Patch Birding and Booterstown Reserve

Booterstown Reserve

Patch birding' entails working a familiar route or site on a regular basis, thus gaining an in depth knowledge & feel for the birds that inhabit or pass through it. A patch may constitute any type of habitat with popular choices including coastal walkways or headlands, lakes & marshes, farmland & woodland, suburban parks etc.


http://patchbirdingireland.blogspot.ie/?m=1

It's a new year and I have moved patch to the enclave of Booterstown in Sth County Dublin. Inspired by the wonderful book 'A Place Near Heaven' by Damien Enright I have decided to embark on a spot of patch birding.

Convieniently right on my doorstep is Booterstown reserve. Up to this point I have travelled around Ireland capturing some amazing Irish wildlife events. This year I am adding some depth to my wildlife exposure. I am looking forward to witnessing the changes that occur over a full year on my local patch. I feel this will be an interesting project both scientifically, socially and spiritually.

The Booterstown Nature Reserve is a sanctuary for wildlife, and is an unusual little piece of wilderness within the confines of the City of Dublin, Ireland.
The Reserve is situated on the edge of Dublin Bay, about 6 km south-east of Dublin city centre. Sandwiched between the main road and the Dublin Area Rapid Transport (DART) railway line, it  covers an area of just 4 hectares, and is the only salt marsh nature reserve in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County. The elevated surroundings of the marsh make it particularly suitable for the study of wildlife, especially birds, without causing any disturbance to the feeding flocks.



More information about the sites history can be found here

http://www.friendsofbooterstown.ie/index.htm