First eagle chick for 110 years hatches in Kerry

(Click on the image below for a closer view)

Page from the Kerryman newspaper, 7th May 2013. See Kerryman.ie

Another link to a news story is in the Irish Times HERE. (opens a new page).

Biodiversity Week in Kerry, May 18th - 25th 2013

(Click on the image to see a closer view of the summary text).

Co. Kerry Biodiversity Week kicks off on 18th May. Plenty of interest for birdwatchers, with a Dawn Chorus walk, and a talk on Barn Owls, along with a variety of other wildlife related talks and walks on Otters, Lampreys, native wildflowers, bats and Kerry's Uplands. All events are free and open to all. 

Click on the image above to read a summary of events, or visit the Kerry County Council website HERE and download the full brochure (PDF, 14 Mb, click on link, "General Information").

Dotterel, May Day

Dotterel, Reenroe, 1st May 2013 (Mike Sheehy).

Dotterels seen again at Reenroe

Two of four Dotterels at Reenroe, Ballinskelligs Bay, 29th April 2013 (Pat McDaid).

Arctic Skua, Fenit

Arctic Skua, Fenit, 28th April 2013 (David O'Connor).

Now present for a second day.

Ring-billed Gull & Siberian Chiffchaff

'Siberian' Chiffchaff, Ross Castle, 27th April 2013 (David O'Connor).

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Scraggane, 27th April 2013 (Seamus Enright).

Dotterel

One of the four Dotterel at Reenroe, Ballinskelligs Bay, 24th April 2013 (Seamus Enright).

The four birds at Reenore are the first spring records in Co. Kerry since the extraordinary series of sightings from Slieve Mish in 1948. A flock of 25 birds was first seen on 14th March 1948 and when observers returned on 26th March (including Frank King and Major R.F.Ruttledge), they found two flocks of 20 and 30 birds.

Since then, five of the six other records were all of single birds in autumn, the exception being two together on the summit of Brandon Mountain in October 2009.

(with thanks to Ed Carty).

Dotterels and Surf Scoter

Dotterels, Reenroe Beach, Ballinskelligs, 24th April 2013 (David O'Connor).

First-year male Surf Scoter, Rossbehy, 24th April 2013 (David O'Connor). Presumably the same bird as seen previously at Ballinskelligs throughout most of the winter.

Dotterels at Reenroe

Dotterel, Reenroe, Ballinskelligs Bay, 24th April 2013 (Pat McDaid). Two of four birds present.

Mediterranean Gull, Kilshannig

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Kilshannig, 23rd April 2013 (David O'Connor).