Mystery birds in Howth

Broadmeadows Estuary, Swords, Sunday morning

After yesterday’s sighting of the Ruff I headed back down to Swords to try and get another, better look. On the way down to Swords I stopped at Bull Island, there wasn’t much happening there (no Brent), I also stopped at the Texaco garage to see if the Glossy Ibis was there but, again, it wasn’t.

Black tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Lapwing, Herring Gull - Swords Estuary

With my scope I spotted the Stone Curlew, it's the one with the white breast in the middle of all the Godwits and Redshanks *EDIT - First of all I meant Curlew Sandpiper, Secondly, it's actually a Greenshank.

I saw the Ruff again and after a couple of hours I got back in my car and headed over to the other side of the Estuary.

The other side seems to be Mute Swan and Mallard territory.

Swan Road

Male Mute Swan

Bar Headed goose?? Escaped ??

Is this resident here at Broadmeadows – do people know about it being there?

I left the punk goose to the Swans and Mallards and drove over to Howth harbour.

Starling in Howth. Just look at the green sheen in the feathers and the fawn brown edges - then the bright white darts on the jet black - beautiful - and Then it began to 'sing'! Amazing bird.

A woman threw a piece of bread into the air

Then some Spanish tourists threw in a fish - juvenile Herring Gulls

You can see the young Herring Gull at the bottom got the fish (Greater black backed above).

It had a fight on its hands to keep the fish

But it was fast and was able to fly awy from the rest. The gull on the left is losing it's juvenile feathers.

And off it flew - just look at the detail in the feathers, it will take 4 years to lose all these feathers to acquire full adult Herring Gull plumage.

So now to the MYSTERY BIRDS…

Swimming around in the harbour were 3 auks – I can’t work out if they’re 1st winter Guillemots or Razorbills – any opinions very welcome.

Close up of the first bird - the black stripe through its eye could be either Guillemot or Razorbill 1st Winter, but the pointed beak and streaks on its side suggest Guillemot *UPDATE- This is an adult Guillemot in winter plumage

2nd bird - no black stripe through eye and not a pointed bill = 1st winter Razorbill?? *UPDATE - correct

Let me show you my white underwings - Guillemots have black armpits - not visible here - so not a Guillemot? *UPDATE- 1st winter Razorbill

and my moves

Bill is stubby not pointy though = 1st winter Razorbill

Any opinions on the punk goose and the Guillemot/Razorbill auk in Howth harbour very welcome.