Dark-bellied Brent Goose family, Barrow Harbour

 

 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Barrow Harbour, 18th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

 

Two adults and a juvenile in an apparent family party, keeping their social distance from all the other Brent Geese. Amazingly, one of the adults was ringed. Reading the ring number through the telescope, David threw this golden information nugget out into internet-land and found out the following... 

 

"(left white ring with black number 2, right black ring with white letter C...making it W2NC). After some (exhaustive!) submission research, I have learnt that W2NC was ringed as an adult male on 28/01/2018 at Caernarfon, Gwynedd, North Wales (not too far from Holyhead). He was recorded again twice (apparently by the ringer) in Sept. and Oct. of 2019 but today is the first re-sighting of it in Ireland and the first with an apparent mate and offspring. I don't suppose there's any way of knowing where these birds were born but I like to imagine it is some remote, far flung corner of Siberia!"

Up close with the Kilshannig Pecs

Pectoral Sandpiper, Kilshannig, 12th September 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

 

Now present for three days, the two Pectoral Sandpipers at the pools at Kilshannig are very approachable.They may never have encountered humans before, but let's hope they learn fast.

Pectoral Sandpiper, Kilshannig, 12th September 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

Pectoral Sandpiper, Kilshannig, 12th September 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

 

White Wagtail, near Ballydavid, 12th September 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

Two Pectoral Sandpipers at Kilshannig

Pectoral Sandpipers, Kilshannig, 10th September 2020 (Kilian Kelly).

Pectoral Sandpiper, Kilshannig, 10th September 2020 (Kilian Kelly).

Pectoral Sandpipers, Kilshannig, 10th September 2020 (Kilian Kelly).

Pectoral Sandpiper, Kilshannig, 10th September 2020 (Kilian Kelly).

Semi-p at Blennerville

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Blennerville, 9th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

You can click the pic for a closer look. The Nearctic waders are finally making an appearance, with a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Inch also on 9th (per Gordon D'Arcy).

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Blennerville, 9th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Blennerville, 9th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

 

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Blennerville, 9th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

 

Mediterranean Gulls, Tarbert, 7th September 2020 (Geoff Hunt).

If you ever get the car ferry from Tarbert, keep an eye out for this adult Mediterranean Gull. Going by multiple ring readings, it has been wintering in the Tarbert area since 2002.

 

Bonxie, Carrahane, or rather, an ex-Bonxie

Adult Great Skua, Carrahane, 6th September 2020 (Seamus Enright).

 

This unfortunate Bonxie, or Great Skua, was found by Seamus at Carrahane Strand today. No obvious signs of trauma or injury, no overhead wires nearby, and some distance from the road, so the cause of death is unknown.

Autumn migration underway

Autumn migrants are arriving and departing throughout Kerry now. Here's a few highlights from the last few days.

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper. Black Rock, 4th September 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper. Black Rock, 6th September 2020 (Michael O'Clery).  

 

One of three present.

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper. Black Rock, 6th September 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

Yep, there is actually one in this picture. See if you can spot it... Click the pic for a larger image.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Spa, 6th September 2020 (David O'Connor). 

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Spa, 6th September 2020 (David O'Connor).  

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Spa, 6th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

 

Red-throated Diver, Beal Strand, 26th August 2020 (Geoff Hunt).

 

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Barrow Harbour, 6th September 2020 (David O'Connor).