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, August 31, 2012

CLONEA STRAND: 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls including green darvic R27R & 40 White Wagtails also at Ballinclamper (MC).

DUNGARVAN: 2 White Wagtails & Whimbrel at Killongford pool, 7 Brent Geese & 14 Great Crested Grebes outside the Cunnigar (PMW).
CLONEA STRAND: Juv & adult Roseate Tern, Ballinclamper (MC, MD).
HELVICK HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher (PMW).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Juvenile Black Tern & 60+ Brent Geese at Lisselan (DS, JF).
DUNGARVAN:  Swift (FO'C).

Thursday, August 30, 2012

CLONEA: 5 White Wagtails @ Ballinclamper. (MC)

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

DUNGARVAN: Swift (FO'C).
WATERFORD CITY:  1 Swift over Doyle Street (JF).

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper @ Killongford. (MC)

HELVICK: 1st summer Little Gull, Black Guillemot & 1 Arctic Skua ("). Later, 1 Arctic Skua (MC, MC Sr. & CF)

Monday, August 27, 2012

BUNMAHON: 2 Great Skuas (W & E) (DW).

DUNGARVAN: 3 Adult Mediterranean Gulls at Barnawee among a flock of over I000 gulls (almost all Black-headed); 5 Green Sandpipers, pool at Killongford (MC snr).

Sunday, August 26, 2012

RAM HEAD:  1000+ Manx Shearwaters W (also quite a few rafts & feeding birds), 3 'large' Shearwaters (including a probable Great Shearwater), 3 Sooty Shearwaters, also single Great Skua, Pomarine Skua & Arctic Skua hassling seabirds (AM).

CROHAUN: Merlin (JAP, BS).

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

BALLYMACART: Spotted Flycatcher (RAW).
DUNGARVAN: Moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper at Killongford again today, juvenile Ruff at Barnawee (CF).


SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

DUNGARVAN: 2 Swifts (FO'C).

Saturday, August 25, 2012

WHITING BAY: Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at west end, adult Mediterranean Gull at east end (JAP, BS).

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull (").
DUNGARVAN: 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls and Green Sandpiper at Ballyneety. 1 adult Med across from the Park Hotel and another at Barnawee. 4 Meds & moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper at Killongford. Ruff and 2 White Wagtails at the Cunnigar (DW, CF).

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (MC, FO'C).

HELVICK HEAD: Pied Flycatcher (JAP, BS).
DUNGARVAN:  HOBBY flew SW at Ballyneety @ 09:20 (DW, CF).

Friday, August 24, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  Adult & subadult Yellow-legged Gull at Ballyneety (MC).

SEAFIELD:  30 Snipe & a Kingfisher (DW).

Thursday, August 23, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  Kingfisher at Ballyneety (MC snr).
CLONEA STRAND:  141 Sandwich Terns at Ballinclamper (MC).

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

DUNGARVAN: 10 Swifts over town (FO'C), 3 Green Sandpipers at Killongford (MC snr).
DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 Common Sandpipers & 1 Green Sandpiper @ Ballyneety. (MC)
CLONEA STRAND:  2 Ruffs at Ballinclamper @ 12:05 (MC snr).


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  2 Swifts over town @ 18:35 (FO'C).

Sunday, August 19, 2012

CLONEA STRAND:  2 adult Mediterranean Gullst at Ballinclamper this evening (MC).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Also a Pied Flycatcher in main willow garden plus Garden Warbler eating plums (PMW).
ARDMORE: Stock Dove & 10 Mediterranean Gulls ( 2 Adults, 3 2nd Summers & 5 Juveniles ). Common Sandpiper & 3 Mediterranean Gulls ( 2 Adults & 2nd Summer )@ Curragh. (MC)

FERRYPOINT: Adult Mediterranean Gull. (")

DUNGARVAN: 5 Mediterranean Gulls ( 3 Adults, 2nd Summer & Juvenile ), 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Common Sandpipers & 1 Kingfisher @ Ballyneety. 4 Mediterranean Gulls ( 3 Adults including white darvic ring 3H97 & 2nd Summer ) & 1 Common Sandpiper @ Barnawee. (")
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 1 Common Scoter W & 1 Great Skua W, only 50 Manx (38E 12W) (seawatch 08:30-09:30), Pied Flycatcher and 4 Whitethroats along main lane (DS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  4 Common Sandpipers at Clohernagh (").
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Hummingbird Hawk-moth (PMW).

BELLE LAKE: 3 Water Rails calling & 7 Sedge Warblers ringed (AA, PMW).

Saturday, August 18, 2012

HELVICK HEAD:  3 Pied Flys this this morning/midday (2 in sycamores above pier, 1 behind Murray's pub), 3 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat and 50+ Phylloscs with a large number of hirundines also (CF).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Garden Warbler & Pied Flycatcher in main garden @ 12:10 (PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 07:15-10:15 (2-3 SW, vis excellent, PMW):
Arctic Skua: 1 W (ad light)
Great Skua: 1 W
Common Scoter: 2 E
Manx Shearwater: 31 E, 10 W, 50+ feeding
Fulmar: 9 E, 32 W
Gannet: 30 E, 110
Mallard: 1 W
Grey Plover: 1 W
Whimbrel: 1 W
Kittiwake: 2 E, 2 W
Sandwich Tern: 13 E, 43 W
Grey Seal: 1

Friday, August 17, 2012

HELVICK HEAD: Pied Flycatcher in sycamores, 3+ Willow Warblers & Chiffchaff (CF, PMW); Storm Petrel W & Arctic Skua on sea (seawatch 19:20-19:50, PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Garden Warbler & 3 Pied Flycatchers (MC).
DUNGARVAN: 5 Common Sandpipers at Killongford, 6 Common Sandpipers & an adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballyneety (MC snr).

ARDMORE: 5 Mediterranean Gulls at harbour, 6 Tree Sparrows along Goat Island road (SH).

SEAFIELD: Common Sandpiper & 3 Green Sandpipers (DW).

Thursday, August 16, 2012

HELVICK HEAD: Pied Flycatcher in main sycamores above pier, also Whitethroat, 4+ Williow Warblers & 2 Chiffchaffs (PMW, MC snr).
HELVICK HEAD: 3 Storm Petrels, 290 Manx Shearwaters & 60 Fulmars W (seawatch 10:40-11:40, PMW).
BUNMAHON: Leatherback Turtle (DW).

SEAFIELD: 3 Green Sandpipers (").

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  3 Green Sandpipers at Killongord, in marsh c100 m north of bridge (MC snr).

HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 18:15-20:45 (CF, MC)
Sooty Shearwater: 2 W
Storm Petrel: 20+ W
Arctic Skua: 1 W
Great Skua: 5 W
Roseate Tern: 1 W (adult)
Black Tern: 1 W (juvenile)
HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 12:35-17:35 (DW, JAP, MC snr)
Balearic Shearwater: 1 W
Storm Petrel: 7 W
Pomarine Skua: 2 W
Arctic Skua: 2 W
Great Skua: 9 W
Black Guillemot: 1 E (juvenile)
Swift: 4 S

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS:  Adult male Hen Harrier (JJC).

ARDMORE:  3 Mediterranean Gulls (juvenile & 2 2nd-summer) (ADM).

CLONEA: 3CY Mediterranean Gull (Green Darvic Ring R27R) @ Ballinclamper (MC), also 120+ Sandwich Terns & 4 Common Terns there (MC snr).

EAST WATERFORD: 3 Buzzards. (")

CASTLETOWN FEN POOL: Green Sandpiper. (")

Monday, August 13, 2012

Nr BUNMAHON: Barn Owl @ 22:30 (DW).
DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull @ the Barnawee. (MC)
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  2 Common Sandpipers & a Stock Dove at Lisselan (DS).

Sunday, August 12, 2012

DUNGARVAN: Sub-adult Yellow-legged Gull, Green Sandpiper & 1 Common Sandpiper @ Ballyneety (MC, DC). Common Sandpiper & Green Sandpiper @ Killongford (MC).
BUNMAHON:  Adult Mediterranean Gull & Green Sandpiper (DW).

Saturday, August 11, 2012

DUNGARVAN: 5 Common Sandpipers @ Killongford. (MC)
CLONEA STRAND: 85 Sandwich, 2 Common & 2 Arctic Terns at Ballinclamper @ 18:00 (PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: Mute Swan on rocks (new for site!); Puffin & Arctic Tern W in a 20 min seawatch, few Manx Shearwaters (MC).
DUNGARVAN: Juvenile Ruff, 4 Green Sandpipers, 7 Common Sandpipers, adult & 3-cy Mediterranean Gulls at Ballyneety (MC, CF, DW), 1st-summer Mediterranean Gull & 3 Green Sandpipers at the Cunnigar (DW, CF).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 07:00-09:00 (4-5 SE, vis moderate/good, PMW)
Sooty Shearwater: 1 E
Manx Shearwater: 1065 E, 16 W, 80 feeding
Storm Petrel: 1 E
Gannet: 1140 E, 24 W
Common Scoter: 9 E, 2 W
Tufted Duck: 1 E (male with 4 Scoter)
Mallard: 2 E
Great Skua: 1 E (& on sea)
Arctic Skua: 1 E
Kittiwake: 23 E, 5 W
Common/Arctic Tern: 18 E
Sandwich Tern: 5 E, 3 W
Puffin: 2 E
Black Guillemot: 1 E (juvenile)
Swift: 1 flew out to sea

Friday, August 10, 2012

HELVICK HEAD: 240 Manx Shearwaters W, 90 E (seawatch 20:00-20:30, MAD, PMW).
WATERFORD CITY: Young Otter in St John's River by Lombard Street bridge (AJ).

Thursday, August 09, 2012

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: At least 12-15 Keeled Skimmer dragonflies, some mating, at Co Tipperary side of the Vee, cS048132 (ADM) - photo.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  2 Yellow-legged Gulls  (adult & sub-adult), 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls & 3 Green Sandpipers at Ballyneety, 18:40 (MC, MC snr).

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

DUNGARVAN: 4 Green Sandpipers at Ballyneety (MC snr).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 10 Common Sandpipers & Wheatear (DS).
DUNGARVAN: 3 Green Sandpipers, 8 Common Sandpipers & 3 Mediterranean Gulls  (juvenile, adult & 2nd summer ) @ Ballyneety. Adult & 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls @ Barnawee late this evening. (MC)
CASTLETOWN FEN: Green Sandpiper at new pool, 2 Yellowhammers nearby (MC).

DUNGARVAN: 5 Common Sandpipers at Killongford Bridge (PV), 5 Mediterranean Gulls (3+ adults, 1+ 2nd-summer) at Barnawee (PMW).

WHITING BAY:  67 Ringed Plover at west end (AJ, PV, PMW).
HELVICK HEAD: Sooty Shearwater E & W, Great Skua E, 2 Arctic Skuas W & 1 off-passage, 10 Common Scoter E & 3 W (seawatch 12:00-15:30, PA, CF, JAP, PV, DW, PMW), 315 Manx Shearwaters E & 50 W (14:00-15:30).

Monday, August 06, 2012

CASTLETOWN FEN:  2 Green Sandpipers at newly constructed pool (PA).
DUNGARVAN: 4 Green Sandpipers @ Ballyneety.  7 Mediterranean Gulls ( 5 adults including green darvic ring R27R & 2 1st summers ) @ Barnawee. (MC)  Brent Goose off Sports Centre (FO'C).
DUNGARVAN: WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER now near tip of Cunnigar, roosting (CF).

CLONEA STRAND: Common Sandpiper & Cuckoo at Ballinclamper (MC, DS).
DUNGARVAN: WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still on Cunnigar on seaward side near tip. Flight views only so far but dog walker has flushed the birds and they are now widely dispersed (CF).

Sunday, August 05, 2012

CLONEA STRAND: Adult-summer SPOTTED SANDPIPER (4th county record) at Ballinclamper, 8 pm (photos) with 6 Common Sandpipers (then all flew E), also 3 Whimbrel there, Dipper at Ballyvoyle (PV).
DUNGARVAN:  WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER re-found near tip of Cunnigar at seaward side, 20:20 (MC)
DUNGARVAN: Kingfisher & 4 Green Sandpipers above Ballyneety bridge @ 15:40, 2nd-summer Mediterranean Gull flew in past Cunnigar tip (MAD, PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff (MAD, PMW).

Saturday, August 04, 2012

DUNGARVAN: 4 Green Sandpipers & 4 Common Sandpipers @ Ballyneety. 2 Brent Geese & 2 Common Sandpipers @ the Cunnigar. (MC)


BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 25 Common Scoter W, 370 Manx Shearwaters E (155 W, 200 feeding) (seawatch 19:15-20:15, MAD, PMW).
DUNGARVAN: WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (3rd county record) found at the Cunnigar (MO'K) but not yet refound. Also at the Cunnigar: 2 Little Tern (ad and juv), 3rd-calendar-yr Iceland Gull, 1 Purple Sandpiper (!!!!), 7 Common Sandpipers, 50+ Sanderling, c200 Dunlin (incl 11 juvs), c100 Turnstone, 4 Mediterranean Gulls (3 ads 1 1st sum), 15 Common Tern, 3 Wheatear (CF DW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Tree Sparrows (MAD, PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 06:45-09:45 (3-4 S- SSE, vis excellent, PMW)
Great Shearwater: 1 W @ 07:55 (only 2nd or 3rd site record).
Sooty Shearwater: 2 W
Manx Shearwater : 1170 E, 1190 W, 80+ feeding
Fulmar: 10 E, 86 W
Common Scoter: 2 E, 7 W
Mallard: 1 W
Pomarine Skua: 1 E (light-phase adult or subadult).
Great Skua: 1 W
Sandwich Tern: 2 E, 20 W
Puffin: 1 W
Large auks: 0
Gannet, Kittiwake: not counted
Swift: 1 W over sea

Friday, August 03, 2012

HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 19:00-21:15 (MC, MC snr, CF, DW, MAD, PMW):
CORY'S SHEARWATER: 3 W singly (all 20:44-21:15)
Great Shearwater: 1 W (21:00)
Sooty Shearwater: 2 W (1,1)
Manx Shearwater: 40 E, 980 W (19:30-21:15)
Fulmar: 1 E, 105 W (19:30-21:15)
Storm Petrel: 10 W
Common Scoter: 13 W
Great Skua: 2 W (1,1)
Pomarine Skua: 2 E, 3 W
Roseate Tern: 2 adults W
Arctic Tern: 8+ W
Common Tern: 5+ W
Puffin: 35 W
Gannet, Kittiwake, large auks: not counted
Seawatch 12:00-12:30 (CF):
Storm Petrel: 2
Arctic Skua: 1
Puffin: 2

Thursday, August 02, 2012

HELVICK HEAD:  final tally 150+ CORY'S SHEARWATERS, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 7 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Great Skuas & 2 Black Guillemots (seawatch 18:40-21:05, MC, MC snr, DW, CF).

DUNGARVAN:  2 Little Terns at Cunnigar tip, also 2 Brent Geese at the Cunnigar (DC).
HELVICK HEAD: 62+ CORY'S SHEARWATERS up to 19:55 (CF, MC).

RAM HEAD: final tally 105 (correction from 103) CORY'S SHEARWATERS west, also 4 Great Shearwaters, 1 Great Skua & 1 Arctic Skua W, 208 Fulmars W (3 E) but only 135 Manx Shearwaters W (40 E) (seawatch 16:45-19:45, PMW).
RAM HEAD: 64 CORY'S SHEARWATERS, 4 Great Shearwaters, 1 Great Skua & 1 Arctic Skua W (seawatch 16:45-19:05 & ongoing, PMW).
SEABIRD 'PELAGIC' OFF WEST WATERFORD, 7TH AUGUST:  A couple of places still available on an all-day boat-trip planned from Youghal for Tuesday 7th, heading to waters off Ram Head & Mine Head in search of rare seabirds (& Humpback Whale!). Anyone interested text 0861701599 or email info @ waterfordbirds urgently (preferably today).
BUNMAHON:  11 Pomarine Skuas & 3 Arctic Skuas W, 1 Common Scoter E (seawatch 07:10-08:50, DW).

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

CLONEA STRAND:  Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel & 5 Common Terns at Ballinclamper (MC).
ARDMORE:  Little Gull (subadult?) & 4 1st-summer Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh (ADM).

CHEEKPOINT:  40 Black-tailed Godwits & c10 Crossbills (John Maher).

TANKARDSTOWN (nr Bunmahon):  Dark-phase Arctic Skua W, 78 Manx Shearwaters W & 4 Sandwich terns W (2 E) (seawatch 10:05-10:55, DS).
BUNMAHON:  Balearic Shearwater & 7 Storm Petrels W (seawatch 07:40-08:55, DW).