One of the best ways to view wildlife in general and birds in particular is from a kayak. Some species seem very tolerant of an approach by a human cunningly disguised as a bit of flotsam. The Spoonbill at Cromane is one such bird quite happy to have a floating birder invade its personal space, and with the flawless blue sky and windless conditions it presented quite a sight up close. Amazing looking bird.
Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).
A stunning day for pootling around in a kayak in Castlemaine Harbour. Snow on the peaks, but almost t-shirt weather out on the water (Michael O'Clery).
This bird is in its 13th winter at this site and now, it would seem, is the longest-staying, or rather, longest-returning rarity of any kind ever in Ireland. Perhaps some of the long-lived Black Brants may have met or bettered that record but there is no way to be sure as individuals wander widely and are not necessarily identifiable year to year.
Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).
Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).
Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).
Great Crested Grebe, Castlemaine Harbour, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).
Away from the mouth of the Shannon in North Kerry and Inner Tralee Bay, Great Crested Grebes are pretty scarce in Kerry. Even at 'Grebe Central' i.e., Sandy Bay, only singles appear in winter and then infrequently, and always heavily outnumbered by Slavonian Grebes. This is a first-winter bird with traces of the dark, juvenile neck stripes still showing. It would not be a Kerry bird though as they no longer nest in the county.
