South Dublin Branch East Coast Sites

BirdWatch Ireland reserve and Fingal Branch hide

Situated on the inner Rogerstown Estuary between the M1/N1 and Donabate village, the reserve is best viewed from the Fingal branch hide to the south of the estuary. There is a new hide on the north of the estuary, best used at high tides, but the road is narrow with limited parking available. There is ample parking on the south of the estuary close to the allotments on the track leading down to the hide from Turvey Avenue. Look out for large flocks of Brent, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal and smaller numbers of Pintail and Shoveler over winter. Wader numbers are high; look for Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit. In Autumn look for scarcer species like Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Ruff. Also check the gulls and raptors for scarce species. Buzzard have become a regular feature around Rogerstown, as have Little Egret. The outer estuary beyond the railway embankment should also be visited. It is a short distance along Beaverstown Road to the north of Donabate village. The hide is open to the public and manned by Fingal volunteers on Saturdays and Sundays from September through to March from 10.00-15.00. For information on the Fingal Branch and Rogerstown hide see http://www.bwifingal.ie Rogerstown Hide Notice - Sunday Opening Liam Feeney 30 October 2002 (IBN-L) I am glad to convey the news that the Rogerstown hide is scheduled to be open on Sundays ( 10am to 4pm) until the end of January, 2003. Since its foundation, the hide has provided good service to birdwatchers/public with a manning service that has enabled Saturday access in the September - March period. We in the Fingal Branch believe that the hide, should be more fully utilised as a resource and give increased access as an amenity during this period. Thankfully we have been able to extend the season to the current stated range of Sundays, largely due to new volunteers who are prepared to do two manning duties & continued annual service, in exchange for a key. We still need some volunteers for February and March either from new or existing people. Anyone who lives within reach of the hide and who is interested, can contact me privately for more information. We are coming to a close in the Autumn passage season and have enjoyed some good views of the American Widgeon, Hybrid Widgeon, Little Egrets, Buzzards, Ruff, Curlew Sandpipers, Green Sandpipers and Kingfishers. A White Rumped Sandpiper was seen from the hide within the last two weeks. As we approach Winter we can look forward too increased numbers of duck, brent and greylag geese. What a heartlifter it is to see the "V" shaped scions of greylags approaching from high in the sky, "ahonking" loudly before gliding and then landing in the water with an audible swooooosh!. The last few days have provided excellent light conditions, capturing the American Widgeon's cream crown and green eye stripe clearly, even from distance and colourful rafts of widgeon and teal drifting by in full winter plumage, having recently emerged from eclipse phase. There will also be increased raptor activity from merlins and peregrines and maybe renewed visits from a goshawk or even a gyrfalcon. A recent record in the logbook showed where a peregrine managed to catch a redshank only to have it snatched off him by another peregrine. Last Saturday, we had a barnacle goose, a little egret and a sitting female peregrine falcon within a few feet of each other in the flooded field, a fascinating bird triangle which would have made a great photo. In recent years shorteared owls have been found near the hide and the proximity to Ballealy always guarantees the presence of unusual gulls. It is a wonderful winter venue, for enjoying the wilderness and solitude of the estuary, to shelter from the elements, engage in some birding camaraderie and who knows what may turn up! Liam Feeney, Rogerstown Hide Roster Co-ordinator, Fingal Branch Around Rogerstown ... Liam Feeney from NatureIreland email list Most visitors to the Rogerstown Hide go by car, usually with a direct purpose in mind i.e. to view anything on the mudflats from the hide. Besides the mudflats there are other niches near the alottments area which are quite interesting right now. I usually travel on foot and so probably have more time and opportunity to check out these areas. On the road in to the Rogerstown hide, just opposite the red container there is a pine tree which is brimming with bird life at the moment. This includes a host of goldcrests, goldfinches, tits, treecreepers and a couple of spotted flycatchers which are continually snatching flies from the outer branches. One of the goldcrests had a very distinctive orange crest, raised in the mohican style. It was as if he had a small bonfire on his head and he could have aptly been called a firecrest but for the fact that the diagnostic black eye stripe and adjoining white stripe for that species were missing. Still very entertaining to watch this little guy whizzing around, seemingly turbo-charged with testosterone, in contrast to the benign yellow crested feminine types. If instead of taking the usual right turn off the entry road towards the alottments but instead follow the road straight and leftwards, you can be rewarded with good views of kingfisher perched on the wooden stakes along the river and also of greenshank and skylark near the water pools. Sometimes little egrets can be seen fishing on the river. Likewise buzzards are often seen soaring in this area. Just before the alottments on the left hand side there is a large pool containing a lot of reed mace. This pool is screened from the road and most people who drive in would be unaware of its presence. I always sneak a glance in there in case anything rare might turn up. The other day I was pleasantly surprised to find a small group of green sandpipers feeding on insects on the mud edges of the pool. Of course if disturbed, they fly off calling very excitedly, showing the typical dark, almost black body and a sharp white rump. It would be interesting to see whether this pool will become a regular feeding spot for them in the future as most recorded sightings have been either upriver or on the north side of the estuary. Where the alottments reach the final hedge border, one is faced with a large plot of teasels in the open field. The teasels are quite tall and coming into their prime showing nice minute purple flowers on their green heads. Recently this has become a favourite feeding station for peacock butterflies which I have always previously associated with purple buddleia. Here you can watch the peacocks with their magnificant out stretched red wings and irridescent whorls, in still life. They display a beautiful violet and cream whorl near the tip of each wing segment. I was recently informed that these whorls with their eye-like appearance serve as a form of defense mechanism against predators such as birds. It is believed that birds will usually attack around the whorl areas in the belief that they are striking at the eyes or around the head area. The butterfly can thereby lose a part of its wing segment from the assault but still survive and remain functionally intact not unlike the way a lizard can shed its tail. Indeed one of the butterflies seemed to be operating quite comfortably without its lower hind right wing section. Finally as you bang the hide door shut after some good birding and are fumbling for those car keys in the nether regions of your jean pockets take one last scan around the margins of the birch plantation with your bins. You may see a fox's head grinning at you above the long grass and you may get that creepy sensation that the positions are reversed and you are the one being watched. Yes, Old Foxy has been birdwatcher watching from cover since a long time back and has probably "ticked" you. Liam Feeney Getting there ... Rogerstown is ~18km from the city center on the M1/N1, turn right at Turvey Avenue. The #33B bus (01-8734222) from Swords serves Donabate via Newbridge House. Donabate has a train service from Connolly Station (01-8366222) via Howth Junction & Malahide. Donabate village is ~3.5km from the hide. The hide off Turvey Avenue is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from September through to March from 10.00-15.00.