County Louth (formerly Dundalk Bay) local patch. (4 Viewers)

[breffni]

Just after reading the Sunday times and there was a story in it that cockle fishing is to be allowed in Dundalk bay. I thought it was a protected area or is there more to the story than what I've read. Would it not impact on the wintering bird population. Anybody from the area able to shed some light on this story. Ger.

The conclusion of the assessment was that the cockling will have no measurable impact on the birds...long story!

see http://www.fishingnet.ie/FisheryPlan/AppDundalk/AA Annex II_Habitats and cockle fishery.pdf

 

[breffni]

There is a porpoise washed up between termonfekin and baltray - if anyone has a photo i'd be very interested! [email protected]

 

[squidge]

The conclusion of the assessment was that the cockling will have no measurable impact on the birds...long story!

see http://www.fishingnet.ie/FisheryPlan/AppDundalk/AA Annex II_Habitats and cockle fishery.pdf

Thanks Breffni. Ger.

 

[breffni]

thanks to everyone for coming to oour outing at dundalk docks yesterday -a apart from three curlew sandpipers and a ruff we had greenshank, redshank, lapwing, golden plover, knot, dunlin, black tailed godwit, teal, mallard, shelduck, cormorant, mute swan, grey heron, little egret, and five gull species on the rising tide...

 

[yew]

A large bird of prey flew past window during very heavy rain and then landed in a Eucalypses tree next door. I could guess from back of it (only visible) that it was probably a female Sparrowhawk or something like that...... plainish brown back with some little pale colour around wings Only stayed a minute and off. Still plenty of swallows about here and saw three small swifts last week.

 

[Monahawk]

2 curlew sandpiper and 5 ruff at Lurgangreen this morning.

Si.

 

[yew]

I could clearly hear and see four swallows yesterday above my garden and two just now passing. Should they still be here ?

 

[yew]

At least 8 Swallows flying low enough to be definite so obviously can still be about ....... and same very very large bird of prey seen again high in sky over here.

 

[breffni]

this morning at cooley point: 1 sabine gull, 1 swift, 100+ white wagtails, 1 raven, 3 buzzards, 9 wheatears, 100+ meadow pipits, 1 willow warbler and indeed a few swallows!

 

[breffni]

canada goose at carlingford lough - unringed, wary, hanging with the brent, or which 3 families with juveniles, unlike last year when we had only 0.4% productivity...

 

[squidge]

Had a lesser Redpoll in my garden today. The first one since last winter.Ger.

 

[squidge]

Went for a walk along Termonfeckin beach. Flocks of Oystercatchers, ringed plovers and dunlin plus a couple of interesting birds. Hadnt time to get a proper look as I had dog in one hand and bins in the other. Hundreds of Swallows and Housemartins heading south aswell. Ger

 

[breffni]

This evening, Monday 3rd Oct, at 8pm in the Spirit Store, Dundalk Docks, Barry O'Donohue from NPWS will give a talk on hen harriers - entry is free and all are welcome!

 

[squidge]

Watched a Rook and jackdaw roost of 10,000+ in Drumcar this evening. Spectacular would be an understatement. Ger.

 

[Gerry o Neill]

Hoopoe

Two Curlew Sandpiper at the docks this morning. No sign of any Sharp-tailed Sandpiper or Bairds.

Red alert ,great bird for Louth seen today.A Hoopoe was seen today by E. Larressey coming in off the sea at Annagassan,landed and flew inland on the north side of the bridge.seen since first sighting,lets "hooopoe" its seen again.
Gerry o neill

 

[OBROIN]

14 Greylag geese at Cruisetown this morning in a stubble field near the car park. 5 flew off north west.

Matt.

 

[Peter Phillips]

Red alert ,great bird for Louth seen today.A Hoopoe was seen today by E. Larressey coming in off the sea at Annagassan,landed and flew inland on the north side of the bridge.seen since first sighting,lets "hooopoe" its seen again.
Gerry o neill

I had a look for the Hoopoe in Annagassan this morning. No sign, but there is plenty of suitable habitat behind the house it flew over. Viewing limited to a gate and overlooking the field on the Annagassa/Stabannon road. All views restricted but i could easily be still there.

No sign of the Forsters Tern at Cruisetown.

 

[squidge]

I was out in Drumcar this evening having a look at the Rook and jackdaw roost. I think I underestimated the numbers. I got a video of the roost but it doesnt do it justice. The noise was deafening and the whole sky was black with thousands of birds. Ger.

 

[OBROIN]

16 whooper swans at Cruisetown feeding in same stubble field as Greylag geese.
Matt.

 

[breffni]

I had a little stint at rockmarshal out on the mudflats last thursday - on the same day TG had a "small crake" in the spartina at marsh south, again out on the bay...