DNFC Outings & Events

EVENTS PROGRAMME AUGUST - OCTOBER 2010

SATURDAY 31st JULY 2010                                            NEWCASTLE, CO. WICKLOW

COASTAL FLORA

A walk along the beach to look at sea shore plants.  We hope to see two species that have not been regularly seen on our littoral outings in North County Dublin, sea holly (Eryngium maritimum) and the horned poppy (Glaucium flavum).

Leader: Pat Lenihan

By car: from Dublin , exit the N11 left at the new Kilcoole/Greystones turning (a little further south of the R762 exit to Delgany at the Glen of the Downs ). Follow the signs to Kilcoole and continue through the village to Newcastle . In Newcastle , just past the Castle Inn, take the first turn left ( Sea Road ) after crossing the bridge. Continue down this road to the coast. Parking is available in front of the level crossing.  
By bus: Newcastle can also be reached by the No. 84 bus which departs from Eden Quay. The journey takes about 90 minutes. 

The outing will end in early afternoon but please bring lunch.

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SUNDAY 15th AUGUST 2010                                                            FLORA OF HOWTH

Recording for the Flora of Howth project is nearing an end. We will look for some of the missing species in the East Mountain area of the peninsula.

Leader: David Nash

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SUNDAY 22nd AUGUST 2010                                                  BOOTERSTOWN MARSH

We will look at the vegetation of the salt marsh and also examine the ecology of the sand dune system that is forming outside the sea wall. One of the aims of the exercise is to access the current status of the legally protected grass Puccinellia fasciculata (Borrer's Saltmarsh-grass).

Leader: Declan Doogue

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SATURDAY 28th & SUNDAY 29th AUGUST 2010  

BRYOPHYTE WEEKEND (1)

Continuing our series of outings focused on mosses and liverworts, we welcome Nick Hodgetts from the British Bryological Society (BBS). 
Nick is a freelance botanist and bryologist, based in Scotland.  He is involved in bryophyte conservation work and, amongst other projects, manages the UK Threatened Bryophyte Database and is co-author of the British and European (and forthcoming Irish) bryophyte Red Data Books.  
Nick is also co-author of the New Naturalist book 'Mosses and Liverworts' and has undertaken extensive bryophyte survey work in Ireland.  

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SATURDAY 28th AUGUST:                                        WICKLOW BRYOPHYTE PROJECT

This meeting will be based within the survey area of the Wicklow bryophyte recording project.  An opportunity to improve skills in identifying mosses and liverworts of the Wicklow uplands and collect some more records for the project.

Leaders: Nick Hodgetts & Jo Denyer

SUNDAY 29th AUGUST:                          BRYOPHYTES IN NORTH COUNTY DUBLIN

An outing to look at bryophytes in a different range of ecological conditions to those of Wicklow.  Tufa forming springs along the coast provide a habitat for calcicole species and we will examine these in the Balbriggan / Skerries area.  Afterwards we hope to visit some inland sites nearby.

SATURDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 2010                      ST. ENDA'S PARK, RATHFARNHAM

A park with woodland, a stream and a walled garden.  In the courtyard is a nature room with various exhibits and helpful staff; also a coffee shop and the Patrick Pearse Museum for anyone interested.
The outing is suitable for families with children of all ages.

Leader: Mary Carson

Duration: about 2 hours.

SUNDAY 12th SEPTEMBER 2010                                       THE BURROW, PORTRANE

SAND DUNE AND SALT MARSH ECOLOGY

The burrow is an interesting sand dune system adjoining a saltmarsh.  It has many clearly defined vegetation zones.  We will look at the relationship between inundation by the sea and the distribution of the different vegetation types.

Leader: Declan Doogue  

SATURDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2010          ROCKPOOLS AT BALSCADDEN, HOWTH

Our ever popular family outing to the rockpools in Howth is sure to turn up all sorts of interesting finds – Sea Anemones, Dog Whelks, Limpets, Coiled Tube Worms and Keel Worms, Barnacles, Flat Winkles and Blennies   Aimed at our junior members, this outing is open to all.  An event not to be missed!

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Leaders: Niamh Lennon and Jennifer Ball

Duration:      The outing will last for 2 hours.

DART to Howth Station, then walk along the seafront to the meeting point, approximately 800 metres away.

Bring: nets or sieves, containers, identification books (if you have them), wellies or old runners that won't be slippy on wet rocks, change of clothes.

SATURDAY 25th & SUNDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 2010

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BRYOPHYTE WEEKEND (2)

We are pleased to be joined by Sam Bosanquet for our second autumn bryophyte weekend.  Sam works for the Countryside Council for Wales.  He is BBS Recorder for Liverworts, co-editor of 'Mosses and Liverworts of Britain & Ireland: A Field Guide' (and author of the Field Key) and author of 'The Mosses and Liverworts of Carmarthenshire'.  Sam organised the BBS trip to Cork in Summer 2009 and regularly makes trips to record bryophytes in Ireland .

SATURDAY 25th SEPTEMBER:                               WICKLOW BRYOPHYTE PROJECT

A continuation of the Wicklow bryophyte recording project. All are welcome.  

Leaders: Sam Bosanquet & Jo Denyer

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SUNDAY 26th SEPTEMBER:            COOLEY MOUNTAIN MOSSES & LIVERWORTS

We will spend time looking at bryophytes on boulders as this area has an interesting geology.

Leaders: Sam Bosanquet & Jo Denyer

Directions:  Come off M1 at Ballymascanlan roundabout (signposted for Greenore Port, Carlingford).  Continue along R173 (to Carlingford) for 5km, pass Texaco garage on the right (good for sandwiches, coffee etc.) and take next turn on left.  Continue on this road for c.8km (staggered junction/dog leg after 1km) and Long Woman's Grave/Windy Gap parking area is conspicuous with signage.  Look out for beautiful dark bronze of Hedwigia on boulders on left hand side of road just before parking!

Bring: lunch, hand lens (x 20 if possible), suitable footwear and clothing, BBS Field Guide (if you have one).  

SUNDAY 3rd OCTOBER  2010                            FUNGUS FORAY in ST. ANNE'S PARK

A visit to St. Anne's Park to search for and learn about fungi.

Leader:  Teresa Buckley

Bring: guide book, basket/boxes (yoghurt cartons/margarine boxes/similar), you will possibly need wellingtons, raingear, hand lens.

Bus: 130 from Lr. Abbey Street stops opposite the Red Stables on Mount Prospect Avenue .

SATURDAY 16th OCTOBER  2010                                                          KILLINEY BEACH

GEOLOGY & IDENTIFYING ROCKS FOR CHILDREN

We will spend a few hours until lunchtime making a collection of different rocks found on the beach at Killiney, and we will learn how to identify them and classify them.  We shall also see where hot molten granite was injected into ancient rocks, and what unusual rock type a glacier transported from Scotland. 

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Leader: Patrick Wyse Jackson

Bring: Please bring a collecting bag, a hand lens (if you have one), a pencil, notebook and some bubblewrap or newspaper.

 SATURDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2010           LOUGH BOORA PARKLANDS, CO. OFFALY

BIRDS AND GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY

A rehabilitated cut over bog, Lough Boora Parklands contain a range of wetlands of interest for their birds, flora and general natural history.  Wintering wildfowl should be arriving and we hope to see whooper swans, golden plover and lapwing.  The parklands also contain an outdoor sculpture park.  For further information, see www.loughbooraparklands.com.

Leader: Mark McCorry

THURSDAY 18th NOVEMBER NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS , GLASNEVIN

EVENING LECTURE: Medicinal Botany in Early 18th Century Dublin

Lecturers: Dr. Declan Doogue & Dr. PJ Walls

The first Irish herbal Synopsis Stirpium Hibernicarum appeared in 1726.  It was written by Caleb Threlkeld who was a doctor working in Dublin using herbs in his medical practice.  His book describes the various plants that were to be found in the Dublin area and outlines their medicinal uses.  Declan is well known for his interest in historical plant geography and PJ is a retired consultant dermatologist with a keen interest in both plants and medicine.

Time: 8pm sharp

Venue: Lecture Theatre, Visitor Centre, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin

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SATURDAY 1st MAY 2010                                                                         FLORA OF HOWTH
A meeting of the Recorders for the Flora of Howth Project to look for some of the missing plant species and to set priorities for the season's field work.

SUNDAY 9th MAY 2010                                                                                    GLENASMOLE

WOODLAND FLORA & PETRIFYING SPRINGS

The steep slopes on the north-eastern side of the Glenasmole Valley contain mixed woodland which includes ash, hazel and conifers. A number of species of interest have been recorded here in the past including Lamiastrum galeobdolon (yellow archangel). Springs emerge from lime-rich glacial till along the valley sides and give rise to tufa deposition with characteristic mosses and liverworts. The River Dodder flows through the valley via two reservoirs.

Leaders: David Nash & Melinda Lyons

SUNDAY 16th MAY 2010                                                                                          GLENCREE

BRYOPHYTES OF CO. WICKLOW                                                                        

This outing is part of the Wicklow Mountains National Park bryophyte recording project. 
We will visit part of the study area and record bryophytes. All are welcome, even if you are not already involved with the project.  This is an opportunity to learn more about bryophyte identification and recording.

Leader: Jo Denyer

Bring: clothing and footwear for wet uplands, BBS guide, hand lens (x20 best).

SATURDAY 22nd MAY 2010                                                BNFC / DNFC JOINT MEETING

BATTLE OF THE BOYNE VISITOR CENTRE & COAST at MORNINGTON

The new M1 has greatly improved access both northwards from Dublin and southwards from Belfast and we are pleased to take advantage of this and hold a joint meeting with Belfast Naturalists' Field Club.
We will spend the morning at the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre. The visit will include an audio visual presentation and a guided tour of the battle site.

 (see http://www.battleoftheboyne.ie/visitorinformation/  for more information).

 Leader:  Visitor Centre Staff & Declan Doogue
 Fee: There is a €3 entrance fee per person (group rate). Members must pay this fee at the Visitor Centre office on arrival. Afterwards we will move on to the coast at Mornington for a picnic lunch and a look at the flora of the coast. Following on from our series of coastal ecology meetings in the Dublin region, this outing provides an opportunity to see a new piece of ground a little further afield. We will compare and contrast the flora of a variety of different coastal landforms in the Mornington area, including saltmarsh, shingle ridge, low sand dunes and estuary.

 King William I armed for battle. Cotton Claudius D. II. 14th century. By permission of The British Library.

SUNDAY 30th MAY 2010                                                                       NORTH BULL ISLAND

ORCHID WALK to NORTH BULL ISLAND’s ALDER MARSH

Leaders: Vincent Sex and Gerry Sharkey

Vincent Sex is described as the “inspiration and driving force” behind ‘ Ireland ’s Wild Orchids – a field guide’ by Brendan Sayers and Susan Sex. If you have not already bought a copy, you might be able to convince Vincent to sell you one. If you are really nice to him you might even get a special DNFC discount!

We will walk from the roundabout north towards the Alder Marsh, which is about half-an-hour from the roundabout, Despite its generally sandy nature, many orchids can be found in the ‘slacks’ between the dune ridges along the length of the Island. The Alder Marsh is one large dune-slack with a more-or-less permanent supply of fresh water, providing habitat for many orchid species among the many other flowering plants that will be in bloom at this time of year.

Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris

SATURDAY 12th JUNE 2010             RIVER BARROW at ST.MULLIN’S, Co.CARLOW

JOINT MEETING WITH WEXFORD NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB

A walk along the River Barrow towpath from St. Mullin's to Graiguenamanagh

Many Dublin-based naturalists and tourists alike make the mistake of either stopping in the County Wicklow hills or travelling on to the sandy Wexford and Waterford shores, missing out on the beauty and tranquillity of the great rivers of the South East. The River Barrow once provided transport for goods and people, and now it’s tow-paths that allowed barges to link into the Canal network, provide access for walkers and naturalists to the Barrow’s steep wooded banks. One plant worth looking out for is Campanula trachelium, Nettle-leaved Bell-flower which is found on the banks of the larger rivers in the South East. Some rare solitary bees used be recorded in woodland in this area, but have not been seen recently. In the UK , steep wooded banks of large lowland rivers form the most likely habitat for Gomphus vulgatissimus, a Club-Tailed Dragonfly. It was only caught once in Ireland over a hundred and fifty years ago, at a place unknown. A specimen existed in 1845 and has vanished. But you never know …!  

Leaders: E. Delaney (WNFC) and Pat Lenihan (DNFC)

www.pbase.com/the_glebe/stmullins

SATURDAY 19th & SUNDAY 20th JUNE 2010       DNFC WEEKEND, Co. WESTMEATH

Details have been supplied to Members      

WEDNESDAY 23rd JUNE                                                                                      DUBLIN ZOO

An after hours look at the non-exotic wildlife of Dublin’s Zoological Garden

Leader: Shane Lombard & Gardens staff 

SUNDAY 27th JUNE 2010                                    COASTAL ECOLOGY at LOUGHSHINNY

We continue the series on coastal ecology with a visit to some coastal flushes near Loughshinny. We will look for a number of species which are rare in north Co. Dublin including Trifolium fragiferum, Pinguicula vulgaris, Selaginella selaginoides and Isolepis cernua.

Leader: Declan Doogue

Trifolium frageriferum

SUNDAY 4th JULY 2010                                                                                  ABBEYLEIX BOG

Abbeyleix Bog lies just south of the town. In the 1860s it was traversed by the Portlaoise-Kilkenny railway, which operated until 1962. The bog was acquired by Bord na Móna in the 1980s for horticultural peat production. Development did not proceed beyond initial drainage, and it was later decided to attempt to restore the habitat to an ‘active raised bog’. In March-June 2009, some 3,500 peat dams were inserted to raise the water level in the internal drains.  

We will be examining the following habitats: degraded raised bog under regeneration; former hand cutover areas; former railway bed with imported calcareous materials; minerotrophic and ombrotrophic wet woodland. The central railbed gives easy access to the middle of the bog, but the bog surface will be WET!

Leaders: Charles Shier & Katharine Duff

 Abbeyleix, Co. Laois c.1907

SATURDAY 17th JULY                                                SLIEVE BLOOM NATURE RESERVE

Discovery sheet 54 grid ref N 385 065

During our weekend meeting in June 2009 Mark McCorry and Fiona MacGowan brought us to the Ridge of Capard, and some of us thought it would be nice to re-visit at a time when the heathers would be in full bloom, not just for the picturesque heath landscape and spectacular views of Leinster but for the upland blanket bog flora, and a fauna that includes Red Grouse, Hen Harrier, Nightjar (not seen recently) and Fallow Deer. If the sun shines we will search the heather for specialist bees.

Leader and DNFC member Jason Monaghan will be familiar from Wexford meetings and is now working in this area, and we hope to meet up with local naturalists from the Offaly Field Club.

Leaders: Jason Monaghan & Gerry Sharkey

www.swancreations.com/photography/slieve_bloom/enlarge/bluebells_1.html

SATURDAY 24th JULY 2010                                                    POND DIPPING AT AIRFIELD

Our ever popular pond dipping event returns once again. It is aimed mainly at junior members, but everyone is welcome. Come along to see the delights of Airfield – frogs, damsel-fly larvae, water boatmen, snails, pond skaters and butterflies.

Leaders: Niamh Lennon & Jennifer Ball

Note:  There is an admission charge of €6 for adults and €4 for seniors and students. This will apply to all DNFC members attending the meeting.

SATURDAY 24th & SUNDAY 25th JULY 2010                                BRYOPHYTE WEEKEND

BRYOPHYTES OF WICKLOW & SLIEVE BLOOM

We welcome David Chamberlain from the British Bryological Society (BBS) in our continuing series of bryophyte events. David has been associated with the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh since 1966 and was curator of the herbarium from 1991 until his retirement in 2001. He is author of The Bryophyte Flora of the Lothians, BBS regional recorder for East Lothian , Midlothian and West Lothian in Scotland and BBS referee for the Pottiaceae family. He is also an expert on Rhododendron and author of The genus Rhododendron: it's classification & synonymy, amongst other publications.

Leaders: David Chamberlain and Jo Denyer

SATURDAY 24th JULY                                                                                              GLENCREE

This meeting forms part of the project ‘Encouraging bryophyte recording: community involvement in a mini-flora of the Wicklow Mountains '. Everyone is welcome to come along to learn about bryophyte identification and to consider if you would like to participate further in the project. See news letter for further details.

SUNDAY 25th JULY                                                                                          SLIEVE BLOOM

The Capard area of Slieve Bloom (N 36 06) which we also visit on July 17 for it’s vascular plants and general natural history provides an interesting range of habitats from upland heath and blanket bog to base-rich flushes where bryophytes are abundant, and these form the particular target for this meeting

Leader: Con Breen

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EVENTS PROGRAMME FEBRUARY 2010 TO APRIL 2010

THURSDAY 4th FEBRUARY 2010                                 NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS , GLASNEVIN

EVENING LECTURE

Speaker: Dr. Micheline Sheehy Skeffington

Title: Turloughs, Biodiversity and the Farmers' role in maintaining it

Venue: Visitor and Education Centre

Time: 8:00 p.m. (sharp)

 Dr. Micheline Sheehy Skeffington is a well-known botanist and lecturer in the Botany Department of University College Galway. She has worked extensively on the remarkable turlough habitats, the disappearing lakes of the west of Ireland and is an expert on the ecology of Ireland 's wetland habitats.  Micheline has had a life-long interest in natural history and was secretary and one of the leading lights of DNFC. With Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson she co-authored The Flora of Inner Dublin, published in association with the Club in 1984.

SUNDAY 7th FEBRUARY 2010                                                    BIRDS AT ROGERSTOWN ESTUARY

Leaders: Brendan Black and Gerry Sharkey

Bring: Binoculars, ‘scopes and bird identification guides.

SATURDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2010                                                             BIRDS AT DUN LAOGHAIRE

Another opportunity to see birds along the coast at Dún Laoghaire as adverse weather prevented our last planned outing to this location from going ahead.

Leaders: Fridolin Kerr & Pat Lenihan

SATURDAY 27th FEBRUARY 2010                               NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS , GLASNEVIN

 (1) EXOTIC INVERTEBRATES

In the first part of to-day’s event we will have a look at invertebrates in the Botanic Gardens.  The greenhouses in particular are home to a number of interesting exotic species including woodlice, millipedes, centipedes and snails.  The hot humid conditions emulate the tropical environment from which these species originally came.

 (2) INTRODUCING BOOKS

For the second part, a number of members have agreed to bring along some of their favourite books.  This is not a book sale, but will provide an opportunity to perhaps preview books on all areas of natural history that you may be interested in buying.  If you have recent books you think may be of interest to other members, please bring them along.

Leader: Declan Doogue

Bring: lenses and books.

SAT 13th & SUN 14th MARCH 2010                       GLENCREE and GLENDALOUGH, CO. WICKLOW

MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS

Following on from last year's introduction to bryophyte identification, we hope this year to further encourage an understanding of bryophytes in a wider range of habitats and to introduce the process of bryophyte recording.  DNFC will run a number of events in conjunction with the British Bryological Society (BBS) to develop skills in recording bryophytes.  Leading experts from the BBS will conduct outings at various locations in Ireland from time to time during 2010.

In this first event, we have the pleasure of welcoming Gordon Rothero from Argyll , Scotland .  Gordon has extensive experience running bryological training courses, as a consultant and as a referee for the BBS.  He is the author of numerous publications on bryophytes in Scotland .  His main areas of interest are Atlantic broadleaved woodland and montane habitats.

The new field guide produced by the BBS 'Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland ' will be available shortly and would be a useful resource to bring along on these events. It costs £24.95stg and can be ordered through the BBS website (www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk).

Leaders: Gordon Rothero (BBS) and Jo Denyer

Bring: hand lenses, identification books, paper envelopes for collecting specimens, suitable clothing 
and footwear for upland conditions and lunch

This will be a two-day event, if you are interested in attending on either day, please contact Jo Denyer.

 WEDNESDAY 17th MARCH 2010                                                                          NORTH BULL ISLAND

 ST. PATRICK'S DAY WALK

 A general natural history walk. Exact details will be decided on the day, and will largely depend on the weather, which on recent St Patrick’s days has varied from warm sunshine to snow!

We will walk along the causeway and onto the dunes, and expect to see birds, early flora and invertebrates. 

Leader: Gerry Sharkey

Bus: route 130, check holiday timetable

Bring: binoculars telescopes handlens and suitable warm clothing.

SATURDAY 27th MARCH 2010                                                               MAYNOOTH AND CELBRIDGE

EARLY WOODLAND PLANTS

We will look at old townland boundary hedgerows at Bryanstown, Maynooth, during the morning where we expect to find toothwort (Lathraea squamaria).  In the afternoon we hope to visit mixed woodland at Castletown, Celbridge and look for the early-purple orchid (Orchis mascula).

Leaders:  Anthony Mooney & Enda Kiernan

SUNDAY 28th MARCH 2010                                                                    SANDYCOVE ROCKPOOLS

Back by popular demand our younger members, accompanied by members of all ages, will visit rockpools in Sandycove.  This stretch of coast provides both sheltered and more exposed habitats teeming with life: cushion star fish, snakelocks anemones, hermit crabs, shannies, chitons, winkles, prawns and much more.  As usual, all children must be accompanied by an adult, and no dogs are allowed.

Leaders: Niamh Lennon and Jennifer Ball

TUESDAY 30th MARCH 2010                                       NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN

 EVENING LECTURE

 Speaker:  Brian S. Rushton BSc DPhil PGCUT FLS FHEA
                   Professor of Botany

Brian Rushton is a plant taxonomist/ecologist who has a wide range of botanical interests having worked on everything from tree species to weeds and from hybridisation to urban forestry.

Title:  An Inordinate Fondness for Plants

Venue:  Visitor and Education Centre

Time: 8:00 p.m. (sharp)

Plants took their first tentative steps (so to speak) on to the terrestrial world about 450 million years ago. They quickly colonised all the available space and diversified into a wide range of niches. The evolution of the flowering plants in the Cretaceous (140 million years ago) added to this diversity and provided us with the rich flora seen today that ranges from tiny liverworts (a few mm in size) to giant redwoods that are the largest organisms that have ever lived. Some species live to over 5000 years old whilst others complete their life cycle in a few weeks. Today we have described about 310,000 plant species though there could be upwards of 750,000. This diversity presents botanists with huge challenges as we try to understand what makes plants ‘tick’.

This lecture will address such fundamental botanical questions as: Why are leaves that shape? Should I plant plastic plants? Do plants suffer from wind? Are urban forests an urban myth? Do I have aliens at the bottom of my garden? And more. But all is not rosy in the garden and the lecture will also address the declining interest in botany and how this threatens attempts to utilise and conserve the world’s plant biodiversity.

SATURDAY 10th APRIL 2010                                                                          DALKEY COASTAL WALK

A spring coastal walk around Dalkey to see what insects, birds and plants are emerging after the winter.  The walk will take in Sorento Park , Vico Road , the embankment and up Dalkey Hill to the Beacon Station.

Leaders: Bob Aldwell and Katharine Duff

SATURDAY 17th APRIL 2010                                    LIFFEY VALLEY, PALMERSTOWN, CO. DUBLIN

WOODLAND FLORA AND BRYOPHYTES

We will visit mixed woodland on the south side of the Liffey Valley where the protected species Hypericum hirsutum and the Red Data Book species Scrophularia umbrosa and Lamiastrum galeobdolon have been recorded.  The woodland contains a mixture of native and non-native trees including beech and ash with holly in the understorey.  A millrace runs alongside this stretch of the Liffey.  We will look at the flora, including bryophytes, of the woodland and river bank.  

Access is by kind permission of The King's Hospital School .

Leader: Melinda Lyons

SUNDAY 25th APRIL 2010                                   FLORA OF HOWTH & DUBLIN COASTAL ECOLOGY

We continue recording plants for the Flora of Howth project with a visit to springs, seepage lines and shingle ridges. This outing also forms part of our series on coastal ecology.  During 2010 we will revisit some familiar coastal sites and explore some less well known parts of the coast.

Leader: Declan Doogue

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EVENTS PROGRAMME NOVEMBER 2009 TO JANUARY 2010

SATURDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2009                          NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN

MEMBERS' DAY

If you have not received an invitation, please contact membership secretary:

Fridolin Kerr, 31 Cherrywood Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER 2009                                               LOUGH TAY, CO. WICKLOW

BRYOPHYTES

We will look at bryophytes in the Lough Tay area.

Leader: Howard Fox

Bring: warm waterproof clothing, hiking boots, lunch, warm drinks.

SATURDAY 21st NOVEMBER 2009                                        KILCOOLE, CO. WICKLOW

BIRDS

At this time of year along with sea birds, we expect to find waders, ducks, geese and swans.

Leaders: Pat Lenihan and Sean Hogan

SATURDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2009                BALBRIGGAN

COASTAL ECOLOGY

We will look at coastal sites in North County Dublin between Balbriggan and Skerries.  The first site exhibits slumping features, seepage lines and flush effects with Equisetum telmateia, Schoenus nigricans and coastal bryophytes on rocks in the spray zone.  Our second site is Isaac's Bower, a small rocky headland with an area of brackish marsh containing the uncommon Oenanthe lachenalii, Blysmus rufus and Inula crithmoides.

Leaders:  Declan Doogue and Melinda Lyons 

Equisetum telmateia

SATURDAY 5th DECEMBER 2009             EAST COAST NATURE RESERVE, CO. WICKLOW

BIRDS

The East Coast Nature Reserve, managed by Birdwatch Ireland, was opened to the public by the President Mrs. Mary McAleese in June of this year. The reserve is a coastal wetland complex with fen and wet grassland habitats. During this time of year finches, kingfishers, short-eared owls, swans, wintering geese and ducks are seen regularly.

See http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Default.aspx?tabid=222 for further details of the reserve. 

We will be accompanied by Tony Murray, Conservation Officer with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Leaders: Pat Kearney and Tony Murray

Bring: suitable footwear and rainwear (lunch optional, finishing around 1:30 or 2 p.m.).

SATURDAY 12TH DECEMBER 2009                                                                                HOWTH

WINTER WALK

Winter coastal walk along the western side of Howth Peninsula from Sutton towards Bottle Quay and Red Rock area.  We will look for any plants insects and birds that are still out and active on this sheltered side of Howth. Depending on weather, we may explore some wooded areas.  

Leaders:  Mary Carson, Frank Smith, Katy Duff

Bring: warm clothing.

FRIDAY 25th  DECEMBER 2009

President Bob Aldwell and all the officers and directors of DNFC wish all our members and friends a very happy Christmas.

SATURDAY 26th DECEMBER 2009                              IRISHTOWN PARK AND SOUTH WALL 

ST. STEPHEN'S DAY WALK

Blow away the holiday cobwebs and escape the elephants and polar bears on telly. Ignore the comforts of home and join us on our traditional St. Stephen’s Day walk, this year in one of DNFC’s regular haunts – before ‘incineration’. 

Leader: David Nash

HAPPY NEW YEAR

SUNDAY 10th JANUARY 2010                            CANCELLED                                              DUN LAOGHAIRE

BIRDS AND GPS

We will look at birds along the coast at Dun Laoghaire and hope to compare the numbers of Mediterranean Gulls with Black-Headed Gulls.

There will also be a demonstration on the use of Global Positioning System equipment.

Leader: Peter Craven

THURSDAY 21st JANUARY 2010                     NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS , GLASNEVIN

EVENING LECTURE

Speaker: Dr. Daniel Kelly

Title: “From Gardener to Botanist - from Ireland to the New World Tropics - people, places and plants”

Venue: Visitor and Education Centre

Time: 8:00 p.m.(sharp)

Dr. Daniel Kelly is a Senior Lecturer in the Botany Department at Trinity College Dublin. A distinguished ecologist, he has worked extensively on the woodlands of Ireland, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean .

SATURDAY 23rd JANUARY 2010                                         ST. CATHERINE'S PARK, LEIXLIP

SCAVENGER HUNT

Around this time in recent years we have gone to Knocksink for a Scavenger Hunt.  This year however we have chosen a different location – St. Catherine's Park in Leixlip.  So, do come and join us and see what you can find in our Wildlife (plant and animal) Scavenger Hunt this winter.  This outing is especially for younger members, but both adults and children are welcome to come along.  The outing will last about 2 hours.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Leaders: Niamh Lennon and Jennifer Ball .

Bring: Wellies, warm waterproof clothing, identification books (you might have got a new one for Christmas), a pencil and a clipboard (if possible, but not necessary) and a snack to reward yourself for all your hard work!

SATURDAY 30th JANUARY 2010                           NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS , GLASNEVIN  

BRYOPHYTE WORKSHOP AND TALKS

We will hold an indoor bryophyte event, similar to the one in early 2009, with talks on a range of topics and a practical bryophyte identification session.  Talks will include 'Woodland bryophytes and a species new to Ireland' (Fionnuala O'Neill), 'Photographing bryophytes' (Pat Lenihan), 'Origins of bryophyte names' (PJ Walls) and 'Bryophytes of petrifying springs' ( Melinda Lyons ).  Jo Denyer and others will assist in identifying specimens.

Co-ordinator: Declan Doogue

MEMBERS ONLY

Bring: bryophytes for identification (especially Sphagnum and woodland bryophytes), identification books, microscope/power lead/slides etc. if you have them.

THURSDAY 4th FEBRUARY 2010                    NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN

EVENING LECTURE

Speaker: Dr. Micheline Sheehy Skeffington

Title: "Turloughs, Biodiversity and the Farmers' role in maintaining it"

Venue: Visitor and Education Centre

Time: 8:00 p.m.(sharp)

Dr. Micheline Sheehy Skeffington is a well-known botanist and lecturer in the Botany Department of University College Galway. She has worked extensively on the remarkable turlough habitats, the disappearing lakes of the west of Ireland and is an expert on the ecology on Ireland's wetland habitats.  Micheline has had a life-long interest in natural history and was secretary and one of the leading lights of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club. With Dr.Peter Wyse Jackson she co-authored The Flora of Inner Dublin, published in association with DNFC in 1984.

NOTE

• Meetings of The Dublin Naturalists' Field Club are open to Members 
  and their Guests.
  

• If you wish to join applications should be made to the Membership Secretary or by completion of the Membership Application Form and sending to the
  
  Membership Secretary
  Fridolin Kerr
  31 Cherrywood Park 
  Clondalkin
  Dublin 22

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EVENTS PROGRAMME AUGUST 2009 to NOVEMBER 2009

THURSDAY 6th AUGUST 2009                                                          NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN

DNFC VISITING SPECIALIST : DR. SIMON SPENCER

Lecture: Butterflies and Farming: A European Perspective

Venue: Visitor & Education Centre

Time: 8.00 p.m. (sharp)

Speaker: Dr. Simon Spencer

Mountain Fritillary Boloria napaea

Simon Spencer was trained as an entomologist and worked briefly in locust and grasshopper research in Africa. He soon discovered that the job of an entomologist was to poison as many insects as possible. After a doctorate at Oxford, studying DDT pollution, he moved to Wales in 1975 to be an organic smallholder and eventually pursued a career as a computer programmer.

He has worked part time for a number of years as a contractor on butterfly projects, most recently on the Pearl-bordered Fritillary in Wales and the Kackar mountains in Turkey. He has long been active in Wales in helping to bring the farming and the conservation communities together.

He is particularly interested in European butterflies and the effect of changes in agriculture on them. He travels extensively in Europe studying butterflies. He co-authored Butterfly Conservation Europe's policy paper on the Common Agricultural Policy. He was elected to Butterfly Conservation's (BC) Council in 2005 and was active in setting up the BC European Interests Group which he chairs.

Lullymore West, Co.Kildare

SATURDAY 8th AND SUNDAY 9th AUGUST 2009                                    COUNTY MAYO

2 DAY WEEKEND FIELD MEETING IN COUNTY MAYO, 8th - 9th AUGUST 2009

Exact details of the sites to be visited and activities each day will vary according to the likelihood of finding our target species. It has been almost impossible to predict the appearance of many species in the past couple of years, and weather conditions in Mayo during August can vary considerably. Check the likely weather for each day, and be prepared for wet underfoot conditions.

Lough Carra

SATURDAY 8th

Butterflies, Moths and General Natural History of Lough Carra

Lough Carra has some very interesting fen habitats, limestone pavement, grassland and scrub together with semi-natural woodland, with a good range of plant species especially orchids in season. Butterflies of the area include grayling, dingy skipper, green hairstreak, wood white, marsh fritillary, green hairstreak and silver-washed fritillary, in season. If the weather is kind we will look for purple hairstreak (bring binoculars). Moth traps which were set the previous night will be opened and contents examined and identified.

 Leaders: Chris Huxley, Simon Spencer & DNFC members

 Bring lunch

 For more information on Lough Carra, see www.loughcarra.org

SUNDAY 9th 

Selected Flora and Fauna of Loughs Mask, Conn and Cuilin

We will first visit Moth Traps, if weather conditions allow any to have been set out overnight.

Later in the morning we intend to visit sites for some later-flowering Mayo plants: Hypericum canadense, Spiranthes romanzoffiana, Sanguisorba officinalis and a site where (unconfirmed) Dactylorhiza occidentale  was still in flower at this time in 2008.  Most of these sites are also good for late Odonata such as Aeshna grandis and A. juncea, the three Sympetrum species and late-summer Damselflies. Exact details of sites to be visited will depend on conditions and available time.

There will be at least one Oak woodland site where we can look for purple hairstreak and for second generation holly blue, as well as the common late-summer butterfly species meadow brown, ringlet, speckled wood, etc.

SATURDAY 15th AUGUST 2009                        NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN

THE MOTHS OF NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS

2010 has been declared by the United Nations to be International Year for Biodiversity. As part of its programme for the Year the National Botanic Gardens wishes to do an audit of its resident (and migrant) Lepidoptera. The Field Club has agreed to hold two meetings as part of a feasibility study. If this preliminary work is fruitful then further meetings are likely to follow in 2010. These two events will involve the setting of light traps at dusk and the identification of the captured moths the following morning, before releasing them back to "the wild".  We hope that Ken Bond will join us to assist with identification. This will be a learning event for all, so you are encouraged to bring along any identification books that you may have.

If you are contemplating buying an identification book you should consider Paul Waring and Martin Townsend's "Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland". British Wildlife Publishing. This book has very good life-like illustrations by Richard Lewington. An excellent website in relation to known distribution in Ireland is www.mothsireland.com . If you are in the market for purchasing a light trap then  there is a range of equipment suppliers in the United Kingdom including the celebrated Watkins and Doncaster (www.watdon.co.uk).

Leaders: David Nash and Shane Lombard

Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)

SATURDAY 22nd AUGUST                                                                             FLORA OF HOWTH

SHORELINE VEGETATION

We will look at shoreline vegetation on Sutton Strand with an emphasis on Chenopodium, Atriplex etc.  After lunch, we will look at shoreline in the Burrow Strand area.

Leader:  Con Breen

   Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium marinum)

SATURDAY 29th AUGUST                                                                BALLAST PITS, SKERRIES

Ballast Pit

At its best this site was a haven for insects, invertebrates and plants, and was the last known Irish site for a rare solitary bee species. Much of the original site has already been consumed by housing and recreational facilities, and it is now intended to turn what remains into a car-park. We want to have a look at what remains before the once well-known site finally disappears.

Leaders:  Gerry Sharkey and Colm Ronayne

   Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)

TUESDAY 1st SEPTEMBER                              FLORA OF HOWTH (EVENING MEETING)

CLIFF TOP GRASSLANDS

We will visit cliff top grasslands near the Summit

Leader:  Declan Doogue

Western Clover (Trifolium occidentale)

SATURDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 2009                 NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN

THE MOTHS OF NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS

This is the second event in our survey of moths in National Botanic Gardens (see 15th August for details).

Leaders: David Nash and Shane Lombard

SATURDAY 12th SEPTEMBER                                                                     FLORA OF HOWTH

There will be two DNFC meetings in Howth to-day this one, and at rock-pools at Balscadden

This will be an opportunity to see some late season plants and ferns to improve your skills in recognising plants, including ferns, in fruit and later vegetative stages.

Leader:  David Nash

SATURDAY 12th SEPTEMBER                               ROCKPOOLS AT BALSCADDEN, HOWTH

The rockpools in Balscadden contain a fascinating array of animals such as crabs, fish, anemones, star fish, brittlestars, winkles, whelks, and prawns.  This outing is especially for younger members, but adults and children alike have enjoyed it in previous years and everyone is welcome to come along.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Leaders: Niamh Lennon and Jennifer Ball

SUNDAY 20th SEPTEMBER 2009                               GLENCREE AREA, COUNTY WICKLOW

BRYOPHYTES

This is our first bryophyte outing of the season.  We will return to Co. Wicklow to look at sites in the Glencree area.

We hope during this outing to key out species in the field using “Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland – a Field Guide”.  A number of copies of the key will be available on the day but to ensure there are enough to go round, you may wish to download your own copy of the key, contained in the 'Preliminary Pages' section of the Field Guide, http://hosting.sleath.co.uk/bbs/.

The Field Guide is due for publication later this year.  In addition to the key, it contains hundreds of colour photographs and black and white drawings of Mosses and Liverworts, descriptions of species, notes on habitats, and distribution maps, all presented in a user-friendly way.  It is available to order through the BBS website (www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk) at a concessionary pre-publication price of £19.95 stg. until  31st October 2009, after which it will be available at £24.95 stg.

Leader:  Jo Denyer

Bring: Field Guide identification key (if you have a copy), hand lens (x20 if possible), hiking boots / wellies, raingear, lunch.

Fissidens species 

SATURDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 2009                                                             FLORA OF HOWTH

Late flora in the Ben of Howth area

Leader: Gerry Sharkey

THURSDAY 1st OCTOBER                                                                  ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY

DARWIN, PRAEGER AND THE CLARE ISLAND SURVEYS

EXHIBITION:

DNFC members are invited to view the exhibition as a group in advance of the lunchtime lecture.  Admission is free, but the RIA requires an indication of the numbers attending.  If you would like to attend, please inform Melinda Lyons in advance.

Location:  RIA Meeting Room, Academy House, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2

   
Rober Lloyd Praeger

LUNCHTIME LECTURE:

Title: Assembling the home team: from A.G. More to R. Ll. Praeger

Speaker: Declan Doogue

Time:  .00 p.m.(sharp) to 2:00 p.m.

Location:  RIA Meeting Room, Academy House, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2

SUNDAY 4th OCTOBER 2009                                                                             GLENDALOUGH

FUNGUS FORAY

A Fungus Foray to study autumn mushrooms in the field in the morning, followed by an opportunity to identify species indoors in the afternoon.  We will foray as a group with Maria Cullen who is currently pursuing a doctorate on edible forest fungi at University of Limerick.  Restraint and best practice for collection are required, particularly as we will be in Wicklow Mountains National Park.

Leaders: Maria Cullen and Howard Fox

Bring: mushroom basket (no plastic bags please!), identification books if possible, notebook and lunch.  Parchment paper will also be useful.

SUNDAY 11th OCTOBER     BRYOPHYTES of POLLARDSTOWN AND BALLYNAFAGH

Leaders: Katy Duff and Jo Denyer

We intend to compare the bryophyte flora of the tufa springs at these two sites. Pollardstown Fen is a designated SAC partly because of this, a habitat protected under European legislation.

Bring:  lenses and keys for Bryophyte identification. It will be wet underfoot, and bring lunch   

Pollardstown Fen

THURSDAY 15th OCTOBER 2009                    NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN

Lecture: Bird Atlas  2007-11

Venue:  Visitor and Education Centre

Time:    8:00 p.m.(sharp)

Speaker:  Brian Caffrey

Brian Caffrey is Bird Atlas Coordinator with BirdWatch Ireland.  He oversees a network of volunteers across Ireland who contribute to mapping Ireland's bird species for the Atlas.

The last Atlas was produced 20 years ago.  Since then, pressure on bird habitats has increased, particularly due to changes in farming practices and climate.  Bird Atlas 2007-11 will help us monitor how our bird populations are faring.  It provides an opportunity to be involved in mapping local areas and playing a part in protecting Ireland's birds.  Maps to date show some exciting new arrivals to Ireland and some species that are struggling to survive.

Puffin © BirdWatch

SATURDAY 17th OCTOBER 2009                                                                                    DALKEY

BIRDS, INSECTS AND PLANTS

Subject to weather, this walk will take us in a circuit of Dalkey, via Dalkey Quarry, Vico Road and Sorrento Park.  The area has a positive microclimate and in mid October there should still be an interesting range of native and introduced/escaped flowering plants and insects as well as a variety of birds and if the weather is kind, a lizard or two. The walk is gentle, mostly on tracks and with some steps at a few points. It will take about three hours.

Leaders:  Bob Aldwell and Katy Duff

SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER 2009                                                             NORTH BULL ISLAND

BIRDS

The Bull Island made its first appearance in the 17th century, has been growing ever since and is now more than five kilometres long.  We hope to walk from the Interpretive Centre to the tip of the island, about 3 km.  The lagoon, salt marsh and sand flats that lie between the island and the  Howth Road make up one of  Ireland’s most exciting habitats for wintering birds, reckoned to number around 30,000.  We should see Brent geese and many species of duck, waders and gulls.

Leader: Christopher Moriarty

SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER 2009                            CORKAGH DEMESNE, CLONDALKIN

AUTUMN WALK

Woodland, hedgerows and ponds; birds, autumn fruits and fungi.  We hope to collect some material for the Members’ day on 7th November.

Leaders:  Mary Carson and Shane Lombard

         
Corkagh Demesne

SATURDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2009         NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN

DNFC MEMBERS' DAY

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Dandelion

  
Frogspawn & developing tadpoles

Atlas Moth (largest moth in the world) with wingspan of 30cm (above)

Luna Moth (Actias luna), wingspan approx. 11cm

Brent Goose: RSPB

Powerscourt Waterfall

Dalkey Quarry

Coolattin

Italian Dolomites

Lough Bray

                                                  
                                  Glencree          

                                                        War Memorial Park

                                                      
                                            Bryophyte

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 Orchis (Anacamptis) morio 
Green-winged orchid

Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion

Echium pinana, Howth

Cerastium diffusum Sea Mouse-ear 
Donabate

Little Tern [Copyright RSPB]

 Ornithopus perpusillus Bird's-foot
  Howth

Dalkey Quarry

Marsh Fritillary

Trichomanes speciosum Killarney Fern
Co Tipperary

                  


NOTE

• Meetings of The Dublin Naturalists' Field Club are open to Members 
  and their Guests.
• If you wish to join applications should be made to the Membership Secretary or by completion of the Membership Application Form and sending to the
  
  Membership Secretary
  Fridolin Kerr
  31 Cherrywood Park 
  Clondalkin
  Dublin 22

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