The Hide (chat thread)

New Home

Good point, thanks Srameen.

whyulittle

Stigura wrote: »

Physically Put them back, I'd imagine?

What I don't understand about BT is; How come, if I'm out and about and log birds on my phone ~ they don't transfer to my on line / computer site? Again, it looks like we're expected to come home and read the data from our phone and type it in, on line

I don't even have it on my phone, now. And, OMG! As for what they've just done to the web site?! Urgh!

When you're on the lists page on the app, there is a cloud icon with an 'up' arrow inside it. Clicking that transfers your lists from your phone to the website.

whyulittle

whyulittle wrote: »

Got a new phone last week, and when I went to use the BirdTrack app today, it didn't have any of my places listed. Anyone any idea how to get them back?

Answering my own question here, but it might help someone in the future.

So when you login, make sure you're either on WiFi, or uncheck the 'Update over WiFi only' option if you're on mobile data.

Personally I wouldn't call logging in, an update, but they do. The 'login' button does say Update and not Login, but you are logging in!

Anyway, 'tis working again!

Zoo4m8

Yesterday...on the upside..there is a Woodpecker back in the trees at the edge of the garden..
On the downside..a corvid cacophony got my attention and on investigation I found a Grey Crow had caught and killed a Jackdaw juvenile belonging to the group that nest in and around the yard.

At lunchtime in the house I’m aware of a flurry of feathers with a glimpse of black and white and then a bang on a window, going outside I find a dead juvenile Woodpecker, my guess it was hassled by a Magpie (a couple have been making a nuisance of themselves recently) and flew into the window, I’m still livid..

On the upside...two more Woodpeckers in the garden in the evening..:)
This evening something I have never seen before, a Starling anting on the lawn and as I watched was joined a short distance away by one of the Woodpeckers... every day’s a schoolday!

Graces7

Skylark singing already at half past three this morning. Loud and ecstatic,,, reminding me that it is time to go to the nearby shore to watch the sun rising above the mountains.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Greenfinch have returned to the feeders, but only two or three at a time. Gone are the days when a dozen was not usual in the garden.

magicbastarder

i saw a pine marten today when i was out for a cycle in north county dublin. first time i've seen one out that direction.

Graces7

Cuckoo still loud and clear out here at 4 am

Fakediamond

I have a great spotted woodpecker hanging around my back garden for the past two days, I’m thrilled and amazed beyond belief, hope it lasts.

recedite

magicbastarder wrote: »

i saw a pine marten today when i was out for a cycle in north county dublin. first time i've seen one out that direction.

Alive or flattened?

magicbastarder

very much alive, thankfully. between ballyboughal and the naul.

Ulmus

Fakediamond wrote: »

I have a great spotted woodpecker hanging around my back garden for the past two days, I’m thrilled and amazed beyond belief, hope it lasts.

I've never seen one but I've heard them drumming in the Phoenix Park. Fantastic sound. I'd recommend A life in the Trees by Declan Murphy.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

The BTO reported today that tagged Cuckoos have already departed and are in France. Their time here is extremely short.

magicbastarder

i guess that's simply down to them having outsourced raising the offspring, so there's no benefit to hanging around?

Kamili

Kayla Moldy Supernova wrote: »

The BTO reported today that tagged Cuckoos have already departed and are in France. Their time here is extremely short.

More info here if anyone is interested

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking

fiacha

Despite having a bird friendly garden and a healthy number frequenting gardens about 10 houses down the road I've never seen a Goldfinch in my garden.

The other evening I spotted a lone adult sitting on a phone line at the front of the house so I said sod it, remortgaged the house and bought some Niger seed .

Put the feeder out the next morning and with two hours had a Goldfinch on it ! Couldn't believe it. Most I've seen so far is 2 adult and 1 juv, but it's great to see them making it through the iron curtain setup by the resident house sparrows.

Another bumper year for the little brown beasts here with up to 30 adult and fledgling sparrows in the garden at the same time.

Sadly, this is the first summer I can remember not having a robin keeping me company around the garden. They were here right up until early spring and then moved on.

Amazing to see how much changes over the season in a little patch of Dublin.

Graces7

magicbastarder wrote: »

i guess that's simply down to them having outsourced raising the offspring, so there's no benefit to hanging around?

There was a cuckoo still calling out here ( West mayo offshore) early yesterday. Loud and clear .

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

magicbastarder wrote: »

i guess that's simply down to them having outsourced raising the offspring, so there's no benefit to hanging around?

And if any cuckoo is still calling in mid June its a sure sign of failure to breed this year. Ours changed from the mating call a couple of weeks ago and all seem to have now moved on.

Storm 10

fiacha wrote: »

Despite having a bird friendly garden and a healthy number frequenting gardens about 10 houses down the road I've never seen a Goldfinch in my garden.

The other evening I spotted a lone adult sitting on a phone line at the front of the house so I said sod it, remortgaged the house and bought some Niger seed .

Put the feeder out the next morning and with two hours had a Goldfinch on it ! Couldn't believe it. Most I've seen so far is 2 adult and 1 juv, but it's great to see them making it through the iron curtain setup by the resident house sparrows.

Another bumper year for the little brown beasts here with up to 30 adult and fledgling sparrows in the garden at the same time.

Sadly, this is the first summer I can remember not having a robin keeping me company around the garden. They were here right up until early spring and then moved on.

Amazing to see how much changes over the season in a little patch of Dublin.

I am in Galway and I put out Niger seed and Sunflower seed a good few weeks ago, I now have on average 30 goldfinches visiting every day, when I get up in the morning for work I put out seed and they do be all lined up on the roof of the shed waiting patiently for breakfast, beautiful birds I never thought that I would get so many in the City as I thought they would be a Country bird.

Graces7

Kamili wrote: »

More info here if anyone is interested

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking

Fascinating site and project. Thank you. The calling cuckoo here is not that late yet; there was one spoken of on 12th will be out very early tomorrow and will listen out. Things in general tend to be late out here.

Tiercel Dave

Heard Cuckoo calling this morning about 1100, East Galway.....

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Tiercel Dave wrote: »

Heard Cuckoo calling this morning about 1100, East Galway.....

That's unfortunate, as it means it probably hasn't bred , and won't now.

New Home

Could it be one of those born this year?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

New Home wrote: »

Could it be one of those born this year?

No, only adult males do the familiar "cuckoo" call and it's to assert ownership of a territory and to attract a mate.

Graces7

Tiercel Dave wrote: »

Heard Cuckoo calling this morning about 1100, East Galway.....

Great! I was unwell earlier and did not get out.. will try again early tomorrow
e
I thought this week it was late for them, but given there are a few of these later ones ( recorded on 12th onwards) that the cooler bizarre weather has extended the season for them. Birds do not obey a calendar and the weather has been a challenge It is fascinatiing

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Okay, just for clarity. If a cuckoo has not bred by early June there will none of the host species breeding. Meadow Pipits - April to early June when the last clutch fledges, Dunnock - April to late May, Robins late March to early June. In June he changes his tune - usually because breeding is complete. If he still 'cuckoos' he has missed the boat, most likely because no female was available.

New Home

Thanks Srameen, that's very interesting, and something I didn't know.

gzoladz

2 in Bull today moved by Meadow Pipits. Not calling.

appledrop

I have 5 baby blackbirds in the garden. They were all sunning themselves this morning in sunshine.

I don't usually feed the birds at this time of year but given the low temperatures I have changed my mind. The bird feeders are empty in a day rather than 2-3 days in winter. The parents are busy looking for insects/ worms for the babies so are happy to stock up on seeds for themselves.

Graces7

Grasshopper warbler in great voice.

Everything out here ( west mayo offshore) is way behind the rest of Ireland, hence the late cuckoos and only half way through June ..regional variations.. never trust absolutes in these times of climate change. new ground being broken and need sensitivity and openness to these changes

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

A great flush of newly fledged birds about this weekend. The garden has House Sparrows, Blackbirds, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue Coal and Great Tits, and Goldfinches at the moment. While there are numerous starlings, warblers, and bunting along the bog lane. The weather seems to have little impact and there is an abundance of food about for them.

magicbastarder

https://twitter.com/collieennis/status/1140154470153773057

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

magicbastarder wrote: »

https://twitter.com/collieennis/status/1140154470153773057

I would like some confirmation of this. I don't think any have been recorded here before. He's an expert so, probably accurate but I wonder how long they have been around.

magicbastarder

There are a couple of comments underneath which purport to be confirmations of sightings, albeit in smaller numbers. Are there any parakeets in the UK in areas which might facilitate them crossing the Irish sea?

Snowc

Kayla Moldy Supernova wrote: »

I would like some confirmation of this. I don't think any have been recorded here before. He's an expert so, probably accurate but I wonder how long they have been around.

:rolleyes: If you knew who he was you wouldn't be looking for confirmation

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Snowc wrote: »

:rolleyes: If you knew who he was you wouldn't be looking for confirmation

?.? I know who he is and how much of an expert on reptiles he is. Not sure why you have a problem with confirmation of any sighting. Even Birdwatch Ireland today said they would go out to check. Standard protocol. But you have issues with my posts from time to time for some reason.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

magicbastarder wrote: »

There are a couple of comments underneath which purport to be confirmations of sightings, albeit in smaller numbers. Are there any parakeets in the UK in areas which might facilitate them crossing the Irish sea?

Those in the UK are in the South East, so unlikely to travel this way. There are a few sightings elsewhere in the UK most years but they are escapees: Which is what these are likely to be and they may already have been recaptured.

They are not a species we want naturalising here, as they compete for nest locations with Woodpeckers and starlings.

tricky D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby-crowned_kinglet pair reported in Howth = way off the reservation (North America). Until snapped I would have doubts.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

tricky D wrote: »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby-crowned_kinglet pair reported in Howth = way off the reservation (North America). Until snapped I would have doubts.

One turns up every few years, usually in the south - cork or cape clear. A nice find for somebody.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

10 Great Tits on a single nut feeder this morning. A very active family group.

Half-cocked

Question: I came across a possible oil slick about 2km off Greystones yesterday morning. It stretched at least 500 metres. I took a sample and photos of the orange/brown substance. I have just reported it to the EPA. Is there any other authority I should be reporting this to? A lot of feeding seabirds in the area plus seals and porpoises.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

EPA should be sufficient.

New Home

There's an empty building along the main road (35 meters away at most) by my bus stop. I counted 23 housemartin's nests just on this side of the building, plus a broken one. There's loads of them, they're flying and swooping all over the road and filling the space above my head, their chirping and chattering would charm anyone, even a heart of stone. Joy in bird form!

emo72

any sea eagles this year?

magicbastarder

last night i learned that what i had guessed were very small leeches in my garden pond are much more likely to be a type of flatworm called planarians. every day's a school day.

New Home

Kayla Moldy Supernova wrote: »

10 Great Tits on a single nut feeder this morning. A very active family group.

Dad bringing the kids to McDonalds.

Half-cocked

Just came across a Ringed Plover nest with 3 eggs on a really busy piece of beach. Fingers crossed they are successful.

New Home

And fingers crossed nobody else goes near it, as it's illegal to disturb nests (in any way, shape or form). It's difficult to do, though, if you just come across them while on a main route.

Half-cocked

New Home wrote: »

And fingers crossed nobody else goes near it, as it's illegal to disturb nests (in any way, shape or form). It's difficult to do, though, if you just come across them while on a main route.

Right next to a path. Wouldn't have seen it except the adult popped up off it as I went by. I moved on quickly to minimise disruption. I suspect most people wouldn't have seen it at all. I'd be more worried about dogs.

Birdnuts

Half-cocked wrote: »

Right next to a path. Wouldn't have seen it except the adult popped up off it as I went by. I moved on quickly to minimise disruption. I suspect most people wouldn't have seen it at all. I'd be more worried about dogs.

Surprisingly late that nest - back home in Kildare there are a few dozen pairs breeding in sand pits etc. and many of these had chicks near fledging in recent weeks