Kerry Birding: May 2024

Wednesday, 8 May 2024

Better pics of the Woodchat Shrike

The Woodchat Shrike continued its stay, sticking mainly to one favoured field at Faha, Ballybunion. Only the second record for Kerry, since one on Great Blasket on 19th April 2011. Rather surprising, given the frequency of records on the south coast of Ireland (eg, pretty much annual in Co. Cork).

With thanks to the finder Sean and his wife for help and hospitality to visiting birders.

First-summer Woodchat Shrike, Faha, Ballybunion, 7th May 2024 (Michael O'Clery).

Woodchat Shrike, Faha, Ballybunion, 7th May 2024 (Michael O'Clery).

The bird is a first-summer bird, based particularly on the heavily moulting tail, visible in the above photo, with retained juvenile feathers on the left of the tail, and at least two strongly white-tipped adult-type feathers on the right of the tail. One of these adult-type tail feathers is only a third or so grown. Also, the white patch on the mantle has some slight buff (not pure white as in an adult bird) and the crown is not as rich chestnut as an adult (though some females can be duller too). The sexing of Woodchat Shrikes is not always straightforward, with some overlap in features, though this bird is most likely a male, with no hint of fine barring on the breast (present on many, but not all first-summer and adult females), and uniformly blackish ear coverts (often speckled with brown on females).

Woodchat Shrike, Faha, Ballybunion, 7th May2024 (David O'Connor).


Woodchat Shrike, Faha, Ballybunion, 7th May2024 (Michael O'Clery).

In the flight photo below, you can see the tail showing a mix of black, white-tipped adult-type tail feathers, two of which are still growing, the almost all-dark juvenile feathers, and also the stump of a heavily worn juvenile feather, almost down to the bare shaft of the feather!