Singing like a Loon

After almost a month of predominantly easterly winds throughout October, there has been something of a mass arrival of birds from the NW Atlantic in recent days as the winds finally switched back to their more typical quarter from the west. In just the last few days, following brisk north and north-west winds, about 50 Barnacle Geese are now back on the Magharee Islands, while Greenland White-fronted Geese and Pinkfooted Geese have been popping up in unusual places around the country. The relatively small number of Redwings which had returned to Kerry in the past 2-3 weeks have been of the Continental race iliacus, but now flocks numbering up to 500 are descending on the wild Rowan, Hawthorn and Holly berries and are predominantly of the Icelandic race coburni.

Sandy Bay, near Castlegregory, has seen only up to five Great Northern Divers in recent weeks, but now hosts some 35-40. One of these (the individual photographed below) actually launched into a full song, a haunting wail, evocative of deep northern forests and remote mountain lakes in the high Arctic in summer. It is most unusual to hear one singing in Ireland, and most birders I quizzed on it had only had the experience at most a few times in Ireland in twenty or more years.

Adult Great Northern Diver, Sandy Bay, 4th November 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Below, a recording of the breeding calls of a territorial Great Northern Diver from Iceland, similar to the one at Sandy Bay yesterday. An unexpected delight while birding on an Irish coastline and a wonderful sound to hear anywhere. 

For added realism, close your eyes, waft the opened bottle of "Scent-Omatic' Pine-Needle-Fresh Bathroom Fragrance * ', and hit the play button. 

Actually, scratch that... First, open the bottle of "Scent-Omatic' Pine-Needle-Fresh Bathroom Fragrance', hit the play button, THEN close your eyes.

Guaranteed to whisk you 500 miles north, and 6 months back in time.

* Product does not actually exist, and can not be purchased at local retailers, so don't ask for it, unless you want to be embarrassed, but if you don't mind being embarrassed, ask away.

Not in the field guides

This pipit, feeding alone at the edge of a muddy pool at Carrahane, would make you think twice. Not only tame, but very pale, with whitish wing bars and pale underparts... surely something rare? Not so. Just a Rock Pipit very much at the paler end of the spectrum, but one to get the pulse racing, if only for a while. Most field guides only portray the more regular, dusky, swarthy-looking Rock Pipits.

Rock Pipit, Carrahane, 1st November 2016 (Eric Dempsey).

Rock Pipit, Carrahane, 1st November 2016 (Eric Dempsey).

Some passerine migrants out west

Lesser Whitethroat, Coumeenoole, 31st October 2016 (Eric Dempsey).

Lesser Whitethroat, Coumeenoole, 31st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Siberian Chiffchaff, Coumeenoole, 31st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Siberian Chiffchaff, Coumeenoole, 31st October 2016 (Eric Dempsey).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Coumeenoole, 31st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Two male Blackcaps, Coumeenoole, 31st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Blackcap, Coumeenoole, 31st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Siberian Chiffchaff at Bolus Head

Siberian Chiffchaff, Bolus Head, 30th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

One was at Bolus Head, with two more seen later in the day at FInian's Bay, along with a Lesser Whitethroat.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Bolus Head, 30th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

American Golden Plover at Carrahane, and other bits

Juvenile American Golden Plover, Carrahane, 29th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Part of the impressive 3000+ Golden Plovers at Carrahane, 29th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

First-winter male Eider, Rough Point, 28th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Ruff, Caherfealane, 28th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

One of two birds present.

Starlings, Caherfealane, 28th October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

The Starling flock gathering to roost here is by no means the largest in Kerry, though numbers are likely to build in colder weather, but any such a 'murmuration' is always a spectacular sight. From the photo, this seems to contain, at a very rough estimate, about 5000 bids, but if anyone is prepared to count them individually, please feel free and let us know.

American Wigeon at Barrow

Adult male American Wigeon, Barrow Harbour, 28th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

Adult male American Wigeon, Barrow Harbour, 28th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

Adult male American Wigeon, Barrow Harbour, 28th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

Black Scoter at Rossbeigh

Adult male Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016 (All photos: Michael O'Clery).

Now back for a third winter, the first and so far the only Irish record of a Black Scoter. He only made a brief enough appearance at Rossbeigh in October and November 2015. After November, he was seen once at Waterville in December, then back at Rossbeigh for one more time in March 2016 before moving on.

Adult male Black Scoter with Common Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016.

 

Adult male Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016.

Adult male Black Scoter with Common Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016.

This Nearctic version of Common Scoter is right at home in the scoter flock at Rossbeigh, indulging in fights and flights with the locals, and is often to be seen calling vigourously to flock-mates. Common Scoter doesn't open it's bill to call, though Black Scoter gives a full on, open-bill call, a surprisingly easy thing to see in the field (or rather, the ocean).

Video of Spoonbill

Video of the Cromane Spoonbill. You can click the 'four arrows' symbol to see the full size version.

Adult Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Spoonbill makes it back for another winter

The regular wintering Spoonbill is back at the lagoon at Cromane once again, for its eleventh winter.

Adult Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Spoonbill, with Little Egret, Cromane, 21st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

 It is undergoing extensive wing moult, with several tracts of feathers being replaced in parallel on each wing.

Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st October 2016 (M.O'Clery).

Extraordinary though the bill of a Spoonbill is, up close, it also has this beautiful, blue and black, 'Mackerel skin' patterning. Click the pic for a closer view.

Info on long-staying Spoonbills in Ireland on this page HERE.

'Sinensis' Cormorant

'Sinensis' or Continental Cormorant, Blennerville, 12th October 2016 (David O'Connor).

'Sinensis' or Continental Cormorant, Blennerville, 12th October 2016 (David O'Connor).