Red Squirrel

I stopped for a few minutes this morning at the Curraghchase in Limerick on my way to work to see could I get a few shots of the Hawfinches.  One bird was present in the trees around the car park of the Curraghchase, but I was delighted to get a few snaps of the Red Squirrels that were feeding on the ground in the same area where the finches were coming down to feed.

Red Squirrels at the Curraghchase © John N Murphy

Glaucous-winged Gull

After recent debate about the possible Glaucous-winged Gull in Cromane, County Kerry, I was asked to put up a few shots of first-year birds that I photographed on Vancouver Island in September 2010.  Attached are a few shots that I had to hand.  Notice the strong bulk and structure of all the birds below.  The Kerry bird lacked this strong shape and large shape of GWG's.  Any comments?

Glaucous-winged Gulls, Vancouver © John N Murphy

Kumlien's Iceland Gull

I went to Cromane in County Kerry late this afternoon to see the controversial white-winged gull that was identified as a possible Glaucous-winged Gull.  The shape, size, structure and overall colour was in my opinion not right for GWG and looked more like a Kumlien's Iceland Gull.  I am open to correction from any experts that might think differently, but from my limited exposure to Glaucous-winged Gulls in the North West of the US and Canada, I believe this bird not to be a Glaucous-winged Gull?  Any comments would be more than welcome.

Kumlien's Iceland Gull, Cromane, Kerry © John N Murphy

Great Northern Divers Return

No matter how many times I see Great Northern Divers up close, I never tire from taking photos of them, especially when they pose so well to get into the camera.  Recent Atlantic storms have driven them in to harbours to feed.

Great Northern Divers off Quilty Pier, West Clare © John N Murphy

Gulls galore

There were thousands of Gulls in Waterford and Wexford over the weekend.  Sprat are still running off Hook Head and are attracting Fin Whales, hundreds of Bottle-nosed Dolphins and a large mix of gulls. the shots below were taken in Duncannon Harbour.  The photos of Iceland and Little Gulls were taken in Dunmore East harbour along with the view of Hook Head.

 Adult Mediterranean Gulls at Duncannon, Wexford © John N Murphy

 Adult Kittiwake at Duncannon, Wexford © John N Murphy

  First-winter Great Black-backed Gull at Duncannon Harbour wearing a blue ring © John N Murphy

  Little Gull first-winter bird at Dunmore East © John N Murphy

 Third-winter Iceland Gull at Dunmore East © John N Murphy

 A view of Hook Head in Wexford from Dunmore East, Waterford, see dolphins in foreground © John N Murphy

Long-billed Dowitcher

I was back in the sunny South-east again this weekend, where it was sunny for a change after all the adverse weather and storms that ran through the country over the last couple of weeks.  I eventually caught up with the Long-billed Dowitcher at Lady's Island and saw some distant Short-eared Owls at the South Slob that Kieran Grace flushed nicely for us. Two Cranes and harriers were also at Tacumschin.  After going through the scoter flock in Rosslare bay, the car was pointed towards Dunmore East in County Waterford, where along the way Duncannon harbour and beach in Wexford were checked for gulls, of which there were thousands.  Here we met up with a good friend Canary Joe Adamson who had just come back from Dunmore East. We left Joe with the Duncannon Gulls and arrived in Dunmore East late into the afternoon, where my buddy Finbarr and I eventually caught up with the Caspian Gull that was sitting out on the sea with other large gulls.  There were a couple of Icelands along with one first-winter Litlle Gull that rounded off the day very nicely.

Long-billed Dowitcher Lady's Island © John N Murphy

 Black-tailed Godwits feeding alongside the Dowitcher © John N Murphy