CLONEA STRAND: 2 colour-ringed Sandwich Terns & 2 juvenile Arctic Terns at Ballinclamper (MC).

WOODSTOWN: 3 Jays in the woods at south end of beach (DMcG).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper @ Ballyneety. (MC) CLONEA: 2 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls @ Ballinclamper. (MC)

BRICKEY CANAL (nr Dungarvan): Spotted Flycatcher (DC).

BELLE LAKE: 14 Sedge Warblers, a juvenile Reed Warbler & 10 Chiffchaffs ringed, Water Rail heard (PMW).

CLONEA STRAND: 2 White Wagtails at Ballinclamper (MAD, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 2 Spoonbills @ Killongford. (MC)

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Great Skuas E, 55 Manx E (10 W) & a Porpoise (seawatch 19:00-20:00, wind 3 NW; MAD, PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Green Sandpipers at Clohernagh (@18:00, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: 130+ Swallows north over the sea (13:30-13:45) & a juv/1st-winter Mediterranean Gull off mouth of Dungarvan bay (MAD, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper @ Ballyneety (MC, CF), later 2 (MC, MAD,PMW). White Wagtail at the Cunnigar (SH).

CLONEA STRAND: 10 White Wagtails at Ballinclamper (MC); later 17+ White Wagtails & 84+ Ringed Plover (MC,PMW).

WEST WATERFORD: Two sightings of Buzzard (MC & SH).



Friday August 27, 2010

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS still at Killongford (SH).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Female/immature Hen Harrier (AM).

WEST WATERFORD: 3 Buzzards (Richard Thorney).

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore): Single Long-eared owlet still squeaking tonight! (AM).

HELVICK HEAD: 1 juvenile Black Tern east @ 19:25, small passage of 'Commic' Terns also (CF).

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): 3 Green Sandpipers & 2 Kingfishers (DW).

HELVICK HEAD: 3 Arctic Skuas, very large feeding flock of c3000 Manx Shearwaters & another 1000+ Manx west (seawatch 19:15-20:30; CF).

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

WHITING BAY: Juvenile Wheatear (SH).

Nr LISMORE: Long-eared Owl chicks/fledglings heard calling again (AM) - click here to listen. CLONEA: Adult Mediterranean Gull, Arctic Tern & 2 Roseate Terns (Adult & Juvenile). (MC, DC)

HELVICK HEAD: Juvenile Black Tern west @ 18:57, 145 Manx W (110 E) (seawatch 18:30-19:30; PMW).

CLONEA STRAND: Another juv Black Tern west c10 mins later past Ballinclamper (MC); Balearic Shearwater feeding with 130+ Manx @ 17:45 (MC, PM

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper@ Ballyneety. Ruff & 5 Wigeon @ Killongford. (MC)

BELLE LAKE: 3 juvenile Reed Warblers & 25 Sedge Warblers ringed, also 2+ Water Rails heard (1 caught but escaped unringed!) (AA, PMW).

ARDMORE: 2 Mediterranean Gulls, apparently 2nd-summer (DC).

PILTOWN (nr Ardmore): 2 Kingfishers at small stream (DC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Balearic Shearwater W, 480 Manx W (110 E) with up to 110 feeding close inshore (seawatch 18:55-20:35, wind 5 SW; PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 4 Ruff, juvenile Mediterranean Gull & 2 Spoonbills @ Killongford. (MC, MC Sr., CF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: An OSPREY flew W @ 11:07 (watched until 11:13) over the sea, also Great Skua & Storm Petrel W, 540 Manx W (230 E) in 4-hr seawatch (07:30-10:30, 10:40-11:40, wind 2-3 SW); Sedge Warbler & Whitethroat on land (PMW).

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore): Family of young Long-eared Owls heard at 3 a.m. (AM).

HELVICK HEAD: Another Balearic Shearwater W at 18:51 (very pale bird), 345 Manx W (80 E) & an Arctic Tern feeding (seawatch 17:05-19:05, wind 4-5 WSW, DW,PMW); Black Guillemot in the next hour (MC).

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS & 5 Ruff at Killongford (MC, DW, PMW); 10+ Whimbrel, 3 + White Wagtails & 5 Wheatears at the Cunnihar (DW, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: Balearic Shearwater (fairly dark individual), 610 Manx, 9 Storm Petrels, 4 Bonxies, small skua sp & a Puffin west (seawatch 10:30-13:00, wind 4 SW-W); also 2 Porpoises & a Common Lizard (DW, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: 3 juvenile Little Gulls, 3 Bonxies, 3 Storm Petrels, 2 Common Terns, c3500 Manx Shearwaters & a Sunfish (seawatch 18:20-20:00, CF, MC).

DUNGARVAN: 4 Green Sandpipers @ Ballyneety. (MC)

Balearic Shearwater totals by site 2010

A quick tally from Irish Birding, Bird Forum's Seawatch 2010 thread, Bird Forum's Galway thread & Waterford Birds gives the following totals of birds (or bird-days) by seawatch site since January, up to midday today:

Carnsore Point / Carne Beach (Wexford) 45 (41 on 8/8)
Bridge of Ross (Clare) 23
Balbriggan (Dublin) 11
Cape Clear (Cork) 11
Brownstown Head (Waterford) 10
Helvick Head (Waterford) 10
Galley Head (Cork) 8
Dalkey (Dublin) 3
Greystones (Wicklow) 3
Old Head of Kinsale (Cork) 2
Malin Head (Donegal) 2
Dublin Bay (Dublin) 2
Baile na hAbhainn (Galway) 2
Annagh Head (Mayo) 2
Ballycotton (Cork) 1
Dursey Island (Cork) 1 (1st Jan)
West Cork pelagic (Cork) 1
Annagh Head (Mayo) 2
Kilcummin Head (Mayo) 1
Ross Strand (Mayo) 1
Hook Head (Wexford) 1
Rosslare (Wexford) 1
total 143

Doubtless various others unreported or not included in above webpages. Waterford not doing too badly but some catching up to do - and maybe a further chance of Yelkouan-type Shearwater. Seawatching conditions looking good for later this week too...

Nr BUNMAHON: Barn Owl @ 10 pm (DW).

DUNGARVAN: 4 Green Sandpipers @ Ballyneety. (MC)

ARDMORE: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls at the harbour (SH).

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 1000+ Manx Shearwaters & a Puffin (seawatch 19:15-20:30, CF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 5 Balearic Shearwaters W, 5200 Manx Shearwaters W (1005 E) & 7 Common Scoters W (1 E) (seawatch 17:35-19:05, wind 1 S or variable, MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 650 Manx Shearwaters feeding, 12:15-13:30; Tree Sparrow, Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Willow Warblers & 2 Wheatears on land m(MAD, PMW).

BELLE LAKE: Green Sandpiper & Water Rail heard, 17 Sedge Warblers ringed (AA, JmP, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 500+ Manx Shearwaters feeding, resting or circling, 20:20-21:05, plus a YELKOUAN-type SHEARWATER watched on the sea 20:30- 21:05 (MAD, PMW) - further details.

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS at Killongford this morning(CF), 2 Water Rails showing well there later (MC).

HELVICK HEAD: 100+ Manx Shearwaters (mostly west), adult summer Red-throated Diver & a Puffin (seawatch 09:30-10:20) (CF).

HELVICK HEAD: Balearic Shearwater (fairly pale individual) feeding with 75 Manx Shearwaters (17:00-17:20); 80 Manx E & 10 W (16:20-16:50) (MAD, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 1 SPOONBILL visible at Killongford, 16:00 (").

CLONEA STRAND: Bonxie & distant Sooty Shearwater off Ballinclamper (CF).

DUNGARVAN: Barn Owl @11:30 tonight (Eugene Burke).

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS at Killongford; 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Ruffs & adult Mediterranean Gull at the Cunnigar (MC, CF); also a Spotted Redshank at Killongford (Chris Cullen).

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull @ Barnawee. (MC)

DUNGARVAN: 2 Spoonbills @ Killongford(MC); 25+ Whimbrel, 2 Knot, 20+ Sanderling, 150+ Ringed Plover, 250+ Dunlin & 50+ Turnstone at the Cunnigar (CF).

CLONEA: 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull @ Ballinclamper. (MC) DUNGARVAN: 2 Spoonbills @ Killongford. (MC)

CLONEA: Adult Arctic Tern & adult Mediterranean Gull @ Ballinclamper. (MC)

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): 2 Green Sandpipers (DW).

BELLE LAKE: Water Rail heard & 10 Sedge Warblers ringed (AA, DW, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull (White Darvic Ring 3H97) off the pitch & putt course. (MC)

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Pomarine Skua W, 8 Common Scoters E & 105 Manx Shearwaters E (25 W) (seawatch 19:55-20:25, wind 2 NW, PMW).

BELLE LAKE: 2 Water Rails calling (").

RINCREW: A colour-ringed adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (blue ring 'YJ31' or possibly 'YJ37' on left leg) here had been ringed as an adult Hvaleyrarlón, Hafnarfjörður, SW Iceland (N64 02.00 W22 39.00) on 1st August 2008 (MC).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper along Brickey River and another @ Ballyneety. 2 adult and 1 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls at Ballyvoile Beach. 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull at Killongford (Green darvic ring on left leg but too distant to read) and yet another 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull @ Ballinacourty. Finally, juvenile Ruff @ Killongford. (MC, CF)

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Balearic Shearwater, 5 Common Scoter, Arctic Skua & 2 Great Skuas E, Sanderling & 2 Black Guillemots W, 197 Manx Shearwaters W (152 E), 27 Commic Terns W (19 E) incl 4+ Arctic Terns & 2+ Common Terns W, 1 Sanderling W, also 250 Gannets E (206 W), 28 Fulmars W (5 E), 115 Kittiwakes W (78 E), 32 Sandwich Terns W (23 E), 1 Razorbill E & 2 Black Guillemots W (seawatch 07:05-09:05 & 09:20-11:20, wind 3-4 NW, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: Balearic Shearwater (fairly pale) & 3 Storm Petrels west, also a Common Sandpiper on rocks (CF, DW, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: Balearic Shearwater (dark bird, came west then returned east @ 20:05) & up to 10 Storm Petrels (seawatch 19:45-20:15, MC).

DUNGARVAN: Kingfisher & 4 Green Sandpipers, Ballyneety (MC Sr).

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Green Sandpiper (DW).

BRICKEY RIVER (nr Dungarvan): 3 Green Sandpipers & a Dipper (MC).

HELVICK HEAD: 4 Balearic Shearwaters (including 3 together at 18:45), 3 Storm Petrels & 52 Manx Shearwaters west, seawatch 18:00-19:00 (almost calm) (MAD, PMW).

RAM HEAD: 7 Fin Whales (AM).

Nr FERRY POINT: Immature Glaucous Gull (probably 1st-summer) roosting inside the point (MC).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper & 2 Kingfishers at Killongford (JAP, BS).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Kingfisher at Cooper's Quay; Treecreeper, 2 Holly Blue & 7 Silver-washed Fritillary at Dromana (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Balearic Shearwater E, 9+ Bonxies (7 E, 2 W 2 feeding), 2 Common Scoter E, Puffin E, 2 Porpoises W, 277 Manx Shearwaters E (22 W), 282 Gannets E (119 W), 85 Kittiwakes E (39 W), 84 Sandwich Terns W (30 E), 21 Commic Terns W (16 W), 5 Fulmars E (1 W) (seawatch 07:35-09:35, wind 1-2 NW, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS showing well at Killongford (MC).

WEST WATERFORD: A Corncrake heard calling by day today.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Balearic Shearwaters (1 east then 2 west), a Great Skua, a 1st-summer Little Gull & 9 Common Scoters west, also 197 Manx Shearwaters west (93 east), 102 Sandwich Terns west (3 east), 11 'Commic' Terns east (8 west) (seawatch 18:45-20:15, wind 1-2 SW, MAD, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 2 Green Sandpipers at Ballyneety (SH).

HELVICK HEAD: 3+ Storm Petrels & a flock of 31 Common Scoter west (AM).

RAM HEAD: 10-12 Fin Whales; also the same 31 Common Scoter west (AM).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 8 Common Sandpipers & a Whimbrel at Clohernagh (PMW).

BALLYVOILE: Adult and two 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls. (MC) BALLINCLAMPER: Whimbrel (PMW).