Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis has been recorded overwintering in Limerick for the first time this winter (2021/22).  A bird found by Gerry Murphy at Cooperhill, Mungret on 24/10/21 was the third record for the County.  It was seen in the area on a number of occasions until 9/1/22, when it was joined by a second bird.  

Meanwhile a pair found by John Hewson on his farm 20km to the west, at Courtbrown, Askeaton on 23/12/21 was the fourth County record.  These birds continued to be seen in that locality up to 4/1/22 with one remaining up to 6/1/22.

Finally a single bird was seen at King's Island marsh in Limerick between 6/3/22 and 16/3/22.  

With no overlapping dates between the Askeaton and Mungret birds, it is possible the records relate to the same two birds in each case.  The King's Island record comes two months after the last Mungret record and could be a considered a fifth County record, possibly a fresh Spring migrant. 

The first Cooperhill bird proved to be relatively confiding, unlike the pair seen at Courtbrown.

Glossy Ibis at Cooperhill, Mungret on 29/10/21.

Glossy Ibis at Courtbrown, Askeaton on 2/1/22

Glossy Ibis pair at Courtbrown, Askeaton on 2/1/22

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gulls are occasional winter visitors to Limerick City, turning up in most winters, usually as as 1st winter birds.  

1st winter Glaucous Gull 

Mediterranean Gulls in Limerick

Mediterranean Gulls are scarce in Limerick City; typically occurring in very small numbers in autumn and occasionally in winter.  Being a coastal species they are more regular further down the Shannon Estuary and can generally be found in most months at Tarbert Bay on the Limerick-Kerry boarder.

Adult winter at Limerick

1st winter at Tarbert on 31/8/2020

Adult winter at Tarbert on 31/8/2020

Kumlien's Iceland Gull

2nd winter Kumlien's Iceland Gull found at O'Callaghan's Strand, Limerick City on 10/02/2019.

Update 18/2/19

Latest photo taken on 18/2/2019

The photos below were taken on 10/2/2019

At least one other white-winged gull was also present.  It looks like a 1st winter Iceland Gull but has a pale iris, a feature normally acquired in the 2nd winter/2nd summer period.  It also has a relatively long bill and relatively short wing projection and looks to be about Herring Gull size. The possibility of a hybrid cannot be ruled out.

The shots below were also taken at the same location. The bird in these looks more like an Iceland Gull in structure.

Winter Waders in Limerick City

The city stretch of the Shannon is not noted for waders. Apart from the 100 or so Oystercatchers that routinely feed on the open area in King's Island and small numbers of Snipe in the wetlands adjoining the river, there is usually very little else to see.    In some years very small numbers of Redshank can occur along the river anywhere between Corbally and Barrington's Pier.  The occasional wintering Common Sandpiper may also be found.   We went one better last Saturday (8/12/2018) when with a fine winter plumaged Dunlin showing up at O'Callaghan's Strand in close proximity to a Common Sandpiper and a lone Redshank.  The Dunlin and the Common Sandpiper were new recruits since the previous week.

Dunlin

 

Common Sandpiper

    The Redshank wasn't as obliging when it came to posing for the camera!

Summering Gulls in Limerick City

The River Shannon in Limerick City attracts large numbers of gulls outside of the breeding season. Black-headed Gulls with a peak count of 1,628 in mid winter tops the list followed by Common Gulls (peak count 80), Herring Gulls (peak count 66) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (peak count 25).  Outside of these commoner species, Iceland, Great Black-backed, Glaucous, Yellow-legged, Mediterranean and Ring-billed Gulls all occur in single figures most years.

As one would expect the situation changes dramatically during the breeding season.  Generally all of the Black-headed Gulls disappear along with all of the Common Gulls. The Herring Gull numbers don't vary much, as a number of pairs breed locally on City roof tops. Virtually all of the scarcer species also disappear, however numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls appear to have increased noticeably in recent years.

Very low flows in the Shannon this summer combined with low tides exposed large rock outcrops and gravelly stretches in the river bed.  These areas have proved attractive to roosting gulls and provided an opportunity to estimate the numbers involved.  A count on August 13th last produced a surprisingly large total of 882 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  The majority of these were 2nd calendar year birds with smaller numbers of juvenile (about 10%) and older birds.  The 2CY birds were in widely varying stages of moult.

Four 2CY Lesser Black-backed Gulls birds showing varying moult progression

A colour ringed juvenile first seen in the City on 11/8/18, (Blue 005:R), was ringed as a chick at the north-eastern end of Lough Ree in Co. Longford on 29/6/18. This was a fairly quick dispersal from the breeding colony and was the fourth report of a colour ringed bird from a newly established ringed project run by Brian Burke on Lough Ree.

Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull (Blue 005:R) from Lough Ree, Co. Longford

Fresh Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Mature adult Lesser Black-backs were visible all summer as several pairs breed annually on the city rooftops.

The first juvenile Black-headed Gulls started to appear in the City in late July and the first returning Common Gulls were only noted in late August. These were joined by an adult Mediterranean Gull in early August, an early date for this scarce species in the City.

Moulting adult Mediterranean Gull at Brown's Quay on 11/8/18

This is the first year that a summering Yellow-legged Gull was recorded in the City.  It appears to be one of two 2nd winter birds that were present last winter.

2nd summer (3CY) Yellow-legged Gull

More Iceland Gulls

It was a great winter in Limerick City for Iceland Gulls.  By early March at least six different birds had been logged; four 1st winters, a 2nd winter and a third winter.  Amazingly by the end of the month at least two additional 1st winter birds were present, bringing the total for the winter to at least eight birds.

The 3rd winter (4cy) bird found in early March was proving to be a bit elusive initially as it ranged from Harvey's Quay up river as far as Corbally. Later in the month it proved to be more regular at Harvey's Quay, showing a distinct preference for the Shannon Rowing Club side of the Sarsfield Lock.

 

  

4cy Iceland Gull

Five 1st winter birds and the 3rd winter(4cy) bird were all visible on the short stretch of the Shannon between Bishop's Quay and Arthur's Quay on 30/3/2018 and again on 2/4/2018, the largest number of Icelands in one location recorded in Limerick



1st winter Iceland Gull of the nominate race Larus glaucoides glaucoides

One of the five 1st winter birds was the bird showing some characteristics of Kumlien's Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides kumlieni, that was originally found in February. It is still showing a darker shade on the outer primaries along with darker secondaries and largely solid darker markings on the tail band. See photo below.   The bill also looks dark at a distance but closer views show the darker tone gradually fading towards the base. 

1st winter Iceland Gull with some characteristics of the Kumlein's subspecies