Kerry Birding: November 2013

Saturday, 30 November 2013

Black Redstart, Cashen

Black Redstart, Cashen, 30th November 2013 (Davey Farrar).

Thursday, 28 November 2013

female Lesser Scaup, Ross Castle

First-winter female Lesser Scaup, Ross Castle, 28th November 2013 (D.Farrar).

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Ring-necked Duck, Ross Castle

Ring-necked Duck, Ross Castle, 26th November 2013 (D.Farrar).

Sunday, 24 November 2013

More Gyr Falcon

Gyr Falcon, Ferriter's Cove, 24th November 2013 (Michael Manning).

Gyr Falcon, with Hooded Crows and Magpie, Ferriter's Cove, 24th November 2013 (Michael Manning).

Gyr Falcon, Ferriter's Cove

Gyr Falcon, Ferriter's Cove, 24th November 2013 (Jill Crosher).

Another was reported (though not confirmed) from Ballinskelligs on 19th November.

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Ring-billed Gull, Ross Castle

1st winter Ring-billed Gull, Ross castle, 19th November 2013.

Monday, 18 November 2013

Raptor Talk, Tralee, Thursday 21st November

Irish Wildlife Trust

Raptor Talk - Barn Owls, Kestrels and Long-eared Owls

Thursday 21st November, 7.30pm

Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, Tralee

Michael O'Clery is a renowned wildlife artist and a tireless conservation activist working with Birdwatch Ireland and other conservation groups on various local and national projects. He has co-authored and illustrated numerous 'birding' reference and guide books which are regarded as essential resources to most bird enthusiasts in the country.

Michael's talk will cover his recent work with a number of Owl and Kestrel projects in Kerry and NW Cork. All are welcome.

A €5 (individual/family) donation to the IWT Branch is requested for non-IWT members.

Iceland and Ring-billed Gulls

First-winter Iceland Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 17th November 2013 (Ed Carty).

Second winter Ring-billed Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 17th November 2013 (Ed Carty).

Saturday, 16 November 2013

Canada Geese

Part of a flock of 19 Canada Geese, Trabeg, 14th November 2013 (Michael O'Clery).

Although seemingly genuine Canada Geese have been seen in Kerry, they normally appear as singletons attached to wild geese flocks, such as the Barnacle Goose flock at Lough Gill or among the Whooper Swans and other geese at the Cashen (see eg, this post HERE). However there is always the spectre of some or all having 'escaped' from captivity and reverting to a wild state. Canada Geese are commonly kept in waterfowl collections throughout Europe and are often unpinioned, ie, perfectly capable of flying. Visit pretty much any park in London with a lake and you will see dozens flying about.

There are 11 races of Canada Goose currently recognised, ranging from the larger southern races such as maxima, which weighs in at an almost swan-sized 5030g, while the smallest minima, averaging a mere 1310 g, has almost duck-like proportions. Each race also has differently proportioned bills and wings, and some are overall much darker. It is usually the larger, paler breasted birds which are kept in captivity, so any small, dark races of the species are more likely to be the real thing.

This flock of 19 birds was in the field directly opposite the Seal and Wildlife Sanctuary at Trabeg, just outside Dingle. They are almost certainly derived from escaped birds from that centre when it was the 'Freshwater Experience' in 2004.

Four 'escapees' first appeared at Trabeg Estuary in autumn 2004, but by September 2006, nine birds were present with nine seen again in 2008. They were not always present around Trabeg however but were also found to be frequenting the estuary near Reenard, on the Ivearagh Peninsula, 25km to the south, and continue to move between those sites today. They are a lot more elusive in the spring and summer, but are surely breeding somewhere in Kerry.