Terns & Gulls

Some shots from mostly Nimmo's Pier over the last month or so.

There are currently at least seven Sandwich Terns hanging around Nimmo's again this winter. They've been wintering here now for the last two decades. In amongst the seven there is a first-winter which are unusual here during the winter. On top of this it is also colour ringed with a red ring. Unfortunately it looks like the ring may be damaged already as I haven't managed to fully read it on the three times I've seen it. The first digit is a U but after that it becomes unclear. However we do know that it was ringed on the Inner Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK. Nice to know where some of our winter Sandwich Terns originate from at least. It has also replaced a lot of the juvenile feathers on the lesser and median coverts in the last month.
I've often thought that if we can get Forster's Tern here maybe we could get a Cabot's Tern some day?
The winter has gotten off to a decent start for white-winged gulls here in Galway with three first-winter and a second-winter Iceland along with the second-winter and adult "Kumlien's" Gull here so far. Most white-wingers don't traditionally show up until after New Years here. With all these violet weather systems making their way across the Atlantic there may well be even more on the way, fingers crossed.



Adult Forster's Tern, Nimmo's Pier, 4th December 2013.

Adult Forster's Tern, Nimmo's Pier, 4th December 2013.



 

Adult Forster's Tern, Nimmo's Pier, 4th December 2013.

 

First-winter Sandwich Tern, Nimmo's Pier, 16th November 2013.

 

Close-up of the colour ring.

Adult Sandwich Tern, Nimmo's Pier, 16th November 2013.

Adult Sandwich Tern, Nimmo's Pier, 16th November 2013.

Adult Sandwich Tern, Nimmo's Pier, 16th November 2013.

First-winter Ring-billed Gull, Nimmo's Pier, 4th December 2013.

 

First-winter Iceland Gull, Waterside, 15th December 2013.

First-winter Iceland Gull, Rinvyle Point, 16th December 2013.

First-winter Iceland Gull, Rinvyle Point, 16th December 2013.