Kumlien's Gull, Reenard

Adult Kumlien's Gull, Reenard Point, 4th March 2012 (Seamus Enright). This individual has been present at the pier at Reenard since 16th February. Nine Iceland Gulls were also present.

Second winter Kumlien's Gull

Second winter Kumlien's Gull, the Cashen estuary, 1st March 2012 (Davey Farrar). The second record for this site, both in the past week. Also present was an adult Ring-billed Gull, a first for the Cashen.

Kumlien's Gull, The Cashen

First-winter Kumlien's Gull, The Cashen Estuary, 27th February, 2012 (Davey Farrar). Five Iceland and one Glaucous Gull were also present.

Glaucous & Iceland Gulls, Dingle

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Dingle Harbour, 26th February 2012 (Ed Carty).

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Dingle Harbour, 26th February 2012 (Ed Carty).

First-winter Iceland Gull, Dingle Harbour, 26th February 2012 (Ed Carty).

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Dingle Harbour, 26th February 2012 (Ed Carty).

White-winged gulls

White-winged gulls, Reenard Pier, 22th February 2012 (Davey Farrar).

Iceland Gulls, Reenard

Second winter Iceland Gull, Reenard, 24th February 2012 (Davey Farrar).

First-winter Iceland Gull, Reenard, 24th February 2012 (Davey Farrar).

Adult Kumlien's Gull

Adult Kumlien's Gull, at Knightstown, 22nd February 2012 (Davey Farrar).

Four Peaks Challenge for Raptors

John Lusby, Raptor Conservation Officer with BirdWatch Ireland, is embarking on a remarkable challenge in aid of Raptor Conservation and Down Syndrome Ireland. Their Four Peaks Challenge involves not only climbing the four highest peaks in each province of Ireland, but cycling between each of them.

John is hoping to raise much-needed sponsorship money to be divided equally between Down Syndrome Ireland and the BirdWatch Ireland Raptor Conservation Appeal. Funds from the Raptor Appeal will help with the monitoring and ringing efforts for Barn Owls and Kestrels in County Kerry and will also fund the provision of nest boxes for the two species.

John Lusby, ringing a Kestrel chick from a coastal nest site on the Dingle Peninsula, June 2011 (M.O'Clery).

So please donate to a good cause. By sponsoring John, you can help secure the future of Kestrels and Barn Owls in Kerry.

John's homepage for donations (on mycharity.ie) is HERE.

Spoonbill, Cromane

 Adult Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st February 2012 (Ed Carty).

Adult Iceland Gull, Cromane, 21st February 2012 (Ed Carty).

Tree Sparrow, Cashen Estuary

Tree Sparrow at The Cashen, 19th February 2012 (Mike Flanagan) and (Micheal Sheehy).