Dotterels seen again at Reenroe

Two of four Dotterels at Reenroe, Ballinskelligs Bay, 29th April 2013 (Pat McDaid).

Arctic Skua, Fenit

Arctic Skua, Fenit, 28th April 2013 (David O'Connor).

Now present for a second day.

Ring-billed Gull & Siberian Chiffchaff

'Siberian' Chiffchaff, Ross Castle, 27th April 2013 (David O'Connor).

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Scraggane, 27th April 2013 (Seamus Enright).

Dotterel

One of the four Dotterel at Reenroe, Ballinskelligs Bay, 24th April 2013 (Seamus Enright).

The four birds at Reenore are the first spring records in Co. Kerry since the extraordinary series of sightings from Slieve Mish in 1948. A flock of 25 birds was first seen on 14th March 1948 and when observers returned on 26th March (including Frank King and Major R.F.Ruttledge), they found two flocks of 20 and 30 birds.

Since then, five of the six other records were all of single birds in autumn, the exception being two together on the summit of Brandon Mountain in October 2009.

(with thanks to Ed Carty).

Dotterels and Surf Scoter

Dotterels, Reenroe Beach, Ballinskelligs, 24th April 2013 (David O'Connor).

First-year male Surf Scoter, Rossbehy, 24th April 2013 (David O'Connor). Presumably the same bird as seen previously at Ballinskelligs throughout most of the winter.

Dotterels at Reenroe

Dotterel, Reenroe, Ballinskelligs Bay, 24th April 2013 (Pat McDaid). Two of four birds present.

Mediterranean Gull, Kilshannig

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Kilshannig, 23rd April 2013 (David O'Connor).

Iceland Gull & Intermedius Lesser Black backed Gull

 Iceland Gull, Ballyheige, 18th April 2013 (D. O'Connor).

'Intermedius' Lesser Black backed Gull, Ballyheige, 18th April 2013 (D.O'Connor). 

Red-throated Diver

Red-throated Diver, Castlegregory, 15th April 2013 (Mike Sheehy).

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting, Kerry head, 16th April 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Dark-bellied Brents, Ballylongford

Dark-bellied Brent, two birds now present at Ballylongford, 9th April 2013 (Davey farrar).

Scandinavian Rock Pipits

'Littoralis' Rock Pipit, Ballylongford, 5th April 2013 (Davey Farrar). 

'Littoralis' Rock Pipit, Killshannig, 4th April 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Siberian Chiffchaff

Siberian Chiffchaff, Ross castle, 3rd April 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Kerry Barn Owls on RTE

If you missed the half hour RTE documentary on Kerry Barn Owls, you can catch up with it HERE (opens a new page on the RTE website).

It is available online until 23rd April 2013. Or have a look at the Duhallow raptor website HERE.

Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Carrig Island

'Littoralis' Rock Pipit, Carrig lsland, 2nd April 2013 (KerryBirding).

White-tailed Sea Eagle

Adult White-tailed Sea Eagle, Co. Kerry, 30th March 2013 (M.O'Clery).

Adult White-tailed Sea Eagle and Hooded Crow, Co. Kerry, 30th March 2013 (M.O'Clery).

Kerry Barn Owl documentary

Colin, with a Barn Owl chick, during filming in June of last year, at a Duhallow nest site (M.O'Clery).

Here's one for the diary – Tuesday 2nd April 2013, on RTE 1 television at 7pm – Wildlife documentary maker, Colin Stafford-Johnson, hosts a half hour long documentary on Barn Owls. Most of the filming was carried out in Duhallow and Kerry in summer 2012. The team followed John Lusby, Michael O'Clery and Brin McDonald as they carried out research and fieldwork during the Duhallow Raptor Conservation Project, and features some amazing footage of Barn Owl nests at two derelict cottages in Kerry and a tree nest in a family's back garden in Cork.

The crew filming John Lusby at a nest site in Co. Kerry.