Dawn Chorus Farnham Estate, Cavan

Report by Heather:

We walked from the hotel to Farnham lake through some very nice habitat of old mixed woodland, big mature oak pines and fir. At the beginning all three thrushes and robins were serenading us. As light increased wrens, goldcrests, and the warblers joined in. Chaffinch, bluetit and coal tit near the end. We picked up swans, coots, greatcrested grebes, herons and mallard at the lake. No sign of terns or blackheaded gulls ( this was  a breeding site in the past). The highlight for me was a red squirrel moving about the front lawn of the big house where there are several very old big conifers.

The Cavan branch is very grateful to the Farnham estate for permission to visit such a rich  interesting habitat . It has interesting native flora with a high density of song birds.

Dawn Chorus Castle Lake Woods Bailieborough

Enjoying a teabreak

Olive Mary and Patricia

Report by Elizabeth Mc Kenna

A National Dawn Chorus day outing took place at the Castle Lake Woods on Sunday 15 May. We gathered in the car park at 4.30am. It was great to see such a good turn out so early in the morning. As we began our walk we enjoyed the sight of bats flying overhead and the sound of thrushes and blackbirds which had already begun singing. Over the course of the walk we recorded many species including sedge warbler, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler and reed bunting.  We finished off the morning with a cup of tea and refreshments. Thanks to Mary, Olive and Patricia for the buns and homemade bread!

National Dawn Chorus Day Sunday 15 May

The Dawn Chorus has now reached it’s peak as returning migrants along with our resident birds are in full song.Come along to one of our Dawn Chorus Events to fully appreciate birdsong at it’s best!

Dawn Chorus Walks Sunday 15^th May in Co. Cavan.

Castle Lake Woods, Bailieborough.

Meet at the main car park,lear entrance at 4.30am.

Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Hotel (outside Cavan town).

Meet at the front door of hotel at 4.30am.

Breakfast available in hotel restaurant .Pre-booking is essential and bookings must be made through the Botanical Restaurant on 049 4377700.

For more information on the Dawn Chorus click here.

"Irish Birds: Facts and Folklore" Talk by Breffni Martin

A most enjoyable talk was given by Breffni Martin on "Irish Birds: Facts and Folklore" on 7th April in Killeshandra.Breffni informed us of the association between birdlife and mythology such as the association between elusive birds like owls and rales and the banshee. We also learnt of past superstitions about birds including the belief that species such as the pied wagtail were unlucky. It was interesting to hear how in times before bird migration was fully understood, the seasonal disappearance of certain species led to the formation of beliefs such as the suspected link between barnacle geese and goose barnacles.

The Branch A.G.M took place prior to the talk. Committee for the coming year is as follows: Chairperson: Heather Bothwell, Killeshandra. Secretary: Elizabeth Mc Kenna, Bailieborough. Treasurer: Sean Callaghan, Virginia.
General committee: Michael Mc Kiernan, Paddy Ronaghan, PJ Byrne Peadar Reynolds and Yvette Von Cramon.

Talk by Breffni Martin 7 April in Killeshandra

A presentation by Breffni Martin "Irish Birds: Facts and Folklore" will take place in the Resource House, Main Street, Killeshandra on Thursday 7 April at 8pm.

All welcome and admission is free.

Members AGM will take place before the talk at 7.30pm.

Carlingford outing Sunday 20 March

Sunday 20th March: Carlingford Outing

The group met up in Carlingford at 11 am and was joined by Breffni Martin of the Louth Branch and some of his Drogheda students. We spent the first hour or so observing a good selection of roosting birds.The tide was exceptionally high making it difficult for the birds to find a spot to roost on due to the fact that the moon was exceptionally close to the Earth around this time.A good variety of birds were seen including bar-tailed godwit, turnstone, curlew and large numbers of brent geese. The next site visited was Ballagan point where we were lucky enough to encounter a small flock of tree sparrows as we got out of our cars. Also encountered at the site were Great Northern and Red Throated Divers, gannets and a sandwich tern (a welcome sign of Spring). To finish up we headed to Giles’ Key where we spotted more divers and a seal feeding close to the pier. The highlight of the day had to be watching large numbers of brent geese flying overhead as they returned to their feeding sites to take advantage of the retreating tide. Thanks to Breffni for sharing his great local knowledge of birds at the sites with us.