Frost, feathers and family traditions with Limerick Birdwatch

IT was time to dust off the “Christmas Cobwebs” as we joined Limerick Birdwatch's annual trip to Westfields. This important Urban Wetland is situated on the Northern bank of the River Shannon and is easily accessed off the Condell Road or through the nearby housing estate. Generations of families have had their first contact here with nature and this tradition is still strong today and I often meet grandparents here bringing along their grandchildren to connect with nature.
The morning was dry but very frosty and soon a large group of hardy souls had gathered. We were warmly welcomed by Maura Tuner and Tom Tarpey from Limerick Birdwatch and these were also our expert guides. Spare binoculars were handed out, and Tom and Maura also had two telescopes that allowed for close up views of birds at the far side of the lake.

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As we strolled down to the lake frost was still clinging to the shaded corners. A song thrush was singing, and this bird repeats each phrase around three times. It has a warm brown back and a specked breast and is one of the few birds that starts to sing in deepest winter.
The beautiful coconut scent of winter heliotrope was hanging in the crisp morning air and this is one of the few flowers to grace the winter landscape.
The platform was a little slippy but we soon forget the cold and enjoyed the amazing birdlife. A thin sheet of ice covered the still water in front of the viewing platform. This was thick enough for a curious robin who briefly landed on the ice before retreating to the reeds. He came over to us hoping for a few seeds.
The resident swans appeared drawn by the commotion and the chatting. The mute swans are very territorial and keep other swans at bay. They had six beautiful cygnets with them, and they were all in a line with the male breaking the ice for his family. A poor coot was in their way, and he got a few pecks to hurry him along. Tom explained that this idyllic family view will soon be shattered as the parents will chase away their family. With local territories in short supply, they will join the large group of non-breeding swans that live on the Shannon by the boating club.
A channel has been kept open through the reeds, and this allows birds to access the area in front of the viewing platform and gives people close contact with wildlife. In the summer swallows feed above the reeds on insects and are replaced at night by foraging bats. The reeds also provide year-round shelter, roosting and spring nesting locations.
After a few minutes we thankfully moved on and we were all glad to get the blood flowing. There are several species of duck found on the lake.
The most common is the mallard, and the males with their bottle green heads are very distinctive. The females had several males in close attention and they are a dull brown colour and this helps them blend into the reeds when nesting.
Coots are the battleships of the lake and these bulky and powerful ducks plough through the water driving away other males. They are all black except for white on their neck and chest.
Moorhens are another resident species and when seen out of the water have long greenish legs. Their beaks are red, white and orange and they bob their heads and flick their white tails as they move through the water.
People were busy taking turns looking through the telescope and like us trying to keep warm as the ducks were constantly moving and the scope was adjusted every few minutes. This revealed the subtle features of a pair of little grebes that were non-descript to the naked eye.
There was only one lonely male pochard, but he had a stunning rustic coloured head.
Teal and shoveler are also found on the lake but were absent during our visit.
For me, the bird of the day was a pair of Gadwall. These are a duck I rarely come across, and these are not a common breeding species, and quite localised during the winter.
The ducks did not have the lake all to themselves as there were lots of black headed gulls.
Despite their name they have a chocolate brown head in the summer but this fades to a black spot during the winter.
Our day finished with the arrival of a large grey heron who landed on one of the timber posts on the lake. They are early nesters and can have chicks hatched in February. A pair nest in the reeds in the spring and sometimes in a tall tree in the housing estate.
Check out Limerick Birdwatch Facebook page for more interesting events coming up during the year.
Comments/Questions to albert.nolan@rocketmail.com or 089 4230502. Albert is also available to do walks/talks with schools, tidy towns, youth and community groups.