Galway City

Galway Film Fleadh July 2010

This weekend my OH had one of her films chosen for the the Galway Film Festival, so that’s where we were this weekend. A break between films on the Sunday meant that I was able to nip away for an hour to see what birds were to be seen around Galway city.

I drove down to Seapoint, not even a 5 min drive from the city centre. I would have walked if I’d had more time (honest).

Don't be fooled by the telescope. There was nothing to see.

Nothing.

Not even a wader.

Nothing on the outskirts, nothing in the middle, nothing out at sea.

A Herring Gull.

I think Rock Pipit, but go on, tell me its a Meadow Pipit.

A closer look

Oyster Catcher

Grey Heron

With not much happening at Seapoint and not much time left, I headed to Nimmo’s pier.

Nimmos pier in the background

Scary.

Jackdaws and Rooks

Jackdaw

Rook

Rook close up

Black Headed Gull and noisy chicks. I looked out for Med Gulls, Little Gulls, Iceland Gulls but I didn't see anything unusual.

Common Tern, seen from the end of the pier.

Mute Swan with Cormorant and plenty of Herring Gulls in the background

Cormorant eating an eel from the River Corrib

You can see the the eel still in the Cormorant's neck.

Back towards the city centre

On the other side of the bridge there was another Cormorant

Cormorants are happy enough hanging about cities. Shags wouldn't usually be this close to a city, they're more Seabirds.

Juvenile Cormorant which hasn't yet developed the white behind its beak.

Also saw plenty of Swallows, Pied Wagtails and Starlings. Before I knew it my hour was up and I had to head back.

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