Redhead at Lough Yganavan - second Irish record

This female Redhead was found by Brian Power on 24th January, but may have been present since the previous November. It was keeping company with up to 7 Ring-necked Duck at times, and notably, no Tufted Ducks. The first Kerry record, and only the second Irish recorrd, after one on Cape Clear in July 2003. 

Female Redhead, Lough Yganavan, 26th January 2026 (David O'Connor).

Female Redhead, Lough Yganavan, 26th January 2026 (David O'Connor). This image shows the distinctive white flecking on the back of the crown, a feature apparently unique among female diving duck, and helping separate it from the very similar female Pochard.

Female Redhead, Lough Yganavan, 26th January 2026 (David O'Connor).

Male and female Ring-necked Duck, Lough Yganavan, 26th January 2026 (David O'Connor). Up to seven Ring-neckeds were present in recent days, and a Lesser Scaup put in an appearance on 31st January.

Glossy Ibis near Tralee

 

Glossy Ibis, Lohercanon, Blennerville, Tralee, 31st January 2026 (David O'Connor).

Glossy Ibis, Lohercanon, Blennerville, Tralee, 1st February 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Glossy Ibis, Lohercanon, Blennerville, Tralee, 1st February 2026 (Michael O'Clery).

Long-staying Ring-billed Gull, Tralee

Adult  

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 31st January 2026 (David O'Connor).

The Red-necked Grebe at Ballinskelligs Bay

 

Red-necked Grebe, Ballinskelligs Bay, 31st December 2025 (Pat McDaid).

Continuing its stay just off Horse Island on the SW side of Ballinskelligs Bay.

Goosander and Iceland Gull

 

Male Goosander, Trabeg, 21st December 2025 (Michael O'Clery).

First-winter Iceland Gull, Dingle, 21st December 2025 (Michael O'Clery).

First-winter Iceland Gull, Dingle, 21st December 2025 (Michael O'Clery).

First-winter Iceland Gull, Dingle, 21st December 2025 (Michael O'Clery).

Bufflehead at Kilbrean Lake

 

Male Bufflehead, Kilbrean Lake, 16th December 2025 (David O'Connor).

Male Bufflehead, Kilbrean Lake, 16th December 2025 (David O'Connor).

Male Bufflehead, Kilbrean Lake, 16th December 2025 (David O'Connor).

American Black Duck at Baile an Reannaigh - 5th Kerry record

American Black Duck, Baile an Reannaigh, 10th December 2025 (Michael O'Clery). 
Although seen on the ground briefly before taking flight, the upper bill looked dull with perhaps a dark upper culmen, indicating a female or juvenile bird, but unfortunately there is not enough detail in the photos to confirm this.

American Black Duck, Baile an Reannaigh, 10th December 2025 (Michael O'Clery).

The fifth record for Kerry and the 26th for Ireland. The first for Kerry was a long-staying bird which returned to Barrow Harbour for seven successive winters from September 1996. The second record was at Baile an Reannaigh, in May 2002, and the third was another long-staying, returning bird which spent two winters at Ventry from February 2007. The fourth record was of a bird at Kilelton, near Ballylongford, in July and August 2013

Close-up of the above two photos, American Black Duck, Baile an Reannaigh, 10th December 2025 (Michael O'Clery).

Bufflehead, Lough Leane, the first Kerry record

 

Male Bufflehead, Lough Leane, Killarney, 9th November 2025 (Ed Carty).

Long-tailed Duck at Black Rock

 

Long-tailed Duck, Black Rock, 17th November 2025 (David O'Connor).

Long-tailed Duck, Black Rock, 17th November 2025 (David O'Connor).

Long-tailed Duck, Black Rock, 17th November 2025 (David O'Connor).

White-rumped, AGPs and SemiP

White-rumped Sandpiper, Carrahane, 13th October 2025 (David O'Connor).

American Golden Plover, Carrahane, 13th October 2025 (David O'Connor).

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black Rock, 13th October 2025 (David O'Connor).

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black Rock, 13th October 2025 (David O'Connor).

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black Rock, 13th October 2025 (David O'Connor).