Intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull

Intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blennerville, 27th May 2021 (David O'Connor).

Intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blennerville, 27th May 2021 (David O'Connor).

Intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blennerville, 27th May 2021 (David O'Connor).

'Winter' gulls still hanging around

Iceland Gull, Dingle, 26th April 2021 (Michael O'Clery).

 Iceland Gulls are still popping up around Kerry, but the most regular is this one at Dingle, believed to be present from last December, and still hanging around the Dingle Harbour area.

Glaucous Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 7th May 2021 (David O'Connor).

 

Iceland Gull, The Cashen, 6th May 2021 (David O'Connor).

Yellow-legged Gull, Kilcummin, 28th April 2021 (David O'Connor).

Franklin's Gull at Black Rock

Franklins' Gull, Black Rock, 28th April 2021 (David O'Connor).

A second summer bird, and only the third record for Co. Kerry.

Franklins' Gull, Black Rock, 28th April 2021 (David O'Connor).

Franklins' Gull, Black Rock, 28th April 2021 (David O'Connor).

Franklins' Gull, Black Rock, 28th April 2021 (David O'Connor).

Franklins' Gull, Black Rock, 28th April 2021 (Ed Carty).

Some regulars still present

Green-winged Teal, Blennerville, 8th April 2021 (Ed Carty).

Pink-footed Goose, Blennerville, 12th April 2021 (David O'Connor).

 

Littoralis-type Rock Pipit, Kilshannig, 12th April 2021 (David O'Connor).

First-winter male King Eider, near Castlegregory

First-winter male King Eider, near Castlegregory, 9th January 2021 (Michael O'Clery).

The fourth record for Kerry, and the first male, following a female at Dingle in February 2001, a female at Ballinskelligs in December 2017 and a female at Castlegregory in February 2017, which also returned the following winter. Let's hope this one stays for people to enjoy and returns in full colourful male plumage next winter.

Adult Kumlien's Gull at Blennerville

 

Adult Kumlien's Gull, Blennerville, 2nd January 2021 (Ed Carty).

This is the 55th record for Co. Kerry, and the 18th adult bird.

Adult Kumlien's Gull, Blennerville, 2nd January 2021 (Ed Carty).

Adult Kumlien's Gull, Blennerville, 2nd January 2021 (Ed Carty).

 

More winter goodies

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Camp river mouth, 2nd January 2021 (Michael O'Clery).

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Camp river mouth, 2nd January 2021 (Michael O'Clery).

Spotted Redshank, Reenroe, 1st January 2021 (A.Non).

Female Eider, Reenroe, 1st January 2021 (A.Non).

Purple Sandpipier, Rough Point, 21st December 2020 (Michael O'Clery).
Up to 35 were present in the area.

Double-crested Cormorant

Another recent star bird was Kerry's first and Ireland's second Double-crested Cormorant. It was found roosting with Cormorants near Carrig Island on 25th November by Seamus Enright, and was seen on many subsequent dates either there or at nearby Saleen Per near Ballylongford.

First-winter Double-crested Cormorant, Carrig Island, 8th December 2020 (Davey Farrar).

First-winter Double-crested Cormorant, Carrig Island, 8th December 2020 (Davey Farrar).

Autumn catch-up, 3 - Mourning Dove

 One of the Birds of the Year, this Mourning Dove at the tail end of October was the first for Kerry, but due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, wasn't widely publicised at the time, and the location was undisclosed, other than 'Valentia Island'. It was present for just two days. Such a shame more birders couldn't get to enjoy it, but hey, blame the goddam global pandemic... bad for our healths, bad for our mental healths, and bad for our Kerry bird lists.

Mourning Dove is common throughout the States and southern Canada, in much the same habitat as our Collared Dove - gardens, hedgerow and farmland, and this bird chose a farmland track for its brief stay, offering views down to just 10m.

Mourning Dove, Valentia Island, 30th October 2020 (A. Non.).

Mourning Dove, Valentia Island, 30th October 2020.

Mourning Dove, Valentia Island, 30th October 2020.

Mourning Dove, Valentia Island, 30th October 2020.

Mourning Dove, Valentia Island, 30th October 2020.

Autumn catch-up, 2

 More goodies from the autumn that was.

Late Curlew Sandpiper at Black Rock, 4th November 2020 (David O'Connor).

Green-winged Teal, Cockleshell Road, Blennerville, 3rd December 2020 (David O'Connor).

Presumed returning bird from last winter.

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Blennerville, 11th November 2020 (David O'Connor).

Canada Geese, Cashen Estuary, 31st October 2020 (Davey Farrar).

Don't get too excited by these... large and pale, they are more convincing as escapees from a feral flock somewhere to the east, rather than the darker, smaller, trans-Atlantic vagrants we might get from the west.