New Barn Owl takes over

There has been an interesting footnote to the story of the veteran male Barn Owl, found dead on the Tralee Bypass last November (you can read the story in this post HERE). A visit to the nest site near Tralee today found a new male Barn Owl has taken over the reins at this traditional nest site, perched on the same beam outside the nest box, in an old stone barn.

Male Barn Owl, near Tralee, 5th May 2016 (M.O'Clery)

You can read more on the Irish Raptor Blog HERE.

Compelling case for Kerry Ivory Gulls

How many Ivory Gulls have been seen in Kerry?

If you go by the 'official' record, there are only two Kerry records of three birds, including this one (below) at Cromane for a few days in January 2014. The first Kerry record concerns two birds seen at Blennerville in February 1847, one of which was shot and which constituted the first Irish record.

Immature Ivory Gull, Cromane, 31st January 2014 (M.O'Clery).

However, irked by the unceremonious deletion of a 1931 record of Ivory Gull in Bangor by the Northern Ireland Birdwatchers association Rarities Committee, Anthony McGeehen set about finding out what he could about that and other Irish records of this ultra-rare Arctic Gull. The results are surprising, and will have a significant bearing on the number of potential Kerry records.

Well worth a read! You can see the article on this page... HERE

Anthony's always entertaining and erudite Facebook articles are HERE

Glossy Ibis & Scandinavian Rock Pipit

 Glossy Ibis, Baile an Raeannaigh, 26th April 2016 (D.Farrar).

Littoralis Rock Pipit, Feohanagh, 26th April 2016 (D.Farrar).

Hoopoe, near Ventry

Hoopoe, near Ventry, 25th April 2016 (Stephanie Holstead, with thanks to Jill Crosher).

Little Terns are back

Little Tern, Kilshannig, 25th April 2016 (David O'Connor).

Glaucous Gull & White Wagtail, Black Rock

 First summer Glaucous Gull, Black Rock, 22nd April 2016 (D.Farrar).

White Wagtail, Black Rock, 22nd April 2016 (D.Farrar).

Short-eared Owl & RIng-necked Ducks

Short-eared Owl, Sandy Lane, near Ardfert, 11th April 2016 (Kilian Kelly).

Short-eared Owl, Sandy Lane, near Ardfert, 11th April 2016 (Kilian Kelly).

Short-eared Owl, Sandy Lane, near Ardfert, 11th April 2016 (Kilian Kelly).

Male and female Ring-necked Duck, Lough Namona, 9th April 2016 (Pat McDaid).

Male and female Ring-necked Duck, Lough Namona, 9th April 2016 (Pat McDaid).

3 Ring-necked Ducks at Lough Namona

Male and female Ring-necked Duck, Lough Namona, 3rd April 2016 (Pat McDaid).

Two male Ring-necked Duck, Lough Namona, 3rd April 2016 (Pat McDaid).

Two male and a female Ring-necked Duck, Lough Namona, 3rd April 2016 (Pat McDaid).

An unusual site for this trio, on this deep, oligotrophic (acidic) lake near Waterville, which rarely holds duck of any species. Perhaps these are birds on the move, just making a temporary stopover?

Dark, Arctic-type, Ringed Plover (left), Black Rock, 31st March 2016 (David O'Connor).

Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Scraggan

Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Scraggan, 31st March 2016 (D.Farrar).

Surf Scoter & Velvet Scoter, Gowlane

 First-winter male Surf Scoter, Gowlane, 18th March 2016 (P.Archer).

 First-winter male Surf Scoter, Gowlane, 18th March 2016 (P.Archer).

Two first-winter male Velvet Scoter, Gowlane, 18th March 2016 (P.Archer).

Two first-winter male Velvet Scoter, Gowlane, 18th March 2016 (P.Archer).