens in severe winters when snow covers the countryside.

They eat insects worms and berries

Sure  That would be great .

I hope to arrange a birwatching trip for people who have an interest on the Bull wall some week end.

Gerry 

I'm with Pogue...My favourite birds have big boobs and long legs.

AH! Finno, you what they say about cold weather and "birds"....

joey the lips wrote: Good thread Dondon ,i used to be a keen bird watcher ,,no smart comments now ,, I studied most of the birds in Dollymount and Howth ,actualy done my school project on them ,,my fave is the curlew

Hi Joey you may be interested in this article.I had noticed a decline of them on the bull and causeway over the last couple of years

The haunting cry of the curlew may disappear from the Irish countryside’
By Lynne Kelleher

Saturday, October 16, 2010

The haunting cry of the curlew is known as the sound of the Irish countryside but the bird is now in danger of becoming extinct in Ireland.

The two-note call of the beautiful wading bird has been the soundtrack to a string of Irish films but now experts believe they could be completely wiped due to their natural wetland nesting grounds disappearing.

Birdwatch Ireland has released unpublished figures which show how the bird’s numbers have suffered a catastrophic crash of over 12,000 pairs in 1990 to just a few hundred pairs today.

Development officer with Birdwatch Ireland Niall Hatch said he was shocked when he realised the dramatic drop in the numbers while compiling the yet-to-be released Bird Atlas.

He said: "If something isn’t done this bird will be gone from Ireland in a decade. It is extremely shocking. We have seen a catastrophic decline while looking at the statistics for the new Bird Atlas.

"It has spent the past two decades plummeting more rapidly than pretty much any other bird in Ireland.

"There is only very sporadic breeding now. The curlew has been added to the endangered list. It was once so common, such an abundant bird.

"It would be a crying shame to see such an evocative bird disappear form Ireland. It is the sound of the Irish countryside.

"The name of the bird comes from its call. It is a very haunting sound and the real sound of the Irish wilderness which has been in many films and documentaries. It is a distinctive creature with its long curved bill," he said.

The organisation is now appealing to the public to help raise €99,000 to help save the species in Ireland as part of the Cry of the Curlew Appeal.

The sharp decline was spotted by Birdwatch Ireland while compiling the Bird Atlas 2007-11, a four-year project to check on the numbers and distributions of the birds of Ireland and Britain, which will be published next year.

"In the last Atlas compiled from 1988 to 1991, there were at least 12,000 pairs, which is 24,000 individuals.

"It seemed very secure here 20 years ago. In biological terms, 20 years is just the blink of an eye. Now there are just a few hundred pairs left."

He said many birdwatchers may be unaware of the critical situation with curlews because there is an influx of wintering curlews to Ireland every year.

And he said despite the endangered nature of the wading birds hunting of this bird is still allowed. He said: "One of the bizarre things is it is a species that can be legally shot in Ireland. This is something which needs to be looked at and we are lobbying the Government to take the curlew off this list."

Huge changes in the uplands, such as the destruction of peat bogs, afforestation, more intensive management of farmland have all affected their breeding habitat.

In the lowlands, drainage of wetlands and intensive management of grasslands have destroyed much of their habitat.

He said: "Their nesting grounds are disappearing because of the mono-culture of silage and the fact that grass is shorter and there is more frequent mowing."

The fund will also devise ways of restoring their unique habitats, such as re-wetting upland areas, clearing them of gorse and scrub, and improving grazing management to benefit their breeding.

To donate to the Cry of the Curlew fund log on to www.birdwatchireland.ie.


This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, October 16, 2010

'like tranquil Bay air

pierced by the curlew's call'

Very nice FINNO.

DONDON wrote: to pougue and bredan et al this is what a curlew looks like   not this

Can you please explain the difference...

Oh!, hold on, I see it...the bottom one has no freckles...

Bird Watch Ireland's Garden Bird Survey starts on Monday 29^th November 2010.

They only had about 1000 responses last year so everyone counts! You can take part online or by post. Details at link below.

http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Ourwork/GardenBirds/tabid/121 /Default.aspx

It's a great way to learn all your feathered visitors!

For anyone that wants to help further afield there is teh Bird Atlas surveys, now in it's final year. A link is on the home page http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/

GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL

LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL

HERRING GULL.... The most common type you will come across

These are the 3 Types of Gull with the blue and metal rings on their legs.If any Grovers are out and about over the weekend in Dollier or Howth or indeed other parts of the country.You may need a pair of  Binoculars to ID the rings.The website to report any sightings is gulls@eircom.net