Coal Tit, Dingle Peninsula, 5th October 2012 (D.Farrar).
There was a record number of Coal Tits on the move on the Dingle Peninsula today, 5th October. In the early morning, flocks of 40+ and 10+ were seen near Slea Head, and at Dunquin, close to 200 birds were present. Birds were present in virtually all wooded gardens with small flocks moving freely from tree to tree, but with a tendency for birds to move on quickly, generally in a westerly direction. A single flock of some 200 birds arrived high over the sycamores near Kruger's, looking like they might join another 80 or so already in the trees, but the flock continued on west. By late afternoon the movement had largely subsided, but it was reckoned that at least 500 Coal Tits were involved, possibly a good deal more – by far the most ever recorded in Co. Kerry.
There have been reports of unusual numbers seen elsewhere in Ireland over the past few days with, eg, nearly 60 on Cape Clear in Co. Cork. The origin of the birds is unknown, though all seen well at Dunquin were of the Irish race Periparus ater hibernicus, though intriguingly, 3-4 birds at Glanfahan in mid-morning showed characteristics of the continental race, Periparus ater ater.
