birdsgalway: 2012

Monday, 5 November 2012

Welcome back

Eight weeks of armchair birding and a serious case of cabin fever I went to Nimmo's and was delight to see the Forster's Tern back at its old location on Claddagh Beach. 8-9 years this bird has made its way around Ireland's shore from Wexford to Louth and Galway. Usually accompanied by 4-6 Sandwich Terns.
At the Slipway the resident Ring-billed Gull was still getting its daily supply of bread. Also a ringed Black-headed Gull 201H which is part of the ringing scheme on Lough Mask in 2009.

On Saturday a Glaucous Gull put in an appearance for the few who came along for BirdWatch Galway's 1st Saturday walk at Nimmo's.

A distant shot of the Marsh Harrier taken at Rasahane Turlough on the 2nd September.

Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Geabhróg Forster

Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Faoileán bandghobach

Black-headed Gull
Larus ridibundus
Sléibhín

Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreus
Faoileán glas

Marsh Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
Cromán móna

Saturday, 4 August 2012

Same again

That time of year when the Mediterranean Gull shows up at Claddagh beach. True to form it was in its usual spot today. Just as I was walking the beach the heavens open. I have never been out and about in such a down pour. Had the rain gear for the cameras but did not have the water proof trouser on. The rain went through down the legs and into the shoes. Shower over and got the shot of the Med Gull. Ring-billed Gull as usual was at the slipway.

Juvenile Wheatear at Mutton Island Causeway.

Silver-washed Fritillary at Small Woods Rusheen Bay.
All photos are digiscoped using the Lumix G2 with 20mm lens.

Mediterranean Gull
Larus melanocephalus
Sléibhín meánmhuirí

Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Faoileán bandghobach

Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica
Guilbneach stríocearrach

Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Breacóg

Ringed Plover< >Dunlin
Charadrius hiaticula< >Calidris alpina
Feadóg chladaigh< >Breacóg

Sandwich Tern
Sterna sandvicensis
Geabhróg scothdhubh

Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
Clochrán

Silver-washed Fritillary
Argynnis paphia
Fritileán Geal

Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Garden birds while gardening

Very little birding done for the past 6 weeks. Keeping busy at schools, work shops, training and the garden. The garden project I started 3 years ago after the redundancy kicked in. Still working away at it between the showers. This year is the year for sowing some late veggies.

So a few shots of my new garden friends. They even perched on my boots for a few seconds. Great company while working the soil.

Monday, 18 June 2012

Winter jacket in June!

Very cold weather for past few days and the summer solstice is next week. Strange wearing the winter jacket on Saturday and a little strange to see a pair of Tufted Duck at Waterside. Tired a few flight shots at Waterside but the light was poor. The Sparrow was enjoying the small bit of sunshine on Sunday.

Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Lacha bhadánach

Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Eala bhalbh

Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
Droimneach beag

House Martin
Delichon urbicum
Gabhlán Binne

Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
Gabhlán Gainimh

House Martin
Delichon urbicum
Gabhlán Binne

House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Gealbhan binne

Monday, 11 June 2012

Stonechats are back

Went out to Coursefield on Sunday just for a general look around. Was delighted to see a family of Stonechats about 300 meters down the road. This is my first sighting at Coarsefield for 2 years all due to the recent hard winters of 2010 and 2011.

I got a new digiscoping camera Lumix GH2 so was testing it out. Great camera with video and touch screen. All shots below are taken with the GH2 with 20mm lens on a Nikon Fieldscope 82ED 30x.

Stonechat
Saxicola torquata
Caislín cloch

Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Fáinleog

Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalus caudatus
Meantán earrfhada

Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
Riabhóg Mhóna

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Osprey in the bag

Got a text and phone call from Aonghus O'Donaill on Friday about an Osprey at Coolanillaun, Lough Corrib. Made my way there on Friday but no luck. Went again on Saturday after abandoning the 1st Saturday of the month outing at Nimmo's Pier. A few regulars at Nimmo's also went Osprey hunting with no luck. On Sunday while working on some school stuff at home, Aonghus rang to say he had the bird again. 10mins later I was looking at the Osprey at approx 600m away and got a digiscope shot below. Yet another life tick this year magic.

Osprey
Pandion haliatus
Coirneach

Monday, 26 March 2012

A few shots from the week-end

A few shots from the week-end which are very regular stuff compared to the rare birds arriving down the south of the country. The Black Curlew was still at Moylough over the week-end.
Dunnock was in full song at Anglingham. Same regular birds at Nimmo's.

Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Íbis Niamhrach

Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Éigrit bheag

Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoides
Faoileán Íoslannach

Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Eala bhalbh

Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Donnóg

Sunday, 18 March 2012

Black Curlew

Got an email about a Glossy Ibis at Moylough. So went to have a look. Pulled up outside a house near the turlough and looked out and it was right beside the road. I was almost afraid to get out as I would surely spook it. Camera was in the boot so had to get out. It kept on feeding and was not bother about me. It did get spooked a little while later and went about 50m along the shore, but return to feed very close, so got some reasonable shots. Local man Martin Mannion asked if I was there to look for the Glossy Ibis for which I replied yes. He told me they were calling it the Black Curlew. He also told me it was there about this time last year also and he first noticed it this time about 2 weeks ago. New tick for me.

Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Íbis Niamhrach

Great Tit
Parus major
Meantán mór

Mullaghmore, Moylough,