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
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
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
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!
Summer is firmly on its way out, so you know what that means! Time for that awkward transition period where a short-sleeved shirt won't keep you warm enough, but wearing a sweater or jacket will have you sweating by 2 p.m. This month's bird can commiserate with these woes, since they're going through something of… Continue reading Black-Headed Gull – A Seasonal Fashion Statement
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
It can be difficult to convince yourself to get out of the house on a cold, windy day, especially now in winter when the temperature keeps dropping. But if you manage to muster up the courage to head outside, consider heading out to the coast. Winter is a fantastic time to see lots of interesting… Continue reading Turnstone – Our Coastal Digger
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
The Irish Bird Blog 