Birdwatch Ireland Meath

Birdwatch Ireland Meath Lough Sheelin Walk 17.11.19 A bright November morning and a spooked Kestrel greeted the arrival of our walk on the shores of Lough Sheelin near Mount Nugent, Co Cavan. Graham and Fiona, who own a stretch of land which juts out from the eastern shore of Lough Sheelin allowed us access to this excellent venue for our birdwatching event. Along with a good showing from the Meath Branch of Birdwatch Ireland, Gerry and Sean from the Kildare branch also joined us for this outing. A passing flock of Fieldfares called above the trees and bushes as we made our way to the lake through this thick cover of native woodland. The trees don’t grow very tall in this saturated ground but do provide a dense cover or ‘home’, for the calling siskins and redpolls, as well as numerous Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Robins and various Tits. Fieldfare - pic: Dick Coombes We were struck by more unusual sounds coming from the lake, the whinnying of Little Grebes, and pig-lik

Murmuration in Nobber, Co Meath 2019. Photo by Peter Wilson I sensed something was different the minute I arrived. The turnout for this event was bigger than I had anticipated. Cars were prowling around the area looking for parking space. Every possible spot to park, already taken. Maybe there was a Gaelic football match on, I thought. The local GAA pitch was close to where we would be birdwatching. This was however a unique occasion and in retrospect, no football match could ever compete with it. As I got out of my car, I saw people walk in the direction of what, I assumed, would be the viewing point for this exiting spectacle and followed their lead. Whoever had organised this event had not considered such things. But there was no one to point the finger of blame on this occasion. No organiser to speak to and request that they at least consider such basics when planning future events. A side lane along a large field, with some mature conifer trees, would be the location