Black Terns

I came across three Black Terns on a trip to west Clare today.  There has been an unusually large passage of Black Terns around the Irish coast this autumn, with a few birds also showing up at inland sites like this one.  Indeed I came across a single juvenile bird last week (10/9/2025) at another inland site; Lough Gur in Co. Limerick.

At least two of today's birds were juveniles.  The third bird may also have been a juvenile, however I didn't manage to get a clear enough view of it to determine its age. 

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

Hawfinch

Curraghchase Forest Park at Kilcornan, Co. Limerick has proved to be the most reliable site in Ireland for wintering Hawfinches since a major influx of 95 birds occurred there in the winter of 1988/89.  They have been recorded there in much smaller numbers on several occasions since, howevr this winter is proving to be one of the better ones, with a flock of up to 15 birds seen there over the past few weeks. 

The bigger numbers this year are not altogther surprising given given the very large influx of the species into southern Britain in the late autumn.  The abundant crop of seeds on the Hornbeam trees in the forest park this year is also sure to be a factor in keeping the birds in the area.

The birds have been feeding high up on the trees so far, making good photo opportunities hard to come by. I finally got a chance to take some shots in reasonable light last Thursday, having been unsuccessful on several previous visits, since I got a brief glimpse of the first two birds there on November 5th.

The site is also a good location to look for wintering Bramblings.  This male below was one of up to seven birds seen there so far this winter.

The forest park has a very healthy population of Jays.  Their racous calls can be heard constantly as they squabble over the best acorn deposits but they can be difficult to approach and have a habit of melting away into the canopy once people get near.

Night Heron

Limerick's first live recorded Night Heron and second verified record in all was found last Friday (21/4/17) by a Mick Madden on a series of small duck ponds at the rear of his home near Adare.  News of the bird broke on Monday morning and the sighting was confirmed John N Murphy and I by early afternoon.  As the site is private access has necessarily been very much limited.

Work committments meant that I did not get an opportunity to photograph the bird until this evening (26/4), but it was worth the wait as the bird proved to be quite tolerant of observers much of the time.

The previous record for the County relates to a dead bird found near Bruree in November 1957.  It was suspected of having died from a collision with overhead lines. Another possible record relates to a bird reported in the Abbeyfeale area in November 2011 on the Kerry side of the River Feale. It's not known if this bird ever visited the Limerick side of the river.