Galley Head Birding

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January 6, 2007 - the great island bird race

Today was the annual great island bird race and 9.00 am saw 5 teams set out from Kennedy Pier in Cobh for the race. It was an excellent day weatherwise but hard work finding birds. Having won outright 2 years ago, and tied in first place last year we were up for the treble but with our usual 4th team mate swanning around in Sri Lanka and our second fiddle golden plover expert overseas in Japan we were always going to struggle. Indeed so it turned out as we could only struggle to tie in 3rd on 88, with the 4th place team on 85. A sterling effort by HH and his team came in second with 91 but it was the usual suspects (DOS, PD & PM) who ran out the winners with a whopping 94. feckers - we'll get 'em next year!

Good birds were quite thin on the ground though most teams managed both glaucous, iceland and ring-billed gulls. Bird of the day was a fine tree sparrow, a great find by 1 team and a good county record.

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January 8, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Harry

Hi Col,
I had no idea that you won it two years running, sort of...probably forgot that as I wasn't on the 2006 race meself.
Will we ever get as close to a win again? Once did the old West Cork race with Nagle's team, and came even closer, I think, losing by 2 birds or maybe even one. You can, of course, guess who won that....
Must try to look for young Seán's Tree Spadgie during the week: county tick for me there!
H

January 8, 2007 - bird race

Posted by col

I'd say you'll be there or thereabouts from now on - 3 birds really is very little when you think that the usual suspects have several secret sites for stuff like whimbrel, shoveler etc - plus a bit of luck is always going to play its part - like we saw a sparrowhawk driving into Cobh at 8.40 am but never had another all day, or peregrine despite the great weather but once you're getting over 90 on a day you're always going to have a chance!

all to play for next year!

January 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Harry

Ah, but what was a Sparrowhawk doing driving in to Cobh at 8.40am? Did it have a full or provisional licence?
Sure we sort of know where the lads have Whimbrel, but obviously not well enough, and none of us knew that there were any Shoveler at Whitegate...shades of 'Choughs at Roche's Point' there...?
Wonder if Buzzard will be seen on most races from now on?
H

Galley Head Birding

Birding around Galley Head, County Cork

Year List Challenge 2008

1st Girdleness 107.96%
2nd North Don 105.32%
3rd Folkestone 105.17%
4th South Don 104.29%
5th Lough Beg 104.24%
6th Galley 102.24%
7th Collieston 82.98%

based on last 3 year's average total
updated 25/11/08