I am stretching out my arms and embracing that Leaving Cert weather on my skin. How're we all keeping cool? Couple ice cubes in the glass of water, t-shirts and shorts, fans on full blast? This month's bird is partial to hanging around the seaside in summer, and they look it, too, with that little… Continue reading Gannet – Divers of the Wine-Dark Sea
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 first day of summer! I love June for all its bright colours - whether they be from nature or from people getting into the Pride spirit; not to mention the great weather we'll get once students start the junior/leaving certs. Ironically, today's bird is a monochrome monarch with a limited colour palette and a… Continue reading Black Guillemot – (L)ittle (G)uillemot (B)ird (T)ime!
July for me has always been the month of events. My birthday is right at the start of it, kicking things off with a bang. Then there's usually all sorts of things that follow that - trips, meetups, hangouts with friends and family. The bird we'll be discussing in this article happens to be well… Continue reading Common Guillemot – Pass Me the Auks
This month's article is about one of the more famous bird visitors we get to Ireland: The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), known in Irish as Puifín or Gobachán. There's a lot to talk about when it comes to Puffins. They are auks - short winged, diving seabirds - hailing more specifically from the Fratercula family.… Continue reading Puffin – The Mascot of the Saltees
While spending time near the sea, you may have seen an odd black shape perched on a rock. It stands proud; head tilted up towards the sun, wings outstretched, feet firmly planted on stone. Do not be alarmed; this is not a witch in disguise, nor is it a descendant of Dracula on the hunt… Continue reading Cormorant – The Sun-Basking Seabird