Tymon Park, Tallaght - 9th February 2025.
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South Dublin Members, Tymon Park, Tallaght, 9th February 2025 (picture: Shane Kerr)
Tymon Park near Tallaght was formally opened in 1986 and comprises 320 acres of multiple sportsgrounds and other public amenities. The M50 motorway runs through it. It is managed by South Dublin County Council who deserve credit for the way they have imaginatively blended the recreational identity of the location with one that includes many habitats to attract wildlife including woodland and hedgerow trails and is now developing around 148 acres devoted to wildflower meadows.
There have also been admirable efforts used in the park design to connect children with nature. However, one of the greatest enticements for the birdwatcher are the small lakes and interconnecting ponds the park has to offer. These water features are fed by the River Poddle which flows directly into the lake and ponds on the eastern side of the park, and then runs underground below the motorway emerging to fill the lakes and ponds on the western side. The South Dublin branch made its debut visit to the park this month with 16 enthusiasts meeting in the playground car park, off the Castletymon Road, at 10:00 to brave the cold, and occasional showers. After a short stroll the first lake was reached, and everyone was struck by how picturesque it looked with graceful Mute Swans on the water surrounded by mature woodland.
Mute Swans and a Herring Gull, Tymon Park, 9th February 2025 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)
Passing on to the nearby smaller ponds it felt like Kingfisher territory and sure enough one was soon glimpsed flying past. There were signs of spring everywhere including Great Tits calling and Blue Tits inspecting nest boxes and in sheltered spots the first sprouts of Cow Parsley were emerging from the ground. After enjoying the western side of the park, it was decided to cross over to the north side by using one of the pedestrian footbridges over the motorway where the larger lake and ponds are located. On the way, a Sparrowhawk was observed overhead being mobbed by a Hooded Crow.
Glancing across the large area of grassland it was surprising not to see any Brent Geese grazing. On the lake there were several duck species observed including Wigeon, Teal and Mallard as well as a few hybrids together with a solitary Shoveler and Shelduck the latter being more typically associated with seashores. There were also good numbers of Coots and Moorhen and several Little Grebes. Amongst the many Black-headed Gulls there were some already with their summer black-caps. There was the inevitable appearance of a Grey Heron but none from its relative the Little Egret.
Shoveler, Tymon Park, 9th February 2025 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)
Walking back towards the footbridge on the return journey some people managed to catch glimpses of Redwing. This beautiful little thrush is a winter visitor to Ireland and Britain most of which migrate in from Iceland and Scandinavia although small breeding populations are known in the Scottish Highlands where they remain all year. Intriguingly, several Redwings that have been ringed in Britain and Ireland during the winter have been recovered in subsequent winters in trans-Caspian countries such as Georgia and Iran.
It has been hypothesised that these individuals came from far-east breeding populations probably as young birds which over-shot their western winter migration destinations. A pair of Bullfinches was next seen. Romantically, male and female Bullfinches are renowned for their life-long fidelity and are inseparable wherever they go. A little-known fact about them is that apart from their distinctive whistling call they do have a song, but it is a quiet one and seldom heard.
Long-tailed Tit, Tymon Park, 9th February 2025 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)
Walking back towards the footbridge on the return journey some people managed to catch glimpses of Redwing. This beautiful little thrush is a winter visitor to Ireland and Britain most of which migrate in from Iceland and Scandinavia although small breeding populations are known in the Scottish Highlands where they remain all year. Intriguingly, several Redwings that have been ringed in Britain and Ireland during the winter have been recovered in subsequent winters in trans-Caspian countries such as Georgia and Iran.
It has been hypothesised that these individuals came from far-east breeding populations probably as young birds which over-shot their western winter migration destinations. A pair of Bullfinches was next seen. Romantically, male and female Bullfinches are renowned for their life-long fidelity and are inseparable wherever they go. A little-known fact about them is that apart from their distinctive whistling call they do have a song, but it is a quiet one and seldom heard.
Common Gull, Tymon Park, 9th February 2025 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)
The group then stopped briefly at Tymon Lane where branch member Frank Doyle enlightened us with the historical context of area. Tymon Lane sits on an Esker which is a ridge of sand and gravel deposited by a retreating glacier at the end of the last ice age. In earlier times the lane was an important route connecting Tallaght to Greenhills.
Today the lane remains as a walkway through the park which is bounded by ancient hedgerows which are protected. On the Esker once stood Tymon Castle which had probably existed since construction during the reign of King John in the 12th century until it was demolished around 1960. During the 15th century it had served as a fortification by the English occupiers to defend the edge of the Pale against the Irish clans and it had some gruesome tales associated from those times and up to the 1798 rebellion.
Buzzard, Tymon Park, 9th February 2025 (picture: Gustavo Zoladz)
A most enjoyable aspect of the morning was to have shared time with three highly enthusiastic young BirdWatch Ireland members namely Patrick Ryan, Seamus Ong, and Lucy Hood each of whom were brimming with interest and passion on all thing’s birds and nature in general. Patrick is a student at the University of Coleraine and an active member of the society and was a volunteer at last year’s Bloom exhibition in Phoenix Park and he has also undertaken bird ringing training. Seamus who had cycled through the rain from Walkinstown told us of his life-long love for wildlife.
Lucy, a music student, had travelled all the way from County Laois to be with us! She told us of how her fascination for birds grew from a book she read in early childhood and has already developed an amazing knowledge. She and a friend had also taken the initiative to start a young bird watchers’ group in her home county. It was marvellous to have had Patrick, Seamus, and Lucy with us and we all hope to see them in the future.
Some More Pictures
Some more pictures taken about Tymon Park by Des Higgins and Shane Kerr.
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After an enjoyable outing we arrived back at the Car Park to conclude the outing at around midday with Des Higgins and Gustavo Zoladz having kindly led the event.