American Wigeon

Passing though Tullaghans in County Leitrim today just south of Bundoran in Donegal, I stopped on the main road to check the flooded fields for the American Wigeon that has been present here since last Autumn. Within seconds the bird appeared within a small flock of Eurasian Wigeons as they roosted in vegetation in flooded fields along the riverside.

Drake American Wigeon in Leitrim © John N Murphy

Kumlien's in Killybegs

On my way north last week to work in Limavady I got an hour late Monday afternoon to check out the gulls in Killybegs.  Most of the fishing fleet were gone to sea and there were few gulls in the  harbour.  There were about 300 gulls in the area and with them were; two adult Kumlien's Gulls, three first-winter Iceland Gulls, one second-winter Iceland Gull, three first-winter and one second-winter Glaucous Gulls.

 Adult Kumlien's Iceland Gull © John N Murphy

 First-winter Glaucous Gull © John N Murphy

 Adult-winter Kittiwake © John N Murphy

Juvenile Great Northern Diver © John N Murphy

Winter plumage Black Guillemot at Killybegs © John N Murphy

Pacific Diver

Pacific Diver at Lough Fea this afternoon for my friend Pat. 

Pacific Diver © John N Murphy

Glaucous Gulls

On my way North to Derry today, I popped into Killybegs for the last hour of daylight where there were lots of gull activity.  There were seven Glaucous Gulls, (five first-winters, one second-winter and one third-winter), along with four Iceland Gulls (one third-winter and three first-winters).  The majority of the Glaucous Gulls were on Gallaghers Fish Factory roof on the left as you enter the town and the original fishing pier.

 Glaucous Gulls at Killybegs © John N Murphy

Little Gull

I went to Galway on the 5th January to see the adult Ross's Gull found the evening before along the prom at Salthill by Aonghus O' Donnell.  I met up with Dermot Breen and we spent a couple of hours trying to re-locate the bird but to no avail.  There were two immature Little Gulls feeding along the edge of the tide at Salthill and one adult Glaucous Gull and one first-winter bird near Nimmo's Pier.

Little Gull, Salthill © John N Murphy

Adult Glaucous Gull, Nimmo's Pier © John N Murphy

Killybegs

I was working up in Limavady, Derry just on the run up to the Christmas break and on the way home I got an hour in Killybegs to look for the Thayer's Gull.  No sign of it but there were three Iceland Gulls (one first-winter, one second-winter and a sub adult), along with one first-winter Glaucous Gull.

A small selection of gulls from Killybegs © John N Murphy

Albino Great Northern Diver

This albino Great Northern Diver was off Black Head yesterday.  There has been an albino bird in this area for over five winters now, but this was my first time seeing the bird. 

Albino Great Northern Diver off Black Head © John N Murphy