Tuesday 12 March 2013

Rossaveel Kumlien's Gull

The first-winter Kumlien's Gull from 30th January was again present at Rossaveel Harbour on Saturday 9th March. Once again hardly anything doing in the harbour, very few gull about at all. This winter has been a complete wash out for gulls here in Galway. Last winter was great for Icelands as it was throughout North-West Europe but the two preceeding winters were similar to this winter.
This bird could be subtle enough depending on the light and the angle of the open wing but you could usually make out the contrast between the darker outer webs of the outer primaries and the lighter inner primaries.






Thursday 7 March 2013

Random late winter pics

A few shots from the last fortnight or so. Highlight of today was undoubtably coming across the pair of White-tailed Eagles. Great to see that the female has survived the winter. She hadn't been seen in a few months but no doubt was probably in the area all along. We knew the male - Star was still about thanks to his satellite transmitter but even he was proving difficult to see in the field. We know that Star at least has now been resident here for about a year now with the female present around a similar period.

Female four year old White-tailed Eagle, undisclosed site.

Greenland White-fronted Geese, lower Lough Corrib.

Greenland White-fronted Geese, lower Lough Corrib.

Pair of Shelduck, Kilcaimin.

Male Eurasian Wigeon, Nimmo's Pier.

Male Eurasian Wigeon, Nimmo's Pier.

European Shag, Ballyconneely.

American Coot with Eurasian Teal, Murlach.

Grey Heron, Ballyconneely.

Eurasian Oystercatcher with mussel, Nimmo's Pier.

Eurasian Oystercatcher, Nimmo's Pier.

Dunlin, Nimmo's Pier.

Redshank, Nimm's Pier.

Bar-tailed Godwit, Nimmo's Pier.

Lough Mask colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls, Nimmo's Pier.

German colour-ringed Mediterranean Gull, Ballyconneely.
Ring-billed Gull, Nimmo's Pier.
Ring-billed Gull, Nimmo's Pier.

Winter plumaged Sandwich Tern, Nimmo's Pier, 3rd March 2013.

Winter and summer plumaged Sandwich Terns, Nimmo's Pier, 3rd March 2013.

Sandwich Terns, Nimmo's Pier, 3rd March 2013.