A few bird photos from the Cork Lough today.

Also present at the Cork Lough was the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull, by now well accustomed to people feeding the birds and quite dominant in the melee.

Caught up with the 2nd cycle Ring-billed Gull at the Cork Lough today. Possibly last winter's 1st cycle returning.

Nice light after work this afternoon, came across this male Eurasian Sparrowhawk just sitting in a tree.

Nice views of a Goldcrest this afternoon not too far from home in Cork city.

Another attempt for Cetti's Warblers in likely habitat today, still none and the species may not have reached the area yet. Still, nice to get out, even if shade affected my attempts at bird photography.

Little Egret from Inchigaggin today. Still don't take these for granted, despite them having colonised Ireland over 25 years ago. It helps that they are elegantly beautiful.

More passerine photos from yesterday.

It's a wet morning here, but yesterday was a beautiful calm sunny day, excellent for seeing and photographing birds.

Some birds from Cork city yesterday.

Some passerine photos locally over the weekend.

Only getting around to uploading video from earlier in the month. Two Chough at Garrettstown on 8th November. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Co...

Lovely light yesterday at Clogheenmilcon Fen, but most of the birds I saw were against the light. This Long-tailed Tit wasn't on full view when I took the photo, but I like the colours.

A few sketches from the weekend. Goosander is generally a scarce and shy species in Ireland, always distant at a few regular sites, so I was delighted with one showing well with mallards in Ramelton town on Saturday. The Coal Tit was one of a few birds during some surveying yesterday.

Darvic-ringed Yellow-legged Gull on the quays in Cork city, Ireland today. Ringed as a pullus in the south of France back in 2020. I found it interesting that, despite now being in its sixth calendar year, the primary coverts still have extensive black centres. Nice white head already, though.

Had almost no late season migrants last weekend, but a flock of around 8 Chough showed well, in poor light, as they fed without much concern on a sand cliff at Garrettstown.

Lovely finished piece from Rob. Almost Lewington-esque, but still with his own style showing.

Some birds from the Cork Lough yesterday.

Another recent pipit photo, this time a Rock Pipit at Knockadoon Head on Wednesday 22nd.

Meadow Pipit at Toe Head on 13th October. Nice to even see the incredibly long hind claw of this species here.

Inspired by finds elsewhere, we gave Pilmore Strand a look for passerines yesterday. Nothing of note, but it was nice to get a spread tail photo of this Rock Pipit.

'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!