Welcome to the Waterford Birds blog, supplementing the Recent reports page of the main Waterford Birds website www.waterfordbirds.com. If it's not there yet it may be here (real-time postings when possible), along with extra details. Please post any updates, new reports or corrections by texting 0861701599 (alternatively - but this may delay dissemination of news - click Comments). The main website will be updated (including photos) at next opportunity.



Thursday, April 30, 2009

YOUGHAL BAY: Great Northern Diver (Andrew Malcolm).
RAM HEAD: 300+ Manx Shearwaters, also a large diver species (apparently summer-plumaged Great Northern but with pale-looking bill) off Ardmore Bay, in afternoon (Andrew Malcolm). 2 Great Northern Divers in evening (one adult summer but dark-billed, one winter or immature plumage), with good numbers of Manx Shearwaters passing west (Micheal Cowming & Colum Flynn).

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

CLONEA STRAND: c110 Whimbrel, 10 Sanderling, 12 Dunlin & 5 Wheatears at Ballinclamper (Declan Clarke).

DALLIGAN RIVER: Dipper flew up river near Killineen (Declan McGrath).

RINCREW (Tourig estuary): 8 CATTLE EGRETS on Waterford side of Tourig river, 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull off Youghal dump (both sides of Cork/Waterford border) (Paul Moore).

Near BALLYDWAN: Male WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present (Jim Power).

Monday, April 27, 2009

CLONEA STRAND: 40 Whimbrel & 2 Wheatears (Declan Clarke).


DUNGARVAN: 95 Whimbrel at the Cunnigar (DC).


CROHAUN: Whitethroat (DC).


CAPPAGH: Red-legged Partridge (escapee from shoot) (DC).

Near BALLYDWAN: Male WOODCHAT SHRIKE still in same field (John Joe Cahill).

Sunday, April 26, 2009

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: White Wagtail (Micheal Cowming).

BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo (MC & Colum Flynn).

BALLYVOYLE COVE: Whitethroat (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Whimbrel at Clohernagh (Jim Power), 14+ Whimbrel at Lisselan & Ballinattin (PMW).

CLONEA STRAND: 42 Whimbrel, 110+ Turnstone, 26+ Sanderling, 35+ Dunlin & a White Wagtail at Ballinclamper, 7.35-8 pm (PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Quiet (afternoon at least) - a Swift heading north (probably just in off sea), 4 Willow Warblers & a Chiffchaff, 2.50-4.50 pm (PMW).

KILMOYLIN (nr Kilmacthomas): Whitethroat singing (PMW).

BUNMAHON: Common Sandpiper (PMW).
Near BALLYDWAN: Male WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present, showing well up to at least 1.20 pm (Micheal Cowming, Declan Clarke, Sean Hogan, Ronan McLaughlin, PMW et al.).

CASTLECRADDOCKBOG (nr Dunhill): 2 Sedge Warblers singing & 2 Snipe drumming, 8.30-8.50 am (PMW).

Saturday, April 25, 2009

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, 7 Willow Warblers & 2 Wheatears, 6.30-8.40 pm (PMW). Several of the Willow Warblers were foraging on vegetated cliff-slopes at tip and west side of the head, sheltered from the northerly wind, and the Gropper flew down into a cliff gully from the cliff-top.
Near BALLYDWAN: Male WOODCHAT SHRIKE refound (4.15 pm) at same location as on Tues 20th (when found by Declan McGrath) - grid ref X389987 in hawthorn hedge of boggy field (with horse) at north side of Stradbally to Ballydwan road, immediately west of house beside road (PMW). Seen carrying a Wren on one occasion. County tick for at least 4 local birders today! Previous three county records involved birds at Brownstown Head in May 1993, Clonea in March 1990 and Westown (near Great Newtown Head) in June 1974.

Further updates 6.15 pm:

HELVICK HEAD: Several Common Terns (first of spring for Co Waterford) (MC, CF).

CLONEA STRAND: 250 Brent Geese, 5 Common Scoter (flew west), 1 Great Northern Diver, 30+ Whimbrel, 24 Sanderling, 1 Swift in off sea, 1+ White Wagtail (Micheal Cowming, Colum Flynn, PMW).

BALLYVOONEY COVE: 4 Common Sandpipers (looking like fresh arrivals), 7 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 6 Turnstones & 2 Wheatears (PMW).

KILCANNON, DUNHILL: Cuckoo (first of spring for Co Waterford), Grasshopper Warbler & many Sedge Warblers (JJ Cahill, John Power, Bernie Sheridan).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 10 Whimbrel at Ballinattin, 3 Whimbrel at Clohernagh (PMW).
DUNGARVAN TOWN: Swift over the quay (Fran O'Connell).

Friday, April 24, 2009

ARDMORE: 30 Whimbrel at Curragh (Sean Hogan).

Helvick : Noticeable arrival of common migrants including 20+ Willow Warblers and 3 Sedge Warblers (2 in song.)

Ballinclamper to Ballinard: 30+ Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, 6 White Wagtails, 11 Sanderling and 2 Gadwall (on sea with Shelduck). (M Cowming & F O'Connell)
HELVICK HEAD: First Swift of the year for Co Waterford, @ 4.05 pm (JJ Cahill).
Thursday April 23, 2009

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Whitethroats & 5 Willow Warblers (Declan Clarke).

CLONEA STRAND: 3 White Wagtails, 1 Ruff, 45 Whimbrel, 30 Sanderling, 11 Dunlin, 44 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Sandwich Terns, and 1 Basking Shark offshore, @ Ballinclamper (Micheal Cowming & Fran O'Connell, Declan Clarke).