Birds to See in Galway in September
135 bird species on our list for Galway are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Hooded Crow, European Robin, Black-headed Gull and Pied Wagtail. New this month: Common Loon, Brent Goose, Whooper Swan and Red-throated Loon and 16 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
From Galway’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 135 birds in September
135 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.59% in Sep
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in Sep
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Sep
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Sep
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in Sep
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Sep
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Sep
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Sep
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.12% in Sep
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Sep
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Sep
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Sep
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Sep
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Sep
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Sep
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Sep
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.45% in Sep
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 1.32% in Sep
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Sep
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Sep
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Sep
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Sep
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.09% in Sep
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Sep
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Sep
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Sep
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.92% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Sep
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Sep
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 0.77% in Sep
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Sep
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Sep
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.72% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.68% in Sep
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.62% in Sep
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Sep
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Sep
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Sep
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Sep
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.50% in Sep
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Sep
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.40% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.37% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxResidentUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Sep
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Sep
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in Sep
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Sep
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.19% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.18% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentUncommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.16% in Sep
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Sep
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.13% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.13% in Sep
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.12% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Sep
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.11% in Sep
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.10% in Sep
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.10% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosScarceUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Sep · 0.09% in Sep
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusPassage migrantUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.09% in Sep
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Sep · 0.08% in Sep
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.08% in Sep
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Sep
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.06% in Sep
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.06% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.05% in Sep
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentRare32–34 cmRegularly Sep · 0.03% in Sep
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusWinter visitorUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made