Great Northern Diver

The great northern diver can usually be spotted in Galway from September to April. Like other divers, they have powerful, dagger-like bills that enable them to effectively capture fish and other prey like crustaceans, molluscs, and amphibians. These seabirds are common throughout Galway during the wintertime. They can often be seen bobbing along the waves in the bay, especially when winds are high. There is no evidence to suggest that Great Northern Divers have ever bred in Ireland. Breeding occurs overseas, in areas like Greenland and Iceland.