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.



Tuesday, September 29, 2009

BALLINACOURTY: 2 Black Guillemots & 3 Red-throated Divers from the pier. (MC)
DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter CITRINE WAGTAIL still showing very well near Abbeyside prom (MC).

Monday, September 28, 2009

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter CITRINE WAGTAIL again present near Abbeyside prom (HH, JAP).

Sunday, September 27, 2009

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile / 1st-winter CITRINE WAGTAIL again in flooded field near Abbeyside prom (MC, DC et al.).

CLONEA STRAND: Adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER still present (MC).

ARDMORE: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls with Belgian metal-rings (each with 4 digits read) (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Whimbrel at Clohernagh (JiP).

Saturday, September 26, 2009

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile / 1st-winter CITRINE WAGTAIL in flooded field near Abbeyside prom, just NE of Abbeyside church (MC et al) - 1st county record.

CLONEA STRAND: Adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER again at Ballinclamper (R.
McLaughlin et al), also a Whimbrel, 70+ Ringed Plover, 11 Sanderling.

HELVICK HEAD to ARDMORE: Seen from boat - 6 Great Skuas, Minke Whale, Basking Shark &, off Ardmore, Storm Petrel & 2 Puffins (DC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, male Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest (very scarce so far this autumn), 6 Song Thrushes (apparent small arrival), 10+ Lesser Redpolls 100+ Linnets & (mainly flying E) 30+ Swallows (AA, PMW).


Friday September 25, 2009

CLONEA STRAND: No sign of American Golden Plover this evening; Whimbrel at Ballinclamper, 90+ Ringed Plover south of Ballyvoyle, just 2 Manx Shearwaters feeding/resting offshore (PMW).

Thursday, September 24, 2009

CLONEA STRAND: Adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER at Ballinclamper, 12:40 (AA) & 17:50 (MC Sr).

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

CLONEA: 2 Balearic Shearwaters offshore with Manx Shearwater flock. ( MC & MC Sr. )
CLONEA STRAND: Adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER present again, 18:20 (MC).

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

CLONEA STRAND: Adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER at Ballinclamper (17:40), also a Whimbrel & 230 Turnstone there; 3 Balearic Shearwaters feeding with Manx Shearwaters offshore.
HELVICK HEAD: 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler & 1 Whitethroat (DC).

DUNGARVAN: 68 Brent Geese & 4 Wheatears at the Cunnigar (DC).

BALLYvoyle: 8 Chiffchaffs & 2 Blackcaps (DC).

Sunday, September 20, 2009

CLONEA STRAND: 3 Balearic Shearwaters feeding offshore with 80+ Manx Shearwaters (18:30-19:00); Whimbrel & 120 Turnstones at Ballinclamper; 2 Whimbrel at Ballinard (PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 12 Wheatears (again), 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Whitethroat, male Blackcap, 6+ Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, Siskin, 2 Redpolls (PMW).
CLONEA: Adult American Golden Plover opposite hotel and juvenile Ruff at Ballinclamper. (MC & FO'C)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

CLONEA: A moulting adult American Golden Plover was found this morning at Ballinclamper and continued to show well along the beach for the rest of the day. Also, 8 White Wagtails, 1 Balearic Shearwater offshore, 2 male Blackcaps and 1 juvenile Ruff. (MC,CF, DC, PA & MC Sr.) In evening, 5 Balearic Shearwaters feeding (with 360+ Manx), 12 White Wagtails. 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults & a 1st-winter) & 3 Whimbrel, Ballinclamper/Ballinard (MC, PMW).

HELVICK: 1 Willow Warbler and good numbers of Chiffchaffs. (MC & CF)
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 12 Wheatears, Spotted Flycatcher, 60+ Swallows (west), 3 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers & 8 Choughs (PMW).

Friday, September 18, 2009

CLONEA: 2 Balearic Shearwaters offshore with Manx Shearwater flock (MC & CF); 120 Sandwich Terns & 4 White Wagtails at Ballinclamper (DC).

BALLINACOURTY: 3 Mediterranean Gulls ( 2 adults & 1 1st W flyovers). (MC & CF)
DUNGARVAN: 78 Great Crested Grebes & 45 Brent Geese outside the Cunnigar, high tide (19:20) (PMW).

Thursday, September 17, 2009

CLONEA: 3 Mediterranean Gulls ( 2 2ndW & 1 1stW ) @ Ballinclamper. (MC)
BALLINACOURTY: Yellow Wagtail with large Pied/White Wagtail flock on the Gold Coast golf course opposite sewage treatment plant late this evening. (MC & DC)

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

CLONEA STRAND: 140 Sandwich Terns & 4 White Wagtails at Ballinclamper, 280 Manx Shearwaters feeding offshore (PMW); later 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & 2nd-winter) (MC Sr).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher, Whitethroat, 7 Wheatears, 6 Chiffchaffs (one a "wee-oo, wee-oo" caller present since last weekend) & 4 Willow Warblers; also 40+ Swallows mainly heading east/ENE, 40+ Meadow Pipits, 25 day-flying Silver Y moths (PMW).

75 moths trapped at Brownstown Head last night (including 6 Silver Y) were marked with orange paint on left upper wingtip, as part of a marking experiment at British & Irish coastal sites in the week leading up to National Moth Nights (Friday 18th & Sat 19th September). Details at:
http://www.nationalmothnight.info/events/colour_marking.php

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

CLONEA: 1 Balearic Shearwater & 1 Great Skua associating with Manx Shearwater feeding flock offshore. 15 Teal & 2 White Wagtails on the shore @ Ballinclamper. (MC)

Sunday, September 13, 2009

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers & a Wheatear; also 70 Silver Y moths (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 10 Brent Gese at the Cunnigar (FO'C).

Saturday, September 12, 2009

WHITING BAY: 3rd-winter Yellow-legged Gull (CF, MC).

Nr DUNGARVAN: Buzzard (MC Sr).

DUNGARVAN: 3 Great Crested Grebes & 3 Red-breasted Mergansers (JJC, JAP, BS).

BALLYQUIN (nr Ardmore): Kingfisher & 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull (JJC JAP BS).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Buzzard (JJC JAP BS).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: single Spotted Flycatcher, Sedge Warbler, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs; also 57 Painted Ladies, 11 Red Admirals & 615 day-flying Silver Ys (MAD, PMW).

BELLE LAKE: 19 Sedge Warblers & 6 Chiffchaffs ringed, Water Rail heard (PMW).

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull. (MC & CF)
BALLYMACART: Male & female Blackcap. (MC & CF)

Friday, September 11, 2009

WHITING BAY: 2 1st-winter Mediterranean Gulls & 4 Sanderling, also
c50 Manx Shearwaters on sea just offshore (MAD, PMW).

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Nr DUNGARVAN: Buzzard (JAP).

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

CLONEA: 1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 1 adult Roseate Tern and many White Wagtails. (MC)
TRAMORE SANDHILLS: Short-eared Owl (Tony Bryant).

East of MINE HEAD: Grey Phalarope, Arctic Skua, 69 Manx Shearwaters & 20 Storm Petrels (DC).

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

DUNGARVAN: 6 adult Roseate Terns & 1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper @ The Cunnigar. (MC)

BALLYVOYLE: Spotted Flycatcher (DC).

Monday, September 07, 2009

CLONEA: 4 Mediterranean Gulls (adult, 2nd w and 2 1st w's), 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and adult & juvenile Roseate Tern at high tide roost. Other Roseates feeding off shore and numerous White Wagtails along the beach this evening. (MC)

Sunday, September 06, 2009

HELVICK HEAD: 1 juv SABINE'S GULL, 2 Balearic & 26 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 juv Little Gull, 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Bonxies & 49 Roseate Terns (seawatch 6-8 pm, CF).
CLONEA: Juvenile Little Gull, 5 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults, 1 2nd w & 2 1st W) & 1 juvenile Arctic Tern late this evening @ Ballinclamper. (MC & DC)
HELVICK HEAD: 3 Sooty Shearwaters in feeding flock of 200+ Manx Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel west & 2 Roseate Terns (adult feeding juvenile) (seawatch 15:40-18:10, PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 175 Manx Sheawaters west (1 hr seawatch 09:10-10:10) (PMW).

Saturday, September 05, 2009

NEWPORT EAST: 20+ Stock Doves & 1 Whimbrel (JAP, BS).
CLONEA: Juvenile Little Gull, 3 White Wagtails, 3 juvenile Arctic Terns, adult Roseate Tern @ Ballinclamper. (MC & CF)
DUNGARVAN: Juvenile Ruff @ Ballyneety & 2 White Wagtails @ The Cunnigar. (MC & CF)
ARDMORE: 5 Mediterranean Gulls ( 3 adults, 1 juvenile & 1 2nd winter). (MC & CF)
CLONEA: 10 Roseate Terns (8 adults & 2 juveniles) & 2 juvenile Arctic Terns @ Ballinclamper. (MC)
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Sooty Shearwater west, Common Scoter east (seawatch 11:60-12:50) (PMW).

BELLE LAKE: Water Rail heard, only 4 Sedge Warblers ringed.

Friday, September 04, 2009

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull & 15 White Wagtails at
Ballinclamper (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 3 White Wagtails & 4 Wheatears at the Cunnigar.

HELVICK HEAD: 130 Great Black-backed Gulls.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull & 9 Brent Geese at The Cunnigar. (MC)

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

DUNGARVAN: Ruff at Ballyneety (DC).