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Species list 2012
Breeding Birds 2012
Birding locations
Whimbrel migration
Spring Migrants 2012
Recent Sightings of Interest:
DateSpeciesNumberObserverLocation
18-May-2012 WheatearOenanthe oenanthe 35 Gerry Power, Tom Cooney Royal Dublin Golf Course, St Anne's Golf Course 
17-May-2012 PeregrineFalco peregrinus 1  north saltmarsh 
17-May-2012 BlackcapSylvia atricapilla 1  Causeway 
16-May-2012 Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus 1  Causeway 
16-May-2012 House MartinDelichon urbica 25 Ger Franck Royal Dublin Golf Course 
16-May-2012 WhitethroatSylvia communis 2  Royal Dublin Golf Course 

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May 2012


After a stormy end to April migration on 2nd May was unusally heavy. Whimbrel migration usually begins to taper off in early May however the total of 223 on 4th May was the highest number recorded on the island to date. A minimum of 80 Wheatears was also a record for one day as were 3 Whinchats. A flurry of migrants on 8th and 9th May included Turtle Dove, a female Marsh Harrier and a Reed Warbler singing in Buckthorn 100m south of the Interpretative Center. Overnight rain and slack winds brought more warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher on the 10th. The two dark-bellied Brent Geese that have lingered on the north Dublin coast over the winter remained on the island up to at least the 10th May on the north saltmarsh. A few Light-bellied Brent Geese are still present on the island (17th May).

By mid May migration has eased off although there are stil hundreds of migrating Dunlins on the mudflats and they are accompanied by small numbers of Sanderlings and Ringed Plovers. The latter two species are not normally associated with the mudflats. Wheatears are common in various parts of the island with up to 50 birds present daily. A few migrant Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Blackcaps can be found in the island's scrub and up to ten pairs of House Martins are rebuilding their nests at the Royal Dublin Golf Clubhouse. A small number of Red-breasted Mergansers can be seen in the north lagoon and off the Bull Wall whilst Arctic and Common Terns can be seen feeding in the south lagoon at high water.

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