Birds
in Dunsany
Dunsany Estate hosts a wide range of birds, from songbirds to birds of prey, which aid seed dispersal, pest control, and biodiversity, enriching the estate.
Recording Birdlife at Dunsany - Polliknow
Polliknow conducted a trial at Dunsany Nature Reserve to explore bird biodiversity using passive acoustic monitoring and machine learning-based sound recognition. A Polliknow device, equipped with a standard USB microphone, was placed in a fixed location from 13th–16th May 2025.
It recorded during morning and evening peak activity periods, capturing short audio clips of around one minute each. The recordings were then analysed using BirdNET, an open-source sound analysis tool developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Chemnitz University of Technology, which identifies bird species from their calls and songs and provides a confidence score for each detection.
A total of 57 bird species were identified in this period with a total of 350 audio recordings collected.
Bird Species in Dunsany
Core Findings
Bird Species in Dunsany
Highlights from Polliknow
Birds in Dunsany Estate
Milvus milvus (Red Kite)
The Red Kite (Milvus milvus) is a medium-large bird of prey with a reddish-brown body, forked tail, and broad wings, feeding mainly on carrion and small mammals.
Recorded 106 times by Polliknow
Extinct in Ireland since the 19th century; reintroduced in 2007
Conservation status: Red
Birds in Dunsany Estate
Numenius arquata (Eurasian Curlew)
- The Eurasian Curlew is Ireland’s largest wader, recognised by its long, down-curved bill, which it uses to probe mud and soft ground for invertebrates.
Recorded 37 times by Polliknow
Over 96% population decline in Ireland since the 1980s; only 138 confirmed breeding pairs remained by 2017
Conservation status: Red
Birds in Dunsany Estate
Haematopus ostralegus (Eurasian Oystercatcher)
The Eurasian Oystercatcher is a large, striking wader with black-and-white plumage and a long, bright orange bill, specialised for feeding on shellfish and marine invertebrates.
Recorded 3 times by Polliknow
Listed as high conservation concern in Ireland; most sightings occur between September and March
Conservation status: Red
Birds in Dunsany Estate
Apus apus (Common Swift)
- The Common Swift spends most of its life in flight, feeding on airborne insects and only landing to breed.
Recorded 3 times by Polliknow
Summer migrant from Africa; widespread in Ireland but experiencing population decline
Conservation status: Red
Birds in Dunsany Estate
Muscicapa striata (Spotted Flycatcher)
- The Spotted Flycatcher is a small, slender bird that perches upright before darting out to catch flying insects mid-air.
Recorded 4 times by Polliknow
Summer visitor to Ireland from May to September; still relatively common but in decline
Conservation status: Amber
Birds in Dunsany Estate
Dendrocopos major (Great Spotted Woodpecker)
- The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodland bird, recognised by its black-and-white plumage, red markings, and distinctive drumming on trees.
Recorded 1 time by Polliknow during this recording
Extinct in Ireland since the 17th–18th century; now successfully recolonised and widespread
