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Thursday 30 April 2015

Barn Owl nest boxes in Kerry showing their worth

Various Barn Owl sites in central Kerry were checked for occupancy today, and two new Barn Owl nest boxes have been taken up, showing the value of well-placed boxes to the species. At least a third of known nest sites in Kerry are now in nest boxes, and this figure rises each year. 

Early indications are good for the species so far this year, with most traditional sites occupied, and one or two abandoned ones re-occupied. Let's hope they have a good breeding season...

Barn Owl (probably a male) at a nest box not too far from the Tralee Bypass... there are still some owls left then! It'll be interesting to see if this bird is paired, as the casualties along the Bypass recently must have taken a toll on some of the nearby nest sites (Michael O'Clery, under licence from NPWS).

A female Barn Owl at a nest box site near Castleisland. This box was placed in a likely looking derelict house, even though there were no signs of owls before it was placed, or in the three years since. Suddenly, there is a pair of owls present at this secluded site (Michael O'Clery, under licence from NPWS).

Friday 24 April 2015

Iceland Gull, Dingle

Iceland Gull, Dingle, 24th April 2015 (Michael O'Clery).

This bird has been around for, well, officially, ages...

Kilshannig goodies

Immature male Eider, Kilshannig, 23rd April 2015 (David O'Connor).

Whooper Swan, Kilshannig, 23rd April 2015 (David O'Connor).

White Wagtail, Kilshannig, 23rd April 2015 (David O'Connor).

Monday 20 April 2015

Watching White Wag washing

White Wagtail, Kilshannig, 20th April 2015 (David O'Connor).

One of 6 birds present at this site.

White Wagtail, Kilshannig, 20th April 2015 (David O'Connor).

White Wagtail, Kilshannig, 20th April 2015 (David O'Connor).

Sunday 12 April 2015

Hoopoe, Kells

Hoopoe, Mount Foley, Kells, 12th April 2015 (Andrew Field).

Wednesday 1 April 2015

Littoralis Rock Pipits in Kerry at the moment

littoralis Rock Pipit, Black Rock, 31st March 2015 (David O'Connor). 

 littoralis Rock Pipit, Killshannig, 1st April 2015 (Kerry Birding).

littoralis Rock Pipit, Killshannig, 1st April 2015 (Kerry Birding). 

littoralis Rock Pipit, Killshannig, 1st April 2015, 3 birds present, but at least 4 have been seen all at this site in the last 2 months.(Kerry Birding).