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  ..Long Tailed Tit.. The Long Tailed Tit is more likely to be seen at Corkagh than in neighbouring gardens but they do occasionally visit if you have mature trees nearby and bird food available.  They are quite different to the other species of Tits we are familiar with.  Maybe you have seen them in winter, when they flock in family groups of about 15 and fly from tree to tree twittering away as they go. Even during the breeding season, a pair will allow other birds within their family group to assist with feeding the young. They are primarily a bird of woodland and feed mostly on insects and the caterpillars of butterflies and moths.  However in winter, if food is scarce, they will feed on seeds and nuts which is when you may see them in your garden. The Long Tailed Tits nest is the most intricate you will find, made up of spider silk and moss which gives it strength after which it is covered over with lichens. In fact their nests have often been compared to Velcro...
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Nature at Corkagh: Birds

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Learn about the birds you might see at Corkagh
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  ..Grey Wagtail.. Having Grey as its name does this colourful bird an injustice.  It's most noticeable feature is its beautiful yellow breast and rump.  Like the Pied Wagtails its tail bobs up and down as it wades through shallow water and mud looking for the insects it feeds on.  However the Grey Wagtail has a longer tail which helps it to perform the sort of aerial acrobatics necessary to catch the fast moving flies. Maybe you have watched them flying or bobbing about  the mill pond near the fishing lakes collecting flies in its beak to feed its young.  The Grey Wagtail is a bird that is never far from water. It feeds on the larvae and adults of mayflies, midges and the like which are found on or near rivers and ponds. Wagtail at Mill Pond with flies for the nestlings. In early March the male establishes a territory up to 1k along a fast flowing river.  In Corkaghs case that would be the Camac.  A female chooses her mate based on the quality of...
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Corkagh Park

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Discover more about Corkagh Park
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The Old House at Corkagh

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Corkagh House in the early 20th century (courtesy SDCC)  All about the old house at Corkagh
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The Gunpowder mills.

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Discover the Gunpowder Mills at Corkagh
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The Walled Garden and Stewarts House at Corkagh

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Discover a secret garden
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Corkagh Reels

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 A series of short videos about all things Corkagh
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 The House Sparrow These sociable birds can be found in Corkagh and all the gardens around. They are related to finches as can be seen by their thicker beak.  The males and females are quite different, the male has chocolate brown wings, a grey crown and a black bib while the female has lighter brown wings buff coloured breast and white strip over her eyes. Sparrows roost together and also build their nests next to one another.  They rarely move far from their territory.  The dominant males will have a larger black bib however during the breeding season it is the females who rule the roost, chasing off males from their nesting sites and feeding tables.   Male on left with two females Sparrows feed mainly on nuts and seeds but are opportunistic and will also take insects.  They will gather at water to bathe and if no water is available they will take a dust bath in loose or sandy gravel.  Nesting boxes and cavities in roofs are often used as nestin...
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 The Dunnock.. The Dunnock, also known as the Hedge Sparrow, is a common little bird who often escapes notice.  It could easily be mistaken for a Sparrow, but unlike the Sparrow it has a lovely song that can rival the Robin or the Wren. In fact it used to be known as 'the Irish Nightingale'. Also, unlike the Sparrow, it has a thin pointed beak best suited for catching insects.  Unlike Sparrows too, the Dunnock is a solitary bird holding its own territory.   Dunnocks, both female and male, are not monogamous and often mate with more than one other bird. Where territories overlap they may even cooperate in feeding the young of neighbouring dunnocks. The Dunnock builds its nest from April onward low in dense hedgerows of briars and Ivy. They forage for insects close to the ground and can sometimes be seen feeding on seeds that have dropped for bird tables.  Everyone knows that the Cuckoo lays its eggs in others nests and the Dunnock nest is a favourite.  ...
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The Robin The best known and best loved of all our native birds the Robin can be heard singing across Corkagh and Clondalkin from early spring.   The Robin is by nature a solitary bird and unwilling to share its territory except in the breeding season when he will allow a female to join him.  They are much fiercer than we give them credit for and a male will fight to the death to protect his plot.  Robins feed on worms, insects and will also take sunflowers seeds and fat mixtures from garden feeders. I have also seen Robins chase butterflies in flight for a quick snack.  Around late January a female will join him.  At first they pay little attention to one another but once courtship begins you will hear her crying like a nestling to demand her partner brings her food. Male feeding female The female builds the nest herself, usually in Ivy or any other hedgerow.   Eggs are laid as early as April and its about four weeks till the young leave the nest...
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 ..The Redpoll.. The Redpoll is a species of finch that, like the Siskin, lives most of the year in woodland feeding on the seeds of Alder and Birch. In late winter, when food is scarce, they will join Siskins and follow flocks of other finches like Goldfinches to forage for food at Corkagh and in local gardens. Like other finches they have thick beak well suited to dealing with hard seeds and nuts. They get their name from the red cap on the front of their forehead. Other than that they are streaky brown but the male develops a red patch on his breast during the breeding season.  Redpolls almost never nest in suburban areas including Corkagh park.  During the breeding season they are found in upland areas and heavily forested parts where there is a ready supply of the seeds on which they feed their young.  Unlike most other birds they do not rely on insects for the nestlings and instead will also feed them regurgitated seeds.
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