Tuesday 14 January 2014

IVORY GULL in County Wexford

A first-year IVORY GULL has been present at Tacumshin Marsh (County Wexford) for just under a week now, showing very well at East End, close to the car park. It represents the first Irish record since 2008, Ed Carty kindly listing the previous records -:

1847 Feb Blennerville Kerry 2 birds [1 immature shot]

19th Century Full details unknown

1905 27 March Belmullet Mayo 1 bird [found dead]

1913 16 Feb Marina Cork [leg + wing found]

1913 25 March Teelin Pier Donegal [immature] [shot]

1931 late March-early April off Down coast

1969 16 Oct Ballycotton Cork [adult]

1971 06 Aug near Bunowen Pt Galway [adult]

1978 26 Nov-01 Dec Bangor Down [immature]

1980 01-09 Jan Ballycotton Cork [immature]

1983 25-26 March Wexford Harbour [adult] [found dead on 26th]

1988 21 Jan Dungarvan Wexford [immature]

1989 02 March New Forge Belfast [immature]

1998 31 Dec Newport Dump Mayo [adult]  

1999 09-10 Jan Kinsale Cork [adult]

2009 03-08 March Baltimore Cork [immature]

2014 08-14 Jan Tacumshin Co Wexford

Monday 6 January 2014

Storm-driven GREY PHALAROPES

With tidal surges of over 25 feet and Atlantic storms arriving quicker than your average bus, it is hardly surprising that a number of GREY PHALAROPES have been displaced. When I heard that one had been providing observers with crippling views on the South Coast, I could not resist and spent a couple of hours with it today. It was favouring the tiny paddling pool just east of Hove Lagoon (Sussex) and was present for a second day. It was ridiculously confiding, so much so that I ended up with over 900 decent images of it - a selection of which I present below. There was a nice crowd too - mostly Sussex Boys.......


The scene - paddling pool to the east of Hove Lagoon


Tony Cook in action


John King and Gary Messenbird enjoying the view


Luke Dray getting up close and personal