Common Eider in Kilkee

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

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Ireland's first Yellow-crowned Night Heron a rare North American vagrant was found in Belcarre Mayo on 26th May 2024. I didn't make it up to Mayo that evening as I was heading out to Iceland early the following morning for a weeks work. One week later when I returned home I was delighted to see that the bird had hung around in the Manulla River, behind the Community Hall at Belcarre. So on Tuesday 4th June I shot up and got great views with a few shots attached. It's a long time since I've seen this heron species in the southern states. Great bird and brilliant find.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron in Mayo © John N Murphy