Iceland Gull, Dingle

Second winter Iceland Gull, Milltown, Dingle Harbour, 29th December 2011 (Jill Crosher).

Gulls at Tralee

Second winter Iceland Gull, The Basin, near the Aquadome, Tralee, 28th December 2011 (Ed Carty).

First-winter Ring-billed Gull, The Basin, near the Aquadome, Tralee, 28th December 2011 (Ed Carty). See below for more photos and a video clip of this bird.

Glaucous Gull, Cromane

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Cromane, 26th December 2011 (Seamus Enright). An adult Spoonbill was also present.

Ring-billed Gull

First-winter Ring-billed Gull, The Basin, near the Aquadome, Tralee, 20th December 2011 (Ed Carty).

First-winter Ring-billed Gull, near the Aquadome, Tralee, 21st December 2011 (M.O'Clery).

Also present on 21st, a Red-necked Grebe and two Long-tailed Ducks, at Sandy Bay (M.O'Clery), with four Snow Buntings, a Brambling and a second year Iceland Gull at Black Rock (D.Farrar).

Iceland Gull

Second winter Iceland Gull, 21st December 2011,

Black Rock, also present, four Snow Bunting and a Brambling.

(D.Farrar).

Glaucous Gull

First-winter Glaucous Gull, 20th December 2011, at The Cashen (Davey Farrar).

King Eider showing well

Female King Eider, Ballinskelligs, 20th December 2011 (Photo: Seamus Enright).

Female King Eider, Ballinskelligs, 19th December 2011. Showing down to 20 metres (Photo: David O'Connor).

King Eider

The first-winter female King Eider was again at Ballinskelligs, 18th December 2011 (Pat McDaid).

Also nearby yesterday (17th December 2011), a first-winter Iceland Gull, a first-winter Glaucous Gull and a Black Redstart were present at Reenard (Pat McDaid).

King Eider

A first-winter female King Eider was found at Reen pier, Ballinskelligs, 17th December 2011. The second Kerry record, following one in DIngle Harbour in January 2001 (Pat McDaid).

Snow Buntings

Two Snow Buntings were on Kerry Head, 15th December 2011, also the Least Sandpiper was still at Black Rock but elusive at times (D.Farrar).

Snow Buntings, Kerry Head, 15th December 2011 (D.Farrar).

Chiffchaff

14.12.11 A wintering Chiffchaff was at Ross Castle (D. Farrar).

Slavonian Grebe

One Slavonian Grebe was at Sandy Bay, Castlegregory, 12th December 2011 (D.Farrar).

Least Sandpiper

The Least Sandpiper was again present at Black Rock, 10th December 2011, although elusive at times (per D.Charles). Present again on 11th December 2011 (per Ed Carty).

Grey Phalaropes

Two Grey Phalaropes were seen at different locations, one at Deelick Point P.McDermott), the other at Black Rock (M.Nolan).

A Black Redstart was at The Cashen, 9th December 2011 (D.Farrar).

Barnacle Geese

80 Barnacle Geese were on Illaunammil, Magharee Islands, Wednesday 7th December 2011. A single Bonxie was the only bird of note in a half-hour seawatch from Brandon Point, 8th December 2011 (M.O'Clery).

The Cashen

Black Swan with Whooper Swans, The Cashen, 7th December 2011.  

Also Today, a Pink-footed Goose and a Greylag Goose (D.Farrar).

Ring-billed Gull, Carrahane

3.12.11. Adult Ring-billed Gull at Carrahane today. This will be its third year wintering, if the same bird (MH)



Adult Ring-billed Gull, Carrahane, 3rd December 2011 (Davey Farrar).



                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Sightings

Least Sandpiper still at Black Rock and a 1st-winter Iceland Gull at Ballyheigue, 3rd December 2011 (P.McDermott). A Long-tailed Duck and a Slavonian Grebe were at Ballinskelligs Bay, and a 1st-winter Iceland Gull was at Reenard Point, 3rd December 2011 (P.McDaid).

Least Sandpiper

The Least Sandpiper is again present at Black Rock, seen down to 10 m by Frank King this morning.

Cashen Estuary

30.11.11
At The Cashen today, 2 Black Redstarts,

1 Pinkfooted goose. DF.

Colour-tagged Hen Harriers in Kerry

Barry O'Donoghue has been recording colour-tagged Hen Harriers throughout Ireland, some of which were ringed at their nests in Kerry. 

The colour of the left wing tag will tell us what year the bird was born. All birds born and tagged in 2009 have a yellow tag on their left wing. In 2006 this colour was Blue, in 2007 it was Red and in 2008 it was Green. The tag on the right wing identifies where the bird has come from, one of four places in 2009. Each individual bird has its own symbol written on both tags. Tagged birds can and have been found outside of the four areas where tagging has taken place. Sightings of non wing-tagged Hen Harriers are also welcome.

If you see one, please contact Barry O‟Donoghue 087-9110715 or harriers@environ.ie

Spoonbill at Cromane

This adult Spoonbill, photographed at Cromane on 27th November 2011, has returned for its fifth winter. (Michael O'Clery)

Least Sandpiper & Black Redstarts

Least Sandpiper at Black Rock, 26th November. D.O'C, FK.

A Curlew Sandpiper was also present.

2 Black Redstarts were at the Cashen Estuary, 28th November (DF).