County Galway Birding (local patch) (3 Viewers)

[Dermot Breen]

209 Garganey, Rostaff Lake, 11th December 2011 (DB).

Shots of the Garganey (odd time to add it to the yearlist) and the Pallid Harrier from today and Iceland Gull at Nimmo's yesterday.

Dermot

 

[AOD]

Pallid Harrier still present yesterday.

 

[Dermot Breen]

210 Adult female Surf Scoter, Turbot Island, 20th December (DB).

Last addition of the year to the county yearlist? This could be the same bird that I had in November 10 near Roundstone. Its a 30km round trip between the two spots with a flock of 50 Common Scoters in between the two locations. Why she didn't bunk in with them I don't know, though about half of the Surfers I've seen here have been by themselves (possibly not out of choice?).

Dermot

Dermot

 

[Morg]

I spent a day in late December last year checking the gulls on Nimmo's pier and have the opportunity to have another go in early Jan. I spent all of my time last year on the West side of the river but noted that quite a few of the larger gulls seemed to loaf among the warehouses on the other side of the river - are there any viewing spots on the East side? I am particularly interested in trying to pick up the Am HG if it is around.

Thanks for any info or local knowledge.

Geoff

 

[Dermot Breen]

Hi Geoff

Yes its possible to get to the other side. This is the main harbour area. There are a few fishing boats tied up in behind those warehouses. The American Herring Gull has had a habitat in recent years of perching up on the roof of the blue warehouse visible from Nimmo's Pier.
http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,530173,724769,6,3
The AHG hasn't been seen as of yet this winter and the Forster's Tern has only been seen down around the Traught area (Troakie have you had it in Kinvarra Bay itself this winter?). There's just been a brief first-winter Iceland and the usual Ring-bills at Nimmo's.
I've had a few more white-wingers further west out here at Rossaveel and Ross Beach. The latter site is about an hours drive from Nimmo's.
http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,465624,759648,5,3
We're hoping things will pick up very shortly as the fishermen were allowed back out to sea again on Monday after about a two months break and we've had some very rough weather for the last few weeks which should have dragged a few bits over here.

Dermot

 

[Paul Troake]

Troakie have you had it in Kinvarra Bay itself this winter?

Dermot

Hi Dermot

My most recent couple of sightings of the Forster's were at the Kinvara end of Kinvara Bay, viewed from the main road in to Kinvara. No sign of it the last few times I've looked though.

Troakie

 

[Morg]

Dermot

Thanks for the detailed info - that is really helpful. I couldn't get the links to work, but can work out where you mean from google so that's no problem.

I'm not worried if there is not much about - the possibility of finding something is enough for me!

Thanks again

Geoff

Hi Geoff

Yes its possible to get to the other side. This is the main harbour area. There are a few fishing boats tied up in behind those warehouses. The American Herring Gull has had a habitat in recent years of perching up on the roof of the blue warehouse visible from Nimmo's Pier.
http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,530173,724769,6,3
The AHG hasn't been seen as of yet this winter and the Forster's Tern has only been seen down around the Traught area (Troakie have you had it in Kinvarra Bay itself this winter?). There's just been a brief first-winter Iceland and the usual Ring-bills at Nimmo's.
I've had a few more white-wingers further west out here at Rossaveel and Ross Beach. The latter site is about an hours drive from Nimmo's.
http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,465624,759648,5,3
We're hoping things will pick up very shortly as the fishermen were allowed back out to sea again on Monday after about a two months break and we've had some very rough weather for the last few weeks which should have dragged a few bits over here.

Dermot

 

[Dermot Breen]

Hi Geoff

That website seemed to be down for maintaince over the Christmas but seems to be back up working again.
I had a second-winter Kumlien's Gull and a first-winter Glaucous at Ross Beach today in some pretty wild conditions.

Dermot

 

[Dermot Breen]

Adult male Sperm Whale out on Omey Island today, found yesterday. 13.2m/43 feet in length. Last pic show an old scar from the sucker of a squid which they feed on. There were some fresh cuts which were quite deep. Lower jaw and some inner teeth broken which probably happened after death. Outer teeth were well worn so it wasn't a young animal. They have no teeth on the upper side of the mouth. Didn't stink too bad even though its probably dead for at least a fortnight or more.

Dermot

 

[birdsgalway]

4 Iceland Gulls at Waterside this morning.

Seasons Greetings and all the best for the New Year

 

[Hugh Delaney]

A sign of a reversal to old times?! RRROSS'S often turned up around now especially after ferocious westerly storms, but those were the good old days when Galway Bay was nice and filty

Hugh

 

[Dermot Breen]

Things have just turned round in just the last few days here for white-wingers. There have been at least 5 Iceland, 1-2nd Kumlien's and 5 Glaucous out in the west here between four sites and at least 8+ Iceland, 1-1st Kumlien's in the Mutton Island/Nimmo's/Waterside area in the last few days (mostly today). I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever see the likes of numbers of white-wings that we've have here up until about three years ago. Looks like all this horrendous weather of late is good for something at least.

Dermot

 

[birdsgalway]

Adult and 3rd winter Iceland Gulls at Nimmo's this morning

BIRDWATCH GALWAY
Saturday 7 January:
Short outing at Nimmo’s Pier;
Gather at the slip way at 10.30am.

 

[AOD]

Pallid Harrier still present this pm.

 

[Dermot Breen]

News from today. Prob. first-winter American Herring at Waterside, first-winter Kumlien's (yesterday) and 10 Icelands at Nimmo's Pier.
1-2nd and prob 1-1st Kumlien's, 3-1st & 1ad Iceland and 1-1st Glaucous Gull at Curhownagh Fish Farm off the SW area of Errislannan Pennisula, (south of Clifden) (I never seen a single white-wing gull at this site up until today!). 1-1st Iceland feeding at the side of the N59 about 3km east of Clifden. 1-1st and 1-2nd Iceland in Roundstone. Pallid Harrier also seen again today.

Happy days!
Dermot

 

[Dermot Breen]

Here's a quick round up of rarities recorded in the county during 2011. All records provisional (presumed returning birds not double counted). One of the best years for rarities though 2008 was marginally ahead. Three new species for the county I think - Montagu's Harrier, Pallid Harrier and Red-throated Pipit.

1 Green-winged Teal
1 Lesser Scaup
1 Surf Scoter
2 Smew
1 Wilson's Petrel
1 "Continental" Cormorant (potential first county record)
2 Bittern (or is it a single returning bird??).
1 Great White Egret
2 Montagu's Harrier (potentially first & second county records)
1 Pallid Harrier (potential first county record)
1 Hobby
1 Crane
1 Stone Curlew
2 Dotterel
3 American Golden Plover
2 Semipalmated Sandpiper (should have been twice or even three times that)
4 White-rumped Sandpipers (only two previous records ever)
2 Baird's Sandpiper (one previous record)
3 Buff-breasted Sandpiper (again should have been more)
12 Long-tailed Skua
1 American Herring Gull
1 Thayer's Gull
1 Forster's Tern
1 Red-throated Pipit (potential first county record)
1 "Blue-headed" Wagtail (potential first county record)
3 Barred Warbler
1 Rose-coloured Starling
10 Common Rosefinch

 

[Dermot Breen]

Male Ring-necked x Tufted Duck and male Blue-winged Teal x Shoveler at Rostaff Lake (Pink-footed Goose also present) and a selection of nine Icelands present between Nimmo's and Waterside today. Garganey also at Belclare Turlough.

Dermot

 

[birdsgalway]

Few shots of Kumliens' Gull at Nimmo's today.

 

[Morg]

Many thanks to Michael Davis, Tom Cuffe and Dermot Breen for help and advice on my recent visit to Galway. Thoroughly enjoyed gulling Nimmo's and Waterside: highlights were the 6 (minimum) Iceland Gulls, 1 (or was it 2) Kumlien's Gulls and 2 Ring-billed Gulls - not bad for a 24 hour visit! Look forward to more of the same in 12 months or so...

Here are a couple of shots of the Kumlien's on Nimmo's joined by a possible second bird. I think I have more shots of this second bird so I'll post them when I get to them.

Thanks again

Geoff

 

[seeofbirds]

Fantastic! I have only just seen this thread!

I am from Cork and head to Belvelly as the best close views of diving ducks which are a favourite of mine!
Do many others head here?