Scandinavian Rock Pipit Again

'Littoralis' Rock Pipit, 28th March 2013, Black Rock (Kerry Birding).

Blue-winged Teal, Killelton polder

Blue-winged Teal, Killelton polder,28th March 2013 (David O'Connor).

Blue-winged Teal, Ballylongford

Male Blue-winged Teal, Killelton polder, 27th March 2013 (Davey Farrar).

3 Ring-billed Gulls still present

The three Ring-billed Gulls are still present at Blennerville, Tralee Bay Wetland Centre, 26th March 2013 (David O'Connor).

Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Baile an Reannaigh

Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Baile an Reannaigh, 26th march 2013 (Kerry Birding).

Crossbill, Tuosist

Crossbill, Tuosist, 25th March 2013 (Finn Moore).

Canada Goose and Scandinavian Rock Pipit

Canada Goose, near Finuge Cemetry, Cashen, 25th March 2013 (David O'Connor).

Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Black Rock, 25th March 2013 (David O'Connor).

Cork/Kerry Raptor Report

The Duhallow Raptor Conservation Project Report, 2012 is now available for free to download (Duhallow is the region which includes NW Cork and E Kerry). It shows the results from three key species – Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl and Kestrel, including all the fieldwork, nest box and publicity aspects to the work.

Some of the highlights are: A survey of for Barn Owls in part of the region found a site availability of 14.6 suitable buildings per 100km2, and a density of 2.6 breeding pairs of Barn Owl per 100km2 was recorded, which is higher than similar findings elsewhere in the country. 

An innovative playback and acoustic survey was also employed for Long-eared Owl for the first time in Ireland. A total of 6 breeding sites and 7 active territories were confirmed, representing a minimum density of 4.3 Long-eared Owl territories per 100km2. The breeding success of Long-eared Owls was 66.6%, with an average brood size of 2.25 young per brood. 

There were 22 Barn Owl nest boxes in place in Duhallow by the end of 2012, representing one of the highest densities of boxes in the country. Ten Kestrel nest boxes were installed at suitable sites which marked one of the first formal nest box schemes for this species in Ireland.

View the Report it on this page HERE.

Dark-bellied Brent, Ballylongford

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Ballylongford, 17th March 2013 (Seamus Enright).

Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Black Rock

'Littoralis', or 'Scandinavian' Rock Pipit, Black Rock, 12th March 2013 (David O'Connor).

'Littoralis' Rock Pipit, Black Rock

'Littoralis' Rock Pipit, Black Rock, 6th March 2013 (David O'Connor).

One of two such birds present.

Glaucous Gull, Ballinskelligs

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Reen Pier, Ballinskelligs, 3rd March 2013 (Pat McDaid).

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper, Ormand's Island, 1st March 2013 (Fionn Moore).