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.
