Photos of Skelligs Black-browed Albatross

Adult Black-browed Albatross, off Skellig Michael, 30th May 2018 (John Murphy).

No.

Words.

Necessary.

Adult Black-browed Albatross, off Skellig Michael, 30th May 2018 (John Murphy).

Adult Black-browed Albatross, off Skellig Michael, 30th May 2018 (John Murphy).

Adult Black-browed Albatross, off Skellig Michael, 30th May 2018 (John Murphy).

Adult Black-browed Albatross, off Skellig Michael, 30th May 2018 (John Murphy).

Adult Black-browed Albatross, off Skellig Michael, 30th May 2018 (John Murphy).

Glenderry Rose-coloured Starling

Adult Rose-coloured Starling, Glenderry, Kerry, 11th June 2018 (Geoff Hunt).

Another gorgeous Rose-coloured Starling, this one found on the playing grounds of Glenderry National School in North Kerry a few week ago. You'd have to wonder how many more are in the country awaiting discovery?

Tralee goodies

Adult Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee, 18th June 2018 (Ed Carty).

Adult Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee, 18th June 2018 (Ed Carty).

Adult Glaucous Gull, Tralee, 18th June 2018 (Ed Carty).

Hybrid Glaucous x Herring Gull, Tralee, 18th June 2018 (Ed Carty).

More Rosey

Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee, 12th June 2018 (Ed Carty).

Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee, 12th June 2018 (Ed Carty).

Rosey Star of Tralee

Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee, 10th June 2018 (Maurice Hannafin).

Though there was no sign of the Ventry one, the Tralee adult Rose-coloured Starling continued to frequent the suburban garden off Mitchel's Road in Tralee for a fifth day, giving views down to a few feet. A metre or so to any Imperial measure aficionados.

Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee, 10th June 2018 (David O'Connor).

Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee, 10th June 2018 (Maurice Hannafin).

What a stunning bird, though I was recently taken aback to learn form an anonymous source that in certain quarters in Britain, he and his birding buddies at the time used to refer to them disparagingly as 'The Pink Stink'. No doubt because they tended to turn up in suburban gardens, feeding at close range on bird feeders and scraps and, in Britain at least, can be usually seen by any half-interested Year Lister. A most demeaning name for a bird which is not only beautiful but, as an adult, we must bear in mind that this individual almost certainly spent last winter in India. Yes, in India.

Despite my shock at hearing of such a remarkable bird being referred to in such a derogatory fashion I nevertheless totally respect my source's right to remain anonymous, so Davey Farrar's name will never see print. Not on this blog. No way.

Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee

Adult Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee, 8th June 2018 (Ger Scollard).

The only true Rose of Tralee. This is the first adult seen in Kerry since June 2012, and before that it was 2002, when two were present near Clogher Head. This bird is a little elusive, favouring a private garden, but showing occasionally in the surrounding area.

Adult Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee, 8th June 2018 (Ger Scollard).

Adult Rose-coloured Starling, Tralee, 8th June 2018 (Ger Scollard).

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Adult Rose-coloured Starling, Clogher Head, 2002 (Michael O'Clery).

Here's a photo of one of the two adults at Clogher Head in 2002. An exotic bird - the Rose-coloured Starling - from the wrong end of Europe, feeding on an exotic plant - New Zealand Flax - from the wrong side of the world.

Ring-billed Gull at Black Rock

First-summer (second calendar year) Ring-billed Gull, Black Rock, 7th June 2018 (David O'Connor).

White Wagtail at Black Rock

White Wagtail, Black Rock, 5th June 2018 (David O'Connor).

Magharees Tern numbers recover a little

A quick trip to the Magharee Islands on 1st June saw something of an improvement in tern numbers on last year, when almost no terns were present on four of the more accessible islands where normally 100 to 150 pairs of three species might be present.

This year, about 45 pairs of Arctic Terns and 8 pairs of Common Tern were on two islands, though several outlying islands weren't visited, so hopefully more terns will be nesting elsewhere in the island group.

Little Terns, Magharees, 1st June 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Perhaps star of the show on the Magharees are the only nesting Little Terns in Co. Kerry. 7-8 pairs were present, up from the 2-3 last year, but far from the heyday of around 20 pairs about five years ago.

Arctic Tern, Magharees, 1st June 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Arctic Terns, Magharees, 1st June 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Arctic Tern, Magharees, 1st June 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Dunlin, Magharees, 1st June 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Although individuals can often be seen in full summer plumage in Kerry in May and June, Dunlin unfortunately don't breed in Kerry any more. The nearest breeding birds are in Galway and Mayo, though these particular birds may yet be headed much further to the north to nest. About 10 were present on 1st June.

Oystercatcher, Magharees, 1st June 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Nesting Oystercatchers seem to be particularly numerous on the islands this year, with at least 30 potential pairs on just two islands.

Sanderling, Magharees, 1st June 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

The Rough Point area generally and the Magharee islands in particular are excellent sites to see 'northern' waders in summer. Whether they are first-summer birds which are not going to migrate, or are yet to make the migration to the Arctic is hard to know, but along with 30 or so summer-plumaged Sanderling, there were 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Turnstone, a Knot and a Grey Plover, all in summer plumage. All those species nest well north of the Arctic Circle.