Siberian Chiffchaff & Mediterranean Gull

Four Siberian Chiffchaff were present today at Ross castle also a Male  Ring-necked Duck and a First-winter Mediterranean Gull (Kerry Birding).

Surf Scoter and Iceland Gull

First-winter male Surf Scoter, Reen Pier, Ballinskelligs Bay, 24th February 2013 (Pat McDaid).

Adult Iceland Gull, Reenard, 23rd February 2013 (Pat McDaid).

White-tailed Eagle

(Click the image for a closer view)

Sub-adult White-tailed Eagle, Kerry, 23rd February 2013 (Kerry Birding).

Brambling, Tralee

Brambling, Caharslee, Tralee, 20th February 2013 (Martin Gaethlich).

Todd's Canada Goose

Canada Goose, Cashen, 20th February 2013 (Kerry Birding).

Tree Sparrow and Brambling

Tree Sparrow, Carrahane, 19th February 2013 (David O'Connor).

Brambling, Carrahane, 19th February 2013 (David O'Connor).

7 Tree Sparrows and 2 Brambling were present.

Kumlien's Gull still present

Kumlien's Gull, Cromane, 14th February 2013 (M.O'Clery).

Lesser Canada Goose

Lesser Canada Goose, Cashen, 14th February 2013 ( Davey Farrar).

Kumlien's Gull, Cromane

The first-winter Kumlien's Gull seen at Cromane last week was again present yesterday, 12th February (Kerry Birding).

Siberian Chiffchaffs at Killarney

At least 5 Siberian Chiffchaffs have been wintering at Ross Castle. Several different individuals are shown below.

Siberian Chiffchaffs, Ross Castle, 13th February 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Glaucous Gull, Black Rock

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Black Rock, 12th February 2013 (David O'Connor).

One of two birds present.

Goosander, Dingle

Male Goosander, Dingle, 12th February 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Glaucous Gull, Dingle

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Dingle Harbour, 11th February 2013 (Michael O'Clery).

One of two first-winters present.

Cromane Gull continues to confound

(Photos: Davey Farrar).

(Video: Michael O'Clery).

This gull, found and photographed at Cromane on 30th January, wasn't seen in subsequent days, though the photographs circulated on the web prompted many to consider the bird to be Ireland's first Glaucous-winged Gull. However, after the bird reappeared on the evening of 7th February, several birders made the journey to Cromane on the morning of the 8th. The bird was present and provided ample opportunity for photos, video and close scrutiny. Immediately apparent was the bird's generally 'slight' build (smaller than most Herring Gulls present) and elegant proportions, rather than the bulky and attenuated structure of a Glaucous-winged Gull. As to what it actually is? The jury is still out, though Kumlien's Gull has been suggested by several observers.

Spoonbill

Spoonbill, Cromane, 8th February 2013 (David O'Connor).

Siberian Chiffchaff & Ring-necked Duck

Five Siberian Chiffchaffs have now been reported from Ross Castle with a Ring-necked Duck also present, 7th February 2013 (Fionn Moore).

Two more White-tailed Eagles found dead

Declan O'Donnell, DCO, with the corpse of a White-tailed Sea Eagle, found in Co. Cork (Photo: NPWS).

A White-tailed Sea Eagle found dead on the sea shore near Glengarriff, Co. Cork, has been found to have been poisoned. The bird, a female, released in Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry, in August 2010, had spent much of 2012 in south Kerry before moving to the Beara peninsula between Adrigole and Glengarriff in December 2012. On 18th January she was discovered by a local man on the water’s edge near Glengarriff and was brought for post-mortem to the Regional Veterinary Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine by staff from the National Parks and Wildlife Service based in Glengarriff. Test results from the State Laboratory, Celbridge revealed that the bird had been poisoned, presumably as a result of eating carrion. Earlier in the week another dead eagle had been found at Derrynane, near Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry but it was not possible to determine the cause of death of this bird (with thanks to Allan Mee).

Glaucous Gull, Ballyhiege

Glaucous Gull was again at Ballyhiege, 6th February 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Glaucous Gull, Ballyhiege beach

First-winter Glaucous Gull was feeding on a long-finned Pilot Whale carcass on Ballyhiege beach 5th February 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Possible Glaucous-winged Gull hybrid?

This bird was photographed at Cromane, Castlemaine Harbour, last week

Click on any of the main images for a closer view

Hybrid gull, possibly with Glaucous-winged Gull origins, Cromane, 30th January 2012 (Seamus Enright).

The bird shows a puzzling mix of features with the very real possibility of it having Glaucous-winged Gull genes somewhere in the mix. However there are subtle structural and plumage differences which show a probable hybrid origin, though with which species remains unclear so far. Further opinions are being sought!

Snow Bunting and Brambling

Snow Bunting, Cashen Estuary, 1st February 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Brambling, Carrahane, 2nd February 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Ring-necked Duck, Ross Castle

Ring-necked Duck, Ross Castle, 2nd February 2013 (David O'Connor).

Siberian Chiffchaff, Ross Castle, 2nd February 2013 (David O'Connor).

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting, Cashen, 1st February 2013 (Davey Farrar).