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EMYVALE

Strange Visitor.

A strange bird of the feathered kind landed close to Pat McKenna’s house in Emy. It looked like a seagull but somewhat larger than the normal. Pat noticed it as it seemed content to stay about and forage for food every so often but always staying some length from humans. He called in some experts and they were quick to recognise that it was a 1st Year Iceland Gull. Now this bird spends our Summer in the Artic regions and comes south to western Europe during our Winter. It is thought that about 30 or 40 of them stop off in Ireland but it has always been along the Coast with the Galway coastline and Killybegs in Donegal being their favourite holiday homes. This is a first time for them to come inland as far as the experts know. They breed in Greenland and not in Iceland as their name would suggest. This one has been in the area now for a number of days and a few crows have befriended it and fly around with it.
Well spotted Pat and the rest of us should keep our eyes open to see if any others arrive in the locality.