Welcome to the liminal space between Halloween and Christmas; where the only assured thing is hearing people complain about how dark it gets by 4 p.m.. It's a moody, introspective time, quiet in the wake of one big holiday and anticipation of the next. I think we need something bright to carry us through these… Continue reading Redshank – Calling All Crimson Commandos
Can you feel that chill in the air? The hazy season of magic is almost upon us; the veils between worlds are beginning to thin. All manner of spirits are drifting onto on our plane, and today we're going to be talking about one who takes the form of a bird. Shy and elusive, they… Continue reading Jay – The Spirit of the Forest
Unfortunately summer didn't have a slow fade out this year. It was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it transition into autumn, where I am typing this now from under a blanket while sipping a mug of tea. As a farewell to days baked warm by the sun, we'd like to talk about a bird who thrives among the long,… Continue reading Reed Bunting – Summer, Seeds, and Stubble
It's been quite the summer so far. Heatwave after heatwave interspersed with storms; Dublin has been glistening in the humid air. For a nice cooldown, let's talk about a bird you can see while having a sneaky drink out by the Bord Gáis theatre. They're a stealthier summer sign than some of our other seasonal… Continue reading Common Tern – Dublin Port’s Divers
Happy Tuesday; happy July; happy birthday to me! My birthday wish this year was to write about a bird I really like for my birth month's bird blog — which meant hoofing it to get pictures of them in time for the big day. Though their shape is iconic, they are nimble fiends that never… Continue reading Long-Tailed Tit – The Flying Teaspoon
We interrupt your regularly scheduled Bird Blog to bring you an important news bulletin. Summer is quite an exciting time for birding because we get so many colourful characters flying in from oversees; many of them expected and some of them not. The bird we'll be talking about today is an example of the latter,… Continue reading Red-Footed Falcon – A Surprise Vagrant!
Lá Bealtaine shona daoibh; Happy Beltane! The hazy sun and dried grass have me itching for a cold drink, sunglasses, and some tunes. What a time to be welcoming the summer solstice. Traditionally this holiday has ties to the robin, but in light of an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch, we've decided to talk about… Continue reading Stonechat – Between a Rock and a Prickly Place
Happy April, happy Earth month! Veteran readers know that we here at the Bird Blog are all about putting the spotlight on Irish birds, who desperately need our help in combating the effects of climate change. But birds are part of a wider ecosystem, whose other members could also use some time in the public… Continue reading Tufted Duck – Show Some (Freshwater Pearl) Mussel!
Daffodils, show me your sunny crowns! That 10-day period of no sun had me brooding and contemplative, to the point where even writing felt like a colourless activity. It's also not the best weather for birdwatching, but I must say the twittering symphony of birdsong has helped me keep it together while waiting for the… Continue reading Meadow Pipit – The Changeling’s Prey
Lá Fhéile Bríde shona daoibh; Happy Imbolc! The razor sharp wind and dreary grey skies may not seem very festive, but the worse the weather is on Brigid's day, the shorter the period of time before spring is finally here (or so we hope). In honour of our principal lady saint, we'll be talking about… Continue reading Oystercatcher – Brigid’s Bird
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