The Hide (chat thread)

Capercaillie

Jayzesake wrote: »

How so?

Competition. Pheasants will use the same cover as corncrake. Especially when cover is low at this time of years the pheasants will compete with corncrake for nettle/iris/umbellifer patches. Pheasants will also eat the same food material. Tory island is rank with pheasants and crex numbers have decreased in recent years. Hopefully they can be removed also.

Jayzesake

Capercaillie wrote: »

Competition. Pheasants will use the same cover as corncrake. Especially when cover is low at this time of years the pheasants will compete with corncrake for nettle/iris/umbellifer patches. Pheasants will also eat the same food material. Tory island is rank with pheasants and crex numbers have decreased in recent years. Hopefully they can be removed also.

Where we are (southwest) it's 'rank' with Pheasants too. Probably a lot of the country is, seeing that they are widely bred and released for shooting. Which I presume doesn't auger well for the future of the Corncrake, other than on a few islands and specially protected areas?

Capercaillie

Jayzesake wrote: »

Where we are (southwest) it's 'rank' with Pheasants too. Probably a lot of the country is, seeing that they are widely bred and released for shooting. Which I presume doesn't auger well for the future of the Corncrake, other than on a few islands and specially protected areas?

Corncrake return to within 1-2km of where they are hatched. They imprint on the position of the stars above them when they hatch. If they ever do spread (beyond the Islands/narrow coastal strips in West Connaught/Donegal) it will take decades for them to spread even short distances. There is however a chance if the habitat is good they might set up breeding territories. On Raithlin Island they have set up nettle beds in the hope Corncrake migrating to Western Isles off Scotland might set up residence.

Intensive agriculture is the main threat to crexs (early cut silage). Anywhere it is present crexs are quickly exterminated. Pheasants would be only a minor threat.

I remember that around 10 years ago around 5 crexs had set up territories on the Dingle peninsula. The farmers were offered grants for delayed mowing I believe. They refused and cut silage per normal killing all corncrake.

Jayzesake

Capercaillie wrote: »

Pheasants would be only a minor threat.

On another note related to that, does anyone have any opinions as to how Pheasant fit in ecologically with native ecosystems in a more general sense?

For example, are they damaging in ways other than those mentioned above, and on the other hand I presume in some instances they can be positive, for example by acting as prey to native carnivores, etc?

On the whole, do folks see them as a problematic, or as a relatively benign, introduced exotic species?

Jayzesake

Jayzesake wrote: »

On another note related to that, does anyone have any opinions as to how Pheasant fit in ecologically with native ecosystems in a more general sense?

For example, are they damaging in ways other than those mentioned above, and on the other hand I presume in some instances they can be positive, for example by acting as prey to native carnivores, etc?

On the whole, do folks see them as a problematic, or as a relatively benign, introduced exotic species?

Nobody any thoughts on this?

Capercaillie

Jayzesake wrote: »

On another note related to that, does anyone have any opinions as to how Pheasant fit in ecologically with native ecosystems in a more general sense?

For example, are they damaging in ways other than those mentioned above, and on the other hand I presume in some instances they can be positive, for example by acting as prey to native carnivores, etc?

On the whole, do folks see them as a problematic, or as a relatively benign, introduced exotic species?

Pheasants mostly managed for shooting reasons. Shooting people can create/maintain habitats for pheasants like woodlands, hedges and gamecrops. this can be helpful to a wide range of species.
Can have a problem when huge numbers of pheasants are released into an environment. They can eat huge amounts of insects which can probably have a negative effect on species like insectivorous birds.

Bsal

Had my first fledglings of the year in the garden today, 2 Blackbirds, 2 house sparrows and 2 starlings. The female sparrowhawk is also hanging around the area.

Capercaillie

14+ Adult frogs around the garden ponds this evening. Saw 2 newts in the small pond. A few frog tadpoles seen, I thought they had all been eaten by newts.

Jayzesake

Capercaillie wrote: »

Shooting people can create/maintain habitats for pheasants...

That's dangerous territory you're getting into there, Capercaillie!

Capercaillie

Jayzesake wrote: »

That's dangerous territory you're getting into there, Capercaillie!

Why so?

Jayzesake

Capercaillie wrote: »

Why so?

Just me pulling your leg. Taken out of context, it looks like you're looking at the potential ecological benefits of culling people!

Capercaillie

https://twitter.com/BradRobson1

Dejected as 3 "birders" walked through fields with calling Corncrakes Tory Is to take pictures thought such disgraceful behaviour long gone

Hen corncrake on nests at the moment:mad::mad::mad:

Half-cocked

Anyone know what this might be? About 1" long, swimming around shrimp-like in a pond, then emerged onto dry land. Doubled-up and flicked itself back into the water when I tried to touch it.

Maybe a Water Beetle larvae?

Zoo4m8

On Monday, sitting in the car having a sandwich and coffee at the entrance to Emo Court I was pleasantly surprised to to see a Red Squirrel (probably one of those made famous by a poster in the photos thread!) appear and start to forage in the leaf litter on the woodland floor. It spent about twenty mins being very busy before making his way out of my sight between the trees.
Quite a treat for me as our Reds are long gone since the Greys came to town..
Then yesterday while at a tree nursery near Aughrim ( Wicklow ) I saw two Red Kites circling in a thermal, when I pointed them out to the owner he said " yes, lovely birds aren't they? We see them all the time but they are still a real novelty.." It's been a nice week, starting to feel like summer as well..

Cork boy 55

Half-cocked wrote: »

Anyone know what this might be? About 1" long, swimming around shrimp-like in a pond, then emerged onto dry land. Doubled-up and flicked itself back into the water when I tried to touch it.

Maybe a Water Beetle larvae?

Might be an Alderfly larva (i guess) its about right size and they emerge from water may to june. they have that tapered abdomen
very common

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkwAvLLD_NE

Half-cocked

Got sent this photo the other day, Naas area. Sent details on to Biodiversity Ireland. Confirmed as Hazel Dormouse and looks like there is now an established population in that area.

tricky D

Fire on Ireland's Eye started some time in the wee hours. DFB are putting it out as I type and it hasn't spread too far so hopefully the Puffins shouldn't be badly affected. DFB fella said there were birdwatchers on the island last night which isn't the most comforting thought.

The whole island went up in flames in the 70s and tens of thousands of rats swam to the beach at Burrow and Claremont Roads with hundred running across gardens.

Capercaillie

tricky D wrote: »

Fire on Ireland's Eye started some time in the wee hours. DFB are putting it out as I type and it hasn't spread too far so hopefully the Puffins shouldn't be badly affected. DFB fella said there were birdwatchers on the island last night which isn't the most comforting thought.

The whole island went up in flames in the 70s and tens of thousands of rats swam to the beach at Burrow and Claremont Roads with hundred running across gardens.

They probably started it. The messing that goes on Ireland's eye is disgraceful.

tricky D

Some photos in this post: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=95929994&postcount=1040

OpenYourEyes

The birdwatchers reported it, they didn't start it.

tricky D

^^^ Good. I was careful not to apportion blame and it now looks like 2 young gurriers from last nights pub chat. That said, the local rumour mill isn't always reliably accurate, quite the opposite some times.

Desmo

Mod Edit: The below convo has been moved from another thread.

BWI went through a very bad patch and have had big distractions with contentious AGMs etc. I hope they can pull out of it and do as you say. There are big practical issues to address like what you describe.

Capercaillie

Desmo wrote: »

BWI went through a very bad patch and have had big distractions with contentious AGMs etc. I hope they can pull out of it and do as you say. There are big practical issues to address like what you describe.

Some great people in BWI and some not so good. I would not be hopeful about the reserves out West. Were you at this years AGM?

Desmo

Yes; was that you in the back corner? I was in front row but said nothing.

Capercaillie

Desmo wrote: »

Yes; was that you in the back corner? I was in front row but said nothing.

Yes. They won't do anything though. I voiced my concerns before, not in public though.

Desmo

What you said had to be said. Sadly the whole day was taken up with the "motions". It all ended up on a positive note but it took until 4.45. Normally teh AGM is very quiet.

Jayzesake

Desmo wrote: »

What you said had to be said.

What was it that had to be said? (If you'd prefer not to go into it, that's o.k.)

Capercaillie

Desmo wrote: »

What you said had to be said. Sadly the whole day was taken up with the "motions". It all ended up on a positive note but it took until 4.45. Normally teh AGM is very quiet.

I made sandwiches in the middle, I knew it was going to be a long day.

Capercaillie

Jayzesake wrote: »

What was it that had to be said? (If you'd prefer not to go into it, that's o.k.)

At the AGM in 2014 one of the motions was lack of management at ECNR. The reserve had fallen into disrepair. Another reserve in Mayo is in a bad state through improper management.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

The garden turned into a creche today with 17 newly fledged House Sparrows, 6 new Blue Tits, 4 young Greenfinches, at least 9 chaffinch, 3 fledgling Robins, 2 Blackbirds and a young Bullfinch on the lawn at one time. And over 30 juv Starlings in the trees.

A late start perhaps but they have made up for it.

Desmo

Jayzesake wrote: »

What was it that had to be said? (If you'd prefer not to go into it, that's o.k.)

Sorry for the delay; he pointed out the state of the reserve in Belmullet. It needs stuff done that was agreed on but has been slow to be done or does not look like being done at all. This was 2 minutes in the middle of a 5 hour debate about procedures that may or may not have been illegal among the BWI board from 2 years earlier.

It was kind of sad how little was spent discussing birds and I really hope BWI can now move on.

Des

Desmo

Capercaillie wrote: »

At the AGM in 2014 one of the motions was lack of management at ECNR. The reserve had fallen into disrepair. Another reserve in Mayo is in a bad state through improper management.

Sorry for the delay in replying.
The ECNR was indeed in a dire state. It went from having a full time manager/warden to having none at all. It got vandalised and looked very sad. This was fixed a bit by work parties of volunteers (Niall Keogh organised) and also by voluntary work by the previous warden. That warden now works part-time there and the situation is stable. This is a political and educational site as much as a conservation one and teh cut back was simply a matter of BWI not having the money to maintain it. That situation is now stable; BWI finances are now back in the black.

The Mayo reserve is an urgent conservation issue and it is a very sad state of affairs if it is not sorted.

Capercaillie

Desmo wrote: »

Sorry for the delay in replying.
The ECNR was indeed in a dire state. It went from having a full time manager/warden to having none at all. It got vandalised and looked very sad. This was fixed a bit by work parties of volunteers (Niall Keogh organised) and also by voluntary work by the previous warden. That warden now works part-time there and the situation is stable. This is a political and educational site as much as a conservation one and teh cut back was simply a matter of BWI not having the money to maintain it. That situation is now stable; BWI finances are now back in the black.

The Mayo reserve is an urgent conservation issue and it is a very sad state of affairs if it is not sorted.

There are plenty of enthusiastic young fellows to whom hard graft is no problem. There needs to be a few replacements made, don't think it will happen though. It took niall keogh to sort out the ECNR . Wasn't his job but he
had the initiative, that's the people you need. One thing for sure i'm finished with BWI.

Desmo

Capercaillie wrote: »

There are plenty of enthusiastic young fellows who hard graft is no problem. There needs to be a few replacements made, don't think it will happen though. It took niall keogh to sort out the ECNR put. Wasn't his job but had the initiative, that's the people you need. One thing for sure i'm finished with BWI.

That is a real shame but I understand your reasons. BWI got diverted from its primary aims and goals and then ran out of cash and dragged itself into a controversy that should have been easier to deal with.

Capercaillie

Desmo wrote: »

That is a real shame but I understand your reasons. BWI got diverted from its primary aims and goals and then ran out of cash and dragged itself into a controversy that should have been easier to deal with.

Problems in Mayo not due to money more due to lack of effort. The reserve in question is 25 acres and has been owned/managed for 13 years yet the place is on a poor state. Overgrazing, rank cover beds, foxes left breeding in the middle of reserve, incorrect fertiliser. Invasive plant species left growing on reserve!

Zoo4m8

Capercaillie wrote: »

There are plenty of enthusiastic young fellows to whom hard graft is no problem. There needs to be a few replacements made, don't think it will happen though. It took niall keogh to sort out the ECNR . Wasn't his job but he
had the initiative, that's the people you need. One thing for sure i'm finished with BWI.

ECNR was always going to be a tad tricky to administer, it's location re vandalism isn't great and the fact that there are in effect two separate entrances quite away apart wouldn't help either.
As said Niall Keogh seems to be on top of things but IMO there needs to be an easier internal connect between the two 'parts'
BWI has been going through a bad patch but in my experience these things often happen in cycles and they probably need as much positive input as possible to get over the hump, after all there isn't really an alternative..

Desmo

Zoo4m8 wrote: »

ECNR was always going to be a tad tricky to administer, it's location re vandalism isn't great and the fact that there are in effect two separate entrances quite away apart wouldn't help either.
As said Niall Keogh seems to be on top of things but IMO there needs to be an easier internal connect between the two 'parts'
BWI has been going through a bad patch but in my experience these things often happen in cycles and they probably need as much positive input as possible to get over the hump, after all there isn't really an alternative..

The ex warden also deserves credit as he helped on a voluntary basis for a bit and is now back part time.

Capercaillie

Desmo wrote: »

The ex warden also deserves credit as he helped on a voluntary basis for a bit and is now back part time.

They let him go, but he continued to work voluntary. That show's great commitment.

V_Moth

Checked on a little patch of Orchids near where I live yesterday and was delighted to see four Bee Orchids in bloom. Also four Pyramidals and 56 Dactylorhizas.

Max number of Bee Orchids at this site over the last few years:

-2010: 8
-2011: 8
-2012: 8
-2013: 2
-2014: 8
-2015: 4

V_Moth

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=96126853&postcount=5681

This Reminded me of a similar but weirder incident that happened a few years ago at the Centra in Kilcoole. To fully get a sense of what happened you'll need to have a look at the Streetview below. Note that the Centra has a sliding door.

https://goo.gl/maps/zPBfB

As I was walking into the store (by the column), I heard a Starling calling out in alarm and saw one being pinned to the ground by a Sparrowhawk on the "Stop" line. At the same time, a car was exiting the car park, bearing down on the Sparrowhawk with its catch.

Before I knew it, the Sparrowhawk took off and flew past me - straight into the Centra. Thankfully, I had been close enough that they had already opened. I didn't exactly fancy dealing with an injured Sparrowhawk (and a Starling).

I chased after the Sparrowhawk down the fast food aisle hoping to scare it back out again, but lost sight of it. As I turned back, I saw the Sparrowhawk flying back out the front door (which was still open), but without the Starling. Couldn't find the Starling despite having a good look in the store - hopefully it found its own way out.

Woodville56

I came upon a different bird predation scenario yesterday while walking a green road in the Burren. Heard this bird commotion from a patch of hazel scrub - a lot of squealing and squawking going on. Expected to see a Sparrowhawk in chase or with prey but after about 3 minutes seen 2 blackbirds exit the hazels at speed with a magpie in pursuit. Then, with the blackbirds alarm calling as they dived into more scrub cover, swallows and meadow pipits in the area started mobbing the magpie quite aggressively until it flew away. Possibly the magpie was attempting to predate a fledgling blackbird nest ? The blackbirds managed to escape on this occasion, aided and abetted by the combined mobbing of several other species - all for one in the bird world !

Birdnuts

Something making a racket in the local woods the last few days. I suspect young LL Owls. I take it they would be starting to fledge now??

Woodville56

Birdnuts wrote: »

Something making a racket in the local woods the last few days. I suspect young LL Owls. I take it they would be starting to fledge now??

I would think that fledgling LEO's would be more vocal at nighttime ? But perhaps others here may have experience of daytime calling ?

gzoladz

A few little grebes in Herbert park, first time I see them there

tricky D

Not happy. Just had to put one of our robins out of its misery.

Half-cocked

Just watched a female Blackbird feeding a juvenile, a cheeky Starling joined in and begged for food too!

whyulittle

Just saw this in my timeline, a pair of Meadow Pipits feeding a Cuckoo chick.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/birdinguk/permalink/10154145858694535/

Zoo4m8

Amazing footage on BBC's Countryfile a while ago of a Welsh farmer who feeds hundreds of Red Kites on his farm everyday..magic, look forward to hopefully seeing the same thing here in the future..

tricky D

^^^ Linkage with vids: http://www.gigrin.co.uk/latest/

Zoo4m8

Great! Thanks for that... Just watched a couple vids to remind me again...awesome is a very overused word these days but for those of us where a sighting is still a real novelty, I think it can safely be used in this case!