Curlew Sandpiper and Argentatus Herring Gull, Black Rock

Adult Curlew Sandpiper, Black Rock, 26th June 2014 (David O'Connor).

'Argentatus' Herring Gull, Black Rock, 26th June 2014 (David O'Connor).

White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle, South Kerry, 21st June 2014 (Pat McDaid).

This female's first mate was found dead in 2007, and her second was also found dead after hitting a power line in January of this year. She has since paired with a third male, though they have not bred this summer.

What is it about Whitethroats and the Kerry border?

Why is it that Whitethroats are so widespread in Ireland, yet stop just short of the Kerry border?

Take a look at the national picture on the map below... Whitethroats are breeding pretty much all over Ireland though, apart from small parts of Mayo, the stand-out blank area on the distribution map is pretty much the whole of Kerry.

Why would it be that at several spots in east Kerry (e.g., Ballydesmond and Brosna), there are none on the Kerry side of the border, yet just a few miles away in Cork, in seemingly identical habitat, they are present and reasonably common?

The Atlas map of Whitethroat, with an obvious gap in Kerry.

In summer 2013 there was a refreshing change to this distribution pattern when many more Whitethroats than usual were seen in Kerry. The map below shows just how many, and hopes were high that the species had finally 'colonised' the county once and for all.

Whitethroat records for summer 2014.

Not so, it seems... Despite visiting many of the sites where breeding birds were present in 2013, Whitethroats have been largely absent this summer, so far. It seems the colonisation of the county is not complete.

Whitethroat records this summer, by 12th June 2014. 

If you see any Whitethroats in Kerry this summer, do let us know.

Kerry Kestrel nests doing well

Despite the setback of 2013, with one of the coldest springs on record, Kestrels seem to be faring much better this summer. Although a few traditional sites have been lost, any that are breeding seem to be doing very well.

Accessing a new Kestrel nest (under licence from the NPWS), discovered in an old fireplace in a derelict castle near Killarney. See below (M.O'Clery).

The nest featured in the photo above. One of the later nests this season, still with a full clutch of five eggs, near Killarney, 28th May 2014 (M.O'Clery).

A female Kestrel delivers a Bank Vole to a nest site in an old church tower, on the Dingle Peninsula, 6th June 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Below, have a look at some footage from inside a nest box near Castlegregory. Three chicks are doing well, with regular food deliveries. In this clip, the female arrives with what looks like a young Bank Vole, and returns just two minutes later with another. It is unlikely she has caught two in such a short time, rather the male will have caught it and the female taken it from him to bring to the nest. Either way, these well-grown chicks have no problem bolting down their meal.

Two prey deliveries to young Kestrels, Castlegregory, 7th June 2014 (Video: Michael O'Clery).

Have you seen any Kestrel activity in Kerry this week? Please let us know... text Michael O'Clery at 087 9711519, or email michaeloclery@gmail.com - thanks.

Grey-headed Wagtail, Ballinskelligs

Grey-headed Wagtail, Reenroe, 30th May 2014 (Pat McDaid).

Snow Bunting and Curlew Sandpiper

Adult male Snow Bunting. Mt Brandon Nature Reserve, 26th May 2014 (Kilian Kelly).

Only the fourth May record for Kerry. The first county record was on the Tearaght in May 1887, with only two in May since, on Great Blasket in 2004 and on Mt. Eagle in 2009 (with thanks to Ed carty).

Curlew Sandpiper, Black Rock, 26th May 2014 (David O'Connor).

The first May record for Co. Kerry.

Breeding Greylag Geese

 

Greylay Geese with five young, south Kerry, 25th May 2014 (M.O'Clery).

These Greylag Geese have nested at exactly the same spot as last year, at a lake site in south Kerry. It is the only known site for nesting Greylags in Kerry, and there is a small flock of adults in the general area which commute between two wetland sites throughout the year, but whether these are derived from wild stock, or are of domestic origin, is not yet known. Either way, it seems this breeding site has hosted several nesting pairs for the past 3 to 4 years.

Common Terns, Carrahane

Common Terns, Carrahane, 23rd May 2014 (David O'Connor).

White-tailed Sea Eagles, south Kerry

Two White-tailed Sea Eagles, south Kerry, 24th May 2014 (M.O'Clery).

The rarest of rare birds - Bermuda Petrel, off Kerry

 

Bermuda Petrel, 170 nautical miles West-Northwest of Slea Head, Co. Kerry (Ryan Wilson-Parr).

A Bermuda Petrel (also known as 'Cahow') was seen from the R.V. Celtic Voyager at 17:56pm today (Monday 19/05/2014) approximately 170 nautical miles west northwest of Slea Head, Co. Kerry during a survey for cetaceans and seabirds. It was picked up at c.250m range, over a water depth of 1,030m, at the head of a canyon on the western slope/shelf edge of the Porcupine Bank. It was on view for a maximum of 1 minute before heading off in a south east direction.

Observers: Niall T. Keogh, Ryan Wilson-Parr, Simon Berrow & Rossa Meade.

Also seen were 160+ Long-tailed Skuas migrating North through the area today including a single flock of c.90 birds.

With thanks to Niall Keogh

Bermuda Petrel was long thought to be extinct in the wild in the early 20th Century until 13–14 pairs were found breeding on three islets in Castle Harbour, Bermuda, in 1951. SInce then careful management of the breeding colonies, including the provision of underground burrow nest boxes and the translocation of chicks to predator-free islets off Bermuda, has lead to a gradual increase. Despite these concerted conservation efforts it remains one of the rarest birds in the world with the most recent estimated world population of just 250 adult individuals in 2005. For one to be seen in Irish territorial waters surely ranks as one of the rarest birds ever to be seen here in modern times.