All about Sunflowers
All about Sunflowers Sunflower seeds come from the familiar flowering seed heads of sunflower plants, with the seed developing as the flower dies off at the end of the summer. To grow on a [...]
The Wicklow Swift project
WICKLOW SWIFT PROJECT FOR HERITAGE WEEK The Wicklow Swift project is playing its part in protecting the swift population in Ireland which is under serious threat due to the loss of [...]
Swifts go to Gaol.
Interview By David Medcalf, Wicklow People, 18th June 2020. They are really remarkable little creatures. Small enough to fit through a hole the size of crème egg, swifts unravel their wings [...]
Gardening for Biodiversity: Create a Wildlife Haven
New guide shows how to look after wildlife in your garden Gardening for Biodiversity is a new 40 page booklet to assist everyone to help wildlife in their gardens, no matter how [...]
August 2020, Contactless, Door to door delivery update:
August 2020, Contactless, Door to door delivery update: We have daily pick up of parcels, contactless from our warehouse. Pick up by couriers is daily, Monday to Thursday. Expect a 3 working [...]
October Rowan Fest
In early autumn, from late July onwards, Blackbirds take to the shrubs and bushes, often appearing clumsy on outer branches, laden with fruit. They are attracted to the procession of ripening berries [...]
Ashford Honey Festival, enjoying the buzz.
The third Ashford Honey Festival took place on Saturday, 21st September in the Seamus Heaney Community Centre, Ashford, Co Wicklow. www.wicklowbees.com Eanna Ní Lamhna enjoys the festival with the Irish Garden Birds [...]
Birds on a Wire
Two Juvenile Swallows (c. Oran O'Sullivan) After a reasonable summer, the telegraph wires are beginning to fill up with chattering Swallows and Martins: I certainly get the impression that the move south [...]
House Martins, master builders?
House Martins gather up mud (c.Oran O'Sullivan) Summer showers, heavy but not too prolonged, are ideal weather conditions in an otherwise dry, hot summer for two of our summer visitors. Swallow and [...]
Swifts return
Perhaps the most iconic and intriguing of our urban bird species, Swifts are a small migratory bird that visit Ireland each year to nest. They travel from southern Africa where they have [...]
Knocking on Wood
Knocking on Wood: a Great Spotted Woodpecker (c. OOS) That precious extra hour or so of winter ending daylight is really noticable now, especially when the weather is dry and bright. Though [...]
Starling Murmurations
Coilin Mac Lochlainn reports on the winter phenomenon that is a Starling Murmuration I went to Nobber, Co Meath, on February 6th 2019 to view a starling murmuration and to try to [...]
How to bird watch in the garden in winter
Even a small suburban garden can host 25-30 species of birds in winter Irish Times, Sat, Oct 14, 2017 Fionnuala Fallon ‘Long-tailed tits feeding from a bird feeder in an Irish garden. [...]
Waxwing: nomad from the North
Waxwings: nomads from the north.Though we continue to enjoy a relatively mild winter here in Ireland, central and northern Europe are contending with much harsher winter conditions. With a bare landscape and [...]
Nest boxes
There is never a bad time to put up nest boxes. Bear in mind that their design and in particular the dimensions of the opening provided is very important as regards the particular species [...]
Garden Bird Survey, 30 years of monitoring and growing.
A Dunnock scavenges under the feeders. (c. Oran O'Sullivan) The results of last winters Garden Bird Survey are now available. They make very interesting reading, given the sharp weather experienced [...]
Goldcrest: the featherweight champion
Goldcrest. (c. R Coombes) Gram for gram, Goldcrest is the featherweight champion of our garden birds. One of the most diminutive visitors to the garden weighing in at only 6 [...]
Cache, Carry, Shop and Save
Cache and Carry Goldfinches, usually come in two's, and spread the word when Nyjer seed is on offer. (Oran O'Sullivan) Shorter days and longer, cool nights are the catalyst for [...]
Sparrows round the house
The male House Sparrow is a smart combination of grey, chestnut and black. (c. Oran O'Sullivan) Sparrows, like Robins, give us a sense of companionship around the garden. During the [...]
Swallows on a Wire
Swallows gather (c. R. Coombes) After a summer of prolonged dry hot spells, the telegraph wires are laden with chattering hirundines: Swallows and House Martins enjoying the last days of [...]
Song Thrushes deal with Drought.
Dealing with drought is a now familiar task for gardeners, especially here in the east of the country. The lawn looks like Wimbledon after two weeks pounding on the courts: brown and [...]
Dusk calls for Long Eared Owls
Young Long Eared Owl (c. Aidan G Kelly) One of the highlights of high summer ( and there are many), is the dusk calls of young Long Eared Owls. The [...]
First time to the Feeders
3 Juvenile Blue Tits hang out beside the Nut feeder (c. Oran O'Sullivan) A number of people have remarked that the garden is alive again with young birds, fresh out [...]
Summer sun worship
It's not unusual for folk to indulge themselves and relax in a sunny place to soak up the suns rays, at this time of the year, having first applied protective sun screen, [...]