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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)

Nimmo's today at 1.00pm
American Herring Gull (1st winter)
Ring-billed Gull (adult)
2 Glaucous Gulls (1st & 2nd winter)
6 Iceland Gulls (2 adults 2 1st 2 2nd winter)
123 Brent Geese in the playing fields. My counts this year for Brent have gone from 14, 32, 66 and today 123 in the playing fields.
 
Surf scoter still present off Silver Strand this afternoon. Also adult Iceland Gull offshore and hundreds of razor/guillies heading west.
NB - Silver Strand car park will be closed all weekend.

Troakie
 
Troakie
Thanks for the heads up on the carpark at Silver Strand. Galway Rally is on this weekend so they are keeping the boy racers out of some of the carparks. Major problems last year in the Dyke Road carpark so that is also closed for the weekend.

Before going out birding check for rally routes.
Tom
 
Today at Nimmo's Pier
1st winter American Herring Gull
Adult American Herring Gull (I did not see it but 3 birders for across the water had it first think this morning)
Adult Ring-billed Gull (photo attached taken 29-01-08)
8 Iceland Gulls
2 Glaucous Gulls 1st and 2nd winter.
Red Throated Diver

Had 5 Long tailed Tits in the garden today which is a first..|=)|
 

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Today at Nimmo's Pier
1st winter American Herring Gull
Adult American Herring Gull (I did not see it but 3 birders for across the water had it first think this morning)
Adult Ring-billed Gull (photo attached taken 29-01-08)
8 Iceland Gulls
2 Glaucous Gulls 1st and 2nd winter.
Red Throated Diver

Had 5 Long tailed Tits in the garden today which is a first..|=)|

Great photos!! There's been Long Tailed Tits in our garden, but I've never managed to get a photo, they flit around so much.
 
5 purple sandpipers at Salthill today
At Mutton/Nimmo's: 3 little gulls, 3 glaucous gulls, 10 Iceland gulls, adult ring-billed gull.

Troakie
 
The 1st winter American Herring Gull was feeding on fish offal at Galway Docks today, along with 6 Iceland and 1 Glaucous Gull 1st winter. Ringed-bill was at the pier.

Also when to Lough Atalia usual suspects one duck in the distance I could not make out (need to gen up on my ducks) and the strange farmyard hybrid hanging around with the Shelduck. Scaup, teal, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Wigeon.

Troakie I assume you had the Little Gulls at Mutton Island Causeway how close were they and any idea of age.
 

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Troakie I assume you had the Little Gulls at Mutton Island Causeway how close were they and any idea of age.

One was off the Mutton Island outflow, visible at distance from the prom, 2 were on the field by the pier, one of which apparently moved to the adjacent river where it was showing very well in amongst the feeding bhgs. All were possibly adults, though one on the field I didn't get a close look at.

Also looked at Loughnahulla yesterday, but the tide was high, so few waders, and no Forster's. Had 4 scaup there though.

Troakie
 
John Archer and I had a really enjoyable day around Galway yesterday so thank you all for your helpfulness, particularly Tom Cuffe who took us to the warehouses where the American Herring Gull was in the afternoon.

The American Herring Gull (juvenile) was around Nimmo's mid morning and then in the docks all afternoon. We recorded 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls, 9 Iceland Gulls (2 adults, 1 second-winter and 6 juveniles), 2 adult Ring-billed Gulls and a couple of 1st-winter Little Gulls in the Nimmo's/docks area.

A quick trip to Rossaveal was rewarding - we found a second-winter Kumlien's Gull that on reviewing photos seems to be the bird that's been at Nimmo's this winter. Also 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and 6 juvenile Iceland Gulls.

The Surf Scoter was still at Silver Strand - although the car park was closed you could park at the bottom of the road.

A few pics: -
1. & 2. juvenile American Herring Gull Nimmo's
3. a couple of Icelands and one Glaucous Gull Rossaveal
4. juvenile Iceland Gull Rossaveal

Cheers and good birding

Rich
 

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Richard

Nice shots and thanks for the update. Missed the Little Gulls.

The Kumliens that was around Nimmo's recently had only one and half legs. See photos both show the stub 16 December 2007. I original ID it as an Iceland.:t: Did you manage to get a photo?

Tom
 

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Brendan
Would be interesting to get the colours/numbers of the the rings on those birds. I counted 183 on Tuesday but there could have been a few in the dip in the field.

Tim Griffin had the Forster's Tern at Doorus Pier near Kinvara, also a Velvet Scoter today and the Green winged Teal at Bell Habour Co. Clare.

No sign of the American Herring Gulls, the usual white wings and Ring-billed gulls at Nimmo's.
Tom
 
Tom,
I didn't see or get the rings. Was passing and stopped for a quick scan when I met Martin. He was making detailed notes for reporting onwards. You'll have to contact him for more details.
Brendan
 
Hi Tom

Just responding to your earlier post re:Kumlien's Gulls. I've had a look at the shots of the regular bird now (per your attachments as previously I was going off memory to be honest) and the Rossaveal bird is in fact to my eyes a different bird.

Have a look at the shot by Glyn Sellors on Surfbirds... it's a lot less mature mantle and coverts wise with a darker tail as well as retaining a dark eye and less advanced bill compared to the regular bird.

I put a load of gull shots from the weekend on my website and may well see you again the first weekend of March when I'll be sure to be back in Galway.

Cheers and good birding

Rich
 
I'm truly enjoying these posts.
My Father was born in a village called Derrykeel .
His surviving sisters live in Kinvara.
Its been five years since I visited Ireland.
Discussions on other threads regarding reintroduction of Sea Eagles in Kerry and Golden Eagles further north have whetted my appetite for a return trip.
I generally base myself out of a favotite B&B near Doolin when I'm in your neck of the woods.
Keep those reports coming.
 
There was a few expert eyes scanning County Galway today. I had a quick scan at the docks before work and the 1st winter American Herring Gull was showing well
Tim Griffin (TG) Derek Charles (DC) and Richard Millington (RM)
@ Rossaveal (DC)
2nd winter Kumliens
6 1st winter Iceland
2 1st winter Glaucous
@ Nimmo's & Docks (DC) (TG) (RM)
2 adult Ring billed gull
1 1st winter Ring billed Gull (DC)
3 adult Iceland Gulls
10 1st winter Iceland Gulls
1 2nd winter Iceland Gull
2 1st winter Glaucous Gull
2 Little Gulls (RM)
1st winter American Herring (TC)
@ Silver strand (TG) (DC)
Surf Scoter
@ Corrandulla (DC)
3 Cattle Egrets

Check out Derek Charles photo web site
http://www.pbase.com/derekcharles

Richard
I seen Glyn Sellors excellent photos on Surfbirds and I would agree with your observation.
For the locals checkout Richards web site
http://www.freewebs.com/richbonser/recentphotographs.htm

TBurke
Good to know your dropping in on the Galway Tread. When your over next time let us know what you find.

Tom
 
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Todays round up

The 1st winter American Herring Gull was a little allusive this morning. But was found by Dermot Breen on Claddagh Beach where it remained for about an hour an half. When it returned to it usual haunt at the buildings in the Docks beside the RNLI station.

Also on the beach was 4 Sandwich Terns no sign of the Forster’s Tern. As a rule if you see the Sandwich Terns the Forster’s Tern is never to far away.

Also reported were two Little Gulls were also on the beach. They have been around about 3 days I have yet to connect with them.|:(|

Other gull news from Nimmo’s includes 2 Ring-billed Gulls, 12 Iceland Gulls, 2 Glaucous Gulls and 2 Kumliens Gulls one of which is the returning one legged bird reported today by Paul Kelly.

The flock of Brent Geese where in the playing fields at Nimmo’s, one had leg rings which included yellow on the left leg and white and metal on the right.

Also a the slipway was a Black headed Gull with a yellow darvic ring number 201H.

There was a report of a Ruddy Duck on Lough Rea
 

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Hello Tom.
a few pics from Friday, i will post more later.

all the best

d
 

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All Iceland Gulls.

d
 

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