Better photo of the Black Scoter

Black Scoter, near Rossbeigh, 10th January 2015 (Seamus Enright).

The long-awaited first record for Ireland, though there have been eight in Britain so far. This adult male is with the main scoter flock (of just 60-70 birds) at Rossbeigh, and though the weather was appalling again yesterday, most who travelled to see the bird have had decent views. The map in the post below shows where it has been present for the last three days, only moving about 100m or so from the original area below the cliff. More photos from Seamus can be seen HERE.

Continental Cormorant, Cromane

First-year Continental Cormorant, Cromane, 10th January 2015 (Michael O'Clery).

Click on the '4-arrows' symbol on the bottom right for the full HD version.

First-year Continental Cormorant, Cromane, 10th January 2015 (Michael O'Clery).

The fifth record for Kerry, hot on the heels of an adult at Ross Castle just before Christmas, with other records at Kerry Airport (late December 2014), Cromane (2012) and the first, at Lough Gill (2002-2003) (with thanks to Ed Carty).

First-year Continental Cormorant, Cromane, 10th January 2015 (Michael O'Clery).

First-year Continental Cormorant, Cromane, 10th January 2015 (Michael O'Clery).

First-year Continental Cormorant, Cromane, 10th January 2015 (Michael O'Clery).

Black Scoter

(Email sent to Kerry birders this evening)

"Yesterday, Davey Farrar was on his way out to Reenard when he stopped at ‘Mountain Stage’, near Rossbeigh, and saw a scoter which showed a lot of yellow on the bill. We (DF and M.O'Clery) both went back today and searched for an hour before finding it again in the small flock of scoter there (just 70-80 birds). The upshot of it all is that we are both sure that it is a Black Scoter. Weather today was atrocious, so we were watching it at long range and in very difficult conditions, but together, over three hours or so, became convinced that we were indeed looking at the real thing.

MOC tried to get a few photos - conditions were appalling - see photos below. Although these photos just about show the large area of yellow on the bill, through the telescope there were additional features which don’t show up on these images. We showed the photos to Killian Mullarney who kindly commented:

"Thanks again for the photos Michael. As I stated earlier, it is difficult to reach a definitive conclusion on the evidence of the photos alone, but from what I can see they do indeed suggest a Black, and your impression of it looking good in the field is very significant. The second photo in the series is probably the best. I attach the first photo, with an arrow to the slightly worrying hint of a knob-like swelling at the base of the bill, but this may well be photographic artefact."

The additional features mentioned, which don’t show up so well on the photos, include:

The large swelling on the upper bill, resembling a small orange ball, 'glued to the forehead' of the bird, consistently rounded-looking from front and side.

Thin black line along the ‘cutting edge' of the bill.

Distinct and even black tip (culmen) on the bill.

Face on, the yellow on the bill also looked curved and even, again like an orange ‘ball’ stuck on the forehead - no hint of a small ‘knob’ or bump along the bill’s upper profile at any time.

Over time, we were sure that there were also subtle but distinct differences in ‘jizz’, particularly a stockier build to the neck and head, making it look overall a good bit chunkier-looking than nearby male Common Scoters. The head and neck looked slightly more akin to a Surf Scoter profile than a Common Scoter.

There have been a number of claims of Black Scoter in Ireland over the years, and we are aware that hybrids and aberrant birds can throw up all sorts of permutations, and with that in mind we feel the cautious approach would be to announce it as a bird showing all the characters of Black Scoter, and none of the characters of a hybrid/aberrant bird! Bit of a mouthful, but this bird would cause quite a stir, and anyone travelling to see it might bear that in mind!

Bottom line, we think it’s the real thing, and would encourage you all to go and try see it and decide for yourselves.

The really awful part of it is that the weather forecast, not just for the next day or two, but the whole week ahead, is shite - gale force winds, large swell, etc. Viewing conditions are not likely to improve any time soon, but we might be lucky and get it closer in, when it’s not lashing rain.

Check out the map below, for a precise location of where it was seen yesterday and today.

All the best for the moment, Michael"

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

Black Scoter (left), 'Mountain Stage, near Glenbeigh, 9th January 2015 (M.O'Clery).

Black Scoter, 'Mountain Stage, near Glenbeigh, 9th January 2015 (M.O'Clery).

Black Scoter (left), 'Mountain Stage, near Glenbeigh, 9th January 2015 (M.O'Clery).

Annotated photo, courtesy of K. Mullarney, but see text above

Map showing area where the bird was seen initially yesterday, and again today (M.O'Clery)

Med. Gull, Tralee

First-winter Mediterranean Gull, Fels Point, Tralee, 9th January 2014 (Ed Carty).

Black-necked Grebe showing well

Black-necked Grebe, Reen Pier, Ballinskelligs Bay, 3rd January 2015 (Pat McDaid).

Black-necked Grebe, Reen Pier, Ballinskelligs Bay, 3rd January 2015 (Pat McDaid).

With a sighting at Brandon Bay in September last, and another yesterday in Ballylongford Bay, Black-necked Grebe has recently been seen more often than Red-necked Grebe in Kerry. The latter has become decidedly rare over the past two to three winters at the usual site at Sandy Bay/Tralee Bay.

Ross Castle continues a fantastic run

Ross Castle, near Killarney, on the eastern shore of Lough Leane, has had a bumper winter. A fourth Ring-necked Duck was found there today - in total, three males and a female - all four at one point seen together today out on the main lake (though often very distant). In addition, a Siberian Chiffchaff is still present, along with perhaps double figures of Chiffchaff, since before Christmas. A Continental Cormorant was also seen recently, though it has been particularly elusive and also often frustratingly distant and, to cap it all, a second year Ring-billed Gull has put in occasional appearances in the small gull flock which loiters by the Castle itself. Not a bad haul for an inland site anywhere in Ireland.

Second winter Ring-billed Gull, Ross Castle, 2nd January 2015 (Dave McAdams).

Siberian Chiffchaff, Ross Castle, 2nd January 2015 (Davey Farrar).

Genetic Gull Soup

Immature gulls are often tricky enough to identify, even if you try to ignore their occasional habit of 'playing away from home' which can result in confusing looking hybrids. So what is this particular flavour of genetic soup, seen at Portmagee yesterday? Herring Gull mixed with a strong pinch of Glaucous Gull perhaps? Any thoughts welcome...

Hybrid Gull (left), with juvenile Herring Gull Portmagee, 1st January 2015 (M.O'Clery).

Hybrid Gull, Portmagee, 1st January 2015 (M.O'Clery).

Azorean Yellow-legged Gull and Black-necked Grebe

Adult Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, Knightstown, Valentia Island, 31st December 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Black-necked Grebe, Reen Pier, Ballinskelligs Bay, 31st December 2014 (Pat McDaid).

Black-necked Grebe, Reen Pier, Ballinskelligs Bay, 1st January 2015 (M.O'Clery).

Glaucous Gull, Cromane, 31st December 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Long-tailed Ducks

Long-tailed ducks are a scarce winter visitor to a few select sites in Kerry each year. Most records are of ones and twos, but they occasionally reach double figures at a few sites, such as Rossbeigh and Ballinskelligs Bay.

Female Long-tailed Duck, Cromane, 27th December 2014 (Seamus Enright).

Female and first-winter Long-tailed Duck, Ballinskelligs Bay, 25th December 2014 (Michael O'Clery).

Glaucous and Iceland Gulls

First-winter Glaucous Gull, near Cromane, 24th December 2014 (M.O'Clery).

First-winter Glaucous Gull, near Cromane, 24th December 2014 (M.O'Clery).

Adult Iceland Gull, Reenard Pier, 24th December 204 (M.O'Clery).