Monday, December 2, 2013

The State of Ireland's Birds

This evening at 8pm, Monday 13th December 2013, Brian Caffrey from Birdwatch Ireland will give an illustrated talk on The State of Ireland's Birds at The Spirit Store, Dundalk Docks, Dundalk, Co Louth. This talk coincides with the publication of the current Bird Atlas covering 2007 - 2011. Brian coordinated the Atlas work in Ireland and will cover the major trends in bird populations, as well as touching on the rarer breeding birds. Copies of the Atlas will be available for purchase. Entry is free and all are welcome!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Birds and Bird Photography

On Monday 4 November: well known bird photographer Mark Carmody will deliver an illustrated talk entitled "Birds and Bird Photography" at the Spirit Store, Dundalk Docks, Dundalk, County Louth upstairs at 8pm. Mark has co-published three bird books: Shorebirds of Ireland (2009), Freshwater Birds of Ireland (2011) and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide (2013). Entry is free and all are welcome! Breffni A flovour of Mark's photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drcarmo/

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Waders of Dundalk Bay

Breffni Martin will give an illustrated talk on the subject of Waders of Dundalk Bay at 8pm this evening, Tuesday 3rd of September, upstairs in the Spirit Store, Dundalk Docks, Dundalk, Co Louth.

Entry is free and all are welcome!

Breffni

Friday, June 21, 2013

Little Terns at Baltray

The Louth nature Trust commissioned Birdwatch Ireland to run the colony this year, and as chance would have it, it looks like a record breaking one in terms of breeding birds at Baltray, with 89 active nests and more than 190 eggs; this is nearly double what was seen in previous years. All of these birds are due to hatch through the forthcoming spring tides, so things may bet a bit hairy.

The Louth Nature Trust would be very grateful to anyone who can volunteer a few hours to warden the site, particularly in the early morning, evening after 6pm and weekends.

Dawn Chorus

Thanks to everyone for coming along to the Dawn chorus at The Ballymascanlon Hotel at 5am. In the event the rain held off. We started in the walled garden where we picked up three tit species, robin, blackbird, blackcap and pied wagtail. Moving west to the stand of conifers we listened to the little egrets and grey herons squabbling over feeding their young. Walking up to the dolmen we added song thrush, dunnock, goldcrest, mistle thrush, greenfinch, goldfinch, chiffchaff and wren. Strangely we found no willow warbler. Returning to the hotel carpark we had a very confiding pair of treecreepers and goldcrests along with a particularly feisty robin.


Thursday, May 16, 2013

National Dawn Chorus, Sunday 19th May 2013

National Dawn chorus day is next Sunday. We will be meeting at 5am in the carpark of the Ballymascanlon Hotel just north of Dundalk and taking a walk around the grounds followed by coffee. We would expect to finish at around 6:30am.

All are welcome

Breffni
0879145363

Monday, April 1, 2013

Moths and Butterflies

Louth entomologist Don Hodgers will give an illustrated talk on monday 1st April 2013 on the subject of butterflies and moths. The talk will take place at the Spirit Store (upstairs) and will start at 8pm.

Entry is free and all area welcome.

Breffni

Monday, March 4, 2013

Woodpeckers in Ireland - Dick Coomes

Mon 4th March 2013 Spirit Store Upstairs
Doors 8pm - FREE

Dick Coombes from Birdwatch Ireland will give an illustrated talk on the recent colonisation of Ireland by Great Spotted Woodpeckers. This extraordinary natural phenomenon was first detected a few years ago in Wicklow and Down, when Great Spotted Woodpeckers started appearing at garden bird feeders. Dick spent hundreds of hours tracking down the woodpeckers in Wicklow and will tell the story of how they invaded, where they came from and how they are likely to progress in Ireland.

Breffni

Friday, January 18, 2013

Birds Through Irish Eyes

Legendary Irish birder, Anthony McGeehan, will give a talk entitled "Birds Through Irish Eyes" at 8pm on Monday 4th February 2013 upstairs at the Spirit Store.

Nobody has to travel far to see birds. The back garden will do. And there, not far from the kitchen window, are several species that conceal mysteries. Why do Coal Tits drop most of the seeds that they extract from feeders? A strange thing to do when the species probably possesses the largest brain of any Irish bird! As human birdwatchers, we seldom listen to what birds tell us. In the case of the ubiquitous Woodpigeon, no Field Guide interpretation has ever unraveled the key to its voice. So, from Coal IQ to cracking Woodpigeon's coded messages, the Feb 4th talk will concentrate on 'the birds under our noses'. There should be no shortage of inspiration as well as an incentive to try out tips for yourself. Anthony's talk carries on from the information in BIRDS THROUGH IRISH EYES, signed copies of which will also be available. Anthony will also touch on his famous "Magic Pelagic" talk at the end, possibly after a short break.....

Anthony has been interested in birds since childhood and, to paraphrase Groucho Marks, has gone from opera glasses to Swarovskis and extreme poverty.

As usual entry is free and all are welcome!
Breffni
www.flickr.com/photos/breffni


Anthony McGeehan

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Wetlands of Louth.

Our first talk of the New Year will be on the 7th of January 2013 at 8pm and will be entitled Wetlands of Louth.

The talk will be given by Faith Wilson, an ecologist who has recently completed a survey of the wetlands of County Louth along with Peter Foss, Patrick Crushell, and Barry O’Loughlin of Wetland Surveys Ireland.

Wetlands are arguably Irelands most important ecological resourse, providing not only a refuge for wildlife, but also providing criticas services such as clean drinking water and flood attenuation.

The talk will be given in the newly refurbished Spirit Store on Dundalk Docks, Dundalk, County Louth.

As usual entry is free and all are welcome!

Breffni.