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Black Redstart at Kilshannig

It's very satisfying to have one of those moments when your mental soundtrack goes, "Hmmm... nice little beach out of the easterly wind here. Sunny. Lots of insects too. This would be a perfect spot for a Black Redstart to be feeding... Oh, there's one!"

Of course after enjoying this lovely bird for a while I thought I'd continue the run of good luck and as I rounded the corner of the next little beach, my mental sound track was saying, "Hmmm... lovely and sheltered here. Sun still shining. Lots of insects too. This beach would be perfect for a Pied Wheatear..."

Needless to say, no Pied Wheatear appeared, so that put an end to that.

Black Redstart, Kilshannig, 25th November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Black Redstart, Kilshannig, 25th November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Black Redstart, Kilshannig, 25th November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Black Redstart, Kilshannig, 25th November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Black Redstart, Kilshannig, 25th November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Ring-necked Duck flock

 The four male Ring-necked Ducks continue to pal around together on Lough Yganavan. Not sure what the official number of 'a flock' is, but I reckon three and up, so we'll call this a flock of Ring-necked Ducks.

Four male Ring-necked Duck, Lough Yganavan, 23rd November 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

Male Ring-necked Duck, Lough Yganavan, 23rd November 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

Male Ring-necked Duck, Lough Yganavan, 23rd November 2018 (Cait O'Neill).

Barn Owl hunting by day

A rare treat indeed to see a Barn Owl hunting in daylight anywhere in Ireland and oftentimes it is a sick or injured bird, or perhaps one forced to hunt in daylight after prolonged bad weather when hunger might drive them out to risk the wrath of the local crows. Not this one it seems, which seemed healthy and well and was actively hunting over rough fields in North Kerry over several recent evenings.

Barn Owl, North Kerry, 15th November 2018 (Hubert Servignat).

Barn Owl, North Kerry, 15th November 2018 (Hubert Servignat).

Barn Owl, North Kerry, 15th November 2018 (Hubert Servignat).

Barn Owl, North Kerry, 15th November 2018 (Hubert Servignat).

Black Scoter and Snow Bunting

 Black Scoter, Rossbeigh,20th November 2018 (D.Farrar).

 Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 20th November 2018 (D.Farrar).

Snow Bunting, Carrahane, 30th October 2018 (D.Farrar).

Ring-necked Ducks and Ruff

There were only around 20 diving duck at Lough Yganavan yesterday and four of them were male Ring-necked Ducks. This equals the record count of four (three males and one female) at Ross Castle on 2nd January 2015. 

A difficult site to approach birds and a fierce wind made viewing difficult, but it was just possible to get some record photos.

Two Ring-necked Ducks (far right) with Tufted Ducks, Lough Yganavan, 18th November 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Ring-necked Duck (top bird) with Tufted Ducks, Lough Yganavan, 18th November 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Two Ring-necked Ducks (the two on the far right) with two Tufted Ducks (two left birds) and a female/juvenile Pochard, Lough Yganavan, 18th November 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Two Ring-necked Ducks (far right and third from left) with Tufted Ducks, Lough Yganavan, 18th November 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Ruff, Black Rock, 13th November 2018 (David O'Connor).

Ruff, Black Rock, 13th November 2018 (David O'Connor).

Ruff, Black Rock, 13th November 2018 (David O'Connor).

Autumn is over - Iceland Gull

It feels like autumn has now gone and whatever hope of a late 'fall' of migrants is rapidly diminishing. So, it's on to winter birding fodder of wildfowl, grebes and gull flocks. And sure enough, the first of the large winter gatherings of gulls at Rough Point today held one of the archetypal winter birds, an Iceland Gull. Put away the flip-flops and suncream. Break out the scarves and gloves.

Some of the 1500 or so gulls at Rough Point, 3rd November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Second calendar-year Iceland Gull, Rough Point, 3rd November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Second calendar-year Iceland Gull, Rough Point, 3rd November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Second calendar-year Iceland Gull, Rough Point, 3rd November 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Spoonbill, by kayak

One of the best ways to view wildlife in general and birds in particular is from a kayak. Some species seem very tolerant of an approach by a human cunningly disguised as a bit of flotsam. The Spoonbill at Cromane is one such bird quite happy to have a floating birder invade its personal space, and with the flawless blue sky and windless conditions it presented quite a sight up close. Amazing looking bird.

Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

A stunning day for pootling around in a kayak in Castlemaine Harbour. Snow on the peaks, but almost t-shirt weather out on the water (Michael O'Clery).

This bird is in its 13th winter at this site and now, it would seem, is the longest-staying, or rather, longest-returning rarity of any kind ever in Ireland. Perhaps some of the long-lived Black Brants may have met or bettered that record but there is no way to be sure as individuals wander widely and are not necessarily identifiable year to year.

Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Spoonbill, Cromane, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Great Crested Grebe, Castlemaine Harbour, 28th October 2018 (Michael O'Clery).

Away from the mouth of the Shannon in North Kerry and Inner Tralee Bay, Great Crested Grebes are pretty scarce in Kerry. Even at 'Grebe Central' i.e., Sandy Bay, only singles appear in winter and then infrequently, and always heavily outnumbered by Slavonian Grebes. This is a first-winter bird with traces of the dark, juvenile neck stripes still showing. It would not be a Kerry bird though as they no longer nest in the county.

More of the Booted Warbler

 

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 22nd October 2018 (M.O'Clery).

The Booted Warbler was in the same spot this morning, despite apparently ideal migration conditions overnight - clear skies and a light northerly breeze. However, as soon as the sun was up, this little gem was zipping about the place.

The first Kerry record, and the seventh for Ireland.

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 22nd October 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Initial views this morning were largely distant. The bird is actually in this photo (above), on the wire fence just right of centre. It would disappear for long periods into the dense sedge areas in the fields, occasionally perching in the open on a fence or wire before diving back into the sedge.

Booted Warbler habitat, Bolus Head, 22nd October 2018 (M.O'Clery). No point looking for it in this photo... it's in the sedge.

The bird spent quite some time in the sedge in this field (above) before finally moving back into the fuchsia bank and allowing much better views. How many patches of this sedge and grass habitat are there on Irish headlands and islands? Quite a feckin' lot, I'll tell you. How much of it is regularly checked by birders? Very feckin' little, I'll tell you. If the bird chose to, it could be extremely elusive.

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 22nd October 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 22nd October 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 22nd October 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 22nd October 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 22nd October 2018 (M.O'Clery).

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head - First for Kerry

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 21st October (Pat McDaid).

Pat McDaid and Chris Nelms saw this bird on the fuscia garden near the end of the road on the east side of Bolus Head this afternoon. A Booted Warbler, and the first for Kerry.

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 21st October (Pat McDaid).

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 21st October (Pat McDaid).

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 21st October (Pat McDaid).

Booted Warbler, Bolus Head, 21st October (Pat McDaid).