Glaucous Gull, Cashen

Adult Glaucous Gull, Cashen, 9th January 2014 

Black-necked Grebe, Ballylongford

Black-necked Grebe, Carrig Island, Ballylongford, 8th January 2014 (Seamus Enright).

Glaucous Gull & leucistic Bar-tailed Godwit

 Adult Glaucous Gull, Cashen 7th January 2014.

Leucistic Bar-tailed Godwit, Killshannig, 8th January 2014.

The Dingle Little Auk dies

The Little Auk in care at Dingle Aquarium died on Monday. With the recent storms it is possible that others might be found along the coast. The West Kerry Branch of BirdWatch Ireland sought advice from the experts about the best way to care for them, and this was the response.

Little Auk (Photo, Jonn Leffmann)

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Wikimedia

From Steve Newton, Senior Conservation Officer with BirdWatch Ireland.

"I hear it is bad news for the Little Auk in question but in case another turns up we ought to have a plan.

Little Auks are plantivores year round so I doubt they would ever go for whole fish – even tiny sprats/sandeels. My guess is that they would have to be force fed (tube/syringe) liquefied fish or some form of pelleted protein rich meal that invertebrate-eating diving ducks are fed in captivity... maybe we should ask someone in Fota or Dublin Zoo?

With any stranded seabird, dehydration is the first issue to deal with and oral rehydration salts need to be administered before worrying about food per se.

Anyway, I hope this stimulates some discussion.

P.S. I have a friend in Louth looking after a hungry Gannet in his bath – taking chunks of chopped up mackerel, no hesitation! Little Auks are definitely easier to handle but maybe not to feed.

Regards

Steve

Kumlien's Gull refound

 

 First-winter Kumlien's Gull, Anascaul rivermouth, 7th January 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

First-winter Kumlien's Gull, Anascaul rivermouth, 7th January 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

Remarkably, this is the same individual as seen on 4th January at Reenroe, Ballinskelligs Bay, some 35km to the south (or about 55km by a coastal route). See the post further down the page. A photo below (bottom photo) of the Reenroe bird is shown here again for direct comparison. Although the light is quite different in the two photos, note the similar undertail and underwing pattern, as well as the similarity of the primary and secondary markings.

Anascaul, 8th January (M.O'Clery).

(You can click on any of the main images for a closer view)

Reenroe, 4th January (M.O'Clery).

Glaucous Gulls

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Ferriter's Cove, 8th January 2014 (Jill Crosher).

First-winter Glaucous Gull, Anascaul rivermouth, 8th January 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

Little Auk, in care

Little Auk, in care at Dingle Aquarium, 5th January 2014 (Jill Crosher). 

It was found moribund at the aquarium building on 5th January.

With thanks to Jill Crosher, Kate Hall and Aine Long.

UPDATE: Unfortunately the bird died on 6th January.

Kumlien's Gull, Reenroe

Click on any of the main images for a closer view

First-winter Kumlien's Gull, Reenroe, Ballinskelligs Bay, 4th January 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

Detail of the primary pattern, with brown wash to the central shafts of the primaries, fading to whitish on the outer edges (Michael O'Clery).

Glossy Ibis, near Portmagee

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Glossy Ibis, 4km NE of Portmagee, 3rd January 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

Quite possibly the same bird seen at Finian's Bay, 4km to the south, on 12th December. A photo of that bird is on this post HERE

Glaucous Gull, Ballinskelligs Bay

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First-winter Glaucous Gull, Waterville seafront, 2nd January 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

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First-winter Glaucous Gull, 'The Abbey', Ballinskelligs, 1st January 2014 (Brendan McNamara).

The same individual at two different locations in Ballinskelligs Bay - an unusually tame individual, allowing approach to within 3-4 metres.