Another dead Barn Owl on the Tralee Bypass

Another Barn Owl has been found dead along the Tralee Bypass, on Thursday last - the fifth such casualty in less than a year, and the second since a detailed Barn Owl survey of the route was started in September 2014.

Dead Barn Owl, Tralee Bypass, 23rd October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Dead Barn Owl, Tralee Bypass, 23rd October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

The on-going Barn Owl survey of the Bypass is requesting sightings of Barn Owls from that area. If you see one along the new Bypass - alive or dead - please report it immediately to this email address

See the Irish Raptor Blog for more details, HERE

Ring-billed Gull, Ross Castle

Second year Ring-billed Gull, Ross Castle, 24th October 2014 (David O'Connor).

Presumably the same individual which appeared here as a first-winter in November 2013 (see post HERE). One of only a few inland records of this species in Kerry.

Azorean YL Gull still present

Third winter Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, Dingle, 23rd October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Although looking very adult-like when perched, in flight there are obvious signs of immaturity, with especially e.g., brown secondaries, and some remaining brown coverts. A dark bird overall, approaching Lesser Black-backed Gull in the darkness of the mantle.

You can click any of the images for a closer view.

Third winter Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, Dingle, 23rd October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Third winter Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, Dingle, 23rd October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Third winter Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, Dingle, 23rd October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

The longest primary is still growing, as can be seen here, which results in a shorter than normal primary projection when perched.

Third winter Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, Dingle, 23rd October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Third winter Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, Dingle, 23rd October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

A strikingly bulky bird when compared with Lesser Black-backed (and even Herring Gull), with a noticeably 'bushy' rear end from the tertials bunching above the profile of the back, and even a slightly 'pot-bellied' profile underneath when compared with other nearby gulls.

Azorean Yellow-legged Gull at Dingle

Unfortunately, news of this Azorean Yellow-legged Gull (sometimes called 'Atlantic Gull') was not released to local birders for some time, but luckily the bird remained at Dingle today.

C'mon, visiting birders! Surely you could make a phone call or text? If you do have any good sightings please phone or text them to 00353 87 2998206. Many thanks.

Adult Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, Dingle, 22nd October 2014 (Davey Farrar).

Adult Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, Dingle, 22nd October 2014 (Davey Farrar).

The seventh record for Kerry. There have only been 11 accepted records in Ireland, to the end of 2013.

Skuas off Brandon

Great Skua, Brandon Point, 21st October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Great Skua, Brandon Point, 21st October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Totals from Brandon Point yesterday – 4 Leach's Petrel, c.25 Storm Petrel, 20 Pomarine Skua (including a flock of 10), 37 Arctic Skua, 17 Bonxie, 2-3000 Gannets, 2-3000 auks (mostly Guillemots), and a male Snow Bunting at the car park.

Ring Ouzels and Yellow-browed Warblers

 Highlights from today at the Bolus Head/Finian's Bay area of the Iveragh Peninsula.

Totals were: 3 Ring Ouzels, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, Spotted Flycatcher, Jack Snipe, Merlin, Hen Harrier and 5 Redwing.

Ring Ouzel, Bolus Head, 15th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Ring Ouzel, Bolus Head, 15th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Bolus Head, 15th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Finian's Bay area, 15th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Chiffchaff, Bolus Head, 15th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Juvenile Spotted Flycatcher, Bolus Head, 15th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Juvenile Spotted Flycatcher, Bolus Head, 15th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

This bird still retains extensive juvenile markings which give rise to its' name.

Male Blackcap, Finian's Bay, 15th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Female Blackcap, Bolus Head, 15th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Pectoral Sandpiper, Carrahane

Pectoral Sandpiper, Carrahane, 13th October 2014 (David O'Connor).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Bolus Head

Yellow-browed Warbler, Bolus Head, 13th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Recent migrants on the Ivearagh Peninsula

Siberian Chiffchaff, near Bolus Head, 12th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Persistent calling (a slightly down-turned double note) allowed for a relatively easy identification of this individual. The lack of yellow tones to the head, mantle and breast, and bright green edges to the flight feathers were readily apparent, as was a faint pale wingbar. The sixth 'tristris' type Chiffchaff for Kerry. 

Garden Warbler, near Bolus Head, 11th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

One of the more unexpected migrants seen in the area this weekend was this Jay (below) which appeared near the tip of Bolus Head, and departed shortly after, heading south west. There was another seen about 5km to the north, flying over open moorland by the coast. Jays don't migrate as such, and there are no records of Irish Jays being recorded in Britain or elsewhere (or vice versa) so these are most likely young Irish birds dispersing. Whether they continued on out to sea is unknown but their generally weak flight wouldn't inspire confidence in a successful flight to Britain or France from Kerry.

Jay, Bolus Head, 12th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Jay, Bolus Head, 12th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Redpoll, near Finian's Bay, 12th October 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Plenty of finches have been on the move in the past few days, with small flocks of Redpolls, Chaffinches and Siskin appearing on headlands.

Little Gulls, Dingle

Juvenile Little Gull, 9th October 2014 (Gordon Kirk).

One of three present.

Seabirds off the coast of Kerry

Adult Pomarine Skua, off Co. Kerry, 8th October 2014 (Niall Keogh).

Sightings from the R.V. Celtic Explorer today off the coast of Co. Kerry, between Outer Dingle Bay and Outer Kenmare River (Niall T. Keogh, Ciaran Cronin, Stephen McAvoy, Katharine Keogan & William Hunt): c.500 Sooty Shearwaters, c.40 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 European Storm-petrels, 1 Grey Phalarope, 5 Great Skua, 4 Pomarine Skua (3 adult & a juvenile), 3 Arctic Skua, 1 juv Arctic Tern and 4 Puffin.

Also seen were 2 Minke Whales, 100+ Common Dolphin and 1 Leatherback Turtle.

Sooty Shearwater, off Co. Kerry, 8th October 2014 (Niall Keogh).

Not a Med. Gull but Arctic Skua

Arctic Skua, Carrahane, 7th October 2014 (D.Farrar).

A new Med. Gull record count

Mediterranean Gull (M.O'Clery).

Rare birds have been thin on the ground this autumn, with hardly any Nearctic waders to hold the attention of birders, so instead of beautiful full-frame photos of Western Sandpipers, Franklin's Gulls and Blackpoll Warblers we must make do with watching the basic 'bread-and-butter' species. 

Many Kerry birders* enjoy seeing Mediterranean Gulls as they have at least a little flavour of the exotic about them, but numbers at Black Rock have risen from 41 on 2nd October, to an all time county record number of 55 today. So even the slight air of rarity about Mediterranean Gulls is rapidly diminishing. 

* Except for Davey Farrar, who barely tolerates them, and doesn't believe in counting them. "Heap of shite" he is often heard to mutter.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Dunquin

Yellow-browed Warbler, Dunquin, 30th September 2014 (D.Farrar).