County Galway Birding (local patch) (1 Viewer)

John Carey · Apr 16, 2008

If anyone has an audio feed of crossbill calls could they post them. The bird-race produced a series of calls in thick conifers which left Tom and I puzzled. We don't want to add it tthe the final tally without confirmation.

birdsgalway · Apr 16, 2008

83 Brent Geese on Claddagh Beach this evening. No sightings of the Surf Scoters or the American Herring Gulls since Saturday. A few Ringed Plover and Dunlin coming into breeding plumage. 6 Iceland Gull and an adult Glaucous Gull still present at the slipway and about 6 Rock Pipits chasing around Mutton Island Causeway.

Tom there are few more regulars which have not been note on the county list yet including a Barn Owl.

birdsgalway · Apr 17, 2008

County List update with news from Tim Griffin at Rusheen Bay
145 Whimbrel
146 Little Tern

Had a quick walk from the Docks to Mutton Island Causeway and the Juv. American Herring Gull is back at the Docks and a Great Northern Diver of Claddagh Beach and 2 Brent Geeese the best this very cold evening.

birchall · Apr 18, 2008

Saw my first swallows of the year this morning in Barna / Furbo area west of Lough Inch. Didn't feel a bit like Summer. Artic visitors would have been more appropriate in the biting Easterly.

birdsgalway · Apr 21, 2008

The juv American Herring Gull is back at it's usual haunt at the docks 4 Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier and an adult Glaucous Gull and a single Wheatear at Mutton Island Cause way. Up to 4 Great Norther Divers and 3 Red-throated Divers. At Silver strand there were 7 Little Terns and a single Whimbrel. On Thursday there was 83 Brent Geese near Mutton Island Cause way with 9 there today.

That bitting easterly wind eased a bit today but very poor light for getting any reasonable photos today. News from the south of the country that the spring migration has started.

John Carey · Apr 21, 2008

Hello All,

Had a quick trip to Tipp at the weekend. Ashton Callows to be precise. Water levels very low, but a few Blackwits and Ruff about. Good views of per. falc which chased everything away- twice!

Also had decent numbers of stock doves and whimbrels.

:t:

birdsgalway · Apr 21, 2008

The contrast in weather conditions this evening flat calm and the bitting easterly over the weekend. Anything on the bay was very visible. 13 Great Northern Divers, Guillemot and Razorbill. 3 Swallow and 2 Sandwich Terns flying around the Causeway.

John Carey · Apr 22, 2008

Great Photos Tom,

Nice to see GND in ful Plumage. Will have to make a trip to Nimmos to see them for myself.

Lots of swallows around the Tip area at the weekend-anuy reports of house martins yet, should not be too long.

John Carey · Apr 22, 2008

Attention Eagale watchers.

I usually check my native Sligo site- www.sligobirding.com.

In their very good sightings page, there have been conflicting reports of Golden and White tailed eagles our the town and in an area just north of the Town close to the main estuary and bay.

Could this be the same Bird that was around the corrrib?

From the report, it sounds like it flew low over the town and was seen by many- not fair- I had to stand inthe freezing f!@*^ng cold for 8 hours just to see it 3 miles away in a haze! :C

Anyway- should it take residence in Sligo, I might nip down to see my family..............:flyaway:

birdsgalway · Apr 22, 2008

Checked through the photos from the weekend looking at the wagtails as I remember I thought I had a White Wagtail on Mutton Island Causeway. Got two shots one poor and one reasonable attached. I did not see it again only a few Pied.

Tom

That White tailed Eagle appears to have a one way ticket home if it keeps going north.

birdsgalway · Apr 23, 2008

Greenland Wheatear (leucorhoa) at Mutton Island Causeway this evening

John Carey · Apr 24, 2008

Nice Photo Tom.

Just to confirm- greenland birds have a deeper rufous tinge to the breast. That is a female in the photo? Do the males also have a deeper coloured breast?

:t:

Brosnabirder · Apr 24, 2008

Two more to add to the County Year List

147. Grasshopper Warbler.
148. Sedge Warbler.

Both heard by John Carey and myself down in Dangan this evening.

birdsgalway · Apr 24, 2008

Nice one lads on the Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler. Must spend an evening with ye in Dangan.

John
I am not expert on this but there are 3 things to look out for regarding the Greenland Wheatear, Time of year (spring), intensity of the rufous buff and the size (much larger then the Northern Wheatear). It is a female and I am not sure about the male, but I think the same applies. If anyone can add anything to this it would be appreciated.

The juv American Herring Gull was at it's usual haunt at the docks and the outfall pipe at Long Walk 3 Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's Pier and an adult Glaucous Gull and single Whimbrel and 37 Brent Geese on Claddagh Beach, 2 Wheatear and a White Wagtail at Mutton Island Cause way.

nialltkeogh · Apr 25, 2008

Re: Wheatears

Any (male) Wheatears that I've seen that were more than likely leucorhea showed a concentrated deep orangey-buff colouration on the upper breast contrasting with the white belly (comparable to a stonechat). In the nominate oenanthe the colouration on the underparts is more buff than orange and is present as a wash along the upper breast/flanks. Greenland types also show very thick conspicuous white superciliums...

See Ya,
Niall

breffni · Apr 25, 2008

I'm no expert but male spring birds also often seem to show a sprinkling of cinnamon colouration on their back while the nominate never seem to show this...

birdsgalway · Apr 27, 2008

Thanks to Niall and Breffni for their input on the Greenland Wheatear hope we can reciprocate sometime.

Saturday had 37 Brent on Claddagh Beach, 4 Whimbrel and two Wheatear.
At Anglingham there was 31 Whimbrel 4 Willow Warbler 4 Sedge Warbler and a Dunnock.

Today the American Herring Gull was feeding on the best of Salmon offal at the docks and the adult Glaucous Gull was at the slipway during a miserable wet day.

County List thanks to Tim Griffin
149 Chiffchaff
150 Common Tern

birdsgalway · Apr 28, 2008

In relation to our county list I assume we don't count White Wagtail, Greenland Wheatear ie sub-species. That theory should then be applied to the Kumlien's Gull which I counted (65). Anyone any comment on this.

Revised county list (Tim Griffin)
150 Cuckoo

Peter Phillips · Apr 28, 2008

birdsgalway said:
In relation to our county list I assume we don't count White Wagtail, Greenland Wheatear ie sub-species. That theory should then be applied to the Kumlien's Gull which I counted (65). Anyone any comment on this.

Revised county list (Tim Griffin)
150 Cuckoo

I think that sounds fair enough.

Brosnabirder · Apr 29, 2008

Peter Phillips said:
I think that sounds fair enough.

Sounds fair to me too Tom.

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