Coronation Plantation, Wicklow

Took a drive out to the Coronation plantation in Wicklow today.
Temp in Drimnagh was 7º, Temp at Sally Gap was 2º, drips of water had frozen into icicles.
There was no snow except for a dusting on the top of some of the highest points. Amazing scenery up there, but I only had my big lens so no landscapes here I'm afraid.

The River Liffey, Coronation plantation, Wicklow

Usually a good spot for Dippers

Coronation Plantation monument. I looked at the inscription but it was very worn away and in parts unfinished, there was a date that started 18 but didn't finish (assumed 1831, William iv Coronation, which is when these Scots Pines were planted).

Cold snap after an incredibly mild few months. Wicklow, Feb 5th 2012, 2º

I walked up through the heather to the top, it was near desolate except for some Sika. Sika Stag - antlers re-growing

More Sika, Wicklow mountains. Sika are non native - they're Japanese deer imported for Powerscourt estate originally

Found this down next to the river on a mound of grass (that's a 20c coin, no comments on exposure please).

The whole skeleton of this animal was on the ground - no idea what it was, I just know it's not a rat - if it is, I'm leaving.

Out of the corner of my eye I kept thinking the black in the sky was a Raptor.

But it's the top of the RTE transmitter on Kippure mountain.

Should have lightened this, but shows you how dark the day was - There's a Red Squirrel in there if you look closely.

It was a quiet day - which was really nice - every time I stopped to listen, there wasn't anything much to hear - birdwise or anything wise.
Just the river and the wind.
I did hear, then saw a Wren. I saw where a Greater spotted woodpecker had made holes in a tree and I heard what I think was a Great tit. Other than the pellet there were no other Raptor signs and I didn't see any Red grouse around the plantation or south of the Sally Gap which I had been hoping for.
Oh, several Ravens in flight in this area.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Phoenix Park

After dropping Cara off to Heuston, I decided I'd take a walk in Phoenix Park.
Am I glad I did.
Because the snow was so thick and it was so cold, I nearly had the park to myself.
Nearly.

Phoenix Park, Dublin, 5 December 2010.

Long Tailed Tit, there was a flock of 6

Grey Squirrel, Phoenix Park

I know we're supposed to hate them, but it's difficult!

Robin Orange Breast

Jackdaw, Phoenix Park - look at that eye against the snow

Whilst taking these photos I heard drumming up in the nearby trees.
The drumming was similar to that of the woodpeckers I had heard in the woods in Berlin earlier in the year and the woodpeckers I'd heard near our house in Yorkshire.
But here? In Ireland? In Dublin? Above my head in Phoenix Park?

I moved around the wood but the crunching snow under my boots didn't really make for silent moves and the drumming stopped.

With lots of squirrels around, maybe it was a squirrel, sometimes Rooks make a drumming noise..
I hunched down against a tree and sat still.
I sat and appreciated the peace and quiet for the first 20 minutes, after 30 minutes I was distracted with the shapes my breath was making in the air, by 40 mins my bones were pretty much frozen and my muscles and blood supply was starting to complain, I needed to get up and move.
Stubborness sometimes has its advantages though, as I waited another 10 minutes and heard the drumming start up again.

There were no dog walkers, no parents with loud children, the rent boy who had been checking me out had thankfully moved on, so I had the drumming to myself.
I craned my neck around and didn't have to move from where I was sitting, (just as well, my body was pissed off with me and wasn't moving) and there she was!!
High up in a tree hammering away at the bark - my first sighting of a female Greater Spotted Woodpecker in Ireland!
And I managed a photo!

Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Phoenix Park, Dublin (Dec 2010).

Female Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Phoenix Park

Female Greater Spotted Woodpecker, a male would have a red crown.

Dog walkers soon arrived and the Woodpecker flew away, but it was a great sighting and cooler because it was completely by chance and I was by myself.

Tree Creeper, Phoenix park

Tree Creeper.

Wren

Jay, I think I saw 4, but could have been same couple at different times.

Mistle Thrush, was having big scraps with Blackbirds

Redwings and Fieldfare

Redwing and Blackbird, for once not fighting each other over the berries

The female GS Woodpecker again on my way out of the woods.

Hooded Crows, gathering together to roost.

Phoenix park, Dublin