Second-summer Gull-billed Tern, Baile an Reannaigh, 4th June 2019 (Michael O'Clery).
When Jill Crosher saw an unusual tern on the beach at Baile an Reannaigh last Sunday, thoughts of what it might have been were eclipsed by the presence of a pristine summer-plumaged White-winged Black Tern on the marsh nearby (see post below). Despite that, she saw the mystery tern again a couple of times until, this morning with Ed Carty, and while discussing the mystery bird on the beach, it flew directly overhead and inland - a Gull-billed Tern.
Gull-billed Tern (with Lesser Black-backed Gulls), Baile an Reannaigh, 4th June 2019 (Michael O'Clery).
The Gull-billed Tern was very elusive today, rarely lingering for long at any spot and ranging the full length and breadth of Smerwick Harbour and sometimes inland. These photos were taken while it flew into the marsh at Baile an Reannaigh for just ten minutes before flying out into the bay again. Persistence and a bit of luck seem to be a requirement of getting a good (or any) view.
Gull-billed Tern, Baile an Reannaigh, 4th June 2019 (Michael O'Clery).
Gull-billed Tern, Baile an Reannaigh, 4th June 2019 (Michael O'Clery).
Gull-billed Tern, Baile an Reannaigh, 4th June 2019 (Michael O'Clery).
On any half decent view, the Gull-billed Tern looks like an adult, with an obvious complete dark cap. Despite that, this photo (above) is most telling... The wedge-shaped dark area on the outer wing with an obvious 'moult-step', and a faint greyish bar on the secondaries makes this most likely a second-summer bird, i.e., hatched in 2017.
Gull-billed Tern, Baile an Reannaigh, 4th June 2019 (Michael O'Clery).
This is the 23rd record for Ireland, so considerably rarer than the White-winged Black Tern also seen today at the same spot, and also present since Sunday last.
The only other Kerry record was the long-staying bird first seen on 17th October 2015 at Blennerville which remained until the following December (see e.g., this page HERE).
