For any of my fellow green thumbs out there, how are we finding the return to the garden? I feel so much better while I'm pottering about, and of course the flowers help lift my spirits. Almost feels like I've been transported to a new place. Unfortunately there is still the rain to contend with.… Continue reading Sedge Warbler – Dreamworks’ Over The Sedge
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
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
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
Here's a fun fact for you: my birthday is in July, and for my birth month, I wanted to talk about a bird that's as iconic as I am. We're lucky to be blessed by high-flying, long-haul bird travellers from far away places, and this month's bird is no exception. But they're also a familiar… Continue reading Swallow- Summer’s Skyborne Sign
The weather is starting to get warmer and with the bright blue skies and sizzling sun rays comes the many wonderful birds of this season. The bird we're talking about for this month's post has been heralded as the voice of the beginning of summer, and what a lovely loud voice it is! We're talking… Continue reading Skylark – The Vertical Vocalist
This post is about the birds that inspired us to begin this blog in the first place. They're not vivacious songbirds nor majestic birds of prey, but captivating little visitors all the way from Africa. They are the sand martins (Riparia riparia). Sand martins, known in Irish as Gabhlán Gainimh, are our smallest Hirundine visitors.… Continue reading Sand Martin – The Soldiers That Occupy the Fort
There will actually be two birds discussed in this post: the pied wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) and the grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea). The pied wagtail, glasóg shráide in Irish, is a common sight around urban areas. I remember walking through my college campus each morning and being accompanied by these sprightly little birds dashing across… Continue reading Wagtails – Little Movers