Dawn chorus

We are hoping for good weather as we rise with the lark to hear our birds in all their magnificence!

The nesting season is now in full swing. Everywhere you look birds are singing, displaying , nest-building or carrying beakfuls of food. Every morning male birds announce in song they have survived the perils of the night. What is more they proclaim to rival males and local females that they are in peak condition ready and willing to rear the next generation.

Listen to the birds welcome the new dawn in fine voice and identify which birds' song you are hearing. Birdwatch Ireland organises Dawn chorus events nationwide to celebrate this rite of spring.
Cavan are hosting 2 events, we are hoping for some mild and dry weather for Sunday morning, it's looking good so far!

1) Bailieborough Castle Lake Forest. Meet at the Lake shore car park, Shercock rd at 4.30am. Contact Elizabeth 086 8336675

2) Killeshandra. Meet at the Town Lake car park, Belturbet Road at 4.30am.

Please wear sturdy footwear and bring warm waterproof clothing.

The RSPB have a section where you can listen to the song of individual birds so you might get a head start on identification.

rspb.org.uk

Dowra outing

Apologies for the delay in showing the photos and report from our Dowra outing at the end of April. 

Many thanks to Freddy for the photographs!

A perfect habitat for dippers and kingfishers: both were spotted today!

The Cavan Way, from Dowra

One of our group is a writer/birdwatcher and she wrote an article Mudlarking! on our outing, luckily there is no photographic evidence of the mud she mentions!

Dawn Chorus events

Event Reminder

Hoopoe alert!

There has been an influx of these dramatic-looking birds in Ireland recently. Experts believe the recent warm spell is probably the reason they overshot mainland Europe and arrived on our shores. There have been a number of sightings in the south, maybe a brave bird will venture further north for the rest of us to see!
If you are lucky enough to spot one of these, Birdwatch Ireland asks that you notify them.
Let us know too :)

A date for your diary

Cavan Birdwatch will be visiting Dowra in northwest Cavan on the 26th of April.
A beautiful part of the county, Dowra is the first town on the river Shannon, and is also the start (or end, depending on where you start!) of the Cavan Way.
cavan-way
cavan.ie/dowra
Bring your binoculars, waterproof gear and sturdy footwear; as well as a packed lunch.
More details about where we will be birdwatching, what birds you might expect to see and when to meet up will follow.