Ring-billed Gull, Carrahane

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Carrahane, 21st December 2018 (David O'Connor).

Christmas special - I.D. and Moult of Angels

CHRISTMAS I.D. SPECIAL

The recent sighting of an Angel at Ross Castle has prompted a trawl through the Kerry Birding Blog archives to highlight some of the identification features of these poorly known supernatural beings.

There have been several recent records of Angels in Kerry, the one below was seen and photographed at Barrow Harbour and is clearly of the 'Mute-Swan-Hybrid' type, with distinctive large white wings sharing all the features of an adult Mute Swan.

Mute-Swan-Hybrid-Angel, Barrow Harbour, September 2018 (M.Healy-Rae).

A close-up of the Barrow Harbour individual's open underwing shows the unmistakable similarity to the feather tracts of an adult Mute Swan (D. Healy-Rae).

Of course there are other Angel hybrid types around, some of which have already been recorded in Kerry, and most are identifiable with a reasonable view of the underwing. In the case below the smaller structure of the angel shows that this is actually a 'Cherub' or ''Cheribim'.

The best current text on Angel Identification is a little vague on the finer detail of Cherubs but states: "The two cherubim placed by God at the entrance of paradise (Gen. iii. 24) were angels created on the third day, and therefore they had no definite shape; appearing either as men or women, or as spirits or angelic beings (Genesis Rabbah xxi., end)."

Not a lot to go on there then, in fact more lacking in detail than a Brexit promise, but when the individual below appeared onto Manor West in Tralee last April, right by the new Costa's across from Tesco, based on the underwing detail, it could clearly be seen to be a Cherub-Parrot-Hybrid and indeed, direct comparisons with Scarlet Macaws show several similarities, though many of the colours on the feather tracts have been inverted.

Angel-Macaw-Hybrid, possibly with Scarlet Macaw genes, though there are some inconsistencies in feather tract colouration.

The various parrot-angel hybrid combinations, though nowhere common, are quite widespread, and include another seen at a trad session in Dingle in December of this year (below) and, with patience, the underwing was finally seen well and photographed and proved it to be Kerry's first confirmed Angel-Galah-Hybrid type. 

Angel-Galah-Hybrid, Dingle, 5th Day of Christmas 2018.

Below, a Galah, an Australian parrot.

Galah, north Australia. A bird showing no Angel hybrid features (G.Day-Mate).

Some angels, such as the Blennerville one from last January, can show considerable moult or wear, and this individual was at the extreme end of the scale in terms of damage to the outer wing - way worse than even the long-staying Gull-billed Tern at the same site some years ago.

Angel at Blennerville, 24th January 2018. Note heavy moult and damage to outer wing.

In fact, so severe is the wear on the outer wing that this Angel must surely have been rendered flightless for a time, a possibility backed up by the unconfirmed sighting of this Angel hitch-hiking on the Listowel Road later that day.

Extreme wear on outer wing of the Blennerville Angel, 24th January 2018.

 If photographed well, the state of moult on Angels wings can be a useful indicator of the age of the individual. In the case below - an Angel seen near the Abbeydorney Co-op back in August 2015 - there is simultaneous moult on the primaries (both wings showing moulted P6s) and re-growing secondaries (S4). As Angel feathers are replaced sequentially and grow at a known rate, we can safely age this individual at 2,355 years old.

Angel showing symmetrical moult, Ross Castle, December 18th 2018 (D.Farrar).

And finally, keep alert for more Angel sightings, especially at this festive time of year. 

They probably occur more frequently than the few records indicate and, elusive as they are, some have even been detected on trail cams even though there were no reliable witnesses.

Angel caught on trail cam near its roost site at Scartaglen.

Moulted Angel feather, undisclosed location near Killarney, December 2018.

Another useful method to detect their presence in an area is searching for moulted Angel feathers. In the example above, the single white feather at a roost site in a derelict church near Killarney was the only proof of an Angels occurrence. Some might easily have dismissed the feather as belonging to a Barn Owl, or domestic goose or a Mute Swan. Eejits.

Happy Christmas!

Siberian Chiffchaff, Ross Castle

Siberian Chiffchaff, Ross Castle, 12th December 2018 (D.Farrar).

Tralee Geese

 

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Spa, Tralee Bay, 12th December 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Spa, Tralee Bay, 12th December 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

Hybrid goose, Blennerville, 12th December 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

This goose is an odd one, structurally similar to a Greylag, with heavy-set body and short neck, but a few other features such as the black blotching on the underparts and partial white blaze on the forehead show perhaps White-fronted Goose genes in the mix. However the plain mantle feathers lacking prominent pale edging and the dark tip to the bill don't tick the box for any other goose species, at least none that are likely to occur in Kerry in a wild state. 

Chances are there is some wildfowl collection owner somewhere who is right now looking around their empty goose pen with a puzzled look, one hand on hip, other hand scratching their head muttering, "Now where the feck did it get to now?".

Hybrid goose, Blennerville, 12th December 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

Hybrid goose, Blennerville, 12th December 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

Black-necked Grebe returns

The Black-necked Grebe returned to the waters off Ballinskelligs Pier, seen on Saturday last, and now in its fifth winter at this site. 

Black-necked Grebe, Ballinskelligs, 1st December 2018 (Pat McDaid).

Black-necked Grebe, Ballinskelligs, 1st December 2018 (Pat McDaid).

Black-necked Grebe, Ballinskelligs, 1st December 2018 (Pat McDaid).

Live weather forecast now on the blog

You can see live weather forecasts on this page HERE. It shows wind speed, temperature pressure and much more. Have a look and play around with the settings on the top right of the map. You can zoom in or out and get the forecast for the hours ahead. Access it in the future from the 'Features' menu on the top left of the blog.

Black Redstart at Kilshannig

It's very satisfying to have one of those moments when your mental soundtrack goes, "Hmmm... nice little beach out of the easterly wind here. Sunny. Lots of insects too. This would be a perfect spot for a Black Redstart to be feeding... Oh, there's one!"

Of course after enjoying this lovely bird for a while I thought I'd continue the run of good luck and as I rounded the corner of the next little beach, my mental sound track was saying, "Hmmm... lovely and sheltered here. Sun still shining. Lots of insects too. This beach would be perfect for a Pied Wheatear..."

Needless to say, no Pied Wheatear appeared, so that put an end to that.

Black Redstart, Kilshannig, 25th November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Black Redstart, Kilshannig, 25th November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Black Redstart, Kilshannig, 25th November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Black Redstart, Kilshannig, 25th November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Black Redstart, Kilshannig, 25th November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Ring-necked Duck flock

 The four male Ring-necked Ducks continue to pal around together on Lough Yganavan. Not sure what the official number of 'a flock' is, but I reckon three and up, so we'll call this a flock of Ring-necked Ducks.

Four male Ring-necked Duck, Lough Yganavan, 23rd November 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

Male Ring-necked Duck, Lough Yganavan, 23rd November 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

Male Ring-necked Duck, Lough Yganavan, 23rd November 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

Barn Owl hunting by day

A rare treat indeed to see a Barn Owl hunting in daylight anywhere in Ireland and oftentimes it is a sick or injured bird, or perhaps one forced to hunt in daylight after prolonged bad weather when hunger might drive them out to risk the wrath of the local crows. Not this one it seems, which seemed healthy and well and was actively hunting over rough fields in North Kerry over several recent evenings.

Barn Owl, North Kerry, 15th November 2018 (Hubert Servignat).

Barn Owl, North Kerry, 15th November 2018 (Hubert Servignat).

Barn Owl, North Kerry, 15th November 2018 (Hubert Servignat).

Barn Owl, North Kerry, 15th November 2018 (Hubert Servignat).

Black Scoter and Snow Bunting

 Black Scoter, Rossbeigh,20th November 2018 (D.Farrar).

 Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 20th November 2018 (D.Farrar).

Snow Bunting, Carrahane, 30th October 2018 (D.Farrar).

Ring-necked Ducks and Ruff

There were only around 20 diving duck at Lough Yganavan yesterday and four of them were male Ring-necked Ducks. This equals the record count of four (three males and one female) at Ross Castle on 2nd January 2015. 

A difficult site to approach birds and a fierce wind made viewing difficult, but it was just possible to get some record photos.

Two Ring-necked Ducks (far right) with Tufted Ducks, Lough Yganavan, 18th November 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Ring-necked Duck (top bird) with Tufted Ducks, Lough Yganavan, 18th November 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Two Ring-necked Ducks (the two on the far right) with two Tufted Ducks (two left birds) and a female/juvenile Pochard, Lough Yganavan, 18th November 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Two Ring-necked Ducks (far right and third from left) with Tufted Ducks, Lough Yganavan, 18th November 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Ruff, Black Rock, 13th November 2018 (David O'Connor).

Ruff, Black Rock, 13th November 2018 (David O'Connor).

Ruff, Black Rock, 13th November 2018 (David O'Connor).

Autumn is over - Iceland Gull

It feels like autumn has now gone and whatever hope of a late 'fall' of migrants is rapidly diminishing. So, it's on to winter birding fodder of wildfowl, grebes and gull flocks. And sure enough, the first of the large winter gatherings of gulls at Rough Point today held one of the archetypal winter birds, an Iceland Gull. Put away the flip-flops and suncream. Break out the scarves and gloves.

Some of the 1500 or so gulls at Rough Point, 3rd November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Second calendar-year Iceland Gull, Rough Point, 3rd November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Second calendar-year Iceland Gull, Rough Point, 3rd November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Second calendar-year Iceland Gull, Rough Point, 3rd November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Spoonbill, by kayak

One of the best ways to view wildlife in general and birds in particular is from a kayak. Some species seem very tolerant of an approach by a human cunningly disguised as a bit of flotsam. The Spoonbill at Cromane is one such bird quite happy to have a floating birder invade its personal space, and with the flawless blue sky and windless conditions it presented quite a sight up close. Amazing looking bird.

Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

A stunning day for pootling around in a kayak in Castlemaine Harbour. Snow on the peaks, but almost t-shirt weather out on the water (Michael O'Clery).

This bird is in its 13th winter at this site and now, it would seem, is the longest-staying, or rather, longest-returning rarity of any kind ever in Ireland. Perhaps some of the long-lived Black Brants may have met or bettered that record but there is no way to be sure as individuals wander widely and are not necessarily identifiable year to year.

Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Great Crested Grebe, Castlemaine Harbour, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Away from the mouth of the Shannon in North Kerry and Inner Tralee Bay, Great Crested Grebes are pretty scarce in Kerry. Even at 'Grebe Central' i.e., Sandy Bay, only singles appear in winter and then infrequently, and always heavily outnumbered by Slavonian Grebes. This is a first-winter bird with traces of the dark, juvenile neck stripes still showing. It would not be a Kerry bird though as they no longer nest in the county.