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Monday 26 March 2018

Black Brant at Ventry

 Adult Black Brant, Ventry, 25th March 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

 Quite how many Black Brants have been seen in Kerry over the years is a bit of a mystery, but at least on one occasion, two birds have been seen simultaneously, at Barrow Harbour and Spa on 6th November 2014. In early winter, by far the largest numbers of Brent are to be found at Barrow Harbour, but by December they usually disperse around Tralee Bay and become gradually more numerous on the coasts around the Magharees and Castlegregory. Black Brant occasionally turns up in these flocks if not at Barrow in the autumn then later in the winter at Sandy Bay or thereabouts. 

 Adult Black Brant, Ventry, 25th March 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

The bird seen yesterday at Ventry looks to be the same individual as seen at Sandy Bay in early mid-January, based on the similarity of the flank pattern, a distinctive dark  'double-band' towards the rear of the flank, especially on its right side.

Adult Black Brant, Ventry, 25th March 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Comparison of photos of Black Brant at Sandy Bay and Ventry, this winter, showing a distinct pattern on the flank (M.O'Clery).

However, this flank pattern is very different to the bird present at Sandy Bay in January 2017. One of the photos of that bird is shown below, but for more photos of that bird see the posts HERE and HERE.

Adult Black Brant at Sandy Bay in January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

Based on the flank pattern you would have to think last winters' Brant was a different individual to the one seen at Sandy Bay and Ventry this winter. However, how the flank pattern might vary from year to year is a bit of an unknown. Would an individual still maintain a distinctive flank pattern after each annual moult?

Sunday 25 March 2018

Kumlien's Gull, Dingle

First-year Kumlien's Gull, Dingle, 23rd March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

Friday 23 March 2018

Ring-billed Gull at Carrahane


Ring-billed Gull, Carrahane, 21st March 2018 (David O'Connor).

Wheatear, Black Rock, 21st March 2018 (David O'Connor).

Summer migrants are now slowly arriving, with a few Wheatears seen over the past few days, and two Sandwich Terns seen at Camp on Wednesday last.

Tuesday 20 March 2018

Black and Surf Scoters, Rossbeigh

Male Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 20th March 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

First-year male Surf Scoter, Rossbeigh, 20th March 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

First-year male Surf Scoter, Rossbeigh, 20th March 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Although a female Surf Scoter has been seen at Rossbeigh over much of the winter, the bird appears to be a newcomer. The young male Surf Scoter which was at Ballinskelligs Bay in early February appears to be different, with more advanced plumage and bare parts coloration (see HERE)

Friday 16 March 2018

Yellow-legged Gull, Black Rock

Adult Yellow-legged Gull (rear, second from left, with Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Common Gulls), Black Rock, 12th March 2018 (David O'Connor).

Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Black Rock, 12th March 2018 (David O'Connor).

Thursday 15 March 2018

Dingle Gulls

 
A feast of Iceland Gulls, Dingle Harbour, 14th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

Iceland Gull, Dingle Harbour, 14th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, Dingle Harbour, 14th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

There were 13 Iceland Gulls and 2 Glaucous Gulls present, a slight drop on recent days, but still an impressive count.

Adult Ring-Billed Gull, Dingle Harbour, 14th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

It's been a good winter for Ring-billed Gulls in Kerry, following several winters with few or no new birds.

First-winter Mediterannean Gull Dingle Harbour, 14th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

Nine species of gull were present in and around the Harbour.

Tuesday 13 March 2018

More of the white-wingers

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Black Rock, 10th March 2018 (Geoff Hunt).

Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull, Dingle, 10th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

17 Iceland and one Glaucous Gulls were present around the harbour.

Four Iceland Gulls in amongst the regulars, Dingle Harbour, 10th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

Adult Iceland Gull, Dingle, 10th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

Saturday 10 March 2018

Adult Kumlien's Gull, Dingle

Adult Kumlien's Gull, Dingle Harbour, 9th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

There were at least 15 Iceland Gulls and 2 Glaucous Gulls at Dingle, with a scattering of both species elsewhere in the county, so it's turning into a great winter for 'white-wingers'.

Adult Kumlien's Gull, Dingle Harbour, 9th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

Adult Kumlien's Gull, Dingle Harbour, 9th March 2018 (Kilian Kelly).