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Despite its impressive size, the buzzard is not a
major hunter of prey and is happy enough to chomp on roadkill and earthworms! Buzzard Going Birdwatching? Remember to Bring… Mandatory Suncream A good pair of eyes A good pair of ears A good pair of shoes Green clothes Patience Optional A good homegrown guide to Irish Birds Binoculars if you have them A camera or your phone if you want to take a snap or two. A field recorder or your phone if you want to record birdsong. Red Breast Merganser How to Identify a bird you don’t know If you’re new to birding and have just seen a bird that you’ve never seen before or have seen it and don’t know what it is, here’s a wee guide to help you get to the bottom of the mystery. Remember the bird's location and the surrounding environment, as this can narrow down possibilities. Observe the bird's behavior, such as how it moves (hopping, running, soaring, etc.). If you heard the bird, try to remember the song or calls, and use the Merlin bird app if you’ve no idea what you’re hearing. It’s always better to try and remember the sound on your own as this will train your brain to recognise it without any help. The more you listen, the more you recall. Consider the time of year, remembering that migration patterns play a huge part in which birds you might see in a particular location and season. It’s a good thing to get to know the common birds in your area as this will help you narrow things down and 22 eliminate less likely possibilities. Try to notice a bird’s markings, stripes, feather colour, wing ‘bars’, breast spots, tail bars etc. Birds of the same classification group can look very alike so the more you look the more confident you can be as to its correct identity. And don’t be embarrassed if you get it wrong, everyone does, especially at the beginning, because it’s simply part of the learning process. But it’s also very much part of the craic! Happy birding! An Important Note If you’re going bird watching please remember to respect our avian friends and their habitats at any time of the year. During the breeding season take extra caution. Don’t go too close to a breeding bird’s nest or disturb breeding pairs and their young chicks in any way. Observe them from a distance, let them alone and just be kind to them. They’ll return the compliment in spades. This article is dedicated to the memory of Pat Fitzsimons (1967-2015) my first ever birdwatching companion and the most brilliant of all. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.