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.



Friday, April 30, 2010

CROHAUN: Long-eared Owl & 3 Cuckoos (DC).

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Snipe drumming (DW).

Nr STRADBALLY: Lesser Redpoll (DW).

ARDMORE: 1st Swift here arrived this evening (SH).
DUNGARVAN TOWN: 15 Swifts (FO'C).
ARDMORE: 93 Whimbrel & a Wheatear at Curragh beach (SH).

Thursday, April 29, 2010

WOODHOUSE: Turtle Dove (FO'C)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

BALLYVOONEY: Dipper. (MC)
HELVICK: Female Blackcap. (MC,CF)
HELVICK HEAD: Female Common Redstart, Garden Warbler & a small fall of phylloscs (CF).

DUNGARVAN: 28+ Little Egrets (JAP, JJC).
Nr CROHAUN: Male Cuckoo calling at Kilbryan Upper & another at Kilnafrehan West (DC).
Nr TALLOW: 6 Yellowhammers in Coolydoody / Shean More area, also 3 Swifts flying west (PMW).

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

RIVER FINISK: Dipper at Modelligo Bridge (DMcG).

Monday, April 26, 2010

CROHAUN: Cuckoo (DC).

PORTLAW: Kingfisher (DC).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo (AM),

BROWNSWOOD (nr Portlaw): 2 Lesser Redpolls at feeders, also yesterday (FJ).

Sunday, April 25, 2010

BALLINLOUGH: 2 Cuckoos (DW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 1+ Whimbrel heard (PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Whimbrel at Ballinattin (PMW).
ARDMORE: Short-eared Owl near St. Declan's Well. Swift & Sedge Warbler @ Whiting Bay. 3 Whitethroats & 3 Tree Sparrows between Ferrypoint & Ardmore. (MC, CF).

DUNGARVAN: Common Sandpiper @ Ballyneety. (")

RING: Common Scoter near Helvick. (")
WATERFORD CITY: Whimbrel near Little island ferry (DMcG).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Whooper Swan (JmP).

Nr STRADBALLY: Dippers at Cloghlowrish Bridge & Durrow Bridge; Grasshopper Warbler singing from young broadleaf plantation near Durrow Bridge; a Swift flew west at Kilminnin Upper (PMW).

Saturday, April 24, 2010

WATERFORD CITY: 4 Whimbrel flew upriver at King's Channel (DMcG).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Grasshopper Warbler, male & female Blackcap, 3 Willow Warblers & a Chiffchaff (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 2 'Greenland' Wheatears at the Cunnigar (DC).

CLONEA STRAND: Arctic Tern fly-by at Ballinclamper (CF).

ANNESTOWN: Sedge Warbler (CF).

KILL ICW: 3 Sedge Warblers & 2 Blackcaps (CF).

BALLINLOUGH: 6 Sedge Warblers (CF); Cuckoo (DW).
HELVICK HEAD: Whitethroat (first of year), Wheatear, Blackcap, 6 Willow Warblers & 3 Chiffchaffs (CF).

DUNGARVAN: Sedge Warbler singing at Brickey River; 35 Whimbrel, Killongford / Youghal Road; 12 Whimbrel at Kilminnin; 17+ occupied Little Egret nests at colony (PMW).

CLONEA STRAND: 55 Whimbrel & 210 Brent Geese at Ballinclamper (PMW).

DUNHILL CASTLE: 3+ Sedge Warblers (first of year) (JAP, BS, RAW).

Friday, April 23, 2010

BROWNSWOOD (nr Portlaw): Swallows & House Martins back at nests (FJ).

DUNGARVAN TOWN: Swift (first of year) over tannery restaurant, 6 p.m. (CF).

Thursday, April 22, 2010

BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo again (MC Snr).

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo (DW).

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo - first of the year (DW).

RAM HEAD: 200 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Minke Whale, 3 Bottlenose Dolphins & 2 Risso's Dolphins (AM).


Monday, April 19, 2010


DUNGARVAN: An OSPREY flew west at 16:22 (FO'C); Wheatear (apparently Greenland subspecies) at the Cunnigar (DC).

Sunday, April 18, 2010

DUNMORE EAST to PORTALLY: Male Wheatear along cliffs (TO'C).

AGLISH: Dipper (MF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 4 Willow Warblers (MAD, PMW).

Nr CARRICK-ON-SUIR: 7 Blackcaps singing (PMW).

Nr KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier (AM).

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Nr BUNMAHON: 3 Common Sandpipers at River Mahon, 2 Yellowhammers nr Bunmahon, also 2 Snipe drumming (DW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, 3 Wheatears, single Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler (MAD, PMW).

CLONEA: White Wagtail, 35 Whimbrel and 5-6 Bottlenose Dolphins offshore @ Ballinclamper. Wheatear & White Wagtail @ Ballinard. (MC & CF)

ANNESTOWN: Common Sandpiper. (")

DUNGARVAN: Common Sandpiper @ Ballyneety. (")
TALLOW: 2 Dippers on Glenaboy River; 4 Yellowhammers SW of village, on
Co Cork side (MAD, PMW).

Friday, April 16, 2010

Nr BUNMAHON: Woodcock at Seafield weir (Daniel Weldon).

COMERAGH/MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Female Hen Harrier, 4 pairs of Wheatears & 2 Ravens (DC).


Thursday, April 15, 2010

WHITING BAY: 3 White Wagtails, and c80 pairs of Sand Martins excavating burrows (DC).

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

CLONEA: 52 Sanderling & 1 White Wagtail @ Ballinard. 10 Whimbrel @ Ballinclamper. 10 Sandwich Terns @ Ballinacourty. (MC)


Tuesday, April 13, 2010

NW WATERFORD: Buzzard (DC).

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (FO'C).

Monday, April 12, 2010

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (FO'C).

Sunday, April 11, 2010

WEST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards (FO'C).

CLONEA STRAND: 3 Great Northern Divers (2 calling), 12 Black Guillemots, 210 Brent Geese, 3 Whimbrel, 45 Sanderling & a White Wagtail at Ballinclamper (MC, CF, PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 25 Whimbrel west of the spits, 225 Brent Geese; Yellowhammer near Lisselan (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Blackcap singing.
COOLFIN: Green Sandpiper on Clodiagh River (downstream of Clodiagh Bridge), also 7 House Martins, 2 singing Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs & 3 Willow Warblers (PMW).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 7 Gadwall (Jim Power).

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Nr WATERFORD CITY: Barn Owl (9 p,m DS).

MONAMINTRA BOG: Water Rail squealing (20:20-20:45, PMW).

CASTLETOWN FEN: Grasshopper Warbler reeling, also Snipe & Moorhen (20:55-21:20, PMW).
CLONEA: Adult Dark-bellied Brent, 2 Wheatears and 1 Purple Sandpiper @ Ballinclamper. (MC)
BALLINVELLA: 4 Yellowhammers, ploughed field behind school (MC, CF).

TRAMORE BAY: Red-throated Diver (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Wheatear & 2 Willow Warblers (PMW).
RIVER BRICKEY (nr Dungarvan): Kingfisher, Red-legged Partridge (just south of X214916) & 2 Stock Doves, Twomile Bridge upriver to Knockmaon Bridge; Green Sandpiper below Twomile Bridge; totals of 27 Chiffchaffs (26 singing), 16 Willow Warblers (15 singing) & 3 singing Blackcaps (PMW).

Friday, April 09, 2010

WATERFORD CITY: Buzzard high over the city (BF).

WHITING BAY: c65 mixed flock of Sand & House Martins & Swallows (DC).

CARRICKBEAG: 2 Chiffchaffs & 6 Swallows (DC).

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

HELVICK HEAD: Red-throated Diver, Sandwich Terns, Swallow, 20 Common Dolphins & 7 Porpoises (AM).

Nr CARRICK-ON-SUIR: 2 Swallows just upriver over the Suir (Fons Jaspers).


Tuesday, April 06, 2010

KEREEN (nr Aglish): 6 Swallows (Mark Foley).

Monday, April 05, 2010

HELVICK HEAD: Pomarine Skua, 2 Great Skuas, 2 Common Scoters, 6 Puffins & decent numbers of Manx Shearwaters west (1 hr seawatch 12:00-13:00) (MC, CF).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Great Skua & 175 Manx Shearwaters flew west, Sandwich Tern east, 2 Great Northern Divers E & 2 W (seawatch 10:25-11:25, wind f. 6 SW); male Blackcap, Grey Plover & Dunlin on land (PMW).

DUNGARVAN (yesterday): WATER PIPIT just north of the car-park (Ken Preston).

Sunday, April 04, 2010

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 2 Red Grouse on Co Tipperary side (AM).

RAM HEAD: Porpoise & small numbers of Manx Shearwaters (first reported of year) (AM).

BALLYQUIN (nr Ardmore): Plenty of Swallows & Sand Martins (AM).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK with 4 Tufted Duck on smaller / backwater lake (presumed same as Ballyshunnock bird from March), also c30 Swallows & c20 Sand Martins (PMW).

CARRICKBEG HILL (south of Carrick-on-Suir): 8 Chiffchaffs & 1 Willow Warbler singing (MAD, PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Willow Warbler & 2 Tree Sparrows (PMW).

Saturday, April 03, 2010

WOODSTOWN BOG: Water Rail calling at dusk, also 2 occupied Grey Heron nests (MAD, PMW).
DUNGARVAN: 2 Swallows at Killongford, 6 Sandwich Terns at the Cunnigar (CF).

HELVICK HEAD: Swallow, female Blackcap & 2 Chiffchaffs (CF).

ANNESTOWN: House Martin & 3 Swallows. (MC & CF)

CLONEA STRAND: Whimbrel, 6 Sandwich Terns, Wheatear & 3 Swallows @ Ballinclamper ("); Swallow at castle-end carpark (EB).

KILMURRIN COVE: 5 Sand Martins. (")
CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore): Swallow (AM).

DUNGARVAN: House Martin (first of spring) at Abbeyside (FO'C).

ANNESTOWN BOG: 2 Water Rails calling (tetrads X49Z & X59E), Little Egret, male Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaffs singing (MAD, PMW).

Nr TRAMORE: Sand Martin & 2 Willow Warblers, Monvoy; Swallow, Coolnagoppoge / Islandtarnsey (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Willow Warblers (PMW).

Friday, April 02, 2010

BALLINCLAMPER to BALLINARD: 5 Whimbrel, 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 Purple Sandpiper & a Willow Warbler (first of spring) (MC).

Nr BUNMAHON: Swallow.

Nr TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Swallow (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 4 Willow Warblers (MAD, PMW).
BALLINARD: 4 Swallows (CF).

Thursday, April 01, 2010

BALLINARD: Wheatear (MC Snr).