Ring-billed Gull, TBWC

First-summer Ring-billed Gull, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, 12th June 2015 (David O'Connor).

Wildlife Photography Exhibition, TBWC, 22nd -29th May

You are invited to the Tralee Bay Wetland Centre, Tralee, for the opening of Anthony Dawson's Wildlife Photography Exhibition, on Friday 22nd May at 8pm. It runs until 29th, so be sure to pop in and have a look.

Seen a Curlew - inland?

If you've seen a Curlew inland anywhere in Kerry, we'd love to hear of it.

Curlew, Castlegregory (Michael O'Clery).

Breeding Curlews are down to probably less than 200 pairs in Ireland, and this years' national Curlew Survey is undertaking to find as many nesting pairs as possible. They still nest in Kerry, though there might be fewer than 20 pairs now and most, or all, are nesting on marginal, 'unimproved' grasslands, or raised bog, in hilly areas inland. If you see or hear a Curlew inland, anywhere in Kerry in May, June or July, please let us know. Coastal birds are either on passage or are non-breeding birds, but it is the inland, breeding birds we are trying to survey. Please contact Michael HERE if you come across any. Many thanks.

You can read more about the BirdWatch Ireland 2015 Curlew Survey on their website HERE.

Garganey, Reenroe

Male Garganey, Reenroe, Ballinskelligs Bay, 4th May 2015 (Pat McDaid).

One of two birds present.

Male Garganey, Reenroe, Ballinskelligs Bay, 4th May 2015 (Pat McDaid).

Barn Owl nest boxes in Kerry showing their worth

Various Barn Owl sites in central Kerry were checked for occupancy today, and two new Barn Owl nest boxes have been taken up, showing the value of well-placed boxes to the species. At least a third of known nest sites in Kerry are now in nest boxes, and this figure rises each year. 

Early indications are good for the species so far this year, with most traditional sites occupied, and one or two abandoned ones re-occupied. Let's hope they have a good breeding season...

Barn Owl (probably a male) at a nest box not too far from the Tralee Bypass... there are still some owls left then! It'll be interesting to see if this bird is paired, as the casualties along the Bypass recently must have taken a toll on some of the nearby nest sites (Michael O'Clery, under licence from NPWS).

A female Barn Owl at a nest box site near Castleisland. This box was placed in a likely looking derelict house, even though there were no signs of owls before it was placed, or in the three years since. Suddenly, there is a pair of owls present at this secluded site (Michael O'Clery, under licence from NPWS).

Iceland Gull, Dingle

Iceland Gull, Dingle, 24th April 2015 (Michael O'Clery).

This bird has been around for, well, officially, ages...

Kilshannig goodies

Immature male Eider, Kilshannig, 23rd April 2015 (David O'Connor).

Whooper Swan, Kilshannig, 23rd April 2015 (David O'Connor).

White Wagtail, Kilshannig, 23rd April 2015 (David O'Connor).

Watching White Wag washing

White Wagtail, Kilshannig, 20th April 2015 (David O'Connor).

One of 6 birds present at this site.

White Wagtail, Kilshannig, 20th April 2015 (David O'Connor).

White Wagtail, Kilshannig, 20th April 2015 (David O'Connor).

Hoopoe, Kells

Hoopoe, Mount Foley, Kells, 12th April 2015 (Andrew Field).

Littoralis Rock Pipits in Kerry at the moment

littoralis Rock Pipit, Black Rock, 31st March 2015 (David O'Connor). 

 littoralis Rock Pipit, Killshannig, 1st April 2015 (Kerry Birding).

littoralis Rock Pipit, Killshannig, 1st April 2015 (Kerry Birding). 

littoralis Rock Pipit, Killshannig, 1st April 2015, 3 birds present, but at least 4 have been seen all at this site in the last 2 months.(Kerry Birding).