It's not the first time Eiders have turned up in Kilkee Bay, but it is the first time they made an appearance in the height of summer. Immature Eiders have turned up in Kilkee in the past during October or winter. On a few occasions in the past birds have appeared in summer off Scattery Island near Kilrush or in Galway Bay near Deer Island, but to have this pair of moulting, eclipsed birds is very unusual. They were found by Dixie Collins hauled out on the rocks near the west end of the Strand on 22nd June. I checked for them twice again yesterday but they seemed to have moved off.
Pair of Common Eider at Kilkee © John N Murphy
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