South Dublin Branch - Outing Report

Bluethroat - Ballycotton, Cork (photo: Paul & Andrea Kelly)

Turvey Nature Reserve & Rogerstown Estuary - 6th October 2024.

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South Dublin members gather at Turvey for our October outing. Picture by Gustavo Zoladz.

South Dublin Members, Turvey NR car park, 6th October 2024 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)

Turvey Nature Reserve which lies along the Rogerstown Estuary is managed by Fingal County Council and the Fingal Branch of BirdWatch Ireland and to their great credit it has become deservedly popular with the public and birdwatchers alike, offering pathways, picnic areas, forest, allotments, hedgerows and meadows and has salt marsh and mudflats which are invaluable roosting and feeding habitats for thousands of wintering wildfowl and waders.

Wigeon, Teal, Brent, Herring Gulls and Black-tailed Godwit grab 40 winks along the shore at Rogerstown. Picture by Gustavo Zoladz.

Birds loafing and sleeping at Rogerstown Estuary, 6th October 2024 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)

The previous excursion by the South Dublin branch to the reserve was in February 2023 and was held at dusk when those attending were treated to terrific views of Barn Owls hunting. This year the event was set in the morning which began with 15 enthusiastic birders assembling at 10:00 in Turvey Avenue car park of which only five were from the South Dublin branch.

The small turnout was undoubtedly due to the grim weather forecast for persistent heavy rain and wind for the morning. However, it transpired to be mostly rain-free and calm! The destination for the group was the 'Frank McManus' Hide which oversees the estuary and is about one mile from the carpark along a trail of brightly coloured and berry-laden autumn hedges.

Serious looking Greenshank on the prowl for prey at Rogerstown. Picture by Gustavo Zoladz.

Greenshank, Rogerstown Estuary, 6th October 2024 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)

Before reaching the hide some late migrating House Martins were spotted and the group then encountered a Pen Mute Swan on the path calling her mature cygnets one of which had become separated by a wire fence. Once at the hide there was considerable aerial activity from Golden Plover, Wigeon, Shoveler and flocks of Goldfinch, Linnet and Meadow Pipits. Most stirring of all was perhaps the appearance of the magnificent Pale-bellied Brent geese, which would have recently arrived from their summer breeding grounds in Greenland and heralded the winter days ahead. On the mudflats amongst the common waders were great views of Grey Plover, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank.

This Curlew has been fitted with a darvic ring, perhaps indicating it was trapped as part of the Dublin Bay Birds Project. Picture by Gustavo Zoladz.

Curlew, Rogerstown Estuary, 6th October 2024 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)

There were only a few Eurasian Curlew present and sadly even these were most likely winter migrants from northern Britain and Scandinavia. A once common Irish summer breeding bird the Curlew population has calamitously declined by about 97% over the past 30 years, leaving only about 350 breeding pairs on the island. Fears are growing it could become extinct not only here but worldwide as appears to have already happened to its relative the Eskimo Curlew of which there have been no confirmed sightings since 1963 and the Slender-billed Curlew, with no verified sightings since 2004.

Arguably no other bird species has engrained itself so much on the Irish psyche as the Curlew as it features frequently in art, poetry, traditional music, folklore and literature and has had many place names attributed to it.

Mud glorious mud. Picture by Gustavo Zoladz.

Black-tailed Godwit, Rogerstown Estuary, 6th October 2024 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)

The Curlew’s decline has chiefly arisen due to pressures at their breeding sites from bad land management, which has encouraged predators such as foxes and crows to flourish only to predate on the eggs and young of this vulnerable ground-nesting bird. Optimistically much focus is now being made across Europe to redressing the situation so that hopefully Ireland does not lose the sound of what WB Yeats called the Curlews 'sweet crystalline cry' from our shores.

Swimming Coot at Turvey, not a duck, rather as member of the rail family. Picture by Gustavo Zoladz.

Coot, Turvey Nature Reserve, 6th October 2024 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)

Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Peregrine were watched as they scanned around seeking feeding opportunities. Nearer to the reed beds a Kingfisher and Snipe were sighted as were two Water Rail in flight with their characteristic downward dangling legs. Although there were no rarities to be seen on the morning there was something for everyone to enjoy. An impressive 51 bird species were ticked-off most of which are listed on this eBird page set up by branch member Simon Robinson.

A pair of Mallard at Turvey, the most familiar of ducks. Picture by Gustavo Zoladz.

Mallard, Turvey Nature Reserve, 6th October 2024 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)

Branch Chairman Des Higgins led the event which concluded at 12:00 just as the rain began. Appreciation is extended to those who attending from the Fingal and Tolka branches and who provided welcome input and humour, especially Brian Carruthers. A special shout-out is also given to Ruari the Zoology undergraduate from Trinity College Dublin who impressed everyone with his enthusiasm. It is hoped that he and many other young people will attend future BirdWatch Ireland outings which are free and open to everyone with no obligation to become a society member.

Shane Kerr

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