Many thanks to our photo contributors: Danny Boyd, Dermot Breen, Derek Charles, Ted Creedon, Sean Cronin, Micheal Cowming, Joe Devlin, Harry Hussey, Paul Kelly, Dave MacNamara, Dave McAdams, Dave MacNamara, Ronan McLaughlin, John Murphy, Craig Nash, Michael O'Clery, Peter Phillips, Sean Ronayne & Peter Wolstenholme.

Above) Gyr Falcon, Dingle, Co. Kerry, 30th November 2008 (Photo: Ted Creedon).
The bird came aboard a Spanish trawler, 120 km west of the Blasket Islands on 25th November. It was taken into care and fed on chicken, before being released at sea. The bird returned to the boat however, and was recaptured. The boat put in to Dingle on 30th November and it is now in care in Killarney, and will hopefully be released in the coming days (note chain-mail glove in the picture - normally used for feeding sharks in the Dingle Aquarium!).

Above) Waxwing, Lisburn, Co. Down, 30th November 2008 (Photo: Craig Nash).

Above) Iceland Gull, Killybegs, Co. Donegal, 29th November 2008 (Photo: Michael Davis).

Above) Waxwing, Lisburn, Co. Down, 30th November 2008 (Photo: Derek Charles).

Above) Green-winged Teal, Belfast Belfast Harbour RSPB Reserve, Co. Down, 27th November 2008 (Photo: Danny Boyd).

Above) Water Pipit, Clahane, Co. Clare, 27th November 2008 (Photo: Dave MacNamara).

Above) Hoopoe, Truaght, Co. Galway, 25th November 2008 (Photo: Dave MacNamara).

Above) Hoopoe, Truaght, Co. Galway, 25th November 2008 (Photo: Dermot Breen).

Above) Goosander, Dingle, Co. Kerry, 27th November 2008 (Photo: Michael O'Clery).

Above) Spotted Sandpiper, Gile's Quay, Co. Louth, 24th November 2008 (Photo: Paul Kelly www.irishbirdimages.com).

Above) Iceland Gull, Clogher Head, Co. Louth, 24th November 2008 (Photo: Peter Phillips).

Above) Forster's Tern, Nimmo's Pier, Galway, Co. Galway, 23rd November 2008 (Photo: Dermot Breen).

Above) Green-winged Teal, Bell Harbour, Co. Clare, 22nd November 2008 (Photo: John Murphy).

Above) Short-eared Owl, Ballymacoda, Co. Cork, 22nd November 2008 (Photo: Sean Cronin).

Above) Kittiwakes and gulls over lunge-feeding Fin Whale, off Galley Head, 20th November 2008 (Photo: Peter Wolstenholme).

Above) Waxwing, Bangor, Co. Down, 20th November 2008 (Photo: Derek Charles).

Above) 'Eastern' Jackdaw, Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork, 13th November 2008 (Photo: Sean Ronayne).

Above) Pectoral Sandpiper, Loughbrickland, Co. Down, 18th November 2008 (Photo: Joe Devlin).

Above) Grey Phalarope, Ballagan Point, Co. Louth, 16th November 2008 (Photo: Joe Devlin).

Above) Short-eared Owl, Lotherstown, Co. Louth, 17th November 2008 (Photo: John Fox).

Above) Green-winged Teal, Shanagarry, Co. Cork, 16th November 2008 (Photo: Harry Hussey).

Above) Iceland Gull, Killybegs, Co. Donegal, 16th November 2008 (Photo: Derek Charles).

Above) Glaucous Gull, Killybegs, Co. Donegal, 16th November 2008 (Photo: Derek Charles).

Above) Red-necked Grebe, Salthill, Co. Galwy, 16th November 2008 (Photo: Ronan McLaughlin).

Above) Green-winged Teal, Quoile Pondage, Co. Down, 15th November 2008 (Photo: Derek Charles).

Above) Lesser Scaup, Clea Lakes, Co. Down, 15th November 2008 (Photo: Derek Charles).

Above) American Golden Plover, Omey Island, Co. Galway, 13th November 2008 (Photo: Dermot Breen).

Above) Water Pipit, Kilbaha, Co. Clare, 4th November 2008 (Photo: Dave McAdams).

Above) Lesser Yellowlegs, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, 12th November 2008 (Photo: Dave McAdams).

Above) Surf Scoters, Doonbeg, Co. Clare, 8th November 2008 (Photo: Dave MacNamara).

Above) American Golden Plover, The Cunnigar, Co. Waterford, 8th November 2008 (Photo: Micheal Cowming).

Above) Presumed hybrid Ruddy Shelduck, The Cunnigar, Co. Waterford, November 2008 (Photo: Micheal Cowming).

Above) Lesser Scaup, Anghliham, Lough Corrib, Co. Galway, 2nd November 2008 (Photo: Dernot Breen).

Above) 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Barrow Harbour, Co. Kerry, 4th November 2008 (Photo: Michael O'Clery).

Above) American Black Duck, Ventry, Co. Kerry, 2nd November 2008 (Photo: Michael O'Clery).

Photo features:

December 2008
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