Seychelles birding special

If you need a break from dull old immature gulls and boring Littoralis Rock Pipits and seek tropical beaches, great scenery, and some very special birds - some of the rarest in the world - have a look at some photos from our short birding trip to the Seychelles in March. Click HERE.

'Intermedius' Lesser Black-backed

'Intermedius' Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blennerville, 24th March 2019 (David O'Connor).

This 'Intermedius' Lesser Black-backed Gull was at Blennerville on Sunday before flying out into the bay and was only the seventh county record, though they are undoubtedly overlooked. Four occurrences have been in April. 'Intermedius' birds nest in SW Scandinavia and winter in small numbers in western Europe and Africa.

'Intermedius' Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blennerville, 24th March 2019 (David O'Connor).

'Intermedius' Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blennerville, 24th March 2019 (David O'Connor).

Cromane Cattle Egret still present

The Cromane Cattle Egret is the 23rd county record and has been present since 28th February.

Cattle Egret, Cromane, 18th March 2019 (Ed Carty).

Cattle Egret, Cromane, 18th March 2019 (Ed Carty).

Cattle Egret near Cromane

Cattle Egret, near Cromane, 9th March 2019 (Cait O'Neill).

Cattle Egret, near Cromane, 9th March 2019 (Cait O'Neill).

Cattle Egret, near Cromane, 9th March 2019 (Cait O'Neill).

Pinking Pipits

Rock Pipit, Rough Point, 1st March 2019 (Michael O'Clery).

A few minutes spent looking at and photographing the 15 or so Rock Pipits at Rough Point showed at least three which were 'pinking up' a little on the throat and chest. thus presumably possibly might be could be should be of the Scandinavian race, littorals. Let's go back in a few weeks and see just how many are showing a good auld pinking up. They'll be popping up all over the place, for anyone who takes the time and care to look and/or photograph Rock Pipits carefully. Funny they're still generally treated as a rarity though.

Don't forget, you can vote on your strong feelings, or indeed your abject indifference, about this race / sub-species / colour morph / intergrade in an online poll on the blog page HERE.

Iceland Gulls

Adult Iceland Gull, Reenard, 28th February 2019 (Cait O'Neill).

Two adults were present at the pier in Reenard.

Adult Iceland Gull, Reenard, 28th February 2019 (Cait O'Neill).

Adult Iceland Gull, Reenard, 28th February 2019 (Cait O'Neill).

Adult Iceland Gull, Reenard, 28th February 2019 (Cait O'Neill).

And in older news...

First-winter Iceland Gull, Ferriter's Cove, 17th February 2019 (Michael O'Clery).