WATERFORD CITY: Swallow over King's Channel this morning (DMcG).

HELVICK HEAD: Totals now 5 fem/imm Black Redstarts & 2 Lesser Whitethroats (MC, CF).

BALLYVOONEY COVE: Great Skua & 2 f/imm Black Redstarts (MC, CF).

DUNGARVAN: BLACK-NECKED GREBE at Ballynagaul (JJC, BS, JAP, RA Wheeler).

BALLYQUIN to GLENCORRIN: 4 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults, 1st-winter & 2nd-winter), 2nd-w Iceland Gull, 2 Black Redstarts, Wheatear & Dipper (JJC, BS, JAP).

ARDMORE: Male Blackcap & 2 Swallows (").

RINCREW: 3 Otters (").

HELVICK HEAD: Juvenile RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (1st county record), 9 Swallows, 1 House Martin, Lesser Whitehroat, 2 female/imm Black Redstarts, 2 Tree Sparrows & 3 Chiffchaffs (MC, CF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Male Ring Ouzel, Lesser Whitethroat (same bird since 23rd Oct), female / immature Black Redstart, Great Skua (flew east @ 16:45), Great Northern Diver (east overhead), 3 Blackcaps (2 males & a female), 5+ Redwings, 16 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 30+ Skylarks, 24 Golden Plover, 7 Lapwing, 3 Painted Ladies & a Red Admiral (AA, PMW).

BALLYQUIN (nr Ardmore ): 2 Black Redstarts (SH).

Friday, Oct 30 2009

ARDMORE: 1 Swallow (SH).

DUNHILL: 3-4 Water Rails calling in marsh this afternoon (JAP, JJC, BS).

DUNGARVAN: Swallow at Gold Coast (").

CLONEA: Wheatear & Purple Sandpiper (").

BONMAHON: Kingfisher (").

BALLINACOURTY: 4 Swallows & 1 House Martin @ Ballinard. (MC)

CLONEA: Swallow & 12 Fieldfares at Ballinclamper (DC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, Little Egret, 16 Lapwing, 6 Golden Plover, Snipe, 6 Swallows (flew E), c20 Skylarks, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat (near main gardens), 4 Bullfinches, 8+ Tree Sparrows (later flew W, followed by another 10+ sparrow sp.), 11 Lesser Redpolls (10 ringed) & 4 Siskins (MAD,PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, Garden Warbler (apparently same bird since 12th Oct or earlier) & 4+ Chiffchaffs (PA, MAD, PMW); a Scarce Bordered Straw & a Vestal were the best of the migrant moths caught overnight.

DUNGARVAN: Whimbrel nr Ballynagaul (JAP, BS).

CLONEA STRAND: Black Redstart (DC), also 20 Fieldfares at Ballinclamper (DC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Yellow-browed Warbler & Lesser Whitethroat at back of main gardens (PA) , also 2 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Bullfinches & 2 Ravens (DC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 22 Golden Plover, Garden Warbler, male Blackcap, 18 Meadow Pipits, Bullfinch & 50 Linnets (DC).

CLONEA STRAND: 2 Great Northern Divers at Ballinclamper (DC).

BALLYVOYLE BRIDGE: 2 Dippers (DC).

CLONEA STRAND: Black Redstart, Swallow, 800+ Black-headed Gulls, 35 Ringed Plover & 20 Dunlin at Ballinclamper (DC).

LISMORE: Hoopoe in a private garden (per E. Dempsey).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Total of 555 Brent Geese, with very few juveniles (4 in a sample of 139 = 2.9%); also a Sandwich Tern off Saleen (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, Snipe, 2 Lapwing, Garden Warbler, female Blackcap, Goldcrest & 4 Lesser Redpolls (MAD, PMW).

HELVICK: Swallow, female Blackcap & 1 Chiffchaff. (MC) CLONEA: Up to 20 Swallows, 1 House Martin & 1 Chiffchaff @ Ballinard. (MC)

CLONEA: 1st winter Mediterranean Gull & 5 House Martins @ Ballinclamper. (MC)

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Common Sandpiper at Clohernagh (MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Tree Sparrows at farm buildings near top of main lane, Common Sandpiper at Coolum cove, 11 Brent Geese west, Willow Warbler in Coolum valley, Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests, 5 Siskins, 5 Bullfinches & 6 Lesser Redpolls (AA, MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Garden Warbler along the main lane (DC), 90+ Skylarks in stubble fields near Coolum valley, 1 Chiffchaff (PMW).

ARDMORE: Chiffchaff & 2 Goldcrests (MAD, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 850 Black-tailed Godwit opposite Park Hotel, 550 at Barnawee bridge (DC).

MINE HEAD: Chiffchaff (DC).

HELVICK HEAD: Whinchat (DC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, Tree Sparrow (ringed) & 3 Lesser Redpolls (PMW).

BRICKEY CANAL (nr Dungarvan): Water Rail (DC).

CLONEA STRAND: Very quiet at Ballinclamper - Whimbrel, 2 Little Egrets, 9 Sanderling, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits (DC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 male Long-tailed Ducks & 80 Ringed Plover off Saleen (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Common Sandpiper (Coolum Cove), 5 Lapwing, 25 Skylarks, 3 Swallows, 5 Redwings (1st of the autumn?), 4 Tree Sparrows, Garden Warbler, male Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 6 Song Thrushes & 5 Bullfinches (MAD, PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 male Long-tailed Ducks & 480 Brent Geese visible from Saleen carpark @17:15 (half-tide), 21 Knot at Ballinattin, and 42 Little Egrets (including 31 at Ballinattin) (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Tree Sparrows, male Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Lesser Redpolls, 1 Siskin, 8 Lapwing, 6 Swallows & 25 Skylarks (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Tree Sparrow, 120 Swallows, 110 Skylarks, 70 Meadow Pipits, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 30 Lesser Redpolls (ringed), 4 Siskins, 15 Reed Buntings & 12 Red Admirals (DC, MAD, PMW).

SOUTH of WATERFORD CITY: Buzzard (Ken Brennan).

RINNESHARK / LISSELTY (nr Brownstown Hd): Wheatear, 26 Goldfinches & 110 Brent Geese (MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female Blackcap, 2 Tree Sparrows, 2 Lesser Redpolls, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 30 Skylarks, 55 Swallows & a Migrant Hawker dragonfly (PA, MAD, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: RADDE'S WARBLER (2nd county record) & Yellow-browed Warbler along eastern road to high carpark (CF), Firecrest further out head (MC), also Willow Warbler, 5+ Chiffchaffs, 6 Mistle Thrushes, several Siskins, Sandwich Tern, good numbers of Swallows & 15+ Red Admirals.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Yellow-browed Warbler in Coolum valley (AA), also female Blackcap there & Common Sandpiper at Coolum Cove (PMW); Manx Shearwater west & 3 Snipe (MAD); 5 Chiffchaffs & 5 Lesser Redpolls.

BALLYVOONEY COVE: Whinchat (MC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Pied Flycatcher in main garden, male Blackcap & 2
Tree Sparrows (AA, PMW).

BALLYVOONEY COVE: 1st winter male Redstart. (MC & MC Sr.)

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 4 Common Scoters east, 2 Swallows west, Common Sandpiper (Coolum Cove at end of valley), 5 Lapwing north, female Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest & 5 Long-tailed Tits; a Scarce Bordered Straw caught in the moth-traps last night (MAD, PMW).

BRICKEY CANAL (nr Dungarvan): Green Sandpiper (DC).

WHITING BAY: 3 Wheatears & 4 Swallows (DC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Curlew Sandpipers, over 200 Redshank & 8 Snipe at Ballinattin / Pickardstown creek (DC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, 2 Swallows (east), Goldcrest & 14 Red Admirals (MAD, PMW).

CLONEA STRAND: 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper this evening (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 45 Little Egrets flying to roost @ 17:55 (MAD, PMW).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 2 Fieldfares (FO'C).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Male Hen Harrier (hunting over stubble fields near Coolum valley), 2 Common Scoter (flew W), 60 Swallows (flew E), 150 Skylark (140 in stubble near valley), Golden Plover, 2 Lapwing, Tree Sparrow, Garden Warbler, male Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaffs (8 in valley), 3 Goldcrests, 6+ Song Thrushes, 6 Bullfinches, & 9 Lesser Redpolls (MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Garden Warbler & 2 Chiffchaffs (MAD, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 2 Fieldfares (1st of the autumn) (FO'C).

CLONEA STRAND: Curlew Sandpiper (DC) & 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & 1st-winter, MC) at Ballinclamper (DC).

RATHMOYLAN COVE: Wheatear, 8+ Rock Pipits (MAD, PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Merlin hunting over saltmarsh west of spits, adult male Long-tailed Duck, 3 Gadwall & 2 Whimbrel just east of spits, also totals of 42 Little Egrets, 580 Brent Geese, 180 Mallard & 95 Wigeon visible from south spit, high tide, 17:45-19:00 (MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 170+ Swallow (flying E or NE), Snipe, Spotted Flycatcher, male Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 3 Lesser Redpolls, a Siskin & 2 Migrant Hawker dragonflies (MAD, PMW).

CLONEA STRAND: White Wagtail, Wheatear & 2 Ravens (DC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Swallows, 35 Skylarks (flying W), 5 Bullfinches, 1 Siskin& 15+ Lesser Redpolls (14 ringed) (MAD,PMW).

WHITING BAY: Buzzard & Merlin (MC, CF).

RAM HEAD: Blackcap nr St Declan's Well (MC, CF).

ARDMORE: 3rd-winter Yellow-legged Gull with LBB Gulls at Curragh beach (MC, CF).

DUNGARVAN: 80+ Little Egrets at Killongford (JP, JJC, BS, PS); Whimbrel & 6 Wheatears at the Cunnigar (SH); 1350 Black-tailed Godwit, 165 Knot & 2 Stock Doves at Ballyneety (MC, CF,PMW).

BALLINARD: Merlin.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Goldcrest & 2 Chiffchaffs (MAD, PMW).

Friday, October 02, 2009

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper (MC).

WHITING BAY: Adult Mediterranean Gull, & Wheatear (SH).

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull & a Wigeon at Ballinclamper (MC).

WHITING BAY: Merlin (MC).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 3 Wigeon (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 277 Brent Geese around channel north of the sandhills, including 5 young in a flock of 206 (2.4%) (DMcG).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Wheatear, 6 Chiffchaffs, 4-5 Goldcrests & 3 Bullfinches in a brief (half-hour) check this morning (CF).