Hawfinch flurrys

I had a 1:30 drop off in Limerick City and was free till 4pm , so I took my son into Curragh chase Forest park to see Hawfinch.

We seen a few single Hawfinch roaming high in the Tree tops, while in the carpark play ground a flock of 18 birds passed over into the Trees near the Top playground.

A flurry of 5+ also passed through  the top playground as well as more singles.

Many birds left flying towards and passed the House due to disturbance in the top playground

Back into the Forest for Hawfinch

I arrived at Curragh Chase forest park before light.

-1` it was a fresh walk in, the light breaking through the trees, the morning forest noises, a Buzzard,the occasional down pour 

8:30 am 9 Hawfinch arrived high in trees near the park, flighty, they`ll come and go all morning not settling, staying high in the branches ,warming in the sunlight

A few Brambling were among the Chaffinch flock around the bottom playground

The usual Jays were squarking in the leaf litter

Hawfinch

brambling

Jay

Jays and Squirrels Cache at Curraghchase

I was in Limerick yesterday morning with my children and we found time during the day to go out to Curragh chase forest park as we do most years.

It was a busy day with family groups all over the woodland,and machinery with workers cutting

I did manage 10 minutes with a few Jays that were caching the abundant amount of seeds that is on offer,

 and as always a great place to see Red Squirrel 

Lets see what comes to feed on all this seed as it gets colder and quieter

Three Hawfinch

For several weeks now birders have had some excellent views and photos Hawfinchs on the ground feeding in the Curragh Chase.
Today I headed on down to the forest park, hoping to get better views than I got of these birds a few years back, sure enough 3 birds were feeding on the ground close to the playground.
Hard to approach ,the birds flit into the trees at any sign of disturbance and vanish . Staying still in cover ,Patience and Luck of where the birds may come down next is your only chance of a photo...
..Sometimes you make your own luck!
Sortly after a Kestrel came through the park and the Hawfinchs vanished for the morning.

Curragh Chase forest park

Curragh chase holds a nice tranquil park setting in the middle of a forest  of County Limerick.
Here at this time of the year the wildlife feeds in the leaf litter, Blackbirds and Song Thrush, listen and turn for worms. Chaffinchs and a handful of Hawfinch seek out seeds, The Squark of Jays, as for Red Squirrells, I dont know if there is a better place to see so many at close quarters..

Hawfinch in the treetops

Hawfinch move quickly through the Hornbeam treetops , are very rare sight in Ireland.
a count of six in a single flock , impossible to follow in the woodland , seen only from a distance