Getting Started

Pied Flycatcher by Paul Walsh

One of the foremost attributes of nature is its effortless accessibility. Nature is all around us and easily experienced. However the experience and enjoyment can be simply enhanced and remember, nature is free to all.

OPTICS

Fin Whale by Andrew Malcolm

As most animals are wary and tend to keep their distance, a pair of binoculars is almost essential in the field to fully appreciate observations. Binoculars vary in quality, optical choice and price so some research is essential prior to acquisition. For more distant observations, such as whale watching or assessing distant seabirds or waders, a telescope is essential. Again, the choice of telescopes is wide but good quality scopes, although expensive, deliver fantastic results. Astronomical telescopes are not usually suitable for nature watching. A note of warning, given our climate, it is essential that all optical equipment is fully waterproof. The pros and cons of optics can be easily researched on the Internet.

Smooth or Common Newt by Liam Cahill

FIELD GUIDES

For the beginner, the variety of animals likely to be encountered in the field can be bewildering so a good field guide is essential. Field guides have improved dramatically in recent times and are a fantastic resource to help identify various species and to understand their habitats, ecology and distribution.

 

Yellowhammer by Daniel Weldon

Recommended field guides to birds include ‘The Complete Field Guide To Ireland’s Birds’ by Eric Dempsey and Michael O’Clery. For a more European perspective ‘Collins Bird Guide’ by Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom is superb. ‘Exploring Irish Mammals’ by Tom Hayden, Rory Harrington and Billy Clarke is an excellent introduction to Ireland’s mammals. Dealing exclusively with Ireland’s cetaceans ‘A Guide To The Identification Of The Whales And Dolphins Of Ireland’ by Jim Wilson with Simon Berrow is first-rate. ‘The Natural History Of Ireland’s Dragonflies’ by Brian Nelson and Robert Thompson is essential for anybody interested in Irish dragonflies. For those with an interest in Irish butterflies the recently published ‘Ireland’s Butterflies A Review’ by David Nash, Trevor Boyd and Deirdre Hardiman is the definitive publication. ‘A Guide To The Butterflies Of Ireland’ available from The Dublin Naturalist’s Field Club, 35 Nutley Park, Dublin 4 is an excellent field guide to Ireland’s butterflies, illustrating all regularly occurring species.

INTERNET

The ultimate nature research vehicle available at present is undoubtedly the Internet. The information therein is limitless. By merely typing the name of a species into a search engine, instant access is available to every known species, covering identification, vocalisations, habitats, ecology, range and much more. Below are some websites of local and national interest:

www.waterfordbirds.com

www.iwdg.ie (Irish whale and dolphin group)

www.butterflyireland.com

www.biodiversityireland.ie

www.mammals-in-ireland.ie

Beware however, the Internet can be addictive, do not become a virtual nature observer.

APPS

For those with suitable phones, the app store is well worth a visit. Essentially all the information available in field guides (including vocalisations) can be downloaded onto your phone for reference and use in the field – which beats carrying all those books around. Although relatively new, apps look like the way forward.

MISCELLANEOUS

Beautiful Jewelwing Demoiselle by John Joe Cahill

Photography certainly enhances the enjoyment of nature. However, this is a specialised interest, which we will visit at a later date.

Finally, if possible, link up with an experienced observer for your first few field trips. They should be of immense help to the inexperienced person given their acquired knowledge and field craft.

RECENT SIGHTINGS AND NEWS

A spotted sandpiper (American wader) was identified and photographed at Ballinclamper on 05/08 by local birder Pat Veale. Sadly it moved on the same day. Yet another American wader, a white-rumped sandpiper, was located on the Cunnigar by visiting birder Michael O’Keeffe on 04/08 where it lingered for a day or two. A large passage of over 200 Cory’s shearwaters was noted at Helvick and Ram Head by several local birders on 02/08. A leatherback turtle (a trans Atlantic vagrant) was observed swimming past Bunmahon by Daniel Weldon on 16/08. Leatherbacks are the largest turtle on Earth and can reach 2 metres (7 feet) in length and weigh up to 900 kilograms (2000 lbs). 

Pygmy Shrew by Liam Cahill

Finally, Andrew Malcolm took the attached photograph of a fin whale off the Waterford coast. This is the same species as the unfortunate whale that died off Baltimore Co. Cork last week. Fin whales can reach a length of 27 metres (89 feet) and a weight of 109 tons and are the second largest animal that has ever existed exceeded only by the blue whale. Fin whales are regularly seen off the Waterford coast.

Check out www.waterfordbirds.com for local wildlife updates. If you have any questions or comments, please email them to japwatntr@gmail.com

OWLS, NIGHTJARS AND A SPLASH OF THE EXOTIC

Sketch of Nightjar by Killian Mullarney

Owls have always held a fascination for people and six species of owl have been recorded in Ireland, of which four have occurred herein Waterford.

Two species of owl are breeding and resident in Waterford –the barn owl and the long-eared owl – whilst the short-eared owl is a regular but scarce winter visitor.

The most widespread owl in the county is the Long-eared. The name (as with short-eared) is derived from the ear tufts visible on the bird while resting – the tufts are feathers covering the ears rather than the ears themselves. Long-eared owls being nocturnal and crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) are difficult to see. However if their daytime roost is discovered they often allow a close approach.

Barn Owl by Colm Flynn

The Barn Owl is the ‘white’ owl familiar to everybody –particularly as it appears with the introductory theme of the ‘Late Late Show’.Barn owls are widespread but in small numbers throughout the county. They are declining over much of their previous range. Barn owls are mainly nocturnal often being glimpsed in the headlights of cars as they glide silently past.Sometimes they oblige by perching in the open. Daytime roosts and nests are usually in old abandoned buildings, outhouses and barns. The call is an eerie drawn out shriek not very bird like but easily identifiable. Their call may Bethe origin of the Banshee myth.

Short Earred Owl by Andrew Malcolm

The Short-Ear Owl is a winter visitor to Waterford and is partially diurnal, so can be seen by day as it hunts. It is most often encountered at coastal locations over rough terrain, fields and marshland.During the past winter a short-eared owl was regularly seen at Ram Head.

Scops Owl is a small summer visitor to Southern Europe with just a handful of Irish records. It is strictly nocturnal, very difficult to see but detectable by its song – a constantly repeated deep whistle. A ScopsOwl was found freshly dead on Brownstown Head in April 1998, so there is a possibility of other undetected occurrences.

The Snowy Owl is a large white owl most associated with the artic tundra. However it is now an almost annual visitor to Ireland’s west coast and there may be one or two resident individuals. Waterford is probably too far south of its normal range.

The Little Owl is another partly diurnal owl resident overmuch of Europe and Southern Britain, where it was introduced in the nineteenth century. It is now widespread in England and Wales so it may be a potential visitor to Waterford at some future date. There are just four records to date in Ireland, the last being in December 1981.

The owl with the most familiar call ‘hoo hoo hoo hooooo’,well known to Hammer Horror film buffs, is the tawny owl. This species has never been officially recorded in Ireland despite being widespread throughout Britain and Europe.

Nightjar sitting by Killian Mullarney

Although not an owl, the Nightjar is a bird most associated with darkness. Nightjars are both nocturnal and crepuscular when they can be seen displaying and feeding on insects such as moths. The song of the Night jar is a continuous churring reel, sustained for hours on end. The flight call is a repeated koo-ik and it also has a loud wing clap during display flights. An old name for nightjars was goatsucker. This derived from the notion that they suckled milk from goats but were likely chasing insects. Nightjars roost by day lying motionless when their intricately camouflaged plumage makes them virtually impossible to detect. Nightjars are a summer visitor to this country and in past years could be seen at Crocaun and The Vee. Sadly there have been no recent sightings in Waterford but perhaps they are being overlooked in the extensive forestry where they were last encountered.

Bee-eater by Andrew Malcolm

In May 2011 Andrew Malcolm and Ann Trimble found a Bee-eater at Ardmore. This beautifully plumaged exotic bird is a summer visitor to Southern Europe and as its name suggests eats bees. Bee-eater plumage is multi-coloured with blue, yellow, white, brownish-red and green hues. It is a very rare visitor to Ireland of less than annual occurrence. Remarkably Andrew and Ann found another (or the same) bee-eater again at Ardmore in May of this year. Another recent visitor to Dungarvan was a gull-billed tern found by local birder Micheál Cowming  - a first county record. Unfortunately it lingered for just a few hours before departing. 

Rosy Starling by Una Power/Bernadette Sheridan

On Thursday the 19th of July Ann Daines discovered a Rose-coloured Starling in her garden at Seapark, Abbeyside. This was the second county record of this beautiful pink and black bird. The normal range of this starling is eastwards of Turkey but it is now happily ensconced in Ann’s garden, feeding on fat balls.

Rosy Starling by Daniel Weldon

Check out www.waterfordbirds.com for local wildlife updates. If you have any questions or comments, please email them to japwatntr@gmail.com

Butterflies

Green Hairstreak by Andrew Malcolm

The life of a butterfly constitutes four main phases. It begins as an egg; the egg then develops in to larva or caterpillar. At this stage most feeding and growth are undertaken. When fully grown the larva becomes a chrysalis or pupa. Although the pupa appears inactive, great change is occurring within and the metamorphosis into butterfly or imago is completed. The adult form of the butterfly is the colourful, beautiful flying insect with which we are most familiar.

Butterflies, along with moths, are part of the order Lepidoptera. This reflects the fact that their wings are covered in scales. A readily distinguishing feature from moths is their clubbed antennae, which moths don’t have. Moreover butterflies are a day flying or diurnal contrasting with moths, which are usually, though not exclusively, nocturnal. As butterflies are sun loving they occur in summer and autumn, and rarely in winter!

There are 33 regularly occurring species of butterfly in Ireland and a small number of vagrants. Regularly occurring species in Waterford amount to twenty-five, with a few unusual vagrants.

Of the White and Yellows, all occur in Waterford, with the exception of Brimstone. Clouded Yellow is a migrant occurring in large numbers in some years and is extremely rare or absent in other years. Wood Whites, a small delicate white, occur widely in Waterford.

Irish Browns are well represented, with the notable exception in Waterford of the Large Heath. All of the others are present. Wall Brown (declining in Ireland) can be seen along rocky/rough areas of the coast. They are easily seen at Ballymacart at present. Grayling and Gatekeeper can be seen later in the summer near Dunhill and at Ballyscanlan.

Marsh Fritillary by John Joe Cahill

Among Irish Vanessids and Fritillaries, Pearl-bordered Fritillary does not occur in Waterford. Red Admiral and Painted Lady are migrants and can occur in large numbers. Comma has only recently become established in Ireland, particularly in Wexford and now recorded in very small numbers in Waterford City and its environs. Queen of Spain Fritillary, not reliably recorded in Ireland since 1960, was sighted a Carrickavrantry, Co. Waterford by Tony Byrant in October 2011. Marsh Fritillary has not been recorded in Waterford in recent years. However, last June, a freshly dead specimen was recovered from the grill of a car at Ballinamult, so they may occur. As the name suggests, they are sighted exclusively on bogs/marshes and their flight period is late May to early June. Information on any occurrences would be greatly appreciated.

Green Hairstreaks Mating by Francis O'Connell

Of the Irish Hairstreaks, Coppers and Blues, Brown Hairstreaks do not occur in Waterford and Small Blues very sparingly (any records very welcome). Green Hairstreaks are presently on the wing and can be seen at Coumaraglin in the Monavullagh Mountains and on the approaches to the Vee. Purple Hairstreaks, an oak tree specialist, can be seen on Oaks in the late summer. They are probably widespread in suitable habitat, which is almost exclusively high in the canopy of Oak Trees – careful scrutiny should be rewarded.

Two Skipper species occur in Ireland. Dingy Skipper does not occur in Waterford. Essex Skipper has recently colonised Ireland and is now well established in Wexford, so is a potential vagrant/colonist in Waterford.

Monarch, a large American vagrant, occurs in Ireland in small numbers in autumn and has been recorded in Waterford.

A Guide to the Butterflies of Ireland, an excellent publication, designed to aid identification in the field, is available from the Dublin Naturalist’s Field Club, 35 Nutley Park, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. As well as illustrating all regularly occurring butterflies in Ireland, it also gives “Time Of Flight Charts” for each species.

Check out www.butterflyireland.com for national records (and submissions) and www.waterfordbirds.com for local occurrences. See also www.butterflies.biodiversityireland.ie for details of the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.

If you have any questions or comments, please email them to japwatntr@gmail.com

Great Move North

April and May witness a mass movement of birds north into Europe and North America, and Ireland fully participates in this natural phenomenon.  This migration is largely made up of two elements – the departure of winter visitors to more northerly climes and the arrival of summer visitors from more southerly regions.  Thus thrushes, such as redwing and fieldfare, which were so common throughout the winter have now all but departed.  The throngs of waders (or shorebirds in American parlance) have now mostly left for their breeding grounds to the north.  Ducks and geese will move quickly north as daylight hours increase and breeding grounds lose their snow and ice cover.

Adult Purple Heron by Colm Flynn

At the same time, vast numbers of passerines (small perching birds) move into Ireland to take advantage of longer daylight hours and hugely increased food resources in order to hatch and rear their young.  These are mainly insectivores, which feed on the swarms of flies, midges and other insects that populate Ireland in the warmer months. Whitethroats, chiffchaffs and blackcaps are representative of the warbler family while swallows, martins and swifts occupy the skies. More exotic species such as the cuckoo, flycatchers and wheatears are also seen and the rare crepuscular nightjar may be encountered.

With the warming seas small fish become abundant inshore and this attracts terns such as arctic and sandwich; auks represented by guillemots, razorbills and puffins; gannets and the small but extremely resilient storm petrel.  Ireland is also used as a transit point and feeding station for birds moving further north such as whimbrel, Greenland wheatears and maybe even an osprey or two.

Migration northwards largely stops in late May as the migrants raise their young.  From late August onwards, with the shortening days and dwindling food supplies, the whole process reverses and our summer visitors, augmented by their offspring, head south once more to Africa for the winter.  As the arctic regions become snow-bound thrushes, waders, ducks and geese move back to into Ireland to take advantage of our mainly ice-free conditions and available food supplies.

Migration is not confined to birds as insects and sea mammals also migrate and we will revisit this at a later time.

Over the next few weeks look out for swallows, terns, auks and warblers as well as butterflies such as orange tips, holly blues and green hairstreaks.

At the time of writing a purple heron, an extremely rare visitor to Ireland, has taken up residence at Seafield, Bunmahon. Congratulations to local birder Daniel Wheldon on this excellent find.

Check out www.waterfordbirds.com for local wildlife updates. If you have any questions or comments, please email them to japwatntr@gmail.com