Hi gang,I would like to get a nature forum of interest active.

I have allways been v interested in Nauture and wildlife in my Locality.So if any body has anything to offer please post it.

I would like to knick off the subject re a survey of Gulls which have been ringed in 2009 and this summer.

I would be grateful if birders would look out for gulls wearing blue rings. Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed 
and Herring Gulls were ringed on Ireland’s Eye during the summer months of 2009 and 2010 as part of a continuing study. 
The birds have  blue metal ringss on their left legs and BTO metal rings on the right.  Reports can be sent
directly to gulls@eircom.net. A related website will be available soon at http://www.gulls.ie/ - that will include a report submission 
form. Recent sightings include a Lesser Black-backed Gull in Cadiz, Spain that was ringed on Ireland’s Eye in 2009 and 
regular reports from Howth (up to 10 birds in two hours), Bullock Harbour and other locations along the Dublin coast. 
Details of most European colour ringing projects can be found at http://www.cr-birding.be/ -

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 

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

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 http://www.birdwatchireland.ie - www.birdwatchireland.ie .


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

to pougue and bredan et al

this is what a curlew looks like

not this

'like tranquil Bay air

pierced by the curlew's call'

Or....

O CURLEW, cry no more in the air,
Or only to the water in the West;
Because your crying brings to my mind
passion-dimmed eyes and long heavy hair
That was shaken out over my breast:
There is enough evil in the crying of wind.

 - W.B.Yeats.

Very nice FINNO.

Good luck with the topic Gerry  I'll keep an eye out for anything unusual.

Myself and Finno both posted photos of Redwings during the snow earlier this year.

I saw dozens of Curlews in the playing fields at Árdscoil Rís a few weeks ago.

There are lots of (little?) Egrets around too - one regularly in the Tolka and I've seen lots in St. Annes now and again.

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...

RoundaboutToo! wrote: Good luck with the topic Gerry  I'll keep an eye out for anything unusual. Myself and Finno both posted photos of Redwings during the snow earlier this year. I saw dozens of Curlews in the playing fields at Árdscoil Rís a few weeks ago. There are lots of (little?) Egrets around too - one regularly in the Tolka and I've seen lots in St. Annes now and again.

Thank you for the info that's brill 

Yes the little Egrets are numerous, in lots of places.

Keep a look out for waxwings over the winter.There were plenty of sightings last year.They are usally in small flocks

The waxwing is a plump bird, which is slightly smaller than a starling. It has a prominent crest. It is reddish-brown with a black throat, a small black mask round its eye, yellow and white in the wings and a yellow-tipped tail. It does not breed in Ireland , but is a winter visitor, in some years in small numbers, called irruptions, when the population on its breeding grounds gets too big for the food available.

Berries, particularly rowan and hawthorn, but also cotoneaster and rose.

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 - 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/ - http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/

Thanks Esthalon,

 That is very worthwhile and I hope some of us grovers will give of their time

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 mailto:gulls@eircom.net - gulls@eircom.net

Well if they do it's supposed to be a sign of luck.So buy a lotto ticket if it happens

DONDON wrote: Thanks Esthalon,  That is very worthwhile and I hope some of us grovers will give of their time

What's best about the garden survey is you can do it all from the comfort of home!

Since moving to Rush I've seen 26 species of birds in my back garden alone!

Good idea about bringing binoculars - you don't want to get too close.

Will have a look at the garden survey June.

don't get many birds in our garden, but saw a Blackcap last winter.

Actually there is a sea Bird called a Fulmar they have been known to spit (eject) a disgusting black substance  if you approach them such as the guy in the previous photo.

 It looks like a gull, but it's not.True Gulls must come inland to drink fresh water as the fumer drinks salt water, hence the difference 

 You can see a small colony of Fulmars the at Balscadden bay in Howth

I've seen Fulmars up close at the Cliffs of Moher too.

You'll see Kittiwakes too around Howth during the breeding season - you can recognise them by their calls that sound like - erm - 'Kitty-waaake'!

Ok Lads a small competition to get all of the tit remarks out of the way. There is a free pint in HBs on the 4th..

so here goes.

1. Name all the Tits that are asscoiated with Britian and Ireland. there are 8 species.

 2. Name the 4 Tits who don't bred in Ireland

 3.Who's the biggest Tit

 4.Who has the smallest Tit re uk and Irl (  trick question )

  You get one post and the closing time is tomorrow at 5pm

 NOW off ye go LADS AND LADIES and may the best person win

Jayz Dondon the answers are coming in fast for that free pint!

without peeping at Google, I can think of Blue, Great, Long Tailed, Coal (can't think of the British version of the Coal tit)

Willow tit, (or is that Gilbert and Sullivan) and Bearded (UK)

 I didn't expect many, Obivious the lads are not very well up on Tits

But since your the only one to have a stab at it.The pints is all yours

 DonDon..."4.Who has the smallest Tit re uk and Irl (  trick question )"

TWIGGY????

It's called a coal Tit  and it's synonymous to BOTH the Uk and Irl not just to one.

Does that make sense

 Here is the little chap now.

I think I come off on the Tit subject as it hasn't generated any interest.

PS don't forget to have a look at the Gulls over the week end.Those that will be out and about

Have agood weekend everybody

 Great Pics. I have never seen a cormorant or indeed a shag in a tree.

The picture was taken in Kilkenny that's a good distance fron the sea

Pogue,

just came on to post this story and you beat me to it.

finno wrote: Pogue, just came on to post this story and you beat me to it.

 Likewise!!

Thought there'd be very few birds around after the bad weather, but the dawn chorus is great these mornings - and there aren't even any trees around our place!  Saw a Fieldfare on the shed roof one of the days.

Pogue Mahoney wrote: I have not seen one since I was a baby and can't believe they are back "Shy bittern flies back to Irish shores after 150-year break" http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/1230/1224 286494 404.html

It's great news about the bittern.I hope they stay to breed.

With the cold  snap we just had it's being reported that a lot of Kingfishers died, due to the fact that a lot of rivers froze over  

died

 A wood cock was seen in a Garden in Raheny on the 26th of December.

They are a game bird and appeared on the 1/4 farthing.

Brendan might rememeber having one to spend

 Here's a book to start you off bird watching.There are some spetacular birds inside  

  I had a pet magpie  called Charlie

I came across it as a chick which must have fallen out of the nest on the Howth road near the Nuns Walk.I was on my way to the shops with a few taylor keith and club organge empties,You could get 3d or 4d of the empties.Anyway there were a couple of lads chasing the chick trying to catch it.I traded the empties with them for the magpie.I brought it home and stared to feed it with chopped up maggots and bread and scraps.

I put it an organge box and eventually released it when he got older.I named him Charlie and he would fly off the roofs and land on my arm when I called him by Name.We went on a caravan holiday that year and when I came back he was still hanging around. Eventually he found a mate and  I didn't see him anymore.

Probably native birds attacked them.

 Do you remember Jackos pet shop in Dublin City.

They had a Mynah bird called Jacko.He would often say feck off to the Customers

Pogue Mahoney wrote: Here's a pic of Feathers and Sylvester...Feathers liked to live on the edge. ..

 Great picture Pogue

he is cetainly brave

 That's It Uncle Georges Pet shop I couldn't remember name of it.

 and a big grey parrot and a semi circle gold fish tank.I think most people just went in to have a look around it. It was like a mini Zoo.

It's well gone now and so is the poultry shop near by I think it was called Gearathy's or something like that.It had egss from the floor to the ceiling and a sign saying" Nice to handle nice to hold if you drop one consider it sold or words to that effect 

DONDON wrote:  A wood cock was seen in a Garden in Raheny on the 26th of December. They are a game bird and appeared on the 1/4 farthing. Brendan might rememeber having one to spend

I remember the farthing very well. You could actually buy something for a farthing back then...LOL

I even still have a few that I saved along with all the old Irish coins.

Pics from BrendanFellas backyard.
Now don't ask why I don't care about the grass....LOL

Bluejay, Cardinal, Oriole

These same deer walk thru my yard every day.
Saw them yesterday, more greyish in color now and bigger.
One of them has his antlers...

OOPS!, forgot the chipmunk and raccoon family and some other thing I can't figure out what it is. 

Great stuff Brendan - lovely to have so much wildlife in your garden.

Wow Brendan! That's some amazing wildlife on your backdoor step!

Do you live by a wood or something?

Yes I do Pogue, so be careful what you say...

June, There is a woods behind my house and the Metroparks are pretty close. But if the deer are coming from the Metroparks they have to cross a main street....amazing the same five are still around.

I will bird watching on bull Island on Sunday.I will let you know what I observed

General information on the colour-rings in use for Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Euring-code 1681).

All birds have been ringed with one colour-ring (of about 1 inch high) on each leg. In some cases only one colour-ring has been used, but then a small metal ring has been put on the other leg. These colour-rings bear contrasting inscriptions in either black or white, depending on the background-colour used. These inscriptions are either letters or digits repeated three times around the ring for easy identification. Also rings with one, two or three horizontal bars have been used. In some cases we have used double digit inscriptions, also repeated three times around the ring.

The colour used, are: light-blue or light-green (lime), white, yellow, orange, red, dark-blue or dark-green. To maximize contrast with the background colour either white or black inscriptions have been used. Note that in dark- blue rings the white of the inscriptions is often so conspicuous that some observers take these rings for white rings, because the ring itself is hardly visible against the black leg. For ring colour we always refer to the background-colour of the ring itself. A limited number of plain colour-rings without inscription has been used in the 1970-s.

Using powerful telescopes (40 – 60 x magnification) allows the inscriptions to be identified at 200 – 300 metres distance. Some telescopes distort the colours when used at full magnification. We therefore recommend to check for the colour of the ring at lower magnification. In the remark field you can also add information as to the colour of the inscription itself (either white or black) as this may help us to identify the bird you have seen. E.g orange rings invariably bear black inscriptions, whereas red rings always bear white inscriptions.

At present the following colours are in use:

yellow with black inscriptions or without inscription (notated as Y) white with black inscriptions or without inscription (notated as W) pale green (lime) with black inscriptions (notated as L) dark green without inscription (notated as G) pale blue with black inscription (notated as B) pale blue with white inscription (notated as B) dark blue without inscription (notated as B) dark blue (almost black) with white inscriptions (notated as B) orange with black inscriptions (notated as O) red without inscription or with white inscriptions (notated as R) much smaller metal rings (notated as *) black with white inscription (notated as N)
	Brent Goose OYR9 (left orange Y; right red 9) accompanied by young bird (Tim Crawshaw)

Notation of ring combinations:

In the code identifying a bird we use a four-symbol-code. The first one indicates the colour of the left ring, the second one the inscription engraved on the left ring, the third symbol indicates the colour of the right ring and finally the fourth indicates the inscription on that right ring. Some examples:

• ‘W8YH’ means a white ring with 888 on it on the left leg, and a yellow one with HHH on it, on the right leg;
• ‘R Y5’ is a bird carrying a red ring without inscription (note the space on the second position!) on the left leg and a yellow ring with 555 on it on the right;
• ‘OJ*’ means an orange ring with JJJ on it on the left leg and a small metal ring on the right.
• Some birds have been marked with a colour-ring bearing a double inscription, e.g. ‘F2’ of ‘AY’: on one ring and a metal ring on the other leg. These are, in case yellow rings have been used, indicated by ‘YF 2’ (note the space on the third position!) and ‘YA Y’ respectively;
• YZY= : means a bird with a yellow ring with three horizontal bars (triple bar) on the left leg, and a yellow ring with two horizontal bars (double bar) on its right leg
• WAY- : left a white ring with a black A, and right a yellow ring with one black horizontal bar (single bar)
We have always used one ring one each leg, but a few birds have lost one ring, so please check very carefully for an inconspicuous metal ring on the other leg in case you see a bird with just one colour-ring.

Black neckbands used on Brent

Since 1985 Brent Geese staging in spring on Langenwerder Insel near Rostock in the former German Democratic Republic have also been marked with black neck-collars bearing a white three- digit code, or a letter with two digits next to it.

Notation HA39 : Black neckband(H) with inscription A39 (Note: The standard way in which we code black neckbands as used on Greater White-fronted Geese will in the future also be used for Brent)

Only fully identified birds are of interest to us.

DONDON wrote:  mind you I had the odd snog down there myself On Dollymount Strand on a cold winter's night I put on the hand brake and switched out the light I looked at me Mot and said, "Aye, are you right?" Meself and the architect's daughter

Oh the sea,oh the sea,well it crept up on me...........

Hey Ger, just on the Brent Geese..................next time you see Uncle Arthur ask him to tell you the story about his encounter with one of them .

We would be well used to seeing them in the Golf Club each winter.

Rolo wrote: Hey Ger, just on the Brent Geese..................next time you see Uncle Arthur ask him to tell you the story about his encounter with one of them . We would be well used to seeing them in the Golf Club each winter.

I take it you have a few thousand back there at the moment. There are loads of then out in Balcarrick right now sh*tting all over the fairways, Would'nt you thing they would wipe their arses like everybody else.

Whats this about Arty.

DAYO wrote: Rolo wrote: Hey Ger, just on the Brent Geese..................next time you see Uncle Arthur ask him to tell you the story about his encounter with one of them . We would be well used to seeing them in the Golf Club each winter. I take it you have a few thousand back there at the moment. There are loads of then out in Balcarrick right now sh*tting all over the fairways, Would'nt you thing they would wipe their arses like everybody else. Whats this about Arty.

 They are becoming a bit of the problem Each year to seem to go futher inland in search of feeding areas. Especially when they arrive they are stavring and need to take in large amounts of eel grass.

There is a shortage of it on Bull island. I have seen football pitches bare after their feeding.But their droppings act as good fertilizer so all is not bad

I remember back in the 70s when St Annes was a nine hole Course they were confined to the marsh feeding area.But the population has increased each year.

That's why Arty was out with his 3 Wood.Unfortunately,despite his best efforts he only managed to kill one.

Probably 'cos they were all in the middle of the fairway.

QUIZ: BIRDS

1. The study of birds is called:
< value=ichthyology = name=q1>ichthyology
< value=herpetology = name=q1>herpetology
< value=ornithology = name=q1>ornithology
< value=aviology = name=q1>aviology

2. Birds have a ____ heart with _____ circulation.
< value="3 chambered, double loop" = name=q2>3 chambered, double loop
< value="4 chambered, double loop" = name=q2>4 chambered, double loop
< value="3 chambered, single loop" = name=q2>3 chambered, single loop
< value="4 chambered, single loop" = name=q2>4 chambered, single loop

3. Birds belong to the phylum ___ and the class ___
< value="chor, aves" = name=q3>chordata, aves
< value="vertebrata, aves" = name=q3>vertebrata, aves
< value="chor, vertebrata" = name=q3>chordata, vertebrata
< value="aves, chor" = name=q3>aves, chordata

4. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of birds?
< value=feathers = name=q4>feathers
< value=furculum = name=q4> double-loop circulation
< value="hollow bones" = name=q4>hollow bones
< value=ectothermic = name=q4>ectothermic

5. Which of the following organs is NOT present in birds?
< value=crop = name=q5>crop
< value=cloaca = name=q5>cloaca
< value=intestine = name=q5>intestine
< value="urinary bladder" = name=q5>urinary bladder

6. The bird in the picture has legs adapted for:
< value=wading = name=q6> wading
< value=perching = name=q6> perching
< value=grasping = name=q6> grasping
< value=swimming = name=q6> swimming

7. The bird in the picture most likely eats:
< value="small mammals" = name=q7>small mammals
< value="fish " = name=q7>fish
< value=seeds = name=q7>seeds
< value=insects = name=q7>insects

8. Which of the following pairs is most closely related?
< value="hawks and ducks" = name=q8>hawks and ducks
< value="sparrows and hawks" = name=q8>sparrows and hawks
< value="pelicans and geese" = name=q8>pelicans and geese
< value="bluebirds and robins" = name=q8>bluebirds and robins

9. In birds, the crop leads to the:
< value=intestine = name=q9>intestine
< value=gizzard = name=q9>gizzard
< value=esophagus = name=q9>esophagus
< value="stomach " = name=q9> heart

10. The crop is responsible for:
< value="storing food " = name=q10>storing food
< value="grinding food" = name=q10>grinding food
< value="egg production " = name=q10>egg production
< value="breathing " = name=q10>breathing

< =getScore(this.) value="Get score" => < value=Clear =reset>

Score = < size=15 name=percentage>
Correct answers:
< wrap=virtual rows=4 cols=40 name=solutions>

I didn't get all them right only 80%

Some new visitors to my garden this year. I've had up to 6 yellow hammers at a time and they are now daily visitors.

The Linnets started coming during the snow but have been back every day since.

 There fab Photos,  keep them coming Unfortunately I dont know how upload pics from my camera.

Yellow hammers I haven't seen one around Raheny for years.Plenty of linnets on the bull and the odd red pole mixes in

DONDON wrote:  There fab Photos,  keep them coming Unfortunately I dont know how upload pics from my camera. Yellow hammers I haven't seen one around Raheny for years.Plenty of linnets on the bull and the odd red pole mixes in

You just need to post yoru photos somewhere public on the net like Picasa/Flickr/Photobucket and then use the "tree" icon when posting to add image and paste in the URL. I also tend to reduce resolution of photo to keep file size small. That way they load quicker.

I hope that helps.

9 linnets after I posted that photo the other day and 7 yellowhammers, the word is spreading where the free food is. TG I buy birdseed by the sack!

Also spotted a female blackcap, my first this winter and my first ever tree sparrow...I even got a photo of him!

 That's great news,You know that black caps are now overwintering here They are lovely to listen to.

I will try your advice.My lovely Daughter bought me a Kodak easy share M530 for Xmas.But I am of a tecnially challenged chap.So I am eager to take some photos of wildlife and post them on the site

 Well this yoke will scare him off

 Hi Polly, I take it it's the small suet balls.I have a few of them and like you the birds seem to ignore them unless there is nothing else.

 The reason could be allthough I am no expert.Is that when they feed on the balls they can spend a bit of time trying to extract the seeds.

That puts them in a perilous situation at times from sparrow hawks and magpies.You probably have noticed that if you put out whole peanuts ,they tend to grab one ..and off with them to eat it in a bush or tree.

That's my take on it.But fair play to you for feeding them .The important thing to remember also if you are putting out bread, is to soak it first.Then it won't swell up in their stomachs. It's also worthwhile to try and identify the species

I live in St Annes as well  right beside the trees on all saints Road  which are a mecca for  Sparrow hawks.I  had a few incidents over the years of hawks taking small birds at feeding tables

Gerry

Polly wrote: Dondon..wonder if you can shed any light on this: Dave has put out some seeds and a fat ball to attract birds to the garden ...it's worked to a point but they have completely igonored the fat ball for some reason.

Polly, try some SKINNY BALLS,
preferably from a bull.