Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Nimmo's Pier, Galway, Ireland, 3/2/2012

M.S., Kevin and myself caught the 08.20 hours flight out of Stanstead, destination Shannon Airport, arrived and into the hire car at 10.30 hours, arriving at Nimmo's Pier, Galway, Ireland at 12.00 noon. This trip all organised and directed by M.S.

Weather forecast for this four day trip, (long week-end) was not good, rain !
However, on arrival, it was dry with low grey cloud.

On the drive from Shannon to Galway, not great numbers of birds were seen except the Corvids, just the common stuff,
Hooded Crow, Rook, Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Oystercatcher, Wood Pigeon, Starling, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Collered Dove.

We had come to Ireland to see GULLS.

On arrival at Nimmo's Pier,     the Iceland Gulls stood out like car headlights  ! !

8 Iceland Gull,  1st winter
2 Iceland Gull,  2nd winter
1 Iceland Gull,  adult winter

3 Ring-billed Gull

1 Kumlien's Gull

Common Gull, several

Black-headed Gull, many

Herring Gull, very few


Any help welcome re ID of the ICELANDS, here we go ! !

Iceland Gull, 1st winter

Kumlien's Gull, 2nd winter
Kumlien's Gull, 2nd winter

Kumlien's Gull, 2nd winter
Kumlien's Gull, 2nd winter

Iceland Gull, 1st winter

Iceland Gull, 1st winter

Common Gull

 Ring-billed Gull

Iceland Gull, 1st winter
Iceland Gull, 1st winter
 Ring-billed Gull

 Ring-billed Gull

 Iceland Gull,  adult winter

Iceland Gull, 1st winter

 Ring-billed Gull

Iceland Gull, 1st winter

 Ring-billed Gull

 Ring-billed Gull

Iceland Gull, 1st winter
Iceland Gull, 1st winter
 Ring-billed Gull

Iceland Gull, 1st winter
 Iceland Gull,  adult winter

 Iceland Gull,  adult winter

 Iceland Gull,  adult winter

Herring Gull

 Black-headed Gull, adult winter, ring nos 201H

 Black-headed Gull, 1st winter

Also at Nimmo's, on the shore line andgr on grass areas other birds seen

Brent Geese, pale-bellied, 100 +
Rock Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Curlew
Turnstone
Wigeon
Mallard
Cormorant
Red-breasted Merganser, pair
Grey Heron
 Jackdaw

 Rook

 Hooded Crow

 Starling

 Rook

 Brent Geese, pale-bellied

 Curlew

 Turnstone

 Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher


The day ended at 17.30 hours, a totally crazy photo day ! ! !

Into the car, then immediately a long drive, 3 hours north to Sligo, stopping for a cheese burger take away, eat in the car, M.S. found a B and B in Sligo.

Day 1 over ! You sleep well after a day like that !






















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