Friday 14 October 2016

Mediterranean Gulls & Pink-footed Geese

A few shots from the last week or so. I came across a flock of six Mediterranean Gulls in Kilkieran Harbour feeding on the outflow from the seaweed processing factory on Thursday 6th October. One of the birds present was a green colour ringed first-winter from Zwillbrocker Venn in Germany which is right on the German/Netherlands border. It was ringed as a pullus on 18th June of this year and has moved approximately 1,100km to the west. This was the first re-sighting of it. 
I revisited the same spot again the following day and amazed to see that the flock had doubled in size to twelve - four first-winters and eight adults (there was a third-winter present on the 6th). The German bird was again present along with an Irish born and colour ringed bird 2X4N. This bird had been ringed by Tony Murray and co at Lady's Island Lake, Co. Wexford this summer.
ANNC German colour ringed first-winter Mediterranean Gull.
ANNC German colour ringed first-winter Mediterranean Gull.
2X4N Irish colour ringed first-winter Mediterranean Gull.

Adult winter, third-winter & adult winter Mediterranean Gulls

Third-winter Mediterranean Gull.
Eight Mediterranean Gulls and one Black-headed Gull.

Ten Mediterranean Gulls
Seaweed Factory outflow.

While up on Achill Island last Sunday I had a nice flock of Pink-footed Geese fly in from the west. Pink-footed Geese are still fairly scarce along the west coast but have become more regular in recent years as the population is increasing. Female Garganey also on Sruhillbeg Lough.

Pink-footed Geese
Pink-footed Geese
Pink-footed Geese
Pink-footed Geese
Pink-footed Geese
Garganey


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