Storm aftermath...

The wind had died down considerably so I repeated yesterday's pattern, looking for what the storm had blown in.

First stop was Bray Harbour, which still had the juvenile Glaucous Gull in the harbour itself, and 2 Mediterranean Gulls feeding in the surf just past the north wall.

I decided to try the south beach, an excellent choice as there were hundreds of gulls milling about, feeding on what was being washed up. A couple of Mediterranean Gulls showed, including one with a colour ring. In the same flock was the adult Ring-billed Gull that has been hanging around all winter. Best of all though were the two adult winter Little Gulls feeding in the surf.

Absolute stunners, these two Little Gulls showed brilliantly, actively feeding in the surf along with the Black-headed Gulls...

 ...where they really stood out.

A few times the birds got very close to the surface of the water, behaving almost like storm petrels

The juvenile Glaucous Gull still haunts Bray Harbour!

The Ring-billed Gull seems to be getting used to me now, this is the closest I've got to it, and it was very calm.

Mediterranean Gull, ring number 3AAA.

Ringed as a nestling on 16/06/13
in Denmark (55.01N, 10.39E). It has spent every winter in the Dublin bay area, with records from Booterstown, Dun Laoghaire, and , most regularly, Bray. A single sighting in Cork 03/02/14 was the only Irish record away from this stretch of coast. It's been seen back in Denmark once, as well as Germany and South Yorkshire (presumably on passage)


After that triumphant start to the day I decided to push my luck and see what was up at ECNR. A large flock of mixed thrushes was in the main field, including about 140 Redwing. The two Glossy Ibis were also in the same field, along with the Carrion Crow x Hooded Crow.

The whole place was very birdy, with new arrivals including a decent group of Meadow Pipits and a solitary Chiffchaff. 3 Bullfinches showed amazingly well in the hedgerow.

ebird list from Bray Harbour
ebird list from Bray south beach
ebird list from ECNR

It looks like one of the wintering Glossy Ibis has come a cropper, only two there today.

Meadow Pipit in the snow

Male Bullfinch showing off.