White-billed Diver still present

You can click on the image for a closer view

Adult White-billed Diver, Sandy Bay, 29th October 2013 (David O'Connor).

UPDATE: The two small white spots which are just visible on the mantle in David's photos are remnants of adult summer plumage, so the bird can be safely aged as an adult (with thanks to Killian Mullarney).

White-billed Diver, Sandy Bay

White-billed Diver, Sandy Bay, 28th October 2013 (Michael O'Clery).

The third record for Kerry, following an adult at Brandon Point on 4th October 1996 and an adult at Cromane from 26th March to 4th April 2011.

Aging the bird precisely is tricky. Although the bird is not a juvenile – lacking the fine pale edges to the coverts on the back – it might well be a second calendar year bird, ie, born in summer 2012. Through the telescope, fine white spots towards the rear flanks and rump were seen, though it wasn't quite possible to discern if these were also on the wing coverts. If on the wing coverts, the bird is an adult, but if only on the rump and flanks, it is either an adult or a second year bird. Killian Mullarney also commented, "...I wonder if its advanced 'winter-type' plumage so relatively early in the season might in itself be indicative of a second winter as, if W-b Diver is like Great Northern, the great majority of adults at the end of October will still be largely in breeding plumage".

Buzzard, Carrahane

Juvenile Buzzard, Carrahane, 25th October 2013 (David O'Connor).

Buzzard is still a scarce bird in Kerry, but a slowly increasing one. Most records are in  autumn or winter. However, there was an unconfirmed breeding record from Rossmore Island near Kenmare some years ago, and a confirmed breeding record near Brosna in summer 2012, the first record(s) of nesting in the county since the late 1800s. An adult was seen, carrying a rat, near Castlemaine in summer 2013 which might indicate they have bred in that area, and there was another summer record near Knocknagashel this year. With recent further expansion recorded in virtually every county in Ireland, it is a species we can expect to see more and more of in Kerry in the coming years.

Baird's and more at Black Rock

Baird's Sandpiper, Black Rock, 21st October 2013 (David O'Connor).

Curlew Sandpiper, Black Rock, 21st October 2013 (David O'Connor).

Little Stint, Black Rock, 21st October 2013 (David O'Connor).

Chough, Bolus Head

Chough, Bolus Head, 12th October 2013 (James .C. Greenwood).

Spoonbill, Cromane

Adult Spoonbill, Cromane, 13th October 2013 (Michael O'Clery).

This individual has spent each winter at Cromane since it arrived as an immature in November 2005. It generally arrives in October, staying to late March or April each winter and occasionally wanders to Inch or the NE end of Castlemaine Harbour, but is most often seen at the lagoon at Cromane.

Baird's and Snow Goose

Baird's Sandpiper, Black Rock, 10th October 2013 (David O'Connor).

Snow Goose, Carrahane, 10th October 2013 (David O'Connor).

Baird's Sandpiper, Black Rock

Baird's Sandpiper, Black Rock, 10th October 2013 (M.O'Clery).

Reed Warbler

Reed Warbler, Counmeenoole, 5th October 2013 (D. Farrar).

Little Stints, Carrahane

Little Stints, Carrahane, 4th October 2013 (D.Farrar).

Garganey

Garganey, Bunaclugga bay, 2nd October 2013 (D.Farrar).

Red-eyed Vireo, Dunquin

Red-eyed Vireo, Dunquin, 2nd October 2013 (David O'Connor).

The fourth county record and the third for Dunquin.

Red-eyed Vireo & Wryneck, Dunquin

 Red-eyed Vireo, Dunquin, 1st October 2013 (Davey Farrar).

(you can click on any of the images for a closer view)

Wryneck, Dunquin, 1st October 2013 (Davey Farrar).