Semi-p at Blennerville

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Blennerville, 9th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

You can click the pic for a closer look. The Nearctic waders are finally making an appearance, with a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Inch also on 9th (per Gordon D'Arcy).

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Blennerville, 9th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Blennerville, 9th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

 

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Blennerville, 9th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

 

Mediterranean Gulls, Tarbert, 7th September 2020 (Geoff Hunt).

If you ever get the car ferry from Tarbert, keep an eye out for this adult Mediterranean Gull. Going by multiple ring readings, it has been wintering in the Tarbert area since 2002.

 

Bonxie, Carrahane, or rather, an ex-Bonxie

Adult Great Skua, Carrahane, 6th September 2020 (Seamus Enright).

 

This unfortunate Bonxie, or Great Skua, was found by Seamus at Carrahane Strand today. No obvious signs of trauma or injury, no overhead wires nearby, and some distance from the road, so the cause of death is unknown.

Autumn migration underway

Autumn migrants are arriving and departing throughout Kerry now. Here's a few highlights from the last few days.

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper. Black Rock, 4th September 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper. Black Rock, 6th September 2020 (Michael O'Clery).  

 

One of three present.

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper. Black Rock, 6th September 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

Yep, there is actually one in this picture. See if you can spot it... Click the pic for a larger image.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Spa, 6th September 2020 (David O'Connor). 

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Spa, 6th September 2020 (David O'Connor).  

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Spa, 6th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

 

Red-throated Diver, Beal Strand, 26th August 2020 (Geoff Hunt).

 

Adult Ring-billed Gull, Barrow Harbour, 6th September 2020 (David O'Connor).

2 Curlew Sandpipers at Black Rock

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Black Rock, 23rd August 2020 (David O'Connor).

 

One of two present.

Curlew Sandpiper at Rough Point

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Rough Point, 27th August 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

 

If not THE first, certainly one of the first Curlew Sandpipers reported in the south of Ireland this autumn.

 

 

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Rough Point, 27th August 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

 

Juvenile Knot, Rough Point, 27th August 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

 

Sharing the same beach, another juvenile wader, recently travelled from well north of the Arctic Circle.

Little Stint and Ruff

Juvenile Little Stint, Ferriter's Cove, 19th August 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

Juvenile Little Stint, Ferriter's Cove, 19th August 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

Juvenile Little Stint, Ferriter's Cove, 19th August 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

 

Ruff, Kierney's Field, Blennerville, 19th August 2020 (Cait O'Neill).

 

Up to 12 Ruff have been frequenting this site recently, but there's quite a bit to go to beat the 37 seen at nearby Cockleshell Road in September 2017, and the record number for Kerry seen by Frank King in September 1968, when an extraordinary 74 were seen at Akeragh Lough. 

Ruff, Kierney's Field, Blennerville, 19th August 2020 (Cait O'Neill).

Some random early autumn birding goodness

  Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Blennerville, 18th August 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

 

 

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Blennerville, 18th August 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

 

Buzzard, Milltown, 15th August 2020 (Cait O'Neill).

 

Nesting Buzzards are continuing to spread slowly in Kerry. Nesting has occurred near Tralee for at least the last two summers, and one pair nested further west, close to Fenit, this summer. A slow and gradual re-colonisation. 

 

Green Sandpiper Blennerville, 16th August 2020 (Cait O'Neill).

 

Green Sandpiper, Blennerville, 16th August 2020 (Cait O'Neill).

 

Dunlin, Blennerville, 18th August 2020 (Cait O'Neill).

 

Of the 250 or so Dunlin at Carrahane this evening, all but about 6 were adults, many of those still showing the full black belly of summer plumage. Perhaps they have had a bad nesting season, as juveniles would certainly be migrating as well by now. 

Caspian Tern at the Inny Estuary

Adult Caspian Tern, Inny Estuary, 4h August 2020 (Pat McDaid).

 

The third record for Kerry and, although present again briefly very early the following morning, it next reappeared the following evening in Wales, a direct journey of 350km in 10 hours!.

Adult Caspian Tern, Inny Estuary, 4h August 2020 (Pat McDaid).

Adult Caspian Tern, Inny Estuary, 4h August 2020 (Pat McDaid).

Iceland Gull, near Trabeg

First-summer (first calendar-year) Iceland Gull, 3km SE of Trabeg, 21st April 2020 (Michael O'Clery).

Hawfinch, Camp, 26th April 2020 (Una Williams). 

Only the sixth record for Kerry, this striking bird has been visiting the garden for several days now.

Hawfinch, Camp, 26th April 2020 (Una Williams).