A total of six white-tailed eagle chicks successfully fledged from five nests in three different counties in 2016, making this the most successful year to date in the long-term reintroduction programme for this iconic bird of prey in Ireland.Eight pairs of white-tailed eagle attempted to breed and successfully laid eggs in 2016 and five pairs managed to rear chicks … [Read more...] about White-tailed eagle chicks fledge successfully in 3 counties
Cork
Sharks are back!
Great news for wildlife enthusiasts -- sharks are back off the Irish coast.Basking sharks, the world's second largest shark species, return to Irish shores every year around the same times as swallows. Early sightings of these less well known but much larger harbingers of spring trickled in at the end of March from West Cork, and with an impressive record of 20 basking … [Read more...] about Sharks are back!
Ross’s Gull: this little beauty makes even gulls seem sexy!
For many a budding birder, myself included, gulls can be an absolute nightmare!There's just so much plumage variation across the different year classes, and lots of potential overlap between species in sub-adult gulls that accurate identification can be extremely taxing, and scanning gull roosts in (inevitably) low light in an attempt to pick out something different soon … [Read more...] about Ross’s Gull: this little beauty makes even gulls seem sexy!
Cork wildlife group needs frog survey volunteers
Frogs play an important role in our lives; they are great pest controllers in our gardens and on farms by eating slugs, worms and flies, while otters and herons rely on frogs to supplement their diets.Ireland has only one native frog species, the common frog, Rana temporaria. It is listed as an internationally important species and is protected under the Habitats Directive … [Read more...] about Cork wildlife group needs frog survey volunteers
A journey to Antarctica: ten weeks in the freezer
The West Cork and Cork Branches of BirdWatch Ireland are hosting an illustrated talk by Cork based author and naturalist Jim Wilson on Friday 7th February 2014. The event takes place at the Cork International Airport Hotel, with doors opening at 7pm, and the talk commencing at 8pm sharp. This is the second time the two regional branches of Birdwatch Ireland have come together … [Read more...] about A journey to Antarctica: ten weeks in the freezer
16,000 trees to be felled at Gougane Barra, Co. Cork
Coillte, the state-owned forestry organisation, has closed Gougane Barra Forest Park in County Cork, and plans to fell around 16,000 trees in the forest -- mainly Japanese Larch -- to prevent the spread of disease.The disease, known as "Sudden Oak Death" in the USA, is caused by a fungus-like plant pathogen called Phytophthora ramorum, which belongs to a group of organisms … [Read more...] about 16,000 trees to be felled at Gougane Barra, Co. Cork
The Urban Birder in Ireland
I was born in London but whenever anyone asks me where I’m from my stock answer is always that I am a black, Afropean, child of the earth and Honorary Irishman. I particularly cherish the ‘Honorary Irishman’ bit of my epithet because I really do feel a close affinity with the Emerald Isle. When I first came into this world my early days were spent in northwest London, initially … [Read more...] about The Urban Birder in Ireland
Early start for Ireland’s first Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
Sunday was an exciting day.A late-night exchange on Viber as Saturday drew to a close had me scrambling to get organised for a very early start the next morning. It was half-past midnight by the time I was ready. I set the alarm for half-past-four, and proceeded to not get any sleep for four hours. Yikes!What on earth had possessed me?One of these... that's … [Read more...] about Early start for Ireland’s first Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
New humpback whale for Ireland spotted off West Cork
A new humpback whale for Ireland was spotted just off the coast of West Cork yesterday (Mon 18/03).Micheal Cottrel, owner of Baltimore Sea Safari confirmed the humpback sighting, and photographs obtained by Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) members Simon Duggan and Youen Yacob allowed the IWDG to confirm the young animal as a brand new addition to the Irish humpback … [Read more...] about New humpback whale for Ireland spotted off West Cork
Bird Identification Expert speaking in Cork
The Art of Identification A forty-year perspective on birding and Field Guides With Killian Mullarney Friday 01 February 2013, Cork International Airport Hotel Doors open 7pm, talk commences at 8pmJoin Killian Mullarney, renowned bird artist and and international authority on bird identification in Cork on 01 February for this not-to-be-missed talk on a fascinating … [Read more...] about Bird Identification Expert speaking in Cork
