This Winter is unseasonably mild, ideal birding weather. So myself and hubbie are venturing off with Dublin South Branch of Birdwatch Ireland (BWI) in the morning to Cabinteely Park.
The hope is that we'll spot a 'Great Spotted Woodpecker' or two. Already this year a number have been spotted so I'll let you know how we get on....
Our birding venture tomorrow has reminded me of a post (see below) I wrote (along with some info from BWI) Jan 2011 and although the woodpecker doesn't get a mention twelve months ago the bird of that month (Jan '11) was 'Redwing'
What a difference a year makes! Enjoy....
Originally posted 14th Jan 2011
Over the past couple of weeks we've spotted a number of what I had thought were baby thrushes in our back garden. We've been feeding them uncooked porridge oats, raisins and soaked bread as they appeared starving like all the unfortunate wildlife once the snows appeared. They seemed to love porridge oats but that all changed once the snow cleared and the were able to expose earthworms which is obviously their preference.
The hope is that we'll spot a 'Great Spotted Woodpecker' or two. Already this year a number have been spotted so I'll let you know how we get on....
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| Great-spotted Woodpecker in Phoenix Park (Photo by Stephen Lawlor) Jan 2011 |
Our birding venture tomorrow has reminded me of a post (see below) I wrote (along with some info from BWI) Jan 2011 and although the woodpecker doesn't get a mention twelve months ago the bird of that month (Jan '11) was 'Redwing'
What a difference a year makes! Enjoy....
Originally posted 14th Jan 2011
Over the past couple of weeks we've spotted a number of what I had thought were baby thrushes in our back garden. We've been feeding them uncooked porridge oats, raisins and soaked bread as they appeared starving like all the unfortunate wildlife once the snows appeared. They seemed to love porridge oats but that all changed once the snow cleared and the were able to expose earthworms which is obviously their preference.
As a member of BirdWatch Ireland I carried out some research on their invaluable website and discovered that an unprecedented number of phone calls and emails about these unusual "thrush-like birds" are actually Redwings and Fieldfares, members of the thrush family that visit Ireland each winter. The harsh weather seems to have driven them to seek refuge closer to our homes, and numbers appear to have been boosted dramatically by refugees from the continent.
Fond of berries, particularly those of Hawthorn, Rowan and Cotoneaster, Redwings also readily devour earthworms; flocks can frequently be seen digging for these on grassy areas. They are also very partial to apples, which make an ideal garden food for them in cold weather.
Fond of berries, particularly those of Hawthorn, Rowan and Cotoneaster, Redwings also readily devour earthworms; flocks can frequently be seen digging for these on grassy areas. They are also very partial to apples, which make an ideal garden food for them in cold weather.
A Redwing standing in a typical posture on a snowy lawn: note particularly the cream-coloured stripe above the eye and the obvious reddish colouration one the side of the body
(Photo: Dick Coombes)
(Photo: Dick Coombes)
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