 |
Juvenile Spotted Sandpiper, 'The Trench', Castlegregory, 10th October 2023 (Michael O'Clery).
|
"The Trench' is the outlet of Lough Gill, where it meets the sea. The water levels of Lough Gill are controlled by a sluice gate mounted on the bridge there, allowing full outflow of fresh water, but preventing much salt water entering the lake on spring high tides, which is an awful shame. Lough Gills' default state would be a saline lagoon if that weren't the case, and would be way more important as a bird and wildlife habitat. It would drain out to mudflat at times of low rainfall and neap tides, and be filled with salt water on spring tides, knocking back shore vegetation and creating more shoreline habitat once water levels drop again. Waders, wildfowl and herons would love it. They still do, but in a much reduced way.
But anyways, this Spotted Sandpiper was found late this evening just where the lake waters enter the sea. The 9th record for Kerry and about the 58th for Ireland.
 |
| Juvenile Spotted Sandpiper, 'The Trench', Castlegregory, 10th October 2023 (Michael O'Clery). | |
The above photo shows the restricted white wingbar of Spotted Sandpiper. If it were a Common Sandpiper which, as the name suggests, is much commoner, the white of the wingbar would extend all the way back toward the body. Almost impossible to see in real life, but very possible with a half-good photo of the bird in flight.
 |
| Juvenile Spotted Sandpiper, 'The Trench', Castlegregory, 10th October 2023 (Michael O'Clery). |
 |
| Juvenile Spotted Sandpiper, 'The Trench', Castlegregory, 10th October 2023 (Michael O'Clery). |
 |
| Juvenile Spotted Sandpiper, 'The Trench', Castlegregory, 10th October 2023 (Michael O'Clery). |
