Over the last couple of weeks a truly remarkable bird has been making headlines in the national press across Ireland. The Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops), has been turning up in unprecedented numbers this spring, particularly along the south coast, making this the best opportunity ever to catch a glimpse of….

If you see a strange looking starling amidst your local flock, look again… you could be watching a rare eastern visitor. Rose-coloured starlings are on the move… and some of them are turning up in Ireland, with recent records from Cork, Kerry, Wexford and Donegal!

Yesterday I dropped everything and went hightailing down to Mizen Head — Ireland’s most southerly point — with a birding friend for an opportunity that was just too good to miss. Ducks. Yes, that’s right, ducks. And pretty unusual ducks at that. While the two chaps in the photo (a….