Little Gulls, Dingle

Juvenile Little Gull, 9th October 2014 (Gordon Kirk).

One of three present.

Seabirds off the coast of Kerry

Adult Pomarine Skua, off Co. Kerry, 8th October 2014 (Niall Keogh).

Sightings from the R.V. Celtic Explorer today off the coast of Co. Kerry, between Outer Dingle Bay and Outer Kenmare River (Niall T. Keogh, Ciaran Cronin, Stephen McAvoy, Katharine Keogan & William Hunt): c.500 Sooty Shearwaters, c.40 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 European Storm-petrels, 1 Grey Phalarope, 5 Great Skua, 4 Pomarine Skua (3 adult & a juvenile), 3 Arctic Skua, 1 juv Arctic Tern and 4 Puffin.

Also seen were 2 Minke Whales, 100+ Common Dolphin and 1 Leatherback Turtle.

Sooty Shearwater, off Co. Kerry, 8th October 2014 (Niall Keogh).

Not a Med. Gull but Arctic Skua

Arctic Skua, Carrahane, 7th October 2014 (D.Farrar).

A new Med. Gull record count

Mediterranean Gull (M.O'Clery).

Rare birds have been thin on the ground this autumn, with hardly any Nearctic waders to hold the attention of birders, so instead of beautiful full-frame photos of Western Sandpipers, Franklin's Gulls and Blackpoll Warblers we must make do with watching the basic 'bread-and-butter' species. 

Many Kerry birders* enjoy seeing Mediterranean Gulls as they have at least a little flavour of the exotic about them, but numbers at Black Rock have risen from 41 on 2nd October, to an all time county record number of 55 today. So even the slight air of rarity about Mediterranean Gulls is rapidly diminishing. 

* Except for Davey Farrar, who barely tolerates them, and doesn't believe in counting them. "Heap of shite" he is often heard to mutter.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Dunquin

Yellow-browed Warbler, Dunquin, 30th September 2014 (D.Farrar).

Wryneck, Great Blasket

Wryneck, Great Blasket Island, 21st September 2014 (Jimmy McDonnell).

Arctic Skua and juvenile Kittiwake, off Great Blasket Island, 21st September 2014 (Jimmy McDonnell).

Great Skua and Gannet, off Great Blasket Island, 21st September 2014 (Jimmy McDonnell).

Sooty Shearwater, off Great Blasket Island, 21st September 2014 (Jimmy McDonnell).

Spoonbill returns for a ninth year

Adult Spoonbill, Cromane, 21st September 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

This bird has returned for its ninth successive year, a cause for quiet celebration, as it disappeared from its usual haunt at Cromane immediately after the ferocious storms in February 2014.

For an individual to return for nine years is remarkable indeed, though the record for the longest staying/returning individual in Ireland is actually of two birds which arrived at Ballymacoda, Co. Cork, in winter 1961/62 and 1962/63. Although one didn't reappear in winter 1963/64, the other did so each year until last seen in spring 1974, returning for a total of 13 winters.

Redstart & Whinchat

Redstart, near Ballyferriter, 19th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

Whinchat, Dunquin, 19th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

Whinchat, Dunquin, 19th September 2014 (Ian Jones).

Ring-billed Gull, Black Rock

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Black Rock, 17th September 2014 (David O'Connor).

Osprey, and more

Osprey, Kilcummin, Brandon Bay, 15th September 2014 (David O'Connor).

Juvenile Little Stint (with Knot behind), Baile an Reannaigh, 15th September 2014 (David O'Connor).

Juvenile Little Stint, Kilcummin, Brandon Bay, 15th September 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

Arctic Skua, Kilcummin, Brandon Bay, 15th September 2014 (David O'Connor). One of 6 there.

Juvenile Spotted Flycatcher, Dunquin, 15th September 2014 (Michael O'Clery). One of 3-4 present. This one still shows the remnants of the spotted juvenile plumage, from which the species'  name derives.