Wednesday 14 March 2018

Dusk Chorus Event at Holistic Gardens, Shercock

Blackbird 

A short walk to listen to the song of blackbird, song thrush and other resident birds will take place on Friday 23rd March at the Holistic Garden Retreat Centre,Glasleck,Shercock.
(A81 CF95)

Following the walk, a talk on Bird Song ID will take place to help us learn and prepare for the arrival of our summer migrants! This event is suitable for beginners.

The walk will commence at 6.15pm. 

Warm waterproof clothing and footwear is recommended and children should be accompanied by an adult.

For information on how to find the Holistic Garden Centre click here http://holisticgardens.ie/?page_id=485 or contact Eva on 0871355502

Garden birdwatching during the snow storm


starling

starling

I had many interesting visitors to my feeders during the recent snow storm including fieldfares and song thrush. However, the birds that provided many hours of enjoyable watching were the flocks of starlings that visited the feeders during the four days of snow. My feeders and bird cake provided much needed food. On the first day of the snow a flock of about 20 starlings came to feed and the numbers increased day by day. On the final day of the snow I had a flock of 70 birds visit the garden. It was a real pleasure to help these lovely birds survive the terrible weather and they provided hours of entertainment! 

I miss not having them around anymore but intend to place a couple of nest boxes in the garden to help our breeding birds as starlings are now on the amber list of birds of conservation concern due to a moderate decline of the breeding European population.

Liz Mc Kenna



For information on how to construct a starling nest box click here 

Great footage of a murmuration of starlings can been seen here

https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2018/0122/935166-starlings/

Also great to see fieldfares and song thrushes come to the feeders!


song thrush
fieldfare

song thrush

fieldfare
goldfinch