The Irish Catholic has an article telling that birds start mating on Valentine's Day and this week is also the last week of the Birds in Gardens census. Here are the counts taken by Mary Killeen of the different species. Number for last week is shown in front of the species and the highest weekly number during the census is shown in brackets after the bird's name
3 Pied Wagtails (4). 1 Robin (2). 2 Coal Tits (4). 4 Blue Tits (6). 6 Great Tits (6). 1 Magpie (2).
2 Jackdaw (4). 15 Rook (20). 10 Starling (21). 15 House Sparrow (15). 8 Chaffinch (8)
1 Green finch (4). 0 Goldfinch (6). 0 Willow Warbler (1).
Other birds on the selected menu sheet that were not recorded in our backyard include the Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing and Goldcrest.
More information available under www.birdwatchireland.ie or www.birdwatchireland.com
Rose Ryan organised the census for the Shannonbridge area this year.
The Trocaire Boxes for Lenten Alms have been distributed this week and also the Annual Financial Statement for Clonmacnois Parish which hopefully Father Frank will share with you.
Good news that Yahoo the web search engine company is to set up headquarters in Dublin and will employ some 400 people.
Weather - mostly cloudy today with a little drizzle and mist at times, but many places dry with a few bright or short sunny spells. Temperatures ranging from 7 C to 10 C or 45 F to 50 F.
The flood has dropped noticeably with the recent good drying weather.