BirdWatch Ireland Wicklow Branch

Join us on Tuesday next, Mar 11th at 7:30 pm for ‘On the Road, tips to improve your wildlife photography’ by Mark Carmody, photographer and joint author of The Birds of Ireland a Field Guide. Venue: Ashford Heritage Centre (Eircode A67 DH34). @BirdWatchIE

Please join us on Tuesday next, January 14th at 19:30 hours for ‘Future Wild: Nature Restoration in Ireland' - a talk by Richard Nairn. Copies of Richard’s new book on the subject will be available to purchase on the night. Venue - Ashford Heritage Centre (Eircode A67 DH34).

Join us on Saturday next (21st Dec) for a festive birding walk along the coastal fields at the East Coast Nature reserve in Newcastle where we hope to see the wildfowl and waders now in residence there. Meet at Railway Level Crossing, Sea Road, Newcastle at 10:00 hours.

We had a great turnout for Mark O'Callaghan's talk on the Wicklow nature reserves which are in the care of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Thanks to everyone who came!

Chris Wernham, Director of ⁦@_BTO⁩ Scotland, makes a presentation on behalf of BTO NI to ⁦⁦@BirdWatchIE⁩ ‘s Dr Steve Newton to mark his impending retirement and to thank him for his immense contribution to bird science on the island of Ireland.

On Saturday the Wicklow Branch will be heading to Bull Island to see wintering wildfowl and waders. We will be meeting at 10am on the middle of the causeway on Causeway Road, North Bull Island. Hope to see you there!

1st WTE pair to breed in Northern Ireland in over 150 years, and no better woman that @nirsg Eimear Rooney to find the nest and see the 1st chick. The proud parents are both 2020 Lough Derg release birds, doing their bit for cross-border relations🦅 @NPWSIreland @eagle_trust

Regrettably, the State's Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan, which was launched this morning, is a failed opportunity to put in place the measures urgently needed to prevent the extinction of this iconic bird of prey species in Ireland: birdwatchireland.ie/hen-harrier-th…

Just a reminder that we kick off the Autumn Talks season tomorrow (Tuesday) night in Ashford Heritage Centre at 7.30pm with two 'Black Beauties' from Dr Steve Newton of BirdWatch Ireland on the life and times of those 'Black Beauties' that breed along the Wicklow coast. Details:-

⚠️Breaking ⚠️ Today, following seven months of intense negotiations, a groundbreaking consensus has been reached on the future of EU agriculture. The Strategic Dialogue, led by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, brought together 29 diverse stakeholders, including environmental NGOs like BirdLife, farmers' unions such as Copa-Cogeca, and industry representatives like EuroCommerce. Key outcomes of the dialogue include: 🌾 Support an agriculture that works for nature by maintaining and fully enforcing existing environmental legislation 🌾 Revised income support under the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 🌾 Recognition of the need for consumption policies 🌾Increased environmental spending, including a call to establish a fund to support implementing the Nature Restoration Law 🌾 Establishment of a just transition fund This collaborative effort marks a significant shift towards a more sustainable, resilient and equitable agricultural system in the European Union. #nonaturenofood #farmerprotests2024 #restorenature

Autumn is upon us and we're back in Ashford next week for our first indoor talk of the new season with Dr Steve Newton of @BirdWatchIE on the life and times of those 'Black Beauties' that breed along the @visitwicklow coast !! See below for details:-

Amazing seawatching at the Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare yesterday. Tallies included. I saw one of the Little shears!! Wilson’s petrel was a lifer also!! Pomarine skua in the last video.

Now we have finished live streaming the nest burrows, but, to wrap up, @medgull has condensed 66 days of activity into 90 seconds of video showing the arrival of the birds, nest building, eggs, chicks and fledglings. Thanks again to all who made this happen, see you in '25!

A great yr for Barn Owls in Kilkenny with thanks to @kilkennynotices for funding. 4 healthy chicks in this nest box at @theriverfield, 2 males/2 females. Great habitat in area including rough grassland & tillage.

DLR Summer of Heritage Walks in July & August led by the DMP Volunteer Rangers 🌞 Join us for four easy paced walks in Barnaslingan & Carrickgollogan Woods during July & August 🌳👣 Full details on dublinmountains.ie 🔗 @dlrheritevents #SummerofHeritage #VolunteerRanger

For a march . . . are you joking ? It is literally called a demonstration , you are demonstrating what you want Tomorrow , 12 noon , Park Lane London - be there ! @JonathanPieNews | #RestoreNatureNow

Our annual visit to the Kilcoole Little Tern Colony is this weekend. And the terns have been busy with over 270 nests - a record - and lots of chicks now hatched so there should be plenty of activity. We’re meeting in the Kilcoole Train Station Car Park at 10am on Saturday 22nd.

Today marks a historic day. The hard-fought EU #NatureRestorationLaw has been passed after months of deadlock, marking a positive turning point for nature and citizens in #Europe. Thank you to everyone who helped to get this over the line, including our passionate supporters!#NRL