CAIRDE EANLAITH ÉIREANN www.birdwatchgalway.org This is a local forum newsletter – QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER – EDITOR: NEIL SHARKEY contributions and comments are most welcome. Telephone: 086 1680856 e-mail [email protected] Issue No. 86 August 2014 Distributed by e mail only BRANCH AFFAIRS one of their former strongholds – is typical of forgotten - Birds of the Wayside and Woodland In the midst of summer season there is not a lot what is happening, sadly, by T.A. Coward, published in 1936. This book is to report. We still await an imitative or indeed Swifts pair for life and can live up to 20 old-fashioned in its format, with wonderful something approaching a ‘Lourdes’ style years. To build a nest they catch bits of stuff colour plates, and its outstanding feature is the miracle – or should it be Mayo’s ‘Knock’! – to from the air – feathers and leaves – and they descriptions of each bird species. These are get a committee on the road – but let’s leave it stick them together to make a ‘cosy’ nest. They much more ‘poetic’ and detailed than those of at that and get on with enjoying the summer. lay 2 or 3 eggs which hatch after about 18 days. modern bird guides. The following is an extract For your diary you might like to note that Tom The chicks are fed with balls of insects which, in of its description of the Spotted Flycatcher Cuffe is leading an An Taisce birdwatching flight, the adults collect in a big pouch under the which, as you can appreciate, is currently my event on August 23rd 11.30-2pm at the Galway beak. The chicks stop eating and lose weight favourite bird: City Council’s park at Rusheen Bay off the road before they leave the nest, otherwise they could The spotted Flycatcher is one of the last of to . Our Nimmos Pier 1st Saturday-of-the- not fly – they seem to know all about the the summer visitors to arrive. It is often absent month outings will resume on Saturday 6th Sept dangers of obesity! On average, Swifts fly about until early May. at the usual time, 10.30am. September also 500 miles a day and during an average life can Many birds capture flying insects, but none heralds the resumption of I-WeBS counts. fly a truly remarkable 2 million miles. so adroitly as the Spotted Flycatcher. Its grey- NS Michael’s interest and information is due to brown plumage is inconspicuous and it is not SWIFTS IN GALWAY his teaming up with a group based in Co. Mayo really spotted; it is, too, a silent bird, yet its neat Most of us can recognise Swifts and we who have taken up the plight of the declining upright figure, perched on a post, railing or associate them rather than with the countryside Swift population and already have done dead branch is noticeable. One of its names is more with towns, where they fly hither and tither remarkable work on Swift conservation in that ‘Post Bird’ another ‘Old Man’ probably from this high over the streetscape in screaming groups. county; great credit is due to them. In June, upright pose. Its short aerial sallies attract the We all seem to agree, too, that, at least Michael took part in a Swift seminar held by this eye; sometimes it swoops obliquely with anecdotally, their numbers have declined. Many group in Castlebar. You can look them up in unerring aim upon some insect flying below, but say that their numbers in Galway City and swifftconservationireland.blogspot.ie and also in usually, after many smart twists and turns, it elsewhere are only a pale shadow of what they actionforswifts.blogspot.ie. cuts short the career of a dodger. Then, as a were in years gone by. More accurately, the However, there is a limit to what one or two rule, it returns to its observation post, though recent Atlas of Birds of Britain & records persons can do for our Swifts in Galway, so we often it will have two look-outs to which it flies in a 26% decline over the past 40 years and suggest that anyone interested in joining up turns. Naturally the look-out is best where the further reports a decrease of 48% in their with Michael to do a more thorough survey of space in front is open; thus the Flycatcher numbers over the past 10 years. The decline Galway Swifts next spring, contact any one of frequents the border of a lawn, the outskirts of a seems confined to Ireland, particularly the west us and then we can also look into options to wood or edge of a clearing or the branches of a – in the UK numbers over the 40 year period improve nesting sites. willow or alder overhanging a stream. The call have been quite steady, We will send a reminder and a plan of action ‘sit’ or ‘sit-chic’ is not loud, but is more During the past summer, Michael Davis and in good time for the 2015 breeding season. frequently noticed than its slight low song in Aonghus O Donaill, in Galway City, have been NS/AOD/MD May and June, a few repeated soft notes. taking this atlas fund of knowledge a step The upper parts of the adult bird birds are further. In recent months, Michael has spent SPOTTED FLYCATCHER The desk where I site my laptop, which hair-brown with dark brown stripes on the many hours surveying Swift numbers and produces this newsletter, looks out through a crown; the under parts are greyish white but the movements around the city. He and Aonghus small window onto a grassy space or glade flanks and breast are darker brown, and on the covered the city in sectors and found swifts surrounded by ash and other trees. In mid- latter there are noticeable striations. The bill is mainly confined to the city centre, with a smaller June, through the window, I began to notice a brown, the legs black and the irides dark brown. number in the suburbs. Michael advises that small grey-brown bird with an upright stance What a great description – modern bird overall numbers in Galway City are low – under constantly darting from its perch, a dead ash guide editors should take note! I hope to include 150 birds in total. He has also located many of tree branch. To my excitement, I quickly some more of these wonderful species their city nesting sites. Swifts nest in spaces identified it as a Spotted Flycatcher and it’s descriptions in future issues. under roofs and in nooks and crannies in old sallies and darting around this tree-lined space NS buildings which they enter at high speed! Alas, THE LIST delighted me for the weeks following. well insulated aperture-free modern buildings The Galway County list (all wild bird species Around the same time I had being making are not Swift-friendly! The total refurbishment of which have been recorded to date in the an inventory of my all too numerous bird books the old Grammar School on College Road – county) currently stands at 310 species with two and this drew my attention to one I had quite species pending. 15 species have been added CAIRDE EANLAITH ÉIREANN GALWAY www.birdwatchgalway.org This is a local forum newsletter – QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER – EDITOR: NEIL SHARKEY contributions and comments are most welcome. Telephone: 086 1680856 e-mail [email protected] Issue No. 86 August 2014 Distributed by e mail only since 2010. Nine of these 15 were added in the from its acoustics. We had the best Dawn winter visitor to Ireland but now is a rarity, more bumper year of 2012 with three each in 2011 Chorus morning I have known, there some or less confined to the Wexford Slobs. The Bird and 2010. The breakdown of additions to the years ago. It was attended by twenty or so Atlas states that it has declined by 90% in the county list over the last number of decades is people who, after the occasion, remembered past 40 years. But who was Bewick? as follows: the gradual twenty minute build-up of sound Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) was an English 2000’s 22 1940s 5 from the first bird that the classic chorus gives. ornithologist and engraver; the best known illustrator 1990’s 18 1930s 4 An avenue of 150-year old yew trees forms the of his generation. His fine woodcuts of mammals, 1980’s 10 1920s 6 cross of a nave and transepts, and a number of birds and rural scenes made woodcutting an art form. He never saw America but most natural historians, 1970’s 11 1910s 7 pillars of old sycamore and beech with gnarled including Audubon, knew Bewick’s works. Audubon 1960’s 9 1900s 4 natural sculptures on their trunks spread a met the elderly Bewick on his first trip to England in 1950’s 8 canopy twenty metres high. In 1999, I carried 1827 and honoured Bewick in naming after him a Prior to 2012, the highest number of out a bird survey of the 3.1 ha wood using new wren, which he had shot in Louisiana 17 years additions in a given year was seven in 2008, Common Bird Census (CBC) methods, which before. Audubon wrote ‘A complete Englishman full followed by five in 2007 and 1927, four in 1990 allow a good estimation of numbers of of life and energy though now seventy-four, very witty and three on a minimum of nine occasions territories held by the birds. Eighteen species and clever, better acquainted with America than most (1995, 1977, 1971, 1957, 1907, 1893, 1890, held forty-two territories. Since then I have often of his country-men, and an honour to England.’ And 1887 and 1835). Many years go without visited the wood, not least on my way back from ‘…Thomas Bewick is a son of Nature. Nature alone reared him under her peaceful care, and he in additions, 2013 being the most recent one, one of my Common Bird Survey (CBS) squares gratitude of heart has copied one department of her followed by 2003, 2002 and 2001 which were every year, and it has not diminished in its bird works that must stand unrivalled forever’. This latter all without additional records. No decade has performances. Common garden birds seem to reference is of course to Bewick’s woodcuts of British been without addition since the 1820’s but gaps be in their primal habitat. Male blackbirds chase birds. Shortly before he died, Bewick paid a visit to of six years occurred on two occasions in the each other from territorial boundaries high up in Audubon and encountered another visitor, William last century, from 1900 to 1905 and from 1921 the canopy; a great tit carries food into a round Swainson. It was an informal gathering of the three to 1926. Surprisingly, late additions include hole half way up an old sycamore; and the greatest natural history artists of their age.

Ring-billed Gull in 1983 (no. 248); Slavonian goldcrest’s gold crest stands out among the From Whose Bird by Bo Beoland and Michael Grebe and Mediterranean Gull in 1981 (no.’s dark green yew conifers. The space between Watkins - Helm (2003)

247 and 246 respectively); Little Egret in 1965 the trees allows good views of birds, not least of INCHIQUIN (no. 230) and Collared Dove in 1959 (no. 224). a spotted flycatcher with space to pounce. Inchiquin is a Lough Corrib island near The ten most recent additions to the list are: Blackcaps back then, before their recent spread Headford. It is connected to the mainland by a 310 American Coot into hedgerows, were a woodland bird and here long causeway which makes for an ideal walk, 309 Olive-backed Pipit they still frequent the tangled patches of cherry with water and land in view from all directions. It 308 Dusky Warbler laurel that reach the canopy in one section of is my habit to walk or cycle it, if not daily, at 307 Woodchat Shrike the wood, one of its ‘traditional’ habitats in least several times a week – thus making it, by 306 Blyth's Reed Warbler estate gardens; a habitat that may account for 305 Belted Kingfisher any definition, my ‘local patch. At first sight it the good density of the blackcap’s rival (or 304 Eastern Kingbird does not seem to teem with birds but patience 303 Ortolan Bunting companion) in song — the song thrush. In and careful observation gradually reveal them. 302 Arctic Redpoll October 2013, a tornado passed through the Summer brings Common Gulls, breeding on 301 Red-throated Pipit wood uprooting some trees and, more rocky islets, Common Sandpipers and the 300 Pallid Harrier interestingly, breaking the branches off the tops occasional Common Scoter. In winter, there are Of the last 20 additions (2005-2013) to the of others. This effect, thankfully, was felt only Great Northern Divers, Lapwing and Golden Irish list five (and a sixth pending) have been along a 20m or so wide transect and the Plover. This year, I have recorded 50 species. from Galway – a record only bettered by Cork. majority of the wood was left unscathed. On May 11th, Gordon D’Arcy launched a Aonghus O Donaill However, along this transect the wood now splendid bird identification sign, organised by CLONFERT WOOD looks very inviting to any of the first great the Headford Environmental Group with funding If you stand admiring the Romanesque doorway spotted woodpeckers that will eventually make from Galway County Council’s Local Agenda at Clonfert Cathedral in east Galway in spring it over the Shannon. scheme. It lists and shows many of the birds and summer you cannot ignore the birdsong Stephen Heery you may see, together with information on the that comes from the wood behind you; and the WHOSE BIRD? – BEWICK’S SWAN island. It is a great addition to the area; would reverse is obviously true. The wood itself, which The Bewick’s Swan, the slightly smaller relation that every local patch had such a facility. Well used to be a wooded ornamental garden, is of the Whooper Swan, was once a common done Headford and the Environmental Group. cathedral in nature and the birdsong benefits NS BirdWatch Galway (Branch of BirdWatch Ireland) 2nd Quarter 2014 QUARTERLY BIRD REPORT COMPILED BY CHRIS PEPPIATT DATE OF ISSUE: 2nd February 2015 5th April: Pacific Diver, Point, Tawin (Paul Troake). (1) 6th April: 2 Arctic Skua & 6 Long-tailed Duck, Kilcolgan Point, Tawin (Dermot Breen & Aonghus O'Donaill). 6th April: Great White Egret, Renmore Lagoon, Galway city (Anne Gaughan). (2) 7th April: Great White Egret, again present, Lough Atalia, Galway city. 10th April: 2-1st Win. Iceland Gull, (Dermot Breen). 11th April: Ad. Forster's Tern, again present, Loughnahulla Bay, Tawin. (3) 11th April: 31 Long-tailed Duck, Kilcolgan Point, Tawin (Paul Troake). 12th April: Little Tern, Bearna Pier (Cathal Forkan). 14th April: Cuckoo, Old Town, (Steve Bierley). 18th April: 3 Whimbrel, Kilcaimin (Paul Troake). 18th April: 19 White Wagtail, Tawin (Paul Troake). 18th April: Grasshopper Warbler, Kilgevrin, Nr. Milltown (Chris Peppiatt). 19th April: Common Sandpiper, Lough Corrib, Nr. Headford (Eamonn Delaney). 20th April: Corncrake, Inishbofin (Sam Julian-Grace). 21st April: House Martin, Kilcaimin (Paul Troake). 24th April: Common Tern, Nimmo's Pier, Galway city (Tom Cuffe). 26th April: Hawfinch, Inishbofin (Paddy Joe King). (4) 26th April: Swift, Bearna Pier (Cathal Forkan). 26th April: Sedge Warbler, Lough Inch, Bearna (Cathal Forkan). 27th April: 2-1st Win. Glaucous Gull, Inishbofin ferry (Anthony McGeehan & Dermot Breen). 28th April: Roseate Tern, Rusheen Bay, Galway city (Aonghus O'Donaill). 1st May: Sedge Warbler, NUI Galway campus, Galway city (Paul Troake). 2nd May: Fem. Hawfinch, Mainistir, (Sally Flaherty). 3rd May: Corncrake, Inishbofin (Fiona Kearney). 4th May: Drake Garganey, Ahapouleen turlough, Maree, (Paul Troake). 5th May: 235 Whimbrel, roost flock, Fiddaun Island (Paul Troake). 7th May: 11 Arctic Tern & 3 Arctic Skua, Bearna (Paul Troake). 24th May: Turtle Dove, Mainistir, Inishmore (Daniel O'Connell). 25th May: 2 Common Scoter, Ballincurry Bay, Lough Corrib (Edmond van Estrik). 25th May: Yellowhammer, Killeenhugh (Paul Troake). (5) 26th May: Peregrine, Harbour, Inishmore (Fianna MacGinley & Paul Smith). 27th May: Quail, 2 (Ad. & 1st yr.) Mediterranean Gull & 11 Great Northern Diver, Island Eddy (Paul Troake). 28th May: Turtle Dove, (Dermot Breen). 1st June: Common Buzzard, Cregg Castle, Corrandulla (Pete Tyndall). 6th June: Poss. American Golden Plover, over Mervue, Galway city (Neil Ellis). 8th June: Iceland Gull, Inishbofin (Manus Curran). 9th June: 2-1st Sum. Mediterranean Gull, Coranroo Bay (Paul Troake). 9th June: Great Skua, 10 House Martin & 2 Swift, Inishbofin (Manus Curran). 15th June: Ad. Rose-coloured Starling, Inishbofin (Anthony McGeehan). (6) 16th June: Fem. Marsh Harrier, Lough Inch, Bearna (Cathal Forkan). 17th June: Male Common Rosefinch, Inishbofin (Anthony McGeehan & Aonghus O'Donaill). 18th June: 2 Spotted Flycatcher, Menlo, Galway city (Aonghus O'Donaill). 26th June: Spotted Flycatcher, Cloghballymore (Paul Troake). 27th June: Spotted Flycatcher, Ballinahinch Castle (Miryam & Michael Harris). 28th June: 2 Roseate Tern, Mutton Island, Galway city (Marcin Pisula). 30th June: Spotted Flycatcher, Ellagh, Headford (Neil Sharkey). 30th June: Twite & Corncrake, Inishbofin (Adrian Gilmore).

NOTES: (1) The first Irish Pacific Diver was recorded near here in 2010; possibly the same bird returning? (2) This bird was also seen on the 7 th of April at nearby Lough Atalia. (3) The long-staying Forster’s Tern (eleventh winter) from the first quarter of 2014 was again present and was also specifically reported in summer plumage on the 9th of June at a tern colony in Coranroo Bay. (4) This bird had a damaged/deformed bill and was a different bird from that which was recorded on the 2 nd of May at Inishmore. (5) A Yellowhammer was also present at the same site on the 19 th of June. (6) This Rose-coloured starling was also recorded on the 16 th , the 17 th and the 20 th of June.

HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific Diver, Great White Egret, Garganey, poss. American Golden Plover, long-staying Forster’s Tern, 3 Roseate Tern, Quail, 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Hawfinch, Rose-coloured Starling, Common Rosefinch, Twite.

First Spring migrants: Arctic Skua (6 th April), Little Tern (12 th April), Cuckoo (14 th April), Whimbrel (18 th April), White Wagtail (18 th April), Grasshopper Warbler (18 th April), Common Sandpiper (19 th April), Corncrake (20 th April), House Martin (21st April), Common Tern (24 th April), Swift (26 th April), Sedge Warbler (26 th April), Roseate Tern (28 th April), Garganey (4 th May), Arctic Tern (7th May), Turtle Dove (24 th May), Quail (27 th May), Great Skua (9 th June), Marsh Harrier (16 th June), Spotted Flycatcher (18 th June).