2012 off to flying start for wildlife
More photos:
2011 ENDED with a spate of great wildlife activity from Desert Wheatears to Ospreys and the return of the Bottlenose Dolphins. Well 2012 has picked up exactly where 2011 left off. Scores of wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers were to be seen over the last two weeks in Kilcoole and Greystones scouring the skies with their binoculars, telescopes and cameras. The big attraction this time was a juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard, a rare winter visitor to Ireland from continental Europe. This very handsome raptor is usually found in Scandinavia and Central Europe.
On Sunday last, a Glossy Ibis turned up at Broadlough. This exotic looking bird normally winters in Africa but for some reason a few of them have been turning up in Ireland this winter with sightings of up to 17 individuals from Cork, Wexford, Waterford, mayo and now Wicklow. This bird looks like something that you would see in Dublin zoo!
While not as exotic or handsome as the two birds above, two Bean Geese are to currently be seen at Kilcoole. While we get lots of over-wintering geese of various species in Ireland, we do not see very many Bean geese.
There are also plenty of other noteworthy birds around at the moment. An Iceland Gull and Ring-billed Gull can be seen in Bray Harbour at the moment. The Iceland Gull despite its name actually comes from Greenland and the Ring-billed Gull is a vagrant from North America. In Greystones - there is a group of 11 Snow Buntings hanging around the new harbour at the moment and a Black Redstart continues to make the cove behind the old La Touche hotel its winter residence.
So with the weather so mild at the moment, grab a pair of binoculars and get out there to see some of our foreign visitors!
- JUSTIN IVORY
