4th July Green Drinks - Gardening for Wildlife

This month Dublin Green Drinks heard Ricky Whelan of the IWT Laois Offaly Branch give a talk on Gardening With Wildlife In Mind - in other words how to develop any space to be more friendly and inviting to wildlife and wild plants. This could involve habitat creation like having a pond in your garden, or a wild space for the nettles, or it could involve planting pollinator friendly plants, native species.

Ricky gave a very informative talk, full of amusing anecdotes, and stressed how easy it was for even the person with the least knowledge of gardening or tiniest space to contribute to wildlife. Even a window box can be a help! Hopefully  those attending were inspired to go home with a fresh enthusiasm for gardening with wildlife in mind!

Ricky Whelan also works as a Project Officer for BirdWatch Ireland and is heavily involved in the Abbeyleix Bog project in south Laois. 

Ricky showing us a bat box

10th and 18th June Ireland's Eye trips

Dublin Branch went on its annual trips to Ireland's Eye this month on the 10 and 18th June. As usual there was great interest in the trips and a good turnout. The weather was good for us and a lot of wild birds were seen including guillemots, cormorants, gannets and great black backed gulls. The views of Howth and the island were also amazing! Thanks to Brendan for the photos.

At Ireland's Eye's Martello Tower

Gannets

Great Black Backed Gulls - adults and chicks 

Guillemots

Cormorants

26th March - Birdwatching at Irishtown Nature Reserve and Poolbeg lighthouse

On Sunday 26th March the Dublin Branch went birdwatching in Irishtown Nature Reserve and walked out to Poolbeg lighthouse. John Fox was our guide, and with his sharp eyes we identified many birds including brent geese, cormorants, turnstones, herring gulls and various waders such as redshanks. Most of the waders had gone at this time of year, but we were compensated by the glorious weather which made it such a pleasant day out. Highlight of the day for some of us was seeing the peregrines nesting on the Poolbeg towers!

January 15th Bull Island Bird Watching

On Sunday January 15th last, Dublin Branch went bird watching on Bull Island, led by the ever knowledgeable John Fox. There was a good turnout, and the weather was reasonable for January. As always on the Bull, a great variety of birds were seen. Some of them as per John were; black-tailed and bar-tailed godwits, shoveler, lapwing, shelduck, oyster catcher, little egret, grey heron, wigeon, teal, great black backed gull, mute swan, brent geese, grey plover and golden plover. An informative and enjoyable morning was had by all! Photos courtesy of Ciarán.

October 8th Dodder Walk

On Saturday October 8th the Dublin Branch went on 90 minute River Dodder guided walk by Kevin Flood, meeting at the iron bridge on the Dodder opposite Donnybrook Bus garage, Beaver row, Donnybrook. Highlights included lots of wildlife, the Dartry dye works, an original tram depot, Famine plinth, Classon’s bridge,... original Dublin laundry chimney, remains of old water mills and river diversions, and lots more. There was a good turn out, and the weather was perfect for walking. All in all a great day was had. Thanks to Brendan for photos.

5th & 19th June - Trips to Ireland's Eye

This year the Dublin Branch of IWT arranged two trips to Ireland’e Eye – on 5th and 19th June.
We had a tremendous response – both outings were fully booked up and not everybody could be accommodated. Ireland’s Eye: two glorious contrasts. Day One bathed in sunshine, birds hatching their eggs, some chicks roaming around, their parents screeching and warning us to stay away from their offspring. Day Two bathed, literally, in rain, chicks grown, their parents less agitated, hovering anxiously and keeping a watchful eye on our group. Everybody obviously enjoyed the first tour, but despite the weather the good-humoured group on the second trip also appeared to have a good time, appreciating the unique charm of this little gem of an island.


We saw the usual suspects; guillemots, gannets, terns, all the different gulls, of course, cormorants and shags, oystercatchers and ringed plovers, rock pipits, a few puffins and two peregrine falcons. Our thanks to John Fox (Birdwatch Ireland) who provided us with details of their nesting, feeding, migration, habitat, behaviour and lifespan.  

Barbara

5th & 19th June - Trips to Ireland's Eye

This year the Dublin Branch of IWT arranged two trips to Ireland’e Eye – on 5th and 19th June.
We had a tremendous response – both outings were fully booked up and not everybody could be accommodated. Ireland’s Eye: two glorious contrasts. Day One bathed in sunshine, birds hatching their eggs, some chicks roaming around, their parents screeching and warning us to stay away from their offspring. Day Two bathed, literally, in rain, chicks grown, their parents less agitated, hovering anxiously and keeping a watchful eye on our group. Everybody obviously enjoyed the first tour, but despite the weather the good-humoured group on the second trip also appeared to have a good time, appreciating the unique charm of this little gem of an island.


We saw the usual suspects; guillemots, gannets, terns, all the different gulls, of course, cormorants and shags, oystercatchers and ringed plovers, rock pipits, a few puffins and two peregrine falcons. Our thanks to John Fox (Birdwatch Ireland) who provided us with details of their nesting, feeding, migration, habitat, behaviour and lifespan.  

Barbara

21st February Birdwatching Broadmeadow Estuary

On Sunday 21st February the Dublin Branch went birdwatching in Broadmeadow Estuary. Despite terrible weather, our guide Sean Fox showed us quite a few species of birds, including brent geese, teal, black-tailed godwit, stonechats, little egrets, cormorants, and of course the mute swans for which the estuary is famous. Highlight of the trip however, was the sight of a sparrowhawk hovering over the motorway in search of prey. Alas the weather was too wet for the kingfisher which Sean assured us was a regular visitor.

As the morning wore on the wind and rain eased off, and we were able to look through our binoculars and telescopes without getting fogged up. The sun fitfully came out and we had time to look at the swans at close quarters as they gathered around us looking for some bread to eat. There was no need to panic, however, as Sean informed us that the old story about swans being strong enough to break a  man's leg was nothing but a myth!

Photos courtesy of Brendan

November 15th - Birdwatching Bull Island

On Sunday November 15th IWT Dublin Branch went birdwatching on Bull Island, led by Sean our ever knowledgable guide. Despite the blustery weather and works to the sea wall at the causeway (don't mention the war!), the branch got to see quite a few birds. There were the pale bellied Brent geese, mallard, shelducks, shovellers, teal and wigeon, along with little egrets, curlews, herons and of course some hooded crows. An interesting fact that Sean shared is that there will always be lots of birds where streams come out into the sea, because believe it or not, the birds like to wash the salt off their feathers. So, at the point where the Naniken river comes out into the lagoon, there were indeed lots of birds gathered. Altogether an enlightening afternoon.  Photos courtesy of Brendan and Stephen.

Brent Geese

Curlew

7th June - Ireland's Eye Trip

Saturday 7th June saw the Dublin Branch head for its regular trip to Ireland's Eye. A great turnout as usual and the weather stayed fine - lots of birds were seen, including various types of seagulls and gannets. John Fox led the way and gave the us benefit of his birding knowledge.

Unfortunately the trip on the 21st of June had to be cancelled due to an outbreak of fire on the island. Fire is an increasing hazard with our drier summers thanks to climate change, and can be avoided if simple precautions are taken. The government has issued a simple Fire Safety Guide for us all to bear in mind when out in wild areas.

Spot the chicks

8th February 2015 - Bull island bird Watching

A perfect winter’s day greeted 25 people who attended the IWT Dublin Branch's bird-watch outing on Bull Island on Sunday 8th February. Blue skies, a blue sea and a great variety of birds were seen, in respect of which, Sean Hogan (of Birdwatch Ireland) provided a great deal of information and answered the many questions posed to him. Thank you, Sean and thanks also to John Fox.

In addition to the many waders and Brent geese, we saw the Grey Heron and Little Egret, now about to don their breeding plumage. No fewer than six varieties of ducks crossed our path: Shoveler, Wigeon, Pintail, Shelduck, Mallard and Teal. There was also a large flock (six to seven thousand) of knot with a large number of black tailed Godwit behind them. A very informative and engaging morning.

December 7th - Dodder Walk

On Sunday December 7th the Dublin Branch went for a walk along the Dodder in the company of John Fox the ornithologist. It was a gloriously sunny day, but freezing cold, and everyone who went was glad they were well wrapped up. The birds didn't seem to mind however, as John identified quite a few species such as herring gulls, mallards, little grebes or dabchicks, herons, swans and a little egret.

Along the way, the Dublin Branch ran into Paul Hughes, writer of a recent book about the wildlife along the Dodder: Doorstep Wilderness: a wilder side of Dublin (the book is a great read, and well worth considering as a stocking filler). Paul was able to fill in to the group about all the wildlife he had seen along the way, including otters, foxes, herons and many different birds. Unfortunately flood defence works meant that much of the vegetation along the river had been taken away, even since the book was written, but the group still managed to see a wide variety of birdlife, and Paul assured us that the wildlife still found its way along the banks.

Paul Hughes with his new book Doorstep Wilderness

November 9th Broadmeadow Estuary

On Sunday 9th November IWT Dublin Branch  went to Broadmeadow Estuary in Swords  to learn about all the winter feeding birds that come to our shores; how to identify them, what equipment to use and when to observe them. Our expert, Sean Hogan, of Birdwatch Ireland, led this event, and despite the tide being high on the estuary, a lot of different birds were seen.

As well as the usual swans and mallards, Sean identified lapwings, golden plovers, red breasted mergansers, crested grebes, scaup, brent geese redshanks, curlews and many more. The rain managed to hold off and the group of about twenty five people were happy with all that they saw. Once again we were reminded of the great variety of birdlife to be found all along Dublin's coastline.

One of the people at the event, Tim O'Brien provides a great overview of the day on his blog Tim's Fotos. Thanks Tim!

June 7th & 15th Trip to Ireland's Eye

As in previous years, the Dublin Branch of IWT held two trips to Ireland's Eye off Howth. As usual, this year’s two trips (both booked out) were a real adventure. When we got there, the cow parsley was so high that we could have done with machetes. People lolling on the beach stared in wonder as the group emerged from the undergrowth. Gulls and gannets flew around warning us to stay away from the chicks, and to top it all, three peregrine falcon chicks sat like three Musketeers at the very peak of the Stack. Every so often one would fly up but was immediately “buzzed off” by the gulls. An amazing day out both times. Heartfelt thanks to our leaders Conn Flynn and John Fox. Roll on next year!

Barbara

An oystercatcher happy in the sun

Careful - mind my eggs!

A graceful gannet

More gannets perching perilously

On the beach Conn shows the way

Through the cow parsley

Wow! A clear view at last