Ring-billed Gull and Brambling at Carrahane

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Carrahane, 30th January 2018 (David O'Connor).

Brambling, Carrahane, 30th January 2018 (David O'Connor).

One of around ten present today.

Red-necked Grebe, and some tasty leftovers

Red-necked Grebe, Ventry, 30th January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Red-necked Grebe, Ventry, 30th January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Present at Ventry since last autumn.

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Inch beach, 28th January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

The Strand Hotel in the background shows exactly where this bird was hanging out for the past few days. There were several dead Guillemots, a dead Common Dolphin and a sheep carcass for it to feed on, and the bird was ridiculously tame, allowing approach to about 20 feet (7m).

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Inch beach, 28th January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Inch beach, 28th January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

This close it is even possible to make out the feather lice, above and behind the eye.

First-winter Iceland Gull, Dingle, 21st January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Dingle has done poorly for Iceland and Glaucous Gulls so far this winter, despite good numbers showing up at a number of other locations around Kerry.

Slavonian Grebe, Rough Point, 20th January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Twite in flight, Kilshannig, 21st January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

A nice pink rump visible on the middle bird. There's been no sign of the Twite at Kilshannig since 11 were seen on 22nd January, though with numerous weedy carrot fields in the whole area they could still be lurking somewhere nearby.

Twite in flight, Kilshannig, 21st January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Kumlien's Gull, the Cashen

First-winter Kumlien's Gull, Cashen, 30th January 2018 (D.Farrar).

Good passage of Porgs off Brandon Point

Adult Porg, Brandon Point, 28th January 2018 (M. Hammil).

A good passage of Porgs was seen off Brandon Point today, with some 150 passing west over three hours or so. Most were adults, presumably returning to nesting grounds around the Skelligs.

A Bonxie has a go at a couple of passing Porgs, Brandon Point, 28th January 2018 (L.Skywalker).

Nesting Porgs, Puffin Island, 15th July 2017 (D.Vader).

Above, Porgs from the lesser known colony on Puffin Island last summer. Although the main colony on the Skelligs has some 10,000 individuals, there are only about 530 pairs on Puffin Island.

A glut of Glaucs

Glaucous Gulls have been popping up around the coast of late, along with a fair sprinkling of Iceland Gulls. Most are petty tame.

Glaucous Gull, Black Rock, 25th January 2018 (David O'Connor).

Adult Glaucous Gull, Black Rock, 25th January 2018 (David O'Connor).

'Phone-scoped' Glaucous Gull, Inch, 26th January 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

The tiny camera on a smart phone and a telescope produced reasonable results... Handy for a bit of photographic evidence of a sighting.

Glaucous Gull, Inch, 26th January 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Green-winged Teal at Barrow, and more of the Twite

Male Green-winged Teal, Barrow Harbour, 22nd January 2018 (David O'Connor).

Male Green-winged Teal, Barrow Harbour, 22nd January 2018 (David O'Connor).

Twite, Kilshannig, 22nd January 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Twite, Kilshannig, 22nd January 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Although the main flock of 25-30 wasn't seen today, a group of 11 were seen about 1km away on the weedy fields opposite the Green Room pub.

Big Twite flock at Kilshannig

It's been quite a few years since a comparable flock of Twite has been seen in Kerry. Today, at Kilshannig, going by close examination of the photo below, there were at least 24, possibly 27 or so, along with a few Linnets.

Flock of at least 24 Twite, with around six Linnets, Kilshannig, 20th January 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

There were 25 Twite seen at the Cashen Estuary in November 2010, but only single figure counts in Kerry since then.

Twite, Kilshannig, 20th January 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

Twite, Kilshannig, 20th January 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

A San Francisco New Year

For a firmly tongue-in-cheek account of a recent birding trip to the West Coast of the USA, click HERE. Go on, have a look. You know you want to...

Bufflehead. San Francisco. Maybe some day in Kerry?

Another Glaucous Gull, Black Rock

Adult Glaucous Gull, Black Rock, 17th January 2018 (David O'Connor).

Two more 'northern gulls' were also present at Black Rock, two first-winter Iceland Gulls.

Glaucous Gull hybrid

Each winter throws up a good auld hybrid gull or two, just to keep us on our collective toes. "Throws up' is a good phrase for them. Never pretty.

This one seems to be largely Glaucous Gull in nature, with particularly the relevant head proportions of a small eye set high and back in the head, and the hefty build, but also mixed in with some other genes, most likely, Herring Gull. The dark tail and wingtip markings are really a bit too heavy for even the darkest of Glaucous Gulls.

 Glaucous Gull hybrid,  Reenard Pier, 9th January 2018 (Pat McDaid).

 Glaucous Gull hybrid,  Reenard Pier, 9th January 2018 (Pat McDaid).

 Glaucous Gull hybrid,  Reenard Pier, 9th January 2018 (Pat McDaid).

More Icelands

Adult Iceland Gull, Smerwick Harbour, 16th January 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

First-winter Iceland Gull, Ballydavid, 16th January 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

First-winter Iceland Gull, Ballydavid, 16th January 2018 (Kilian Kelly).

Blast of northerly gulls

With the recent gales, a few Iceland and Glaucous Gulls have been showing up. Here's a selection from Reenard over the past couple of weeks.

All photos courtesy of Pat McDaid

Gulls. Your worst nightmare, or all your Christmas's at once? For extra bonus points, pick out the Glaucous Gull. 13th January 2018.

Adult Iceland Gull, Reenard Pier, 31st December 2017, Reenard Pier.

Adult Iceland Gull, Reenard Pier, 31st December 2017, Reenard Pier.

Great Black-backed Gull, with lunch.

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Reenard Pier, 13th January 2018. 

First-winter Iceland Gull, Reenard Pier, 7th January 2018, Reenard Pier.

First-winter Iceland Gull, Reenard Pier, 7th January 2018, Reenard Pier. 

Same individual as above.

First-winter Iceland Gull, Reenard Pier, 7th January 2018, Reenard Pier. 

Same individual as above.

Adult Iceland Gull, Reenard Pier, 13th January 2018, Reenard Pier.

Adult Iceland Gull, Reenard Pier, 13th January 2018, Reenard Pier. 

Same individual as above.

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Reenard Pier, 13th January 2018, Reenard Pier. 

Kumlien's Gull, Tralee

Kumlien's Gull, Tralee, 16th January 2018, (D.Farrar).

Gulls in Tralee

First-winter Iceland Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 14th January 2018 (David O'Connor).

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 14th January 2018 (David O'Connor).

Siberian Chiffchaff, Killarney

Siberian Chiffchaff, Killarney, 13th January 2018 (Killian Mullarney).

Three Twite, Rough Point

Twite, Rough Point, 14th January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Three birds were present.

Twite, Rough Point, 14th January 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Twite, Rough Point, 14th January 2018 (M.O'Clery).