Hawfinches Return

It was 1988/89 when I first saw Hawfinch in Ireland.  That winter Gerry Butler found a flock of 92 at the Curraghchase in Limerick. At the time I was ringing lots of birds and Tom Tarpey set up nets early one winters morn and we managed to catch a couple of these chunky finches.  I subsequently had one visit my bird table when I lived in Shannon Town two years after the mass invasion of the late 80's.  Since then birds have been found on and off at the Curraghchase with possible  breeding suspected.  This year with the masses coming through Britain and western Europe, it was only a matter of time before they showed up at the Curraghchase. I'm delighted they have done so as they really are a mighty bird.  We still only have three records for Clare, but given the numbers about this year, I'm sure one or two will pop up in gardens over the winter. Here are a few long range shots of birds in the Curraghcahse from last week.

 

Hawfinch at the Curraghchase John N Murphy

Greater White-toothed Shrew

I met up with Tom Tarpey to head down to the Curraghchase in Limerick to try and relocate the Great Spotted Woodpecker that was heard there recently.  We also searched for Hawfinch, but the woodland was fairly empty with few birds of note except some thrushes. We did see one Red Squirrel and this Greater White-toothed Shrew that was very confiding and even walked under Tom's feet at one stage.

Greater White-toothed Shrew © John N Murphy

Red Squirrel

I stopped for a few minutes this morning at the Curraghchase in Limerick on my way to work to see could I get a few shots of the Hawfinches.  One bird was present in the trees around the car park of the Curraghchase, but I was delighted to get a few snaps of the Red Squirrels that were feeding on the ground in the same area where the finches were coming down to feed.

Red Squirrels at the Curraghchase © John N Murphy

Hawfinch

I was on my way to a site in west Limerick this morning for ecology work when I got a call to say that the site was closed for the day due to adverse weather.  As I was near the Curraghchase I detoured off the main road to have a quick look for the Hawfinches.  Sure enough there were two or three birds feeding in and around the Car Park, out in snowy grass with thrushes and a few Chaffinches.  The temp was - 3℃ with frost, fog and really dull light conditions.  Below are just a few record shots of these rare birds to Ireland.

Hawfinches at the Curraghchase, Limerick © John N Murphy