Hovering Kestrel

Birds of prey are always a fantastic sight to get to see. These birds are truly amazing, as they can hover for long periods and make it look so effortless. It is understood that they can see in ultraviolet light which is a real advantage when hunting for rodents, as rodents urine glow when viewed in ultraviolet. The wonders of natural selection.

Fallow Deer

Blanket bog on the way to the Ashton bird hide

The Little Brosna Callows bird hide

The glare from the sun is a problem when trying to identify species, ice on the water too is an added challenge

Mixed flock

Ashton Callows

Water levels slightly lower when compared to Sunday December 5 post (view from Ashton Callows bird hide)

The Little Brosna Callows

We returned again to the Little Brosna Callows on the 19/Jan/2011, grid reference M970115. The water levels were slightly lower than our previous visit and surprisingly bird numbers were low too. This may be due to the extreme low tempertures over Ireland through the months of November and December. It was suggested from a member of Birdwatch Ireland who was on site the day we visited that perhaps the migrating birds had continued further south to Spain and Portugal. When all winter data is collected we will get a better understanding of this theory.

Wren claw anatomy

A bird such as the Wren is in the Order of a Passeriformes meaning perching birds. When its knees become bent the weight of the bird locks the Hallux (on left) around a branch holding it in place. The Tarsometatarsus is the bone leading down to the Hallux where it is joined with the three forward facing Phalanx.