Black Brant, Sandy Bay

Adult Black Brant, Sandy Bay, 29th January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

Adult Black Brant, Sandy Bay, 29th January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

This bird has an injured right leg, resulting in a slight limp.

Glaucous Gull, Brandon bay

Glaucous Gull, Kilcummin, 11th January 2017 (D.O'Connor).

Iceland Gull, Black Rock

First-winter Iceland Gull, Black Rock, 6th January 2017 (Kilian Kelly).

First-winter Iceland Gull, Black Rock, 6th January 2017 (Kilian Kelly).

Japan to Kerry birding Wish List

A quick visit to Japan over Christmas prompted some thoughts about adding new bird species to the Kerry list. Although on the other side of the world, Japan actually holds quite a few possibilities. Go to this page HERE for some mouth-watering candidates.

Dusky Thrush, Japan, December 2016. A possible new species for Kerry (and Ireland), and guaranteed to get the pulse racing should one be found in the Kingdom (M.O'Clery).

Black Brant at Sandy Bay

Adult Black Brant (lower right) with Brent Geese, Sandy Bay, 4th January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

Adult Black Brant, Sandy Bay, 4th January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

Black Brant usually turn up in Kerry each October or early November, and in recent years, up to two have been seen in the county during the winter months. They are long-lived birds and, chances are, the same individuals are making it back to the Kingdom over many years. Extraordinary to think that most Brent Geese don't first nest until their fourth summer, some until they are seven years old, but they still make the huge migration to Arctic Canada and back each year

Adult Black Brant, Sandy Bay, 4th January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

Adult Black Brant, Sandy Bay, 4th January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

The pleasure of birding on a calm, sunny winters' day in Kerry is invariably tainted with the mass torching of the uplands. The pall of smoke from this and several other conflagrations near Fermoyle today stretched fully 10 km and engulfed the whole Brandon range and beyond. Surely there's a better way?

Getting the Year Lists off to a good start

Some good birds were around today, with perfect blue skies, sunshine and calm conditions allowing a good sweep of the county for some Year List goodies.

Adult male Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 3rd January 2017 (D.Farrar).

Although not seen for some weeks, it might be more a case that people aren't looking for this, still the only record for the species in Ireland.

Long-tailed Ducks, Scraggane, 3rd January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

Six were present in this area.

Adult male Snow Bunting, Rough Point, 3rd January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

Although Snow Buntings are often noted for their tameness, this individual was unusually wary.

Adult male Snow Bunting, Rough Point, 3rd January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

First calendar-year male Surf Scoter, Gowlane, Brandon Bay, 3rd January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

Two immature males and a female/immature Surf Scoter were present with the Common Scoter in Brandon Bay today. Two Surf Scoters had been seen at this site back in December, but one at least was an adult male, so these two males, and possibly the female, are new. An immature male Eider was also present.

First-winter Ring-billed Gull, TBWC Tralee, 2nd January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

Adult Ring-billed Gull, TBWC Tralee, 2nd January 2017 (M.O'Clery).

And, below, an older sighting which got 'missed in the Christmas post' - Thanks Hubert.

Second year Iceland Gull, Black Rock, 28th Decembe 2016 (Hubert Servignat).