Dermot Breen
@dermotbreen.bsky.social
Birder based in county Galway, Ireland.
Second-calendar Ring-billed Gull back in Barnaderg Bay, Co. Galway during the week. Turned up last winter. Only about my fourth individual in Connemara in 18 years.
August 8, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Second-calendar Ring-billed Gull back in Barnaderg Bay, Co. Galway during the week. Turned up last winter. Only about my fourth individual in Connemara in 18 years.
A group of nine White-tailed Sea Eagles hanging out together last week in Connemara (eight in this video). 8 were tagged birds released on Lough Corrib in 24 & 25. Intriguingly one was untagged, potentially from an undiscovered nest somewhere?
Incredible sight.
Incredible sight.
March 8, 2026 at 7:11 PM
A group of nine White-tailed Sea Eagles hanging out together last week in Connemara (eight in this video). 8 were tagged birds released on Lough Corrib in 24 & 25. Intriguingly one was untagged, potentially from an undiscovered nest somewhere?
Incredible sight.
Incredible sight.
Green-winged Teal from Rahasane Turlough, Co. Galway yesterday. Probably close to 2,000 dabbling duck present on site.
January 5, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Green-winged Teal from Rahasane Turlough, Co. Galway yesterday. Probably close to 2,000 dabbling duck present on site.
This colour ringed Ringed Plover was in Streamstown Bay, Clifden yesterday. I got word from Brian Burke @bburke88.bsky.social that he had ringed it this summer as a breeding adult at Baltray Little Tern colony in Louth. Strange that it would choose to winter 250km away on the other side of Ireland.
December 22, 2025 at 4:56 PM
This colour ringed Ringed Plover was in Streamstown Bay, Clifden yesterday. I got word from Brian Burke @bburke88.bsky.social that he had ringed it this summer as a breeding adult at Baltray Little Tern colony in Louth. Strange that it would choose to winter 250km away on the other side of Ireland.
Took a trip up to Tully Mountain SAC/Letter Hill about a fortnight ago. It's designated for it's European dry, Alpine & Boreal heaths. Unusually for an upland site in Connemara, it's in good condition due to low numbers of sheep present. Juniper & Bearberry were frequent at the higher elevations.
November 25, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Took a trip up to Tully Mountain SAC/Letter Hill about a fortnight ago. It's designated for it's European dry, Alpine & Boreal heaths. Unusually for an upland site in Connemara, it's in good condition due to low numbers of sheep present. Juniper & Bearberry were frequent at the higher elevations.
Cattle Egret at Mullaghglass, Tully Cross from 14th October. Still rare in Galway.
October 21, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Cattle Egret at Mullaghglass, Tully Cross from 14th October. Still rare in Galway.
Buff-bellied Pipit on Inishmore from 16th October. Second island record and the fourth or fifth county record. The only American passerine for the Autumn in Galway. Just one White-rumped Sandpiper and two American Golden Plovers for the whole Autumn.
October 21, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Buff-bellied Pipit on Inishmore from 16th October. Second island record and the fourth or fifth county record. The only American passerine for the Autumn in Galway. Just one White-rumped Sandpiper and two American Golden Plovers for the whole Autumn.
A few pictures of two "North-Western" Redpolls from Inishbofin on 7th October. One of the birds (first two pics) was a paler bird and possibly closer to an islandica type, while the other was a more classic looking rostrata type. Both were exceptionally tame.
October 21, 2025 at 11:18 AM
A few pictures of two "North-Western" Redpolls from Inishbofin on 7th October. One of the birds (first two pics) was a paler bird and possibly closer to an islandica type, while the other was a more classic looking rostrata type. Both were exceptionally tame.
Niall Keogh found county Galway's first Marsh Warbler at Renvyle Head yesterday. Typically, for an Acrocephalus warbler, it proved very challenging to get good prolonged views but after about 5 hours, we eventually did thankfully. Makes up for the complete lack of good waders here so far.
September 25, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Niall Keogh found county Galway's first Marsh Warbler at Renvyle Head yesterday. Typically, for an Acrocephalus warbler, it proved very challenging to get good prolonged views but after about 5 hours, we eventually did thankfully. Makes up for the complete lack of good waders here so far.
Nice day out on the islands of Derryclare Lough on Tuesday. We were out to collect Yew berries & cuttings for propagation for further planting locally. We were also hoping to collect some Rock Whitebeam berries as well but didn't find any unfortunately. Quite a rare species away from Killarney.
September 25, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Nice day out on the islands of Derryclare Lough on Tuesday. We were out to collect Yew berries & cuttings for propagation for further planting locally. We were also hoping to collect some Rock Whitebeam berries as well but didn't find any unfortunately. Quite a rare species away from Killarney.
Adult Bonaparte's Gull back at Ballyconneely Strand yesterday for its third winter now. I wonder where it disappears to during the summers?
September 21, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Adult Bonaparte's Gull back at Ballyconneely Strand yesterday for its third winter now. I wonder where it disappears to during the summers?
Random picture upload from the last month or so.
September 15, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Random picture upload from the last month or so.
A few sights from Currywongaun, Twelve Bens Mts, NW of Kylemore today. This was the location for Marconi's radio receiving station as part of the first transatlantic wireless telegraphy back in 1913. Worrying a lot of Rhodo spreading throughout the hill, at least 1km north of the Kylemore estate.
July 23, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A few sights from Currywongaun, Twelve Bens Mts, NW of Kylemore today. This was the location for Marconi's radio receiving station as part of the first transatlantic wireless telegraphy back in 1913. Worrying a lot of Rhodo spreading throughout the hill, at least 1km north of the Kylemore estate.
This Loggerhead Turtle was found by a tourist on Lettergesh beach, Rinvyle today. I collected her & brought her half the way down to Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium who specialise in the rehabilitation of sea turtles. 7th Loggerhead to be found in Ireland this year.🤞for a successful recovery.
July 8, 2025 at 8:21 PM
This Loggerhead Turtle was found by a tourist on Lettergesh beach, Rinvyle today. I collected her & brought her half the way down to Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium who specialise in the rehabilitation of sea turtles. 7th Loggerhead to be found in Ireland this year.🤞for a successful recovery.
Nice selection of orchids on display at the moment. I've had all these in the last few days in the environs of Ballyconneely. Green-winged, Early Purple, Irish Marsh & Early Marsh Orchids have been and gone by now and Autumn Ladies Tresses are yet to appear. I've seen about 14 species in total here.
July 2, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Nice selection of orchids on display at the moment. I've had all these in the last few days in the environs of Ballyconneely. Green-winged, Early Purple, Irish Marsh & Early Marsh Orchids have been and gone by now and Autumn Ladies Tresses are yet to appear. I've seen about 14 species in total here.
It's Peregrine ringing season again. Numbers a bit down this year. We've ringed six nests so far here in county Galway. Most of the pairs in Connemara are missing this year.
May 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
It's Peregrine ringing season again. Numbers a bit down this year. We've ringed six nests so far here in county Galway. Most of the pairs in Connemara are missing this year.
Large fire along the Western Way at Derryherbert & Cappanlaurabaun beside Lough Corrib from last Saturday. Thanks to the help of a helicopter it probably would have kept going through the tinder dry tree farm. A good amount of trees on the ground due to Storm Éowyn which contributed to the fire.
May 24, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Large fire along the Western Way at Derryherbert & Cappanlaurabaun beside Lough Corrib from last Saturday. Thanks to the help of a helicopter it probably would have kept going through the tinder dry tree farm. A good amount of trees on the ground due to Storm Éowyn which contributed to the fire.
Male Ring-necked Duck, male Garganey & plenty of breeding Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard at Muckrush, Lough Corrib today. The breeding Lapwing & Redshank not doing so well with a Fox patrolling the main island in broad daylight and seemed to be successfully getting food.. @breedingwaderseip.bsky.social
May 4, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Male Ring-necked Duck, male Garganey & plenty of breeding Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard at Muckrush, Lough Corrib today. The breeding Lapwing & Redshank not doing so well with a Fox patrolling the main island in broad daylight and seemed to be successfully getting food.. @breedingwaderseip.bsky.social
Shots taken locally yesterday mainly Ballyconneely.
April 24, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Shots taken locally yesterday mainly Ballyconneely.
Russian White-fronted Goose hanging out with feral Greylag Geese on Tumduffbeg Lake, Boora, Co. Offaly today. Probably a county first (?) and only the second I've seen in Ireland. I saw my first ever White-fronted Goose (Greenland) literally on the other side of the road 30 years ago! 😳
April 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Russian White-fronted Goose hanging out with feral Greylag Geese on Tumduffbeg Lake, Boora, Co. Offaly today. Probably a county first (?) and only the second I've seen in Ireland. I saw my first ever White-fronted Goose (Greenland) literally on the other side of the road 30 years ago! 😳
Nice fresh Green Hairstreak from Derryclare yesterday.
April 18, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Nice fresh Green Hairstreak from Derryclare yesterday.
Adult winter Bonaparte's Gull relocated to Ballyconneely beach, Co. Galway in front of Murlach this evening as it did last winter as well.
March 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Adult winter Bonaparte's Gull relocated to Ballyconneely beach, Co. Galway in front of Murlach this evening as it did last winter as well.
I picked up this adult winter Bonaparte's Gull while driving along the Ballyconneely road beside Mannin Bay today. Same way I picked up what was presumably the same individual here last winter.
March 10, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I picked up this adult winter Bonaparte's Gull while driving along the Ballyconneely road beside Mannin Bay today. Same way I picked up what was presumably the same individual here last winter.
We were up around Bencullagh and Muckanaght in the Twelve Ben Mts on Thurs. Lovely to see good coverage of Juniper around the latter where sheep grazing has been low. Typically quiet for birds, 50 Golden Plover on the hilltop, handful of Raven and a Meadow Pipit being it.
March 2, 2025 at 7:36 AM
We were up around Bencullagh and Muckanaght in the Twelve Ben Mts on Thurs. Lovely to see good coverage of Juniper around the latter where sheep grazing has been low. Typically quiet for birds, 50 Golden Plover on the hilltop, handful of Raven and a Meadow Pipit being it.
Female White-tailed Sea Eagle, Inagh Valley, Connemara. Released on Lough Corrib in 2023.
February 21, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Female White-tailed Sea Eagle, Inagh Valley, Connemara. Released on Lough Corrib in 2023.