THE WILD BIRDS OF BALDOYLE
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Copyright © Michael J. Hurley 2012
All photographs and illustrations by author except where otherwise credited.
As I walked along the new pathway connecting Baldoyle Church and Sutton Station, a walkway that I have requested Fingal Co. Council to name ‘Coastguard’s Walk’, I was struck by the scarcity of wading fowl during the months of summer. An occasional Oystercatcher or Curlew rippled the tide line, or a lone Grey Heron stood round-shouldered and grumpy, but by and large the foreshore was silent and deserted.
I thought back to the days and nights of winter and spring when the rippling call of the Curlew foretold rain, and flocks of honking Brent Geese grazed the foreshore. I love to see these winter residents (I will not make nomads of them by referring to them as ‘visitors’) arrive, bringing the realisation that the long comfortable nights are with us again. How nice to see Shelduck, Mallard, Dunlin, and the over reacting and alarmist Redshank potter or rush about the bladder wrack.
The geese living here are the white fronted variety of Brent Geese and they divide their time between Fingal and Canada. I look at them sometimes and wonder how many have returned safely and how many are juveniles making their first trip.
When the tide is low the geese graze the shoreline but when the water is high they turn inland to Abbey / Marian Park, Seagrange Park, Portmarnock Park, St. Anne’s Estate (where their droppings are not appreciated by weekend footballers), or to the seafront promenade area in Clontarf. Difficult to credit that a wild bird that is reared and spends half of his life in the wild wastes of Canada is content to settle and feed in a grassed area within the limits of a major capital city. They are unperturbed by traffic and their major annoyance comes from unleashed dogs. The dogs rush into the midst of a flock and they rise in a honking mass to circle and find another refuge. I sometimes think of the little boy who was being minded one day by my wife: he returned home that evening and told his mother that Phil had taken him to Seagrange Park and had shown him the ‘bent geese’!
When April comes around I look to the geese to be away. By mid-month they are still here and I watch for their departure. I scan the sky at evening for a sign of the familiar wing shape in chevrons, heading high and north. Betimes I see them soar, but next morning they are still here. Then I forget them and suddenly realise that May is no longer young and that they have flown. They stole away as surreptitiously as they came.
Come winter, come summer, the Brent Geese are our weather clock. An early arrival is supposedly the harbinger of a bad winter, and early departure portends a good summer. But with the departure of the geese comes the return of our sun-seekers from the bottom of South Africa, the Swallows. How lovely to greet them and listen to their busy twitterings of gossip from the land of the Transvaal. Isn’t Baldoyle a wonderful and hospitable place all the same that makes room each year for these members of the Diaspora to return home to roost! Mind you, just think of the uncontrolled number of flies that would pester our summers were it not for the Barn Swallows. I ponder on that other mischievous and mysterious summer visitor, the Cuckoo, probably the most iconic bird of May and June. The last Cuckoo call I heard over Stapolin was on Mayday 1995. Regretfully I have to go back about fifty years to remember the rasping crake-crake of the Land Rael, or Corncrake on hot summer nights when sleep would not come to a busy schoolboy and this secretive bird called from the meadow lands of Larkhill Farm.
But others are with us all of the time. We have our well known and beloved birds; Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Sparrow, Blue Tit, and Chaffinch who delight our gardens all year round. Over the former lands of Stapolin we had Barn Owl, Short Eared Owl, and as late as 2002 I saw Buzzards above these fields. Alas, they are probably now a sight of the past but I was pleased to see a Short Eared Owl in January 2012 close to Sutton Station.
It is probably ten years now since I saw the thrilling dart of azure and crimson as a Kingfisher darted along between the banks of the Moyne. But, all is not loss, the same decade has seen the arrival of the Little Egret onto our estuary.
This little booklet is not a comprehensive guide to the bird life of this corner of Dublin, rather it is a reminder of those birds we know and love best in our hinterland. In choosing a bird for the cover, I wanted to select the one species that I consider to be the icon of our wildlife! I immediately thought of the Brent Goose, but on reflection I settled for the Grey Heron as he is with us throughout the heat of summer and cold of winter. The Brent is somewhat like a returned emigrant of the family who arrives, eats us out of house and home, and then departs once again for greener pastures. The Grey Heron (some local people call him a Crane) has probably always been here, his ancestors witnessed the arrival of Celt, Viking, Norman, and latterly Pole and Latvian.
Whatever is your favourite bird you will see many to delight you here. We are blessed with many habitats; seashore, garden, river side, and open fields. The birds give live to the landscape, give voice to the dawn as each species calls to greet the day and sound out nay new arrivals or departures over night. Some are welcome songsters, some are unobtrusive hunters in the hedgerows, and some, regretfully make themselves highly unpopular with gardener and farmer as they try to eat their way through vegetable and grain crops. I stood one day last summer looking at a large unfamiliar bird of prey as he hovered above the wheat fields at Snugboro. I puzzled until the realisation dawned that he was artificial and was doing an extremely effective job of keeping the crop safe from the hundreds of pigeons who sat on the electric cables nearby waiting for his departure. They had a long wait! An ingenious and simple device suspended from a long nylon rod saved the crops and the life of the birds.
I hope that you enjoy this introduction to the birds of Baldoyle. It is not intended as a comprehensive work, rather the basics to foster an interest in and love for our wild bird population.
Michael J. Hurley
January 2012 ©
BIRDS OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW
The Blackbird (Lon Dubh nó Céirseach) is one of the most popular and best known birds of the garden. The upper picture shows the male bird with his deep black plumage and orange bill while the lower photo (by Phil Hurley) shows a hen bird with brown plumage on nest with her young. This bird is frequently found in the garden and is very partial to apple. The male is famed for his wonderful song at dawn and dusk and he will sit on rooftop, tree, or post for long periods of rich song as he brings a summer day to a peaceful close. He is also noted for his harsh cry of alarm if his nest is threatened.
The Pied Wagtail, (Glasóg Sráide, which actually means wagtail of the streets, very apt!) or more commonly Willie Wagtail because of his habit of constantly wagging his tail up and down, is a common bird of garden, park, roadway, and pavement. This picture shows a female bird, the back being dark grey instead of the black of the male. Her cousin the Grey Wagtail is far less common, conspicuous by his lemon yellow under parts despite his name, and is seen mainly by the seashore.
Goldfinch (Lasair Choille literal meaning flame of the woods) is one of our prettiest birds with red and white face with black cap. Yellow wing bars and white spots on wing flight feathers are features. Favours meadowlands where he feeds on seeds, but also strays into the garden in search of food. In fields is usually seen in small flocks.
The House Sparrow (Gealbhan Binne, nó Scioból, meaning eave or barn sparrow) is a most common bird usually found in small groups. Has become rarer in recent years probably due to loss of nesting habitats.
The Tree Sparrow (Gealbhan Crainn) is a noisy little bird that gathers in loud chirping groups in the middle of shrubs and bushes. Is an early visitor to nesting tables and his colleagues come and go quickly, commuting from table to shelter of bush in a never ending changing of the guard.
The Chaffinch (Rí Ruadh, or literally the red king) is one of our most colourful and beautiful birds. He is a regular winter visitor to our gardends , but tends to keep to the fields in summer months. Lives on diet of seeds and can be seen in small noisy flocks foraging from clump of thistles to high grasses.
A hungry quartet of Tree Sparrows, Greenfinch, and Great Tit at a feeding table in Abbey Park. The Great Tit (Meantán Mór)is somewhat larger than the more common Blue Tit. Noted for his teacher, teacher call. The Green Finch (Glasán Darach, or finch of the oaks) shown is in the duller winter plumage. He has a short strong bill for feeding on seeds. A common bird of field and meadow.
The Blue Tit (Mionntán Gorm nó Cailleach Chinn Ghuirm, or blue-headed cock) is probably the most frequent and popular visitor to feed tables. Noted for his blue, yellow and greenish markings with a striking head pattern. This bird is usually the one to adopt nesting boxes as a home and are frequently seen on television programmes on their nests. Has a whistling song.
In this picture we have something of a grand re-union of the tit clan. The Great Tit on left is joined by his smaller cousin the Coal Tit (Mionntán Dubh) at the feeder. He also has the teacher, teacher call. He is mostly black and white with a pinkish underside. On bottom right, anxious to be in the picture, is the Blue Tit.
Starlings (An Druid) or locally “stars” are a very common bird. The yellow bill of summer darkens throughout the winter months. This bird is noted for the enormous flocks or murmurations which they form at dusk in the winter months. Thousands of birds wheel and whirr in a choreography that has defied understanding, before coming to roost in a noisy colony. His calls are a series of whistles and clicks but has been known to imitate other bird calls and man-made sounds like car alarms. The plumage is highly iridescent in summer and in winter dulls and assumes white spots as above.
Undoubtedly the Robin (an Spideog which is a name given in Irish to a tiny child or a frail person). is the bird best known to children and the first one to be easily identified by them. This pretty little bird is, despite his attractiveness, one of the most aggressive birds and will challenge all comers to “his” garden. He is highly territorial. The Robin is associated with Christmas because his red breast resembles the red of the uniform of the early British postman who brought Christmas greetings. The Robin’s call is a sharp tic. Superstition tends to follow the Robin and some people do not like to see one come indoors.
Another of our wonderful singers is the Song Thrush (An Smolach Ceoil). Unfortunately his numbers have declined significantly in recent years. His strong and musical song with phrases repeated two or three times over is common at dusk. He is a frequent visitor to the garden and like his cousin the blackbird likes apples. Below is a Thrush at rest in deep winter (in the pergola of St. Mary’s Secondary School) with his feathers filled with air to insulate him against the cold.
The Redwing (Deargán Sneachta which means little red thing of the snow) is a small thrush with a vivid red – orange stripe under the wings. He is a winter visitor here and is only seen in times of harsh weather. The cold winter of 2010 – 2011 brought thousands to the area and many indeed died here. In less harsh weather it tends to frequent farmlands and woodlands.
Another thrush to visit in winter is the Fieldfare (Sacán nó Siocán meaning little sack or of the frost), an aggressive bird pictures here in 2010. He is identified by the yellow – orange wash on his breast and the striking grey head. Will often turn up in large flocks in the company of Redwings during harsh weather.
Probably the best known parasitic bird is the Cuckoo (An Cuach) who comes here from Africa in April. His call is better known than his appearance; most people will not have seen one. I followed a pair for days around Stapolin to get some good sightings, but did not get within an ass’s roar of photographing one. She lays her egg in the nest of another and allows these surrogate parents to raise her single chick while she skiddalels off to the sun again. The Cuckoo chick will oust the true resident in order to monopolise the food. (Illustration Chamber’s Encyclopaedia 1881)
The chestnut coloured cap of this little bird makes her difficult to identify as a Blackcap (Caipín Dubh nó Bod na Dtor (lout of the bushes) – the male has the black cap. Normally a bird of dense undergrowth, she was another visitor to our garden in the winter of 2010.
One of our smallest and shyest birds is the Wren (An Dreolín). A dumpy bird with the habit of cocking up his tail. Seldom seen as he tends to stay around tree and hedge bottoms in search of insects. A loud warbling call is his trademark. Notice the brown and black bars on the tail. This innocent bird was killed on St. Stephen’s Day as part of the Wren Boy rituals.
“The Wren, the Wren, the king of all birds,
St. Stephen’s Day was caught in the furze,
So on with the kettle and down with the pan,
And give us a penny to bury the Wren!”
The Stonechat (Caislín Cloc, nó Guistín which means little speckled one) is one of our lesser known birds, seen around the coast. His call is peculiar and resembles two marbles clicking together. A most handsome bird, this one seen on the old racecourse.
A long distance traveller from the southern parts of Africa is the ubiquitous Swallow (an Fáinleog). His arrival in April is the true herald of spring. The Swallow nests in the eaves of houses and barns (as below) and the fast flying bird is a study itself as it darts over field and parkland to gather food for the hungry mouths at home. In folklore it is said that a low flying swallow is a harbinger of rain and that “one Swallow never made a summer!” Superstition forbids the destroying of a Swallow’s mud nest, to which he will return in ensuing years.
THE CROW FAMILY
Our first member of the crow family is the well known Jackdaw (Cág) a most familiar crow, and indeed one who has probably taken free lodgings with any of us who have an un-cowelled chimney pot! Will eat almost anything, especially fast food remnants discarded by humans. His feathers have a lovely sheen as seen in this specimen on the sea shore at Dingle’s Bank.
The unpopular Hooded or Grey Crow (Coróg Liath) is easily distinguished from the carrion crow by his grey and black plumage. Other than colour, his appearance and habits are identical with those of his all black cousin.
The Rook (An Rucách nó An Preachán Dhubh or the black crow) is generally called a “crow” in Ireland with his heavy duty beak and bare patch just above the bill. Common noisy bird of fields, sea shore, and anywhere opportunity arises for a meal. Gathers in noisy communes at nightfall, such as the area known to us children as The Rookery on Grange Road close to the former Grange Lodge.
An extremely pretty, but nonetheless despised bird is the Magpie (An Snag Breac). He is a thief of eggs and killer of small birds in the nests of other, and indeed his own species. Has a reputation for the theft of bright objects which often are found in his nest. His plumage is of white and a brilliant sheen of blue and green. The discarding of food remnants has greatly increased the population of this bird which was unknown in Ireland until about 1700 when a couple were blown into Wexford by a storm. There is a strong superstitious aversion to the Magpie as reflected in this nursery rhyme which dates in older forms from the sixteenth century:
“One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret, never to be told,
Eight for a wish
Nine for a kiss,
Ten for a bird you must not miss.”
DUCKS AND GEESE
Undoubtedly the best known of the duck clan are the Mallard (An Mallard) with their drake having a wonderful green sheen to his head, separated from his breast by a white band. The female is drab in comparison. This bird is now extremely plentiful, especially on the parkland in Portmarnock where they are fed by humans. When we were children we had a female Mallard which had been shot and winged; we kept her for many months until she became victim of a local cat. She, poor bird, did not have a great life.
For me, the most handsome duck to be seen here is the Shelduck, (An Seil-lacan) a large duck with green glossy head, white body with large bands of white and a handsome chestnut chest band. Only seen locally on the mudflats of the estuary at low tide.
Probably a winter visitor is this Wigeon (Lacha Ceann Ruadh or red-headed duck) with his characteristic orangy head and yellow forehead. Body is grey and black and white. Has a distinctive wheeoo call which is evocative of the estuary on frosty winter nights when he makes himself heard alongside the curlew, Brent Goose, and Oyster Catcher.
The Teal (Praslacha, which means quick duck) is probably Ireland’s smallest duck albeit a very pretty one. Seen in the reeds and grass at rear of Sutton Station this bird is quite shy and will fly up vertically when alarmed. I have seen eight Teal together, males and females. The female id a dull brownish colour and is really identified by her presence with the drake.
Great Crested Grebe (An Foitheach Mór) . A slim diving bird with mainly grey-brown upper feathers. He has a crest from the back of his head. Dives for long periods and it is like a “spot the ball competition” to guess where he will surface.
The Brent Goose (An Cadhan) is one of the smaller of the goose family. He is a winter visitor here from Polar Pass in Northern Canada, arriving here towards late September / early October, and generally gone around Mayday. The goose found here is of the white fronted variety, and may be seen in hundreds on the estuary or as he resorts to the parklands during times of high tide. Their diet is mainly eelgrass but will eat grass in times of scarcity. I have estimated a flock (more probably a “gaggle”) of some 500 birds together on the green at Abbey / Marian Parks (below). To me this bird is the true indicator of the seasons; I watch for his coming and watch for his departure.
A rare visitor here is this Greylag Goose (An Gé Glas) photographed by Paddy Doran at Maynetown in 2011. Some ornithologists suggest that this specimen is probably a stray from a feral or tame flock as he has the characteristic pink legs of this grouping, and the species would not be a regular visitor here.
BIRDS OF THE BALDOYLE ESTUARY
The Turnstone (An Piardálaí Trá which means the beach rummager!) is another winter resident here. Seen in large numbers as they rush about the seashore turning stones and sea weed in search of sand hoppers for food. At high tide can be seen resting in ordered formation on rocks and outcrops.
The familiar Herring Gull (An Faoileán Scadán) is well known to all for his noise and greed as he searches for food. This bird is found at rubbish landfills in great numbers and it is thought that bacteria picked up here in rotten food may be responsible for the large scale depopulation of the gull in recent years. Previously nested on Ireland’s Eye, but seems to have been ousted to the cliffs at Howth by the Gannets (An Gainéad) who have colonised the rocks there (below).
The Great Black Backed Gull (An Faoiléan Druimneach, druim meaning a back) was pictured here by Nicky and Paul Maguire and is our largest gull. He has the typical cackling call of the gulls but his is a deeper note. A common visitor where food opportunities present.
The Cormorant (An Cailleach Dhubh (the black hag) nó An Broigheall) is a relatively rare visitor to our estuary, usually seen in the winter months on the sand bar with wings stretched out to dry. He has a black plumage but it appears to have a green sheen when seen at close quarters. A smaller but similar bird is the Shag. Tradition holds that the Cormorant was used by fishermen in Malahide many years ago as a fishing tool. The Cormorant was kept on a line, and a rubber ring affixed about his neck to prevent his swallowing his catch. The fisherman then took the fish from the bird and sent him diving again.
The Black-headed Gull (An Droimneach) in winter plumage with a dark smudge behind the eye. In summer he has a wholly black head (below). Frequently found around food waste from fast-food outlets and where humans have congregated.
Resembling the previous bird is the Sandwich Tern (An Geabhróg Scothdubh (meaning black crested)). A summer visitor between April and September. Breeds on stony foreshores and I have seen a nest close to Portmarnock Point many years ago. He has a yellow tip to an otherwise black bill. Recognisable in flight by long narrow wings and a noisy churrkk call.
Mute Swan (An Eala Bhalbh) cygnets in Baldoyle Creek in 2010, upper, while below is an adult swan and a group of Brent Geese on Baldoyle estuary. An infrequent visitor to the estuary this largest swan only stops here for a day or two before moving on, probably to join or rejoin the large colony at Broadmeadows.
This distinctive bird is the Oyster Catcher (An Roilleach), and he reminds me of a grumpy old man. They seem to spend their days rushing about the estuary mud and all the while piping their shrill call and fighting with one another. The stout red bill is used to burrow for food on shore and on parkland. Seagrange Park is a popular haunt for the waders at high tide where the damp ground gives easy access to food.
The Grey Heron (Corr Réisc nó Caití Fhada as my uncle in Mayo used call him, meaning Long Kitty!) (above and below) is a very long legged bird with a vivid yellow spear of a bill and a backward pointing crest to his head. This bird is probably the least likely to be confused with others, with his white head, a marked black stripe across his eyes, and a grey body. His call is a harsh and distinctive frawk and often betrays his presence at night. He can stand motionless for hours awaiting his chance to spear fish or frog that chances his way. They nest precariously in the high pine trees on Portmarnock golf links, and in those along Harbour Road in Howth, close to the Church of Ireland. Frequently seen in the Moyne River or standing in the fields of Stapolin.
Redshank (An Cosdearghán) is sometimes resident but his numbers are augmented by winter visitors. He is a nervous bird and has a most distinctive and loud alarm call when disturbed. He sounds as if his whole clan is to be murdered. Red legs and red base to his bill make him easy to recognise. Most often seen on the mudflats and in the sea grass behind Sutton station.
This little bird is the Golden Plover (An Feadóg Buí, meaning the yellow whistle), a winter resident. He is seen in small groups along the shore, but at high tide may form into large tight knit flocks which wheel and shine, now silver, now dark, against the winter sky. These flocks particularly noticeable along The Murrough.
This fellow, the Little Egret (An Éigrit Bheag) is probably our most recent resident bird. Previously a rare sighting in Ireland, they started to breed in the Cork area and soon spread northwards. After some years presence at Bull Island they have now come here and I have on occasion counted as many as eight here at the one time. He is a pure white Heron-like bird with a jet black javelin of a bill with which he spears fish. Slightly smaller than the heron, he is more wary of disturbance and will quickly fly away at one’s approach. He seems a very busy bird compared to the Heron and is constantly moving in the search for prey.
The Black-tailed Godwit (An Guilbneach Earrdhubh) is another wader of the estuary. This winter visitor is common and has a slightly upward curving bill. Noted for his very long legs.
One of my favourites is the Curlew (An Crotach nó An Cruiteach, the humped one), distinguished by her downward curving beak with which she burrows for food in the soft mud of the estuary. Plumage is grey-brown and is she an all year round resident here. She has a distinctive Curlew call and a bubbling sort of trill, and the call of the Curlew has long been considered a harbinger of rain. Often at night I hear the Curlew cry as she passes over my house. The Curlew may be mistaken for a slightly smaller but very similar bird of passage, the Whimbrel, who sometimes stops here in Spring or Autumn.
Not really of the estuary, but of the Moyne River is the handsome and now rare Kingfisher (An Cruidín nó Rí-iascaire). Only three times have I been startled by the quick dart of an azure and crimson bird as I walked by the river. I have seen one on two occasions on the estuary-side stonework of Moyne Bridge. Lives on diet of small fish which she catches “on the dive”. Nests in river bank.
BIRDS OF THE FIELDS
Although this beautiful game bird was introduced from Asia, the Pheasant (An Feasán) is now accepted as being a native bird here. However, we must acknowledge that most of the specimens we see were in all probability reared in captivity before being released for the guns of the sportsmen. Feeds on grasses, shoots, and snails and worms. The hen bird lacks the extravagant colouring and tail of the male. Being raised in captivity the Pheasant can be very tame, and therefore easy pickings for the guns.
My first memory of this handsome Collared Dove (An Fearán Beacduibh or black necked turtle dove) was about 1958 when he first appeared in our gardens. He spread his habitat rapidly from eastern countries and is now widespread. He has a nice pinky brown colour and a half collar to the back of his neck. Smaller than a wood pigeon, has a call of oo oo oo which is long repeated. Eats shoots and seeds (no commas!) and usually appears with his mate in the garden.
The much maligned Wood Pigeon (An Colum Cille), the lifelong enemy of farmers and market gardeners is perhaps our best known pigeon. Sometimes colloquially called the Quest or incorrectly Woodcock, he frequents farm lands and can devastate young cabbage and grain crops. He is easily distinguished from the feral pigeon by the white patch on his neck. An extremely common bird of Baldoyle. Is often shot for the pot and I have seen piles of carcases in the local fields, where the hunter has stripped the breast meat from the birds and discarded the rest.
The Meadow Pipit (An Riabhóg nó Éinín na Cuaiche which means the Cuckoo’s nurse as her nest is frequently one targeted by the Cuckoo) seen in the racecourse fields is similar but smaller than a Thrush. Her numbers are swelled by winter visitors. Her call is a psseet,psseet, which is called while in flight. He is similar to the skylark (below) which is very common on the racecourse and Maynetown lands, the most noticeable difference being a backward facing crest from the forehead of the Skylark (An Fuiseog). The Skylark’s voice is one of the most beautiful of the bird world and is still a valuable feature of the skies over the old racecourse in spring and summer.
A bird of Moyne River and racecourse streams is this little fellow, the Moorhen (Cearc Uisce, means water hen). Colloquially he is called the Water Hen and his distinctive red and orange bill distinguish it from the Coot. The Moorhen is a shy bird with starkly yellow legs and non-webbed feet. This is a bird of freshwater and can be seen swimming in jumpy movements across the water, immediately disappearing into the reeds on my approach.
The above picture shows the typical rounded wings of the Lapwing (An Pilibín), a bird once extremely plentiful in our fields and parks, but now more scarce. The lapwing is a handsome bird (below) that looks black and white but in fact has a rich sheen of blue – green when observed at close quarters. Mainly a winter migrant, he is usually to be seen around Maynetown. Very conspicuous in flight.
If truthful, I must admit that the above bird is only included for nostalgia and sentiment as I have not heard him here in half a century! He is the shy and elusive Corncrake (Traonach) now only found in remote and protected parts of the West and North West. When we were children some boys maintained that he made his curious crek-crek call by rubbing his knees together! I have strong memories of hearing his call from the meadows at Larkhill answered from the meadows where Meadowbrook is now, on summer nights when we were trying to sleep.
BIRDS OF PREY
The Barn Owl, or Screech Owl, or indeed The Graveyard Owl (An Scréachóg Reilge) is this most handsome and rare bird. In my sixty plus years I have seen him no more than a dozen times in Baldoyle or Stapolin. He is a night time hunter and can cause a fright when he looms out of the darkness with his large silent wings and spectral appearance. I have not seen him her in twenty years now, his habitat fast disappearing. He eats small mammals. The Barn Owl pictured in flight below was over Maynetown in January 1993. That is as near as I could get to him!
The Short-eared Owl (Ulchabáin Réisc) was a winter visitor to Maynetown and I saw as many as four of them there around 1995. They were easy to spot owing to their distinctive slow wing beat and their habit of hunting by day. I was lucky to spot one close to Sutton Station in January 2012. It reminded me of a fright I got one day when I went into the ruin of Stapoilin House and disturbed a Short-eared Owl dozing on a ledge. I do not know which of us got the greater fright!
Two views of the same Kestrel (An Pocaire Gaoith (the wink frolicker) nó An Seabhac Gaoithe which translates as the hawk of the wind) seen at the foreshore in Baldoyle where he was stalking small mammals along Dingle’s Bank. A frequent sight along road sides and over the old racecourse lands.
A not so rare rare visitor to our garden was this Sparrowhawk (An Spioróg nó An Seabhac Ruadh, the red hawk), pictured in January 2011. I arrived in from a walk to see him in the back garden just finishing a meal of a hapless Redwing, of which he left little remains as evident from the picture. Noted for his staring yellow eyes and barred chest this bird is increasing in numbers owing to the fall off in persecution from gun clubs. He is, however, not a friend of racing pigeon fanciers because of his habit of dining on their birds.
Occasionally, however, the bird of prey gets “his comeuppance” as related by William Kennedy, Caddy Master of Royal Dublin Golf Club in a letter to the Times of London on 29th September 1929:
“May I recall an incident of bird life which I witnessed 20 years ago or so when boatman for Portmarnock Golf Club? The Portmarnock clubhouse is separated from the Baldoyle road by a gut of water which, at full tide, is nearly a half mile in width. On this occasion, a hawk, pursuing a crow from the Baldoyle side, attempted to fly across the water toward the clubhouse. As it did so, a great crowd of gulls, which were over the water, attacked it. By massing themselves above and around it they prevented it continuing its flight. This went on for several minutes, the gulls slowly pressing the hawk downwards. Finally, they got him into the water, and then tore him to pieces.”