Sunday 26 February 2012

First new tick of the year

Pallid Harrier has been around for sometime now and I final got around to seeing it although at a distance. Female hen Harrier was in my field of view so it was good to see the comparisons between the two. Also a couple of shots of Wigeon at Lough Atalia and a very high flying Raven.




Monday 20 February 2012

Otter delight and no gulls

Great to see two Otters feeding at the end of Nimmo's Pier. Could be a sign that the bay has turn the corner regarding pollution. 

Otter
Lutra lutra
Madra Uisce / Dobharcú
Otter
Lutra lutra
Madra Uisce / Dobharcú
Rook
Corvus frugilegus
Rúcach

Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica
Guilbneach stríocearrach
 
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus
Colm coille


Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Lasair choille

Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Lasair choille

Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Rí Rua

Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Cearc uisce

Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Feadóg ghlas

Monday 13 February 2012

Ringed Gulls from the weekend

A few ringed gulls at the weekend. The White darvic ringed Black-headed Gull was ringed in Norway. Got a very speedy reply from Morten Helberg.

For birds ringed in Norway;
Morten Helberg at email morten.helberg@bio.uio.no

Last CR-Code White ring with black code: JHP9 LBWN(JHP9);RBM
CR-Code White ring with black code: JHP9 LBM;RBWN(JHP9)
Ringing Centre Stavanger Museum (Norway) Ring number 6216052
Species Black-headed Gull  Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Sex Male Age 3 cy+
Date Place Coordinates Observers Days/km/°
10.04 2011 Treschows Bro, Oslo, Akershus & Oslo, Norway  59°56'29"N 010°45'56"E Mjelde, John Martin -
06.11 2011 New Rd., Galway City, Galway, Ireland (EIRE)  53°16'00"N 009°05'00"W O` Donaill, Aonghus 210/1417/246
28.11 2011 Colour mark already present:  White ring with black code: JHP9 LBWN(JHP9);RBM
  Nimmos Pier, Galway, Ireland (EIRE)  53°16'02"N 009°03'12"W Davis, Michael 232/1415/246
11.02 2012 Nimmos Pier, Galway, Ireland (EIRE)  53°16'02"N 009°03'12"W Cuffe, Tom 307/1415/246





Sunday 5 February 2012

Paper Birds and some regulars from the weekend

Started a little bit of Origami about a year ago as part of my work with schools. The children get a great sense of safisfaction when they create something from a simple piece of square paper. It has developed into another past time for me and onto some complex models. I have started a new blog and will post various pieces over the coming weeks. Photo below is a small selection of Origami birds. http://origamigalway.blogspot.com/

Also attached a few Icelands from the week, in poor lighting conditions. The group shot has 7 Icelands. Darvic ringed Black-headed Gull is part of the Lough Mask study by Eoin McGreal and was ringed in the summer 2007.