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.



Saturday, April 30, 2011

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): NIGHT HERON seen again 20:50-21:05 - initially a few hundred m downstream of Seafield school, later flew upstream to directly opposite school (MAD, DW, PMW). Also a Grasshopper Warbler singing nearby earlier (DW).

DRUM HILLS: Cuckoo in tetrad X28D (DMcG).
SEAFIELD: NIGHT HERON relocated this evening 300 m downstream from Seafield school, along river towards Bunmahon (DC).
CLASHMORE BROADS: Female-type MARSH HARRIER @ 14:30 (MC, CF).

HELVICK HEAD: Basking Shark (").

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL at Killongford (MC, CF).

KNOCKADERRY: 3 Stock Doves (").

FENOR: 12 Choughs (").

ANNESTOWN: Grasshopper Warbler (").

RUSSELLSTOWN WOOD (SW of Clonmel): 5 Crossbills @ S18251692 just ENE of Curraheenavoher Hill; 4 Jays (PMW).

Friday, April 29, 2011

SEAFIELD: NIGHT HERON still present early evening (DW,MC, CF).

WATERFORD CITY: Swift near Whitfield Clinic (DS).
SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Adult NIGHT HERON showing well up to 14:20 at least, perched low in tree left of large gorse bush opposite Seafield school, in full view from roadside (DW, MC snr, Denis O'Sullivan, JAP, BS, PMW).

DALLIGAN RIVER: Dipper at bridge St Shanbally, nr The Pike (PMW).

SEAFIELD (nr BUNMAHON): NIGHT HERON (2nd county record) opposite Seafield school @ 10:10 (DW).

Thursday, April 28, 2011

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Pair of Hen Harriers, 2 Jays & 2 Siskins (PMW).
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo calling & Grasshopper Warbler, Melleray road along base of mountains, Blackcaps everywhere (AM).

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

MONAMINTRA BOG: Water Rail calling, Snipe drumming & 3 Sedge Warblers
singing, 20:25-20:55 (PMW).

CASTLETOWN FEN: Grasshopper Warbler singing @ 21;10 (").

KILBARRY BOG: Cuckoo seen & heard this morning (John Roche per www.waterfordwildlife.com).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Puffin east, 3 Great Northern Divers & a Red-throated Diver on sea (seawatch 18:30-19:15, wind 1 SE); 2 Tree Sparrows, Grasshopper Warbler & Wheatear (PMW).

BALLYVOYLE COVE: 2 Basking Sharks @ 18:25 (MC snr).

Nr CARRIGNAGOUR (N of Lismore): several Grasshopper Warblers this morning (AM).
ARDMORE: Whimbrel & 5 Wheatears at Curragh beach (AM).

BALLYVOYLE COVE: Basking Shark 100 m offshore (MC snr).

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo calling & a Wheatear in Glenary valley (PMW).

CLONMEL: 3+ Swifts over town (").

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

DUNGARVAN: 2 Grasshopper Warblers at Brickey canal (JAP).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Adult summer Black-throated Diver & 60 Manx Shearwaters flew east (seawatch 18:55-19:25, wind 2 SE); on land a Grasshopper Warbler singing, 2 Wheatears, a Whitethroat, 2 Whimbrel NW overhead & a Hummingbird Hawk-moth flying W (PMW).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 6 Reed Warblers & 5 Sedge Warblers singing along Blackwater bank south from Camphire slip to Bride mouth, 13:40-14:50, also a Whooper Swan in field & Stock Dove flyover (").

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Female or imm Hen Harrier (").

Monday, April 25, 2011

BALLINLOUGH: Singing Reed Warbler, Cuckoo, Water Rail & 2 Coots (MC, MC snr, CF, DW).
CARRIGAVANTRY: Cuckoo calling this morning.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Whitethroat singing & a Wheatear (MAD, PMW).

KILMURRIN COVE: Grasshopper Warbler & 4 Sedge Warblers singing (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 male Gadwall at Clohernagh inlet, 10 Whimbrel near spits (PMW).

Sunday, April 24, 2011

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Grasshopper Warbler singing @ 19:35 (MAD).

BELLE LAKE: Grasshopper Warbler & Sedge Warbler singing (JmP, MAD, PMW).

BALLINARID (west of Bunmahon): Grasshopper Warbler & Whitethroat singing (DW).

HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 4 Grasshopper Warblers, 3 Wheatears & Cuckoo calling (AM).

LISMORE: Jay at barracks (").

Nr CLONMEL: Jay at Glenabbey/Russellstown wood (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher (1st of year) (MAD).

BALLYMACART: 2 Grasshopper Warblers & a Whitethroat (SH).

Saturday, April 23, 2011

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 192 Manx Shearwaters west (33 east) & 300 Gannets west (76 east) (seawatch 18:20-19:20, wind 3-4 SW, PMW).
BLACKWATER VALLEY: Reed Warbler still singing at Raheen Quay, Clashmore (JAP, BS).

CALISO BAY: 2 Whitethroats (").

BALLYMACART: Whitethroat (").

HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE, 3 Whitethroats, 200 Manx Shearwaters, 30 Common Dolphins & a Basking Shark (AM).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: MARSH HARRIER (apparently 2nd-calendar-year male) at Newport Quay 12:20 (CF).

BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo & Grasshopper Warbler (DW).

MOUNT CONGREVE / KILLOTERAN: Grasshopper Warbler singing & Stock Dove (MAD, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Sub-adult SPOONBILL again at Killongford (CF).
HELVICK HEAD: 1st-summer WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present, also 2 Whitethroats (CF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Whitethroat (AA, PMW).

MOUNT CONGREVE: 2 Swifts (PMW).

Friday, April 22, 2011

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: single Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Puffin & Red-throated Diver east, Great Skua west, 1035 Manx Shearwaters east & 16 Whimbrel west (seawatch 15:30-16:30, wind 2 S, MAD, PMW).
HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE, Whitethroat & Tree Sparrow (JAP, BS).

CLONEA STRAND: Swift (1st of year) & 2 singing Sedge Warblers just east of Clonea Strand Hotel, Grasshopper Warbler singing, 28 Sanderling & 9 Whimbrel at Ballinclamper (MAD, PMW).

Nr DUNGARVAN: Barn Owl @ 00:30 (JAP, BP).

Thursday, April 21, 2011

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 4 Whitethroats & a Grasshopper Warbler (DC).

BALLYSCANLON: 2 Whitethroats (MC sr).

HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE still here (JAP).

BALLYMACART: Whitethroat (").
CLASHMORE: Reed Warbler (1st of year) & Whitethroat at Raheen quay (JAP).

North of LISMORE: Large numbers of Grasshopper Warblers singing this morning (AM).

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Nr CARRIGNAGOUR (north of Lismore): Grasshopper Warbler singing this evening (AM).
BALLYVOYLE: Dippers nesting at bridge, 23 Red-throated Divers & a Great Northern Diver offshore (MC).
HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present (Maura Noonan).

Nr BALLINAMULT: Dipper carrying food (DMcG).

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL @ Killongford this evening at high tide roost. (MC)
HELVICK HEAD: Painted Lady (MC).
HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present @ 4 pm (DC), also 6 pm (MC, DMcG) & an unidentified harrier species (DMcG).

Monday, April 18, 2011

HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present, also a female MARSH HARRIER flew over sea as if towards Annestown c 16:45 (AM).

ANNESTOWN BOG: Amazingly, a different (male) MARSH HARRIER hunting here about 17:00 before lost from sight (presumed still in the reedbed) (JAP, NP).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Single singing Whitethroat (1st of year) & Grasshopper Warbler (CF).

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Whitethroat singing at Bohadoon wood; Hen Harrrier (JAP, BP).
MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: 12 Ravens, 4 Skylarks & a Green Hairstreak butterfly at Coumaraglin (JAP, BP).

Sunday, April 17, 2011

ANNESTOWN: 3 Grasshopper Warblers reeling. (MC)
WHITING BAY: 34 Tree Sparrows in stubble field (Ken Preston).

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL & 2nd-summer Mediterranean Gull at Killongford (MC, DC); Water Rail & Blackcap at brickey canal (DC).

DRUM HILLS: Painted Lady.
HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present (MC).
SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Grasshopper Warbler reeling briefly (DW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE (1st-summer female) still present in main willow garden, ringed this morning (AA, PMW).

CROUGHAUN HILL (nr Kilmacthomas): 21+ singing Willow Warblers (PMW).

Saturday, April 16, 2011

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 25 Whimbrels west, 2 Great Northern Divers on sea, 90+ Manx Shearwaters feeding, 2 Porpoises, a Minke Whale west & high total of 29+ Basking Sharks feeding between 1 km & 7 km offshore (seawatch 18:55-19:45); 4 Willow Warblers & 2 Chiffchaffs on land (PMW).

CLONEA STRAND: 150+ Whimbrel, 3 Black Guillemots on sea, 2 Porpoises & a Manx Shearwater west at Ballinclamper; 2 Great Northern Divers on sea off Ballyvoyle & a Grasshopper Warbler singing there (MC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Another WOODCHAT SHRIKE here, in main willow garden 16:30-17:30 in willows or perched near feeders (PMW).

RAM HEAD: 5 Great Northern Divers, 50+ Manx Shearwaters, Minke Whale, 12 Porpoises, 5 Common Dolphins & 3 Basking Sharks (AM).

HELVICK HEAD: also Grasshopper Warbler & Sedge Warbler singing, 3 Blackcaps, & 2 Bar-headed Geese or hybrids (flew west along Muggort's Bay) (MC, CF, DW, PMW).

KILMURRIN COVE: Grasshopper Warbler singing @ 15:40 (PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE at the high road, 12:30 (MC).
GOAT ISLAND (nr Whiting Bay): Grasshopper Warbler (1st of yr) singing
near last house and 20+ Tree Sparrows near 2nd last house on road to
Goat Island (CF).

KINSALEBEG to TIKNOCK: Fulmar circling, 3rd-cal-yr Glaucous Gull on
water on Waterford side (MC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Striped Hawk-moth at light-trap last night (PMW).

Friday, April 15, 2011

CASTLETOWN FEN: Water Rail calling, Snipe overhead (21:10-21:25, PMW).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Female Hen Harrier (AM).

LISMORE to THE VEE: Cuckoo seen north of Carriganagour (AM) - first of year.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL at Killongford @ 18:45 (CF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 5 Willow Warblers & 3 Chiffchaffs along lane (DC).

Nr BUNMAHON: 2 House Martins at Seafield (DW).

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

CLONEA: Adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose @ Ballinard. MC

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier,
5 Wheatears & 4 Ravens (DC).

KILBRIEN: 8 Swallows & 3 House Martins (").
CLONEA STRAND: 8 Sandwich Terns, 1 Wheatear and two Great Northern Divers 70 m from beach at Ballinclamper (PV).

Sunday, April 10, 2011

BALLYQUIN: Wheatear, lots of Sand Martins, & an Otter on the rocks eating a fish (blenny?)

BALLYVOYLE: c35 Sand Martins & 4 Great Northern Divers (DC).

DUNGARVAN: 9 Sandwich Terns at Gold Coast ("); 3 Sandwich Terns, 2 Wheatears, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and lots of Swallows at the Cunnigar (PV).

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAIN: 10 Wheatears, female Hen Harrier & Kestrel (DC).
Nr BUNMAHON: Sedge Warbler singing (DW) - first of year.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Blackcaps (female & 2 males), 4 Willow Warblers, male Wheatear, 4 Tree Sparrows, 8 Sand Martins & 3 Red Admirals (MAD, PMW).

Nr TIBBERAGHNY BOG: Adult Mediterranean Gull over River Suir, 7 Blackcaps singing along Co Waterford bank, 1st-summer Whooper Swan on Co Kilkenny side of river (PMW).

Saturday, April 09, 2011

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Common Scoter (female & 2 males) on sea, 3 Whimbrel, 9 Sandwich Terns & 2 Red-throated Divers flew east, Great Northern Diver & 7 Red-breasted Mergansers in Tramore Bay, Wheatear & small nos of phylloscs on land (MAD, PMW).

CLONEA STRAND: Whimbrel & 3 Great Northern Divers at Ballinclamper (").

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Water Rail calling at Killahaly Bridge (").

BALLYVOYLE: Common Sandpiper (PV).

Friday, April 08, 2011

DRUM HILLS: Male Hen Harrier (SH).

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 10 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows & 3 Tufted Duck (DC).

Monday, April 04, 2011

CLONEA STRAND: 8 Sandwich terns at Ballinclamper (DC).

STRADBALLY: Pair of Ravens at Kirwin's quarry (").

DUNGARVAN: 4 Redpoll at Strandside, Abbeyside (").

Sunday, April 03, 2011

BALLYDWAN COVE: 3 Great Northern & 3 Red-throated Divers (PMW).

TRAMORE BAY: 5 Gadwall, a Red-throated Diver & 20 Sandwich Terns off the pier (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Spotted Redshank still present at Pickardstown creek @ 16:55 (rising tide), also 1 Whimbrel, 12 Greenshank; 5 White-fronted Geese, a Greylag x 'Chinese' Goose hybrid & a male Gadwall still at Lisselan (").
RINCREW: 3rd-calendar-yr Glaucous Gull, 2nd cy Iceland Gull & leucistic Herring Gull all on mud at Co Waterford side (MC).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 male Gadwall on backwater, also 19 Moorhen, 5 Coot (1 on nest), 6 Little Grebes (1 on nest), 4 Teal, 6 Wigeon, 9 Mallard, 7 Mute Swans, 3 Willow Warblers singing, Stock Dove & Raven (PMW).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Blackcap & 4 Willow Warblers singing, 25+ Sand Martins, 5 Tufted Duck, 35 Teal, 5 Mallard, 7 Mute Swans, 13 Moorhen but no Coots or grebes visible (water levels low on small lake) (").

BELLE LAKE: ringtail Hen Harrier mobbed by Hooded Crows, Mute Swan on nest, 30+ Sand Martins, single House Martin & Swallow feeding over lake, 16:05-16:20 (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers & 2 Tree Sparrows (PMW).

Saturday, April 02, 2011

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

ANNESTOWN: Sparrowhawk displaying (JAP, BS).

BALLYHEENY (nr Clashmore): Small White butterfly (").

VARIOUS LOCATIONS: 7 Kestrels ("); Chiffchaffs, Swallows & Sand Martins widespread (JAP, BS, MC, CF).

ANNESTOWN BOG: House Martin & 20+ Sand Martins over pool (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 15 Swallows, 3 House Martins, 6 Sand Martins, male Blackcap singing and 1 Willow Warbler along Brickey; 7 Sandwich Terns at Dungarvan quay (FO'C).

CLONEA STRAND: Black-throated Diver (winter adult) 16:30-17:10 (then flew towards Dungarvan Bay), also 18 Great Northern Divers, 6 Red-throated Divers, 14 Tufted Duck (flew west), 5 Whimbrel in off sea, 2 Sandwich Terns west & 240+ Brent Geese (MC, CF, PMW).

RINCREW (Nr Youghal): OSPREY flew north over Co Waterford border (OF).

ARDMORE: 2 ad male Black Redstarts at round tower (MC, CF).

HELVICK HEAD: Female Black Redstart (").

BALLYMASCART: Singing Blackcap and pair of Stonechats nest building.
ANNESTOWN BOG / DUNHILL: Female MARSH HARRIER, 2 male Orange-tips, singing Blackcap & singing Willow Warbler, 11:15 (JAP, BS).

HELVICK HEAD: Male Wheatear (").

DURROW (nr Stradbally): Swallow (DC).

DUNGARVAN: Brambling at Strandside, Abbeyside (").

Friday, April 01, 2011

HELVICK HEAD: 22 Manx Shearwaters & a Puffin west (seawatch 17:55-18:3, stong southwesterlies), also a Black Guillemot off car-park (MC).

DUNGARVAN: House Martin passing through (FO'C).
DUNGARVAN: Male Brambling at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).

ARDMORE: Black Redstart at the Round Tower (AM).