28th February Today's visit to the tip was the toughest here we have yet had. There were few large gulls early on and due to the tipping areas now on the other side of the road we were looking into the sun for some time. The birds were also incredibly jumpy today, reacting to the smallest of movements which was very frustrating. However we still did well with a first-winter Iceland Gull which was not the same bird that we had here 2 weeks ago and two Caspian Gulls.
The first of these was a huge first-winter which was a new bird for the tip whilst the second was the manky looking third-winter from a month ago, still looking manky. There were about six or seven MedGulls, now most in summer plumage and the leucistic first-winter Herring Gull again.
On Bowers Marsh were the four Whooper Swans which we had on arrival early morning and were still there when I left at 2.30pm.
24th February Got through the morning traffic to Nimmos pier for 9am but we still failed to find the American Herring Gull which no one had seen since Saturday. We did have three Iceland Gulls including the cracking adult on the docks side, three adult Ring-billed Gulls, with the two regular birds at the slipway and a third on the docks side, the second-winter Glaucous Gull showing to mere feet and the adult Kumliens Gull again showing very well.
Back at Rossaveal things were initially not to promising as there didn't seem to be many gulls present but we soon found bucket loads around the docks and on the roofs here. Pete was making a phone call where I found a juvenile Kumliens Gull on the side of the quay with Herring Gulls. I ran back to the car calling to Pete and we went back camera in hand. We photographed the bird well over the next half hour as it done fly by's coming to bread but we never saw it again on the deck. Also here performing well were three juvenile Iceland Gulls and two Glaucous Gulls, including the huge billed very white bird from yesterday. There were many gulls here and was worth the return drive.
As a last effort before heading back to the airport we stopped off again at Nimmo's where there was one juvenile Iceland Gull and an adult Ring-billed Gull, showed to mere feet, whilst further out in the harbour was a Great Northern Diver and two Guillemots.
So that was our four day 'Gul-way' long weekend and without doubt I will return.
23rd February As is now the norm we started off early at Nimmo's which was fortunate as the Monday morning traffic was heavy. We didn't really have anything new with the resident second-winter Glaucous Gull, three juvenile and single second-winter and third-winter Iceland Gulls, two adult Ring-billed Gulls and the adult Kumliens Gull again. Mid morning we headed north out of town on the N57 towards Cliffden, just over an hour from Galway. The scenery was more impressive along this road than it was on the coast. A brief roadside stop was made for four Whooper Swans.
Clifden Bay had few gulls and thankfully far fewer people than Nimmo's Pier but within minutes of getting out of the car I had picked up on the third-winter Kumliens Gull which instantly reacted to some bread throwing. We spent a good few hours here with this guy and met up with Dermot. It would appear that this bird had not been seen for 12days despite near daily checking by Dermot so we were fortunate.
At the end of the road past the bay we found 25+ Black Guillemots, four Great Northern Divers, two Ravens and a redhead Red-breasted Merganser.
Following this success were headed back to Rossaveal where there was a lot more activity with many gulls around the fishing boats. We had two juvenile Iceland Gulls and two, possibly three, juvenile Glaucous Gulls. As it was getting late we decided to return the next day.
22nd February Back at Nimmo's Pier early, 9am, for more gulling. Were spent much of the morning here, good low tide, with good success. Up to late morning/early afternoon we had two juvenile, a second-winter, a third-winter and stunning adult Iceland Gulls along with the second-winter Glaucous Gull, one of the adult Ring-billed Gulls and the superb adult Kumlien's Gull. In addition I picked up on the third-winter Kumliens/Iceland Gull type bird known as Stumpy, due to its lack of left leg. It was only around for about 15minutes before flying towards the docks. It was later seen back at the slipway by Dermot Breen. This bird had been at Rossaveal yesterday which is a good 35minutes drive away, about 50km's.
We drove over to Rossaveal but there was little activity, few gulls, which was probably due to the fish docks not being active on Sunday. We did find single juvenile Iceland and Glaucous Gulls though. Little was sturring back at Nimmo's late afternoon but following a tip off on an adult Med.Gull on the rocks at the end of the pier we set off. However we were distracted by an Otter which was swimming upriver. This was simply stunning. We did eventually end up seeing the Med. Gull but the Otter was pick of the day.
21st February I had for a few weeks being toying with the idea of going over to Ireland for a gull watching trip and had Pete Livermore interested but was undecided, even with £20 return Ryanair flight in the offering. However a couple of weeks before the date I was considering going an adult Kumlien'g Gull was found at Nimmo's Pier in Galway and that was then decider. From looking at pictures on Birdguides it was a real stunner and I decided there and then that I had to go and see it. A day or so later were fully booked with flight, car hire and hotel. Today then was day we would arrive.
We had an early morning start, 4am from mine and were in Galway by 11.30am. the flight to Shannon airport was just over an hour and everything went pretty smoothly. I received a text whilst we were waiting outside the airport for the car rental shuttle bus letting me know that the American Herring Gull had just appeared and that the adult Kumliens Gull was still there. The 'smiths' was the first time it had been seen since mid January so we were optimistic now about connecting with it.
The drive from Shannon airport to Galway was an easy hour, with a stop off for a few loafs of bread along the way. Take note that bread is expensive everywhere except Lidl's and Aldi's supermarkets, i.e Euro1.40 for a loaf in most shops where as 60cent in Lidl's. As you drive towards Galway from Shannon you have to pass through the town of Gort and here there is an Aldi's just after passing under the railway bridge. It is recommended stocking up on bread.
We arrived at Nimmo's Pier and were keen to get going. On pulling up on the quay we had instant success with a second-winter Glaucous Gull, two juvenile and a stunning third-winter Iceland Gulls and two adult Ring-billed Gulls within 2 strides of the car. There were lots of gulls here and a few birders present.
We set about photographing the hordes of birds present before strolling along the pier to see and photographed the adult Kumliens Gull which was showing very well in front of Derek Charles and Paul Hackett when we arrived. Unfortunately there was no sign of the American Herring Gull.
There were also several Hooded Crows and Jackdaws here. Were didn't stray far from the pier this first day as were rapidly racking up bucket loads of images of the white-wingers present. Later in the afternoon a very white looking first-winter type Iceland Gull dropped in and this was the only time this bird was seen during the trip.
As it turned out we had missed the boat with the Forsters Tern and Surf Scoter that had been around for most of the winter but had not been seen now for over a week. Still can't have everything. An exploration f the docks didn't reveal a great deal.
The Hotel Clybaun, about 10minutes away was comfortable but no frills.
14th February Back to the tip. Today was a ringing session so didn't get in amongst the gulls as last weekend but the haul from the net was huge, over 600 Black-headed Gulls alone. Whilst searching through the gathered gulls beforehand Pete Livermore pick out a very fine first-winter Iceland Gull which showed well through the scope. A juvenile Glaucous Gull flew over and could have been a different bird to that last weekend as seemed a lot larger and bulkier. The partial Albino was still around and a distant presumed third-winter Glaucous Gull was on the fields. At one point both the juvenile Glaucous and first-winter Iceland Gulls were in the same frame on the fields, distant records shots of this. There was a dark first-winter Caspian Gull in the mellie and a third-winter Yellow-legged Gull was with the gathered gulls on the 'road' which initially looked like a Casp until it moved a lot closer and its appearance changed.
I found a Common Gull with strikingly pale eyes and bright legs but it lacked a prominent bill-band so just an oddity. So finally we added to late afternoon Caspian Gulls, both first-winters. One was the very close bird from last weekend and the second was a new bird.
Yet another grand day on the tip.
8th February Following a late start I visited Lee Valley with the wife to see if I could get any photos on of the Bitterns there. We didn't arrive until gone midday but a bird was at least on view when got there. We stayed for a few hours until it eventually ran across one of the cuts in the reeds allowing a few shots to be taken of it. As always real stunning birds.
7th February Just when I thought gull watching wouldn't get any better locally it does. Made a return visit to the landfill again today with Pete Livermore and we were treated to an absolute barn storming day. We had a total of six Caspian Gulls, two Glaucous Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, seven Mediterranean Gulls, an 'omissus' type Herring Gull and two leucistic Herring Gulls, plus thousands and thousands of commoner species. The Caspians again proved very photogenic but the Glaucous Gulls held there own. The weather was also perfect so what else could we ask for, magic.