'Sinensis-type' Cormorant at Tivoli, Cork city today at close range. Birds showing characters of this taxon appear to be not too infrequent these days, but it's always a pleasure to see one well.

Slightly ragged Painted Lady in Cork city this morning.

Contrary to the immaculate juvenile plumage of the Little Stint, these 1CY Dunlins, also at Ballycotton yesterday, show how the species often begins its post-juvenile moult much earlier. Note the presence of plain grey second generation coverts, only 1-2 on the first bird but several on the second.

Also at Ballycotton yesterday was this Northern Wheatear.

Nice views of waders at Ballycotton today, lots of birds to look at. Nothing too unusual, about 8 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and 3 juvenile Little Stints were the most notable. Some photos of the latter here.

A Common Crane briefly visited the east end of the island & the search to find it produced a rarity for Ireland; a Honey Buzzard in off the sea headed along the east coast. Few grounded migrants today but still a couple of Spotted and a single Pied Flycatcher at Cotter's garden. Photo today's HB

No photos, but it's not every day one gets two new Cork city species. A little gathering of small waders on the rising tide near the Douglas Estuary yesterday included 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and, about as notable for the city despite being a lot commoner, a 1CY Sanderling.

No birds of note at the Douglas Estuary yesterday, after the deluge, but this Otter was on show on and off for quite a while on an adjacent pool.

A reasonably close Little Egret at Harper's Island on Wednesday.

Came across a 'juvenile' Sterna tern locally on Sunday with a friend, thought it looked like an Arctic but a few features seemed odd. Went back on Monday, and got some photos. Actually a 2CY Arctic Tern, not a plumage I have much experience with. Good bird for Cork city too.

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This Blackadder podcast, produced by friends of mine, tackles a show that still means so much here in Ireland, Father Ted.

Unexpectedly close views of this Common Kingfisher from the main hide at @harpersisland.bsky.social this evening.

2CY and 4CY Yellow-legged Gull still present this evening at Kennedy Quay in Cork city. Nice to see the progression of moult as these birds remain.

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Some recent gull photos from Cork city.

Given that large gulls now breed in Cork city, juveniles can be found around the place much earlier than before. This Lesser Black-backed Gull was still growing its primaries, leading to a potentially misleading short primary projection. Typical bird otherwise, though.

Really nice light this evening, got very close views of the continuing 4CY Yellow-legged Gull at Horgan's Quay also.

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Nice 2CY Yellow-legged Gull at Horgan's Quay, Cork city yesterday evening.

Soft-plumaged Petrel (light morph) off Porthgwarra this eve. 8:24pm. 13th July. Following a prompt txt from Joe Jones at 6:34 from the Lizard, this bird took 1hr 50 to reach Pg. Just five of us connected. The 2nd uk record and 1st for Cornwall. Pics courtesy Mike McKee. Still stunned tbh!

Found this male Lesser Emperor today just up river from the old waterworks on the Lee Road in Cork city. Not sure if others have been reported from Ireland so far this year?

Had really nice views of a very smart subadult Yellow-legged Gull at Kennedy Quay, Cork city this evening in excellent light. Presumably a 4CY.

The video function on my new camera isn't bad, so I'm trying to use it a bit more where it is possible. Hope you enjoy this Little Egret from Harper's Island yesterday. youtu.be/Yl2gplRmpyo

Common Whitethroat yesterday at Harper's Island. Not just all about the wetland there!

Some photos of a Little Egret from Harper's Island yesterday. I still get a kick out of having these around despite them now having established as a breeding species over 25 years ago.

Two different adult Yellow-legged Gulls from Cork city over the last week or so, both returning birds.

Relieved to be able to restore photos from a corrupted SD card. Had this adult Common Buzzard locally on Sunday.

A Little Egret from yesterday at Harper's Island Wetlands.

Two photos that I had forgotten to edit from my trip to Kuwait in April. Tree and Red-throated Pipits.

Woodpigeons are very common birds here in Ireland, but, close up in nice light especially, they do look really nice.

A nice adult Grey Wagtail on the UCC main campus yesterday, also, as a sign of the times, a Eurasian Jay. Not so long ago, these were confined to proper woodland in Ireland, more or less!

Some recent bird photos, been a while since I've posted any on here.

Lots of juvenile Long-tailed Tits around at the moment locally, in mobile parties with their parents.

Also had good views of this 3CY Common Buzzard yesterday at Lough Beg. Retained juvenile P9-10, contrast easiest to see on the upperwing.

Lovely unexpected close encounter with a Fox yesterday at Lough Beg.

2CY Common Buzzard from Ballyvergan yesterday.

Beautiful day at Ballyvergan yesterday. Two Cuckoos were the only birds of note, a distant but vocal male and a close perched female.

A break from Kuwait photos. Had a rather lovely encounter with a pair of Stonechats yesterday evening at Tramore Valley Park, also a few Reed Buntings.

Two of the rarest birds seen during the trip to Kuwait weren't as co-operative for photos. The long-staying Indian Pond Heron, now looking splendid in summer plumage, and a male Pied Bush Chat found while we were there and which we saw the next day.

Some of the birds seen in Kuwait in late April. Socotra Cormorant, Hypocolius, Pharaoh Eagle Owl and Basra Reed Warbler.

While many passerines can be easier to photograph when holding territory, as males become more obvious, I find Blackcaps difficult to see well. They often sing from cover, and can be mobile as they fly from perch to perch around their territory. I'm happy with these shots of one at Inchigaggin.

Despite the wind, this 2CY female Western Subalpine Warbler at Galley Head showed well yesterday.

Very grateful to Andre Robinson for the offer of a spin on spec to Seven Heads in west Cork today. We had 3 Hoopoes and 7 Black Redstarts, we found one Hoopoe each and co-found one. I never saw Andre's bird, here are some pics of the other two.

A few passerines from Cork city yesterday after work. Male Chaffinch and Mistle Thrush.

Great to see this male Northern Wheatear near Redbarn yesterday. Always uplifting to see the summer migrants return.

Some nice views of Dunnocks yesterday locally. Enjoying the ability to take decent passerine photos with the new camera.