UCD lake

Went for a walk at lunch and had my camera with me so ….

Lake at UCD. Mute swans make a nest on the island every year.

Black Headed Gull - you can see the black feathers coming through on it's head for summer

Mute Swan having a wash

Tufted Duck having evil thoughts

Having a scratch

Tufted Duck - it's eyes are so bright they reflect in the water

There were about 30 Mallards all lined up all preening themselves

Re-applying their water repellent oils to their feathers

I love my lunchtimes where I work. There’s a few wooded areas about 5 mins from my office, there’s this lake and a natural smaller lake in the grounds too. The grounds of UCD are actually really lovely and come summer going back to my office after lunch can feel like going back to a prison cell. Mortgage shackles.

Tree Sparrow?

Not a Tree Sparrow but a Lesser Redpoll at UCD stream! Thanks to Niall Hatch and Graham McElwaine.

Lesser Redpoll - yet another RED status species globally threatened.

There were goldfinches in the bushes, but the wings of this bird had no yellow. The top of it’s head was brown not dull red. The beak was yellow and very finch like. To me it really looked like a sparrow but the stripe over the eye  makes me doubt it’s a Tree Sparrow. It’s not a Redwing, Goldfinch, House Sparrow or Brent Goose.

I’ve looked at the RSPB bird identifyer and nothing jumps out.

*emails from both Niall Hatch and Graham McElwaine reckon it’s a Lesser Redpoll. Who am I to argue?!

The top of it’s head was deffo brown and not red though. Honest Guv.

And yes – it’s ANOTHER globally threatened species.

So the House Sparrow in my back garden, the Female Linnet I papped at Bull Island and this little Redpoll, seen today at the stream – all globally threatened species.

UCD Bullfinches

Lunchtime walk at work  – was walking along a path near some trees and heard what I thought was a little Goldcrest. Stood still and hoped no-one else would walk along and see me looking like a weirdo just standing still, looking dodge.

I looked up and saw 3 male Bullfinches chattering away and feeding in a tree. The sun was shining right down on their red breasts and with blue sky behind them it was a really cool sight. Typically I didn’t even have my phone with me to take a a pic.

I have seen a Bullfinch before down at the stream, but never 3 males together and never so close and so well.

Also saw a Greenfinch washing itself in the little stream at the back of the Library Bldg. Also saw the resident Grey Wagtail, a female Chaffinch, Robin and Blackbird.