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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

County Galway Birding (local patch) (1 Viewer)

Troakie did you bring the camera would love to see the otter. The last time I seen one was distant views at Rasahane.

Things like that don't appear when I have my camera! It's the first time I've seen one this side of the city. You'd be better off looking for them along the eastern side of the bay I reckon - I've had about 4 sightings along that side.

Troakie
 
Gulls, gulls, gulls

Heard from Paul Kelly that Pat Lonergan and himself reckon there have been at least four second-winter Kumliens at Nimmo's this winter. Very good total. I had over twenty Icelands at Killybegs yesterday and there wasn't a sniff of one.
John Murphy and Finbarr MacGabhann and Clare's first American Herring gull in a field near Cloghaun Lough, Loop Head on Saturday. Well done lads. Lovely looking thing. Photos at http://www.clarebirdwatching.com/scarce-rare-bird-sightings/march-2008.html
2 Yellow-legged Gulls at Lough Donnell also on same day. Why aren't we turning these up more regularly at Nimmo's? Mike Davis and myself had one a number of years back along the Long Walk. Off the top of my head I'm not aware of any other records for Galway??

Dermot
 
Well Bucks,

What a Weekend for the birds. Must admit the weather on Saturady was sh1t. But thanks to Tom Cuffe for letting tim know about the wheatear at the causeway. I bumped into tim and we both got to see it. (cheers Tom). Also good views of the Surf Scoters.

3 of us braved the Slieve Aughties on Sunday. Weather Glorious. Sambos and Soup. Happy Days.

The Day produced Jack Snipe, Redpoll, Siskins (in the wild), and wait for it-----4 Crossbills! We seen two different pairs. Did not even have to leave the car they were sp close. Excellent sighting.

If it could not get any better we also ticked opff merlin, kestrel, a pair of hen harriers, a pair of Sparrow hawks and oh ya a Buzzard. There was possible perigrene sighting but the jury is still out.

Great place. Encourage you all to leave the docks and head for the hills!

John
 
County List
135 Buzzard
136 Jack Snipe

Is amazing the number of reports I have got on the Otter at Nimmo's Pier and I have yet to see it there.

John sounds like you had a good trip up the mountain.

Dermot it is amazing why one particular bird should favour one site over another. Two American Herring gulls at Nimmo's two Yellow Legged Gulls in Clare!!! I think an adult Yellow Legged Gull would be straight forward ID but anything younger I think I would have, a difficult time picking one out. But I am sure if they are around Michael will pick them up. As far as the Kumlien's is concerned the margin regarding what is and what is not a Kumlien's is confusing in the marginal birds.

Tim Griffin had 47 Black-Throated Divers at Finvarra today.

Tom
 
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Few more photos from yesterday
 

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Saturday 5th April, 10:30AM: Short outing with Tim Griffin, Nimmo's Pier, Galway City.

Both adult and juvenile American Herring Gulls were at the Docks today. 2 Surf Scoters were still near Mutton island and a collection of about 13 Icelands between the docks, Nimmo's Pier and Mutton Island. With a Ring-billed Gull at Waterside. Also at the slipway there was a Herring Gull argentatus race. Thanks to Pat Lonergan for help with this one.

Yesterday 8 Icelands lined up for a group photo. There was 9 but it remain out of shot.
Tom
 

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Hello,

On my way into the Business park in loughrea this morning, the place was full of starlings,. There is a large patch of damp ground close by and as I turned into work, I noticed a Snipe shoot across the car park and land in the Grassy area. I drove over and as i did I flushed it- It only flew about 3 Metres and grounded again..... Yes you guesed it- A Jack Snipe!!!

I got out of the car and entered the field, I got within about 5 feet of it as it lay close to the ground. No F!%*ing camera of course but what a sighting.

It flushed again and flew about 6 metres before landing again.

I must admit, put a smile of my face for the rest of the day.
 
News Flash
County List
137 White-tailed Eagle found in Galway with tag persumed to be one of those released in Kerry. The Eagle was found by Tim Griffin and seen by Aonghus O'Donnell and me this evening. The bird was very distant but the over all impression is this bird is big very big. It was being mobbed by crows and flew behind some trees.
http://www.goldeneagle.ie/portal.php?x=2
 
Good to hear ye saw it Tom.
Hopefully it'll stick around for another while. Til the week end anyway
Those Eagles are proving to be real wanderers. Reports from Cork recently too
 
Morning all,

I just typed www. irishbirds.com in to my pc by accident (no really), and I got into an escort agency! Very Funny. It warns you not to enter if you are looking for Feathered Birds- but maybe some of you know that already?!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the tip on the eagle last night Tom (Cuffe). I went down towards the quarry but it was a needle in a haystack and I gave up- beautiful evening though. The Midges were out in force.

Should there be any plans to organise a relocation party for the Eagle please count me in. I expect a lot of interest today when news spreads of Galways latest attraction.

Don't know if this counts tom

138 Candy from Dublin- available for massage-(she was on a birding website!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
 
Hi all

Might get down to Nimmos pier in morning, are the surf scoter still about ?

regards
Sean
 
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Sean
Surf Scoters were reported today including the juv American Herring Gull and a White-tailed Eagle.

John
you must have gone beyond the Feathered Birds warning to find out about candy.
Tom
 
There was a report (I can't seem to find it now) of a Gyr falcon in Co.Mayo a few days ago. Does anyone know anything about this report - location etc, as I may be down that way in a few days time,

thanks,
Keith.
 
Any news on the Eagle today anybody? Heard it hasn't been seen today.
Had a brief look yesterday evening with JC but the weather closed in shortly after we arrived there so we didn't see it.

Troakie, it would be great to hear about the Gyr sighting from you. Great find.
 
County List
138 Willow Warbler
139 Swallow
140 Eurasian Bittern

NEW UPDATE
Bittern found today at Kilronan, Ishishmore in an exhausted state no further news.
No sightings today of the White-tailed Eagle.

Birds seen today on the monthly outing at Nimmo's with Tim Griffin.
Iceland Gull
Common Gull
Black-headed Gull
Lesser-black-backed Gull
Greater blacked-backed Gull
American Herring Gull
Herring Gull
Turnstone
Redshank
Surf Scoter
Feral Pigeon
Mute Swan
Brent Geese
Bar-tailed Godwit
Razorbill
Cormorant
Dunlin
Wigeon
Merganser
Great-crested Grebe
Mallard
Jackdaw
Oystercatcher
 
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