Ring-billed Gull, Carrahane

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Carrahane, 8th November (David O'Connor).

Brambling, Gneevguilla

Brambling, Gneevguilla, 6th November 2012 (F. O'Sullivan).

Black Brant & Merlin

(you can click on any of the main images for a closer view)

Adult Black Brant, Sandy Bay (near Castlegregory), 5th November 2012 (David O'Connor).

The first Black Brant for Kerry was at Sandy Bay in 2001 and there have been many reports since both there and at Barrow Harbour, Black Rock, Dingle, Ventry and Castlemaine Harbour. In many cases, these records undoubtedly refer to the same individual and the Sandy Bay records have been treated as such by the IRBC in recent years. However, local observers believed there might be more than one individual involved, and this belief has now been reinforced by the presence of two birds at Sandy Bay today.

Merlin, near Castlegregory, 5th November 2012 (David O'Connor).

Crossbills, Ballinskelligs

Crossbills, Ballinskelligs Beach carpark, 3rd November 2012 (Pat McDaid).

6 birds were present.

Great Northern Diver

Adult Great Northern Diver, Fermoyle, Brandon Bay, 29th October 2012 (Seamus Enright).

Spoonbill & Lesser Yellowlegs

Adult Spoonbill, Cromane, 27th October 2012 (Ed Carty).

This bird has returned for its 6th winter, and was possibly the same bird seen at Blennerville about three weeks ago.

Lesser Yellowlegs, Ballinskelligs, 27th October 2012 (Ed Carty).

Black Brant, Sandy Bay

Adult Black Brant, Sandy Bay (near Castlegregory), 22nd October 2012 (Screengrabs: Michael O'Clery).

Video of Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs, Ballinskelligs, 22nd October 2012 (Video: Michael O'Clery).

This was the 18th record for Co. Kerry. Of these, 13 were found between 6th August and 28th September with only two previous records from October and one from November. The longest staying bird so far has been 17 days, a bird at Akeragh Lough in 1998.The Ballinskelligs bird is the 4th longest stayer, at 10 days (details courtesy of Ed Carty).

Lesser Yellowlegs still present

Lesser Yellowlegs, Ballinskelligs, 20th October 2012 (Photos: Pat McDaid).

Present now for eight days.

AGP, Cashen estuary

American Golden Plover, Cashen estuary, 18th October 2012 (Davey Farrar).