Siberian Chiffchaff at Bolus Head

Siberian Chiffchaff, Bolus Head, 30th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

One was at Bolus Head, with two more seen later in the day at FInian's Bay, along with a Lesser Whitethroat.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Bolus Head, 30th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

American Golden Plover at Carrahane, and other bits

Juvenile American Golden Plover, Carrahane, 29th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Part of the impressive 3000+ Golden Plovers at Carrahane, 29th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

First-winter male Eider, Rough Point, 28th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Ruff, Caherfealane, 28th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

One of two birds present.

Starlings, Caherfealane, 28th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

The Starling flock gathering to roost here is by no means the largest in Kerry, though numbers are likely to build in colder weather, but any such a 'murmuration' is always a spectacular sight. From the photo, this seems to contain, at a very rough estimate, about 5000 bids, but if anyone is prepared to count them individually, please feel free and let us know.

American Wigeon at Barrow

Adult male American Wigeon, Barrow Harbour, 28th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

Adult male American Wigeon, Barrow Harbour, 28th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

Adult male American Wigeon, Barrow Harbour, 28th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

Black Scoter at Rossbeigh

Adult male Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016 (All photos: Michael O'Clery).

Now back for a third winter, the first and so far the only Irish record of a Black Scoter. He only made a brief enough appearance at Rossbeigh in October and November 2015. After November, he was seen once at Waterville in December, then back at Rossbeigh for one more time in March 2016 before moving on.

Adult male Black Scoter with Common Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016.

 

Adult male Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016.

Adult male Black Scoter with Common Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016.

This Nearctic version of Common Scoter is right at home in the scoter flock at Rossbeigh, indulging in fights and flights with the locals, and is often to be seen calling vigourously to flock-mates. Common Scoter doesn't open it's bill to call, though Black Scoter gives a full on, open-bill call, a surprisingly easy thing to see in the field (or rather, the ocean).

Video of Spoonbill

Video of the Cromane Spoonbill. You can click the 'four arrows' symbol to see the full size version.

Adult Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Spoonbill makes it back for another winter

The regular wintering Spoonbill is back at the lagoon at Cromane once again, for its eleventh winter.

Adult Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Spoonbill, with Little Egret, Cromane, 21st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

 It is undergoing extensive wing moult, with several tracts of feathers being replaced in parallel on each wing.

Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Extraordinary though the bill of a Spoonbill is, up close, it also has this beautiful, blue and black, 'Mackerel skin' patterning. Click the pic for a closer view.

Info on long-staying Spoonbills in Ireland on this page HERE.

'Sinensis' Cormorant

'Sinensis' or Continental Cormorant, Blennerville, 12th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

'Sinensis' or Continental Cormorant, Blennerville, 12th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

Yellow-legged Gull at Black Rock

Fourth year Yellow-legged Gull (centre), Black Rock, 10th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

Fourth year Yellow-legged Gull (top right, with adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and adult Mediterranean Gull), Black Rock, 10th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

Fourth year Yellow-legged Gull, Black Rock, 10th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

SemiP still at Kilshannig

Juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper, with Sanderling, Kilshannig, 9th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).

Juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper, Kilshannig, 9th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).

AGP at the Cashen Estuary

American Golden Plover, The Cashen, 7th October 2016 (Davey Farrar).

Can't get enough of those Yellow-broweds

Although fairly quiet bird-wise elsewhere in the Bolus Head/Finian's Bay area today, four of these beautiful Siberian warblers were present at Glen Pier this morning. Another five were seen in the Dunquin/Slea Head area too (per Davey Farrar). With easterly winds forecast to continue for many days yet, surely there will be many more of these little gems, or perhaps, dare I say it, the ultimate tiny Siberian Warbler, a Pallas's?

Yellow-browed Warbler, Glen Pier, Finian's Bay, 8th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Glen Pier, Finian's Bay, 8th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Glen Pier, Finian's Bay, 8th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Glen Pier, Finian's Bay, 8th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Glen Pier, Finian's Bay, 8th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Redwing, Bolus Head, Finian's Bay, 8th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Some of the first Redwings of the winter have made their appearance, on Bolus Head on 7th October (per Pat McDaid). 

With clear white flanks 'ticked' with brown streaks, a lack of much buff around the face, and a nearly white under tail, the one above looks to be of the race iliacus, the sub-species which nests across Scandinavia and Russia, rather than our typically more numerous wintering race, coburni, birds from Iceland and the Faroes.

Spotted Flycatcher, Glen Pier, Finian's Bay, 8th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

And a few other stray bits and pieces below...

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Black Rock 7th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Curlew Sandpiper, Carrahane, Black Rock 7th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, the first for Co. Kerry

Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).

Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).

This Sharp-tailed Sandpiper flew in to join a loose flock of Ringed Plover and Dunlin far out on the mudflats at Carrahane at low tide, but within two or three minutes, took off again to the far side of the estuary, and wasn't relocated in the following two hours or so.

Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).

A beautifully marked and bright juvenile, with strongly rufous cap contrasting with the whitish supercilium, and a warm yellow/buff wash across the mainly unstreaked breast. In terms of character, it looked a little like a cross between a Wood Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper.

Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).

In the sun, the rufous cap and strong facial pattern was particularly striking.

Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers breed north of the Arctic Circle in eastern Siberia (yellow on the map here) and winter in Australasia (blue). Most juveniles however stage in western Alaska and the Probilofs in autumn before launching across the pacific to reach Australasia in one continuous flight. The Carrahane bird is truly on the 'wrong' side of the planet.(map from www.avibirds.com)

Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).

The eighth Irish record, the first for Co. Kerry, and the first in Ireland since one in Wexford in August 2011.

AGP, SemiP and YBW.

American Golden Plover, Carrahane, 5th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

The wintering Golden Plover flock finally arrived at Carrahane and brought with it their Nearctic cousin. Any one else noticed, it seems like American Golden Plovers seem to most often hang out on the edge of a Golden Plover flock?... Like the 'friend-of-a-friend' at an intimate family wedding, they often seem to be a part of the gang, but separate.

American Golden Plover, Carrahane, 5th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

Juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper, Kilshannig, 5th October 2016 (Kilian Kelly).

Present for a second day at the flooded commonage at Kilshannig.

Juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper, Kilshannig, 5th October 2016 (Kilian Kelly).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Kilreellig, Bolus Head, 5th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).

The third of these Siberian gems to be seen in Kerry this autumn, so far all at the Bolus Head/Finian's Bay area on the Iveragh Peninsula. With a conservative estate of 1500 seen on British and Scottish North Sea coasts in the last week, and easterly winds forecast for at least a week ahead, there must surely be more of these to be found. Perhaps a lot more...