Blessington Street Basin.

"Flowers on the Wall"
Behind the Lodge At Blessington Street Basin

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
A native of North America and a very rare bird in Ireland. This pair, of
unknown origin took up residence for a whole summer at the basin.

Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domest.)
Even the pigeons are interesting here! This striking individual
had bright yellow eyes instead of the more normal orange ones!

Ringed Teal (Callonetta leucophrys)
This female bird was observed for about two months at the Basin and is a species of South
American origin. It is most probably an escapee from a European bird collection,

The Basin Fountain.
 One of the reasons the Basin is so attractive to birds is the regular
recycling of the water through the fountain and subsequent high aeration
which helps to keep the pond clean and fairly algae free.  

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
There is a healthy population of "tufties" in the Basin, and they seem
to spend their time moving between here and the nearby Royal Canal to feed.

Mandarin Duck (aix galericulata).
This Asian species was first recorded as a feral breeder in Ireland in the late 70's. There are possibly
3 breeding pairs at the Basin and in 2011,  I observed several young birds.

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
I estimate that there are two or three breeding pairs at the Basin and
they seem to spend their time moving between here and the nearby Royal Canal

Smew (Mergellus albellus)
This little duck caused quite a stir when he showed up in 2010.
There was even more excitement when a female turned up later in 2011.
This is a very rare bird in Ireland being a breeding resident of the Arctic Tundra.

"The Lodge" 
The beautiful old water keeper's cottage at Blessington Street Basin has been around for a while!

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
An American species which appears to have established a healthy breeding population
 in and around Dublin. I estimate that two pairs bred at the Basin in 2011

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
At least one pair of herons bred at the Basin in 2011.

White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis)
A trans-Atlantic species, which has probably escaped from a European bird collection.
I witnessed a pair of these ducks with young in the Basin in 2011

Smew (Mergellus albellus)
This is the female bird which turned up in 2011. I have not yet established
if breeding actually took place. But watch this space! 

Yellow Belly Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta scripta) 
Just look what turned up in the Basin recently! This turtle is normallyfound in the southern states of America, from Florida to Virginia, and is a popular pet there. Obviously someone in Dublin was not so enamoured and released it to fend for it's self. It will be interesting to see if it can survive in the Basin as it is very much a warm water animal. 

Bull Island Nature Reserve, Dublin. (2)

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Regularly observed hovering over grassy verges or on the edges of the marsh. Kestrels are very
suspicious of humans, but I got quite close to this fine male bird before he took flight! 

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
The largest of all Irish breeding gulls, and a regular visiter to the Island.

Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Some concern has been expressed about an an apparent European decline
in this species, but I have to say there does not appear to be any drop in Bull Island numbers!

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
This godwit does not breed in Ireland, but is an Island regular in winter, and can be
observed in considerable numbers at times.

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Commonly seen on the mudflats at low tide, particularly in winter.
The bird in the foreground is a male in breeding colours.

"Red Boats at Anchor"
I think these little dinghies are used by the long established sea scout troop on the island.
The Hill of Howth can be seen in the background.

Not long after sunrise I came upon this herd of Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus), but I retreated swiftly when a huge bull seal started moving surprisingly quickly across the sand towards me.

Merlin (Falco columbarius) A difficult bird to photograph, but I managed to get close enough to this female, to depress the shutter a couple of times before she flew away. A scarce Irish breeding species, which can occasionally be seen over the marsh at Bull Island on a bright winter's morning.

Bull Island Nature Reserve, Dublin (1)

"Wheels on the Wall"
An early morning cyclist pedals along the North Bull Wall towards the Mariner's Monument.

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Very common for much of the year. this bird was photographed
at North Bull Wall, Clontarf.

Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Pictured waddling up the beach north of the Island at Sutton.

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
A regular winter visitor to the Island. Pictured north of the Causeway on a big spring tide.

European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
A lone bird resting on the snow covered bank north of the
 causeway in the winter of 2010.

Linnet (Carduellis cannabina)
Fairly common on the island, this one was photographed
 north of the causeway, beside St. Anne's Golf Club. 

Bait Diggers
Ragworm are plentiful on the gravel and mussel banks in the estuary, while the mud yields good quality lugworm. Both worms are very popular baits with Irish sea anglers. Photograph taken at low tide south of the "Wooden Bridge". 

Ferry At Dawn.
The early morning cross channel ferry prepares to enter Dublin Port. Photograph taken from Dollymount Strand on Bull Island.

Dublin's Twin Towers
Ringsend Power Station and the vast expanse of salt marsh at Bull Island. Photograph taken from the causeway looking south.

"Walking The Dog"
Photographed on a cold winter's morning on Dollymount Strand.

© norman dunlop 2012

Swords Estuary (1)

"Feeding the Swans"

Mary, Evan and Riin with a few individuals from what I believe to be,

 the largest colony of mute swans in Ireland. 

"Under The Concrete"
Despite the protests, the "new" motorway flyover does not appear to have
adversly affected the wildlife on Swords Estuary.

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Broadmeadow River regular.

"Pony Trekking"
Morning exercise for two local horses.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
I think this was possibly the first little egret I ever photographed in Ireland. 

Brrrrrr!
Thin shafts of a winter's morning sun on frosty Broadmeadow River.

Redshank (Triga totanus)
Common on the estuary for much of the year,

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopis)
A rare visitor to the estuary. This is the only one I have ever photographed there.

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
A newly fledged bird surveys his surroundings.

Common Pheasant (Phasiarius colchicus)
Originally an introduced species from Asia, but now widespread in Ireland.
Often seen in fields around the Estuary particularly when they are in stubble.

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
This species, while not being as common as it's close relative the house
sparrow (Passer domesticus) is regularly found in small groups in the
hedgerows bordering the north shore of the estuary.

Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
An uncommon visitor to the Estuary from it's breeding
grounds in northern Scandinavia and Arctic Tundra.

Coal Tit (Parus ater)
This is the Irish race of the common woodland bird, and can be found for much of the year in the hedgerows and bushes around the Estuary.

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
Breeds in northern tundra and occasionally stops on the estuary, while on  migration in early spring and autumn. The male is on the right while the smaller female,  the reeve, is to the left.

Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)
Breeds in Greenland and Iceland and although common in winter on the north sea coasts of the UK is uncommon in Ireland. This was the first "pink foot" I ever saw on the Estuary. 

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Breeds on moorland and bog , mainly in northern and western counties of Ireland. Congregates in large flocks on the east coast in winter. This individual was pictured on a cold January day on the northern shore of the Estuary.

Greenshank (Tringa nebulria)
Nests in Northern Scandinavia and on Arctic tundra. Common on the estuary outside the breeding season.

Goosander (Mergus merganser)
Widespread throughout Europe but scarce in Ireland. In fact this was the first goosander I had ever seen here and although it was at a distance from the camera and well out on the Estuary. I felt it was worth recording.

Common Ink-cap (Coprinus atramentarius)
Pictured under the road bridge on the south side of the estuary. When picked fresh,  before the gills turn black, this fungi can be eaten but should never, ever be consumed with alcohol as this will lead to very painful and long lasting stomach cramps and discomfort.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
Breeds in North and East Europe, with many birds overwintering in Ireland.
Never abundant in large numbers , they are, however regular visitors to the Estuary.

Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)
This is an Asian species and thought to be an escapee from a bird collection
that was once based on nearby Lambay Island off the Co. Dublin coast.

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Regular visitors to the Estuary where they feed on the numerous
small fishes in the shallow water 

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Regularly seen on the Estuary, particularly at low tide when they feed on the exposed mud banks.
This bird is in summer plumage and is probably ready to fly off to the breeding grounds on
 marsh and bog in Northern Europe, Shetland Islands and Iceland.

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)I have observed this, most common of Irish gulls, on the Estuary in every month of the year.
They seem to hold little fear of humans and will often swoop down to take bread,
 intended for swans on the northern shore.

Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)
Despite being Ireland's most common diver, this is the only one I have ever seen in the Estuary,
It  had spent an entire winter there and is pictured a day or two before it left in spring
probably to fly north to its breeding grounds

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) & Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
These two species can often be confused, but the all white flight feathers of the Mediterranean Gull differentiate it.
 It is only recently that the Med. Gull has started to turn up in the Estuary and I can only assume
 that they are spreading out from their recently established colony at Sandycove, South Dublin.

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)
Breeds in Greenland and Northern Canada and is a rare winter visitor to Ireland.
This is the first one I have ever  observed on Swords Estuary, and from it's colouration
I estimate it to be a juvenile and almost certainly a 1st winter bird.