Mediterranean Gull

While in Dun Laoghaire the were up to 24 Mediterranean Gulls scattered throughout the Harbour.  This number was down on past visits and observations at this site. One adult winter bird was wearing a colour ring (2XE7), as can be seen from the attached photos.

Mediterranean Gulls © John N Murphy

Mediterranean Gull

I had forgotten how numerous Mediterranean Gulls had become in Cork.  One day last week at Ballycotton I had 16 birds in one flock, while at Whitegate there were over 46 in the one location with an additional ten at Rostellan.  In Cobh I had a further 18 with a first for me in this country of a  bird sitting in a tree.

Mediterranean Gulls © John N Murphy

Mediterranean Gull

I was in Tarbert while passing through Kerry late yesterday afternoon and managed to see a few birds before it got dark.  There was one adult Mediterranean Gull, two first-winter Mediterranean Gulls, one little Egret, 80 Shelduck and over 250 Teal.  An Otter was actively feeding and scent marking around the piers where the ferry docks.

Mediterranean Gull

I was in Cork City on 28th December 2011 for a quick visit.  I had little time do do much birding and with the weather being so bad I decided to visit the Lough in the heart of Cork City where there was a first-winter Mediterranean Gull.

Mediterranean Gull

I had a fantastic days bird watching in west Clare yesterday 24th September 2011.  I first found a Semi-palmated Sandpiper at Seafield, in Quilty, before flushing a Buff-breasted Sandpiper off the beach at Quilty village.  Then I went on to Lough Donnell where there was a juvenile Black Tern.  Still trying to make it to Loop Head, I stopped at Doonbeg Lough where I found a Spotted Crake, only the third for Clare.  This delayed me for a couple of hours before news broke that a Pectoral Sandpiper was back in a flooded field near Quilty village.  I eventually got to Loop Head at 4.00pm after leaving the house that morning at 7.00am with the intension of birding for the day at Loop Head.  When I eventually got to Loop, two first-winter Mediterranean Gulls were in the harbour at Kilbaha, feeding with other gulls.  

Mediterranean Gull

I took a quick look at Tarbert Bay in County Kerry yesterday after doing some survey work at the nearby Kerry/Limerick border.  There was this juvenile Mediterranean Gull, two Common Sandpipers, one Little Egret, 140 Curlew, one Whimbrel, 120 Redshank, eight juvenile Shelducks and ten Great Crested Grebes. The bay looks really great for a North American vagrant wader.  Hopefully one will turn up there before the end of the Autumn.

Mediterranean Gull

I was back at Dun Laoghaire in Dublin on Saturday trying to find the Red-necked Grebe again but no luck.  There were about ten Mediterranean Gulls at the foot of the pier see some below.  Also on this trip we managed to see the Great Spotted Woodpecker at Cabinteely House, 14 Red Kites and three Buzzards at Red Cross, Wicklow, one Buzzard near Newcastle and an adult Little Gull, female Hen Harrier, Dark bellied Brent Goose and four colour ringed Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Webs Field, Kilcoole.

Mediterranean Gull

Went to look for the Red-necked Grebe off Dun Laoghaire Pier Wall this morning but no joy.  There were 22 Mediterranean Gulls in the area one wearing a colour ring as can be seen in the picture below.  Also on the Bay were 12 Black Guillemots, eight Guillemots and four Razorbills.

Adult Med Gull on water

First-winter Med Gull on water

Adult Med Gull

Adult Med Gull head

Second-winter Med Gull in flight

Adult Med Gull in flight

Colour ringed Med Gull possibly from Germany