Birds Ireland

In Autumn 1990, in the first issue of Irish Birding News, we invited people to predict what new species might be recorded in Ireland in the coming years. Only three species from this list have yet to be recorded: Willet, Palm Warbler & Wood Thrush.

Pleased to catch up with this superb juv American Black Tern at Seapoint, Dublin this afternoon. Keeping company with a White-winged Black Tern and a few Common Terns.

Another real autumn bird is Lapland Bunting. Delighted to see this bird on my local patch of Kilcoole this morning (found by Mick Boyle). Super birds.

I’m of a birding vintage that seeing a Great White Egret in Ireland is still a treat. This bird was feeding in the channels at Cahore, Wexford today.

Also delighted to spend time with this Grey Phal at Tacumshin this afternoon. Great birds!

Seeing Pied Flycatcher in Ireland is a real autumnal experience to savour. This was one of two birds at Churchtown, Wexford this morning.

I’ve waited a long time to find a Clifden Nonpareil in the garden. One of the rarest and largest moths found in Ireland, it’s also known as a Blue Underwing.

Since seeing my first Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Tacumshin, Wexford in Sept 1980, autumn is not autumn for me without seeing one. So I was delighted to enjoy this bird today…same place but 46 years later. Great birds.

Another super seawatch this morning with Michael O’Clery off Brandon Pt, Kerry with a Barolo’s Shear, 1100 Cory’s, 800 Sooty and 4 Great Shears, 4 Wilson’s and 27 Leach’s Petrels, LTSkua, 4 Poms, 4 Grey Phals and 20 Sabines Gull including this one (of three) at Clahane Strand.

Delighted to see this fresh juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper at Tacumshin this afternoon. Great find by Paul Kelly. Back-up tallies from Wexford today include a White-rumped Sand, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Wood and Green Sands, and good numbers of juv Curlew Sands, Little Stint etc. 😀

While I’ll never be a Rob Vaughan, Killian Mullarney, Michael O’Clery, Alan Dalton, Dave Daly or Holly Grogan..I just got back to painting. This is the Spotted Sand at Swords, worked from field sketches the other day.

Enjoyed watching young Swallows getting fed at the Swords Estuary, Dublin yesterday morning.

For anyone who missed it first time around, my radio doc on Roger Casement’s interest in the natural world is being repeated tonight at 10.00pm on RTÉ Radio1

So sad to hear of the death of Peter Wolstonholme. A real gentleman and one of the great characters of Irish birding. Mizen Head will never be the same without his presence.

It’s not every day that you see a South Polar Skua, Scopoli’s Shearwater, 2100 Cory’s, 45 Great, 1 Balearic, 4 LTSkua, 2 Wilson’s Petrels, adult Sabines Gulls etc on a seawatch in Ireland! Today was that day. With Michael O’Clery on Brandon Pt, Co. Kerry. 😀

Last nights eclipse from the east coast was superb. The most unexpected image was seeing the eclipse projected on the wall of our house as the light passed through the leaves on the trees in our garden.

Delighted to share that my new radio documentary will be broadcast on Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd August at 12.00pm (noon). I’m exploring the little known aspect of Roger Casement’s interest in the natural world. Nature On One: Casement (03/08/26) rte.ie/radio/radio1/mooney/2…

Sad to hear of the death of Bill Oddie. A wonderful ambassador for birding and a great character. His ‘Little Black Bird Book’ was legendary. Anytime I met him in Ireland he was usually with the late, great Tony Marr…I remember when they got their car stuck out on Tacumshin!