Despite still being reasonably common around our coasts, Herring Gulls are under increasing threat, and their overall population continues to decline, so it's good to see one of the larger colonies in Kerry doing well this summer.
The Herring Gull colony is off the coast of the Dingle Peninsula, on the island Máthair na tSearraigh in the centre foreground of the above image. The stack on the left is Shirragh an Searrach (Photo: Michael O'Clery).
Adult Herring Gull, Máthair na tSearraigh, Dingle Bay, July 2019 (Michael O'Clery).
This colony of about 65 - 70 pairs of Herring Gulls is a little unusual in that it is almost exclusively Herring Gulls, whereas many breeding in Kerry will share their nesting areas (mostly on offshore islands) with other gull species such as Greater and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Fledgling Herring Gull, Máthair na tSearraigh, Dingle Bay, July 2019 (Michael O'Clery).
Adult Herring Gull with chick, Máthair na tSearraigh, Dingle Bay, July 2019 (Michael O'Clery).
Shirragh an Searrach (Photo: Michael O'Clery).
Up close, the stack is impressive, though the effect is a little dimished when, up close, it is apparent that it is draped with discarded climbing ropes and some tattered remnants of fishing nets. A few pairs of Shag and Herring Gull nest on the ledges on the east side.
