Irish Wildlife Observations 2012.

Anyway , I went into the barn early one morning to find this 1/2 fish on the floor . I knew it hadn't been there an hour before and it was in perfect condition so I trimmed the area where the upper half had been bitten off , filleted and fried it for breakfast . Excellent it was too !!
And I thought the Famine was over!

It's just a pity about the salmon . I would much rather they got back to the sea . Or do they make it anyway ? I'm thinking in particular of the spent cocks which have developed the misshapen mouths . I can't imagine that they survive but can't find out despite a lot of googling . Does anyone know ?

Got this from Wikipedia; Between 2% and 4% of Atlantic salmon kelts survive to spawn again, all females.
ATB /
[/quote]

Many thanks johnwest
I'm not quite on the breadline ( yet ! ) but I don't see why the fox or cat should get fed prime fish like that . Funny thing is , tho', that the visitors refused to eat "something which the cat brought in " but could only come up with poor excuses as to why not . It was perfectly sound and clean , not mauled all over .
I'm into foraging and wild food as a bit of a hobby , just for the craik . It's a great motivation for getting out there and really taking notice of the wildlife and nature in general . A bit like fishing really
I move spoiled carcases from the pond/bank up onto a grassy field as an offering to the Buzzard . Apparently a pair were released at Ladies Brae a year or so ago . One regularly comes to the field in poor weather , catching worms I think . It certainly hops , stops and pecks in a similar way to the blackbirds . I have seen it take scraps of meat if it can get to them before the crows ( which it won't take on ) but so far haven't seen it touch the fish . It is very shy so can't get near enough to take a decent pic . Perhaps a good thing because I suspect some others would be more interested in the other kind of shot once lambing starts .
ATB .

Many thanks johnwest
I'm not quite on the breadline ( yet ! ) but I don't see why the fox or cat should get fed prime fish like that . Funny thing is , tho', that the visitors refused to eat "something which the cat brought in " but could only come up with poor excuses as to why not . It was perfectly sound and clean , not mauled all over .
I'm into foraging and wild food as a bit of a hobby , just for the craik . It's a great motivation for getting out there and really taking notice of the wildlife and nature in general . A bit like fishing really
I move spoiled carcases from the pond/bank up onto a grassy field as an offering to the Buzzard . Apparently a pair were released at Ladies Brae a year or so ago . One regularly comes to the field in poor weather , catching worms I think . It certainly hops , stops and pecks in a similar way to the blackbirds . I have seen it take scraps of meat if it can get to them before the crows ( which it won't take on ) but so far haven't seen it touch the fish . It is very shy so can't get near enough to take a decent pic . Perhaps a good thing because I suspect some others would be more interested in the other kind of shot once lambing starts .
ATB .

I wasn't aware that buzzards were being released but over the past 10-15 years I have seen them spreading westwards, the most westerly I have seen them is in Fermanagh near Belcoo and at Lough Navar Forest (could be the same bird) last summer. As far as the other kind of shot, sadly you are probably right; some red kites have been released in Co. Down in the last couple of years and 2-3 have been found either poisoned or shot. Similar fates befell some eagles/ sea eagles released in Kerry I believe.

Buzzards also around the swords area in Dublin, I've seen them a few times on my way into work in the mornings. I also saw a red Kite in the same area last week and the week before, they were introduced around the area last summer good to see them around

There is a growing population of buzzards spreading down the east coast, over the next couple of months they start to breed and some impressive dog fights can be witnessed between the males over breeding rights! I did a bit of research about their comeback and apparently the majority of our breeding pairs have, by accident or design, come from Scotland. great to see them making such a strong comeback, lovely to watch on a lazy summers day, a real success story!

Often see Buzzards around here in North Donegal. It's kinda fun, pointing them out to people who don't know the difference and calling them Golden Eagles....

Often see Buzzards around here in North Donegal. It's kinda fun, pointing them out to people who don't know the difference and calling them Golden Eagles....

Tanglerat, Im sure buzzards abound up there where you are, and shame on you for toying with the non-ornithologist!!!! Lol, but are there not golden eagles in your neck of the woods too? Glenveagh?

I wonder just how far south the buzzard has reached now? Theyve been spreading southwards for roughly 30 years, I also wonder why they are only colonising the country during our life time. I have a bird book from the 1980s which showed their distribution to be restricted to the Torr Head region of Co Antrim (which is only 12 miles from the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland) but it wasnt long before members of the public were reporting seeing 'eagles' and 'vultures' and huge 'hawks' further inland in this county and then in Down, Derry and Tyrone.

Are they in munster yet? I think they are in the west, atleast in northern Connaught?

Please report common buzzards in your area, I cant actually say hand on heart that Ive seen one in Mayo or Galway in the last decade, I think I have, pretty sure they are common enough in Fermanagh and Leitrim and Cavan at this stage.

Please add to this limited knowledge of mine re buzzard distribution. Are they in Tipperary and Limerick, Wicklow and Kildare for example?

[cathalger]

There is a growing population of buzzards spreading down the east coast, over the next couple of months they start to breed and some impressive dog fights can be witnessed between the males over breeding rights! I did a bit of research about their comeback and apparently the majority of our breeding pairs have, by accident or design, come from Scotland. great to see them making such a strong comeback, lovely to watch on a lazy summers day, a real success story!

Tinto how far down the east coast do you mean? Up in the Torr head, Fair Head area of NE Antrim it isnt uncommon to see 7 or 8 buzzards wheeling around in the air at once, usually in the spring and probably related to courtship?

I recently asked an elderly friend (hes 81) to refresh my memory of him telling me he had seen Golden Eagles at Fair Hd in this county in his youth, he replied-" seen them! they bred there every year in the 40's when I was up there with my father on a regular basis. You couldnt go to Fair Head and not see golden eagles". Michael assured me his father knew the difference between eagles and buzzards, without question.

These days eagles are only infrequent visitors to the Fair head area, Scottish visitors. As far as I am aware anyway but there is no reason they couldnt breed there on any given year and possibly have done. The Sea Eagle which has been succesfully re introduced to the Western Isles of Scotland has been recorded here also in recent years, visiting just as the golden eagle does, havent definitely seen either myself. Would be nice if either would colonise Ireland as the buzzard has done so succesfully. Goshawk appeared here within the last decade also and RSPB were aware but I dunno if it arrived on its own or was released. Red kites were released about 15 years ago but I dont think it worked.

I was up on the Antrim hills last summer, early July, about 11.45pm, saw this large dark silent bird against the sky flying in my direction. I could see it from about 60 yards off. It flew straight to me and circled my head, flapping and hovering 6 foot above my head. It flew off low over the heather and disappeared against the dark of the land. At that stage I had only just got the camera hoked out of its pouch. Thought I'd missed the boat. Then yer man came back to me for a second visit and flapped about my head again. It was either a long eared or short eared owl, I think the latter is more likely on moorland?

It was possibly a released bird thast was used to human contact? When I told my father about it, he instantly said, "Aye, and if you had put your arm up he'd have sat on your hand! " Just maybe that owl did want to rest on my hand or be given a bit of meat if it was used to be given tastey grub from his pre release rearers.

It was a lovely surprise, and quite surreal at that the time, I actually thought the bird could see me, didnt know what I was but was just being inquisitive, at this stage I think my fathers suggestion is probably closer to the truth. I have 2 photos but I was really disappoinited with how poor they came out, even with flash. Might post them if anyone wants to see them?

Last edited by cathalger on Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Yup, we've got Golden Eagles also, spreading out from Glenveigh. That programme is doing very well, despite setbacks from birds being poisoned either accidently or delibertly. They're a fantastic bird to observe.

It's very easy to confuse the two of them until you know the differences, then it's pretty obvious. Buzzards should be renamed "Tourist Eagles".

Enough of buzzards and eagles, here's something fishy! While out fishing in Louth yesterday I found this dogfish eggcase. I've found plenty in the past but never a near white one; it may just be sun-bleached but I don't think so as I've often found ones in an advanced state of disintegration but still black as the ace of spades.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Met this little fellow on January 1st.I was in a pretty secluded spot with heavy surf breaking on to some heavy boulders.I don't know was he there all along and I didnt noticed him or had he washed in.He seemed pretty tired and was shivering quite a bit until he worked hes way up the beach a bit and seemed to came down then.I left him a few frozen mackerel just in case.




Met these on Sunday about 2 miles off helvic in Dungarvan.At one stage there was well over 30 of them.They stayed with us pretty much the whole day ,even after the boat stopped.Have a look at the video.

http://youtu.be/6zx5z8RPKj4

Yup, we've got Golden Eagles also, spreading out from Glenveigh. That programme is doing very well, despite setbacks from birds being poisoned either accidently or delibertly. They're a fantastic bird to observe.

It's very easy to confuse the two of them until you know the differences, then it's pretty obvious. Buzzards should be renamed "Tourist Eagles".

Between you and your tourist eagles, and Eddie Carr and his Bord Failte fish (oul stale salmon that leap in the Lackagh all year long and never take an anglers fly but keep poor visitors buying day tickets), I dunno, Tanglerat, yez are havin a laugh at the poor oul tourist coming with their hard earned dollars!!!!!!!!

Tourist eagles, love it, I suppose youll be tellin folk the noise of a distant tractor is the corncrake next?

Enough of buzzards and eagles, here's something fishy! While out fishing in Louth yesterday I found this dogfish eggcase. I've found plenty in the past but never a near white one; it may just be sun-bleached but I don't think so as I've often found ones in an advanced state of disintegration but still black as the ace of spades.

John I think you are right and its just a bit bleached, the fresh LSD case is actually closer in colour to that of yours than black in my experience BUT I know the black ones you mean too that are identical in size shape and construction. I cant really explain why we find tan brown, even beige coloured ones and then ones that are as black as soot?

Maybe someone else can? I know the big ones with the 4 sharp points tend to be black and very hard when dry, Ive always thought them to be skate or ray? Theres probably quite a lot of varieties.

Check out the length of the strings on a fresh mermaids purse, I didnt know they were this long til I pulled this case from a dogfish a few years back, my mate took the pic cos we were so surprised by the length of the strings, must be goin on for 4 foot, definitely 3 foot plus!

edit, lookin at that again, I think thats a good 4 foot, wish I'd measured them now...

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Met this little fellow on January 1st.I was in a pretty secluded spot with heavy surf breaking on to some heavy boulders.I don't know was he there all along and I didnt noticed him or had he washed in.He seemed pretty tired and was shivering quite a bit until he worked hes way up the beach a bit and seemed to came down then.I left him a few frozen mackerel just in case.




Met these on Sunday about 2 miles off helvic in Dungarvan.At one stage there was well over 30 of them.They stayed with us pretty much the whole day ,even after the boat stopped.Have a look at the video.

http://youtu.be/6zx5z8RPKj4

Stunning, superb, brilliant. Cheers Ric0shay, peach of a video. I must figure out this youtube thing, Im sure its not rocket science but I want to share a wee video of the sea swelling up between rocks on a seemingly calm day, its quite interesting.

Do I just have to register as a member on youtube to be able to post it- create an account, whats the deal?

Great video, that must have been a joy to experience.

Ya it was great to see them.Iv met them more and more over the last few years in Dungarvan but never in numbers that were are around last weekend.A few had some pretty deep cuts on them and some very young ones with them no more then 2ft in size.

YouTube is easy to work with.Just open an account and you can pretty much upload a video from anything after that.If you have a smart phone of any kind its even easier , there's usually an option to upload to YouTube on them.If you get enough people to watch your videos you can make some cash.

Cheers Ric0shay, I'll create an account and add that vid then share the link. It might not be that impressive to people who live on the atlantic coast and see mental seas alot but still an interesting wee vid I think.

Good man, cheers.

Are your dolphins common dolphin?

Its not exactly wildlife but it is marine so here it is. This went on all weekend, I was down the next day again. It was just a particular type of swell which was virtually imperceptible looking over the sea but it showed itself when it met land.

Many forum members will know this spot and know that its not usually so hazardous to leap over onto the big rock to fish from it, especially at low tide, which is the best time to hop over there.

http://youtu.be/iKpaMfLBKmg


Its a bit slow to begin with but stick with it......

very good Cathal. thats a dangerously deceiving little b*stard!!
ive seen the like of that before there. i managed to cross but i would never try it again unless i knew that the tide was heading out. hairy stuff.
nice wee vid

very good Cathal. thats a dangerously deceiving little b*stard!!
ive seen the like of that before there. i managed to cross but i would never try it again unless i knew that the tide was heading out. hairy stuff.
nice wee vid

Cheers Charlie, the gaps between the big swells were plenty long enough to dodge over, note my rod and tripod in the top left hand corner, you could fish over there just about, but an occasional swell completely drowned the rock so any gear you had on the deck was soaked and washed about. That was low water, look at the drop below the line of bladder wrack, the barnacle covered rock below the seaweed height is submerged at high water.

I might put up another from the Sunday, it was even calmer on the Sunday (4 Oct 09) but still those big surges went on all day long.

On my way to Donegal (Friday 10th Feb) I saw a red squirrel for the first time in many years but unfortunately he ran out across the road in front of me giving me no chance to avoid him and I heard and felt that sickening bump. I stopped and went back to have a look but it wasn't a pretty sight. It seemed to be in good health with no signs of disease which has been afflicting the reds recently but I suppose that's a bit like saying "Apart from that Mrs Lincoln, what did you think of the show?" Does anybody know any good fly patterns requiring red squirrel tail hair? On a brighter note I saw a turnstone and later on a little flock of sanderlings but I'll stand correction on these i.d.'s. The turnstone was of particular interest to me as I once found a dead, headless one which had a ring on it. On returning the ring to BTO I was informed that it had originally been ringed 22 years earlier, I was amazed that such small birds could live so long. I spied one more small wader which I think is a purple sandpiper.The light was a bit poor so the pics are not as sharp as I would like but I'm an angler, not a photographer!

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.