What a glorious spell of weather we are having. Thankfully it is that time of the year again and the birds are busy singing, and settling into nests.
This year it happens to be the last year of the enormous Bird Atlas project between the RSPB in the UK and Birdwatch Ireland here. It is a four year project attempting to record the distribution of every species of bird in these islands. Volunteers have been busy scouring the countryside, but there are still plenty of gaps in the data. This is the last chance to close the gaps: perhaps you can help.
For the 10km square that Clane is in, the following species have been recorded as probably breeding, but their breeding has not been confirmed. Almost everyone recognises the magpie…is it possible there are no magpie nests around Clane, Prosperous or Naas?
- Teal
- Tufted Duck
- Pheasant
- Grey Heron
- Buzzard
- Water Rail
- Coot
- Lapwing
- Snipe
- Curlew
- Common Sandpiper
- Cuckoo
- Long-eared Owl
- Skylark
- Pied Wagtail (yarrellii)
- Whinchat
- Grasshopper Warbler
- Sedge Warbler
- Jay
- Magpie
- Greenfinch
- Redpoll (Common/Lesser)
- Bullfinch
- Cormorant
- Peregroine
- Black-headed Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Raven
- Carrion/Hooded Crow Hybrid
- Common Crossbill
If you have seen any of these species breeding around Clane – either an occupied nest, or young being fed by adults – your sighting could be valuable.
Please send an email with details to wildaboutclane@gmail.com and we will follow up with you. Alternatively feel free to log your record yourself on http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdatlas.
If you know about a nest but are not 100% sure about the species, no problem. Contact wildaboutclane@gmail.com and if possible we will call out and let you know what it is (without disturbing the nest).