A white stork more accustomed to the African sun at this time of year has been fascinating birdwatchers in south Kerry all winter.
Birdwatch Ireland said it was made aware of the stork's presence in the Sneem area in November.
The dramatic white bird with black wing and tail markings is "a continental migrant" who has overshot his flight path by some distance, explained Mr Declan Murphy, administrator. They summered on the Continent and wintered in Africa.
Although a rare bird in Ireland at this or any time of year, two white storks were spotted in Wexford last spring, he said. While the stork may not be well enough to fly south right now, Mr Murphy expects he will leave towards the end of spring. Storks behave in much the same way as the local herons, roosting in trees, he said.
These past weeks the stork has been hanging out around Valentia Island, returning to the Moriarty farm near Portmagee on the mainland each evening.
"He comes at night and perches on the gate pillar, sleeping on one leg. He is gone again before dawn," Mr James Moriarty said.
The stork arrived in Portmagee three weeks ago but is never seen by day on the mainland.
Car lights or noises going up and down the avenue to the farm do not knock a feather out of him on his 6 feet-high perch, it appeared.
Locals were not over-excited about the stork either, but there had been quite a few people inquiring about him, Mr Moriarty explained. Valentia birdwatcher Mr Seamus Lynch, who keeps and eye on him each night, described him as a tame animal, not afraid of anyone.