Wryneck, Great Blasket

Wryneck, Great Blasket Island, 21st September 2014 (Jimmy McDonnell).

Arctic Skua and juvenile Kittiwake, off Great Blasket Island, 21st September 2014 (Jimmy McDonnell).

Great Skua and Gannet, off Great Blasket Island, 21st September 2014 (Jimmy McDonnell).

Sooty Shearwater, off Great Blasket Island, 21st September 2014 (Jimmy McDonnell).

Spoonbill returns for a ninth year

Adult Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st September 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

This bird has returned for its ninth successive year, a cause for quiet celebration, as it disappeared from its usual haunt at Cromane immediately after the ferocious storms in February 2014.

For an individual to return for nine years is remarkable indeed, though the record for the longest staying/returning individual in Ireland is actually of two birds which arrived at Ballymacoda, Co. Cork, in winter 1961/62 and 1962/63. Although one didn't reappear in winter 1963/64, the other did so each year until last seen in spring 1974, returning for a total of 13 winters.

Redstart & Whinchat

Redstart, near Ballyferriter, 19th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

Whinchat, Dunquin, 19th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

Whinchat, Dunquin, 19th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

Ring-billed Gull, Black Rock

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Black Rock, 17th September 2014 (David O'Connor).

Osprey, and more

Osprey, Kilcummin, Brandon Bay, 15th September 2014 (David O'Connor).

Juvenile Little Stint (with Knot behind), Baile an Reannaigh, 15th September 2014 (David O'Connor).

Juvenile Little Stint, Kilcummin, Brandon Bay, 15th September 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

Arctic Skua, Kilcummin, Brandon Bay, 15th September 2014 (David O'Connor). One of 6 there.

Juvenile Spotted Flycatcher, Dunquin, 15th September 2014 (Michael O'Clery). One of 3-4 present. This one still shows the remnants of the spotted juvenile plumage, from which the species'  name derives.

Whinchat, Dunquin

Whinchat, Dunquin, 15th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

AGP, Ferriters Cove

American Golden Plover, Ferriters Cove, 14th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

Little Stints, flavour of the week

Juvenile Little Stint, Ventry, 13th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

Juvenile Little Stint, Ventry, 13th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

Wonder who is ringing Little Stints in Europe? Can't be many ringed in any given year, but one of them is in Ventry...

Juvenile Little Stint, Ventry, 13th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

One of the better autumns for this species, no doubt due to the persistent easterly winds over the past two weeks.

Ruff, Beale

Juvenile Ruff, Beale point,12th September 2014 

Black-necked Grebe, Fermoyle

Black-necked Grebe, Fermoyle, 11th September 2014 (M.O'Clery).

We have received a number of complaints recently that the extremely high quality digital images of Kerry birdlife on this blog is distorting the reality - that so often birds are far way, in poor light, and even in a high-powered telescope or camera lens, are simply distant blurs and specks on the horizon.

We apologise. And to make amends, we show here some truly crap photos of a Black-necked Grebe at Fernoyle, in Brandon Bay this morning, at about 500m range. Yes, this is often how rare birds really appear, and if you click the image for a closer look, you will see, even then, that there is little additional detail, and that the blurry distant image is only just about identifiable as a Black-necked Grebe.

For better photos of such a bird, save your money (12k) and get this camera lens shown HERE.

Only the second Black-necked Grebe record for Kerry in September.

Little Gull, Fahamore

Juvenile Little Gull, Fahamore, 8th September 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Juvenile Little Gull attacked by Black-headed Gull, Fahamore, 8th September 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Pectoral Sandpiper & Little Stints, Ventry

 Pectoral Sandpiper, Ventry, 8th September 2014 (David O'Connor).

Little Stints, Ventry, 8th September 2014 (David O'Connor).

Curlew Sand. and Little Gull

Curlew Sandpiper, Derrymore, 5th September 2014 (M.O'Clery).

One of six present.

Juvenile Little Gull, Rough Point, 6th September 2014 (M.O'Clery).

One of one present.

Bits 'n' pieces

Ruff, with Little Egret, Trabeg, 3rd September 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Whooper Swan, Lough Gill, 3rd September 2014 (M.O'Clery).

This bird has a broken wing, and has been present at the lake for nearly three years, unable to migrate with its' conspecifics (an excellent word, to impress your birding friends. For its meaning, see HERE)

White Wagtail, Black Rock, 4th September 2014 (M.O'Clery).

White Wagtail, Black Rock, 4th September 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Black Tern, Curlew Sand

Juvenile Black Tern (with Sandwich Tern), Kilshannig, 1st September 2014 (David O'Connor).

1 of 2-3 present.

Juvenile Black Tern, Kilshannig, 1st September 2014 (David O'Connor).

Bonxie, Kilshannig, 1st September 2014 (David O'Connor).

Curlew Sandpiper, Black Rock, 1st September 2014 (David O'Connor).