First summer Glaucous Gull, Dingle 20th May 2022 (Michael O'Clery). |
First summer Glaucous Gull, Dingle 20th May 2022 (Michael O'Clery). |
First summer Glaucous Gull, Dingle 20th May 2022 (Michael O'Clery). |
"In natural science the principles of truth ought to be confirmed by observations." (Linnaeus). "Though, preferably backed up by a series of high quality digital photos and video." (KerryBirding).
Some winter gulls for your viewing pleasure, from recent days.
Adult Kumlien's Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 11th February 2022 (David O'Connor). |
Adult Kumlien's Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 11th February 2022 (David O'Connor). |
Adult Kumlien's Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 11th February 2022 (David O'Connor). |
First-winter Ring-billed Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 11th February 2022 (Ed Carty). |
Adult Ring-billed Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 11th February 2022 (Ed Carty). |
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Black Rock, 4th February 2022 (Hubert Servignat). |
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Black Rock, 4th February 2022 (Hubert Servignat). |
Today there was at least 10, possibly 15 or more, Siberian Chiffchaffs at Killarney National Park. Most, of course, were at the known wintering Chiffchaff hot spot, the waterworks stream, with up to five in view at the same time, but others, or some of the same ones, on trees and overhanging foliage along the stream below the waterworks, and yet more further S near Ross Castle, and along the River Walk a little to the west. Hard to know how many birds were involved, but ten is the minimum. Also present were at least 15-20 regular Chiffchaffs.
Siberian Chiffchaff, Killarney NP, 30th January 2022 (Michael O'Clery). |
Siberian Chiffchaff, Killarney NP, 30th January 2022 (Michael O'Clery). |
Siberian Chiffchaff, Killarney NP, 30th January 2022 (Michael O'Clery). |
Siberian Chiffchaff, Killarney NP, 30th January 2022 (Michael O'Clery). |
Siberian Chiffchaff, Killarney NP, 30th January 2022 (Michael O'Clery). |
Siberian Chiffchaff, Killarney NP, 30th January 2022 (Michael O'Clery). |
Siberian Chiffchaff, Killarney NP, 30th January 2022 (Michael O'Clery). |
The Cromane area is full of rarity interest these days. An American Coot on Lough Yganavan was sharing the lake with two Ring-necked Ducks, while just a few fields away, a Glossy Ibis continues its stay. And of course, the reliable, long-staying Spoonbill is just up the road at Cromane.
American Coot, Lough Yganavan, 17th January 2022 (Cait O'Neill). |
American Coot, Lough Yganavan, 17th January 2022 (Cait O'Neill). |
American Coot, Lough Yganavan, 17th January 2022 (Cait O'Neill). |
American Coot, Lough Yganavan, 17th January 2022 (Cait O'Neill). |
Glossy Ibis, near Cromane, 15th January 2022 (Ed Carty). |
Ring-necked Ducks, Lough Yganavan, 17th January 2022 (Cait O'Neill). |
There were three species of tern in Sandy Bay on Sunday last (7th November), which might well be a Kerry first for the month of November - a Black Tern, 4 Sandwich Terns, and a juvenile Common Tern.
Juvenile Common Tern, Sandy Bay, 7th October 2021 (Michael O'Clery). |
Female/juvenile Surf Scoter, Smerwick Harbour, 8th November 2021 (Michael O'Clery). |
Female/juvenile Surf Scoter, Smerwick Harbour, 8th November 2021 (Michael O'Clery). |
And of course, the much rarer Surf Scoter often associates with the Common Scoter flocks here, but it is perhaps telling that these two recent Surf Scoter individuals (yes, the Lough Gill bird and the Smerwick Harbour birds were both seen at their respective sites today, so not the same bird), were on their own, and not associating with their near-relatives, Common Scoter. It seems that Common Scoter ain't so common around here anymore.