CAIRDE EANLAITH NA GAILLIMHE BIRDWATCH GALWAY www.birdwatchgalway.

org QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER EDITOR: NEIL SHARKEY

Telephone: 086 1680856 e-mail:[email protected] Issue No. 49 2/2005 1 May 2005

This is a local newsletter. To help us keep distribution costs down we ask that you agree to receive it by e-mail. Over seventy members are now doing so. Please send me your E-mail address if not done so already. branch to branch in its insecting forays in Sasan Gir National Park. Spiritual worship usually helps to protect habitats, for example, in Tanzania, forests which are deemed to have spirits are not visited except for sacrificial events and harvesting is avoided because there is fear of spirit anger by potential loggers. In India, because temples occur in forests and thousands of pilgrims visit temples each year, such habitats are under threat from human disturbance. The demand for agricultural irrigation water from surface waterbodies rich in fertility, as opposed to deep wells which tend to be saline, is also a threat to bird habitats. Rose Hogan

THOUGHT FROM THE CHAIR

The BirdWatch Ireland National Dawn Chorus Day will be held on Sunday the 15th of May this year. The event is part of a wider International Dawn Chorus Day organised by bird and wildlife conservation groups in many countries for the first or second Sunday in May. Dawn Chorus Day has been going on for some years now and past events in Co. Galway have been held at places as diverse as Portumna Forest Park, Coole Park, Clifden, Terryland Forest Park, Merlin Park and Dangan. This year the Galway Branch will again be holding an event at Dangan in Galway City. People wishing to attend should make their way the NUI Galway sports grounds at Dangan, where car parking will be available. The event will start at 5 AM and people knowledgeable about birdsong will be around to help all present to identify the birds that will be singing. Books and BirdWatch Ireland gifts will also be available on the day. Birdsong is at its loudest and clearest in the spring at dawn. Not only this, but the amount of human noise and disturbance is at its least at dawn. You may think that you can hear birds singing at any time, but, if you have not heard a good spring dawn chorus recently, you would be surprised at the difference between the dawn chorus and daytime birdsong. Not only do I always get great pleasure from a dawn chorus, but feel a great sense of satisfaction at having got out of bed in time! You will also find that early rising will make your Sunday last much longer than normal, so why not come along? Chris Peppiatt

BIRDS IN POETRY
Paul Muldoon is one of the distinguished poets reading at this years Cirt Festival. He was born in 1951 and has lived in the U.S.A. since 1987. In 1999 he became Professor of Poetry at Oxford University and is currently Clark Professor in the Humanities at Princeton University. The poem features the spring migration of the Red Knot from Chile to its breeding grounds in the Arctic. Pat Finnegan

Redknots
The day our son is due is the very day the redknots are meant to touch down on their long haul from Chile to the Arctic Circle, where theyll nest on the tundra within a few feet of where they were hatched. Forty or fifty thousand of them are meant to drop in along Delaware Bay. They time their arrival on these shores to coincide with the horseshoe crabs laying their eggs in the sand. Smallish birds to begin with, the redknots have now lost half their weight. Eating the eggs of the horseshoe crabs is what gives them the strength to go on, forty or fifty thousand of them getting up all at once as if for a rock concert encore. From Moy Sand and Gravel by Paul Muldoon, published in 2002 by Faber & Faber.

Northwest India from an amateur birders perspective Before this trip, all I ever connected India with, in birding terms, was the Indian House Crow, which has become a seriously damaging invasive pest in Tanzania where I live. It competes with several native small birds and wins. But his hop north eastwards across the Indian Ocean, to Gujarat and Rajastan, gave a chance to open the mind to other avian delights and issues of the Indian subcontinent. Having seen the heaviest flying bird in the world, the Kori Bustard, in Tanzania it was great to see another record breaker, the Sarus Crane (Grus antigone), which is the tallest flying bird in the world. It is over five feet high! Sheer numbers of migrating water birds and the ubiquitousness of some birds especially Red-wattled Plovers, Rosy-ringed Parakeets and two kinds of Minah amongst the dense and polluted human settlements also made a big impression. At Thol Sanctuary, which is an irrigation dam, the morning air honks with the grunts of Greater Flamingos, Greylag Geese (Anser anser), Cranes (Common and Sarus), Black-tailed Godwits, Greater White Pelicans, Blackwinged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus), Painted Storks (Myceteria leucocephala), Darters (Anhinga melanogaster), Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fusiciollis), Northern Shovellers (Anas querquedula) Asial Open-billed Stork (Anastomus oscitans), Herons, Purple and Grey (Ardea purpurea and cinerea) and River Terns (Sterna aurantia) to name just some of the thirty one bird species we saw in a one hour visit at dawn. The surrounding fields are intensively cultivated and a large factory blasts out smoke into the morning air. The migrations of Demoiselle Cranes (Anthropoids virgo) must mirror the wildebeest one in Tanzanias Serengeti, as they flock in their thousands to the Saurastra Peninsula. We counted over a thousand in just one group a few miles from the westernmost point of India (Dwarka)! Even in Ahmadebad, the most polluted city in India, there are lots of birds to be seen. Four hundred years ago ornate bird feeders (Chabutaras) were constructed in the town squares and special personnel were designated fulltime to feed the birds. This tradition still continues and Rosy-ringed Parakeets feed here and live in the special tunnels that were constructed for birds in the walls of the houses. Peafowl are everywhere too. If such large meaty birds were hanging about settlements in Tanzania they would not avoid the pot for long. The new Important Bird Area book for India (Birdlife International) claims that the vegetarianism of the people of Gujarat state where Ghandis influence is still strong helps to preserve wildlife. Some dispute this point saying that the poorer people do not have the choice to avoid eating whatever protein comes their way, but there seems to be a reverence for birds that is not found elsewhere. On a fast journey by tarred road (most of the roads are in very good condition) my Driver/Guide Sultan screeched to a halt, jumped out of the car and ran back the road. He had seen a Red-vented Bulbul very common in this area - lying on the road and was impelled to rescue it. It got the best of drinking water and was put in the shade and observed for a while until certain that it was recovered before departure. How many drivers in Ireland or Tanzania would do the same? In the national parks there were many birds of prey and also some grassland / woodland birds of which the favourite was the Indian Sandgrouse whose exquisite camouflage against the dry leaf litter makes it very difficult to spot. The white version of the Paradise Flycatcher also delighted us as it carried its awkwardly long tail from

OF CHABUTARAS, CRANES & CORMORANTS

EXPLORING THE EBRO

Recently Ml Casey of the Sligo Branch and I flew from Dublin to Reus on a short birdwatching trip to explore the Ebro delta and Tarragona in north-east Spain. We were met by Albert Torrell, a local who had visited Galway last January and whom we had met on Nimmos Pier. The first bird we saw in Spain was the inevitable House Sparrow but we were soon on to better things seeing a Bonellis Eagle - one of many firsts for me. The Ebro delta is a vast river plain almost the size of south Co. Galway. It is intensely cultivated and flooded for rice growing. On the first day strong gales were blowing from the mountains so we did most of our watching from the car. Gull-billed and Caspian Terns were feeding on the flooded fields. On the seashore we saw Caspian, Common, Sandwich and Little Terns and numerous waders, inc. Kentish and Little Ringed Plovers and Little Stints. My highlight was the beautiful Slender-billed Gull. We also had a Purple Heron with Black Kite overhead. On the south side of the Ebro we saw Glossy Ibis and Purple Gallinule. On day two we got lost on our way to Tarragona and missed a pelagic trip planned by some local birdwatchers. This was somewhat compensated for by seeing Audouins Gulls, said to be the worlds rarest gulls. On their return from the pelagic the locals kindly took us on a trip to the mountains - poppies, borage and brambles in abundance! Highlights were Scops and Little Owls and two Cettis Warblers. We also had Black Kites, Short-toed Eagles, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-legged Partridge, Alpine Swift and Crag Martins. Back towards sea level we picked up Tawny Pipit and Short-toed Lark at a seaside marsh. On the third day we visited El Garascot Lagoon to see Marsh Harriers, Black-winged Stilts, Red-crested Pochard, Egrets and Ibis. Three Black-winged Pratincoles were the highlight. At La Tancoda we had Flamingos and the only Teal and Common Pochard of the trip. In the salt marshes we saw Little Stints, Curlew Sandpipers, a Wester Reef/ Little Egret hybrid and Spotted Redshanks in breeding plumage. There were a lot of Slender-billed Gulls, too. Finally, on the way to the airport, we spotted a Squacco Heron and a Green Sandpiper. One thing I learned was the importance of knowing the scientific names of birds which made it so much easier to communicate with our Spanish friends. We thank them for giving so generously of their time and knowledge. Michael Davis

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Sunday 15 May, Dawn Chorus Day, meet at the car park of the NUIG Dangan Sports Grounds, 5am. Wednesday 18 May, members/committee meeting, 8pm. Saturday 4 June, short outing, Nimmo's Pier, 10.30am. Wednesday 15 June, members/committee meeting, 8pm Last Call: The next issue will be the last on general post delivery do give us your e-mail address if at all possible.

BirdWatch Galway (Branch of BirdWatch Ireland)

Species Black Redstart American Herring Gull Ferruginous Duck Ring-necked Duck Common Sandpiper Chiffchaff Scaup Little Egret Tree Sparrow
Glaucous Gull X Herring Gull hyb.

Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Long-tailed Duck Scaup X Tufted Duck hyb. Sandwich Tern Ring-billed Gull Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Purple Sandpiper Iceland Gull 'kumlieni' Ross' Gull Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Little Gull Scaup Long-tailed Duck Black-throated Diver American Herring Gull Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Iceland Gull Twite Forster's Tern Little Egret Blackcap Waxwing Common Sandpiper Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Iceland Gull Sandwich Tern Glaucous Gull Black Redstart Waxwing Waxwing Common Buzzard Red-necked Grebe Wigeon Black-throated Diver Forster's Tern Waxwing Iceland Gull Chiffchaff Glaucous Gull Chiffchaff Hen Harrier Hen Harrier Sanderling Purple Sandpiper Crossbill Iceland Gull Mediterranean Gull Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Little Egret Eider Long-tailed Duck Little Gull Blackcap Sandwich Tern Spotted Redshank Red-necked Grebe Caspian Gull Little Gull Iceland Gull

A QUARTERLY BIRD REPORT BY TIM GRIFFIN & CHRIS PEPPIATT 1st Quarter 2005 TEL. (091) 590154 or at www.birdwatchgalway.org DATE OF ISSUE: 6th May 2005 Location No Date Observer Species Location No Date Observer Harbour Docks, Galway 1 01.01.05 AK Glaucous Gull Rossaveal 6 18.02.05 DB Nimmo's Pier 2ndW 01.01.05 TG (1) Smew Lough Rea F/Imm. 19.02.05 AO'D (11) Coole Lough M 01.01.05 TG (2) Ferruginous Duck Blackrock Turlough M 20.02.05 MD (12) Coole Lough F 01.01.05 TG (2) Black-headed Gull Ballyloughaun, Galway Leuc. 21.02.05 TG Lough Atalia 1 02.01.05 NE Goshawk Drumaveg, Moycullen 1 22.02.05 PR Lough Atalia 1 02.01.05 NE Little Gull Nimmo's Pier 5 23.02.05 TG Lough Atalia 18 02.01.05 NE Black-throated Diver Durras Pier 7 23.02.05 TG Rossaveal 1 02.01.05 JOC Peregrine Rahasane Turlough Leuc. 26.02.05 TG Glenamaddy 2 03.01.05 MM Russian White-fronted Goose Rahasane Turlough 2 26.02.05 TG Waterside, Galway 1 03.01.05 MD (3) Barnacle Goose Rossaveal 1 26.02.05 TG Nimmo's Pier 2-1stW 03.01.05 MD Yellowhammer Termon, Nr. Gort 6 27.02.05 CP Nimmo's Pier 4-1stW 03.01.05 MD Ring-billed Gull Nimmo's Pier 2A 27.02.05 DB Traught 3 03.01.05 TG Little Gull Nimmo's Pier 1stW 27.02.05 DB Lough Atalia 1 03.01.05 TG Little Egret Kilcaimin 4 27.02.05 DO'K Durras Pier 4 03.01.05 TG Little Gull Nimmo's Pier 3 01.03.05 TG Nimmo's Pier 3A 04.01.05 TG Mediterranean Gull Salthill Promenade AW 02.03.05 MC Nimmo's Pier 4(3-1stW & 2ndW) 04.01.05 DB Mediterranean Gull Nimmo's Pier 1stW 05.03.05 DB Nimmo's Pier 5 (3-1stW, 2ndW & 3rdW) 04.01.05 DB Slavonian Grebe Lough Rea S 05.03.05 DB Inverin 12 05.01.05 TG Greenland White-fronted Goose Nr. Rostaff, Co. Mayo 52 05.03.05 CK (13) Rossaveal 1stW 05.01.05 TG Common Buzzard Cregg Castle, Corrandulla 1 06.03.05 IB (14) Nr. Ceannt Station, Galway 1 06.03.05 DB off Galway Docks 1A 06.01.05 TG Chiffchaff Nimmo's Pier 7-1stW 06.01.05 DB (4) Waxwing Glenard Crescent, Salthill 10 06.03.05 BD Nimmo's Pier 5 (3-1stW & 2-2ndW) 06.01.05 DB Jack Snipe Corrandulla 1 13.03.05 IB Nimmo's Pier 7 07.01.05 TG Yellowhammer Roscahill 1 15.03.05 PR Lough Atalia 21 08.01.05 NE Siskin Drumaveg, Moycullen 20 15.03.05 PR Carraroe 3 14.01.05 TG Greenland White-fronted Goose Rahasane Turlough 85 18.03.05 CP Durras Pier 4 15.01.05 TG Sand Martin Waterside, Galway 1 19.03.05 JG Rossaveal 2ndW 15.01.05 DB (5) Purple Sandpiper Blackrock, Salthill 11 25.03.05 CP Rossaveal 7 15.01.05 DB Peregrine Nimmo's Pier 1 26.03.05 Many obs. Rossaveal 3 15.01.05 DB Long-tailed Duck Finavara, Co. Clare 10 27.03.05 TG Nimmo's Pier 12+ 15.01.05 DB (6) Black-throated Diver Finavara, Co. Clare 14 27.03.05 TG Nimmo's Pier 1 15.01.05 DB Little Gull Nimmo's Pier 1 28.03.05 TG Durras Pier AW 16.01.05 TG (7) Crossbill Cloosh Wood 8 28.03.05 TG Traught 1 16.01.05 TG Wheatear Mman 1 28.03.05 MtC Glenard Crescent, Salthill 2 17.01.05 BD Ring-billed Gull Nimmo's Pier 2 29.03.05 TG GMIT, Galway 24 22.01.05 Willow Warbler Rossaveal 1 30.03.05 TG Nimmo's Pier 1 22.01.05 DB Iceland Gull Nimmo's Pier 12 31.03.05 DB (15) Nimmo's Pier 10-1stW 22.01.05 DB (8) Nimmo's Pier 7 (5-1stW & 2-2ndW) 22.01.05 DB ABBREVIATIONS Nimmo's Pier 20 23.01.05 DB Nimmo's Pier 1 23.01.05 DB Juv. = Juvenile; A = Adult; W = Winter; S = Summer; F = Female; M = Male; Nimmo's Pier 8 23.01.05 DB Imm. = Immature; Leuc. = Leucistic; hyb. = hybrid. Ballyloughaun, Galway 1 F/1stW 23.01.05 DB Merlin Park, Galway 12 28.01.05 NOTES Glenburren Park, Galway 24 28.01.05 IB Athenry 1 29.01.05 PR (1) Bird from previous quarter, remained in area until end of 1st Quarter 2005. Ballinacourty 1 29.01.05 DB (2) Bird from previous quarter.. Rahasane Turlough leuc. 29.01.05 TG (3) Remained in area until end of 1st Quarter 2005. Finavara, Co. Clare 14 29.01.05 TG (4) Including one bird of 'kumlieni' race. Nimmo's Pier AW 30.01.05 DB (9) (5) Same bird as at Nimmo's Pier. Glenburren Park, Galway 32 30.01.05 TG (6) Including 2-1stW 'kumlieni' types. Waterside, Galway 1stW 30.01.05 DB (7) Present in area until 26.03.05. Waterside, Galway 2 30.01.05 DB (8) Including 3 'kumlieni' types. Nimmo's Pier 5 30.01.05 TG (9) Same bird as at Durras Pier. NUI Galway 1 31.01.05 PD (10) Present until 26.02.05 Ballindiff Bay, Luimnagh F 01.02.05 DC (11) Present until 05.03.05 Maam Cross M 01.02.05 GO'D (12) Present until 26.02.05 Spiddal 4 02.02.05 TG (13) Birds in Co. Galway, present again on 10.03.05. Inverin 6 02.02.05 TG (14) Found dead. Cloosh Wood 12 02.02.05 TG (15) 12(11-1stW & 2ndW), including 1stW 'kumlieni' type. Nimmo's Pier 15 05.02.05 TG Grattan Road, Salthill 1stW 05.02.03 HD Rossaveal 8-1stW 06.02.05 DB & PL Rossaveal 4-1stW 06.02.05 DB & PL Traught 4 06.02.05 MM Finavara, Co. Clare F 06.02.05 TG CONTRIBUTORS Finavara, Co. Clare 8 06.02.05 TG Nimmo's Pier 1 07.02.05 TG AK = Aidan Kelly; TG = Tim Griffin; NE = Neil Ellis; Shantalla, Galway 1 10.02.05 TG JOC = John Caithniadh; MM = Mrs. Mallen; MD = Michael Davis; Durras Pier 8 12.02.05 TG DB = Dermot Breen; BD = Brendan Dunne; IB = Ian Brophy; Kilcaimin 1 13.02.05 TG PR = Padraic Reaney; PD = Patrick Delaney; DC = Deirdre Comerford; Lough Rea S 16.02.05 MF & PF (10) GO'D = Ger O'Donnell; HD = Hugh Delany; PL = Pat Lonergan; Rossaveal 1stW 18.02.05 HD MF = Mary Finnegan; PF = Pat Finnegan; AO'D = Aonghus O'Donaill; Nimmo's Pier 6 (2A & 4-1stW) 18.02.05 DB CP = Chris Peppiatt; DO'K = David O'Keeffe; MC = Michael Connolly; Rossaveal 12 18.02.05 DB CK = Christian Kubernat; JG = Joe Greaney; MtC = Marianne ten Cate.