Juvenile Little Stint, Ferriter's Cove

 

Juvenile Little Stint, Ferriter's Cove, 29th August 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Baird's Sandpiper, Ventry

Baird's Sandpiper, Ventry, 31st August 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Baird's Sandpiper, Ventry, 31st August 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

 Present since 28th August.

Baird's Sandpiper, Ventry, 31st August 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Marsh Warbler on Skellig - First for Kerry

 Brian Power was on Skellig Michael on 27th August, when he experienced a 'fall' of migrants. During the day in which he found and photographed Kerry's first Ortolan Bunting (see the post below), he managed to also photograph what he thought at the time was a Reed Warbler (still a good bird in Kerry). A sharp-eyed Chris Batty later pointed out however that the photos published online seemed a better fit for Marsh Warbler. Photos were hastily re-examined, heads were scratched, and sure enough, the longer wings and wing structure proved it to be of Kerry's first Marsh Warbler!

Kerry's first Marsh Warbler, Skellig Michael, 27th August 2026 (Brian Power)

Marsh Warbler, Skellig Michael, 27th August 2026 (Brian Power)

Pied Flycatcher, Skellig Michael, 27th August 2026. One of 3-4 present (Brian Power)

Whinchat, Skellig Michael, 27th August 2026 (Brian Power)

Ortolan Bunting on Skellig - First for Kerry

Skellig Michael, Kerry, showing the south side, with the old and 'new' lighthouses (Michael O'Clery).

 Brian Power is conducting work on seabirds on Skellig Island again this summer and autumn, and has been doing so for six years nor, and has certainly been showing the full potential of this isolated island off the SW coast to produce quality vagrant birds. The likes of Blackburnian Warbler (also a county first, Blyth's Reed Warbler, and, most recently, Serin (another county first) have been seen, along with a strong supporting cast of other migrant passerines. 

 

Ortolan Bunting, Skellig Michael, 27th August 2026. A second bird, seen only briefly, may also have been an Ortolan Bunting (Brian Power).

This Ortolan Bunring was found by Brian on 27th August, amid a 'fall' of other Kerry scarcities, such as Pied Flycatcher and Whinchat.

Glossy Ibis still at Blennerville

 

Glossy Ibis, Cockleshell Road, Blennerville, 31st July 2026 (David O'Connor).

Glossy Ibis, Cockleshell Road, Blennerville, 31st July 2026 (David O'Connor).

Great White Egret at Lough Gill

 

Great White Egret, Lough Gill, 26th April 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Great White Egret, Lough Gill, 26th April 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

'Intermedius' Lesser Black-backed Gull at Black Rock

 

Intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cockleshell Road, Tralee, 29th March 2026 (David O'Connor).

Intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cockleshell Road, Tralee, 29th March 2026 (David O'Connor).

Intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cockleshell Road, Tralee, 29th March 2026 (David O'Connor).

Weird Gull still at Kilcummin

 

Presumed Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid, Kilcummin, 23rd March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Presumed Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid, Kilcummin, 23rd March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Black Scoter still at Rossbeigh

 Despite a massive drop in scoter numbers at Rossbeigh - from 1000+ in December to about 60 now - one of the few remaining scoter is the male Black Scoter. This bird has been present since 8th February 2026.

Male Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 19th March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Male Black Scoter with Common Scoter (left), Rossbeigh, 19th March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

 

Long-tailed Duck and Littoralis Rock Pipits

 

Juvenile female Long-tailed Duck, Rough Point, 17th March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Juvenile female Long-tailed Duck, Rough Point, 17th March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Littoralis-type Rock Pipit, Rough Point, 17th March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

At least three individuals of this slightly distinctive race of Rock Pipit were along the seaweed line at Rough Point. As reliable a spot as any in Ireland to see them, in March and April, but have a look on the blog HERE for a more detailed take on these birds.

Littoralis-type Rock Pipit, Rough Point, 17th March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Littoralis-type Rock Pipit, Rough Point, 17th March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Littoralis-type Rock Pipit, Rough Point, 17th March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Littoralis-type Rock Pipit, Rough Point, 17th March 2026 (Michael O'Clery).