Wexford Natural History Diary September 2009

St.Munn's Walkway sign

 Items to Note: ART EXHIBITION: A Dave Daly Art Exhibition is being held from Sunday 18^th to Monday 26^th October 2009 - 10am to 5pm –at The Pumphouse, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Wexford. Title is: 'Nature Through Drawing and Painting'. Definitely a DATE for the DIARY – don't miss this internationally renowned artist's work – if you have not seen his works before, beware, you will be captivated…..

Araneus diadematus

GOOSE FESTIVAL: Celebrating the return of Wexford's Greenland White-fronted Geese. Bank-Holiday - Monday 26^th October 2009 at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Wexford - there are three events: 11am – Wildfowl and Wader Watch; 1pm – A Creepy Crawley Bug Hunt; 3pm – Children's Face Painting & Crafts. For more details contact Deirdre Toomey at the Wildfowl Reserve on 053-9123129.

Frosted Orange

ADVANCE WARNING: All-Ireland Mammal Symposium. 6^th to 8^th November 2009 being held at Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford and the National Biodiversity Data Centre, Waterford. To book contact: Dr. Ruth Carden, AIMS 2009, National Museum of Ireland, Natural History Division, Merrion Street, Dublin 2.  Web site: www.allirelandmammalsymposium.org/

Lawyer's Wig

WILDLIFE RECORDS: Many thanks for all of you who have passed on those wildlife sightings. Again we appeal that you continue submit those wildlife sightings of interest - This months wildlife summary are your records. They have either been communicated to Wexford Wildfowl Reserve on 053-9123129 or received 'On Line' on www.wexfordnaturalists.com. Records can also be sent to our Records Officer: Simon Collins, Records Officer W.N.F.C., c/o Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Wexford. So please keep them coming as they are all collated and are used to enhance our knowledge of our County's biodiversity.

General News and Views: SEPTEMBER RAINFALL: What a lovely month weather-wise. Our rainfall total (recorded on the North Slob) was 48.2mm (1.9 inches) which has been of considerable relief to many. How does it compare with September rainfall over the past few years? Well in 2008 it was 105.1mm, 2007 it was 45.9mm, 2006 it was 118.5mm, 2005 it was 73.6mm, 2004 it was 82.7mm and in 2003 it was 54.7mm. So the second driest in the past seven years – and we certainly needed that dry spell for all our sanities ……………

ST. MUNN'S WAY NATURE WALK: Have you found the St. Munn's loop nature walk? Situated just outside Taghmon the local action group together with the assistance of FAS have created a lovely nature walk that meanders along beside the Coragh River. Why not go out and find this 'haven of peace and tranquillity' and enjoy the natural fauna and flora. There is a sign in place in the car-park giving the general directions and a little bit about what you might expect to see. Remember, children should be accompanied by an adult at all times. How did the area get its name? It is reputed that St Munn visited the area – You will find both St. Munn's Well and St. Munn's Bed which is where the saint is said to have slept and drank when taking a respite from his famous monastery and academy in Taghmon. Apparently if a person with an aching back lies on St. Munn's bed, on three visits, the pain will go away.

ADDITIONAL WILDLIFE WINTER TIPS: Last month's Wexford's Natural History Diary contained an article titled 'FEEDING WILD BIRDS' in which we gave practical tips about feeding wild birds for the coming winter – some additional ideas (from 'Feed the Birds Day' events for 2009 (http://www.rspb.org.uk/feedthebirds/):  1. Plant native plants – blackthorn, hawthorn, ivy, honeysuckle and cotoneaster that can provide berries in the winter for adult birds, and has the advantage of also providing insects for young birds in the spring. 2. Make a log pile – an ideal place for frogs, newts, lizards, insects, fungi, mosses and lichens. 3. Provide an insect box – insects and bees can spend the winter in these. 4. Install nesting boxes for birds – these can be used for winter roosting of birds such as Wrens and House Sparrows (and they are ready for the spring). 5. Install winter hibernation boxes for hedgehogs (Hedgehogs are excellent Slug catchers).
5. Install Bat Boxes both for roosting and shelter.

MONARCH MIGRATION: Did you see the report in the Irish Independent in the spring? Conservationists in Taiwan caused the traffic to slow up and even to come to a complete standstill to allow butterflies on migration to cross the road. Apparently thousands of Monarch butterflies were on the move northwards to breed. The Taiwan National Freeway Bureau even imposed a driving speed limit of 60km an hour and proposed to block certain sections of the road whenever butterflies exceeded 500 per minute. Would our National Roads Authority do that? I somehow doubt it – would take toooooo long to make a decision….

SEAS OF FLOATING PLASTIC: Scientists have identified a new source of chemical pollution released by the huge amounts of plastic rubbish found floating in the oceans of the world. A study has found that as plastics break down in the sea they release potentially toxic substances not found in nature, these could affect the growth and development of marine organisms. Many of these chemicals are also believed to be toxic to humans and animals. The scale of plastic pollution in the sea has only recently been widely recognised when sailing yachts reported vast areas of ocean (one area estimated to be twice the size of Texas in the North Pacific) which seems to be permanently covered in a layer of floating marine litter caught up in swirling ocean currents. It is estimated that there could be hundreds of millions of tons of plastic rubbish floating in the world's oceans. In Japan alone, it is calculated that 150,000 tons of plastic is washed up on its shores every year.  For the full report log onto: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-uncover-new-ocean-threat-from-plastics-1774337.html

ANOTHER SIGN OF A WARMING PLANET: In the autumn of 2007 tens of thousands of small arctic geese called Pacific Brant (The American Brent Goose) decided not to go south for the winter. Usually these particular birds spend the cold months munching their favourite eel grass in the waters off Mexico's Baja peninsula. However with changes in our Earth's climate windswept lagoons of western Alaska are looking more appealing. David Ward, a US Scientist, has been studying Brant behaviour for nearly three decades. When he began back in the 1970s, around 4000 birds wintered along a 25 mile long stretch of protected water on the Alaska Peninsula. Two autumns ago, the number had climbed to 40,000 which is almost 30 percent of the total population. Changing winds have accompanied warmer weather, which means less ice covering eel-grass rich waters. It's a buffet for the Brant, which can feast through the winter without having to make the arduous journey several thousand miles south and back. The advantages? Come spring they are the first birds back to the breeding grounds, and often the most successful at raising their young. For further details see: http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/brant-geese.html#cr.

NEWS OF A BRENT GOOSE RINGED ON NORTH SLOB: A pale-bellied Brent Goose ringed on the North Slob in February has just been seen at Aberystwyth's Castle Point, Wales on 11th September. A really useful record as Pale-bellied Brent almost exclusively winter in Ireland with just a few records in Wales. This particular bird – T (on a white ring, right leg) 4 (on a blue ring, left leg) had been recorded in Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland just two days before. Will 'T4' be back on the North Slob soon? If you see rings on any birds can you please inform The Warden at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve on 053-9123129. Thank You.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET OFFICIALLY A PEST IN THE UK: There are occasional records of Ring-necked Parakeet noted in the County – could they possibly be birds that are getting to our shores from the UK? Well as of today 30^th September 2009 and forty years after it first bred on the outskirts of London this bird species is officially a UK pest. (http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/britains-naturalised-parrot-now-officially-a-pest-1795555.html)

And so to the known wildlife highlights of the month:

BIRDS: There were 2 Cory's Shearwater seen at Rosslare on 16th.  There were 46 Little Egret at Rosslare Back Strand on 19th. 12 Glossy Ibis at Killag on 1st with 8 noted at Tacumshin Lake on 5th and 5 at Killag on 11th, 12th and 13th. There were 4 Glossy Ibis at Tacumshin on 15th reducing to 1 on 18th to the end of the month.  A Glossy Ibis was at Ring Marsh on 19th. 25 Brent Geese in Wexford Harbour from 16th. The first 5 Greenland White-fronted Geese were noted back on the North Slob on 19th (that is an early date). 98 Greylag Geese were seen at Tacumshin Lake on 23rd. Up to 8 Pintail seen on North Slob Channel on 23rd. 1 Garganey at Tacumshin on 5th with 2 present on 19th and 20th and 3 present on 27th.   21 Red-breasted Merganser noted in Wexford Harbour on 27th.  A Ruddy Duck was noted at Our Lady's Island Lake on 26th. A Water Rail was noted at Tacumshin Lake on 26th with 3 present on 27th.  There were 2 Buzzards at Tacumshin Lake on 10th increasing to 3 on 19th and 8 on 27th and 1 on 29th. There was a single at Churchtown on 10th and 1 at Carne on 15th. 1 was noted flying over North Slob 19th and 1 was seen at Gorey on 20th with 2 at that location on 24th, 1 on 26th and 1 on 29th.  1 was at Duncannon on 27th. There were 6 Buzzard present on South Slob on 29th. An Osprey was seen at Tacumshin Lake on 13th and 14th. A Peregrine was noted at Tacumshin Lake on 5th, 20th and 27th; 1 was noted at Rosslare Back Strand on 22nd. A Hobby was seen catching Dragonflies at Raven Nature Reserve on 2nd. A Merlin was at Tacumshin Lake on 20th with 2 present on 27th.  A Marsh Harrier was present through much of the month at Tacumshin Lake with 2 on 5th, 10th, 20th and 29th. 1 was at Broadway on 6th.  A Hen Harrier was noted at Hook Head on 8th with a male noted at Woodgraigue on 10th and 1 was at Fethard-on-Sea on 16th and again on 30th. A Hen Harrier was present at Tacumshin from 19th with 2 present on 26th and 3 on 27th. A Hen Harrier was also on the North Slob from 27th. A male Hen Harrier was noted on South Slob on 29th. A Spotted Redshank was at Tacumshin Lake on 26th. A Dotterel was at Tacumshin Lake on 13th and 18th. There was an American Golden Plover at Rosslare Back Strand on 26th. There were 3 Ruff at Tacumshin Lake on 10th and 2 there on 13th and 20th. A single Ruff was at Tacumshin Lake on 23rd and 26th with 3 present on 27th. There was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Tacumshin Lake on 10th increasing to 3 on 12th, 5 on 13th and 6 on 18th to 20th with 3 present on 23rd and 1 there on 26th. 1 Pectoral Sandpiper at Tacumshin Lake on 5th increasing to 3 on 12th, 5 on 13th, 6 on 19th and reducing to 5 on 20th and 3 on 26th. There was a White-rumped Sandpiper at Tacumshin Lake on 19th to 23rd.  A Spotted Sandpiper was at Nethertown from 5th to 7th. There were 3 Green Sandpipers at Tacumshin Lake on 13th. There were 3 Curlew Sandpipers at Nethertown on 6th and 3 also at Tacumshin Lake on 13th increasing to 11 from 19th to at least 23rd and 4 present at that location on 26th. A single Curlew Sandpiper was noted at Bannow Bay on 19th. There were 2 Little Stint at Tacumshin Lake on 13th and 14th with 3 present on 19th, 1 present on 20th, 6 present on 23rd and 5 on 26th and 27th.  There were at least 500 Oystercatchers noted Rosslare back Strand on 28th. 340 Kittiwakes noted at Rosslare Harbour on 26th. 1 Mediterranean Gull at Tacumshin Lake on 5th and 1 at The Cull same date. 1 was also noted at carne on 19th.  There were 100 Sandwich Tern at Fethard-on-Sea on 12th. A Black Tern was at Tacumshin Lake on 20th. 2 Great Skua noted on Irish Sea on 26th. A Kingfisher was at Tacumshin Lake on 27th. There was 1 overland on North Slob on 6th with another seen on 20th. A Common Swift was seen at Tacumshin Lake on 20th. Skylarks were notable over the North Slob whilst migrating on 29th and 30th. A Citrine Wagtail was at Nethertown beach on 8th and 9th.  There were numerous sightings of White Wagtails during the month with 50 White Wagtails counted at Nethertown beach on 8th with 20 also noted at same location on 10th. There were 53 noted at Hook Head on 10th and 60 present at Tacumshin Lake on 13th with 24 at Carnsore Point on 15th.  There were 6 Wheatear at Cahore on 19th with 2 noted at Tacumshin on 29th. Whinchat was noted on a number of dates on North Slob through the month. A Whinchat was noted on Great Saltee Island on 27th. 2 Meadow Pipits seen on Irish Sea on 26th. There were 43 Meadow Pipits at Coolcotts on 26th. A Spotted Flycatcher was at Churchtown on 10th and 13th with 1 at Carnsore Point on 19th and 1 on Great Saltee Island on 27th. 1 was also noted on North Slob on 18th. A Pied Flycatcher seen near Gorey on 5th. 100 Swallows at Hook Head on 9th with 400+ roosting on North Slob on 23rd.  Swallows, in good numbers, noted on Irish Sea migrating east on 26th. There were 700+ Swallows flying round one of the reed-beds on the North Slob on 30th. 40 Sand Martins at Hook Head on 9th. Good passage of Blackcaps noted through the month – 6 noted at Churchtown on 10th with 1 at Carnsore Point on 19th.  Good passage of Whitethroats through the North Slob during the first 2 weeks of the month. A Lesser Whitethroat was at Tacumshin Lake on 23rd and 1 was noted at Great Saltee Island on 27th. A Grasshopper Warbler was on North Slob on 20th. Continuous stream of Chiffchaffs through the County during the month with 12+ noted on a very regular basis through the North Slob – 8 noted at Churchtown on 10th with 20 counted at Carnsore Point on 19th. There were 8 Willow Warbler at Churchtown on 10th with 3 noted at Carnsore Point on 19th. A Jay was noted at Jamestown on 5th. 2+ Ravens were regularly noted on North Slob in the last 10 days of the month. 2 Tree Sparrow noted at Woodgraigue on 10th.

MAMMALS: 20 Common Dolphins were noted near the Saltee Islands on 9th. On the cetacean survey out of Rosslare Harbour on 26th, 85 Common Dolphin, 4 Harbour Porpoise and 10 Risso's Dolphin were noted (the Risso's Dolphins were playing around Tuskar Rock). 2 'large' Whales noted at Hook Head on 27th. There were 7 Common Seals in Wexford Harbour on 19th.

BUTTERFLIES:  During the month butterfly recording took place throughout the County. Species included: Small White present through the month; Green-veined White present through first half of the month – maximum count 3 at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th; Common Blue – maximum count 25 on 7th; Red Admiral noted through the month – maximum count of 17 on 7th at Raven Nature Reserve; Painted Lady noted through the month - maximum count 5 on 7th at Raven Nature Reserve; Small Tortoiseshell noted through the month – maximum count 13 on 7th at Raven Nature Reserve; A Peacock was seen at Woodgraigue on 9th; Speckled Wood noted through the month – maximum count 88 at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th; Meadow Brown 1 noted on 7th at Raven Nature Reserve.

MOTHS: During the month moth recording took place in Coolcotts, Gorey, the North Slob and Raven Nature Reserve. Species noted included: Brimstone, Small Square-spot, Large Wainscot, Smoky Wainscot, Small Wainscot, Flame Shoulder, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Frosted Orange, Silver Y* (Max count 80 at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th), Lesser Yellow Underwing, Flame Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet, Garden Carpet, Rosy Rustic, Black Rustic, Pale Mottled Willow, Green-brindled Crescent, Straw Dot, Gold Spot, Angle Shades, Herald, Dark Sword-grass* and Humming-bird Hawk Moth* (Raven Nature Reserve on 10th). *Migrant

DRAGONFLIES: Migrant Hawker present through the month with maximum count of 18 noted at Raven Nature Reserve on 12th. Brown Hawker noted through the month with maximum count of 3 noted at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th and 12th. Common Darter noted through the month with maximum count of 53 at Raven Nature Reserve on 23rd. A Common Hawker was present at Raven Nature Reserve on 12th and an Emperor Dragonfly was also noted at Raven Nature Reserve on 23rd.

REPTILE: A very good year for Common Lizard records. During this month singles were noted at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th, 16th and 23rd. One was also noted at Carnsore Point on 13th.

SHARK: 2 Basking Sharks seen at Hook Head on 27th.