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Friday 31 May 2013

Garden Warbler, Killarney N.P.

Garden Warbler in song, Killarney National Park, 31st May 2013 (David O'Connor).

Garden Warblers, like Whitethroats (see post below) are one of the rarest of the regular breeding species in Kerry. In 1993, Terry Carruthers, in his book, The Birds of Killarney National Park, estimated that between 2 and 6 pairs bred each year in the park. This individual has been in song at the exact same spot in the park for the past four years showing that they are very faithful to a particular site, though whether this is the same individual is open to conjecture. Most records in Kerry are from headlands such as Dunquin/Coumeenoole in autumn when it is almost annual. Another recent spring record was from near Kilgarvan in 2011 during Atlas fieldwork. The species is probably overlooked not least because of its retiring habits, but also due to their subdued plumage and the uncanny similarity in song between the much commoner Blackcap which occurs in broadly similar habitat.

Wednesday 29 May 2013

Turtle Dove, Ventry

Adult Turtle Dove, Ballintlea, near Ventry, 28th May 2013 (Nick Massett). The 64th record for the county.

Monday 27 May 2013

Whitethroat, Kerry Head

Male Whitethroat, Kerry Head, 21st May 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Whitethroats are surprisingly rare as a breeding species in Co. Kerry, despite breeding commonly just a few km to the east of the county border, in Co. Cork. In the 15 years of the DIngle Peninsula Bird Report, there were no confirmed breeding records, and the only singing spring male stayed just one day.

A male and female were present at this site, near Kerry Head.

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Thursday 16 May 2013

Iceland Gull, The Cashen

Second summer Iceland Gull, Cashen, 16th May 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Iceland Gull

First-summer Iceland Gull, Ferriters cove,15th May 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Monday 13 May 2013

Better Bonaparte's Gull photos




Adult summer Bonaparte's Gull, Kilshannig, 13th May 2013 (David O'Connor).

Bonaparte's Gull, Kilshannig


Adult summer Bonaparte's Gull, Kilshannig, 13th May 2013 (Video: Michael O'Clery).

(Click image for a closer view)
Adult summer Bonaparte's Gull, Kilshannig, 13th May 2013 (Screengrabs: Michael O'Clery).

Saturday 11 May 2013

Barn Owl

Barn Owl, roosting undisclosed site north Kerry, 11th May 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Thursday 9 May 2013

Wednesday 8 May 2013

First eagle chick for 110 years hatches in Kerry

(Click on the image below for a closer view)

Page from the Kerryman newspaper, 7th May 2013. See Kerryman.ie

Another link to a news story is in the Irish Times HERE. (opens a new page).

Friday 3 May 2013

Biodiversity Week in Kerry, May 18th - 25th 2013

(Click on the image to see a closer view of the summary text).

Co. Kerry Biodiversity Week kicks off on 18th May. Plenty of interest for birdwatchers, with a Dawn Chorus walk, and a talk on Barn Owls, along with a variety of other wildlife related talks and walks on Otters, Lampreys, native wildflowers, bats and Kerry's Uplands. All events are free and open to all. 

Click on the image above to read a summary of events, or visit the Kerry County Council website HERE and download the full brochure (PDF, 14 Mb, click on link, "General Information").

Thursday 2 May 2013