Sub adult Spoonbill, Fertha Estuary, near Caherciveen (with thanks to P.Mullarkey).
This bird appeared at the Fertha Estuary around the 27th July and was seen on several subsequent evenings going to roost nearby with up to 17 Little Egrets. It was also occasionally seen feeding on the estuary.
At the time, with the age of the bird unknown, it was thought that it might be the adult which has wintered at Cromane for the last eleven winters, but the broad area of pale, rather than yellow on the tip of the bill shows it to be an immature, possibly in its second year, and therefore obviously a 'new' bird.
With thank to P. Mullarkey and D. Kavanagh.
