Metallic blue bird

Markcheese

Just spotted a small bright blue bird, on the edge of cork harbour, only saw it flying off.... Didnt think it looked like a kingfisher ( bigger,slower,brighter)... But I could be wrong... Anything else it could be ....

OpenYourEyes

I'm struggling to think of anything else that would be that noticeably blue tbh - and given that the habitat is suitable, I'd say it was most likely a Kingfisher.

Light and angles etc could be enough to explain a brighter blue colour, or size/speed differences compared to what you were expecting.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I was thinking exactly the same. I'd put money on it being a kingfisher.

Boardnashea

Ruairi spotted a jay at the bridge just before Aghada in Cork Harbour this summer. Definite blue bits if I recall correctly.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Boardnashea wrote: »

Ruairi spotted a jay at the bridge just before Aghada in Cork Harbour this summer. Definite blue bits if I recall correctly.

The OP described it as "small" which ruled out a Jay for me.

OpenYourEyes

A jay does have blue bits, but I think its fair to say it doesn't fit the desciption of "small bright blue bird".

whyulittle

And eh, who's Ruairi?!

cuddlycavies

Blue Jay is an American vagrant but don't think it's ever shown up here.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

cuddlycavies wrote: »

Blue Jay is an American vagrant but don't think it's ever shown up here.

In fairness, he said Jay and not Blue Jay. Had the OP described a bigger bird I would have suggested Jay as the blue can be striking at certain angles.

Markcheese

Is a Jay around magpie size... Cos that's way too big ... was more a thrush sort of size...
Location spot on though, on the causeway/bridge between Rostellan lake and the harbour ..right at the fast water...

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Markcheese wrote: »

Is a Jay around magpie size... Cos that's way too big ... was more a thrush sort of size...
Location spot on though, on the causeway/bridge between Rostellan lake and the harbour ..right at the fast water...

A Jay is the same size as a jackdaw.

I'm not sure why the water leaves it right for a Jay as they are woodland birds.
The Kingfisher fits with the location though.

Markcheese

Jerome Breezy Savannah wrote: »

A Jay is the same size as a jackdaw.

I'm not sure why the water leaves it right for a Jay as they are woodland birds.
The Kingfisher fits with the location though.

There's woods about 25 feet away
It's a crossover area of woods,the harbour and mudflats, the lake and marsh land/reeds ,agricultural land and scrub and gorse with loads of high sand banks... You could get most things really...

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Markcheese wrote: »

You could get most things really...

No you couldn't.
You are muddying the waters with every post. We could get into what kind of woodland etc but the truth is we really have no idea what was seen at this stage. Small and blue = kingfisher but if you want to accept jay then fine but there's one heck of a difference.

swifts need our help!

for me the description of a Jay would be pink, white rump and a small flash of blue

Boardnashea

Jerome Breezy Savannah wrote: »

The OP described it as "small" which ruled out a Jay for me.

Ruairi is my son, He's 9 and he's good at IDing what my failing eyesight didn't even see in the first place.
OP suggested bigger than a kingfisher so I thought I would offer our suggestion.

Boardnashea

Markcheese wrote: »

There's woods about 25 feet away
It's a crossover area of woods,the harbour and mudflats, the lake and marsh land/reeds ,agricultural land and scrub and gorse with loads of high sand banks... You could get most things really...

That's the spot. Beautiful place. And yes - there is a load of habitats within 100m. And to go off topic - Rosies up the road is a lovely place to warm up afterwards too.

Markcheese

Boardnashea wrote: »

That's the spot. Beautiful place. And yes - there is a load of habitats within 100m. And to go off topic - Rosies up the road is a lovely place to warm up afterwards too.

Yeah , it's pretty much my front garden..:) so if I see what's probably a fat slow kingfisher again I'll post it ...

Markcheese

Pretty sure it is a kingfisher after all, seen it a few more times.. Still seems a little bigger than the ones I've seen in the past but it's a been a while..