CAIRDE EANLAITH NA GAILLIMHE BIRDWATCH GALWAY This is a local newsletter. To help us keep distribution costs down we ask that you agree www.birdwatchgalway.org to receive it by e-mail. Over 150 members and QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER – EDITOR: NEIL SHARKEY others are now doing so. Please send me your Telephone: 086 1680856 e-mail:
[email protected] E-mail address if not done so already. Issue No. 54/2006 15 Aug 2006 THOUGHT FROM THE CHAIR Straits of Hormuz, I increased my ‘life’ Dubai list to circa BIRDS IN POETRY The Galway Branch is just about to emerge from its 115 species. New species were – Socotra Cormorants It is no surprise that John Clare has featured frequently in summer hibernation (aestivation?) for the beginning of (present in their tens of thousands), Bridled Terns, White- this column given his pre-eminence as a nature poet. The winter. Winter is always the busiest period for birds in cheeked Terns and Common Noddies. poem in this edition has an appropriate autumnal theme. It Galway and the branch will be carrying on with its usual This was my farewell visit to Dubai, a place of was probably composed before the first indication of the I-WeBS counts in Galway Bay, Lough Corrib and at the extraordinary but always interesting contradictions. NS mental illness which blighted his life and is presented many smaller lakes and turloughs in the county. As usual, without punctuation as it was written. BWI members (or intending members) are welcome to get GOOD WISHES Pat Finnegan in contact with us if they are interested in participating in Our valued Galway member Mrs Doreen McConnell has these activities.