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
O melancholy, thy name is November. Is anyone else feeling the seasonal mood drop between Halloween and Christmas? I know I am; every fibre of my being wants to hole up in a nest of blankets and sleep for 32 hours. Fortunately, I know the remedy for this feeling is getting up early to take… Continue reading Black-tailed Godwit – From Iceland to Irish Shores
The heaviness of autumn has truly draped itself upon us. At some point in the last couple of weeks the world became just a little more muffled under the constant pattering of rain. I know that soon I'll be listening to the wind keening down the chimney and breathing in the smoky haze of winter… Continue reading Rook – Resplendent Requiems
Summer is finally in full-swing and that means folks are flocking outdoors! While you're enjoying fish and chips on the pier or a sambo in St. Stephen's Green, I'm sure you're keeping your eyes peeled for any crafty gulls trying to sidle up to you to nab a nibble. We're all well accustomed to herring… Continue reading Great Black-Backed Gull – The Maritime Marauder
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
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
For many people in Ireland, the word "crow" is a catch-all term used to describe almost every black bird they see. This assumption is sometimes correct, since more often than not these birds do usually belong to the Corvidae family, of which the crow is a member. But this generalisation glosses over the unique traits… Continue reading Jackdaw – A case study on leucism
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
The Eurasian magpie (Pica pica), known as snag breac in Irish; a clever bird shrouded in myth and mysticism. I grew up hearing the nursery rhyme I'm sure you all know: One for sorrow,Two for joy,Three for a girl,Four for a boy,Five for silver,Six for gold,Seven for a secret that can never be told. A… Continue reading Magpie – Intelligent Omens