Aidan G. Kelly

Was nice to catch up with these 2 Bewick’s Swans from the observation tower at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve last Sunday. Only a handful of birds have been recorded in Ireland this winter. Better than last winter though when none was recorded!

Seeing this Critically Endangered Ridgway’s Hawk at Los Haitises a short while ago meant we got our last possible endemic in the Dominican Republic. One of a pair present.Note ring on left leg. ‘Green 82’
Puerto Rico next..😎

A few highlights from a great weekend in Wexford,finding this Purple Heron at Tacumshin on Sat. & finally getting a few shots of it next day. Fem. Blue-winged Teal & 3 LRPlovers also at Tacumshin. Also this fantastic male Redstart at Carnsore Point, found by Joe Adamson.

Was lucky this evening when this fabulous Waxwing came down to eye level to feed in a small fruiting tree in a front garden at Willow Park Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin. Great find yesterday by Victor Caschera.
They have been extremely scarce in Ireland this winter.

Nice views of the American Wigeon at Milltown bridge, Dingle, Co. Kerry, today in the spring sunshine..😎.

Wilson's storm petrels, feeding in shallow waters (on amphipods, I think). Watch closely to see some fully submerging. This is the second time I've seen them diving. At Melchior Islands. #seabirds

Goosanders and a nice male Crossbill from County Wicklow yesterday.

A few of the spectacular Cotinga family which we saw in Guyana last month. Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Guianan Red Cotinga, Capuchinbird and Pompadour Cotinga. #Birds #BirdingGuyana

👍. Sounds good!..

Some of the better looking Antbirds we saw in Guyana last month. Ferruginous-backed, Rufous-throated and White-plumed. Very high iso settings used in the dark rainforest undergrowth which reduces the image quality. Single Wing-banded Antbird also seen, but unfortunately no photos #BirdingGuyana

One of the birds of the trip in Guyana last month was this tiny Ocellated Crake which we managed to see and photograph running across a gap in the grass near Surama Lodge. #BirdingGuyana

Enjoyable 2 days of ‘Scotering’ in Kerry in good weather conditions. Highlights were the continuing ad. WwScoter at Inch Strand accompanied now by a 1w ‘Velvet-type’ (id. not clinched); 9 Surf Scoters(6 at Inch, 3 at Brandon Bay). Found a new ‘advanced’ 1w WwS at Brandon with 4xVelvets also present.

A few night birds from Guyana over the last week. Black-banded Owl, Common Potoo and White-winged Potoo. #BirdingGuyana

This Orange-breasted Falcon was a very welcome and unexpected lifer in the Georgetown Botanical Gardens this evening. Apparently one (possibly the same individual?) was reported there a few months ago. #BirdingGuyana

The very sad news that the Slender-billed Curlew has been declared extinct prompted me to look up my notebook from when myself & Aidan Duggan were lucky enough to see that last individual bird at Merja Zerga, on Xmas Day 1994. Brief notes but they bring back cherished memories..

African Broadbill displaying in a Tanzanian forest earlier this year.