Welcome to the Galway Tread Galwaybirder.
Sandwich Terns are common in Ireland. It would be impossible to say where the bird was rung without recapturing the bird and reading the number. More than likely somewhere in Europe as a chick on the nest.
At Rusheen bay yesterday there were about 30-40 Sandwich Terns with about 10 recently fledged birds.See attached photo with adult and juvenile.
This is an extract from Birds of Galway 1991-2000 regarding the status of Sandwich Terns. Image of front cover attached they were available in Easons on Shop Street
Sandwich Tern
Geabhrog scothdhubh
Sterna sandvicensis
Common summer visitor, passage migrant and scarce, but regular, wintering bird.
In Ireland the Sandwich Tern nests mainly on coastal and offshore islands, rarely breeding on inland freshwater lakes. The national survey in 1995 (Hannon et al., 1997) recorded 304 pairs in County Galway compared with 443 found during the earlier 1984 survey (Whilde, 1985), a decline that mirrors the national trend. "A dead ringed Sandwich Tern found on an islet north-west of Inishdawros, Galway in 1995 had been ringed as a chick on Greer's Island, Donegal in 1988. This highlights the mobility of Sandwich Terns between colonies" (Hannon et al., 1997).
Wintering records: single birds were recorded at Nimmo's Pier on 24th December 1991, 22nd February 1992, 26th November 1995 and 11th February 1996. Another birds was at Traught on 24th January 1999. Two at Nimmo's Pier on 21st November 1999, two moving between Nimmo's Pier and Traught from 8th January to 28th February 2000. One at Traught on 26th November 2000.
ATB
Tom
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